One of the latest trends of top executive resumes is that more VP and C-suite executives are paying attention to their online and offline marketing collateral -- even if they're happy in their current roles. If you are a top executive, here are 10 additional trends and tips you will want to be aware of for 2019:
1. Metrics are still king.
Your top accomplishments should reflect the three to five key "superpowers" you offer as value points (think divisional turnarounds, digital transformations, mergers and acquisitions, strategic growth plans and so on). Most importantly, remember to script all your accomplishments so that they begin with the metric or impact. Multiple bullets that begin with the action or activity are hard to read and do not set the correct perception. Always begin at the end and work backward. You will also find this to be a great leadership management tool as you track your accomplishments.
2. Less is more.
One of the most difficult things about writing your C-level resume yourself is knowing what to say and what to leave out. After all, you have accomplished so much and had such an exciting journey. How does one interject the kind of objectivity needed in a marketing document? Use a self-guided method that works well, such as the following: Find a couple ideal job positions online or through a recruiter. Highlight the key points that match you. Use those key points as a guide to write your resume.
3. Set up your storyline.
The top of your executive resume’s first page is considered prime real estate. This is where you suggest to your audience where you want to go. Be clear and suggest as much as you can, including titles, industry, and size of the company (startup, mid-cap, large multinational corporations and so on). In addition, consider valuable information such as your breadth of oversight (regional, national, global) and the amount of profit and loss you have managed.
4. Offer the best first.
Set the perception by supporting the above information with some exciting career wins. This may include advanced degrees or certifications you have, media exposure, speaking engagements, authored books or whitepapers or other thought leader-type points, awards, recognitions, and board appointments.
5. Respect your reader.
In your career narrative, providing the company name, dates you worked there, and your title is obviously important. But did you know a brief one- or two-sentence description of the company is equally important? Think of what the reader needs to know before they are asked to read about your details or accomplishments.
For instance, if the company you are a chief operating officer of is a $720 million global industrial manufacturer with 16 offices and 600 employees in the U.S., Asia Pacific and the UAE, those points are crucial before your reader can contextualize your accomplishments. And if you work for Google, Apple or Bain Capital, you shouldn't assume the reader automatically knows how big the company is or how much it's worth off the top of their head.
6. Create continuity.
In 2019, understanding how LinkedIn and your resume play off each other is increasingly important. These two pieces of marketing material should seamlessly complement one another. In other words, you don’t want your resume stating one thing and your LinkedIn profile stating another. You want to set the same perception across all of your career documents, so use the same keywords and offer similar summaries.
7. Do not undervalue the importance of keywords.
Keywords bind and draw you to what you want next. It is very important to have keyword groupings on page one of your executive resume, either in a side box where they are easily organized or somewhere else on that first page. These keywords exist to assure your audience that you are the right executive for the job. It gives them critical keywords they can scan at a cursory glance and use to quickly assess your candidacy. In other words, keyword groupings are a powerful marketing tool.
8. Shift your model to a career executive portfolio.
More C-level clients are creating resumes that speak to their interest in taking on positions such as C-suite, interim C-suite, operating partner, board member, consultant, advisor and thought leader (think book author, keynote speaker, adjunct professor). An executive resume can be categorized to demonstrate various interests by organizing information in sections that speak to each area of interest. Another option is to create one or two variations of your executive resume to speak to each area of key interest.
9. Create an online portfolio.
If you haven't grabbed yourname.com by now, it's imperative that you do. In 2019 and beyond, more companies and recruiters will be asking executives if they have an online portfolio. Hover conducted a study in 2017 that showed 86% of 121 key decision makers will review a career portfolio if the option is offered, and 71% of them stated how the portfolio looked would influence their hiring decision. As a C-level executive, an online website gives you a chance to stand out and provide your audience a chance to know, like and trust you.
10. Consider your cover letter.
Cover letters -- also called value proposition letters -- are needed now more than ever because they say more with fewer words. Blocky paragraphs stacked one on top of the other will not be read, but skimmed. Be sure to get right to the point. Share your focus of direction, respectfully call out a few examples of success, then invite them to learn more by looking at your resume. The less is more formula works especially well for creating intrigue
These 10 tips will help you clarify your goals and identify the components you will need to put in place to be ready for a move, an opportunity that presents itself to you out of the blue or an enhancement of your leadership roles.