Quantifying results

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This Simple Trick Will Help You Quantify ANYTHING On Your Resume

This Simple Trick Will Help You Quantify ANYTHING On Your Resume

As a candidate or an employee, you need to justify the cost of your employment. How can you demonstrate your value? The answer is to quantify, quantify, quantify! You need to be able to prove you can get the job done better and faster than the candidates.

Having trouble quantifying? This simple trick will help you quantify ANYTHING on your resume...

If you want to find and keep a great job, you MUST remember this simple equation:

Numbers = Results = Value

Employers won't invest in you if they don't think you can get the results they need. So, you need to do your best to demonstrate your value through numbers.

Here's an example. Out of the following two candidates, who looks more impressive?

  • Candidate #1: Fundraised for breast cancer research.
  • Candidate #2: Increased fundraising contributions for breast cancer research by 25% since 2014, raising a total of $15,000 in 2015.

Even though they both do the same thing, Candidate #2 looks much more impressive because they're quantifying their results and showcasing their value.

How To Quantify ANYTHING On Your Resume


Whether you're searching for a job or trying to climb the ladder at your company, this simple trick will help you achieve your goal: Write out a list of your career accomplishments. Then, fill in the blanks. Ask how many, how much, how long, and how often?

Instead of saying: Wrote articles for local newspaper.

Say something like: Wrote 8 articles per week for Big Town Sentinel, which covers 5 towns and has 8,000+ daily readers.

Remember: Numbers = Results = Value. It's your job to prove your value to the employer by flaunting your accomplishments. If you follow this equation when writing your resume, you'll stand out as a qualified and accomplished candidate who will certainly be a valuable employee to the company.

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This Simple Trick Will Help You Quantify …

5 Tips For A Career Change Resume



Writing a career change resume can be tricky. How can you effectively market yourself to employers in a different industry when you don't have nearly enough experience as the average candidate applying for the same job as you?

If you're looking to make a career change, optimizing your resume becomes even more important than it normally is. It's also critical to write a disruptive cover letter and make strategic networking and intentional branding the priority.

Follow these five tips for an effective career change resume so you can land your dream job in a new industry.

1. Create An Interview Bucket List


An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Before beginning your job search as a career changer, having an interview bucket list is a must.

How can you identify the right companies to add to your interview bucket list? Well, it's simpler than it sounds. Think about the companies you admire—for their mission, the product or service they provide, or both. Then, determine whether you could find an opportunity at these companies that aligns with your career change goals.

When creating your interview bucket list, you're ultimately looking for companies you connect with. Why are you passionate about working for them? Tell that connection story in your disruptive cover letter. Then, you'll be able to tailor your resume for specific job openings at these companies, customizing it for each position that you apply for. This leads to our next tip for a career change resume...

2. Highlight Your Transferable Skills


Man on laptop writes a career change resume

Transferable skills are hard skills that are in demand across many different roles and industries. As a career changer, highlighting your transferable skills on your resume is the key to looking as qualified as possible for the position you're applying for.

Never include soft skills on your resume. It doesn't matter whether you're changing careers or not. Soft skills cannot be quantified. Therefore, they do not belong on your resume.

For example, "detail-oriented" is a soft skill, and "project management" is a transferable skill. You may not have experience managing the types of projects in the industry you're looking to get a job in, but if you have the skill, you'll likely be able to transition into a role that requires project management smoothly.

3. Focus On Your Accomplishments


Woman on laptop writes a career change resume

In the "Work History" section of your resume, you'll want to focus on what you accomplished in previous roles, keeping your transferable skills in mind. For each role you list, you should have at least three bullet points detailing your quantifiable accomplishments.

Employers want to see what you accomplished in your previous roles and how those accomplishments could translate to success in their industry. They don't care what your tasks or responsibilities were. That won't tell them the value you provide as a business-of-one.

What accomplishments are you most proud of in your career? Write those down. Hiring managers will probably be impressed by them too.

