The most powerful resumes tell compelling leadership stories backed by metrics.
Does yours?
If your executive resume only hints at your value proposition, it might need a CAR… specifically, the details unearthed by using C-A-R stories to write about your achievements.
C-A-R (Challenge-Action-Result) stories help you describe your impact by:
- Explaining the situation or problem you faced (Challenge).
- Showing what you did to resolve it (Action).
- Describing the outcome (Result) that you achieved.
This time-tested model (also called STAR for Situation, Task, Action, and Result), can help you brainstorm and write persuasive accomplishments that compel employers to take notice.
Here’s how to use the C-A-R model to your benefit:
Challenge (C): Describe the Situation in Context.
Perhaps you’ve been asked to reorganize a department or system, or you’ve found that there are problems with your employer’s methods of operation. Maybe you’ve transitioned a team to a new level of performance.
Looking carefully at the problems you’ve solved will lay a clear foundation for your success stories.
Use these ideas for inspiration:
- Recruited to lead the first turnaround in company history.
- Asked to restructure an organization.
- Chosen to lead the company sale or an acquisition.
- Tapped to drive new levels of revenue in a slow market.
- Hired to boost demand for new lines of business.
Action (A): Explain the Steps You Took to Resolve The Issue.
Actions can take many forms (designing new procedures, training teams to correct a skills deficit, spearheading an enterprise-level project, etc.).
You may have also taken on issues outside of your usual responsibilities (such as handling a merger when the company is acquired or taking on a new level of leadership when the boss is absent).
Here are examples of actions:
- Assembled a strategy team to tackle growth issues.
- Brought in a global consulting firm to analyze next steps.
- Built a Center of Excellence to handle user support.
- Outsourced a critical part of the production process.
- Designed a go-to-market strategy.
Note: Save room to show the impact of the situation (the Results), as this will be the most important part of your stories.
Result (R): Provide Data-Driven Evidence of the Outcome.
Get as specific as possible about the impact of your actions: metrics play a CRUCIAL role in a compelling resume and LinkedIn profile.
Where possible, add dollar figures, percentages, year-over-year growth percentages, and other quantifiable information to your CAR stories.
This part of your resume will attract more attention than anything else.
Consider these examples of data-driven results:
- Led the first turnaround in 10+ years.
- Produced a 23% increase in CAGR in a downturn market.
- Stemmed the loss of talent with a 14% improvement in employee engagement.
- Grew sales pipeline 350%.
- Positioned XYZ Company as the #2 industry leader.
Finally, structure your C-A-R statements for maximum impact.
Rework each C-A-R story so that the Results appear FIRST, followed by the Action or Challenge, as shown here:
- Grew revenue 21%, adding $1.7 million in 3 markets by training sales leaders in solution selling.
- Increased operational output 20% (despite use of outdated equipment) with AI-backed efficiency measures.
- Accelerated online transaction approvals 23% by resolving technology issues with new vendor contracts.
You’ll find that C-A-R method to be among simplest, most effective ways to demonstrate proof of your performance – and build a compelling resume and LinkedIn profile.
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