Are you aiming for a C-level post in your current or new work? Expect that it would change much from your last application. A resume for executive posts can up your game by mirroring your career highlights but can damage your application, too, if any of these details are present.
What to Exclude from a Resume for Executive Positions
The Word “Resume”
Don’t label your application “resume.” An experienced interviewer knows what the paper is at a glance. The same goes with file naming. It’s rather best to use your full name and target position.
Any Personal Data beyond Your Contact Info
Exclude any private info beyond your name, address, email, and phone number. Further, your height, weight, photo, age, date of birth, race, gender, religion, political affiliation, and the names and ages of your spouse and children aren’t necessary and may cause bias. Leave out numbers such as social security, driver’s license, and credit card to avoid identity theft.
An Objective Statement
A firm doesn’t care about what you want or aim to achieve in a job. Recruiters want to learn what you can offer and what the business can gain from hiring you. Otherwise, in place of an objective statement, create a profile summary that stresses the relevant keyword phrases to your target position.
List of Tasks and Duties without Results
As an executive hopeful, you must go beyond listing what jobs you’ve had throughout your career. Further, show your accomplishments in those jobs. The results of your efforts will be your key distinction from the other aspirants.
Buzzwords Just to Attract Attention
Most of the time, applicants stuff buzzwords that, they believe, characterize a good candidate in their resume. In fact, these words can be helpful, but recruiters think they’re just fluff and don’t add real value. Hence, instead of shoving empty words, tell the methods you improved and your contribution to various projects using your know-how.
Anything False
Never succumb to the urge to make false claims just to fill in gaps or because you realized you lack relevant experience. Even though you’re lucky to pass the initial review, it’s likely the recruiter will find out the truth during the interview. Thus, if this happens, you won’t only lose the race but the chance, too, to apply for other positions.
Inconsistent Formatting
Don’t use various formats for each section of your resume to make it easier for interviewers to scan your copy and point out your key qualifications and career goals. Therefore, once you’ve chosen a format, stick to it and use it throughout your resume.
Unrelated Work Experience
With the position you’re applying for, you have a wide range of experience under your belt. However, you need not list every job you’ve had. Include only the ones you’ve held in the past 10 to 15 years, unless an earlier position stresses your qualifications so much. Then again, if they don’t relate to your target post, leave or downplay them if they’ll cause gaps in your work history.
Salary History
Salary history should have no place in your resume. In contrast, you can discuss this issue during the interview or once they offered you the job.
Irrelevant Hobbies
Nobody cares about your hobbies, especially if they’re irrelevant to your target position. Besides, the interviewer is busy enough to review multiple applications, and it will seem unethical with the position you’re aiming.
Writing a resume for executive positions is not as simple as those for other jobs. If you want a much higher chance of getting the job, let expert resume writers handle this tedious task for you. Call us at 1 (888) 846-9272 for more details on our executive resume writing service.
Sources: businessinsider.com | monster.com | thebalance.com | business.time.com | executivecareerbrand.com | theladders.com
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