Executive Career Insights

Resume Funeral: What Career Pasts Do You Need To Bury?

Okay, okay...I admit that my blog title sounds a bit dramatic, but if it caught your attention then it worked. As you can imagine, the beginning of the year has been busy for me - I am being contacted by many executives who have decided that 2012 is the year of no excuses and time to confidently move forward in their career.

I applaud them on their efforts and I am working hard to help them meet their goals...however, like anything else in life, in order to move forward swiftly and effectively, you need "light" weights.

In the past two weeks, I have seen some executive resumes that have as many pages as their owners have years of experience. I understand the need or even desire to make sure that you have captured every aspect of career, but at some point you have to say "goodbye", "so long" and "final farewell" to aspects of your career. Those experiences were instrumental in making you who you are today, but it's time to let go!

So what stays and what gets buried? Let's try these simple exercises, take a close look at your current resume and decide...

-- Is it weighed down with outdated industry jargon, irrelevant job content and pages and pages of task-driven statements? It is critical to carefully de-emphasize (not lie or embellish) non-related job tasks and responsibilities; this strategy can make a big difference between a vague and a target-focused resume.

-- Is your professional resume written like a strategic marketing document? All this simply means is that you write for the future and keep your target audience's (employers) needs in mind. Make sure that every word, sentence, phrase, and statement on your resume supports your candidacy for your ideal positions.

-- Is your resume targeted and tailored to match your career goals? Let your final career/job destination serve as a guide for your content inclusion decisions. Determine who you want to be (director of marketing, senior accountant, public relations manager) and how you want to be perceived (rainmaker, technology guru, finance wizard).

-- Is your resume stating the obvious? Once you have advanced in your career, there are certain expertise/skill sets that employers/recruiters will assume you have - for example, if you have been a CPA for the past ten years, it is not necessary to list “strong analytical skills” or “very knowledgeable of the GAAP rules” on your resume.

-- Is your resume filled with unrelated, irrelevant and contrary details that are not in line with your career goals? Take a deep breath and release yourself from any emotional attachment and let it go. Your resume should be written with the hiring managers/employers’ needs in mind. Don’t be swayed or influenced by the fact that you loved the job or you had a great time at the company.

Other red flags that let you know it's time to let go, let go, let go and let go....use these questions as a guide for screening out irrelevant content from your resume:

Are the skills, qualifications, and expertise listed on your resume inconsistent with what the employers and recruiters are looking for?

Have you listed any technology tools and software programs that are no longer in existence today?

Did you include a lot of detail and content related to previous positions that are the opposite of your career target?

Is there a long list of certifications and licenses that are outdated or expired?

Do you have your high school diploma, college-related activities, honors and awards even though you are NOT an entry-level professional?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, put on a black dress or black suit if you need to, but do your part and bury the past.

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 14 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

Resume Band-Aid: How to handle career blemishes

The temperature has seriously dropped in the Washington DC area...and yesterday something very interesting happened...it starting snowing - light flakes, but they were coming down consistently, then out of the blue it stopped, the skies cleared up and the sun came out like nothing ever happened.

Wouldn't it be great if the same thing could happen with our life hiccups or career blemishes? Sure, we would have to deal with it, but once the incident has passed, there would be little or no evidence that anything was ever wrong.

Reality check - that does not happen in life and any speedbumps or blemishes in our career will not simply vanish. However, we can find effective ways to deal with them and today, I will show you how to handle those some common career challenges on your professional/executive resume.

A) Highlighting relevant volunteer or community work experience

Paid or unpaid, industry experience is still valuable -- especially for career changers. If you have been involved in substantial volunteer or community work, use these resources to demonstrate leadership skills and experience relevant to your new goals. Take a look at how this unpaid marketing experience can boost a resume.

Before:

Volunteer, International Dance Group Inc.

