Since this week is Presidents Week, I thought it apropos to offer some insights into executive resumes and some tips on conducting a job search for high level professionals looking to get back in the game. If you have not found out the hard way, resumes of people who lead entire companies, subsidiaries, divisions or departments are like Hebrew National hot dogs; they are “held accountable to a higher standard.” So I hope this information is helpful for you, and if you are not sure if your resume is as solid as it can be you can always send it to me for a complimentary resume critique. perry@perrynewman.comIf you are a 6-figure executive looking for a new job you already know the ubiquitous job profile for positions at this level, and the criteria you are judged by are the ability to interact with boards of directors, business owners, oversight committees and fellow executives in the company, along with the ability to ensure a businesses meets profitability goals, and having a track record of promoting a positive corporate image in the eyes of customers, business partners and investors.
Candidates are also judged on their ability to provide vision and leadership to an organization, manage and inspire direct and indirect reports, be accountable for day-to-day operations, and ensure productivity and profitability under all conditions. In other words, as President Harry S. Truman is famous for saying, “The Buck Stops Here”, and your resume needs to shout this message out loud and clear to perspective employers.
Taking all this information into consideration, an executive’s resume can not gloss over these key points nor be overly expansive or contain useless or repetitive information. All these fine points must be covered with clarity and directness, and the resume must focus on accomplishments as opposed to rote responsibilities. Don’t be overly concerned about the number of pages; concentrate on what each page says about you and it will be OK. As I tell all my clients at this level, “decision makers do not care what you did in the past; their interest is in knowing how well you did it and can you repeat this success again for me.” Getting this across in writing is what differentiates a well written from an amateurish executive resume.
As part of the preparation process make sure you complete a thorough resume building exercise to gather the necessary substance for your executive resume before you begin writing. Then go over this information and find the right words and phrases to convey this information. Once you have done this it is time to work on style. As I mentioned above, just as your candidacy will be judged on how well you have promoted a positive corporate image in the eyes of customers, partners and investors, so too decision makers will judge your resume, and by extension your viability as a top candidate, by the image your resume and social media conveys.
This is why I recommend using either an Executive format or a Leadership format depending on how conservative or modern an image you want to portray. Both formats contain a powerful profile statement that highlights your strengths and value for the position you are applying for, along with a table of core competencies. Each format presents the same information, but with a much different visual appeal. Then it is time to list your employment history with a delicate balance of responsibilities and achievements for each position. This is the tricky part, especially knowing how far back to go if you have over 15-20 years of experience.
To fill out the executive resume you need a section on your academic credentials, licenses and certifications, another on business related affiliations, and one on publications if they are relevant. I recommend incorporating a section for professional endorsements, but consider them optional based on your personality and comfort zone in using them.
As for your Social Media image here are a few things you must know. First off you need a business oriented, friendly picture of yourself and it must be consistent on all your Social Media. Another important factor on your social media is that it is not a clone of your resume. Whereas a resume is a more formal document, your social media is just that. It needs to show people your human side and should not be 100% about business. Let people get to know you on a more personal level. Again I tell my clients over and over, “decision makers do not hire qualifications and skill sets they hire people, and more important they hire people they like.” So use your social media to make yourself not only a great candidate, but a likeable one as well.
BONUS HINTS FOR PRESIDENTS WEEK
The following search tip was recently forwarded to me by one of my clients and I think it is worth passing along to you as well.
Use you voicemail messages as a 30-second radio commercial.
What was suggested is you script out and rehearse a voice mail messages so you come across as natural and spontaneous before you leave a message on a decision maker’s voice mail; the odds being 25-1 you will reach VM rather than speak directly to the party you have called.. And what ever you do, don't try and simulate a phony voice-over announcer’s tone of voice, just practice your promo until you sound upbeat and ultra professional. While your competition is leaving spur of the moment and often rambling messages, you can gain a competitive edge by leaving a voicemail message that make people want to call you back.
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