Most C-level executives assume that at the stage of their career, updating their CV isn’t essential. One reason is that they’re well-established and don’t need executive-level CV. Another is that they’ve never used one to apply for senior-level positions.
Sadly, times have changed. An executive-level level position can no longer offer the same level of security it once did. That’s why there’s always the possibility that you’ll need to have an executive-level CV handy and ready.
If you feel that your executive-level CV needs an update or don’t know where to start, here are five tips to help you:
1. Personalise your CV to match your current position.
Recruiters and hiring managers have set expectations when it comes to reviewing a CV for an executive-level position.
That said, preparing a one-size-fits-all resume for all jobs that you apply to is not acceptable in today’s world. That’s because generic CV templates contain a lot of irrelevant information remains.
You tailor your CV according to the needs of the specific organisation you want to apply so that you can address what employers are looking for in a candidate as authentically as possible.
2. Build your brand persona.
Personal branding is vital to any executive’s long-term growth. If you can convey your key attributes, strengths, and passion in a way that hiring managers and recruiters appreciate, you increase your chances of being called in for an interview.
3. Highlight your achievements in your executive-level CV.
Making your achievements and milestones is vital to writing a successful executive-level CV. If they can picture you being able to lead a team towards greater profitability, you can be sure that you’ll get that interview call soon.
Some ways to do this are explaining how you can improve their bottom line, and sharing the steps and methods you used to increase profitability in the last jobs you held.
4. Layout your executive-level CV properly.
Recruiters only spend about 10 seconds reading a CV. This gives them enough time to scan the upper third portion of your CV.
That said, you need to be strategic in the information you share in this part of your CV. If you can capture their attention with just those few words, they might end up reading the entire CV. After which, you might even get an interview.
5. Find Your Unique Selling Point (USP).
If you’d like to increase the chances of your executive-level CV to stand out, you need to offer them something apart from the other candidates. This is called your Unique Selling Point (USP).
When choosing your USP, make sure that it aligns not just to the position you’re applying to but also to the corporate culture observed within the company.
The reason is simple: hiring managers and recruiters are no longer swayed just by vital skills. They also need to know whether you got the personality and qualities they value within their company. In most cases, they would prefer going with someone with average skills but have the right character to allow them to blend in the company.
