Your CV’s executive summary showcases your business experience, and achievements at a glance. It is a vital part of your CV because it gives employers not only an insight how you would fit into their company, but also what you can contribute towards its development.

An executive summary is even more critical when applying for senior-level positions. That is because more often than not, companies more willing to promote a current employee than getting someone from the outside to fill the position. You need to make an impressive first impression, and a well-crafted executive summary can do that.

The question is, How is it that you achieve this?

Believe it or not, many are confused when it comes to writing their CV’s executive summary. More often than not, recruiters get nothing more than a rambling list of experience and achievements.

That is why we put together some helpful tips on the things to focus on while writing your executive summary.

CV executive summary writing tips

Focus on the basics

Before actually writing your CV’s summary, make sure that you picture the way how your CV will look.

The executive summary should be on the top part of the first page of your CV. It should only take up one-third of the page at the most. This will help “force” you to stick to the facts, and not use unnecessary words.

Choose your headline carefully

Very important! Your headline should contain your current position and your best achievement. Think of it as explaining your entire CV in one or two sentences.

More important, your headline should communicate your professional identity, and why you should be considered for the position.

Grammar and punctuation

Surprisingly, one of the most common mistakes people makes when typing up their executive summary: not proofreading it for grammar and punctuation errors.

When applying to senior-level positions, recruiters expect that you are someone who has a keen eye for detail. Submitting a CV filled with errors tells them otherwise, even if you did mention in your executive summary that you are detail-oriented.

Aside from Word’s spell checker, you can also use tools like Grammarly and Hemingway to proofread your CV. These online tools are free to use, so take a few seconds to run your CV through these to make sure it is free from grammar mistakes.

Done well, your CV’s executive summary can result in a world of good for you. Here at E1, we make sure that our clients get the best of services, and writing an executive summary is primary amongst them. Feel free to contact E1 today!