Tips for an exceptional Executive resumes

Applying for and getting executive level positions is a competitive and difficult process. Having a resume that is both fit for purpose and stands out is instrumental to the process.

When going for the top job, how should your resume look? You’ll need an exceptional resume that demonstrates your ability to lead an organisation and who is both an innovative and resilient.

Seeing as a Google search for CV & resume tips will generate over 100 million results, here is Resourceful Pro’s do’s and don’t for aspiring executives when putting together a resume. 

• Keep it succinct, and don’t pad the resume with unnecessary words or jargon. Demonstrating an ability to be concise and clear is not only an effective resume tool but also integral to becoming an effective C-suite leader.
• Showcase your credentials at the top by way of an Executive Summary – use this to show your contribution to related jobs in a leadership capacity, and how you made an impact as a manager.
• Include core skills and selected achievements at the top of the resume – it’s vitally important to quantify your achievements by giving real situations faced, problems solved, and challenges overcome.
• Focus on business impact – think like manager and speak as the ‘owner of business’ demonstrating overall contributions, how the organisation performed and its success metrics.
• Give a brief description of each company you have worked for indicating size, hierarchy., turnover, headcount, locations, and sectors. The scope and scale of your experience so far is critical when assessing suitability for a role.
• Focus on the most relevant roles and experience. Show your trajectory, but also don’t cite irrelevant jobs. As a general rule of thumb, aspiring leaders should focus on the past 15 years of experience.
• Include additional information about boards, start-ups, volunteering or organisations of which you are a member.
• Demonstrate contributions across leadership teams – you’ll be expected to do the C-suite role but also contribute across the wider leadership group.
• And it goes without saying that you should be ensuring contact details are correct, spelling and grammar is perfect, and a consistent, sensible font (such as Calibri size 11) is used throughout.

Ultimately, resume writing is notoriously difficult and not an exact science.  While there is generally no right answer you need to decide on a format and content with which you are comfortable, and that you believe promotes you and your suitability in the best manner. The team at Resourceful Pro are happy to advise and guide you through this procedure.

Register here on our website to start the process.