The Resume.Com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes (33 page)

Unlike other resumes, the executive resume does not have a headline but instead uses an introductory paragraph of up to 10 lines called a
profile
or
summary
. The introductory “profile” condenses your greatest selling points into paragraph form and is formatted to provide potential employers with a comprehensive overview of your career. A successful profile should describe your title and field, years of experience, key accomplishments, and unique abilities. Similar to the Summary of Qualifications in its subject matter, this section begins with your most attractive attributes and ends with soft skills or other intangible traits. Some key issues to address include the following:

■
Years of experience (do not go back farther than 25 years in an executive resume).

■
If you work for a Fortune 1000 company, list this information. If you’re a manager for a unit of a “Fortune 1000 company with $350 billion in annual revenue and 2000 employees worldwide,” let an employer know; it’s an impressive credential.

■
Number of employees you manage.

■
Areas of expertise, such as general management, operations, or business development.

■
Key achievements. In this area, stress their relevancy to the position opening.

■
Soft skills such as negotiation, communication, and presentation abilities.

Your profile serves as a “hook” to hirers, motivating them to read further. Make sure that you don’t write a book, as too much text can be intimidating. A general formula for success is to incorporate attractive numerals ($75 million, 285%), bottom-line results, and characteristics that distinguish you as a unique and ideal professional.

S
UMMARY

Multifaceted business, finance, and IT professional with exceptional background building and implementing processes that increase revenue, reduce downtime, and allow for peak operations across multiple divisions. Exceptional research and analysis background, with a demonstrated ability to clearly assess fragmented information and create successful solutions. Extensive background leading and overseeing professional teams, including developing and mentoring coworkers and employees. Premier IT experience, including creating and managing computing platforms, data and voice networks, applications systems, and databases. Expertise in contract negotiation. Adept manager; experienced in overseeing budgets exceeding $25 million annually. Able to translate and explain complex technical and financial concepts to diverse audiences.

S
UMMARY

More than 23 years of experience in marketing, business development, management, and product development. Skilled in market analysis, opportunity identification, and revenue production. Ten years of experience overseeing day-to-day operations for debt division of major credit card company. Strong management skills; able to motivate and lead professional teams to complete projects both on time and within budget. Key experience arranging proposals with vendors, partners, and clients. Excellent financial management abilities. Proficient at strategy implementation and project modeling. Outstanding presentation and communication skills.

If your spell check feature indicates that you are writing in fragments, don’t worry. This is an accepted style for resume writing. Complete sentences are discouraged.

The Professional Experience section is similar to the nonexecutive Professional Experience section, but the number of bulleted accomplishment statements is generally greater to accommodate the lengthier career. While nonexecutives should not exceed eight bullets, an executive resume can list up to 11 extensive skills and achievements per job title.

Likewise, your professional history can extend to 25 years. By describing your accomplishments and professional development through the scope of a 25-year career, you provide the necessary framework that hirers want to see in qualified candidates.

Remember that hirers want to know your key accomplishments, and the Professional Experience section is the place to demonstrate why you’re the best in your field. You should strive to explain how your strategic skills have affected the company’s bottom line; that is the defining factor of an executive, regardless of industry. This includes motivating staff, organizing teams, implementing tasks, and ensuring that goals are met.

Here are some key areas to focus on in an executive resume:

■
Your management skills, including your supervision of employees, departments, or both.

■
Cost-saving measures, revenue growth, profit and loss responsibilities, and innovations—for example, “Increased production of canned goods 80%.” Use the percent sign; don’t spell it out.

■
Policies and procedures you may have designed and implemented and the way those changes directly affected the bottom line.

■
Partnerships and relationships you created and exposure you brought to the organization.

■
Any new products or programs you developed.

■
Responsibilities, soft skills, and technical proficiencies you possess.

P
ROFESSIONAL
E
XPERIENCE

ABC Company
, New York, NY

2000 – 2002

Vice President of Sales

Oversaw sales operations for chain that achieved between $12 million and $15 million in annual sales each year.

