Building a Tech Portfolio That Stands Out

7 Ways To Quantify Your Value On Your Resume: Want better results from your resume? You need to include measurable metrics. Here are 7 ways to do that (that anyone from any background can use): 1. Time How long did it take you to achieve something? Was that faster that usual or ahead of the timeline? If so, by how much? Ex: Reduced order fulfillment time by 50% YoY by implementing new tracking software 2. Scope What was the measurable scope of the project you worked on? How many people did you manage on this project? How many people use the product you work on? What was the budget for this project? Ex: Partnered with 3 cross-functional teams to ship new product feature to 17,500+ users 3. Efficiency Were you able to save budget? Save people time? Improve outcomes? Ex: Developed new ticket routing automation, increasing first-response efficiency by 45% and reducing customer wait time by 30%. 4. Productivity Were you able to reduce the hours invested in something? Did you squeeze more results out of the same timeframe? Ex: Overhauled financial modeling templates, improving productivity by 30% and enabling 20% more analyses per quarter 5. Revenue How much money did you generate for the business? How does that compare to the past? Ex: Spearheaded pipeline development for new SaaS feature generating $1.7M in new business within 6 months of launch 6. Comparison How did your results compare to the past? Did you do things faster? Better? Can you quantify and compare that to previous work? Ex: Implemented new scheduling philosophy, saving manager 3.5 hours of meetings per week (compared to last quarter) 7. What If None Of These Apply? If you're still not sure? Ask yourself two things: 1. What other teams / people leverage my work? 2 . Which of those teams / people have numbers tied to their roles Go find those people and ask them! For example, let's say you're a designer who made a brand new pitch deck for the sales team. Go talk to the sales team and: - Ask how many deals they've closed with your deck vs. the previous deck - Survey them and ask them to rate your deck compared to the previous deck You can always find a quantifiable way to measure your value if you're willing to get creative.

Don’t Just List Tasks—Showcase Your Value on Your CV Your CV should not be a list of the jobs you’ve held—it should demonstrate the unique impact you’ve made throughout your career. Yet, so many CVs end up being little more than task lists. Take a look at this. 👉 Instead of saying, “Managed social media accounts,” Say, “Increased social media engagement by 45% in six months through targeted campaigns.” See how one focuses on tasks and the other highlights results? Employers want to see the value you bring, not just what you were told to do. A Client’s Success Story: I recently worked with a client who was in marketing. Her CV initially read like a job description: “Created email campaigns” and “Collaborated with sales teams.” While this is great for using key works and incorporating the job description, it just doesn't have any impact. We reframed her experience to focus on results: ✅ “Launched email campaigns that boosted open rates by 25%, contributing to a 15% increase in sales leads.” ✅ “Developed cross-departmental strategies with sales, resulting in a streamlined funnel and increased conversion rates by 10%.” The result? Not only did her CV stand out, but it led to interviews where she could discuss her real contributions. Here are some ways you can showcase value on your CV: 1️⃣ Use numbers, percentages, or metrics to quantify your achievements. 2️⃣ Highlight the outcomes and benefits of your work, not just the actions. 3️⃣ Start bullet points with strong action verbs like boosted, increased, reduced, streamlined, or led. Make it clear why you’re the one who can deliver results. www.joanneleecoaching.com 👉🏻Employers - let us know in the comments what you are looking for on a CV in 2025. #cvwriting #careercoaching #careerdevelopment #jobsearchtips

If your resume still sounds like a job description, that’s your first problem. Here’s how to use the XYZ formula to flip weak, vague bullets into cold, hard proof that you get results. Let’s talk about what it is, how to use it right, and how to diversify your metrics so every line hits. This is how I write Resumes. What’s the XYZ formula? It’s simple: Did X by doing Y which resulted in Z That’s it. It forces you to be clear about your impact, not just your responsibilities. No fluff. No filler. Just results. And I need to say this loud and clear: Stop leaning on percentages like they’re the only way to show value. Every bullet on your resume shouldn’t end in “increased by X%” or “reduced by Y%.” There are so many other ways to measure impact: Time saved Hours reduced People trained Revenue generated Headcount supported Processes improved Costs avoided Before/after comparisons Error rates lowered User actions or adoption Customer satisfaction Mix it up. Show range. Prove you're multidimensional. Some examples: For Engineers Wrong: Built internal tools. Right: Built 3 internal tools that automated QA processes, cutting manual testing time by 12 hours weekly and freeing up dev cycles. Wrong: Supported migration to AWS. Right: Migrated 12 backend systems to AWS with zero downtime, improving site reliability and saving $45K in annual cloud spend. For Product Managers Wrong: Owned product roadmap. Right: Led roadmap execution for a B2B SaaS product used by 18K users, launching 5 features that directly drove a 15% increase in daily engagement. Wrong: Worked with design/dev. Right: Ran cross-functional sprints with design and engineering, reducing feature turnaround time from 4 weeks to 10 days. For Marketers Wrong: Managed email campaigns. Right: Launched 8 targeted email sequences that drove 400+ paid conversions and added $60K to the Q2 pipeline. Wrong: Oversaw paid ads. Right: Managed $80K monthly ad budget across Meta and Google, decreasing CPL by $28 without sacrificing lead quality. Anyone can list tasks. Anyone can say what they were responsible for. That doesn’t mean anything. The question is: what changed because you were there? The XYZ formula answers that. Every time. That’s still value. Own it. Frame it. Speak on it. If you want to start landing interviews with fewer applications, this is how you do it. Use the XYZ formula. Diversify your metrics. And stop underselling your impact. Stay Dangerous

