Numbers Don’t Lie!
Numbers always speak louder than words; especially on an applicant’s resume or social media profile. Even the most entry level positions can have an impact on an organization’s bottom line, whether it be through innovation, consolidation, streamlining processes, or by implementing old fashioned cost saving measures.
During periods of higher unemployment, it’s difficult for even the most qualified individuals to get noticed by employers due to the sheer volume of applicants and overall competiveness of the job market. This, coupled with the fact that many industries are scaling back full time staff in lieu of hiring contracted consultants means that job seekers need to be extremely vigilant about how they’re presenting themselves to potential employers. Making the hard case as to why they’ve been and will continue to be a positive return on investment for whichever organization they represent is key to ensuring a positive response from hiring managers.
Talking about a track record of financial “wins” by citing specific examples of how an applicant saved a company either time, money, or both is a surefire way to get noticed, as well as set that individual apart from the competition. Additionally, this shows an applicant’s professional capacity for managing people, money, and processes without citing overused job-seeking rhetoric or platitudes.
Whenever possible, it’s important that job seekers ask themselves one key question when figuring out how they should document their past work history: Can it be quantified? If not, they may want to rethink how they’re displaying that particular skill set/experience or if it’s worth documenting at all.
Below are a few primer questions every job seeker should ask to get a better sense of how to effectively communicate their impact:
- How many people did I oversee/work with?
- How many partners were on this project?
- How big was the budget?
- How many calls per day did I make?
- How much money did the organization end of saving due to my actions?
- How much staff time did the refined process end up saving the company?
By documenting their financial impact, job seekers are automatically setting themselves apart from the competition by proving that they will be a positive asset to the company’s bottom line over the long haul. After all, who doesn’t like saving a little money now and then?
To receive more job search advice, visit our website here, or call 855-994-8300 to attend our Job Readiness Training!
