Unlike entry-level resumes, which often put your educational background front and center, executive-level professionals should focus on records of accomplishment. It is especially true when applying for leadership roles. Recruiters will spend much time reading your experience section and look for results, such as increased revenue and profit, cost savings, or boosting productivity.
Be Specific
When making your resume, use simple and short words that are easy to understand. Avoid jargon and specialist terms that can confuse your reader about your skills or knowledge. For example, instead of saying, “Provided leadership to the team,” in your experience section, write “Increased sales by 22% across regional territories.” It shows that you can deliver results for a company. Also, for each job you have listed in the work experience section, list specific, quantifiable accomplishments. When you show how important you are, it can make your resume look better than others. It is essential when applying for an executive-level position, where hiring decisions are typically made based on hard metrics. For more help crafting your resume, check out our guide on how to write an executive-level resume. Or use our resume builder to create your own. It’s free and easy!
Make Your Accomplishments Stand Out
Professional executive resumes need to define your value proposition clearly. When hiring managers review your career history, they want to see how you will help them solve their company’s problems. For example, a CFO candidate can save money, a COO candidate can streamline operations, and a GM can drive growth. When writing about your work experience, use the Challenge – Actions – Results (C-A-R) framework to make your accomplishments pop. It helps your recruiter easily understand what you can do for their company. Also, avoid using vague phrases like “responsible for,” which doesn’t give hiring managers an idea of your success in each role. Instead, use quantifiable statements such as “achieved $1 million in savings” or “increased sales by 20%”. Making your work experience more impressive will help recruiters see how you can benefit their company.
Highlight Your Numbers
If you’re an executive-level professional, you need to be able to show results. It is especially true for your executive resume accomplishments section, where you’ll want to include measurable metrics that quantify your achievements. For example, rather than simply saying, “Made department goals,” say something like, “Made $500,000 in savings by reducing expenses and maximizing efficiency.” Including specific numbers will help the reader understand your impact and prove you’re an excellent fit for the job. The best way to highlight measurable accomplishments in your resume is to use a Challenge – Actions – Results (C-A-R) story format. It helps the boss picture you are dealing with changes in their company and lets them see what you can offer quickly.
Highlight Your Impact
By now, you have achieved a lot in your job and should feel proud of yourself. However, a resume isn’t an autobiography; it should only highlight your experience that aligns with the needs or requirements of each job you are targeting. Remember this as you write your work experience section, and refrain from reiterating apparent responsibilities. Instead, highlight your unique skills and attributes that make you an attractive hire. Use specific results and workflows to substantiate your claims and paint a clear picture of how you have previously added value to companies. This will help the people who are looking for workers to know if you will be helpful to them in the future. Whether reading your summary or the work experience section, senior executives want to know that you have proven leadership, a track record of success, and a deep understanding of their industry. Prove your strength like a senior executive: using complex numbers, specific details, and context.