4. Avoid Irrelevant Information


Man on laptop writes a resume for his career change

Any irrelevant information you include on your career change resume will hurt your chances of getting an interview. Hiring managers spend only seconds reviewing each resume that comes across their desk. If they can't easily identify relevant information, they'll assume you aren't qualified for the position and toss your resume.

Only including relevant information on your resume will be difficult if you're changing careers. But if you follow the tips above, you should be on the right track.

5. Use The "Additional Experience" Section To Your Advantage


Woman on laptop writes a resume for her career change

The "Additional Experience" section of your resume is the perfect place to showcase more relevant work or volunteer experience for the industry you're looking to switch to.

Did you volunteer at an organization within the same industry? Have you worked on special projects that involved the industry in some way? This section is where you should include any remaining relevant information you believe makes you qualified for the job you're applying for.

These five tips will help you write an effective career change resume. Just remember the importance of strategic networking and intentional branding in your job search as well.

To get your resume in front of hiring managers, you'll likely need to go around the ATS and focus on networking your way into companies by connecting with current employees of these companies on LinkedIn. Customizing your resume, writing a disruptive cover letter, and having a solid networking strategy will help you successfully change careers.

Need more help with your career change resume?

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5 Tips For A Career Change Resume



If you want to stand out from other job candidates, both your resume and LinkedIn profile need to have specific, tangible, quantifiable achievements.

We see so many resumes that are very "duty-oriented"—the candidate lists what they've done but doesn't mention anything about what they've achieved.

Here are a few tips on how to write an achievement-based LinkedIn profile...

1. Highlight Your Main Skills In Your LinkedIn Summary ("About" Section)


Your resume and LinkedIn profile are your personal branding tools, and first impressions are important. Highlight your skills in your LinkedIn profile just as you would on your resume. People often say generic stuff like, "I worked in marketing," but that doesn't tell recruiters anything about what they've done.

What powerful words can you use to stand out? What specifically have you done that would be relevant to the jobs you're applying for? Think about these questions as you list your hard skills at the end of your "About" section.

2. Include Accomplishments & Quantify Your Results With Numbers


Woman on laptop updates her LinkedIn profile with achievements

Recruiters want you to tell them why you're the right fit for the job, so don't be shy about emphasizing what your skills are and how they'd help the company.

Quantify your results as best you can. Use examples that include numbers. if you've saved time or money—by how much? List your accomplishments as bullet points. If something can't be quantified (like job responsibilities), it won't impress recruiters and employers. Therefore, don't waste space on your LinkedIn profile by including them.

3. Prove That You're A Self-Starter


Man on laptop updates his LinkedIn profile with achievements

What is it that you've initiated in your job? Did you start any new projects or come up with new ideas? Highlighting projects you've set out to achieve on your own is a great way to show that you're someone who takes initiative, without always being told what to do.

Of course, you should quantify as much information about these projects as possible. This will catch the eye of recruiters and act as a great conversation starter with your network.

Writing an achievement-based LinkedIn profile is a great way to highlight why you're a good fit for the job. You'll stand out to recruiters as a qualified job candidate, one who could achieve great things at the company.

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Why You Need Achievements On Your LinkedIn …



You've been applying for jobs every day, but you feel stuck. Your job search isn't going anywhere. You submit job applications but never hear back from employers. Why aren't you getting interviews? What are you doing wrong? Is it your resume?

Chances are, your resume is to blame.

It's very easy for job seekers to make common mistakes on their resume, unknowingly making it harder for them to get their job application in front of the hiring manager. Can your resume get past the ATS? Will your resume stand out to hiring managers in those first few seconds?

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent your resume from getting tossed. Here are three reasons why your resume isn't working, and how to fix them:

1. You Don't Have Enough Keywords


Most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort through all of the resumes they receive for their job postings. One of the ways they determine which job candidates are qualified for a specific job is by looking at the keywords they've included on their resume.

