The Professional Impact Dictionary: How to Use It
Why the Dictionary Exists
I built the Professional Impact Dictionary after reviewing 50,000 resumes. The same problem appeared in 90% of them: candidates knew what they did but could not express what they proved.
They would write "Managed projects" when they meant "Led 12 cross-functional projects with 98% on-time delivery." They would write "Improved processes" when they meant "Reduced order fulfillment time from 4 days to 1.5 days, saving $340K annually."
The gap between what candidates know and what they write is a translation gap. The dictionary bridges it. Find exact formulas and frameworks in our Professional Impact Dictionary.
What the Dictionary Contains
The Professional Impact Dictionary organizes achievement formulas by function and seniority:
Functions Covered:
Each Section Includes:
Finding Your Section
Step 1: Identify Your Primary Function
Your primary function is where you spend 60%+ of your effort. This is straightforward for most roles:
| If Your Title Is... | Your Primary Function Is... |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Engineering |
| Product Manager | Product |
| Account Executive | Sales |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing |
| Operations Manager | Operations |
| Financial Analyst | Finance |
| UX Designer | Design |
Step 2: Identify Secondary Functions
Most roles touch adjacent functions. A Product Manager works with Engineering (technical constraints) and Analytics (metric tracking). A Sales Manager works with Operations (process optimization) and Finance (forecasting).
Map your secondary functions:
| Primary Role | Common Secondary Functions |
|---|---|
| Product Manager | Engineering, Analytics, Design |
| Engineering Manager | Product, Operations, Leadership |
| Marketing Manager | Sales, Analytics, Content |
| Sales Manager | Operations, Finance, Customer Success |
| Operations Manager | Finance, Engineering, HR |
Step 3: Navigate by Seniority
The dictionary separates formulas by seniority level because the metrics that matter change as you advance:
Individual Contributor (IC): Personal output, technical depth, execution quality
Manager: Team output, process improvement, stakeholder coordination
Director/VP: Strategic impact, cross-org influence, business outcomes
An IC Engineer emphasizes code quality and system performance. An Engineering Director emphasizes organizational efficiency and business-aligned technical strategy. Same function, different proof requirements.
Adapting Formulas (Not Copying Them)
The dictionary provides formulas like this:
Reduced [metric] by [X]% through [method], resulting in [business impact]
Your job is to replace every placeholder with your specific data:
Formula:
Reduced [metric] by [X]% through [method], resulting in [business impact]
Bad Adaptation (Incomplete):
Reduced customer churn by implementing better processes
Missing: X%, specific method, business impact
Good Adaptation (Complete):
Reduced customer churn by 23% through automated onboarding sequence and health scoring, retaining $1.2M ARR
Complete: Specific metric (23%), method (automated onboarding, health scoring), business impact ($1.2M ARR)
The Copy-Paste Trap
Copying formulas directly creates two problems:
Problem 1: Generic Language
"Improved team efficiency by implementing new processes" could appear on 10,000 resumes. It proves nothing because it says nothing specific.
Problem 2: Mismatched Evidence
If the formula references a metric you cannot verify, you will stumble in interviews. "Tell me more about that 40% improvement" requires a real story. Borrowed numbers create borrowed problems.
The Adaptation Test
After adapting a formula, ask:
If any answer is no, the adaptation is incomplete.
Using Multiple Sections
Cross-functional roles should pull from multiple dictionary sections. Here is how:
Example: Technical Product Manager
Primary: Product (60% of bullets)
- Feature adoption metrics
- Roadmap delivery outcomes
- Stakeholder alignment results
Secondary: Engineering (25% of bullets)
- Technical debt reduction
- System performance improvements
- API/integration outcomes
Tertiary: Analytics (15% of bullets)
- Data pipeline contributions
- Metric framework development
- Experimentation results
Example: Growth Marketing Manager
Primary: Marketing (50% of bullets)
- Campaign performance metrics
- Brand awareness outcomes
- Content engagement results
Secondary: Analytics (30% of bullets)
- Attribution modeling
- Funnel optimization
- Experimentation velocity
Tertiary: Product (20% of bullets)
- Feature adoption influence
- User activation improvements
- Product-led growth contributions
The Balance Rule
Never pull equally from all sections. Your resume should clearly signal your primary function. Recruiters pattern-match: "This person is a Product Manager who also understands engineering" is clearer than "This person does a little of everything."
