Tips to Elevate Your Executive Resume

Those working in executive search spend a significant amount of time reviewing resumes. It becomes clear what makes a resume stand out and what causes it to get lost in the pile. One of the most common issues is a lack of context. Candidates often list their responsibilities without providing enough detail about the scope of their work or the organizations they worked for. This makes it difficult to fully understand their career progression and the impact they made in each role. This article shares key tips to help you create a resume that truly captures your experience and gets noticed by recruiters.

Reflect Scope:

Reporting Structure: Clearly indicate who you reported to at each position. This provides valuable context about your career trajectory and the level of autonomy you had.

• Example: "Reported to the VP of Marketing" or "Directly reported to the CEO"

Scope of Responsible Work: Define the breadth and depth of your responsibilities. Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Example: "Managed a team of 10 marketing professionals" or "Increased sales by 15% within one year"

Organizational Description: Briefly describe the company's size, industry, and overall mission. This helps recruiters understand the context of your accomplishments.

• Example: "A leading provider of e-commerce solutions to Fortune 500 companies" or "A rapidly growing startup in the fintech sector"

Why This Matters:

Executive search firms are looking for candidates who not only have the right skills and experience but also demonstrate a clear understanding of their career progression and the impact they made at each role. By providing detailed information on your reporting structure, scope of work, and organizational context, you give recruiters a much richer picture of your career and make it easier for them to assess your suitability for their clients' needs.

Additional Tips:

• Use Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume.
• Quantify Your Achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers and data to demonstrate your accomplishments.
• Proofread Carefully: Ensure your resume is free of any typos or grammatical errors.

By following these tips, you can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed by executive search firms and landing your dream job.

Kristen Perez, MBA, SHRM-CP , Recruiting Director, brings over 18 years of executive recruiting experience, having worked in Human Resources roles focusing on Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development. She joined The Christopher Group as a Recruiting Manager in 2021 and was promoted to Recruiting Director in 2022. Kristen specializes in filling Human Resources executive roles nationwide and has a robust background in the Manufacturing, Logistics, Oil & Gas, Aviation, Consulting, Private Equity, and Healthcare industries. Within the firm, she unofficially serves as the organization and technology guru. Connect with Kristen to learn more about her current searches.