How many keywords on your resume match the keywords in the job description? If you don't have enough of the right keywords on your resume, you'll get screened out of the hiring process by the ATS. This means your resume will get tossed without it ever crossing the hiring manager's desk.

If you're not getting contacted by employers, not having enough keywords (or the right keywords) on your resume could be the reason why.

The Solution: Include keywords from the job description on your resume. What skills, technologies, and experience are employers looking for? How many of these skills do you possess? Are you familiar with any of the technologies/software you'd be using on the job? Do you have the right kind of experience?

Once you identify what you need for the position you want to apply for, make sure you customize your resume for that specific job so you give yourself the best possible chance to get past the ATS and impress hiring managers. List relevant skills in the top fold of your resume (avoid keyword stuffing) and be sure to use the terms mentioned in the job description on your resume, if applicable.

2. You're Using An Outdated Resume Format


Woman on laptop realizes her resume isn't working

Another reason why your resume might not be working is because you're using an outdated resume format. Similar to the first reason, your resume format could be preventing the ATS from effectively reviewing the information on your resume. But if your resume does get past the ATS with an outdated format, hiring managers could still take a look at your resume, see that it's outdated and hard to read, and then decide to toss your resume because you didn't make it easy for them to get the information they need about you.

With an outdated resume format, you also run the risk of looking old and out of touch, which won't help your case if you're already worried about age discrimination.

If your resume isn't easy to read and it doesn't stand out to hiring managers in the first few seconds it's getting reviewed, you won't get contacted. Employers simply won't be able to determine whether you're qualified for the job or not because you didn't make it easy for them to find that information.

The Solution: To ensure your resume gets past the ATS and stands out to hiring managers, use an updated resume format. Pay attention to how you're formatting each section of your resume and make sure the formatting is consistent throughout the document. Focus on using bullet points in your "Work History" section, delete lengthy paragraphs, and don't force your resume onto one page. This will help you make sure there's enough white space on your resume so it's easier to read.

When in doubt, a simple, clean resume format is the best option.

3. You Aren't Quantifying Your Work Experience


Woman on laptop frustrated and thinks that her resume isn't working

Let's assume you had enough keywords on your resume that it got past the ATS. Let's also assume you used an updated resume format. Now that your resume is in the hiring manager's hands, and all the information on it is easy to read, how are you standing out from the competition? Does your work experience prove that you'd be a valuable employee? What is the service you provide as a business-of-one? What is your specialty? Do you get results? What have you accomplished?

If you're not quantifying your work experience on your resume, you're going to have a harder time impressing hiring managers. Quantifiable information allows hiring managers to measure the degree of knowledge and skills you have to offer. It's a way to inform them about what and how much you can bring to the table.

The Solution: Learn how to quantify your work experience on your resume. Think about what you've accomplished in your career. Look at the bullet points in the "Work History" section of your resume and try to include at least one number for each.

Including numbers on your resume not only shows hiring managers what you can do, but they also help your resume stand out since numbers break up text and grab peoples' attention. If you can't quantify something, it doesn't belong on your resume.

As a job seeker, nothing is more frustrating than spending hours applying for jobs only to never hear back from employers. If your resume isn't working, it's probably due to one (or more) of the reasons above. Follow our tips so you can avoid these resume mistakes and finally land the job you want!

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3 Reasons Why Your Resume Isn’t Working

5 Tips For A Career Change Resume



The thought of conducting a job search right now is probably very intimidating for most professionals—and a little frightening. While there are many things that could be scaring you about your job search, you can't let those fears impact your career, especially when you can easily overcome them with the right tools, tips, and strategies.

If the phrase "looking for a job" strikes fear into your heart, don't worry. Here's how to overcome your job search fears this fall, just in time for Halloween!

Fear #1: Employers Won't Call You Back


You're putting so much time and effort into your job search, but what if employers never call you back? This is a common fear for many professionals, and for good reason.

