Here’s how to write an executive resume that turns heads in the hiring market

Are you an executive level job seeker hunting for your next big opportunity in this competitive job market? It is not an easy feat to stand out among hundreds of other equally talented individuals. What you need in your job search arsenal is a well-crafted executive resume.

So, how can you write an executive resume that makes hiring managers want to meet you? As a certified professional resume writer, I talk about this topic all the time. In my opinion, all that it takes for you to craft a professional executive resume is concentration, time, and a whole lot of elbow grease.

Writing an executive resume is not an easy task. However, you can make it easier for you by gathering all your information in one place before you begin. Let me walk you through each step of this process so that it is not a tedious one for you.

Find everything that you need

Remember, we are not crafting just another resume. We are writing an executive resume that gets you closer to your dream job. To do this, you will need a lot of information at hand. I suggest collecting job descriptions for your past jobs, performance reviews, client testimonials, employer referrals, and anything else that you think might help before you sit down in front of your laptop and start typing away.

Now, it’s time for you to analyze the JD

Your favorite employer posted a mouth-watering job description that made you want to apply for the position on the spot. Great. Now it’s time for you to stop drooling over how perfect this opportunity is for you and start analyzing the employer’s needs. First, read the job description carefully and thoroughly. Then, start highlighting all the keywords that you notice. These can be skills, knowledge areas, experiences, tools, techniques, and even action verbs. Once you have identified all the right keywords, it is much easier for you to customize your job application for the employer.

Choose your template

When writing an executive resume for your job search, the resume template you select matters a lot. You can only get so far in the hiring process with a basic resume template. It is vital that you select an ATS-friendly resume template for your executive resume. If you can’t find one online, start creating one from scratch. That way, you will end up with a unique resume template that the hiring manager has not seen multiple times before. Then, decide the sections that your resume is going to have. I recommend going beyond the five standard resume sections and adding some extra information to the document if your goal is to stand out.

Find your qualifications that match

Do you have a master resume template? If so, this step will be a piece of cake for you. Don’t fret if you don’t have one. I have just the right tips for those of you who don’t have a master resume template as well. Now that you have identified all the demands of the employer, it is time for you to do a self-assessment to find which qualifications of yours match with their requirements. If you don’t have a master resume template, you can start creating a resume outline. Basically, make a list of the resume sections that you plan to add and list down any relevant qualifications you have under each section. You don’t have to get creative at this point, just deciding the key pieces of information is enough.

Pick and choose what must remain

Once you have outlined the content of your resume, it is time for you to choose which pieces of information gets to stay on the document. As a rule of thumb, your executive resume can be one to three pages long. Ideally, I prefer to go for a two-page format so that I have enough space to bring out the best of my clients’ skills and experiences. But you have decide the length of your resume depending on the amount and relevancy of the content you want to share with the employer. If your resume seems to stretch too long, you can prioritize the most relevant and important information and leave out the rest.

Start writing and restructuring

Great. Now that we have completed all the basic steps, all that we have left to do is to start writing your executive resume. I suggest starting with the work experience section, as this is where the bulk of information on your resume is concentrated. List your relevant work experiences in reverse chronological order on your resume. Describe each experience using concise bullet points that bring out your results using quantified achievements. Use numbers and percentages to add a wow factor to your resume. If you are an older job seeker, you can leave out everything beyond the last 10-15 years when creating your career history.

Format your resume for success

The visual appeal of your executive resume is not something that you can forget about. You must ensure that it appears clean, crisp, and simple. The key feature of a winning executive resume is the ease of navigating the document. Ensure that the hiring manager can easily find what they are looking for on your resume and you will make a lasting impression on them. Be mindful of the formatting options available to you when creating your executive resume. I recommend staying away from Italics and underlines as they reduce the readability of text on your resume. However, you can utilize bold text and different fonts to highlight useful information on the document. Another thing to pay attention to is the text density of the document. Ensure that your resume has plenty of white space so that hiring managers can easily navigate the document.

There is only so much wisdom that I can share with just one article about writing a winning executive resume. If you feel overwhelmed with a task, don’t worry, we have got you covered. Simply visit www.resumemansion.com to start working with the certified professional resume writer who specializes in crafting executive resumes and succeed in your job search!