Crafting a new resume is the first step—and the most important—to landing a top position. Below, we’ve included seven resume writing tips that will help you land an interview for your next executive position.
1. Define your brand.
As an executive and a seasoned professional, you should be able to define your personal brand. Think about what motivates you and sets you apart from other executives in your field, and use your resume to paint a picture of your unique value and professional style.
2. Present yourself as likeable.
While you want your resume to communicate your talents and experiences, you also want it to present you as someone recruiters and hiring managers will support. Part of this involves projecting a relatable, unique, and likeable image. You can do this in a professional summary section at the top of your resume, where you can give the reader an idea of your professional personality and leadership style.
3. Be succinct.
Rather than spending the bulk of your resume describing your daily activities, focus on your strategic priorities, vision, and value proposition—what you have to offer for this specific position. You can do this by providing bullet points of relevant accomplishments from your professional roles that highlight your talents, experience, and capacity to perform. Remember, every single word matters on a resume.
4. Don’t be modest.
Your resume is not the time to be modest. While you don’t want to appear arrogant, you should use your resume to brag about the accomplishments you’re proud of. It’s perfectly fine to brag on a resume, as your resume is essentially just a sales pitch for yourself.
5. Get online.
Many executive positions are not advertised publicly, so how can you even get considered? By being visible. Your first stop should be LinkedIn, where recruiters and hiring managers can search for your resume. You should also bolster your online presence by being active on other social networks, such as Twitter, sharing quality content, participating in conversations, and connecting with others in your field. If you write well, you can also maintain a blog related to your expertise and contribute articles to prominent internet publications in your industry.
6. Reevaluate your approach regularly.
Is your approach in line with the market and current trends? Often, the best way to tell is to evaluate your results so far. Every three months or so, review what’s working and what’s not about your job hunt. There may be many reasons why you haven’t had success yet, but if you find you’re uncovering job openings but not hearing back after turning in your resume, consider how you can change the way you sell yourself.
7. Consult with a job coach.
When developing your executive resume, consult with a professional job coach. Your job coach can provide you with smart resume writing tips and work with you to ensure your resume portrays you as the visionary and leader you are. After working with you to craft your resume, your job coach will also be in an ideal position to provide you with insightful tips on your job hunt and to prepare you for your interviews.
To talk with a job coach who can help you compose an effective executive resume, click the button below.