After:

Marketing Department, International Dance Group Inc. (2002-2007)

Planned and executed advertising production, marketing materials, public relations programs and other special projects for start-up dance school. Contributed talents and expertise on unpaid basis.

B) Maximizing experience in an entrepreneurial or family-owned business

Whether you have gained leadership or industry experience through large corporations, working side by side with your parents or running your own enterprise, your level of expertise is what matters at the end of the day.

Avoid using lofty titles like "President and CEO" and instead, use a career title that is in line with other professionals with similar background and years of experience.

Consider whether a title like Vice President of Sales and Marketing, or Director of Sales and Marketing is more appropriate than President and Founder, Walter Creative Services?
 
C) Revising existing career experience for a different industry

If possible, keep your work experience in chronological order, but only emphasize the job responsibilities, achievements and experience that are directly relevant to the job you want.

It is quite acceptable to leave out unrelated tasks or responsibilities. For example, a senior federal employee looking to move into a HR position will only highlight his experience in that area:

Before:

2005-present: Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Washington Division. Manage all Division administration, budget allocations and various high profile programs (i.e. recruitment, training and demand reduction).

After:

Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge, Washington, DC (2005 to present)

Directed budget allocations and oversee high-profile programs including recruitment, personnel training, demand reduction and division special projects for the Washington Division. Created first-ever executive mentoring and insight leadership program.

D) Minimizing effect of an employment gap

If you were laid off or the company you worked for went out of business and it took you some time to get a new position, simply insert a one-line sentence that summarizes your job search activities.

Address the employment gap briefly but directly – you do not want to leave employers and executive recruiters guessing about what you were doing in that time period.

Before:

Director of Sales, Rockville, MD (2008-Present)
Sr. Sales Manager, Chicago, IL (2002-2006)

After:

Director of Sales, Rockville, MD (2008-Present)

Actively pursued full-time employment following unexpected company restructuring/downsizing. (2007)

Sr. Sales Manager, Chicago, IL (2002-2006)

If you were involved in consulting projects or highly relevant volunteer work during your "gap," handle it as you would any paid work experience.

These quick-fix resume strategies don't guarantee that no-one will ask questions, but at least you can have career marketing document that minimizes the glare on your career challenges.

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 14 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

 

Name: Justin Thompson CareerBuilder.com

Category: Business and Finance

Email: query-1sr3@helpareporter.net

Media Outlet: CareerBuilder.com

Deadline: 5:00 PM EST - 5 January

Query:

Looking for tips from job seekers or job experts on how they
should structure their day (whether employed or unemployed) for
job search.

Set times? Certain days? How do you dress?

Requirements:

Explain your job search process and how you juggle looking for a
job while employed or unemployed and tips for what people should
do to give their search more structure and milestones to mark
achievement.

Resumes: You've come a long way, baby

I moved about a month ago and yes, I am still unpacking and getting settled...why is that always the story when it comes to moving?

Well, in going through papers and books, low and behold, I came across one of my old resumes...not just any resume, but the very first resume I ever created during my senior year in college. I attempted to take a picture of it here ------------------>

Wow...talk about change - the resume has surely come a very long way. My college resume had a generic objective, sparse bulleted statements and absolutely no achievements, but it still helped me land two exciting job offers.

Resumes, job search strategies, self/career marketing tactics have really changed in the past 20+ years. The professional resume as we know it has grown up - it is no longer a flat, one-dimensional historical document.

In 2012, the professional resume is a strategic marketing that has position you as a valuable solution and contributor to employers - being qualified and having the required experience is not enough to make you stand out of in this competitive market.

So I am hoping that your professional or executive resume looks nothing the one in this picture:) However, if it does, you need to call me ASAP...scary resumes do not lead to exciting job offers.