A lot of job seekers do spend hours a day applying for jobs only to never hear back from employers. There are a few reasons why this might be happening: your resume didn't make it past the ATS, your cover letter didn't stand out to hiring managers, and/or you didn't adequately market your skills and experience to employers or demonstrate your value as a business-of-one.

How To Overcome This Fear:

Fear #2: You'll Bomb The Job Interview


Woman is stressed as she waits for her job interview

This is a fear that probably keeps you up at night. You've finally found a job you like and landed an interview with the company. But what if you bomb the job interview? What if you ruin your chances of getting a job offer?

Confidence is key in a job interview, and you can't be confident without proper interview preparation.

How To Overcome This Fear:

Fear #3: You'll Accept The Wrong Job Offer


Job seeker on laptop dealing with job search fears

If you've been looking for a job for a while, you might feel desperate. This puts you in a vulnerable spot, but you should avoid settling for a job if you can.

On the flip side, you might have multiple job offers and need to decide which one is right for you. Do you feel empowered to make the right decision?

How To Overcome This Fear:

By following the tips above, you'll successfully overcome any job search fears you may have, and you'll realize the job search isn't as scary as it seems!

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

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How To Overcome Your Job Search Fears …



The first challenge with your resume is getting it into the hands of an actual person. Over the past decade, getting through applicant tracking systems (ATS) by including the right keywords has become the holy grail of job seekers. The palace guards were put in place so that overloaded hiring managers could keep out the riffraff.

And it was necessary.

Surveys report that more than half of the resumes submitted for any job posting are from completely unqualified candidates.

The ATS is meant to boil down the deluge to an actual candidate pool. As a job seeker, you should be concerned with and aware of how your resume will make it past the guards. As a serious professional, you need to take your resume further. Make sure that when it makes it to the hands of an actual person, it will impress and get you to the next step.

Here are four resume tips for accomplishing this goal:

1. Lead With The Results


Look at your resume as if YOU are the hiring manager. Does this resume help solve the problem that needs solving with this position? Not just the "because Henry quit" problem. The thing that makes this position valuable to the company.

Your resume must show how you are the solution because you've done it before. Structure your experience so that each sentence is front-loaded with results. Instead of, "Evaluated current processes and led efforts that restructured operations, leading to a reduction in costs and an increase in revenue," try "Slashed overhead costs by 20% while simultaneously increasing revenue by 45% by completely overhauling sales processes and operations for optimal efficiency."

If you think like management, you can pick out what management most cares about, and make sure you highlight that in your resume.

2. Quantify Your Accomplishments


Man updates his resume

In other words, use numbers. By adding figures to your accomplishments, you provide measurable, credible proof of your performance.

For example, "Added $4 million to the bottom line..."

Beyond showing revenue, numbers can help provide context for your results through comparisons.

  • "Ranked #1 out of 45 sales reps for top sales performance."
  • "Achieved 95% customer referral rate, a figure 2 times higher than the company average."
  • "Conducted company-wide training for 500 employees."

This is one of the things a lot of people struggle with, but it is vital. Quantifying your accomplishments solidifies them in the mind of the reader. It turns an abstract statement into a hard fact.

3. Use Active Words


Businesswoman works to customize her resume

Fill your resume with verbs that convey energy and action. Carefully selected verbs also help you create concrete statements that create a visual for the reader. Instead of, "Put in processes that led to a significant reduction in costs," try "Decreased costs by devising efficient sales process."

But be careful. Don't use the same verbs over and over. Do the work and find powerful synonyms.

4. Trim The Fat From Your Resume


Man reads a resume

This may be the most important tip for creating a powerful resume that will get read and noticed. The hiring manager or recruiter may have dozens of resumes to review, so make sure yours is easy to get through. Write succinctly, be specific, edit out filler words, and trim the unnecessary detail that doesn't add to your qualifications for the position.

Review and edit. Then review and edit again.

