Would you like to know the key to attracting attention from employers?
You may have listed many facets of your career on your resume, demonstrating your qualifications with past job titles, achievements, special projects and education.
But, did you realize that adding dollar figures on your resume not only paints a vivid picture of your credentials, but helps you to land more interviews at a higher level?
In today’s challenging economy, a dollar-driven resume can make a distinct difference in the way your achievements are perceived, and the positions for which you’ll be considered.
*I see that you know money*
What’s behind this focus on money? During periods of recession, more employers than ever need professionals who can make it, save it and control it.
By demonstrating the effect of your work on revenue, profit and costs, you’ll net more attention from companies eager to reap the financial rewards of your expertise.
Of course, this means that you’ll need to sharpen your resume to add bottom-line metrics on profitability, budget management and cost savings.
Here are three ways to mine your career for dollar signs and use these figures to create an attention-getting resume:
• *Include revenue and profit figures*
Nothing gains attention faster in a tight economy than telling employers how much money you’ll make for them. Many companies justify your pay precisely on the ROI that they expect you to deliver.
Depending upon your industry or profession, revenue figures can be challenging to produce. Sales representatives, for example, easily can list revenue generated from their efforts.
Other professionals, however, may need to look at revenue in a different way. If you’ve led a project that will help the company to expand, consider adding the projected amount of profit the firm expects to reap from this effort.
Maybe you have been pulled into a special team or asked to analyze a business process. If you can find out the amount of revenue that the company will generate with this effort, be sure to list it on your resume.
What if the revenue you have produced has fluctuated? In this case, list the peak amount generated, since this will show the strength of the results you can attain.
Team leaders also can use whole-group achievements: If you have developed sales teams that produced more revenue, use these dollar figures to convey your abilities as a mentor.
• *Gather data on cost savings*
Have you saved your employer money with suggestions or changes?
One of the most straightforward ways to demonstrate your worth, cost reductions tell employers that you can add value by trimming the impact to the bottom line. When companies cut costs, it means that their profitability goes up — even without making more sales.
Even if you’re in a role that doesn’t traditionally focus on cost — say, customer service or IT — it still makes sense to note where and when you have been able to add efficiencies that reduced expenses.
In addition, look at any systems that you have created or suggested, with any associated cost reductions from new processes. Leadership professionals also can analyze the savings from renegotiating contracts or implementing new policies.
After identifying any cost savings, convert them to an annual or year-over-year savings figure to add even more impact.
• *Demonstrate your financial authority*
Employers tend to reason that, if you have held a certain level of authority in the past, then you can be trusted to handle duties of equal or greater size in the future.
The most easily defined monetary measures of responsibility are budgets, since their size can demonstrate your skills as a sound financial manager.
Don’t forget to include the size or budget allotment for any projects or special initiatives.
Many large-scale, global efforts draw on budgets of the same proportion. Noting this figure in your resume gives you an edge over candidates who have not controlled a project of this magnitude.
In summary, the dollar-driven resume is one of the best tools available to any professional seeking a new role in today’s competitive market.
Adding dollar figures to your resume can both verify your strongest skills, plus show employers the ROI they can expect when selecting you to meet their business needs.
_Laura Smith-Proulx is executive director of An Expert Resume, Denver, which provides career coaching, resume and branding services._