If you’ve been asked to submit executive resumes for a non-profit organization or company, you may be wondering how they differ from standard executive resumes. The answer is that there are both differences and similarities between the two.
Just like writing a job search resume, it’s important to know your target audience before you start writing. There are many things to consider, from the broad to the specific.
- Are you targeting corporate or non-profit boards?
- Are the companies or organizations supported by the Board in a particular industry?
- How are board members recruited, vetted and elected?
- What skills, expertise and experience are relevant to serving on the board?
Your answers to these questions will influence the overall tone of your resume, what to include, what to exclude, what to word differently, and what keywords to incorporate into your content. increase.
Corporate Board or Not-for-Profit Board?
Before considering the similarities and differences between the two types of boards, consider the significant difference between corporations and nonprofits.
- Shareholders own a for-profit company. They focus on generating money for their owners and measure success by profit.
- Non-profit organizations are publicly owned. They focus on serving the public and measure their success by meeting their needs.
When a board oversees a Fortune 500 company, another type of for-profit company, or a non-profit organization, there are more similarities than differences. All boards prepare articles of association, articles of association and governing principles outlining the responsibilities of the board. Standard Board policies include Member Independence, Conflicts of Interest, Code of Conduct/Ethics, Expectations, Confidentiality, and Indemnity.
If you’re targeting a specific board of directors, taking the time to familiarize yourself with these will help you develop your resume strategy.
Contents of planning resume
Identify your area of expertise and how it will benefit your target board. Both corporate and not-for-profit boards need members with experience and expertise who meet certain requirements.
Experience in the same or similar industry and insight into customer/client needs are also essential. And both types of boards value members who have access to a variety of resources (government officials, lawyers, accountants, consultants).
Commonly sought-after board skills
Budgeting and finance
human resources
technology and cyber security
strategic planning
crisis management
Succession plan
Governance and compliance
marketing
public relations
consensus building
diversity and inclusion
Corporate boards also seek global experience and expertise in mergers and acquisitions, research and development, IPOs, shareholder proposals and investments.
Terms that are commonly heard in corporate boards, and terms that you might want to consider including as keywords in your board resume, include earnings per share, EBITDA, quarterly earnings, share buybacks, real estate transactions, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Dodd Frank.
Meanwhile, the Nonprofit Board seeks members with expertise in grant development, fundraising campaigns, donor relationships, endowments, 501(c)(3) filings, and volunteer management.
Common keywords in nonprofit and corporate executive resumes
Additional keywords that should be included in a nonprofit board resume include donor capacity, limited/unlimited giving, pledges, stewardship, community education, foundations, fundraising, and capital campaigns.
Keywords that describe your personal style in your corporate or non-profit resume include consensus builder, collaborator, motivator, strong communicator, influencer, diplomat, and more.
While you want to draw attention to your contributions and achievements, avoid language that suggests that you were the only one who made it happen.
While the content and tone of a job seeker’s resume is meant to advance candidates and, ideally, advance their careers, BoardSource’s President and CEO clarified the difference between tone and content in the following statement: Did.Joining a board means agreeing to put your personal interests and ambitions in the background. You are there to maximize profits for your company or organization.”
Resume section
The overall format of an executive resume is not that different from a job search resume. However, sections that are considered optional or secondary to actual work experience are more credible when taking on board roles.
letterhead
As with all resumes, design your letterhead so that your name is clearly visible and important contact details (phone number and email) are included. A personal email address is not required, but you can also share a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website (if you have one).
headline
Your headline should make it clear that you are targeting a director position, and you can include the key functional areas of expertise you brought to the position and the industry in which that expertise was acquired. for example:
Audience: Board of Directors — Commercial Banking and Finance
Financial Analysis | Mergers & Acquisitions | Audit
profile or overview
This can be a 3- to 5-sentence paragraph, or a few statements in a highly relevant bulleted list. We want to highlight our knowledge, connections and commitment to the industry or community in which our board is involved. We want to spotlight only the key influences and skill sets relevant to the board role.
Board and committee experience
In an executive resume, if you have an executive or committee commitment, this section should appear on the first page of the file, before employment experience. Outline each position you held, the name of the organization you worked for, and the dates you were involved (even if unrelated to the position of interest, they demonstrate your commitment and leadership skills). because there is). Also consider sharing a bit about the size, type, industry and board authority of each organization.
Include one to three bullet points that share specific achievements or achievements within each role. Be sure to focus on relevant skill sets that you have applied or learned. Share examples of how you got involved and added value to each role, even if you just provided guidance or recognition.
work history
When creating this section, think less of the details and more of the big picture. Unless your responsibilities and duties are in particular Keep information relevant to your role on the board to a very high standard. Be sure to consolidate related keywords, and when specifying an outcome, combine keywords in a way that identifies it as a collaborative effort.
As a board resume writer, one of my strategies is to identify key board skills and examples of how they apply them successfully to their roles. Introduce bullet points in the skill itself. This accomplishes two things: it adds important keywords and gives readers immediate associations.
Education/Professional Development
Include the type of degree and field of study, as well as any honors received. Professional credentials, certifications, and related conferences and workshops completed are also included. Some may emphasize only certain degree programs or studies at larger, well-known institutions. The choice is yours. Consider the space you have available and the content related to the board.
optional section
You can also include dedicated sections and details. board skills, professional affiliation/membership, recognition/awards, community participation/volunteering experience, early careerand Presentation/Publication. Diversity (age, gender, race, ethnicity) is also an important consideration when selecting board members, so you can include things you would normally downplay in your job search resume.
Corporate Executive Resume Sample
Here is an example of the first page of a corporate executive resume. This is just an example, please do not copy or use.
last note
As with all resumes, it’s important to be concise, focused, and truthful. A typical executive resume is two pages long. If you have a very long work history, you can summarize your previous (relevant) experience in the “Early Career” section. The purpose of a non-profit or corporate executive resume is to communicate your experience that benefits the target organization. Content should be concise and customized for each audience.
If you want to learn more about different types of boards, roles, structures and how to find director positions, check out our new guide.Finding a Director Position: What You Need to Know and Helpful Strategies. ”
In addition, Career Impressions offers a dedicated resume writing service with a focus on executive resume writing.Check Board Level service package on the website.
