By Grace du Prie Resume Writing Service

09/04/2011 WORK AUTOBIOGRAPHY
"Only a fool claims to learn from experience" said Oscar Wilde. Oscar was wrong. Most people do not pay enough attention to what they provide to their workplace and don't recognise the array of skills they have learned and the things they have accomplished. It is only by conducting a comprehensive review of work experience that you can identify all the things that you can do.

Following is a very constructive activity to help you identify the patterns in the way you have coped with work. It can assist you when you want to change careers or when you are applying for jobs. Working through this exercise will provide you with excellent information about what you like or don't like in your past work situations. This can help you to make a much better informed choice about future work or prepare you for an upcoming interview.

Using the job you are now doing, or a job you have done in the past, try to analyse it. Describe it as fully as you can. Don’t think too much about performance but try to remember everything about the work you did.

Describe the work organization.

Was it large or small? Private company or public sector? What kind of atmosphere did it have?

Write about the job content in details.

What tasks were involved? What problems or situations did you typically encounter? What skills did you learn or improve on? What raining were you exposed to?

How far did it use your intelligence and personality?

What knowledge did you gain?

Were there particular achievements you felt proud of?

How was success determined? How was your performance monitored?

What scope was there for personal development?

Did you attend training sessions, did your manager provide useful feedback?

What were the people like that worked with?

Were there any particular individuals who helped or considered your personal and career development?

What was the effect on your lifestyle?

What was the effect of the working hours and travel-to-work time? What were the implications for your family or partners?

Analyse peak experiences.

Were there times when you felt fulfilled or good about the work you were doing? What characterised these times?

When you have finished your work autobiography, it should be possible to identify aspects of you career you would like to leave behind. Draw up two lists, with things you like to use in the future and things you like to avoid.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Things Which, On The Basis Of Work Experience, I Would Like To Use In The Future
Things Which, On The Basis Of Work Experience, I Want To Avoid