Numbers
Quantifying your experience
Quantifying relevant information will provide credibility that your experience qualifies you for the job you are applying to.
Some numbers have universal relevance and some require a frame of reference. Numbers requiring a frame of reference will not add any credibility.
There is a lot of confusion around what numbers to list on your resume and what results to take credit for. The key to knowing what to put in and what to leave out is frame of reference..
Company size
The size of a company you have worked for is important to list. The reader will already have a frame of reference for comparison based on the size of their own company.
Budgets and Quotas
The size of the budget or quota you were responsible for may provide credibility if it was significant.
For example, a two million dollar expense budget, can be translated by the reader into a relatable number of business trips based on their own experience.
Number of people managed
The number of direct and indirect reports, i.e., people you manage and are responsible for, is a relatable number that doesn't require a frame of reference.
Having managed people, if required in the job you're applying for, is something you should quantify.
What to leave out
Numbers and results that need a frame of reference (cost cutting, time savings, etc.) add no credibility and should be left out.
For example, while having cut back office expenses by $5,000 may have been important to your last company, the reader will not know if you should have saved $10,000.
Most of the time, the reader won't be impressed that you achieved something great in your last company. Their concern is what you can do for them. Should you decide to take credit for your successes extra consideration is required to make sure that the numbers send the right message.
For example, stating that you exceeded your sales quota is good to list because a sales manager will assume your quota was based on reasonable goals. Alternatively, having saved money on a project budget could indicate substandard performance.
Summary
Listing numbers on your resume is necessary for the reader to relate to your experience.
Listing numbers in an attempt to show your personal successes requires extra thought to make sure they are relevant to the reader.
If you're not sure whether a number is worth mentioning, leave it out.