The digital age has brought challenges to the job seeker, but they can be overcome. Spend the time to create a powerful resume. Make sure it gets the attention that it deserves.

Need more help with your job search?

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4 Tips For Writing A Powerful Resume



Even executives who've had several years of experience in a profession can find it hard to secure a new job. The problem clearly isn't lack of experience, but rather understanding how to best position themselves on their resume so that employers will take notice of what they have to offer.

When you're a senior executive, there's typically no shortage of information to include on your resume—and that's where the problem lies. When there's no strategy for writing a resume, the end result is usually a mishmash of information that doesn't help employers understand exactly how and why you would fit their needs.

So, how can an executive write a resume that will stand out to employers?

The tips below will help you write a strategic and effective executive resume with ease.

Present Information That Aligns With The Employer's Needs


Employer/hiring manager reads an executive resume that aligns with their needs

When employers review your resume, they are looking to understand how you may fit into the role they are looking to fill and the organization. A resume that is written like an autobiography (everything from past to present with no filter on what information is appropriate to include) fails to provide customized information that shows you meet their needs.

What you need to do is highlight the specific experience and skills that align with their needs. In other words, you need to customize your resume for each job you apply for. You do that by carefully reviewing the job posting, understanding what the specific needs are, and then thinking about how you're proficient in those areas.

Utilize an executive headline and relevant skills (not an objective statement) at the top of your resume to present highlights of what you have to offer to meet the employer's needs.

Demonstrate How You Brought Improvement/Results To Your Previous Jobs


Employer reviews an executive resume with quantifiable accomplishments

While detailing roles and responsibilities at previous jobs under "Work History" can help improve keyword matches when the resume is run through the applicant tracking system (ATS), it needs to present other information once it gets in the hands of a human reviewer.

The human reviewer will be looking for information on how your actions on the job brought results. This requires you to quantify your accomplishments on your resume. When you write quantifiable results on your resume, it provides employers with a much better understanding of the type of experience and situations you've faced and what you're capable of achieving on the job.

Connect With The Employer


Those who are hired for the job are typically job candidates who've related well with the employer. They've shown how they fit in and share similar passions.

To help build that connection with the employer on the resume, indicate professional affiliations, volunteer work, and other aspects that may be outside of work that are relatable. For example, if you know the employer is heavily involved in community work helping pets in need and you've volunteered at an animal shelter, include a brief mention at the end of your resume to help build a stronger connection. Your professional affiliation with related fields and industry groups also helps demonstrate to the employer you share a passion in the same space as they do.

These are simple strategies to help improve your executive resume. The more you can tailor your information, the easier it is for employers to take notice of you and initiate follow-up action. Show employers you can meet their specific desires and needs and connect with them by showing you share similar passions!

Need more help with your executive resume?

Check out our executive-level membership and start working with career expert J.T. O'Donnell on branding your executive resume today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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3 Tips For Improving Your Executive Resume

5 Tips For A Career Change Resume



If you've been doing your homework on how to write an effective resume, you've seen a recurring theme: you have to quantify your work experience. Although most people understand the general idea of this, we find that job seekers often struggle with applying this idea to writing their resumes.

Here are three easy ways to quantify your work experience with numbers so your resume stands out!

1. Show How Many


Sometimes our responsibilities don't sound that impressive until we start detailing how much work we've been doing. For instance, if one of your job responsibilities is tracking your company's compliance with filing a set of forms every year, you could write that two different ways:

Ensured compliance with filing of annual forms.

—or—

Ensured compliance with the filing of 75 annual forms by 7 different company departments.

Doesn't the second example sound much more impressive?

2. Show How Much


Woman on phone and laptop quantifies her experience on her resume

If you have a job in sales, marketing, or any other business where profitability is the ultimate goal of your position, citing exactly how much money you've either made or saved your company is the way to go.

For example, if you're an internal auditor, your resume could say:

Saved company money by finding ways to cut costs.

—or—

Implemented new payroll and tax accounting systems that saved firm $1M in personnel costs over the next 10 years.