 

Related posts:

Create a standout resume

Scary resume mistakes to avoid

Saying more with less on your resume

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 14 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

 

12 Days of Career Success Advice: Day 6

Sleep, glorious sleep...the quiet sedate area where my parents live gives me plenty of excuses to catch up on sleep...and I have been taking full advantage this weekend:)

I hope it is all coming together for you...by now, we are halfway through our career success series. If you have been diligent about following the exercises, you would have shed past career mistakes, be feeling very confident about your life/career achievements, and have clarity around your personal brand.

So what do you do with all this great wealth of personal insight?

Let's find out...on the sixth day of the holidays, my career coach said to me:

Create a standout resume

The best way to centralize your value proposition and unique strengths is in a well-written, compelling resume. Understand that the resume is the first step and can serve as a foundation for other career marketing documents.

Here are some tried-and-true resume strategies to consider

A. Do You Have Target Position(s) In Mind

No matter how well you present your career background, if you are not keeping the employer's needs in mind, you are creating a useless document.

- Only include relevant experience, qualifications, education, training and projects that position you for your target position.

If you are targeting senior-level marketing positions then your entire resume should only speak to that - the fact that you have a real estate license and a Master in Social Work is commendable, but not relevant.

B. Is Your Resume Profile Appealing?

In these days of electronic and technology-based communications, an employer or recruiter can be viewing your resume through a Blackberry, iPad or Palm Pilot.

Make sure that the top third of your executive resume really stands out with a clear title header, personal branding statement and powerful summary that speaks your VALUE to employers.   

C. Does Your Resume Have Breathing Room?  

Please, please, please do not try to squeeze 15+ years of progressive leadership experience and achievements onto one page. A two-page resume is acceptable and even expected when you are senior-level professional.

- Prioritize the content for your executive resume according to your target position and that would help you create a balanced document.

- Give preference to the positions and career achievements that you have build in the past 15 - 20 years and summarize any early experience in a paragraph

- Place education, training and certifications on the first page if they are critical requirementsfor the position. For example, a project manager should list PMP certification next to his/her name or senior auditor would indicate his/her CPA designation right up front.

- Do not be emotionally tied to any aspect of your career or accomplishments, if it is not RELEVANT or ESSENTIAL to your career goals and target company, leave it off the resume.

D. Is Your Resume Showing More Achievements And Less Tasks

Don't bore readers with a laundry list of your tasks and responsibilities instead focus on your achievements and how you have impacted a company's growth.

- Use bullets to draw quick attention to key defining achievements and limit five achievements for each position going back to about 15 years.

Remember, the executive resume is simply the key that opens the door for further in-depth conversation, but it still has to compelling enough to warrant a phone call or a closer look.

 

Related posts:

Day 1: Conduct an honest self-assessment

Day 2: Say goodbye to career mistakes and disappointments

Day 3: Jump start your long lost career dreams

Day 4: Take credit for your life and career achievements

Day 5: Identify and promote your personal brand

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications. Have you seen our holiday specials?

 

A Winning Recipe For Career Success

This year, I dramatically changed my eating habits - I took the plunge and eliminated all poultry and meat from my diet...now I am not a fully converted vegan because I still indulge in dairy and seafood from time to time.

Needless to say, I am constantly seeking out new recipes and experimenting with new food ingredients to create delicious meals.

Earlier this week as my stomach grumbled for breakfast, I rummaged through my pantry to see what I could whip up and decided to make vegan blueberry pancakes - yep, pancakes with no eggs or cows milk. Well, keeping my fingers crossed and adding a splash of ingenuity, I created a new breakfast favorite - and a yummy one I might add:)

If I stuck to what I knew, tried and true and didn't take the chance, I would have missed out on something great. Sounds familiar when it comes to career success, right? What have you NOT tried that may be the catalyst to real career success? How would you like a simple recipe that can get you in gear for 2012?

 

1) Grab a pen and paper and map out your SMART career plan

It's easy to stay on the sidelines and assume that your peers' career success came through good luck and the right contacts. Wrong! Lasting professional success and career mastery take careful planning, diligence and commitment.

