Future-Proof Your Career: Be Your Biggest Advocate
Your career growth is your responsibility, and the best way to ensure long-term success is by becoming your own biggest advocate.
Whether you’re preparing for a performance review, seeking a promotion, or simply standing out in your field, keeping track of your achievements and building your professional presence is key.
This guide will show you how to highlight your value, track your accomplishments, and share your success across platforms like LinkedIn.
1. The Achievement Log: Your Secret Weapon
Tip: Start logging your wins—big and small. This habit makes it easier to demonstrate your value during reviews or when negotiating raises.
How to Do It:
Create a Career Log:
Use a simple Google Doc, Excel sheet, or notebook to track:
Quantifiable wins: “Increased resident satisfaction by X% in 6 months.”
Projects completed: “Successfully organized and marketed a community event with 85% resident participation.”
Challenges overcome: “Resolved a major resident dispute, retaining lease renewals worth $X.”
Set a Reminder: Spend 10 minutes each week reflecting on your work and jotting down accomplishments.
Why It Works: When it’s time for a performance review or you’re ready to update your resume, you’ll have a library of examples to showcase your impact.
2. Share Your Wins Publicly
Tip: Build your professional brand by sharing your successes on platforms like LinkedIn to position yourself as a leader in property management.
How to Do It:
LinkedIn Profile Updates:
Add measurable achievements to your Experience section. For example:
“Leased X units above target in Q2 2024, increasing occupancy by X%.”
“Launched a resident retention program that reduced turnover by X%.”
Use keywords like "property management," "resident retention," and "marketing" to boost your visibility.
LinkedIn Posts:
Share accomplishments in an approachable, humble tone. For example:
“Thrilled to have launched our new resident event series this month, which brought together X% of our community. Grateful for the chance to create meaningful experiences for residents!”
Pair posts with a relevant photo (e.g., an event setup or team collaboration).
Pro Tip: Use hashtags like #PropertyManagement, #Leadership, and #CareerGrowth to reach a wider audience.
3. Create a “Wins Portfolio”
Tip: Go beyond a list of achievements by creating a professional portfolio that visually highlights your work.
How to Do It:
Use tools like Canva to create a sleek, visual portfolio that includes:
Before-and-after photos of projects (e.g., property upgrades).
Testimonials from residents or supervisors.
Save the portfolio as a PDF to present during reviews or interviews.
4. Keep an Updated Resume & Elevator Pitch
Tip: Your resume and pitch should reflect your current role and accomplishments so you’re always ready for new opportunities.
How to Do It:
Update your resume quarterly with recent wins.
Craft a 30-second elevator pitch like:
“I’m a property manager with X years of experience specializing in resident satisfaction and community engagement. In my current role, I’ve increased lease renewals by X% and launched events that boosted participation by X%. I love creating spaces where people thrive!”
5. Leverage Peer and Supervisor Feedback
Tip: Ask for feedback regularly to identify strengths and growth areas, and include positive feedback in your achievement log.
How to Do It:
Request feedback after major projects or events:
“What went well? Is there anything I could do differently next time?”
Save positive emails or comments from peers and supervisors to showcase during reviews.
6. Use Metrics to Tell Your Story
Tip: Numbers make your impact undeniable. Use data wherever possible to support your claims.
Examples:
Increased lease renewals by X% through personalized outreach campaigns.
Reduced unit turnover time by X days, saving the community $X annually.
Boosted resident satisfaction scores from X to Y in six months.
7. Prepare for Performance Reviews Year-Round
Tip: Don’t wait for review season—schedule regular check-ins with your supervisor to stay aligned on expectations and highlight ongoing wins.
How to Do It:
Monthly Updates: Send a quick email summary of your contributions:
“This month, I successfully [highlight key win]. Looking forward to continuing to deliver results for our team!”
Track Goals: Align your personal goals with the company’s objectives and show progress during reviews.
Bonus Tip: Celebrate Your Wins!
Take pride in your achievements—big or small. Share them with peers, reward yourself, and use them as motivation to keep growing.