Business executives already have the acumen necessary to find another job after successfully rising to the top. This means that they don't need to pay attention to silly things like resumes, right? This is a common misconception among business executives. An executive resume provides a vital snapshot to a person's career. The only difference is that a company's board of directors or chief executive officer oversees the hiring process rather than a human resources manager.
Errors and bad wording can sink an executive resume just as fast as a glaring omission. Just because you held a high-powered job for 10 years and you left on good terms does not mean you have automatically opening doors to your next c-suite job. Showing excellent grammar skills displays an attention to detail that can go a long way toward a solid first impression.
Be specific about your accomplishments; otherwise, vague statistics mean nothing. It's great that you increased sales by 50 percent, but be sure to explain the context of your sales record. Did sales figures go from 5 million to 7.5 million during your entire tenure as an executive? Your executive resume should contain as many details as possible. If you oversaw a team, define who that team included. Did you supervise a team of five people or 500? The difference between the two numbers remains a key detail board members or CEOs want to know.
Proofread your resume, and examine it for readability. No one expects you to write the next great American novel with your executive resume. However, typos and clumsy wording can throw off the groove of anyone who reads the document. Treat this portion of your job search with respect, and give it the attention it deserves. Avoid typos, repetitious words, grammatical errors and other structural resume mistakes. If you are not a grammatical wizard, find someone who is to go over the resume with a fine-toothed comb.
Give details of recent work projects on your executive resume rather than focus on events that happened 15 years ago. Discuss what you've accomplished lately to show what you're capable of accomplishing immediately. Your future boss wants to know what you can do now.
Include as many leadership roles you had in the past as possible. Do not omit board positions or roles in professional organizations, even if they were volunteer positions, as this is a common resume mistake. Speaking engagements and published articles about your field of expertise are important aspects of your leadership style that need to be vetted.
Consider a different kind of resume. Many hiring experts agree that a one-page resume is sufficient. However, an executive job is not a normal position. Pay attention to the length of the document. Instead of a single objective, replace that section with an executive summary of your goals, strengths and accomplishments. Short, descriptive phrases of your recent positions may not adequately describe your career. Consider a curriculum vitae instead since this type of document is designed and expected to be longer than a resume.
An executive resume proves an important document for people who want to hire a viable candidate for an important position within a company. Start your next c-suite job properly with a great resume that builds a solid first impression.
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