Creating your job search tools should help you identify your greatest achievements. The CAR technique will simplify this process and help you clearly show your skills.
Context-Action-Result (CAR)
The CAR technique gets you to think about:
- the context in which you took action
- what exactly those actions entailed
- the tangible results you achieved.
This process will help you clearly explain your achievements during a hiring interview. It will also help you clearly explain them in a way that is precise and interesting in:
- your master CV
- your cover letter
- your positioning statement
- your LinkedIn profile.
Don’t confuse your duties, roles and achievements!
It is important to indicate that you played a role on a team and to explain your duties. But it looks much better to explain what you accomplished when you held that position.
EXAMPLE
- Your role: VP of the student association
- Your duties: Organized a series of networking events
- Your achievement: These initiatives boosted membership by 25% over the previous year.
Highlight achievements you're proud of
Write about the moments in your life when you felt the most proud, such as when you finished a marathon or were congratulated by your boss.
Explore various aspects of your life: work, hobbies, studies, extra-curricular activities, etc. Don't just stop at your work-related achievements.
Try to determine if your involvement made a difference, such as the creation of a new website, a fundraiser or a department restructuring.
Then you can determine to what extent you made this change happen or contributed to it.
Go deeper and explain
Reflect on the precise context in which you worked, on the actions taken and results obtained.
Find the right words to clearly communicate these achievements to your interviewers.
Explain it a bit like you would tell a story.
A few questions to make things easier
In these situations, have I:
- Resolved a critical issue?
- Created or built something?
- Developed an idea?
- Successfully met a challenge?
- Followed instructions and reached the set goal?
- Recognized a need and filled it?
- Actively contributed to a decision or a change?
- Increased sales figures, efficiency, profitability or overall turnover?
- Helped someone achieve his or her goals?
- Saved time and money?
- Received an award or congratulations?
Example1
Context
During my supervised project at ABCD Inc., my supervisor asked me to find a solution that would simplify the process of preparing analysis reports for portfolio managers.
Actions
I met with the managers to learn about their process of preparing the reports. I gathered their suggestions.
I created an analysis model in Excel. I worked with the managers to test this model.
Results
It cut preparation time by 30%. Instead of 6 hours, it now takes 4.
Example2
Context
When I worked for PCQ Int., I was assigned to work with three colleagues to put a quality control system into place so the company could:
- obtain ISO standard certification
- position itself to win international contracts.
Actions
I met with the relevant departments to understand the quality control processes in place and to identify the changes that needed to be made.
I helped develop and implement the necessary improvements, created a guide and trained employees.
Results
- Product quality rose by 10%.
- The company was awarded the ISO standard certification. Then it won three international contracts.
When you explain
In an interview, you can take the time to explain your achievements, as indicated in examples 1 and 2, particularly if the recruiter has asked you to say more.
Be brief in your CV, your LinkedIn profile and your positioning statement. Limit yourself to a single sentence.
EXAMPLES
Reduced report preparation time by 30% by creating an analysis model tailored to the needs of the portfolio management team.
Helped implement ISO standard X, resulting in a 10% improvement in product quality and the company winning three new international contracts.
A few tips for describing your achievements
- Start with a verb conjugated in the past tense (present tense if writing in French).
- For results achieved through team work, use verbs such as “collaborated,” “cooperated” and “contributed to.”
- If possible, quantify your achievements with figures, percentages and statistics.
- If you can’t quantify them, describe a qualitative achievement.
- Avoid using pronouns, such as “I” and “we.”
- Speak the employer’s language (key words).
- Prioritize achievements that are relevant or that demonstrate your transferable skills in relation to the position requirements.
Examples of quantitative and qualitative results
- Received the Paul Dupont Scholarship for academic excellence.
- Ranked as a finalist in three national swimming competitions.
- Helped a team reach a deadline for a guide on the installation of new health centres.
- Contributed to the development of a brand repositioning campaign for a cosmetics customer, generating a 10% increase in sales in under 3 months.
- Saved 30% and raised profits by 15% by restructuring the management team.
- Developed new marketing strategies resulting in better product visibility, and increased sales by 20% within the first six months.
- Won 2nd place in the ABCD university competition by resolving a procurement problem.
- Developed a training program that helped improve the team’s conflict management interventions.
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