How To Write a Chief Information Officer Resume
To generate interviews for chief information officer (CIO) jobs, you must craft a results-driven resume that encapsulates the strongest aspects of your professional career, from information technology (IT) management to cloud computing. This is an executive-level manager role within the computer information system field, so you’ll encounter strong competition while applying for roles on the open market. To grab the attention of prospective employers, you’ll need to showcase your subject matter expertise and leadership capabilities prominently on your resume. This guide provides expert tips to help you tell your story and achieve your career goals.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
Your professional profile is often the first thing hiring managers see when they review your job application. To draw the reader in, you’ll need to craft a summary of qualifications that provides a high-level overview of your qualifications and industry achievements. Start by creating a sentence that details your job title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that align with the job posting. Include unique aspects of who you are as a professional to illustrate your personal brand. This approach will help you make a strong first impression on the hiring manager.
Professional Profile - Example #1
Profile
A CIO with over 10 years of experience specializing in cloud computing, enterprise resource planning (ERP), business intelligence, and IT management. A proven track record of leading high-performance cross-functional teams to enhance IT operations. Adept at collaborating with C-level executives to define organizational strategy.
Professional Profile - Example #2
Profile
A results-driven CIO with over 10 years of professional experience specializing in business transformation, change management, executive leadership, and IT strategy. A strong history of leading technology transformations for enterprise organizations. Adept at establishing collaboration and inclusive work cultures to drive success and achieve business objectives.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
Your professional experience section should feature tangible examples of your achievements as a technology executive. As you craft your bullet points, incorporate hard numbers, metrics, and monetary figures to establish a scope for your projects and initiatives. For example, if you played a key role in a major business or technology transformation, emphasize the size of the company and the overall impact on profit and loss. Providing these intricate details is the best way to tell your story and brand yourself as a thought leader within your space.
Professional Experience - Example #1
Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Cloud Corp., New York, NY
June 2016 – present
- Define enterprise vision and technology roadmaps for a cloud-first organization in coordination with C-level executives, manage profit and loss valued at $10 million, and lead the implementation of Agile development methodology across the organization
- Build engineering and business intelligence teams from the ground up, recruit talent, provide mentorship, and establish a work culture centered on accountability
- Identify technology trends, develop overarching strategy, and provide recommendations to senior leadership to enhance the IT organization
Professional Experience - Example #2
Chief Information Officer, Stalwart Insurance Partners, Seattle, WA
June 2016 – present
- Oversee IT operations for a leading insurance company with over $400 million in assets, including IT infrastructure, ERP, and cybersecurity
- Develop technology plans for the development of a new insurance platform to reduce call center volumes by 30% and improve the customer experience
- Coordinate with the vice president of IT, the chief operating officer, and the CEO to plan and execute a company-wide technology transformation to automate business processes, resulting in a $600,000 reduction in operating costs over two years
3. Include relevant education and certifications
In addition to your education, feature industry certifications to enhance the strength of your job application. Industry credentials are especially important for CIOs, as prospective employers need to see you have the technical and business acumen to succeed in the role. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certifications are both particularly important, as each of these credentials covers a broad range of information security topics.
Certifications
Template: [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Examples:
CISSP, ISC2, 2017
CISM, ISACA 2016
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example:
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Information Technology
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA September 2009 – June 2013
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Most companies rely on an applicant tracking system (ATS) to identify qualified candidates for job postings. If your resume lacks key terms, your application may be rejected before it reaches the hiring manager. To mitigate this risk, you’ll need to incorporate a mix of IT and leadership skills that match the job you’re applying for. Below, you’ll find a list of keywords you may encounter while applying for CIO positions:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Agile methodology | Business intelligence |
| Business transformation | Change management |
| Cloud computing | Cloud migration |
| Cross-functional collaboration | C-level executives |
| Enterprise software | ERP |
| IT | IT architecture |
| Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) | IT management |
| IT infrastructure | IT strategy |
| Microsoft Azure | Oracle |
| Organizational development | Process improvement |
| Scrum | Software development |
| Technical project management | Technology transformation |
5. Highlight your leadership capabilities
It’s important to emphasize your leadership skills on your resume. CIOs interface with cross-functional teams, client stakeholders, and the C-suite on a daily basis. Prospective employers want to see you can effectively manage organizations and collaborate with C-level executives. Highlight your ability to collaborate with diverse teams and create high-performance work cultures. Emphasize your ability to translate complex technical requirements into accessible language for stakeholders. This will send a clear message to hiring managers that you’re a qualified candidate and an ideal culture fit for the company.
How To Pick the Best Chief Information Officer Resume Template
When selecting your template, choose a format that is well-structured and organized.
Avoid resume templates cluttered with bulky graphics or use overly flashy colors. Although these elements can be visually appealing, they may distract the hiring manager from your qualifications and work experience. Choose a template that is easy to read and keeps the reader’s focus on your content.
Chief Information Officer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Kyle Morrison
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY, 12345
Profile
A Chief Information Officer with 10+ years of experience, specializing in cloud computing, enterprise resource planning (ERP), business intelligence, and IT management. A proven track record of leading high-performance cross-functional teams to enhance IT operations. Adept at collaborating with C-level executives to define organizational strategy.
