Stand Out With a Quantitative Resume

What is a quantitative resume?

A quantitative resume emphasizes measurable outcomes and provides readers with hard data to support your claims. 

Unlike traditional resumes that rely on generic language, these data-driven resumes focus on tangible achievements. The goal is to demonstrate your value through concrete numbers and results. Here is one example:

• Traditional: Managed a team of sales associates 
• Quantitative: Managed a team of 10 sales associates, increasing quarterly revenue by 25%

See the difference? The first item on the list just tells the reader what you did. However, it doesn’t shed light on the size of the team you managed or tell potential employers how effective you were in that role. 

In contrast, the second item conveys the team size, which tells the hiring manager that you can probably manage a similarly sized group if chosen for the position you are applying for. More importantly, it links your management experience to a positive outcome for your employer.

Why metrics matter in resumes

Featuring hard data in your resume and cover letter makes your professional value undeniable. 

You can use metrics to quantify your contributions and make it easy for recruiters to see what you bring to the table. Additionally, if your prospective employer uses an applicant tracking system (ATS), including certain metrics can help you get past the initial scanning process.

Anyone can say they are good at something or use generic language to speak about their experience. However, the most sought-after professionals have the data to back up their statements. By using the right resume metrics, you can stand out from other job applicants and increase your odds of landing an interview.

However, you can’t just throw a bunch of numbers at the hiring manager. Your resume needs to be structured in an engaging and scannable way. Otherwise, you may not make it past the ATS. 

Key metrics to highlight by industry

There aren’t any one-size-fits-all metrics. Instead, choose data points that are relevant to your profession and the role you are applying for. Let’s look at some quantitative resume examples by industry: 

Tech and IT

The technology sector prioritizes efficiency and uptime above just about everything else. Some data points that IT employers may be concerned with include:

Carefully review the job description and identify accomplishments in your past that align with what the employer is looking for. If you’ve achieved success with a project that matches the job description, make sure to include it in your resume. 

Marketing

Marketing teams want to know that you can deliver results while making the most of their advertising dollars. Some of the metrics these teams care about include:

When possible, include what you achieved, the margin of improvement, and the time frame. Generating 1,200 leads in one month might be impressive. However, if you don’t put a time frame on your achievement, the statement isn’t nearly as impactful. 

Sales

Some sales metrics to list include the following:

Each of these examples showcases your ability to close deals and connect with clients and customers. That’s what hiring managers want to see when filling sales roles. 

Healthcare

When pursuing healthcare opportunities, you should prioritize patient satisfaction and cost savings. Here are some examples:

Focus on metrics relevant to the position you are applying for. 

Finance

Some finance metrics you may want to highlight include the following:

Discussing how well you fulfilled your responsibilities by linking your work back to positive outcomes is a great way to show hiring managers that you’ll be a valuable addition. 

How to identify your quantifiable achievements

Even if you are applying for an entry-level job or transitioning to a new career, you can likely identify some relevant metrics to include in your resume. Here are some tips for deciding what to include:

1. Reflect on Your Work: Look back on what you have achieved and any goals you’ve exceeded 
2. Use Existing Tools: Explore your existing project management tools to obtain insights for your resume 
3. Ask Questions: How did your actions save time and money? Did you impact customer satisfaction or boost team performance?

Don’t sell yourself short. Dig deep if you have to. Just find some relevant metrics to include in your quantitative resume so you can connect with hiring managers. 

"The goal of a quantitative resume is to demonstrate your value through concrete numbers and results."

Writing a quantitative resume: Best practices

Here are some tips to help you create a resume with measurable impact. 

Use action verbs

Start bullet points with strong, relevant verbs. Try to avoid generic language and instead use industry-specific terminology. Here are a few examples:

This approach puts you at the center of the action and shows hiring managers that you speak the language. 

Pair these action verbs with hard data to maximize the impact of your statements. If you don’t, a hiring manager might think that you are just making a bunch of bold, unsubstantiated claims. 

Formatting tips

The substance of your quantitative resume matters most. However, the way you structure your information is almost as important. Here are some tips to make the most of your formatting:

• Put key numbers in bold
• Use tables to relay complex data
• Keep it clean

If you’ve accomplished a lot throughout your career, for example, resist the urge to cram your quantitative researcher resume full of statistics. You need to let your content breathe by including negative space. Focus on your most notable accomplishments and use the layout of your document to present it in an eye-catching way. 

If you have concerns about formatting, we suggest checking out some resume and cover letter examples. These can inspire you to make your job application more substantive and engaging. 

Prioritize achievements

Always order your bullet points from most to least impactful. To immediately grab the reader’s attention, start with results that align with the job description. 

Limit each section to three to four bullets, unless you need to make up for weaker sections. For example, if you are a recent graduate and creating your first quantitative analyst resume, you may not have a lot of work experience. In that case, your skills section should be a little longer. 

Common mistakes

Misusing numbers can backfire. Here are some mistakes to watch out for:

• Don’t overinflate numbers or make unsubstantiated guesses
• Always clarify your role to accurately represent your contributions
• Ensure metrics align with the job you are applying for

For example, saying that you increased sales by 50% is impressive, but this statement has the most impact if you are applying for a sales or marketing role. 

Stand out with a data-driven resume 

A quantitative resume demonstrates your value through measurable results, giving you an edge over the competition. 

Not sure where to begin? We suggest finding an awesome resume template to jump-start your process. Choose a matching job letter template so that your documents complement and enhance one another. Before you know it, you’ll have an awesome pair of documents that get you noticed by hiring managers. 

Sources:

(1) Cultivated Culture: Resumes statistics: We analyzed 125,000+ resumes, here’s what we learned