What You Should Know about Writing an Executive Resume

If you have worked your way up the corporate ladder from an entry-level position to that of a professional – and now executive – you know how different the world can look at each stage in the game. As an executive, a lot more is expected of you, and probably no one is a harsher critic of you than yourself. You know how important it is to exude perfection with everything you do, including writing your resume. So, before you write yours for the executive position you’re seeking, let’s take a look at a little of what’s good to know about writing an executive resume. Know Your Goals When you’re working on your executive-level resume, one of the most important things to remember is your goals. Right off the bat, you know that the type of job you’re vying for is harder to obtain than others. So as you begin to prepare your resume, you want to make sure that you can stand out as a person with not just an impressive past, but someone with capabilities of creating an even more impressive future with the company you want to work for. This means, you don’t just go into your resume thinking about who you’ve worked for and what responsibilities you’ve held. You want to really look at the contributions you make to the company as a whole and how you will be able to do the same at the new company. As an executive, you are a valuable asset to any company you work for, so your goal when writing your resume should be to let them know how serious you are about your work, and how important making a difference is to you. Be Ready to Highlight Your Achievements As an executive, you are expected to make a significant difference in the company that you work for, which means you must have a ton of high-level achievements under your belt – and be prepared to share them. Basically, you need to show that you have the “umph” to justify your salary. Some achievements that you might be prepared to highlight include saving the company money or time, reducing costs, improving morale, increasing productivity, resolving long-term problems, and improving the bottom line. Show That You’re a Person When you’re a lower-level employee, often times, the employer just wants to know that you can do the job. If you can’t, the company will find someone who can. However, as an executive, it’s much more important that you’re a whole person who can relate to real-life problems and know how to solve them. You should be prepared to showcase your ability to be relatable, grounded, and a leader at the same time. There’s no doubt that working as an executive comes with a lot of requirements, and it’s important to show that you’re up to any challenges that may come your way. So as you prepare your resume, it’s good to keep in mind what information you want to share to show you’re the best person for the job.