Professional Experience
Chief Information Officer (CIO), Enterprise Cloud Corp., New York, NY
June 2016 – Present
- Define enterprise vision and technology roadmaps for a cloud-first organization in coordination with C-level executives, manage P&L valued at $10M, and lead the implementation of Agile development methodology across the organization
- Build engineering and business intelligence teams from the ground up, recruit talent, provide mentorship, and establish a work culture centered on accountability
- Identify technology trends, develop overarching strategy, and provide recommendations to senior leadership to enhance the IT organization
- Conduct negotiations with vendors to secure optimal pricing for IT equipment and software purchases valued at $300K-$500K
IT Manager, Solaris Technology Inc., New York, NY
May 2011 – June 2016
- Supported the delivery of technology and business transformations for enterprise client accounts valued at $3M-$7M, which included interfacing with C-suite executives to develop strategies based on organizational needs and long-term business goals
- Managed an IT organization with 50+ personnel and coordinated with senior leadership teams to identify opportunities to reduce infrastructure and client acquisition costs
Education
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
University of New York, New York, NY May 2009 – May 2011
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Information Technology
University of New York, New York, NY September 2005 – May 2009
Key Skills
- Business Intelligence
- Agile Methodology
- Cloud Computing
- IT Management
- Organizational Development
- Cross-Functional Leadership
Jennifer Langston
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Seattle, WA 12345
Profile
A results-driven CIO with 10+ years of professional experience, specializing in business transformation, change management, executive leadership, and IT strategy. A strong history of leading technology transformations for enterprise organizations. Adept at establishing collaboration and inclusive work cultures to drive success and achieve business objectives.
Professional Experience
Chief Information Officer (CIO), Stalwart Insurance Partners, Seattle, WA
June 2016 – Present
- Oversee IT operations for a leading insurance company with over $400M in assets, including IT infrastructure, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and cybersecurity
- Develop technology plans for the development of a new insurance platform to reduce call center volumes by 30% and improve the customer experience
- Coordinate with the Vice President of IT, the Chief Operating Officer, and the CEO to plan and execute a company-wide technology transformation to automate business processes, resulting in a $600K reduction in operating costs over two years
IT Manager, Superior IT Services Inc., Seattle, WA
May 2011 – June 2016
- Managed the planning and delivery of IT services to enterprise customers valued at up to $8M, including data management, user services, network administration, and change management initiatives to improve organizational effectiveness
- Led the deployment of Microsoft Azure for customer businesses, which included leading cross-functional teams to execute multi-million-dollar enterprise projects
Education
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
University of Seattle, Seattle, WA May 2009 – May 2011
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Information Technology
University of Seattle, Seattle, WA September 2005 – May 2009
Key Skills
- IT Infrastructure
- Microsoft Azure
- Technical Project Management
- Executive Leadership
- Business Transformation
Charles Lin
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Boston, MA 12345
Profile
A results-oriented technology executive with 10+ years of professional experience, specializing in SAP enterprise architecture, technical project management, and strategic planning. A proven track record of managing IT organizations for government organizations. Adept at defining long-term strategies to improve the scalability of IT infrastructure.
Professional Experience
Chief Information Officer (CIO), Amherst County, Amherst, MA
September 2016 – Present
- Serve as the Chief Information Officer for a local government agency with over 5K end users and oversee the development of IT policies, technology architecture, and cybersecurity protocols
- Lead the development and deployment of new applications and platforms to support cross-functional departments, resulting in a $300K reduction in operating expenses related to manual data entry and user authentication processes
- Oversee the IT department with over 40+ team members, define the overarching strategy for the organization, and identify continuous improvement opportunities
IT Project Manager, Boston IT Solutions, Boston, MA
May 2009 – September 2016
- Managed and executed 25+ technical projects to enhance IT infrastructure and perform cloud migrations for client accounts generating over $3M in annual revenue
- Analyzed existing IT architecture, coordinated with external stakeholders and C-level executives to define business requirements, and led cross-functional teams to execute large-scale technology transformations
Education
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Boston University, Boston, MA May 2007 – May 2009
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Information Technology
Boston University, Boston, MA September 2003 – May 2007
Key Skills
- IT Infrastructure
- Strategy Development
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud Migrations
- Technology Transformation
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP), 2014
Frequently Asked Questions: Chief Information Officer Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for chief information officer resumes?+
Using the right action verbs can greatly increase the impact of your bullet points and professional achievements. Many job seekers make the mistake of using passive language, such as “responsible for” or “worked.” This type of framing makes your achievements read like job responsibilities rather than accomplishments. To help you incorporate active language into your resume, we’ve compiled a list of action verbs you can use to craft your professional experience section:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Designed | Developed |
| Diagnosed | Drove |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Executed | Generated |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Improved | Led |
| Managed | Oversaw |
| Partnered | Resolved |
| Spearheaded | Supported |
How do you align your resume with a CIO job description?+
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIO jobs are expected to grow by 16% over the next decade. This equates to over 48,500 new openings every year with average salaries of $159,010. Despite these positive projections, you’ll still need to align your resume with the job description to capitalize on these opportunities. Senior executive positions are highly competitive, and tailoring your document towards individual applications can greatly increase your odds of landing the interview.
For example, if a job posting is seeking a CIO who has a strong background in leading enterprise software implementations, you’d emphasize your experience collaborating with the C-suite to achieve high-level business objectives. If an organization is seeking a technology executive with advanced cybersecurity knowledge, brand yourself as a thought leader by mentioning terms such as cloud security and AI security.
What is the best chief information officer resume format?+
Reverse chronological is the ideal format for CIO resumes. This ensures your most recent and relevant experience is featured towards the top of your document. As a senior executive, it’s important to showcase your career progression and work history using detailed bullet points. For this reason, avoid functional or skill-based resume formats, as this approach won’t provide a framework to tell your unique story within the technology industry.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Once you’ve completed your resume, consider adding a matching cover letter to strengthen your application. This provides a unique opportunity to tell prospective employers about who you are as a thought leader and why you’re the ideal fit for their organization. In the middle paragraphs, mention something specific about the company’s reputation, culture, or mission statement and why this draws you to apply for the role. For more information, visit our IT cover letter guide.