Estimates are fine when citing these types of numbers, as long as you can justify your claim if someone asks you in an interview.

3. Show How Often


Man on laptop writes down quantifiable accomplishments on his resume

We frequently talk with job seekers who have previously been successful in very high-volume environments. If you've worked in this type of setting, please give yourself credit!

Even an administrative assistant's job sounds completely different when quantified and given some context:

Answered phones at the front desk.

—or—

Managed switchboard with 10 incoming lines, effectively receiving and routing an average of 500 calls per day.

My goodness, who wouldn't hire the second candidate?

As you write your resume, ask yourself these three important questions:

  1. How many?
  2. How much?
  3. How often?

The key to landing an interview is to answer those questions as you describe your previous professional accomplishments. Once you learn how to quantify your results and work experience, nothing will hold you back!

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3 Ways To Quantify Your Experience With …

5 Tips For A Career Change Resume



Your resume is the most important document to advance your career. And given employers will only scan it for about 7-10 seconds, you need to make sure you scream, “Here's what I can do for you!"

There's a difference between a resume that only showcases your personality and characteristics and one that demonstrates specific achievements and accomplishments. Unfortunately, too many resumes are filled with fluff statements anyone can say and they don't really distinguish you as a top candidate.

A resume filled with terms such as "visionary" (how many of these do you really know?), "motivated," "team player," "problem solver," "results oriented," "dynamic," and many other phrases are examples of overused words.

To avoid creating a resume complete with fluff, try to turn to marketable facts and quantifiable accomplishments.

1. Don't Rely On Terms That Describe Character (Soft Skills)


Replace the use of terms that describe character with specific content to demonstrate how you accomplished or achieved something. Shed some light on your method of execution. A resume should not include soft skills.

For instance, to show you were "results oriented," indicate on your resume how you increased sales in your department by XY percent within a year or increased the number of attendees to an annual conference by XY percent compared to previous years.

If you don't actually have numbers, you can approximate percentages: "Introduced new procedures that slashed cycle times approximately 20%."

These are examples of quantifiable accomplishments. Don't be afraid to quantify your results on the job and prove you're the best fit for the position.

2. Use Numbers And Symbols


Man thinks about quantifying his accomplishments on his resume instead of adding fluff

Numbers and symbols quickly jump out at employers so use them whenever you can. Resumes have their own special rules and always show all numbers as digits as they catch the eye. Percentages are always best as they show the impact of your efforts.

For example, saying "increased sales $750,000 over prior year" is nice but to some companies that is petty cash and your company might not like your giving out their private information. It's better to say, "Increased sales 43% over prior year."

Simply avoid words that aren't specific, such as "many," "few," and "several."

3. Don't List Responsibilities Of Your Previous Jobs; Demonstrate Outcomes


Professional woman on laptop writes about outcomes and accomplishments on her resume

The problem with writing responsibilities you held on the job is it doesn't tell an employer how successful you were at executing your plans. An employer only cares about how good you did your job and how what you did can apply to the job they are offering.

Rather than list responsibilities, demonstrate your performance.

  • Are you the most senior member of your team?
  • Do people turn to you for the more challenging issues?
  • Is your productivity level higher than your peers?
  • Do you resolve issues on the first call versus others needing 2-3 calls?
  • Is your level of accuracy and the quality of your work at the highest level?
  • Have you demonstrated the ability to meet aggressive deadlines?

Statements like "consistently recognized for delivering quality results at less cost than budgeted" showcases your effectiveness, especially when you back that statement up with approximate numbers.

4. Only Detail Specialized Technical Skills


Professional man on laptop adds technical skills to his resume instead of fluff

Today's employers expect candidates to know basic computer skills and programs, so only list specialized technical skills that are relevant to the job. An employer does not need to see you know programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Also, when you do list any technical skill, tell an employer how well you know the specific program by detailing what you may have created or done with it. Simply listing a specific program will not help an employer understand how well you know it or what your capabilities are.

