You already know that having an effective resume is an important part of finding a job. What you may not realize is that the higher the stakes, the more vital it is to have a good resume. Executive-level jobs are harder to find and generally have more competition, so an attention-getting executive resume can make the difference between getting the job and getting left behind.
A successful executive has more than just education and experience – they also have a unique skill set that enables them to handle the scope and stress of their job. Keep reading to learn how to write an executive-level resume that presents you as a well-rounded professional.
Goals of an Executive-Level Resume
Executive-level resumes are geared toward a different type of career, and therefore need to be written a little differently than your average resume. When applying for the average job, you are selling your education and experience; but when hiring for an executive position, employers want to hire you as a person, rather than simply your past. An effective executive-level resume sells your achievements, your skills, and even your personality together – as a package deal.
Highlight Your Achievements
Your executive-level resume demonstrates not only your work history, but also your achievements – which should be impressive enough to justify your salary. Types of achievements that employers want to see include:
•Saving your company money
•Reducing costs
•Saving clients money
•Saving time
•Increasing productivity
•Improving morale
•Resolving long-term problems
•Improving the bottom line (the difference between billable hours and expenses)
Did you notice that most of these achievements have to do with money? There’s a reason for that! Employers want executives who save the company money, and they are willing to pay a high salary for the right person. An effective executive resume needs to demonstrate your track record of cutting costs and increasing profit.
Sell Your Soft Skills
An employer won’t be helped by the money you have saved other companies – they need assurances that you can replicate past achievements. Your resume should therefore sell not only your track record, but also the skills you can offer your new employer. The following qualities are among some of the more important in a successful executive:
•Emotional self-control – An executive needs to be able to think clearly and maintain control, especially when under pressure.
•Leadership skills – An executive needs to be able to make the best use of their resources in order to get things done.
•Communication skills – An executive needs to be able to hand down orders that are clear and concise, to ensure that things go as planned.
•Charisma – Besides being able to communicate effectively, a good executive is someone who is liked and respected.
•Integrity – Although the corporate horror stories that make the news may suggest otherwise, most companies look for executives who are honest and trustworthy.
•Vision – An effective executive has the ability to envision where the company is headed, and knows what must be done to improve the outlook.
Remember, the hiring manager’s priority is to find an executive who will be an asset the company. Your executive resume needs to clearly demonstrate the skills you have to offer.
How an Executive-Level Resume Differs
Most resumes contain the same information, regardless of the format: objectives, qualifications summary, education, training, work experience and/or skills, and special honors or awards. The executive-level resume differs slightly from this formula. Although you still provide a summary of your qualifications and a listing of your previous jobs, the “slant,” or the way you approach the information, is slightly different.
Length
As with any other resume, an executive resume needs to be concise. However, “concise” does not mean leaving out important detail. In order to convey your achievements and special skills, your resume will need to include more detail than the average resume.
The executive resume is typically one to two pages; however, your level of experience should determine the length, rather than a general guideline. As long as you avoid unnecessary words and “filler,” the length of your finished resume should accurately reflect your level of experience.
The “Executive Profile”
The key to a distinguished executive-level resume is an attention-getting executive profile. When hiring for such an important position, it is more important to an employer to see what skills you have than what your career goals are. Instead of objectives or a summary of qualifications, a hiring manager for an executive-level position looks for an executive profile.
Although the content is somewhat different, the executive profile does the same thing in an executive resume as the objectives and summary of qualifications sections do in a lower-level resume: provides an at-a-glance summary of your skills and qualifications. The difference is that the executive profile has to be harder hitting. This section presents your key achievements, essentially setting up a hard sell as to why you would be valuable to the company. If your executive profile indicates that you have what the company is looking for, the hiring manager will continue reading; if not, your resume will be quickly tossed aside.
Work History versus Achievements
The professional experience section of the executive resume also differs from the same section in a normal resume. Instead of presenting your work history in terms of job descriptions, you will focus on your achievements in each position.
Just like in a normal resume, you will start with the most recent position you have held. After listing the company and your job title, however, you will write a short, focused description of the company and why were hired on. For instance, you might write, “XYZ Company is a manufacturer of top-end widgets. Originally brought on board to increase efficiency and cut costs.” Remember to be concise, but also be sure that you include enough information to provide an accurate overview of your role in the company.
Following this short blurb about the company and the position you held, you will write a bulleted list of your achievements in the position. Rather than giving vague or general achievements, describe specific events. For instance, one bullet point could explain in a few sentences how you solved a long-term inefficiency problem, thereby saving the company $1 million per year. Or you could how you resolved a company-wide crisis in 24 hours by making the best use of your resources. Providing enough detail will reassure the employer that you can replicate these successes in a new company and a new situation.