Lead with your primary function. Supplement with secondary proof.
Common Mistakes When Using the Dictionary
Mistake 1: Taking Too Many Formulas
The dictionary contains 500+ formulas. Using 50 creates a scattered resume. Select 3-5 per role maximum. Depth beats breadth.
Mistake 2: Ignoring Seniority Level
An IC using Director-level formulas looks presumptuous. A Director using IC-level formulas looks underqualified. Match your seniority to the formula tier.
Mistake 3: Forcing Irrelevant Metrics
Not every formula applies to you. If your role did not touch revenue, do not force revenue metrics. Use the metrics you actually influenced.
Mistake 4: Leaving Placeholder Language
"Improved efficiency by X%" appearing on your final resume is a red flag. Every placeholder must become a specific number.
Mistake 5: Skipping the Verification Step
Before finalizing, verify you can tell the story behind every bullet. If you cannot explain it in an interview, remove it.
Practical Walkthrough
Let me show you the complete adaptation process for a Marketing Manager:
Step 1: Read the Raw Experience
You spent 2 years as a Marketing Manager. Your work included email campaigns, social media, and event coordination. You remember "things improved" but lack specific numbers.
Step 2: Find Relevant Dictionary Section
Navigate to Marketing → Manager Level. Find these formula categories:
- Campaign Performance
- Lead Generation
- Brand Metrics
- Budget Management
Step 3: Select Applicable Formulas
Formula 1 (Campaign Performance):
Increased [campaign type] conversion by [X]% through [optimization method]
Formula 2 (Lead Generation):
Generated [X] qualified leads via [channel], contributing [X]% of pipeline
Formula 3 (Budget Management):
Managed $[X] marketing budget with [X]% ROI improvement YoY
Step 4: Gather Your Data
Before adapting, find your actual numbers:
- Email open rates went from 18% to 27%
- You generated about 400 MQLs per quarter from email
- Your budget was $180K annually
- Events contributed 25% of sales pipeline
Step 5: Adapt Each Formula
Formula 1 Adapted:
Increased email campaign conversion by 50% (18% to 27% open rate) through subject line testing and send-time optimization
Formula 2 Adapted:
Generated 400+ quarterly MQLs via email campaigns, contributing 35% of marketing-sourced pipeline
Formula 3 Adapted:
Managed $180K annual marketing budget, improving event-to-pipeline conversion by 25% YoY
Step 6: Verify and Finalize
Each adapted bullet now contains:
- Specific metrics from your experience
- Methods you actually used
- Outcomes you can verify
Find your role-specific formulas in the Professional Impact Dictionary
When to Use the Dictionary
Use the dictionary when:
Do not use the dictionary when:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Professional Impact Dictionary?
The Professional Impact Dictionary is a comprehensive reference containing 500+ achievement bullet formulas organized by role and function. It provides metric types, verb choices, and context frameworks for translating any job into quantified impact.
Can I copy examples directly from the dictionary?
No. Direct copying creates generic resumes that fail both ATS matching and recruiter scanning. The dictionary provides formulas and frameworks to adapt, not sentences to paste. Your specific numbers, context, and outcomes must replace the placeholders.
How do I find my role in the dictionary?
Navigate by function first (Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Operations, etc.), then by seniority level (IC, Manager, Director, VP). Cross-functional roles should pull from multiple sections. Most professionals find 2-3 relevant function areas.
What if my exact role is not listed?
Map your responsibilities to the closest functional areas. A Technical Program Manager pulls from both Engineering and Operations. A Growth Marketer pulls from Marketing and Analytics. The formulas are transferable across similar functions.
How many bullets should I take from each section?
Quality over quantity. Select 3-5 formulas that match your actual experience. Forcing bullets from every section creates a scattered resume. Focus on depth in your core function rather than breadth across all functions.
What makes a good dictionary adaptation?
Good adaptations replace every placeholder with specific data from your experience. The formula "Reduced [metric] by [X]% through [method]" becomes "Reduced customer churn by 23% through automated onboarding sequence." Generic placeholders remaining means incomplete adaptation.
Final Thoughts
The dictionary is a tool, not a shortcut. It provides structure for your translation work. The content—the specific numbers, methods, and outcomes—must come from your actual experience.
Use it to bridge the gap between knowing what you did and proving what you delivered. Navigate by function, adapt every formula completely, and verify you can defend every bullet in an interview.
The formulas are waiting. Your data is the missing piece.
