With 20 years’ experience in recruitment, I’ve reviewed thousands of CVs. At Prism Connect, the number of applications we receive for one vacant position can range from 10 to 125 depending on the role. This makes it essential for candidates to ensure their CV stands out by thinking about the impact they have made in their previous roles. It isn’t enough to list positions held and responsibilities.

Here are five points to consider so that you can identify key successes to feature on your CV:

1.      Cost cutting

Cost savings is a consistent priority across organisations whether they’re private, non-profit or government departments. Saving money in one part of the business means that you can reallocate funds to other departments, improve training opportunities to keep teams happy, and improve cash flow.

• Have you identified ways to cut costs or save time during a project?
• Have you suggested a new way of working to drive efficiencies and enhance safety?

Highlight where you’ve saved money for your past employers and use numbers to demonstrate impact.

2.      Income generated

Just as cost-saving measures are a priority, showcasing your ability to generate income is equally important. Highlighting specific figures or measurable outcomes can set you apart from the competition. For instance, you might describe a situation where you introduced a new workflow that boosted efficiency, leading to increased client satisfaction and repeat business. By emphasising tangible results, you demonstrate the direct value you bring to an organisation.

3.      Time saved

Time is precious; wasted time is wasted money. Aim to demonstrate instances where you have saved time across specific processes, bigger projects or more general initiatives.

• Have you paused a project which isn’t going to plan?
• Have you suggested a new approach which will get the job done quicker?

These are great ways for you to show that you can work efficiently and effectively for the good of the business as a whole.

4.      Problems solved

The ability to problem-solve can put you at a distinct advantage in a variety of different situations. Provide examples of the problems you’ve encountered in previous roles, how you solved them, and where possible, back it up with hard facts and figures. Here are some areas to consider:

• Have you taken learnings (both positive and negative) from previous projects and applied them in other situations?

• Have you directly influenced the course and outcome of a project?

5.       Recognition

Has your expertise earned you a reputation as the go-to person in your field? Perhaps you’ve been nominated to lead a webinar or training workshop on your speciality, or your employer has recognised your skills with a promotion.

This is possibly the most important way that you can prove impact as it provides prospective employers with a unique insight from your previous managers and colleagues.

For more CV advice, get in touch and I’ll be happy to help: [email protected]