One approach to creating the work history/accomplishments section of your internal resume is to communicate your experience in terms of Problem-Action-Results (“PAR”) stories.

Throughout your career, you have seen problems, taken actions to solve them and created results – and this is an effective and compelling way to describe your career history.

The PAR structure

• P roblem/Purpose you encountered
  
  
• A ction(s) you took (alone or with others) to overcome that problem or purpose
  
  
• R esult(s) you achieved, in as concrete terms as possible

Examples with bottom-line results

• "Managed the design, equipment selection, installation, and start-up of a four-aisle, operator-aboard storage and order-picking system 35 feet high and 120 feet long, handling 6,000 items. Project was completed on time and within the $400,000 budget."
  
  
• "Analyzed cost effectiveness of internal vs. outside services for various operating functions, i.e., payroll, cash receipts, trust operations. Improved quantity and quality of service while reducing costs by 25%."

The following questions can help you select suitable PAR experiences from your professional life:

• What classes have you taken?
  
  
• What research have you conducted?
  
  
• What events have you attended and contributed to?
  
  
• With whom have you worked?
  
  
• What were the problems you tackled?
  
  
• Do you seem to get involved with administering projects? Organizing people? Communicating ideas?
  
  
• Have you been recognized for taking initiative? Pioneering new projects? Taking reasonable risks? 

Does your current work environment match up to your preferences? Using this new information, think about ways that you can make positive changes to help you thrive within your organization. Talk to your mentor or supervisor for support.