Executive Resume Examples and Templates for 2023

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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The job growth for top executive jobs is projected to expand at 4 percent between 2019 and 2029. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this growth projection is similar to that of all other occupations. However, the employment growth rate is expected to vary depending on the nature of the trade and the subsequent industry growth rate. The executive position is necessary for the efficient running of an organization. Its functions include planning strategies and policies, employee motivation, and budgetary adherence.

However, despite the expected growth for executives, there will be plenty of competition for this position. You’ll need a strong resume to help you come out as the most qualified candidate. Here are some tips and guidelines for writing a strong resume that matches an executive job description.

Downloadable Resume Examples

Entry-level
Executive_Entry-level.pdf

Example #1 Entry-level

Mid-career
Executive_Mid-career.pdf

Example #2 Mid-career

Senior-level
Executive_Senior-level.pdf

Example #3 Senior-level

Executive Resume Examples

Years of Experience
  • Entry-level Entry-level
  • Mid-career Mid-career
  • Senior-level Senior-level

Terry A. Jones
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
101 Dalmatian Street, New York, NY 12645

Profile

Results-driven CPA experienced in company and operative financial analysis and reporting. Manage two bookkeepers, overseeing all cash inflow and outflow. Create depreciation schedules for company assets and perform end of year reconciliations. Keep ongoing records of all sales, meeting with managers each month to report and discuss trends. Handle all payroll tax payments.

Key Skills

  • Comparative analysis and reporting
  • Problem-solving
  • Budgeting and forecasting
  • Team player
  • Experience with QuickBooks, Sage X3, FreshBooks, and NetSuite
  • Excel certified
  • Knowledge of accounting and legal requirements

Education

Bachelor of Finance
Brown University, Providence, RI, September 2012 – May 2016

Master of Business Administration
Brown University, Providence, RI June 2016 – March 2018

Professional Experience

Operations Accountant, ASP Financial, New York, NY
May 2016 – July 2018

  • Prepared management financial reports for small and large businesses
  • Undertake comparative analysis of project forecasts and actual results for management reviews
  • Manage daily operations including accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll
  • Set up control structures to minimize fraud risks

Accountant Intern, ASP Financial, New York, NY
January 2016 – May 2016

  • Recorded and maintained client business accounting records
  • Prepare business tax returns
  • Setting up accounting software for clients
  • Assisting with client meetings

Certifications

  • Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate

Roderick Logan
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
1234 Roberts Road, San Diego, CA 12345

Profile

Innovative and customer-centric leader with a commitment to driving growth and productivity. Results-orientated marketer with seven years of experience in direct marketing, sales, and business development. Proven record of increasing sales and reducing costs in the rapidly developing technology sector.

Professional Experience

Director of Sales and Marketing, ABC Technologies, San Diego, CA
April 2018 – Present

  • Increased customer retention to 96% by designing a new multipart program that merged excellent customer service, follow-up calls, and loyalty rewards
  • Coach a six-person sales team to manage daily sales operations with minimal supervision
  • Negotiate deals and manage relationships with key clients
  • Track sales performances and implement data-driven improvements

Marketing Manager, Rewards Technologies, Los Angeles, CA
September 2012 – April 2017

  • Secured distribution of data products to several national technology store chains
  • Increased revenue and customer interaction through social media channels
  • Developed and executed goal-orientated sales plans for the California market
  • Ranked No.1 in sales and awarded multiple sales executive of the year awards

Education

Master of Business Administration
University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, September 2012 – July 2014

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Management
University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, September 2009 – July 2012 

Key Skills

  • Leadership
  • Tactical Market Planning
  • Public and Media Relations
  • Key Partnership Development
  • Sales Development

Certifications

  • American Marketing Association Professional Certified Marketer – June 2018

Rebecca Ellis
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Main Street, New York, NY 12345

Profile

Accomplished executive with international and domestic experience in marketing and lead operations. Proven success in increasing sales and identifying target markets. Excellent track record in spearheading drives to increase productivity and reduce costs across the organization. Excel in demanding and dynamic environments while always remaining focused and driven.

Professional Experience

President and CEO, International Computers Corporation, New York, NY
August 2014 – Present

  • Created a responsive and market-driven organization resulting in an increase in sales from $12 million to $60 million in five years
  • Improved productivity while reducing operational costs by 28%
  • Developed and successfully introduced new products in key international markets
  • Established key alliances in China, Japan, and Germany
  • Returned company to high probability through efficient restructuring processes

Vice President Marketing, Expanded IT Technologies, Tokyo, Japan
March 2010 – July 2014

  • Led effective international project teams to proven increased sales
  • Developed new and innovative marketing strategies that increased annual company revenue by 36%
  • Captured market share which directly led to successful joint ventures

Product Manager, Baseline Technologies, New York, NY
October 2006 – February 2010

  • Increased company revenue from $2 million to $10 million in three years by expanding the market share and developing alliances
  • Identified and resolved production issues resulting in a cost reduction of 42%
  • Earned multiple top achievement awards as a result of contributions to the company

Education

Master of Business Administration
Boston University, Boston, MA, September 2005 – July 2006

Bachelor of Science, Computer Sciences
New York University, New York, NY September 2002 – July 2005

Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for an Executive Resume

Your resume should demonstrate several higher-level critical skills that are in demand for the executive position. The hiring manager will always look for skills and appropriate action verbs when evaluating your resume, usually by using an applicant tracking system. With this system, the hiring manager can look at the number of keywords that match their position requirements. This means if you want to be selected for a callback, your resume must meet the required threshold frequency of skills and action verbs. You need to include more skill keywords to increase your chances of an interview.