Regardless of what achievements you list, they need to be explained in quantifiable terms. This means that numbers – percents, dollar amounts, etc. – are vital if you want to make a serious impression. For types of achievements to list, review the list in the “Highlight Your Achievements” section, above.
The Executive Package
The most important thing to remember when writing your executive-level resume is to consider how it presents you as a whole. In top-level jobs, there is much less room for error, so companies will be more discerning about who they hire. A well-written executive resume will sell your skills, achievements, and other qualifications in such a way that the hiring manager can see exactly why you will be an unparalleled asset to their company.
See customer reviews and ratings of the best professional resume writing services.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
How to Write a Federal Resume
Applying for a federal job may seem a bit intimidating, due to the long list of special requirements regarding your application. One of the requirements is a resume in a certain format, known as a federal resume.
What is a Federal Resume?
A federal resume
is simply a resume that is formatted to meet the needs of federal job openings. When applying for a federal job, more information is required than when applying for a job in the private sector. The federal resume is formatted in such a way as to highlight this specialized information.
Pre-printed application forms are also sometimes used when applying for a federal job. Although the SF-171 is generally considered an outdated form, some employers may still request it. The most commonly used form is the OF-612. A federal resume contains all of the same information as these forms, but presents your application in a more attractive format and allows you more freedom to articulate your skills. Be sure to read the job vacancy announcement carefully, as it may specify which format applicants are to use.
Federal resumes are formatted chronologically, with the most recent instances given first. Whenever possible, the wording in your resume should reflect the wording in the job announcement. Due to the specific information required when applying for a federal job, a federal resume is longer and more detailed than a basic resume, covering up to the past ten years and achieving as many as five pages in length.
Seven Subjects Your Federal Resume Must Cover
One of the major differences between a federal resume and a resume written for a job opening in the private sector is that the formatting of the latter is extremely flexible, allowing whole sections to be added or left out. When applying for a federal job, however, a resume must contain specific information if the applicant is to be considered for the job. A resume that lacks the required information or formatting will be automatically disqualified.
Personal Information
Just like a regular resume, a federal resume lists the applicant’s personal information at the top of the first page. Both day and evening contact numbers should be included, as well as your name and address.
In addition to the typical contact information, however, a federal resume requires more specific information, such as your social security number and your country of citizenship. If you have been honorably discharged from the military, you may be eligible for veterans’ preference, which should be listed next. Finally, the federal resume must contain information on your federal status, such as the highest federal civilian grade you have held, and your reinstatement eligibility.
Job Information
Below your personal information, the federal resume must list identifying information about the job you are applying for, including the title, series, grade, and job announcement number.
Summary of Experience
The first section of the federal resume summarizes your experience. This is your chance to be a little creative and make your application stand out from all the others. How you summarize your experience can impact how the employer interprets the rest of your resume, so choose your words carefully!
Professional Accomplishments
The next section of the federal resume lists the positions you have held chronologically, with the most recent listed first. Just as in other sections, the federal resume requires more details about previously held positions than a basic resume. In addition to the information you would provide in a regular resume – such as the employer’s name (in bold), address, position, and dates the position was held – each entry will need to include your supervisor’s name and contact information, whether you consent to your supervisor being contacted, your salary at the position, and the average number of hours you worked each week.
After this information, a federal resume should follow with a brief summary of the job, followed by the duties you performed at the position. For each position, an employer expects to see between four and eight duties listed in a bulleted format, with each bullet being approximately four to six lines long. Due to these expectations of length, the Professional Accomplishments section of a federal resume is considerably longer than the corresponding section in a basic resume.
Education
The education section of a federal resume should list your degrees in chronological order, with the most recent appearing first. Each listing should contain the year the degree was received, the type of degree, the name of the school, and the city, state, and zip code where the school is located. Read the job announcement carefully to determine if you should include your college transcript with your application package.
Training
As in previous sections, training programs you have undergone should be listed in chronological order, with the most recent appearing first. Include the year you completed the program and the program title, as well as any additional information – such as the school’s name and hours completed – you can provide.
Other Qualifications
The format for a federal resume allows the applicant to include additional sections in order to list other qualifications he or she might have. If you include any of the following sections, remember to organize the qualifications in each section in chronological order, with the most recent listed first.
•Awards – Include the year and a brief description of each professional award you have received.
•Certifications – Include the year and a brief description of each certification or license that you currently hold. Do not list expired certifications or licenses.
•Publications – List the publications you have contributed to, using a standard bibliography format such as MLA.
•Presentations – List the title of each presentation you have contributed to, who you made the presentation to, where the presentation was made, and the year it was made.
Putting Together the Federal Application
As you can see, writing a federal resume is more time-consuming than it is difficult, as it generally requires that you add more detail to every section of your resume. However, the finished result is well worth the extra effort, as it is much more attractive – not to mention a much more professional representation of yourself – than simply filling out a federal application form.
