A few years ago, I worked at a marketing agency where the management forced us to track everything we did.
I hated it. I’m allergic to micromanagement, and this felt unnecessarily tedious.
Fast forward a few years, and now as a freelancer and business owner, I track my work meticulously—even though I don’t have to.
My former employer’s tracking system was seriously flawed, but it taught me something important: Keeping a record of work accomplishments makes an enormous difference in your career trajectory.
Because I got into the habit of keeping a list of accomplishments, I was able to climb the career ladder faster and eventually strike out on my own.
The best part is, keeping track of your accomplishments is easy. You just need a good system. And lucky for you, I’ve put together a simple Accomplishment Tracker template you can use for free.
(You’ll need to create a Trello account if you don’t already have one.)
I’ll show you how to use this template later in this article, but first, let me explain what benefits you’ll get if you start tracking work accomplishments.
Why tracking your work accomplishments matters
Tracking your accomplishments might seem like too much work, but trust me, it pays off big time. Here are the benefits you can look forward to:
Make your next promotion inevitable
When it’s time to make your case for a promotion or ask for a raise, you need more than just confidence—you need evidence. A detailed record of your achievements gives you concrete data points to present to your manager.
Your accomplishments demonstrate your value to the organization. When you track consistently, you can show patterns of growth, quantify your impact, and show your boss that you’re ready to go to the next level.
You don’t need to constantly boast about your accomplishments—this could actually work against you. Instead, quietly keep track of your success, and when an opportunity presents itself, you’ll be ready to make your case quickly and seamlessly.
Being recognized at work is ideal (and lack of recognition is a sign of a bad boss). But odds are even the best bosses won’t keep a detailed track record of success for you. Without your own tracking, your accomplishments will slip through the cracks.
Land your dream job and move up faster
Keeping a record of wins makes it easier to sell yourself in an interview.
It’s almost guaranteed that interviewers will want to know about your recent accomplishments. If you review your list of work accomplishments prior to your interview, you’ll be well-prepared for those tricky interview questions.
Your achievement tracker also makes it easy to update and tailor your resume and LinkedIn profile prior to interviews. The accomplishments can be mapped onto your work experience and soft skills list, and you can share your accomplishments with your references, so they are prepared to vouch for you as well.
Word to the wise: Keep up with your accomplishment tracker even when you’re satisfied at work. You never know when the perfect opportunity will arise, and being prepared gives you a competitive edge.
For more resume and interview tips, check out these articles:
Build a powerful personal brand
Your work accomplishments are the building blocks of an impressive personal brand. Your recorded track record of success can easily be transformed into compelling case studies, portfolio pieces, and social proof.
Self-promotion becomes much easier when you have concrete examples of success. You can use your accomplishment log to craft engaging LinkedIn posts, write case studies for your website, and make an impression during networking events.
For freelancers and entrepreneurs, these tracked wins become testimonials and client success stories. Your achievement tracker helps you demonstrate consistent results and win more business.
For more tips on how to build a personal brand and portfolio, use these resources:
Boost your confidence and mental health
Aside from all of the workplace benefits, there’s a major perk that comes with tracking your accomplishments—it can improve your mental health.
Tracking achievements helps combat imposter syndrome by providing concrete evidence of your capabilities. Many professionals focus on their shortcomings while overlooking their successes, especially in today’s comparison culture.
Your accomplishment tracker can be a personal confidence tool. On difficult days when you question your abilities (I have plenty of these, trust me), review your tracked wins to remember how far you’ve come. Your past achievements serve as proof that you can tackle future challenges.
Having a record of your growth helps maintain perspective. Each accomplishment builds upon the last, creating a clear picture of your professional development and increasing your resilience.
It’s not something that happens overnight, but over time, you will realize the positive impact tracking your achievements has on your overall well-being.
Here are a few other articles on this topic for further reading:
How to track your work accomplishments
When it comes to tracking your work accomplishments, the best system is one you’ll actually use. Some people prefer a simple notes app on their phone, others maintain a detailed spreadsheet, and many stick with good old-fashioned journaling (I journal every morning!).
I’ve tried many methods over the years, and I’ve found Trello works best for systematic tracking. It’s free, flexible, and designed for organizing information. If you haven’t already, open my Achievement Tracker template in Trello. Then, make a copy and customize.
Let’s break down how to use this system effectively.
Which work accomplishments to track
My advice: If it seems noteworthy, write it down. You’ll end up with a lot of stuff on your list that never makes it on to your resume, but it’s better to have more than you need. It only takes a few seconds to record them, so why not put it down, even if you think you may not use it?
⚙️ Projects & Tasks: Document your successful client pitches, brand redesigns, lesson plans, or whatever major deliverables and successes look like in your field. These form the backbone of your list of accomplishments and demonstrate your ability to execute.
🏔️ Major Milestones: Track career-changing moments like promotions, role changes, or launching new ventures. These achievements show your career progression and leadership potential.
🎓 Trainings & Certificates: Record all professional development, from formal certifications to informal skill-building. This showcases your commitment to growth and expanding expertise.
😅 Overcome Challenges: Note the problems you’ve solved and conflicts you’ve successfully navigated. These stories make powerful examples for interviews and demonstrate your problem-solving abilities.
🏆 Awards & Titles: Keep track of recognition from your peers and leadership, whether formal awards or informal acknowledgments. These validate your impact and value to the organization.
🗨️ Compliments & Feedback: Save positive comments from colleagues, clients, and managers. These testimonials add credibility to your achievements and can be powerful additions to performance reviews.
Pro tip: Ask people who give you these compliments if they wouldn’t mind putting it in writing via a LinkedIn recommendation.
What details to track in your list of accomplishments
The details you record will vary depending on the type of work accomplishment and what you want to remember. I’ve left the template very open-ended, so you can adjust it to suit your background.
Date or Date Range: Every accomplishment should have a timestamp. You can repurpose the “due date” feature to mark dates when a project ended, or when you received a title change, etc.
Description: Write a clear, specific account of what you achieved. Focus on your direct contribution and impact, using concrete details rather than vague statements.
Tags and Labels: Use Trello’s labeling system to categorize achievements by their potential use. I made a few that you can borrow, including “Put on Portfolio,” “Example for Interview,” or “Feature on LinkedIn.”
Manager Comments: Record all positive feedback, but keep track of constructive feedback as well to show your growth over time.
Metrics and Impact: Whenever possible, include numbers that quantify your achievement. Think about time saved, revenue generated, or percentage improvements.
Screenshots and Attachments: It’s helpful to add screenshots, documents, images, video, transcript—anything you might want to use later when showcasing your work.
Start tracking your work accomplishments today—your future self will thank you. Whether you use my Trello template or create your own system, the important thing is to begin documenting your professional journey. Each achievement you record becomes another building block in your career success story.
