Staci Collins, Sr. Resume Specialist
Having reviewed over 300,000 resumes, the Team at Ivy Exec has seen it all- the good, the bad, and the ugly. One of the most common mistakes we encounter is having a resume read like a job description with a list of responsibilities, which makes it impossible to stand out from the other applicants.
To help those of you struggling with this resume dilemma, we’ve asked Ivy Exec’s Sr. Resume Writer Staci Collins a question we hear over and over: How can I quantify my achievements and make my resume more results-oriented?
Some roles lend themselves easily to quantification: business development, finance, general management, investment banking sales/trading, some marketing & product development… but there are others like investment or business intelligence research, human resources, organizational development, consulting, even some R&D and entrepreneurship that either have very difficult to quantify numbers, sometimes confidential numbers, or numbers that look not so good. So, what do you do?
Well, numbers are the single biggest item in resumes that build credibility, there’s no way around it. So you have to find some – whether it’s the size of the cross-functional team or budget you managed, the fact you brought the project in 2 weeks ahead of deadline and 15% under-budget, expanded reach or adoption to dozens or hundreds in diverse locales. With the help of resume writer, you can find some metrics for any profession.
But numbers aren’t the only ways to show the impact of your contributions. There are qualitative results as well. The best way to find those is to explore the details of the problems/opportunities that you’ve faced. If you solved a problem that 5 others had tried over 3 years without success, then that’s something. If you resolved conflicts among silos or leaders or on a team; you managed your way through arcane and bureaucratic government ministries or agencies; you coached your direct reports to more effective leadership, improving the smooth running of their teams/units. It is through qualitative results that you’ll uncover & communicate your natural brand as well. Again, if you’re having problems doing so, a coach can help you design and develop these accomplishments so that your results shine through on your resume.
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Staci has over 15 years of experience partnering with managers at all levels to achieve their career objectives. She has worked at Accenture and Ernst & Young in change management, HR, and strategic planning. She received her MBA from the University of California – Haas, and BA from Harvard.
To get personalized advice on your resume from Staci or inquire about Ivy Exec’s resume writing options, please email resumes@ivyexec.com
