Undertaking an executive job search can be daunting.
How will your qualifications measure up? What if your job search takes too long? How will you prepare for interviews?
But first, does your resume CLEARLY convey your fit for your target jobs?
Here are some ways to find out:
- Send it to 10 people in your network and ask them what job titles you appear qualified for.
- Pop it into your favorite AI tool after copying the job description – then ask how well your resume aligns with the job.
- Locate a recruiter who places candidates at your level and ask their opinion of your resume. (Not every recruiter will have time for this, but some will point out that your resume needs work).
Writing a resume that attracts interest is both an art and a science. If yours needs some work, use these strategies for a closer match to your ideal roles:
1 – Add keywords directly related to the jobs you’re pursuing.
This might sound simple, but many executives rush over this task and focus more heavily on their job titles.
Look over some job postings aligned with your career goal. For example, a Chief Medical Officer could use a Google search on “CMO Community Hospital Jobs” to locate listings matching their areas of specialty, while a CISO can leverage search strings such as “Cybersecurity Strategy Executive Jobs” to find matching positions.
After locating sample positions, scan them for skills common to your experience (or use AI to locate keywords in each entry, then make a combined list for you). This will help you identify employer language common to your field.
Add these terms throughout your resume, including your summary section, job descriptions, and achievements. You can also make a list of your competencies, but it’s MOST important to incorporate these keywords in descriptions of your work.
2 – Describe actual achievements vs. what anyone would do in your job.
Employers like to see RESULTS!
In Should You Write Your Own Executive Resume, you can find tips for identifying your personal brand, gathering the right data to prove your value to employers, and condensing your story into a potent, power-packed 2-3 pages at most.
Aligning the content of your resume to the qualifications in job postings is critical. Employers need to see your fit as a credible candidate as measured against their own language and specifications.
3 – Put your strongest qualifications up front.
Many employers and hiring teams lack the time to thoroughly read each resume they receive. Instead, they’re quickly scanning your background and credentials to determine if you’re a fit for their requirements.
Don’t make them hunt for your value proposition!
Make a list of the top 5 reasons an employer should consider you. Then, compare this list to the content in the top half of your resume.
If these reasons aren’t clearly articulated at the top of your document, you’ve got some work to do. Create an achievements section under your summary, where you can list these key successes.
As you can see, your executive resume has an important job to do.
Ensure it speaks employer language and expresses your fit related to their needs.
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