How To Write an Executive Resume
As a senior executive, your resume will be much more heavily scrutinized when compared to entry-level and mid-career candidates. Companies invest more time and resources into experienced professionals, and you’ll need to craft an accomplishment-driven resume to differentiate yourself from the competition. Over the course of this guide, we’ll provide expert tips to help you translate your career experience into an impactful marketing document.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
Your opening summary is a key aspect of the resume. The goal is to create a compelling snapshot of your career to establish your personal brand and draw the reader in. As an executive, you’ll want to focus on presenting yourself as a thought leader within your industry. For example, if you worked primarily with Fortune 500 companies in the technology industry, you should highlight this in your first two sentences. If you’ve cultivated global leadership experience, you should mention it in your profile. Try to balance telling your unique story while highlighting qualifications that match the position you’re applying for.
Professional Profile – Example #1
Profile
A Vice President with 10+ years of experience within the banking industry, specializing in financial analysis, investment strategy, marketing, and regulatory compliance. A proven track record of building relationships with enterprise customers and identifying opportunities to enhance the growth of client portfolios.
Professional Profile – Example #2
Profile
A Technology Executive with 10+ years of experience specializing in product innovation, business development, and go-to-market strategy. A proven track record of developing business strategies to drive revenue growth and expand market share. A strong history of engaging with C-level executives and investors to define product strategy.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
As an executive, you’ll want to provide tangible examples of your high-level responsibilities, such as defining strategic direction for organizations and interfacing with C-level executives. Hard numbers and data can also help bolster the impact of your bullet points, but not every contribution is easily quantified. For instance, if you worked to establish a forward-thinking and inclusive work, this is worth highlighting even if it can’t be measured with a monetary figure or percentage. Focus on showcasing industry-specific projects and accomplishments while also capturing your leadership experience.
Professional Experience – Example #1
Vice President, Trust Bank, Philadelphia, PA
October 2016 – Present
- Oversee all aspects of client relationships for 15+ accounts valued at $20M, expand revenue opportunities, conduct due diligence, and led client implementations to generate an additional $1.2M in annual revenue
- Lead projects for client initiatives, serve as a liaison between client and business units to ensure successful implementation, and manage stakeholder expectations
- Coordinate cross-functionally with legal, enterprise risk, and compliance teams to mitigate financial risks and ensure regulatory compliance.
Professional Experience – Example #2
Vice President, Excelsior Technologies, San Francisco, CA
October 2016 – Present
- Oversee a team of five Directors with over 300+ direct reports, define strategic direction for the business unit, manage P&L valued at $50M, and establish a forward-thinking work culture centered on innovation, collaboration, and inclusion
- Develop high-impact go-to-market strategy to expand customer acquisition across digital platforms, contributing to a $10M increase in revenue across five product lines
- Interface with C-level executives, senior management, and investors to assess market trends, define product messaging, and expand reach across untapped verticals
3. Include relevant education and certifications
In addition to your education, you should incorporate industry certifications to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise within your field. Leadership credentials are also valuable for executives, specifically if they pertain to change management and organizational development.
As an executive, prospective employers will often expect more credentials due to your years of experience within your industry.
Certifications
Template: [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Examples:
- Certified Technical Product Manager, PMHQ, 2015
- Certified Product Manager (CPM), AIPMM, 2013
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example:
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Product Management
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, San Francisco, CA September 2011 – June 2013
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Organizations utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to identify qualified candidates for job openings, even at the executive level. If your resume lacks a certain number of key terms from the job description, you may be rejected at the onset of the application process. Poor targeting might also fail to impress the hiring manager, even if your resume does advance to the next phase. As you build your resume, try to incorporate key skills and qualifications directly from the posting using tangible examples from your career. Below, you’ll find a wide range of potential keywords you may encounter during the job search:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Business Development | Client Relations |
| Change Management | Cross-Functional Leadership |
| C-Suite | Data-Driven Decision Making |
| Executive Leadership | Healthcare Management |
| Organizational Development | Product Management |
| Program Management | Project Management |
| Sales Leadership | Stakeholder Management |
| Strategic Planning | Strategy Development |
| Talent Acquisition | Technical Project Management |
How To Pick the Best Executive Resume Template
When selecting a template for executive-level positions, you should choose an option that fits your personal brand without obscuring your content. Be thoughtful in your usage of color and graphics. Despite the visual appeal, this can often have the opposite effect of what you’re hoping for. When in doubt, choose a well-organized, straightforward template that keeps the reader’s focus firmly on your career achievements and qualifications.
