Want to Make Your CV Stand Out? Use Numbers to Show Impact

One of the most common reasons strong candidates get overlooked is that their CVs describe what they did, but not the impact they made.

Recruiters and hiring managers scan hundreds of profiles every week. What catches their attention isn’t vague descriptions — it’s evidence of scale and results. Numbers make your achievements tangible, credible, and easy to compare.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

✅ Show scale:Instead of “Managed a team,” say “Managed a team of 8 salespeople across 3 regions.”

✅ Highlight results:Instead of “Improved sales,” say “Increased regional sales revenue by 35% year-on-year.”

✅ Quantify efficiency or savings:Instead of “Streamlined operations,” say “Reduced processing time by 25%, saving 10 hours per week.”

✅ Demonstrate responsibility:Instead of “Handled client accounts,” say “Oversaw 40+ client accounts generating $4M in annual revenue.”

Even if your role wasn’t metrics-heavy, you can still use numbers to show scope — team size, project value, number of clients, budgets handled, or territories covered.

💡 Pro Tip: Use the formula Action + Number + Outcome.Example: “Launched a new logistics process that reduced delivery delays by 22% within six months.”

By backing up your achievements with numbers, you show scale, confidence, and a results-oriented mindset — the traits every hiring manager is looking for.

Try and aim for at least 2-3 sentences highlighting your achievements for each work tenure included on your CV. Keep the sentences that describe what you did - this is a good start - now add the scale and include the numbers.