"Help! I Haven't Updated My Resume In Seven Years."

Five Tips For An Exceptional Executive Resume

A wonderful friend of mine recently confessed: She had been with her current employer for seven years and during that time had never -- not even once -- updated her resume.

She had no idea what to write or where to start. She compared it to exercising; the longer she went without going to the gym, the harder it was to get back into it. The same went for her resume. Should she choose to leave, how could she reflect her nearly 20-year career in one page (and was the one-page limit still a thing)? How would she stand out from throngs of applicants in a saturated job market? Did she need a website or referrals? Would it be inappropriate to write about things she enjoyed outside of work, like yoga and wine tasting?

At the time of her confession, I’d been an executive with a marketing organization for six years -- the longest I’d been with one company -- but had made it a habit to regularly update my resume. It wasn’t that I had planned on leaving. Instead, I found it easier to recount my accomplishments in real-time rather than recall them years down the road.

Her questions got me thinking, so I did what any good Strategist does: Market Research. I asked some current and former colleagues, all of whom had careers spanning 10-20 years, “How many times, if at all, had they updated their resumes since they’d been in their current jobs?

It turns out, I was in the minority. Here were brilliant, accomplished senior- and executive-level professionals who dedicated hours poring over resumes for their company’s hiring needs, but had given little-to-no thought about the state of their own resumes.

“Out of sight, out of mind,” was one colleague’s response. “I don’t plan on needing it anytime soon,” said another. “I’m so busy, it’s the last thing on my mind,” said a former coworker.

When I shared that I had kept mine updated, well, that’s when the questions started rolling in:

What did you say? Did you design it or is it text-based? How many pages is it? How many jobs did you include? Does education still come before work experience? Did you include searchable keywords? How did you make it unique?

It turns out even the most experienced professionals still need a little help with their resumes, so I shared tips with them that have worked for me. And while my Dad once imparted the wisdom that to “assume makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’,” I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that my colleagues are not alone. Maybe you could use some tips, too. In fact, that’s probably why you’re reading this article.

1. A Little Design Flair Goes A Long Way

I’m not talking “15 required pieces of flair” a la Office Space, but pick a simple design template that reflects your personality and personal design taste. For hiring managers who are constantly reviewing resumes, nothing kills a candidate’s chances more than assuming paragraphs and paragraphs of text will get read with a fine-tooth comb. Hiring managers are busy with their own day jobs so a professional, simple, yet beautiful design will help your resume stand out from the candidate crowd. Remember, “You eat with your eyes first,” and the same goes for reading resumes. Google Images is a great resource for creative resumes organized by year, so take a look and see what appeals to you. Keynote, InDesign and even the dreaded Powerpoint are good design programs to use. What if you’re not great at design? Even the simplest of techniques, like putting boxes around text, playing with different fonts or adding company logos instead of names will make a difference.

2.  Actively List Accomplishments, Not Just Experience

Make what you say count. One of the easiest resume traps is to write and write and write some more without any of it being meaningful. Here’s an example: You’re a mid/senior-level Marketing Manager “responsible for budget management, production oversight, vendor relationships and business growth.” Is it true? Sure. Does it help you stand out? Absolutely not. Try this instead: “Directly managed $20MM production budget, oversaw 3-4 productions per quarter, managed and maintained positive relationships with vendors, and contributed to 10% YOY (aka year-over-year) sales growth.” See the difference? One’s a nondescript job description while the other directly represents what YOU contributed to your role and company. If you score an interview, you can talk directly to those numbers and share even more detail behind your work.

3. Optimize for Search Keywords

Whether you’re planning to submit a resume via a company’s Careers portal, job search engine (e.g. Indeed, ZipRecruiter, etc.) or even a personal contact, you must include keywords and phrases that will get picked up by programmed algorithms and/or human eyes. Don’t know where to start? Take a look at job descriptions for positions in which you’d be interested and qualified. Hiring managers and resume sorting software will be looking for keyword matches in your resume, so make sure to use similar language. A word of caution here: Don’t ever misrepresent yourself on your resume. If you haven’t executed a specific task or had a specific experience, don’t lift language that makes it sound like you have.

4. Prioritize ‘Work Experience’ By Meaningful Roles

“How far back did you go?” was one of the most common questions I received. In other words, how many prior jobs should you include and in what detail? Although it seems like a no-brainer, if your career is going on 10-15 years you don’t need to include the Food Network internship you had after college. Not that it’s not cool, it’s just not… relevant. It’s fine to prioritize roles over the past 10 years where you made the most impact, experienced the most growth and received accolades for your work. Never skip roles just to skip them but remember most interviewers will focus on how your recent experiences make you a good fit for their openings.

5. Share Personal Accomplishments & Memberships

Are you on the board of a local wine organization? Love to volunteer for pet rescue foundations? Training to be a Pilates instructor? Played NCAA volleyball in college? Don’t be afraid to list your personal hobbies and accomplishments. These are great conversation starters and a chance to connect with your potential future boss and colleagues over topics aside from job responsibilities. The Bureau Of Labor Statistics reported that in 2017, the average American worked between 41 and 43 hours per week, surpassing the time we spend at home. As a boss, I’m a huge proponent of bonding with your teammates personally and professionally, so if you can’t talk to your coworkers about your passions and hobbies outside of work, you may want to reconsider your application.

Bonus Tip: It's All About Who You Know

Sure, there are many websites dedicated to helping people get jobs but nothing, and I mean nothing, beats a personal referral. You’re on LinkedIn for a reason, so go through your network and see who you know. Need an introduction to a friend’s contact? Don’t be shy. Ask for it. Look at networking as building relationships and learning about new opportunities, NOT just job hunting. Ask for informational calls. Schedule a coffee date and come prepared with questions. It’s like dating. The less pressure a busy hiring manager or executive feels from a candidate, the more likely they are to make time for them. Finally, my personal philosophy says when you’ve worked so hard to successfully climb the ladder, it’s your responsibility to assist those still on their way up.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, pun intended. I hope you found this advice helpful. Have tips of your own? I’d love to hear them. Leave them in the comments below.

About The Author:

Christie Bishop is an Executive Marketer, Purpose-Driven Leader and Career Coach. She has nearly 20 years experience helping brands create powerful, culturally relevant and insightful work that audiences love. She has been recognized for her inspirational leadership style, helping experienced professionals realize their passion, and guiding leadership teams towards a purpose they and their employees can believe in.

Interested in learning more? Visit ChristieBishop.com or tune into the Adam Carolla Podcast's #CommercialGrade segment, where Christie is the resident marketing expert.