Resume word check: Accountable

Accountable and accountability aren’t words I usually put in resumes or other career marketing materials I create. I suddenly realized why the other day.

Safe Resume Words

To me, those resume words sound safe and … boring. But now in retrospect, I think they may be one of the more desirable traits anyone can have. Anyone who has read this blog for a while knows I write many posts about your attitude. I even have a category for the topic attitude on the sidebar. I do that because I think attitude is critical in moving forward in a job search, in your career, and a small business like my Design Resumes.

But being accountable or accountability is equally critical.

Why? You can have the best attitude in the world, but if you are not accountable or have no accountability, you will not succeed. I’m working on an executive bio right with a business owner who when asked about resume words that described her said accountable. Wise woman! She says, “You should care if you do it right and care if it is done on time.”

Actual customer service begins with that strategy — caring if you do it right and caring if you meet the deadlines. Quality control, coupled with meeting a set deadline.

Goal setting achieves the best results when quality control coupled with a set deadline you meet.

In Start with Exercise, I told you that this is one of my goals for 2011. I also said to you that one of my clients is part of that goal. As a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Joel has the right background to make sure that that I do this correctly and safely. And he will hold me accountable so that I can reach my goals.

We met for the first time on Saturday. I was successful on my own in getting in shape in 2007 and 2008, but as I told Joel, the motivating factor then was anger. I was trying to push out being more independent, and I was angry enough to make it work. Anger can be a motivating factor, but emotionally, it takes its toll. Truthfully, right now I am pretty happy overall. Not that I don’t have a bad day now and then but overall, I am excited about life, my business, and day to day living.

Joel and I completed his initial evaluation. Next step is for me to make an appointment with a physician to make sure I don’t have any other issues that would get in the way of an exercise program. We made a list of questions for me to ask the doctor. Joel will hold me accountable to make sure I follow through with the appointment.

Why all this? As I said in Start with Exercise, my year of building Design Resumes has meant lots of sitting at my desk. This caused me to gain weight and lose mobility. Also, my blood pressure, which I am now checking daily, is out of the normal range. All of this means that I have to take action and be accountable, not only to meet my fitness goals but for my overall health.

In a job search, accountability is critical.

You need to develop goals for your search, have your resume ready, and be prepared with a great cover letter. But if you keep filling out online applications without any additional action on your part and expect people to call you, you will be disappointed. You need to handle obstacles that keep you from interacting with the outside world and get out there. Hannah Morgan’s post, Literally Get Out of Your House will give you some perspective and ideas on why this works.

Jobs will not come to you. You need to take action. How are you going to be accountable today?