How to add quantifiable results to your CV, when you think you don’t have any

Most jobseekers understand the importance of showcasing quantifiable evidence of their skills and competencies on their CV.

Demonstrating your expertise to a potential hiring manager shows them the value you can bring to their organisation, as opposed to just explaining what you’ve done.

For example, you could state:

• The percentage of increased sales
• Customer complaints you’ve resolved
• Clients or website visitors you were personally responsible for

Such outcomes are easy to measure over time. Therefore, they are equally easy to assign an impressive numerical figure. Of course, impactful numbers can be incredibly compelling in the context of a  CV.  Numbers help you to tangibly prove to the potential employer that you’re the right person for the role you are applying for.

However, evidencing quantifiable results can be far easier for some than it is for others. Some roles just don’t lend themselves to this type of measurement. So, if this is the case for you, what tangible, numerical achievements can you put on your CV?

29 examples of how to quantify results in your CV

Following are a number of other equally powerful quantifiable results you can share. Including these stats as resume bullet points will demonstrate the positive impact you’ve made in all your roles to date. By aligning your achievements with the job description you’re applying for, you can also highlight the value you can bring to the role:

Demonstrate team or stakeholder management

1. The number of team members you have managed/supervised
2. Staff retention rates
3. Staff promotion rates
4. The number of internal and external stakeholders you’ve worked with in X locations or X departments

Display project or account management

5. The number of projects or accounts managed
6. The number of programmes you’ve successfully delivered
7. The percentage of projects delivered on time/ahead of schedule
8. The percentage of accounts/clients/customers retained
9. The number of new accounts or projects you took on over time
10. Budgets managed
11. Dollar value of contracts you negotiated
12. Client or customer satisfaction rates under your management

Showcase productivity and effectiveness as achievements on your CV

13. The volume of work/tasks you delivered in a given timeframe
14. The number of sales calls you typically made in a given timeframe
15. Your response rate for queries
16. The number of customers (internal/external) or clients you typically served within a given timeframe
17. The impact of process improvements you made
18. The number of meetings you chair, including the number of delegates
19. Money saved from negotiations with suppliers
20. Cost/time reductions achieved
21. Increase in market share
22. Percentage of objectives or sales targets hit
23. Percentage of issues resolved

Personal development

24. The number of training courses you’ve attended
25. The number of new qualifications you’ve gained
26. The number of new skills you’ve learnt in a given timeframe
27. The number of awards or accolades you’ve won
28. The number of members of staff you have trained, coached or mentored
29. The number of times you’ve been promoted/progressed

Use these quantifiable results in your CV when writing an achievements section. Alternatively, you can add these figures to your work experience section.

Remember: it is possible to evidence and showcase the tangible results in any role. You just might need to look a little harder to find them.

Learn how to structure your CV in our expert guide. Our recruiters explain how to showcase your achievements effectively through your employment history.

How to track and measure your achievements to put on a CV

Knowing the kinds of achievements you can put on your CV is important, but how do you track your achievements?

Here are some practical steps you can take to keep track of your accomplishments:

Keep a work journal

If you are currently working, record your daily tasks and significant achievements. Doing so will help you quantify your results, as you will have the information to hand. If recording daily seems excessive for your job role, note key achievements weekly or monthly instead.

Use technology to help

Depending on your line of work, you may have used project management tools such as Trello or Jira to track projects. Use information from these tools to help you track any projects you have worked on.

Additionally, analytics software can measure the impact of your work. This is especially true if you work in digital marketing, sales or customer service roles.

Journaling and using available tools allows you to begin assembling your list of quantifiable results for your CV. This practice helps you stay organised, ensuring you have a ready-made set of achievements to impress potential employers. So, remember to consistently document your successes and the impact of your work. This simple task will better equip you to present yourself as a valuable asset to any organisation.

Is your CV job search ready? Read our CV tips for expert advice and perfect your CV, beyond quantifiable results:

• How to write a powerful personal statement on your CV
• Common mistakes to avoid when writing a cover letter