If looking like 40 million other job seekers is not the impression you want to make on hiring managers then it may be time to rethink your resume's career summary. It's not that career summaries are bad, it's more that they've become so generalized that they all blend in together. Let's consider a switch to a career snapshot. So what's the difference? Here's the intro to a summary: "Successful sales professional with 30 years' experience in retail..." This generic approach: - Does not answer the big 3 questions hiring managers ask in their initial scan - Focuses on generalities and years of experience that don't differentiate you - Blends in with every other qualified applicant - Wastes your 15-20 second window to grab attention Here's a career snapshot: "Award-winning chief financial officer overseeing $500M global operations expansion, saving $50M in YTD costs while increasing market share by 40%. Analyzes financial strengths and weaknesses of Fortune 500 companies and implements corrective actions to raise cash flow a minimum of 30%/year." This modern approach: - Engages readers with quantifiable achievements - Differentiates you from competitors with specific accomplishments - Highlights skills valuable to the position and company - Proves/validates what you've accomplished Here are my top 3 tips to help you write a compelling career snapshot: 1. Brainstorm Your Unique Selling Points Don't just list generic skills everyone in your field has. Identify your specific strengths, skills, and qualifications that make you different. 2. Showcase Accomplishments, Not Capabilities Instead of "Skilled in managing capital expansions," try "Managed $45M in capital expansions, raising Amelia Urgent Care from a level 2 to a level 3 trauma center in four years." The difference is dramatic—one is vague and forgettable, while the other communicates concrete value and achievement. 3. Add Power With Metrics and Results Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Numbers provide credibility and immediate visual impact: "Expanded market share 200% for more than 75 services in 15 states" "Increased year-over-year revenues 22% and reduced staff turnover rates 34%" These statistics transform you from a potential asset to a proven one. Read this article for two more tips (with examples) for how to write an impactful career snapshot: https://lnkd.in/ewHdvvzK 📌 Save this post for your next resume update. #Careers #Resumes #JobSearch

The biggest mistake I see in the portfolios of aspiring data analysts is the lack of a clear project summary! Recruiters and hiring managers don’t have the time to review your code. They need to quickly understand your thought process, possible business impact, and problem-solving skills. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲: • The 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 you solved    • The 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 you took    • The 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 you used    • The 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨 you achieved    • The 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 you faced    • The 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 you learned Make it easy for recruiters to see your skills in action. Add your summary as a document or slides to your GitHub repository or portfolio page. Does your portfolio summary cover all these points? ---------------- ♻️ 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 if you find this post useful ➕ 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 for more daily insights on how to grow your career in the data field #dataanalytics #dataanalyst #datascience #portfolio #careergrowth

I’ve reviewed > 400 portfolios this year. Observation #1: The ones that got interviews weren’t the prettiest. They were the clearest. → Clear intent (what roles they’re targeting) → Clear structure (who they helped + what changed) → Clear thinking (how they made decisions) Observation #2: Hiring managers responded best to portfolios that made it easy to scan, not admire. → 3-5 second headlines that told the story → Metrics up top, visuals in the middle, lessons at the end → Less storytelling. More signal. Observation #3: The portfolios that ‘failed’? → Opened with “Hi, I’m Alex and I love solving problems” → Contained 30+ screenshots with no explanation → Didn’t articulate business impact or their role → Had no opinion, no POV, no process If I were applying today? → I’d restructure my case studies to lead with outcomes → I’d add a design philosophy section to show how I think → I’d cut 40% of the fluff and focus on what actually matters → I’d communicate my USP and elevator pitch up front Your portfolio isn’t a gallery. It’s a business case for why you’re worth hiring. ----- Just thought I'd share this after reviewing some notes over the weekend. Hope it helps! ----- #ux #tech #design #ai #business #careers