Fill your resume with performance statements instead of fluff and you will see a dramatic improvement in your job search results.

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4 Ways To Turn Resume Fluff Into …

3 Ways To Convey Quantifiable Information On A Resume



The words you choose to use and how you present information on your resume can dramatically impact the results you get. As a job seeker, you have to remember that your goal with your resume is to make an immediate impact by impressing hiring managers and recruiters with something you have that they want. One of the best ways to do that is to offer quantifiable information.

Quantifiable information allows hiring managers and recruiters to measure the degree of knowledge and skills you have to offer. It is a way to inform them about what and how much you can bring to the table.

To make an immediate impact with your resume, try these methods:

1. Provide Context And Scale To Your Information


Happy woman quantifies information on her resume

When you think of quantifiable information, the immediate thought is to go to the results you've garnered. But on the resume, there's more that can be quantified.

Don't leave out the subject matter. You can talk about how many clients you managed, how many people on the team you had to oversee, or how many products you were involved in marketing across Europe. Putting a number against the subject matter can say a lot.

For example, when you say, "Managed the launch of products across Europe," it tells a bit of information.

When you start to add in numbers like, "Formed 6 new partnerships within a year to support the marketing of 5 new products across 10 markets in Europe, which resulted in an increased of revenue by 90%," it says a lot more.

Some other words to help you along the way include "doubled," "tripled," and "reduced by." We recommend you add at least one number to each bullet point on your resume. If you can't quantify something in that bullet point, it probably doesn't belong on your resume.

2. Use Numbers And Figures


Job seeker on phone and laptop quantifies information on his resume

When you talk about results on your resume, you need to find a way to make it stand out. Putting it in a bullet point helps, but just as important is applying numbers and figures to the statement. When you add numbers and figures, it's easier for the eyes looking over your resume to catch these bits of information.

For example, when you write, "Reduced time lag by eighty percent," it's not as easy to take notice of it.

When you show the actual numbers and figures like, "Reduced time lag by 80%," it catches the eye much more quickly.

The general rule here is to show it when you can—don't spell it!

3. Toss Out Fluff Words & Talk About Real Achievement


Woman on laptop writes her resume with quantifiable information

Anyone can say they're a go-getter, strategic thinker, results-driven... yadda yadda yadda. But why should the employer believe you? What proof do you have to back up those statements?

The point is to prove your abilities and skills as a professional on your resume. Work with words like "on time," "under budget," "improved," "saved," and "negotiated" while also applying appropriate numbers and figures (as discussed above) to help you make your point.

It's about time you turn that resume fluff into quantifiable information! Once you see the difference it makes in your job search, you'll never go back to the old way of writing resumes.

Today's hiring managers and recruiters go through enough resumes each day to know when they have a candidate who's a real winner and one that's simply all talk on the resume.

When you put your experience in context and scale the subject matter, as well as apply numbers and figures with some of the suggested power words, your resume will come across with impact and results hiring managers and recruiters can't deny as impressive.

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How To Effectively Demonstrate Your Value In A Job Interview



One of the most common reasons candidates get rejected after a job interview is that they don't provide enough relevant, tangible examples of what they've done in their current/previous job that would be relevant to the position they are seeking.

When you're looking for a new job, you need to provide specific concrete examples of the competencies listed on a job description—whether it is problem-solving, influencing, taking initiative, or managing change.

A lot of job seekers will give generic examples or just talk about what they've done—but without mentioning specific accomplishments. You could be very good at your current job, but if you struggle to effectively demonstrate your expertise and value in a job interview, you may miss out on your next career opportunity.

Here are a few tips to help you overcome any blocks you might have about talking about your achievements:

Discussing Accomplishments Isn't Bragging


One of the reasons candidates shy away from talking about their accomplishments is because they don't want to sound arrogant. However, the job interview isn't the time to be too humble. Talking about your accomplishments and using facts and numbers isn't bragging—it's telling a story.

