(Part 1 of a 3-part series "Show Me the Money!" See Parts 2 and 3 for Cover Letter Strategies that Get Employers to Call and Interviewing Strategies that Get Employers To Make an Offer)

"Show me the money!" This famous tagline from the film "Jerry Maguire" sums up what football star Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) wanted out of his sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise). As an agent, Maguire's job was to help Tidwell advance his career, put him in the spotlight, and make him rich.

As a job seeker, your goals may be similar to Tidwell's: Advance your career, get in the spotlight (at least that of the hiring manager), and make more money. Interestingly, your employer-to-be has similar goals: Advance the company's goals, get in the spotlight (by impressing customers or obtaining favorable media coverage), and make a profit.

Trumpet the show-me-the-money theme in all your job-search activities. Here's how:

"Show Me the Money" in the Resume

Money is described with numbers, so you'll need to use numbers liberally throughout your resume. Note how these "after" statements are more impressive by using numbers:

Sales Professional

* Before: Led the team in sales.
* After: Led a team of 20 in sales growth, building revenue from $225k to $376k in one year.

Customer Service Professional

* Before: Serviced accounts to ensure customer retention.
* After: Boosted customer retention rates from 82% to 97% through a proactive "customer comes first" program.

Finance Professional

* Before: Monitored and improved financial strength of company.
* After: Increased net income 110% and working capital 46%.

Human Resources Professional

* Before: Improved recruiting systems.
* After: Decreased recruiting costs 17% through refinement of e-recruiting and employee-referral systems.

The Payoff

Whether in your resume, cover letter, networking, or interviewing, always remember to "show them the money." The payoff? You'll position yourself as a profit-oriented employee who is worthy of a handsome salary!

About the author: Susan Britton Whitcomb