-- Write down your career aspirations on paper to make them real and personal to you; partner with a career coach to help keep you motivated and on track.

-- Evaluate your current career situation and determine where you want to be in the next 12 - 36 months

-- Identify what you need in terms of education, experience and advanced training/education that will take you to the next level and invest in the necessary resources.

 

2) Lose the wallflower syndrome and get visible in your field

Being invisible works if you are a wallflower, however, if you need connections to the key players, a vibrant, active and growing professional/personal network is the way to go.

-- Volunteer for internal and external company events and take advantage of opportunities to represent the company at conferences, forums and trade shows.

-- Join two or three professional and industry organizations that you can participate in on a regular basis.

 

3) Know and promote your personal brand

Let's face it, you may love and respect others' career success, but there are some things that you do better than anyone else. Leverage that knowledge and learn to communicate your unique promise of value effectively to employers and recruiters.

-- Create and keep an updated LinkedIn profile and make sure it includes recommendations from previous employers and colleagues.

-- Compile a brief Google profile so that you are easily found when interested employers and recruiters want to learn more about you.

-- Establish yourself as thought leader by actively participating in company blogs, industry forum and professional online discussions.

 

4) Stay in ready mode with an updated executive resume

Don't wait until there is a crisis to have your executive resume and career marketing documents handy. Be proactive in chronicling your career achievements every six to twelve months or consider developing a master resume.

-- Give yourself credit for all the direct impact and contributions you made in terms of revenue growth, cost savings, image reputation, customer attraction, market expansion, technology integration, employee satisfaction and much more.

-- Where possible, quantify your achievements using dollars and percentages as numbers can really create a compelling story.

 

5) Keep your eye on the future and stay ahead of the curve

Don't get lost in the shuffle because your work world is changing. Pay attention to evolving trends in your industry and identify the major skills and/or new technologies that are important.

-- Maximize participation in annual association conferences and local business events as opportunities for informal education.

-- Research and register for appropriate e-courses, training programs, professional certification classes and learning circles that would directly benefit your career.

So there you have it - five ingredients to get you going...what are you waiting for? Get to cooking!

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke.

She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

Scary Resume Mistakes That Are Killing Your Job Search

Okay...so here's the deal on my love-hate relationship with Halloween. My birthday is today, October 31 - the problem is that I really HATE the celebration of Halloween and everything that it really stands for. 

Of course, I look forward to celebrating my birthday every year, but silently dread the Halloween festivities that I am forced to share on my special day. Don't write me off as a party pooper and take away my cool points...please:)

However, in the spirt of the dreaded Halloween day, I have decided to offer you a few resume improvements tips - let's just call it my "treat" to you:

1. Stop Making Potential Employers Guess

Your executive resume is a strategic marketing document and the product you are selling is YOU. At first glance – especially in the resume profile section – the reader should know who you are and the value you bring to the table.

If you are unsure of your job target or immediate career goals, a generic resume is not going to help you. A focused, targeted executive resume convinces hiring managers that you are the right person for the job. Which one of these executive would you trust as your next CFO?

Candidate A: By training and professional experience, highly qualified in financial and strategic management of business in many industries.

Candidate B: Performance-driven finance executive with deep expertise in spearheading initiatives that strengthen internal infrastructure, expand revenue-generating capabilities, and maximize ROI for startup and high-growth companies.

2. Stop Using A “Me-Oriented” Resume Objective

You need to hook employers in with buying motivators. Instead of starting of your executive resume with a self-centered objective statement that screams “I am only focused on my needs”, use brand-focused statements of value that show employers how they gain from bringing you on board. Which candidate seems like the right fit for a manufacturing executive position?

Candidate A:  Seeking a challenging leadership position in manufacturing and product operations. 

Candidate B: Pioneering manufacturing executive with proven success in devising operating strategies that eliminate redundancies, increase production output, and deliver productivity, quality, and efficiency improvements.

