Typically, we use a résumé to showcase the very best of our professional history. We use our résumé to show off our skills, we pepper it with appropriate action verbs to illustrate our contributions to past employers, and we attempt to paint a picture of ourselves within it to show just how perfect we are for the position with your company.

But because our résumés are meant to highlight our successes, they leave out a very important part of personal and professional growth: failure.

Failure is where change happens; Failure is where we learn life’s biggest lessons. It is in our failures that we experience the most growth. However, failure is also a source of embarrassment for many of us. We often take it to mean that we weren’t good enough or that we didn’t try hard enough. While that may have been true at the time, it’s not the end of the story.

On the contrary, failure provides a unique opportunity for us to learn and respond. When things go well or go right the first time, we lose the opportunity to take a new approach. We lose the chance to have a different experience or gain a new perspective.

Enter the failure résumé. What is it? Simply put, a failure résumé highlights all of your past failures and unsuccessful ventures. Glossing over your failed attempts at success will only hinder you more in the future.