Executives who are seeking employment can have a difficult
time finding a new position that is equivalent to the position they held. There are many reasons why executives leave
their positions, and you need to be prepared for that question to be one of the
first you hear at an interview. Studies
show that executives may spend a long time looking for a new position because executive
positions are high paying with many additional perks, such as stock options,
pensions, and bonuses.
The executive resume is the single most important document
that you will use for showcasing your high-level talents and accomplishments.
Executive positions typically focus on results, with profit being the driving
factor. Before you begin writing your
resume, you should gather all the information you need. This includes all types of information
describing your accomplishments. You
will need to include factual statements in your resume. For example, instead of saying, "Helped
the company expand," you should state facts such as "Under my
direction, the company expanded from 10 locations to 212 locations, creating
655 new jobs."
Write down as many accomplishments as you can, then attach
actual numbers to each, based on your work history. Factual statements demonstrate your actual
capabilities. Whenever possible, translate
your accomplishments into the bottom line.
For example "In 2008, I signed three new contracts, bringing in a
total of over $3 million in profits for the year." Create as many of these informational
statements as you can. Later, you can
decide which ones to include in your resume. Whatever you don't include can be
used during the interview.
Executive resumes should also show a high level of
commitment and management skills. If you
have particular affiliations that are important to the position, you will want
to include those. For example, if you
have clients who will bring their business to your new company, this is very
important information. Put these in the
resume by listing affiliations or key customers and associates. While you need
not include references on your resume, you should prepare them in advance and
produce them when a potential employer requests them. Contact your references
and make sure that they agree to recommend you before including them in your
resume. In addition, you can provide them with some helpful statements that they
can use to help them recall and describe your work.
When writing an executive resume, choose your words wisely.
Pick keywords that are used in your particular industry, as well as those that
are associated with the characteristics required for the position. These include words and phrases such as
"high level overview," "positive bottom line,"
"successful management techniques," and "profitability." Sometimes, executives are more concerned with
the overall picture than small details, since they have a team to assist them
with the details of any project.
It is very important that the executive resume has a
professional look. It should not only be
replete with factual accomplishments, but it needs to be aesthetically
pleasing. One of the best ways to create
a professional executive resume is to enlist the services of a professional
resume service. We are adept at working
with executives to ensure they get results.