The demands of an executive are different from a skilled professional. Organizations depend on executives to provide direction and lead in growth. If you are looking to move into an executive role, you must first have a change in your mindset. Then let these changes appear in your CV by adjusting the following sections in your CV to bring out the executive in you.
Highlight your credentials
Head hunters love attractive credentials. Splash your MBAs, affiliations to professional bodies, and other qualifications on the first page. It’s a much better way to get them noticed rather than talking about them within the content. Plus, it’s a simple adjustment which any senior-level CV writer in New Zealand can help you achieve.
Include a link to your LinkedIn profile
Most recruiters love to check out potential candidates on social media before setting up an interview. You can make it easier for them by providing a link to your LinkedIn profile. If your profile isn’t that great yet, reach out to a professional executives’ CV writer for help. Also, consider including links to other social accounts, and professional websites.
State your leadership philosophy
The leadership philosophy often misses from skilled professionals’ CVs. But it’s a must-have section if you are gunning for an executive role.
Chances are your competition at this level are equally skilled (if not better), and have an excellent track record. The leadership philosophy speaks volumes about the kind of person/leader you are and makes you stand out from the crowd.
Answering these questions will help you come up with a compelling statement of your leadership philosophy:
- What do I love most about my job?
- Which areas of the organization would struggle the most if I left abruptly?
- What are my strengths?
- How well do I work with my colleagues?
Highlight relevant achievements
If you were a senior manager or in a specialist role, you probably highlighted the core skills in your CV. Swop that and let your CV communicate more about your achievements. At this level, competition is likely to be from diverse fields. Therefore, your skills are secondary to your achievements.
Keep in mind that numbers speak louder than words. Avoid rambling about your skills or irrelevant achievements. Where you led growth, state it in figures; where costs were the issue, show how much you saved the company in real dollars.
State your achievements in figures and briefly state the impact your achievement had on the organization.
Ask a CV Writer to help you cut down on your list of experiences
If you are wondering why you should do this, it’s simple:
- The CV needs to be short – not more than two pages.
- The CV needs to be succinct – talking about relevant and measurable achievements.
If you volunteer on the board of a non-profit, or mentor upcoming professionals in a structured way, don’t forget to mention these in your CV. But make it brief.
Have a professional CV writer, or a recruiter look at it
Finally, before you click the send button, do a trial run with a professional CV writer or a recruiter. Get help in making these adjustments, and other changes on your CV to set you up for an interview for the executive role.
