Chief Executive Officer Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
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Chief Executive Officer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
John Bergsen
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Philadelphia, PA 12345
LinkedIn | Portfolio
A dynamic and forward-thinking CEO with 12 years of experience building multi-million dollar companies within the construction industry. A proven track record of managing and scaling residential and commercial construction businesses. Adept at defining long-term growth strategies and building successful project management organizations.
Professional ExperienceChief Executive Officer, Bergsen Construction Co., Philadelphia, PA | May 2017 – present
- Manage, scale, and build a residential and commercial construction company from the ground up, including hiring over 100 personnel, developing multi-million dollar budgets, driving new business development
- Define high-impact growth strategies and develop strategic partnerships to scale the business from pre-revenue to $32 million in gross revenue over seven years
- Liaise with project managers, architects, and client stakeholders to ensure alignment with business requirements, safety standards, and local and state regulations
Project Management Director, Highland Construction, Philadelphia, PA | June 2012 – May 2017
- Oversaw over 50 residential and commercial construction projects valued at $3 million to $25 million, managed all aspects of project delivery, and ensured strict compliance with OSHA safety regulations and building codes
- Implemented a new Agile-Waterfall hybrid methodology to improve resource allocation, eliminate roadblocks, and improve on-time delivery rates to 92%
- Interfaced with the C-suite and senior leadership teams to define strategic objectives and develop a $10 million operating budget
- Agile methodology
- Construction management
- Organizational development
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Project Management Professional (PMP), 2012
- Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP), 2012
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | September 2012 – June 2014
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Project Management
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | September 2008 – June 2012
How To Write a Chief Executive Officer Resume
To write a truly great CEO resume, capture what makes you successful as a thought leader within your industry. As a CEO, every aspect of business operations is your responsibility. Whether it’s hiring team members, building strategic partnerships, or defining the long-term vision of the company, organizations turn to you for leadership. We’ll provide expert tips to translate your career into a CEO resume that sets you apart from other executives.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
First impressions play a critical role in the hiring process, especially when applying for C-level positions at higher-end companies. Your opening summary needs to illustrate the most impressive and relevant aspects of your career in a succinct yet compelling manner.
Start with a sentence that captures your title, years of industry experience, and key areas of expertise. Use the remainder of the paragraph to highlight one or two stunning career achievements.
For example, if you built a multi-million-dollar company from the ground up, feature this accomplishment in your profile to demonstrate your track record of successfully managing and scaling businesses. Showcase these types of unique insights in your profile to differentiate yourself from the competition.
Strong Profile Example
A hospital CEO with 10 years of experience, specializing in health care management, organizational development, and program management. A strong history of defining strategies to refine clinical operations, drive positive patient outcomes, and reduce operating costs for major hospitals with over $400 million in assets.
Weak Profile Example
An experienced hospital CEO with advanced solution-finding and leadership skills. Skilled in managing large hospitals and clinical teams. Seeking a position with St. Mark’s Hospital to continue growth as a leader in the health care field.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
The professional experience section serves as the focal point of your CEO resume. This is where you’ll paint a clear and compelling image of your career achievements. Quantifying your accomplishments with monetary figures is important, as this is the best way to establish a sense of scope for the reader. Also, provide context for how you achieved these results to demonstrate your industry expertise.
For example, say you successfully scaled a business and grew revenue by $5 million. What strategies did you implement to generate this increase? How did you navigate the market landscape? How did you hire top talent and drive new business development while maintaining profitability? This information helps to brand you as a thought leader and strategic executive who can bring genuine value to potential organizations.
