How To Write Out Numbers On A Resume
I've shared many times how important it is to show your quantifiable value on your resume and cover letter to help you stand out.
Your value can be quantified with numbers, specific verbs (increased, decreased), percentages, or dollars. But how do we write those numbers on a resume?
This article answers best practices to writing out numbers on your resume make sure your resume gets noticed.
Grammar rules for writing out numbers
Proper grammar tools give us two rules to follow:
- Numbers under 10: Spell out (one, two, three)
- Numbers 10 and above: Use figures (10, 21, 3400)
Exceptions to the grammar rules
There are a few exceptions to this general rule where you should always use figures, including the following:
- Ages (8 years old)
- Building numbers (3 East Wood Street)
- Figures in a series (5 Instant Pots, 4 Crock Pots, and 80 Trayline Workers)
- Figures with decimals (2.9 degrees)
- Headlines (Broker Fires 3 Agents)
- Percentages (7% change)
- Measurements (2 cups)
- Money ($7K in assets)
- Time of day (4 p.m.)
How to write out numbers on a dietitian resume
Resumes are unique documents, in that they typically go against all grammar rules in the interest of being succinct, concise, and mindful of the little real estate available to list all of your accomplishments and your value.
On a resume you can list all numbers as figures! This has a few benefits:
- Visual impact - using figures instead of writing out numbers has a visual advantage. It's easier to see (and understand) the figure "7" compared with the word "seven" on a resume. Remember that recruiters usually have just a few minutes to glance at your resume to decide if you are moving onto the next step. You want them to quickly see all of your accomplishments and also your quantitative value at a glance.
- Space saver - using our example above, typing the number "7" is obviously fewer characters than the word "seven". This is so important when every character used matters on your 1-2 page resume!
Takeaway
When crafting your resume as a dietitian, what matters is that you can show your quantitative value in as few characters as possible. So using figures for numbers on your resume, even numbers less than 10, is an acceptable way to create a winning and modern resume that helps you get that job interview.
Resume help for dietitians and dietitians-to-be
There are so many elements that make up a winning and modern resume that helps you land a job interview. At NutritionJobs, we have lots of courses and resources for you to succeed! I hope you can check out all that we offer.