Let's talk about "resume math." I don't mean sending out 1,000 resumes and getting one interview. Resume math is how you show evidence of your accomplishments with "metrics." Your goal is to show up as amazing on your resume - worth talking to, potentially worth hiring. A boring resume won't achieve that goal. Quantitative results can make your resume less boring. They serve as evidence that what you did had impact. But my rule of thumb is that "double digit percentage improvements" (e.g., "20% growth" or "13% reduction") are not interesting. And in there is almost always a way to recalibrate that measurement into something more meaningful. For example: Say you achieved a 20% improvement in uptime, from 80% to 99.9%. That's a big change, but "20%" doesn't really capture the impact. So let's apply "resume math." Not only did uptime improve, but downtime was reduced a lot. In fact downtime went from 20% to 0.1% That's a factor of 200 reduction in downtime. Making downtime almost negligible. 200x (or 20,000%) is a LOT more impressive than 20%. And this aligns with what 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴 want - which is a lot less downtime. (They actually don't care about uptime.) With a little work, you can often find much more impressive ratios in any of your metrics: - Increasing retention from 90% to 91% is a 1% improvement, but it's also a 10% reduction in churn. And churn is usually more interesting than retention to boot. - Increasing sales growth from 5% to 20% per year is a 15% increase in sales... but it's also a 4x increase in sales growth rate. And much more indicative of the impact of what you did! There are lots of examples. And I bet on YOUR resume there are a few double-digit percentages that are also 2x, 10x, or even 100x improvements. Drop me a comment with a bullet from your resume with a double-digit percentage improvement and I'll do some resume math to it. You might be surprised at the results!

Your LinkedIn profile is not just a digital resume. But most profiles I see everyday? - Bland. - A few buzzwords. - Bare minimum (think company and title). If you want to catch the eye of Aussie tech recruiters, you need more proof and the right key words. Here’s what they actually look for: → Specific technology stacks used → Quantifiable project outcomes → Real business impact metrics → Clear technical achievements For example: → "Led migration to AWS, reducing costs by 40%" → "Built scalable microservices architecture handling 1M+ daily requests" → "Implemented CI/CD pipeline, cutting deployment time from 2 days to 2 hours" Australian tech recruiters search for: → Tech stacks you’ve mastered → Real business outcomes → Metrics that matter → Project delivery wins Update your profile monthly with: → Projects shipped → Tech learned → Certifications earned → Team wins led Because generic statements like: "Experienced developer" "Team player" "Solution-oriented professional" ...won't make recruiters think, "This is exactly the tech talent we need." They need proof, not promises. This is how you stand out in Australian tech. Keep it real, keep it updated, keep getting noticed. Want me to take a quick look at your profile? Shoot me a DM, I’ll tell you what’s working and what’s not.

Your portfolio might be missing these underrated elements. Most people focus on polished case studies and pretty visuals. But what actually makes a recruiter pause and think “I want to talk to this person” are the things you don’t usually see. Here are 4 to start adding. 1️⃣ Show your decision trade-offs Don’t just show the final design. Show the fork in the road. What options did you consider, and why did you choose the one you did? Side-by-side screenshots + a short explanation = proof of your critical thinking. 2️⃣ Highlight collaboration moments Portfolios often read like solo projects, but hiring managers want to see you as a teammate. Call out where a PM, dev, or researcher’s input shifted the outcome. Add a quick “before & after” to show the impact of collaboration. 3️⃣ Call out constraints Great design isn’t created in a vacuum. Were you working under a tight deadline? Legacy tech? Limited resources? Own it. Explain how you adapted your solution within the real-world boundaries. That’s what makes your work practical and credible. 4️⃣ Add a “What I’d do differently” section Reflection shows growth. Wrap up each case study with 2–3 quick bullets: what worked, what you’d approach differently, and what you learned. It signals self-awareness without undermining your work. These details don’t just show your work, they show how you work. Now, let’s turn this into a community resource 👇 If you’ve got a portfolio you’re proud of (or one in progress!), drop it in the comments so we can start building a list for visibility and inspiration!

Your portfolio might be beautiful, but is it effective? Here’s why design isn’t everything. Want a portfolio that actually lands interviews? Focus on these elements: 1/ Show your process, not just the final product → Hiring managers want to see how you solve real problems. → Break down each project: research, ideation, testing, and iterations. → Clearly explain why you made specific design choices. Takeaway: A strong portfolio highlights your thinking, not just aesthetics. --- 2/ Prioritize results and impact → Describe how your designs improved user experience or metrics. → Include measurable outcomes like increased engagement or reduced errors. → Show how your work supported business goals—this stands out to employers. Takeaway: Numbers and outcomes make your work relevant and memorable. --- 3/ Tailor your portfolio for the role you want → Include projects that showcase skills specific to the job you're applying for. → If applying to different types of roles, consider multiple portfolios. → Adapt each project’s narrative to fit the needs of your target job. Takeaway: A targeted portfolio speaks directly to what hiring managers are looking for. --- TL;DR 1/ Highlight your process, not just the end result. 2/ Focus on impact and measurable outcomes. 3/ Tailor your portfolio to align with the job. Tag someone who’s working on their portfolio! P.S. Ready to land your dream UX job faster? Sign up for my newsletter through the link in my bio and learn how to get interviews without the stress of endless applications.