Numbers. There's just something in them that draws us, right? Whether it's movie ratings, market trends, or the weather forecast, all kinds of numerics strongly influence our lives and decisions.
And recruiters, much like all of us, love seeing numbers, or more precisely ― resume metrics.
In fact, hiring managers search for numbers in applications, as they provide a tangible credibility that mere words often can't convey. (Former recruiter approved—I've seen thousands of resumes, and trust me, nothing caught my attention more than seeing those nicely outlined measurable results.)
Now, what exactly are resume metrics?
They're simply a way to quantify your achievements. Instead of saying you improved sales or increased efficiency, you put a number on it. It's the difference between saying you're a good salesperson and saying you increased sales by 50%.
Essentially, resume metrics back up your accomplishments and instill a sweet sense of competence and credibility that recruiters are looking for.
Resume metrics back up your accomplishments and instill a sense of competence and credibility that recruiters are looking for.
Here's everything you need to know to craft metrics-driven resumes that make your achievements (and you!) stand out, including the best resume metrics, examples, and tips.
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Why Quantify Your Achievements on Your Resume?
Before we delve into key resume metrics, let's briefly go over why you need them in the first place.
Stand Out from the Competition
In a sea of job applicants, quantifying your achievements on the resume is an effective strategy to grab the attention of potential employers and make a lasting impression.
Specific metrics and numbers serve as solid proof of the results you've achieved in your previous roles. This not only showcases your abilities but also differentiates you from other candidates who may have similar qualifications and experience.
Consider this: instead of saying you "contributed to the department's efficiency," quantify it by stating you "increased the department's efficiency by 25% within six months." Which of these statements would leave a stronger impact on the hiring manager?
Naturally, the one with numbers! It offers concrete evidence of your capabilities and makes your accomplishments more memorable.
Demonstrate Your Value to Employers
Employers are always looking for candidates who can bring value to their organizations.
So, when you include measurable results in your resume, you provide evidence of your impact, effectiveness, and proactivity. This assures employers of your abilities and gives them a glimpse of what you can bring to their company.
For example, mentioning that you "led a team" may not provide enough information about your leadership skills.
However, quantifying it by saying you "led a team of 10 members, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity" makes it much more compelling. This quantification highlights your leadership abilities and showcases how you can contribute to a company's success.
Remember, employers are looking for candidates who can deliver results. Quantifying your achievements on your resume helps you communicate your results and value in a concise yet powerful way.
So, add those numbers to the work experience section on your resume. They will help you differentiate yourself from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers.
Top 5 Key Resume Metrics and Examples
Without further ado, let's look at 5 key resume metrics that can effectively set you apart and pave the way for your next job opportunity.
#1 Sales or Revenue Increase
One of the most impactful metrics you can include on your resume is the percentage or the total increase in sales or revenue you've achieved in previous roles. This metric showcases your ability to drive business growth and generate tangible results.
Whether you were directly responsible for sales or played a supporting role, highlighting the percentage increase demonstrates your effectiveness in driving bottom-line success.
Want to see how this would look on your resume? Check out these examples:
drove $2.5M in sales growth within the first year by leading a dynamic sales team and implementing strategic initiatives
acquired 50+ new clients, resulting in a 20% revenue increase through in-depth market analysis, impactful development strategies, and close collaboration with the sales team
increased sales conversion rate by 12% by optimizing the user experience, implementing data-driven changes, and conducting A/B testing for continuous improvement
Time for an upgrade? Head to our resume shop and pick a job-winning resume template.
#2 Client Acquisition or Retention
Another vital resume metric is the number of clients you've acquired or retained. This metric is particularly relevant if you're applying for sales, business development, or account management roles.
Quantifying the number of clients you've successfully brought on board or retained allows you to demonstrate your skills in building and maintaining strong relationships, which is highly valuable to employers. Here's how you could work it into your resume:
secured 60+ new B2C clients in 9 months through strategic networking, proactive outreach, and tailoring solutions to individual client needs
maintained a loyal client base by delivering exceptional service and proactive relationship management resulting in the record 95% retention rate
attracted a diverse portfolio of 50+ new clients in 18 months through targeted prospecting, strategic networking, and personalized engagement tactics
#3 Cost Savings
Employers always look for candidates who can contribute to finances via cost savings. Thus, whether you streamlined processes, negotiated better contracts, or implemented cost-efficient initiatives, showcase the dollar amount or percentage of savings you've achieved to support your claims and show your potential for making a positive financial impact.
Here's how:
revamped operational procedures, resulting in a 15% cost reduction by analyzing workflows, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing streamlined processes
negotiated vendor contracts, delivering $100,000 in annual savings through strategic vendor evaluation and negotiation tactics
reduced operational expenses by 20% by introducing and spearheading initiatives that optimized resource utilization and minimized waste
#4 Timeframe Reduction
Time is a valuable resource in any business setting. So, resume metrics that demonstrate time frame reductions can significantly amplify the impact your application will make on the recruiter.
