subject: 3 Secrets To Crafting A Powerful Senior Executive Resume [print this page] Typically the responsibility to create a senior executive resume creates a different set of challenges than before in your career. At this level, the strength of the people you are competing against requires a higher level of interest in the potential employer interviewing you which is required of lower positions.
The following are three secrets that will ensure you have a more productive resume than you have ever produced in the past.
1. Do Your Homework. You have to know your employer's challenges, needs, and what they are looking to get out of you. This is particularly true at the senior executive level. Research is so important at this stage, and employers do not hire senior executives unless they feel completely certain that this individual will benefit the company. The hiring decision is more about the needs of the company as a whole rather than the individual. By understanding and catering to the companys needs, the executive candidate can create a winning resume message.
Completing your research before going into an interview doesn't stop with just the company. It is a good idea to also understand everything about the position advertised since professional titles can mean different things at different companies. After thoroughly reviewing a company's website, look for other press releases, news articles, or awards of the company to gain an outside perspective as well.
Lastly, it is always a good idea to research the challenges being faced by a particular company or industry, which would include searching for other news stories or news pieces of the specific company.
2. Select the Correct Format. Prior to starting to write the resume, decide if you will be creating a functional or chronological resume for the specific position. This is not an easy decision and could greatly impact your ability to land the position.
Chronological resumes are most common in the marketplace, and display your work history in order of your lifespan, and most recognize this format. This format, however, can also prominently show gaps in employment history or other changes in industries that you would prefer not to showcase.
The section outlining your employment history of the functional resume would focus on a few selected achievements of your career. This format gives the opportunity to highlight your best achievements and assets, while hiding other aspects you would prefer not to shine a light on. Before relying solely on this format, a word of caution. The functional format can also downplay an impressive career that may otherwise work in your favor. Some recruiters also understand this is a way to hide certain aspects of your employment history.
3. Writing Using Inverted Pyramid. Nearly every good writer utilizes a variation of the theory of the inverted pyramid. This strategy involves bringing the most important ideas to the beginning of the resume.
When you get to the executive level, you need to apply this theory in structuring all the sentences and paragraphs. Ensure you use powerful words in each sentence to catch the reader's attention. Remember that the end of each paragraph is an opportunity for the potential recruiter to stop reading. It is critical that you keep the reader to want to see more.
As a final thought, writing a superior senior executive resume is no easy job. it is very complex and important to craft all the parts and pieces correctly. A fantastic resume will land you interviews and ultimately that job. Without the interviews, the job is only a dream.
