An executive (let’s call him Martin) approached me as he was considering a step up to Vice President of Operations for a major international organization. The company was interested in him, but he wanted to see a formal executive resume. That’s where I entered.
Martin and I worked together to unearth his relevant career achievements, define supporting metrics, and articulate his value proposition. Within a week, I had my new executive’s resume ready for his review.
he loved it to exclude…
he thought his résumé should include more Content beyond the current two-page format. what is his reasoning?he wanted his own whole Boasting a career of 30 years.
Martin felt deeply attached to his career role and was proud of each experience. The problem was that previous career details were irrelevant to executive-level goals. He risked “diluting” his message and diminishing the impact of his resume by including irrelevant content.
Writing executive resumes, I misunderstand that many professionals see their resumes as a career chronology (everything you’ve done so far) rather than as a strategic career tool. I’m here. Changing your perspective isn’t easy, but it’s necessary for a successful resume and job search.Your resume may be about you, but it’s not meaning for you.
It didn’t matter what Martin wanted to see on his resume. Instead, he had to adopt a critical executive resume strategy and put himself in the position of the reader (the employer).what did he have to imagine they I wanted to see and tell them the most important details.
Put personal preferences aside.adopt a business mindset
I encouraged Martin to treat the entire job search like a business project. You need a clearly defined plan of action, actionable steps, a focused target, and a sharp sales presentation.
That’s where resumes come in. If your resume is written with the end goal in mind and in line with the needs of a future employer, you will present yourself as an important business her solution. Ask yourself if your previous work experience will help you “close the deal.”
Martin also agreed that the previous details were irrelevant. He ditched his personal preferences and agreed to strategically place his résumé details for the benefit of his readers.he stopped worrying his We put the needs of employers first.
If you find yourself in the same rabbit hole as Martin, here are three key requirements to keep your executive resume focused and on track.
1. Know your audience. Keeping in mind the job postings and job goals, everytime Write to that audience. everytime.
2. Know yourself. Yes, your resume is not aimed at you, but it should specifically point out your qualifications and added value. You can’t sell what you don’t understand. If you’re not sure what your unique value proposition is related to your job, ask a careers expert to help you sort it out.
3. Know what’s important. Stay on top of the latest resume trends and requirements. A successful resume should have value, clarity, targeted content, qualifications, achievements and metrics all packaged in a concise format. If you find it difficult to mine and edit the information on your own, ask an expert for help.
Executives, approach your resume strategy with a business mindset in mind to reduce personal bias. By considering the needs of your target audience, your resume content will always be focused, thought-provoking, and engaging.
This article originally appeared on Forbes.
Another key strategy for 2023 is to go beyond achievements in your resume. Read my insights in this Forbes post.