Strong Professional Experience Example
Chief Executive Officer, St. Mark’s Hospital, New York, NY | March 2019 – present
- Oversee all aspects of business, clinical, and finance operations for a premiere hospital with 300 beds and over $400 million in assets
- Collaborate effectively with C-suite executives to define strategic direction for the hospital and lead initiatives to drive profitability through enhanced resource allocation, resulting in a $25 million cost reduction over five years
- Identify opportunities to enhance the delivery of patient-centered care in coordination with physicians and nursing teams, resulting in a 17% increase in patient satisfaction
Weak Professional Experience Example
Chief Executive Officer, St. Mark’s Hospital, New York, NY | March 2019 – present
- Responsible for managing the daily operations of a large hospital, including solving complex business problems and improving process efficiency
- Work with executives to create strategies and manage high-value budgets
- Strive to improve the quality of patient-care delivery during tenure
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Although your work history will play the largest role in whether or not you receive an interview, CEOs are usually expected to have particular certifications and degrees depending on the industry. Many employers will be looking for an MBA when reviewing applicants, so it’s worth pursuing if you only have a bachelor’s degree. The value of a certification will vary depending on the industry.
For example, if you were pursuing a CEO position at a construction company, having a Project Management Professional (PMP) could be valuable even though you won’t be directly managing projects. In this situation, having a comprehensive understanding of project management gives you a nuanced perspective when developing high-level business plans and strategies.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Healthcare Administration
- University of Syracuse, New York, NY | September 2015 – June 2017
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Healthcare Administration
- University of Syracuse, New York, NY | September 2011 – June 2015
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Healthcare Executive (CHE), FACHE | 2015
- Six Sigma Greenbelt | 2014
4. List pertinent key skills
At the executive level, you might already have a formal introduction or connection at the company you’re targeting, allowing you to bypass an applicant tracking system (ATS).
Even if this is the case, feature keywords and skill sets that match the organization’s needs. Provide a mix of leadership, business, and industry-related skill sets to convey the full breadth of your capabilities as a CEO. Below, you’ll find a list of potential keywords you may encounter during the job search:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Business development | Business strategy |
| Change management | Cross-functional leadership |
| C-Suite relations | Data-driven decision-making |
| Executive leadership | Growth strategy |
| Health care management | Operations management |
| Organizational development | Profit and loss (P&L) management |
| Program management | Project management |
| Public relations | Sales leadership |
| Stakeholder management | Strategic planning |
| Strategy development | Talent acquisition |
How To Pick the Best Chief Executive Officer Resume Template
As a CEO, you need a professional resume template that captures your personal brand and conveys your experience in an accessible manner. Be conservative in your usage of color, graphics, and logos unless they serve a distinct purpose. At the end of the day, organizations will be far more interested in learning about your career achievements, so prioritize the readability of your content over visual elements.
Frequently Asked Questions: Chief Executive Officer Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for chief executive officer resumes?-
A CEO is expected to take the lead in all aspects of the organization. Your bullet points need to reflect that through proactive language and action verbs. For example, “Responsible for leading initiatives” is far less compelling than “spearheaded change management initiatives,” despite the minor alterations in word choice. Below, you’ll find a list of action verbs to craft the professional experience section of your CEO resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Built | Collaborated |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Developed | Drove |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Executed | Generated |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Improved | Increased |
| Led | Managed |
| Optimized | Oversaw |
| Partnered | Spearheaded |
How do you align your resume with a chief executive officer job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average median income for chief executives was $258,900 in 2023. Due to the lucrative nature of C-level positions and the stakes at play for the company, it’s important to tactically align your resume with the position you’re applying for.
For example, say you were targeting a hospital that needs a CEO who can help transform the organization’s culture. In this situation, you would emphasize change management initiatives you’d led and demonstrate how they improved work environments, employee retention, and clinical effectiveness. Applying this strategy will immediately communicate the value you can bring to potential employers and organizations.
What is the best chief executive officer resume format?-
Reverse chronological is the best format for a CEO resume. As a C-level executive, your professional experience needs to be prioritized. This approach places your most recent and relevant work history towards the top of your document. A combination or functional resume format should always be avoided, as your skills and certifications should never take precedence over your career achievements.
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Once you’ve completed your CEO resume, consider adding a strong cover letter to help strengthen your job application. Provide additional insights regarding how your leadership expertise and industry knowledge would be a valuable asset to the organization you’re targeting. For more information, visit our executive cover letter guide.
