Strong CVs land a number in 55 to 75% of bullets. The number proves the bullet. Without it, 'built X' is a hope; with it, 'built X handling 12k req/s' is a defensible claim.
Numerator: the thing that moved. Revenue, MAU, p99 latency, CTR, retention rate, NPS, headcount, pipeline. Denominator: the baseline. 'From 18% to 31%' beats 'lifted 13 points' because the absolute reference proves the magnitude. Timeframe: the period. 'Over two quarters' or 'in 6 weeks' gives the recruiter a frame for the rate of change.
When the numerator is confidential (revenue figures, internal metrics), quote inputs instead. Team size led, system scale operated, decision frameworks applied, process changes made. 'Led a 7-person pod' is a defensible input number.
Vague percentages without a baseline ('improved performance by 50%'). Suspiciously round numbers ('doubled the team', '10x growth'). Outcomes you can't defend in an interview ('saved $1M'). Outcomes that aren't yours ('grew company ARR from $14M to $84M' when you joined as the 14th hire).
Better: percentages with baselines, absolute numbers with denominators, growth multiples that are actually true, and a clear answer to 'and what was your specific role in that?'.
55 to 75% of bullets. Below 55% the outcome-density sub-score drops. Above 75% reads as performative and recruiters get suspicious that the bullets are inflated.
Quote inputs: team size, system scale, decision frameworks applied. Quote percentages of changes when absolute values are sensitive. Quote ranks ('top 10% of cohort', 'top 30% of new hires').
Round-to-the-nearest-significant-figure estimates are fine. Pulling a number out of thin air is not. Hiring managers will probe in the interview; estimates that are off by an order of magnitude are red flags.
Yes when it's strong. 'Lifted retention 14 points in two quarters' is stronger than 'lifted retention 14 points'. If the timeframe is awkward (took 18 months), drop it.
Two significant figures, usually. '38%' beats '37.8%' (too granular, signals fabrication) and beats '~40%' (too vague, signals estimation).
Free. See which bullets need a number.
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