Adding an objective statement in an Executive CV is useless because hiring managers and recruiters already know that you’re applying for a specific position in their company. A strong executive summary is a better option.
An executive summary is your sales pitch on why you’re the best candidate for the job. Think of it as what you’ll say just in case you run into a top recruiter or a prospective employer. Of course, they won’t have much time. So, you’ll have to make every second and word count. In short, you’ll have to tell them what makes you stand out and what they want to know about you. That’s it!
An Executive Summary – The Basics
Before we get into the specifics of what information is necessary for a summary statement, let’s get a few basics straight.
Your executive summary should consist of the title and three lines of text, written either as short sentences or bullet points. It should appear just below your contact information at the top of your CV.
More important, it should provide the reader with a general picture of where you want to go, career-wise.
Since hiring managers only take a few seconds to read this part of your resume, it’s essential to keep it brief. Avoid large chunks of text because employers will skip reading it altogether. Don’t make it longer than three lines, one line for each statement.
Now, that we’ve covered the context of writing a summary statement, let’s look at the content necessary to create a compelling executive summary.
3 Tips for Preparing a Strong Executive Summary
Writing an executive summary in five minutes doesn’t mean that it’s concise and compelling. On the contrary, it takes more time and work than you can imagine. You’ll need to take some time to think about what you’re going to put here.
Here are three steps that can help craft a strong executive summary:
Step 1: Think about three or four traits that describe your professional role
Start by putting down your thoughts on paper based on certain aspects of your career path.
These qualities can vary from one profession to another. It also depends on your job title or position at work. If you’re a senior-level manager or executive, consider adding your managerial and domain expertise because they’re both crucial.
Step 2: Consider what you enjoy doing most in your line of work.
Remember that you’re presenting your skills and daily duties. It’s important to remember to highlight what you enjoy doing because this will ensure you find work that caters to your interests, too.
Step 3: Tailor your summary statement to the job requirements
Once you know what skills you want to use in a new position, it’s time to find out whether your expertise matches the job advertisement’s needs. Of course, you shouldn’t only mention the skills that you want to use but also those that explain how competent you are.
