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But you don't need numbers for that. A simple "increased user engagement by refactoring our front-end in React" is more than enough; it tells me that the goal was to "increase user engagement" (that's the greater goal, nice!) and that you know (hopefully) your way around React (tech stuff, nice!). The number strikes me as bs.

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Companies are driven by numbers and manager bonuses are driven by the numbers their team produces. A developer who shows they can produce those numbers is valuable. The number may be BS or unscientific or whatever but it is there and usually that is enough for management. Anyone can say "increased user engagement" but a number says you measured it somehow which gives it worth and that is why management wants numbers.

> The number may be BS or unscientific

> but a number says you measured it somehow

Okay so it may be BS, but at least it's measured somehow, where somehow may include pulling it entirely out of your ass.

But indeed this is key:

> Companies are driven by numbers and manager bonuses are driven by the numbers their team produces

Those numbers may be bullshit as well, but there's already a cult around them and you demonstrate belonging to the tribe by flinging around numbers just like they do.

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