Executive Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
John Bergsen
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Philadelphia, PA 12345
Profile
A Vice President with 10+ years of experience within the banking industry, specializing in financial analysis, investment strategy, marketing, and regulatory compliance. A proven track record of building relationships with enterprise customers and identifying opportunities to enhance the growth of client portfolios.
Professional Experience
Vice President, Trust Bank, Philadelphia, PA
October 2016 – Present
- Oversee all aspects of client relationships for 15+ accounts valued at $20M, expand revenue opportunities, conduct due diligence, and led client implementations to generate an additional $1.2M in annual revenue
- Lead projects for client initiatives, serve as a liaison between client and business units to ensure successful implementation, and manage stakeholder expectations
- Coordinate cross-functionally with legal, enterprise risk, and compliance teams to mitigate financial risks and ensure regulatory compliance.
Senior Director, Corbin Financial, Philadelphia, PA
June 2013 – October 2016
- Managed and developed client relationships generating over $24M in annual revenue for a leading investment firm, educated clients on new product capabilities and risk analytic tools, and successfully grew portfolio by $5M
- Collaborated with product development, sales, and technology teams to expand product offerings, enhance the RFP process, and develop new value-added services
Certifications
- Certified International Investment Analyst (CIIA), ACIIA, 2016
- Certified Fund Specialist (CFS), IBF, 2013
Key Skills
- Investment Banking
- Regulatory Compliance
- Stakeholder Management
- Client Relations
- P&L Management
Education
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2011 – June 2013
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Finance
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2007 – June 2011
Yaling Zhang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
San Francisco, CA 12345
Profile
A Technology Executive with 10+ years of experience specializing in product innovation, business development, and go-to-market strategy. A proven track record of developing business strategies to drive revenue growth and expand market share. A strong history of engaging with C-level executives and investors to define product strategy.
Professional Experience
Vice President, Excelsior Technologies, San Francisco, CA
February 2016 – Present
- Oversee a team of five Directors with over 300+ direct reports, define strategic direction for the business unit, manage P&L valued at $50M, and establish a forward-thinking work culture centered on innovation, collaboration, and inclusion
- Develop high-impact go-to-market strategy to expand customer acquisition across digital platforms, contributing to a $10M increase in revenue across five product lines
- Interface with C-level executives, senior management, and investors to assess market trends, define product messaging, and expand reach across untapped verticals
Senior Director, Arkon Technology Inc., San Francisco, CA
June 2013 – February 2016
- Managed a team of 30+ engineers, software developers, and data scientists, collaborated with SMEs to define product vision, and established go-to-market strategy
- Pivoted a core product line to a new vertical, created a high-level framework to define market opportunity and value proposition, and achieved executive buy-in, which resulted in over $5M in incremental revenue
Certifications
- Certified Technical Product Manager, PMHQ, 2015
- Certified Product Manager (CPM), AIPMM, 2013
Key Skills
- New Product Introduction
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Stakeholder Management
- Technology Innovation
Education
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Product Management
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2011 – June 2013
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Computer Science
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2007 – June 2011
Cameron Malfara
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
New York, NY 12345
Profile
A dynamic Sales Director with 10+ years of experience building and leading high-performance sales organizations to exceed revenue targets for enterprise companies. A proven track record of establishing enduring relationships with clients founded on trust and integrity. Adept at defining innovative growth strategies to drive new business development.
