Pointer #3 of 101+: Know Your Numbers

Why Tracking Your Professional Metrics Matters

These days, it feels like everything is about being "data-driven." You see it everywhere—big companies love to talk about metrics, dashboards, and analytics. They spend millions figuring out what’s working and what’s not. It makes sense: if you’re not paying attention to the data, you’re probably flying blind.

Take Google’s Flu Trends project, for example. They had this big idea of using search data to predict flu outbreaks. Sounds amazing, right? Well, it didn’t quite work out. They overestimated, misinterpreted, and ultimately, the project flopped.

But here’s the thing: it’s not just for companies. We, as individuals—whether we’re looking for a job, working a 9-to-5, or doing our own thing—could benefit a lot from tracking our own metrics. A little bit of effort to keep tabs on how we spend our time and energy can go a long way.

Why Bother?

For one, tracking helps build self-awareness. When you actually see the data on where you’re spending your time or what tasks take the most energy, it’s much easier to spot what’s working and what’s not. It also helps you make better decisions—when you’ve got real numbers in front of you, you can prioritize smarter and focus on what actually moves the needle.

How to Track Your Work

There are plenty of tools out there to make this easier:

• Toggl and RescueTime are great for tracking time spent on different tasks.

• Trello and Asana help you stay on top of projects and goals.

• If you’re in sales or business development, tools like Pipedrive can give you a dashboard of your KPIs.

What Should You Track?

The key is to find the right balance—enough data to give you insight, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.

Some good starting points:

• Networking: How many people are you reaching out to? Which platforms are you using? Are your conversations more proactive or reactive?

• Feedback: Are people noticing your work? How many responses are you getting? How quickly are people replying to you?

The Big Picture

When you review your data regularly, you start to see patterns. Maybe you’re spending a ton of time on outreach, but the response rate is low. Or maybe your response time is dragging—fixing that could make a huge difference.

It’s not about turning your life into a spreadsheet. It’s about using a bit of data to make smarter choices and avoid burnout. That way, you’re working on the stuff that really matters.

Pointer #2 of 101+: Lying

Lying is one of the worst things we can do if we’re genuinely trying to connect with someone professionally. Sure, shouting or threatening someone might be worse—but job seekers rarely resort to that. The same goes for employees hoping for a raise or freelancers pitching for work. Lying, however, is sadly common in the workplace.   

Degrees of Lying

Like most bad behaviors, lying comes in degrees, with varying levels of severity.

There’s the criminal lie—for example, someone printing a fake degree at home and passing it off as real.

Then there are white lies, often used to dodge uncomfortable or intrusive questions. Think of situations where women are asked whether they have children or plan to have them. A white lie might feel like the least painful option in that moment.

Next, we have the everyday résumé lies, told by people who may not be scammers, but are stretching the truth to improve their chances.

There's the "chewing gum" lie, where facts get stretched just enough to sound better. A job that lasted from November 2015 to January 2016 becomes “2015–2016,” which technically isn’t false, but can mislead a quick reader into thinking it spanned two full years.

And then there's the "a chicken is a duck" lie—when someone tries to pass one thing off as something else entirely. For example, someone who sells smartphones might call it “experience in the telecommunications industry.” Or a restaurant host might describe their role as “project management” because they organized seating and took reservations.

Lying Doesn’t Magically Become Acceptable

Needing a job, a client, or a raise doesn’t turn dishonesty into a valid strategy. It erodes the very foundation of the relationship you’re trying to build. You can’t start a solid, meaningful professional—or personal—connection based on a lie.

Even with white lies, the connection starts on shaky ground. If you feel the need to lie to start a conversation or get a foot in the door, you and the other person are not on the same wavelength. And even if the lie “works,” it leads to a dead end—you’ll have to keep it going, and that creates stress, distrust, and distance.

So Why Do People Still Lie?

Often, it comes from a sense of inadequacy or the belief that everyone else is doing it, too. Sometimes it’s a misguided attempt to make a better impression. But whatever the motivation, the result is the same: people are reacting to a version of you that isn’t real. That’s not connection—it’s performance.

Try This Exercise

Ask yourself:

What would happen if I told the truth—just the plain truth?

What if I wrote down what actually happened, with no spin?

What if people saw the real me?

Dropped out of college? Check. Got a DUI? Check. Quit a boring job and ghosted the boss? Check.

Yes, some people will care. Some may reject you. Some companies might walk away.

But would you carry a black cloud over your head like a cartoon character with bad luck? Not really.

The truth filters people out—but that’s not a bad thing. What’s left is the opportunity to build authentic professional relationships. Ones based on honesty, mutual respect, and actual compatibility.

Final Thought

Will telling the truth reduce your chances to 0%? Absolutely not. (In fact, in Post #1, I talk about why there's almost never a 0% chance—feel free to head there and drop your thoughts in the comments. I’m all ears—or eyes.)

Pointer #1 of 101+: Talk Value—Not About Yourself

Recruiters don't just scan CVs for skills—they’re also watching for red flags: exaggerations, inconsistencies, signs of trouble. That’s why even well-educated, experienced candidates sometimes get overlooked. Between the lines, their CV might be signaling something unintended—maybe they come off as arrogant, difficult, or burned out. It’s subtle, but it matters.

In this pointer, I want to focus on one of the most common signals: the “it’s all about me” CV

Are CVs supposed to be autobiographies?

