What are the best ways to use data in your resume to show your impact on revenue or cost savings?
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If you want to stand out from the crowd of job seekers, you need to show how you have made a difference in your previous roles. One of the most effective ways to do that is to use data in your resume to demonstrate your impact on revenue or cost savings. Data can help you quantify your achievements, highlight your value, and persuade potential employers that you have the skills and experience they need. In this article, we will share some of the best ways to use data in your resume to show your impact on revenue or cost savings.
Not all data is created equal. You need to choose data that is relevant to the job you are applying for, the industry you are in, and the goals you have achieved. For example, if you are a salesperson, you might want to use data that shows how you increased sales volume, revenue, market share, or customer retention. If you are a project manager, you might want to use data that shows how you reduced costs, risks, or errors, or how you improved efficiency, quality, or customer satisfaction. The key is to use data that aligns with the job description, the company's mission, and the value proposition you offer.
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Erica Reckamp
You won't BELIEVE what they'll say about your new C-Suite / Executive Resume — Partner with me to advance your goals. >>> C-Suite & Executive Resumes > LinkedIn Profiles > Bios > Networking Pieces
Publicly available data is generally considered fair game when it comes to what you can reveal in a resume, bio or LinkedIn profile. If you want to showcase impact without revealing confidential information, speak about budgets and outcomes in broad terms like double-digit revenue growth or 6-figure increase in traffic. Converting from specific dollar amounts to percent increases offer another method to avoid revealing sensitive data.
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Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resumes, CCMC, CPRW, NCOPE
Executive Resume Writer, LinkedIn Expert, Former Recruiter 💪 Powerful Resumes & Personal Branding: CXO, Board, Healthcare, IT, EVP, VP 🏆 22 Awards, 11 Certifications. Seen in CNBC, Forbes, CIO, Time. I get RESULTS!
First, learn what employers want by reviewing both job postings AND the profiles of successful people in your desired role. Then, set to work writing powerful achievements that mirror these requirements. Choose data that represents your abilities, and adjust it to ensure you're not giving away company secrets. For example, "Won #1 sales deal with Toshiba for $4M" might not be common knowledge, but "Won #1 sales deal with multinational tech client, increasing YTD team achievement 39%" can show your effectiveness without revealing too much information. Consider accomplishments that don't rely on dollar figures, such as "Expedited new-account volume 50%+ faster YoY in 2023." These successes can still speak to your value proposition.
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Louise Purcell (now Moore)
MSc Food Business Management and Technology
Showing quantifiable contributions eg. increased sales by 10% for a particular product, achieved 10% increase in efficiencies through migration to another product etc. all stand out on a cv/resume. Be wary of littering the CV with too many, a few high quality stand out examples is best
One of the easiest ways to use data in your resume is to use numbers and percentages to quantify your results. Numbers and percentages can help you show the magnitude, scale, or scope of your impact, as well as the before-and-after comparison. For example, instead of saying "I increased revenue by implementing a new strategy", you could say "I increased revenue by 35% ($1.2 million) in six months by implementing a new strategy". Numbers and percentages can also help you show your relative performance, such as how you exceeded your targets, ranked among your peers, or outperformed the industry average.
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Francis Doehner
Founder @ Frank Resume | Easing the Stress While Chasing Your Dreams
The interviewer will likely not have context for the numbers you are presenting. Use this to your advantage. Use numbers that dazzle. For Example If you improved a monthly process by 15 minutes, that doesn't knock anyone's socks off, but if the process used to take an hour, then reducing production time by 25% sounds impressive. If you helped with renegotation of $1M on a $50M lease, reducing cost savings by $1M sounds much better than 2%. If you went from one client in Rhode Island to two, doubling your client base sounds impressive. You can't lie on your resume, but you can present yourself in the best light. Let the best looking numbers help that.
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Scott Valenti SHRM-CP
LinkedIn Top Resume Writing Voice @ the7secondresume.com
If a picture is 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬, then numbers and percentages are 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔! There are essentially two pillars of business... making money and saving money! Showing that you have done either or both tells the hiring manager the most important thing of all... that 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐕𝐄 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬! This is what gets interviews, and this is what produces offer letter. Solving Problems! Numbers and percentage POP off the screen... they tell a story... they tell a story behind the story! Whenever possible, fill your resume with accomplishment-based bullets that include numbers and compare the future performance of these resumes to the ones without. You will believe!
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Erica Reckamp
You won't BELIEVE what they'll say about your new C-Suite / Executive Resume — Partner with me to advance your goals. >>> C-Suite & Executive Resumes > LinkedIn Profiles > Bios > Networking Pieces
For job seekers who wish to minimize the chances of competitors using resume data as research, we use dollar amounts in the resume (where they can better control readership) and percents on the more public LinkedIn profile.
Another way to use data in your resume is to use charts and graphs to visualize your results. Charts and graphs can help you show trends, patterns, or correlations that might not be obvious from text alone. For example, if you want to show how your revenue grew over time, you could use a line chart to illustrate the growth rate and the total amount. If you want to show how your cost savings varied by category, you could use a pie chart to show the proportion of each category. Charts and graphs can also help you catch the attention of the reader and make your resume more appealing and memorable.
