Quantify Your Experiences On Your Resume

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You are decreasing your chances of getting hired if you don’t “quantify” your experiences with numbers and percentages. A potential employer is interested in the exact size, scope and resources involved in projects you were a part of. It gives them a more comprehensive picture of your skills and experience level. So instead of using words such as “many” or “numerous” on your resume, use specific numbers. For example, state that you managed a multi-year project that involved 30+ people and the budget was $3 million. That is quantifying your work.

Other quantitative wording examples:

“I was a project manager on 100 projects.”

“Of those 100 projects, 95% of them were delivered on time, within budget and all deliverables were completed as requested.”

“The 5% not completed were due to cancellation of the project by re-direction of priorities and resources.”

These numbers will play to your benefit and help you get hired. So be specific!

Job Seekers Need Business Cards Too

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Whether you are employed and looking for a new job, or are currently unemployed and job searching, it’s important to have a business card. Business cards have long been used as “people connectors”. Cards are easy to hand out and give people a lasting snippet of who you are, long after a face-to-face meeting. They commonly include your skills and pertinent contact information. Because business cards play such an important role in networking, we recommend that all job seekers create and pass out a personalized business card. You can affordably and easily print a large quantity of cards at places like VistaPrint, OfficeMax and Staples.

You’ll want to include your name, title or career talents and current contact information – phone number, email address, social media links and a website if you have one. If you don’t have a current title, a general title can go in its place, such as IT Project Manager or HR Generalist Specializing in Employee Relations.

Carry your business cards with you at all times and pass them out to those in your network, as well as other appropriate people you come into contact with. Spread the wealth of who you are and what professional skills and talents you possess. Just remember, this is not a resume, so pare down the long list of bullets. Be concise and focused (but feel free to use the back if you need to). And possibly even add your photo for memorability.