Key Skills & Proficiencies:
Ability to empower and engage Agility and adaptability
Analytical skills Budgetary analysis
Communication skills Decision-making skills
Detail-oriented Emotional intelligence
Employee motivation Leadership experience
Management skills Negotiation experience
Problem-solving skills Relationship building
Strategic thinker Team player
Time-management skills
Action verbs:
Accelerate Advance
Champion Coordinate
Develop Direct
Energize Guide
Implement Influence
Orchestrate Pioneer
Propel Spearhead
Stimulate Transform

Tips for Writing a Better Executive Resume

When working to advance your career, you cannot understate the value of a resume that stands out. This is especially important when looking for a new position at the executive level. Your ability to effectively communicate to the hiring manager is essential when writing a resume. Here are some tips to help your resume stand out among the competition.

Highlight your executive accomplishments

When writing an executive resume, identify all the executive accomplishments that are relevant to the position. Your most impressive accomplishments can be highlighted in a dedicated “recent accomplishments” section preceding the “experience” section or placed in bullet points beneath each former job. Showcasing all your tangible achievements helps you stand out among the competition. You can even highlight the most critical accomplishments with bold text to ensure they’re emphasized.

Example #1

Good


Passionate marketing executive with over seven years of experience in customer retention and budgeting (current annual budget $2M)

Bad


Skilled marketing executive

Example #2

Good


Increased organizational revenue by 30%, achieved a higher ROI of 20%, managed a 35% cost cut, and helped the business grow by 50% percent

Bad


Accomplished all marketing duties and responsibilities in the organization.

Include evidence of relevant soft skills

An executive must demonstrate human relations skills that help them productively interact with other stakeholders and partners. You should include all the relevant soft skills listed on the job description to convince others you’re qualified for the job. For example, by emphasizing leadership skills while incorporating powerful action verbs, you can assure executive recruiters that you can lead a team successfully.

Example #1

Good


An empathetic leader who truly listens to employee concerns using a 360 feedback system.

Bad


Team leader, generous listener

Example #2

Good


Implements a team approach to analyze problems while applying a performance measurement system to evaluate progress

Bad


Motivator

How to Align Your Resume with the Job Description

A job description is a vital tool that can be used to guide your resume writing. Since recruiters are looking for individuals who can fit their needs, it’s critical to align your resume with the job description. The executive position’s most important requirements are listed first in the job description or mentioned more than once. While it may be tempting to throw every skill and experience you have accumulated into your resume, you risk emphasizing skills that are irrelevant for the position, so use some common sense.

There are several ways you can use the job description to compose your resume. Start by reading over the job summary and description to understand the required skills and qualifications. After reviewing the job description, add all relevant skills to the resume and explain how your previous roles embodied these skills. The important thing in resume writing is ensuring you craft each resume to each opening, rather than generic copying and pasting.

Example Executive Job Description


Boardstreet Inc. is looking for a qualified person to fill an opening in high-level management. Applicants should possess a master’s degree or higher and have experience in budgeting, strategic planning and personnel assessments.

Duties

  • Work with other executives to develop strategic plans guided towards organizational goals
  • Assemble a team of leaders with the role of developing and implementing strategic plans that meet businesses goals and objectives
  • Guide employees in complying with the set rules and regulations
  • Oversee the financial and budgetary activities of the company and other critical business functions
  • Develop relationships with all key stakeholders, such as customers, shareholders, and government agencies.
  • Establish a corporate culture of transparency and clear communication within the organization

Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in business administration or other related fields
  • In-depth knowledge of best practices in governance and management
  • Prior experience in a high-level management position
  • Demonstrate skills and abilities to implement strategic plans in an organization
  • An in-depth understanding of financial activities and performance metrics
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Manage time wisely

According to the job description, the ideal job applicant for an executive job must have the following qualities and experiences:

  • High-level management skills
  • Financial abilities, including budget creation
  • Team leader and ability to assess employees
  • Experience with strategic planning

When writing your resume, take words and phrases that are highlighted in the job description and include them in the resume. Ensure your experience and skills match what the hiring manager wants in the job description. Here is an example of how to incorporate job description qualities and experiences into your resume to increase your chances.

Executive Work Experience Example


Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Bondsellers Company, October 2017 – Present

  • Spearhead the strategic management and operational oversight of the organization to ensure streamlined operations
  • Interface with stakeholders and partners to develop strategies and operational efficiencies to increased organizational profitability
  • Hold monthly budgetary meetings and assist the management team with creating departmental budgets
  • Set up financial relationships, systems, and processes necessary for regulatory compliance