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Waleed Talat, CRW, CCW, CCP
75+ Client Testimonials ⮕ 2X Certified Resume Writer (CARW) ♦ Executive Resume Writer ♦ Certified Creative Writer ♦ LinkedIn Branding Expert ♦ Career Coach & Strategist ♦ Certified Publisher (CCP) ♦ Gold Medalist🏅
sual Clarity: Incorporating charts and graphs ensures your achievements are immediately evident, making it easy for hiring managers to grasp your contributions. Quantify Results: These visuals allow you to present specific figures, percentages, and trends, reinforcing the quantifiable impact you've had on revenue or cost reduction. Competitive Edge: Standing out in a sea of text-based resumes, graphs and charts demonstrate your data-driven approach and analytical skills, setting you apart from other candidates.
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Carrie Bryson
I would advise against incorporating charts and graphs into your resume, as it may hinder Applicant Tracking Systems' ability to process the information and affect the overall layout of your document. Instead, lead with compelling action verbs at the start of your bullet points and clearly articulate the savings and impact your contributions had on the business. For instance: 'Appointed to spearhead the establishment of a new Pump Solutions Business unit, while concurrently optimizing operations at another location, resulting in an impressive 500% revenue growth within just 18 months.' You might also want to showcase your achievements in a dedicated section at the top of your resume labeled 'Signature Accomplishments'.
A third way to use data in your resume is to use testimonials and feedback from your customers, managers, or colleagues to support your claims. Testimonials and feedback can help you show the quality, effectiveness, or satisfaction of your work, as well as the recognition or appreciation you received. For example, if you want to show how you increased customer loyalty, you could use a testimonial from a happy customer who praised your service or product. If you want to show how you saved money for your company, you could use a feedback from your manager who thanked you for your initiative or innovation.
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Erica Reckamp
You won't BELIEVE what they'll say about your new C-Suite / Executive Resume — Partner with me to advance your goals. >>> C-Suite & Executive Resumes > LinkedIn Profiles > Bios > Networking Pieces
Avoid overdoing testimonials or placing them front and center. Concrete outcomes speak louder than commentary and should be prioritized when crafting a concise resume.
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Akshay Ramanathan
Empowering Students for Career Success: Goal Setting | Resume & Cover Letters | Dream Internships & Jobs
We often underestimate the impact of qualitative and observational feedback. Early testimonials on my resume helped solidify my expertise in resume writing. Customer reviews highlighted my commitment to delivering transformative results and proving the value of client satisfaction for professionals of different backgrounds. As the tip suggests I’ve leveraged the feedback of supervisors who lauded my innovative contributions, effectiveness of my work, and the recognition I received. #TestimonialsMatter #CustomerFeedback #ProfessionalGrowth #QualitativeData #ResumeWritingTips
A final way to use data in your resume is to use action verbs and keywords to describe your actions, skills, and achievements. Action verbs and keywords can help you show your impact, responsibility, and contribution, as well as match the expectations and requirements of the employer. For example, if you want to show how you generated revenue, you could use action verbs such as "created", "delivered", "launched", or "negotiated". If you want to show how you reduced costs, you could use action verbs such as "optimized", "streamlined", "cut", or "saved". You can also use keywords that are specific to your industry, role, or function, such as "sales", "marketing", "accounting", or "engineering".
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Waleed Talat, CRW, CCW, CCP
75+ Client Testimonials ⮕ 2X Certified Resume Writer (CARW) ♦ Executive Resume Writer ♦ Certified Creative Writer ♦ LinkedIn Branding Expert ♦ Career Coach & Strategist ♦ Certified Publisher (CCP) ♦ Gold Medalist🏅
Start with action verbs: Begin each bullet point with powerful action verbs like "increased," "optimized," or "implemented." These verbs convey your proactive approach to problem-solving. Incorporate keywords: Tailor your resume with relevant keywords from the job description and industry. This not only highlights your expertise but also ensures that your resume passes through applicant tracking systems (ATS). Quantify your achievements: Use specific numbers and percentages to demonstrate your contributions. For instance, "Increased revenue by 20% through a strategic sales initiative," or "Reduced operating costs by 15% through streamlined processes." These concrete figures immediately convey your impact on the company's bottom line.
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Pritesh Patel
Lead Human Resources at Adani Ports and SEZ, || Ex- DHL SmarTrucking || Tata Steel || MDI Gurgaon
The sentence structure is important to showcase your contribution. Action verb+ Content+ Impact i.e. Led project of implementing innovative ways of cost saving resulting in 20% reduction in cost
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Jaqueline Garutti
Career & Leadership Consultant and Mentor | Career LinkedIn e Gupy Creator | Professional Brand and Career Portfolio Specialist - CV and LinkedIn | HR | Speaker and Facilitator
Alguns profissionais optam por manter a confidencialidade dos dados enquanto trabalham. No entanto, aqui está uma sugestão para abordar isso de forma que mencione resultados sem divulgar informações sensíveis. Por exemplo: "Alcancei um aumento significativo na receita, representando um aumento significativo, com dois dígitos, em um período de seis meses, graças à implementação de uma nova estratégia."
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Sara Towers
🚀 Catalyst for Career Growth | 🌟 Elevating Individuals to Realise their Ambitions | 🔥 Igniting Business Excellence | 🤝 Partnering with Leaders to Fuel Success
Make sure that any data you use is true, and that your achievement in achieving the results is yours. Some of your referees, may be asked to confirm that the data is factual and the role you played in achieving the data.
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Jennifer Fishberg, Ed.M., CPRW, CEIC
Certified Resume Writer | LinkedIn Profile Writer | Job Search Strategist | Author | INFJ | Introvert Advocate ► I help people tell their career stories so they can get hired, get promoted, and do what they love
Data + storytelling is where the magic happens. Metrics are essential—but remember, a resume is not a spreadsheet. Include context that gives the numbers meaning for someone outside your company.