3. Stop Choking Readers With Lengthy Resume Content

Even if you have more 20 years of experience, you can still create an effective, two-page executive resume that highlights your key qualifications without weighing down the document with too much detail or inadvertently “aging” you. Here are two effective ways of handling early career experience without having to flush out every job you had since high school.

Choice A: EARLY COMPANY EXPERIENCE: Delivered significant contributions to company’s revenue growth and production output through earlier roles as Manager of Maintenance and Project Engineer.

Choice B: EARLY CAREER: Held series of executive management and leadership roles including VP, Finance/Controller for several national restaurant chains.

4. Stop Talking About What You Are Paid To Do

Don’t be so married to your job tasks that your executive resume falls short on branding and value proposition. Good facts/statistics to include are budget size, the number of direct/indirect reports, the number of divisions or branches you manage, sales/revenue objectives, the number of clients, local, national or regional offices, and the title of your immediate boss.

Maximize your valuable resume space for details on important projects, achievements, and other accolades.

Before: Manage daily activities for real estate portfolio for investment management company and supervise staff members.

After: Challenged to deliver 10% return on $700 million investment portfolio in unpredictable, evolving real estate industry. Oversee all daily activities including ROI maximizations, client relations, loan negotiations, and investment dispositions.

5. Stop Making It Hard For Employers To See What Makes You Different

Extract strong statements from your performance evaluations or management feedback reports to make an immediate connection, generate real interest, and entice employers to call you in for a personal interview. Who would you be interested in meeting?

Candidate A: Fifteen years experience supporting corporate IT operations and application development in complex 24x7 environments involving multi-site locations.

Candidate B: Primary architect and pioneer of groundbreaking, “first-of-its-kind” technology initiatives that reposition companies for long-term sustainability and continued financial success. “He is truly a strategic thinker who can ascertain the business challenge and deliver an innovative, technology-driven solution.”

6. Stop Leaving The “Beef” Off Your Executive Resume

You can tell me that you are great, but unless you demonstrate your “greatness” through strong, high-impact achievement statements, I am going to have a hard time believing you. Remember it is important to communicate the context in which the achievement was made – in other words, saying that you grew revenues 25% in one year sounds fantastic, but if it was already growing at that pace then your actual contribution was minimal. Which of the following candidates sound like a powerhouse to you?

Candidate A: Saved the company thousands of dollars during first year on the job.

Candidate B: Achieved zero lost time and 100% staff productivity during12 consecutive months for first time in company’s operating history—saving company $500,000.

 Related posts:

Cliff Notes Resumes - Say more with less

Put let your resume carry your baggage

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Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is it rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your revenue-impacting performance?

-- Does it convey enthusiasm or energy motivating the reader to contact you?

If you have answered “no” to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies. Her distinctive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

Cliff Notes Resumes - Lose The Words Without Losing Yourself -

I recently had the pleasure of working with an executive in the fashion industry whose creativity and energy made her an absolute delight to work with...every form of written communication from her, whether it was an email, notes from my initial assessment or response to follow up questions, was filled with long, descriptive words, symbols and mini graphics.

I honestly felt like I was reading poetry everytime she sent me an email. Definitely one of my very favorite clients!

That form of lengthy written communication does not work well in career marketing materials...in the world of growing technological tools, increasing data overload and shrinking attention spans, you have to get your message across with a lot less words.

In executive job search and overall career management, we want others to see, feel and experience our essence and our brand both in person and on paper. Your goal is to have employers and recruiters "buy" you, long before they meet you face to face.

Sounds challenging - after all, how can they really know you without you giving them the full background, right? Wrong - resumes have changed and continue to evolve everyday. In this highly competitive job market where millions of people are competing for the same few jobs, your marketing message needs to be heard above all the noise and clutter and your opportunity to "sell" is very time challenged.

