Quantifying Achievements

The power of numbers

In the language of business, numbers are the currency of credibility.

A resume full of qualitative text may seem subjective, but numbers are hard data that bring objectivity and specific weight to claims.

Including tangible metrics transforms an opinion into verifiable fact. If a logistics manager claims to have "improved efficiency," it is an opinion.

If he writes "Reduced delivery times by 15% and fuel costs by $30,000 per year," it is an indisputable financial fact.

You don't need to have worked in finance to use numbers; you can quantify workload (e.g., "managing 50 simultaneous accounts"), team size ("12-person leadership") or production ("writing 20 articles a week").

Numbers attract the eye during visual scanning and anchor the reader's attention.

Comparisons and metrics

For a number to be truly impactful, it often needs a comparative benchmark.

Being a "good salesperson" is abstract; being the "#1 salesperson out of a staff of 50" is a clear distinction of excellence.

Comparative metrics help place the candidate within a performance hierarchy.

Using percentages of improvement over previous periods or comparisons to the industry average is highly effective.

For example: "I exceeded the annual revenue target by 120%, placing me in the top 5% of the company's performance".

These kinds of phrases speak not only of performance, but also of competitiveness and ambition.

If you do not have exact figures due to confidentiality or lack of access, you can use conservative estimates or ranges, but always try to provide a frame of reference that allows you to assess the magnitude of success.

Formulas for writing up

To facilitate the writing of these quantified achievements, there is a foolproof formula that guarantees clarity and impact: Situation (or Problem) + Action + Result.

This structure ensures that all the necessary angles are covered for the achievement to be understood and valued.

An example of the application of this formula would be: "Faced with a 10% drop in customer retention (Situation), I implemented a new points-based loyalty program (Action), recovering retention levels and increasing customer lifetime value by 5% (Result)".

Another variant is to start directly with the impact to capture attention: "Saved €50,000 per year (Result) by renegotiating contracts with key suppliers (Action) in an environment of price inflation (Situation)".

Systematizing the writing of achievements under these frameworks ensures that the resume is value-oriented rather than merely descriptive.

Summary

Numbers bring objectivity and specific weight to claims, acting as a currency of credibility. Including tangible metrics transforms a subjective opinion into a verifiable fact, anchoring the reader's visual attention immediately.

Comparative metrics help place the candidate within a clear performance hierarchy. Using percentages of improvement or comparisons to the industry average demonstrates competitiveness and distinguishes professional excellence.

Systematizing writing using formulas such as Situation, Action and Result ensures clarity and impact. This structure ensures that all the necessary angles are covered so that the achievement is fully valued by the recruiter.