You might be thinking:

“Isn’t a CV just a professional biography? A rundown of everything I’ve done? Shouldn’t I list all my past achievements in order?”

That’s a tempting approach—we all enjoy talking about ourselves. But here's the truth: most people don’t enjoy reading about strangers talking about themselves. And that includes hiring managers.

Flip the focus: past into future

Especially in cover letters or introductory emails, you have space to shift focus to the future. But even in your CV, you can reframe past experience in a way that speaks to what you can do for them.

Do some homework on the company. Where are they headed? Do they want to expand internationally? Optimize operations? Build a stronger team? Cut down on costs? When you understand what they care about, you can align your experience with how you’ll help them move forward.

In a nutshell:

    Don’t tell them what makes you special—tell them how you’ll make them better.

Let’s look at some examples:

Ask yourself: what kind of statement is more likely to get a positive response?

🧮 Math Tutor

Self-centered: I taught for 3 years as a private math teacher, dealing with all types of students.

Value-focused: I’ll send weekly progress reports and provide detailed feedback after each session so your child stays on track.

💻 Entry-Level Programmer

Self-centered: I started coding as a teenager and quickly outpaced my peers.

Value-focused: I’m ready to take ownership of small features from day one, contribute clean code, and continuously improve through feedback.

👩‍👧‍👦 Re-entering after parenting

Self-centered: Managed a family of four, multitasking and building emotional resilience.

Value-focused: I’ll keep projects on schedule, communicate clearly, and ensure clients feel heard and supported.

📊 Project Manager

Self-centered: Enthusiastic professional experienced in sales and marketing. Graduated from a top university.

Value-focused: I’ll implement clear visual workflows and ensure the team gets regular feedback loops to stay aligned and motivated.

That’s it for today!

Questions, suggestions, counterpoints—especially more examples—are always welcome. Even negative feedback helps make the next one better.

What is this series all about?

PathUnMapped — Navigating Professional Connections — is all about gathering 101+ tips and tricks for all of those who have to exchange their time for money, aka work. This is probably 99% of the population. 101 here refers to both the number of pointers (which will be at least 101) and to the basic nature of these posts. Some of it might come over as obvious to some readers. The crucial criteria is that it's basic, and that it works. 

This is a roadmap towards a better place, from a communication perspective, for those who are unhappy at work or unhappy out of work. This is a random walk not only focusing on selling your workforce, but about finding meaning and stability through work. This is a series on communication for anyone looking to build meaningful, productive connections—whether you're job hunting, freelancing, or redefining your career path.

UnMapped here is about embracing unpredictability and exploring non-traditional journeys. It's a reflection about adapting to unforeseen life events, and encouragement to pursue authentic, uncharted paths.

Cutting through the noise, sharing your message effectively, and getting the information that matters is an ability. Communication is an ability.

This series will include actionable insights on diverse topics that affect how we process and share information: either about our mindset or about information research. Some posts will come over as motivating and some are reality checks, which although are bummers in the short term, will be good for us on the long-term.

 I hope you enjoy the journey. All comments are welcomed, even negative ones.

No one has a 0% chance of finding a new job

No one has a 0% chance of finding a new job

And that includes you.

Let's start this series with a fundamental truth: everyone has a chance at finding employment. If you believe you're a lost cause, no amount of advice on crafting the perfect CV or building a strong online presence will resonate. So, let's address this head-on:​

There isn't a single person with a 0% chance of finding a job.

You might be thinking, "This person doesn't understand how bad my situation is." You're right; I might not know every detail. And while I'm aware that many companies unfortunately dismiss qualified candidates due to biases like ageism, racism, transphobia, and other forms of discrimination, these societal issues won't vanish overnight. What concerns us, however, when focusing on the present, it's crucial to remember that no single issue, no matter how big, can eliminate all chances of getting a job.​

I have reviewed thousands of job requirements, resumes, and conducted numerous interviews, I can assure you: no matter how significant a perceived flaw may seem, it's rarely a complete deal-breaker. Some shortcomings are clear grounds for disqualifying you, what from some concrete roles, but none are absolute career-enders. Companies operate with limited resources—budgets, tools, office space—and under various constraints like staffing, deadlines, and incomplete information. This reality often forces them to make compromises, such as hiring candidates without certain qualifications or those who can work flexible hours due to proximity. While companies may appear selective, they often have to be pragmatic. Publicly, they might project an image of high selectivity, but internally, they understand the necessity of flexibility. Admitting to hiring based on cost-effectiveness or project needs could weaken their negotiating position, so these decisions are often made behind the scenes.​

After getting through hundreds or even thousands of rejections, it's understandable why some job seekers develop a pessimistic outlook. Internalizing such negative thinking patterns can lead us to a chronic fatalistic mindset, which is both oppressive and challenging to overcome. However, it's essential to recognize that these feelings are based on incomplete information and not immutable truths. You might be tempted to believe there's something inherently wrong with you, but that's not the case.​

This isn't about promoting an "if you want it, you can achieve it" mentality. It's about acknowledging our limitations and the societal challenges we face. Discrimination exists, but in modern societies, it's rarely so pervasive that it eliminates all opportunities. By examining the evidence and considering alternative strategies, we can navigate around obstacles. According to recent estimates, there are approximately 359 million companies worldwide. This vast number translates to numerous possibilities.​

So, if you have a moment, I invite you to describe in the comments a scenario where a capable individual would be entirely unable to secure employment.