• Hired sales staff, supervising 30 sales personnel and eight managers across multiple locations.

• Monitored sales performance by store and person, ensuring all goals were attained.

• Established program of setting and following weekly store goals to increase sales.

• Developed and implemented customer service policies. Carried out in-store monitoring of sales techniques, customer service, merchandise levels, and operations.

• Actively involved in planning and opening of new locations, performing staffing, training sales personnel, and assisting with merchandise layout.

ABC Company
, New York, NY

1996 – 2000

Partner

Founded and operated interior design firm servicing upscale clientele. Hired and supervised interior designers.

• Selected building site; designed and supervised renovations.

• Grew company from start-up to $1.2 million in annual sales. Developed business strategies, conducted marketing, competitive analyses, and business development.

• Performed all buying by visiting trade shows and conferences.

ABC Company
, New York, NY

1985 – 1996

Vice President of Sales
Directed sales operations for retail chain that grew to $75 million in revenue and from 24 stores to 42.

• Played key role in 16 store openings between 1994 and 1996, including flagship store on Broadway in New York. Planned interior layouts and displays; worked with contractors and performed staffing.

• Supervised team of district managers. Monitored sales on individual store and district basis.

• Developed selling techniques, set goals, and managed marketing and promotions

• Previously held position of District Manager; promoted after four years.

ABC Company
, New York, NY

1980 – 1985

General Manager

Carried out sales of manufactured products to major retailers in New Jersey and parts of New York.

• Developed relationships, negotiated agreements, and worked with stores on product placement. Ensured proper delivery of all goods and resolved any customer issues.

• Grew territory from $800,000 to more than $2 million in annual sales.

• Previously held position of Warehouse Manager with company.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

In the above examples the employment dates are left aligned. This adds emphasis to your career progression and is best applied to highlight a seamless work history.

Nearly all executives have received promotions, professional recognition, or awards from their peers, industry groups, or other sources. These awards can help a hirer decide between two otherwise equally qualified candidates.

Although you can incorporate awards within the professional history sections, you also can emphasize these credentials in a separate category. List the title and year you received an award as well as any circumstances that clarify or add value to the accomplishment. Chapter 6 provides an in-depth discussion on constructing the Awards section.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Sales Manager of the Year, 2002

President’s Circle, Award of Excellence, 2001

Humanitarian of the Year, The Human Society, 2001

Certificate of Appreciation, Chicago Community Recreation Club, 2000

Professional affiliations can help hirers make a choice between two otherwise equally qualified candidates. Affiliations and memberships convey dedication to a particular industry and community, and this is a valuable trait in a career-oriented professional. List your affiliations to the degree that they pertain to your professional goals. If you are a volunteer at the Christmas food drive and are also the fund-raiser for Detroit’s Women in Business Organization, you should list your standing in the Women in Business Organization first.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Society of Radiology Technologists

American Health Care Radiology Administrators

American Cancer Society

Los Angeles Medical Group Management Association

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND OFFICES

Director - Parker-Davis Investment Board

2002 – Present

• Guide decisions of board endowed with $30 million budget and charged by the Governor’s Office with developing employer and job seeker resources in Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties.

Vice Chairman - Progressive Workshop of Marin County

1999 – Present

• Manage $1 million budget and endowment fund, including strategic planning, profit and loss, and overall performance for this nonprofit dedicated to finding employment for the mentally handicapped.

Marin County Fiscal Preservation Committee

1998 – 1999

Although an educational background can be an optional component of your resume, if you have done advanced college or graduate schoolwork, you should highlight your educational career as a strong element of your professional success.

Beginning with your most recent degree or certification, list the name of college or university, its location, and your major (if applicable to the position). You may list the year you received the degree, but this information is not necessary on an executive resume as it can date a candidate, especially if you received your degree more than five years ago. Additionally, your focus should be on career-related accomplishments, and executives should not stress the education section if it does not directly apply to the field or position sought.