You might have accelerated project completion, minimized customer response times, or improved operational efficiency – quantifying these time savings underscores your ability to work efficiently and meet deadlines.
Want to put this on your resume? Take a look at these examples:
accelerated project delivery by 20% through streamlined processes, effective resource allocation, and meticulous time management
decreased customer response times by 30%, enhancing satisfaction and retention rates by implementing optimized communication channels, quick issue resolution, and proactive customer support strategies
reduced production time by 25% and enhanced operational efficiency through workflow analysis, process reengineering, and the introduction of efficient tools and technologies
#5 Project Success Rate
If you've been involved in project management or team leadership roles, including project success rates on your resume is crucial. This resume metric showcases your ability to plan, execute, and deliver successful projects and initiatives.
Even more importantly, you demonstrate your project management skills and competence to lead teams to achieve desired outcomes. And let me tell you, recruiters love seeing that! It proves your practical expertise and can significantly boost your candidacy.
Here's how you might include it on your resume:
delivered global projects with a 95% success rate by effectively managing resources, communication, and project scope throughout the lifecycle
led cross-functional teams to accomplish objectives with a 90% success rate by fostering collaboration, setting clear expectations, and aligning team efforts toward project goals
executed over 20 company-wide HR initiatives resulting in an 85% success rate in achieving desired outcomes
Need help perfecting your resume? Head to this step-by-step resume cheat sheet.
4 Best Tips for Adding Resume Metrics
Thought I'd leave you hanging without any tips on how to quantify your achievements? Not a chance. Here are 4 tips to help you select and include resume metrics.
1. Identify Measurable Results
To quantify your achievements, start by identifying measurable results. Focus on specific outcomes to provide clear, numeric evidence of your success. Remember, numbers speak louder than words.
Here are 12 questions you can ask yourself to identify results:
How many clients did you bring in?
How much money did you save the company?
How much time did you reduce in a particular process?
How many new leads did you generate?
What percentage of customer satisfaction did you achieve?
How many projects did you complete ahead of schedule?
By how much did you exceed your sales targets?
How many team members did you mentor or train?
What percentage increase did you bring to website traffic?
How many products did you launch successfully?
How much did you reduce operational costs?
What was the percentage improvement in customer retention?
2. Use Specific Numbers and Figures
It's crucial to include specific numbers and figures in your resume. Specify percentages, revenue amounts, cost savings figures, timeframes, and other measurable data related to your accomplishments.
Using specific numbers not only adds credibility to your achievements but also aids in capturing the attention of hiring managers and making a profound impression on them.
3. Highlight Relevant Metrics for Each Role
Different job positions and industries naturally have their own set of key resume metrics and performance indicators.
But what I've seen quite a lot, having gone through over 30,000 job applications, is that not tailoring a resume to the specific job is one of the most common resume mistakes out there, if not the worst one.
So, take the time to research and understand the relevant metrics for each role you've held. When quantifying your achievements, make sure to tailor them to each specific job you're applying for.
For example, highlight metrics such as conversion, click-through rates, or social media engagement numbers if you're applying for a marketing position. This way, you showcase your ability to impact the metrics that matter most to the prospective employer, proving your fit for the role and increasing your chances of landing an interview.
4. Use Action Verbs to Showcase Impact
Hear me out ― it's not just about the numbers ― it's also about the impact you had on the organization. To effectively communicate this impact, use action verbs in your resume to add energy and emphasize your proactive approach.
For instance, instead of saying "responsible for team management," start each bullet point with an action verb like "led," "guided," or "motivated" to showcase your leadership skills. This helps paint a vivid picture of your capabilities and highlights the results you achieved through your actions. Want to take it to the next level? Get the exact formula for writing perfect resume bullet points.
Remember, recruiters and hiring managers want to see not just what you did but how you did it and the positive outcomes that resulted from your efforts. Action verbs are a powerful tool for conveying this information.
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Key Takeaways
Quantifying your achievements through resume metrics is crucial in showcasing your value to potential employers.
And as you can see from everything we discussed above, this practice can help you highlight your accomplishments and truly stand out from the crowd.
Here are key things to remember:
Use specific figures, like percentages, dollar amounts, or time frames, whenever possible.
Tailor your resume metrics to the specific job you're applying for.
Use action verbs to showcase your impact.
Now that you have all the information you need about resume metrics ― it's time to quantify your achievements and skyrocket your chances of landing that new job.
What's Next?
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Ana Colak-Fustin
Ana is a former recruiter, HR consultant, and founder of ByRecruiters.com. Her career advice and job search tools have been featured in Yahoo Finance, The Muse, Jobscan, A Better HR Business, Starter Story, and other global media. Since 2018, over 8,000 professionals worldwide have used her resume templates to land new jobs. She's on a mission to help 80,000 more.