Professional Experience
Vice President of Sales, Grayson Medical Device Co., New York, NY
July 2016 – Present
- Manage a sales department comprised of 50+ representatives and account managers, oversee all aspects of the sales cycle, and develop high-impact training programs to improve close rates, resulting in a 160% quota attainment across the team
- Serve as the point of contact for client stakeholders and C-level executives, represent the company at trade shows and industry conferences, and secure six new accounts generating $6M in new revenue
- Recruit, develop, and retain top talent, identify opportunities to enhance performance, and establish a positive work culture centered on inclusion and empowerment
Senior Director, Johnson Healthcare Solutions, New York, NY
June 2013 – July 2016
- Coordinated with regional managers to define sales strategy and identify new business opportunities for three territories generating over $30M in annual revenue
- Planned and delivered professional development sessions for sales representatives to improve selling tactics, resulting in a 15% increase in sales revenue
- Established and maintained professional networks, prospected for new clients, and attended meetings with key executives to build long-term relationships
Certifications
- Certified Master Sales Professional, NASP, 2015
- Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL), NASP, 2013
Key Skills
- Sales Strategy
- New Business Development
- Territory Management
- Organizational Development
- Cross-functional Leadership
Education
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Strategic Selling & Sales Leadership
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2011 – June 2013
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2009 – June 2013
Advice from a Recruiter: Joe Battinieri
1. What are the most in-demand skills for executives that should be featured on a candidate’s resume? +
The most important and in-demand skill for an executive is emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the understanding and managing one's own emotions and the emotions of others. It is important for leading a team, effective collaboration, conflict resolution, and building a positive workplace culture. It helps build credibility, communicate ideas, build relationships, and address stakeholders, board members, and team members. Other in-demand skills include strategic planning, the ability to zoom in/ zoom out, industry knowledge, and budget management.
2. What work experience and other accomplishments are hiring managers looking for in an executive?+
Hiring managers want executives with a strategic vision, growth mindset, and operational excellence. Depending on the role, a successful executive will have experience with increasing revenue, reducing software development cycles and errors, delivering new products to market, and increasing customer retention. All of these experiences demonstrate a leader’s success in supporting a company’s strategic growth- critical for an executive’s success.
3. What else, in addition to a resume, should an executive candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers? +
In addition to a resume, executives should have a cover letter that strongly aligns with the role they are applying for. Executives should also be ready to share any executive presentations, speaker engagements/TED talk videos, publications, or articles that highlight their experts.
4. What advice would you give an executive candidate about their job search?+
Your network is critical to your job search. Executives should leverage industry contacts and current and former colleagues. These people know you best and can speak to your abilities. They may also be able to help the candidate vet a company. External recruiters that either placed the executive or people on their team should also be included in your job search.
Interview advice: Executives are hired for their people leadership and expertise in a specific function. Be prepared to highlight your ability to be strategic and share the data that supports your story for both.
Frequently Asked Questions: Executive Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for executive resumes?+
It’s easy to find yourself running short on action verbs during the resume-building process. Often there’s only a limited number of words you can use to convey your career achievements and experience accurately. Utilizing an array of action verbs is important, as repetition may cause your bullet points to appear redundant to the hiring manager. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of verbs you can use to craft your professional experience section:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Collaborated | Coordinated |
| Created | Built |
| Developed | Drove |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Executed | Generated |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Improved | Increased |
| Led | Managed |
| Optimized | Oversaw |
| Partnered | Spearheaded |
How do you align your resume with a job description?+
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for top executives are expected to grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031. This equates to over 180,000 new openings each year. Despite the high number of opportunities on the open market, executive-level roles are highly competitive, and you’ll need to carefully align your resume with each individual job description.
For example, if you’re applying for a VP-level position at a data science company, you’d want to demonstrate your thought leadership experience with machine learning products. If you’re applying for an executive role that requires an extensive background in stakeholder management, you’d want to showcase examples of your interfacing with C-level executives.
By aligning your resume with the job description, you’ll give yourself a tactical advantage over the competition during the job search.
What is the best executive resume format?+
Reverse chronological is the ideal format for job seekers at the executive level. This ensures that your most recent and impactful achievements are featured at the top of your document. Functional resumes should be avoided here, even if you plan on making a career transition, as you’ll be expected to provide tangible examples of your experience when applying for executive roles.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
Cover letters are often required when applying for executive positions. Prospective employers want to gain a better understanding of your industry expertise and determine whether or not you’re the right cultural fit for their organization. In your middle paragraphs, be sure to mention something specific about the company’s mission statement, reputation, or culture and how it aligns with your professional background. For more information, visit our executive cover letter guide.