As you put together your federal application, you may have some questions about whether you need to use a federal application form or a federal resume, or what KSA statements to include with your application. Thoroughly reading and reviewing the job announcement will allow you to tailor your application to the requirements and job description, ensuring that your application meets the employer’s needs and increasing your chances of being selected for the position.
What is a Federal Resume?
A federal resume
is simply a resume that is formatted to meet the needs of federal job openings. When applying for a federal job, more information is required than when applying for a job in the private sector. The federal resume is formatted in such a way as to highlight this specialized information.
Pre-printed application forms are also sometimes used when applying for a federal job. Although the SF-171 is generally considered an outdated form, some employers may still request it. The most commonly used form is the OF-612. A federal resume contains all of the same information as these forms, but presents your application in a more attractive format and allows you more freedom to articulate your skills. Be sure to read the job vacancy announcement carefully, as it may specify which format applicants are to use.
Federal resumes are formatted chronologically, with the most recent instances given first. Whenever possible, the wording in your resume should reflect the wording in the job announcement. Due to the specific information required when applying for a federal job, a federal resume is longer and more detailed than a basic resume, covering up to the past ten years and achieving as many as five pages in length.
Seven Subjects Your Federal Resume Must Cover
One of the major differences between a federal resume and a resume written for a job opening in the private sector is that the formatting of the latter is extremely flexible, allowing whole sections to be added or left out. When applying for a federal job, however, a resume must contain specific information if the applicant is to be considered for the job. A resume that lacks the required information or formatting will be automatically disqualified.
Personal Information
Just like a regular resume, a federal resume lists the applicant’s personal information at the top of the first page. Both day and evening contact numbers should be included, as well as your name and address.
In addition to the typical contact information, however, a federal resume requires more specific information, such as your social security number and your country of citizenship. If you have been honorably discharged from the military, you may be eligible for veterans’ preference, which should be listed next. Finally, the federal resume must contain information on your federal status, such as the highest federal civilian grade you have held, and your reinstatement eligibility.
Job Information
Below your personal information, the federal resume must list identifying information about the job you are applying for, including the title, series, grade, and job announcement number.
Summary of Experience
The first section of the federal resume summarizes your experience. This is your chance to be a little creative and make your application stand out from all the others. How you summarize your experience can impact how the employer interprets the rest of your resume, so choose your words carefully!
Professional Accomplishments
The next section of the federal resume lists the positions you have held chronologically, with the most recent listed first. Just as in other sections, the federal resume requires more details about previously held positions than a basic resume. In addition to the information you would provide in a regular resume – such as the employer’s name (in bold), address, position, and dates the position was held – each entry will need to include your supervisor’s name and contact information, whether you consent to your supervisor being contacted, your salary at the position, and the average number of hours you worked each week.
After this information, a federal resume should follow with a brief summary of the job, followed by the duties you performed at the position. For each position, an employer expects to see between four and eight duties listed in a bulleted format, with each bullet being approximately four to six lines long. Due to these expectations of length, the Professional Accomplishments section of a federal resume is considerably longer than the corresponding section in a basic resume.
Education
The education section of a federal resume should list your degrees in chronological order, with the most recent appearing first. Each listing should contain the year the degree was received, the type of degree, the name of the school, and the city, state, and zip code where the school is located. Read the job announcement carefully to determine if you should include your college transcript with your application package.
Training
As in previous sections, training programs you have undergone should be listed in chronological order, with the most recent appearing first. Include the year you completed the program and the program title, as well as any additional information – such as the school’s name and hours completed – you can provide.
Other Qualifications
The format for a federal resume allows the applicant to include additional sections in order to list other qualifications he or she might have. If you include any of the following sections, remember to organize the qualifications in each section in chronological order, with the most recent listed first.
•Awards – Include the year and a brief description of each professional award you have received.
•Certifications – Include the year and a brief description of each certification or license that you currently hold. Do not list expired certifications or licenses.
•Publications – List the publications you have contributed to, using a standard bibliography format such as MLA.
•Presentations – List the title of each presentation you have contributed to, who you made the presentation to, where the presentation was made, and the year it was made.
Putting Together the Federal Application
As you can see, writing a federal resume is more time-consuming than it is difficult, as it generally requires that you add more detail to every section of your resume. However, the finished result is well worth the extra effort, as it is much more attractive – not to mention a much more professional representation of yourself – than simply filling out a federal application form.
As you put together your federal application, you may have some questions about whether you need to use a federal application form or a federal resume, or what KSA statements to include with your application. Thoroughly reading and reviewing the job announcement will allow you to tailor your application to the requirements and job description, ensuring that your application meets the employer’s needs and increasing your chances of being selected for the position.
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