You have to remember that a potential employer wants you to do well in an interview. They are literally looking for an excuse to give out the job! So, tell them what they need in a clear, factual manner.

Demonstrate How You Overcome Challenges


Man demonstrates how he's overcome challenges in a job interview

A great way to answer questions while highlighting your skills and accomplishments is by using the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model and/or the STAR technique (situation, task, action, result).

What was the situation/problem? How did you solve this problem/overcome this setback? What did you learn from this experience? How did you apply what you learned to your career?

These methods are particularly beneficial when you're answering behavioral interview questions that hiring managers ask to see if a candidate has enough self-awareness to know what they're good at, and what skill sets need improvement.

Use Numbers To Your Advantage


A job seeker discusses some of her quantifiable accomplishments in a job interview

Numbers are great for demonstrating your skills and expertise. Did you increase revenue, or save time/money? Did you improve a procedure and, if so, how much time did you save? How many clients did you win in your last job? Don't just tell the employer what the result was. Tell them how you got the result and what your decision-making process was.

Prepare several examples of quantifiable results for your next job interview and you'll significantly increase your chances of getting that job offer!

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How To Effectively Demonstrate Your Value In …

10 Most Overused Words On LinkedIn Profiles



Recently, the top 10 most overused words on LinkedIn profiles were announced. And I'm not shocked to see that all 10 words break the basic rule of personal branding: stay objective.

Opinions Of Your Skills Don’t Belong On LinkedIn


The 10 most overused words on LinkedIn are subjective. Meaning that if you use them, you are stating an opinion of yourself. Take a look:

  1. Specialize
  2. Experienced
  3. Skilled
  4. Leadership
  5. Passionate
  6. Expert
  7. Motivated
  8. Creative
  9. Strategic
  10. Focused

The problem with using these words is that, while you think it’s okay to talk about yourself in this way, the reader of your profile (aka a recruiter or hiring manager) gets the mistaken impression that you think you are “all that and a bag of chips.”

Simple Test To Fix Your Profile


Man updates his LinkedIn profile

The solution is to test your profile and then take out any words that aren’t fact. Here’s how you test it: simply read each sentence on your profile and then ask yourself, “Says who?” If you can’t validate it within the sentence you are using it in, then it needs to go. I used all 10 of the words on LinkedIn’s list below to show you examples of how they get misused.

  • I am a strategic, motivated professional.
  • I am creative and experienced.
  • I have great leadership skills.
  • I am a skilled expert in my field.
  • I know how to specialize to meet the needs of my job.
  • I am a focused leader who's passionate about my industry.

For all of the above, you can’t help but think when you read them, “Geez. Don’t you think a lot of yourself!” Or, as I mentioned above, the immediate reaction becomes, “Really? Says who?”

Solution: List Accomplishments


Woman logs on to LinkedIn

Once you edit your profile, go back through and insert accomplishments that prove what you were trying to say about yourself. These would be examples of better fits:

  • I have a 10-year track record of exceeding my employer’s performance review standards.
  • I have created 20+ projects in X, resulting in $1M in new revenues.
  • I have completed more than 100 business analysis projects that have saved my employers $250K+ in the last 2 years.
  • I have managed teams of 2-50 through 15+ complete project lifecycles.
  • I have worked with over 400 customers to solve implementation issues that reduced client service calls by 50%.

Final Tip: Quantify To Qualify


Woman on laptop thinks about what she's going to write

Notice all of the above bullet points use numbers, percentages, and statistics to prove the skill. This is called quantifying your accomplishments, and it is the most compelling way to validate your experience. When it comes to LinkedIn, facts are always better than fiction!

We know how difficult it can be to optimize your LinkedIn profile so it effectively communicates your personal brand. If you're still struggling to update your LinkedIn profile, we can help.

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you update your LinkedIn profile—the right way.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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10 Most Overused Words On LinkedIn Profiles