As a chemicals recruiter, I have candidates ask me all the time to comment on their resume. They ask me about whether or not to include an objective statement, the date they graduated from university, or to include the volunteer work they did. They ask about margins and fonts, and colors. Honestly, most of that is all window dressing. The single biggest flaw with candidates’ resumes are that they fail to quantify the results of what they were charged with doing.
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 and continue to quantify. You need to be able to prove you can get the job done better and faster than anyone else. 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 is 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 he’s quantifying his results and showcasing his value.
How to Quantify ANYTHING on Your Resume
Whether you are 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 is your job to prove your value to employer by flaunting your accomplishments.
-Written by John Kehoe: Specialty Chemicals Recruiter and Chemical Distribution Practice Lead