Think of today's executive resume as the "Cliff Notes" for your career story - tell it quickly, tell it concisely, and tell it accurately. Less words on your executive resume does not mean that you have less to offer or that you are less qualified, it is the QUALITY and not the QUANTITY of your resume's content that matters.

For example:

A) Completed major organizational restructuring while overcoming critical market challenges including retail consolidation, landscape shift, the new shopper and pricing promotion trends. (before)

B) Orchestrated organizational restructure amidst growing market constraints and industry challenges. (after)

The context and complexity of the leadership task did not change in statement B, but I got the message across in 10 words. The supporting details can be talked about in an interview or explained further in other career marketing documents like a Critical Leadership Initiatives or Key Projects outline.

Bottom line - stick to the key facts/achievements and save the extras for dinner conversation with your family:)

The Executive Resume Summary - What Is It Really About?

Recently, I have been doing a series of resume consultations especially for international clients and found that my feedback tended to fall within the same areas:

• Executive resume summary
• Content - job descriptions vs job achievements
• Document length

The only area that really seems to stump the best of executives is the executive resume summary or the executive profile. In general, I found that too many executives make this section very vague or generic - in other words, the content can apply to any other person.

Imagine for a second that your executive resume is being viewed on a Blackberry - within two or three thumb rolls, you need to make a strong impression, what information do you want to communicate?

For starters, your executive profile needs to show leadership and it must tell a memorable career story that shows innovation, strategic thinking, solutions and of course profit-building performance. But what about personality, work style, chemistry, culture fit? Yes, it must show all of those as well.

If your current executive profile seems to be coming up short, try answering these few questions to get you started in the right direction:

What are your top skills or strengths?

What is your professional reputation?

What have you done for a company that supports these strengths?

Do you have CAR success stories that would impress any employer?

Which of your career accomplishments would have the most value in your target industry?

Not easy questions to answer, but worth it for an executive profile that will have your phone ringing...

Think you are too stumped to get through these questions, schedule a one-on-one executive resume consultation with me to position yourself for success. Why wait? Your competition isn't.

Related posts:

 Why Your Executive Resume's Top-Third Section Really Matters

 

 

 

 

 

Your Executive Career Guide - Advice Your Career Can Grow On

Wouldn't it be great if all our career paths were simple, streamlined and predictable? Okay, back to reality....in a world where career progression is often disrupted, stalled or shifted due to family issues, personal transitions, downsizing and economic downturns, the only real weapon that you have for long-term career success is to be adequately prepared.

So I have decided to compile my most popular posts from over the years and create a categorized executive career guide that match any employment or job search situation.

Stunk in a dead-end job search, struggling over career change options, feeling disillusioned about career mistakes, or looking to shine at your next peformance review?

Here are practical solutions that can get you moving in the right direction

Building a ROI Executive Resume

 Are you missing the resume boat

Resume best practices

Is your professional resume carrying your career baggage?

 

Executive Job Search

Six steps to ultimate job search success 

If you want a new job, learn to love marketing

Don't sour about your executive job search

 

Executive Job Interviews

Making the interviewer your biggest ally

Surprising interview mistakes you need to avoid

Let Your STARS shine in your next interview

 

Executive Career Growth

Are underestimating your career worth

Increase your career options through professional development

Executive career resolutions that you can grow on

 

Career Strategies for Executive Women

Executive women and leadership roles

Bragging versus self promoting

Getting heard in the workplace

 

Executive Career Change

 Changing careers without magic tricks

Finding the right to change careers

Going from corporate employee to entreprenuer

Are You Missing The Resume Boat?

I was recently working with a CFO client and after sending his the first draft of his executive resume, he responded with a long list of questions regarding the content. He was really concerned that I had omitted some facts about his educational and career background and was worried that it could hurt his prospects.

I would safely say that one of the hardest aspect of developing an executive resume is knowing when and what to let go.

Do any of these scenarios sound like you?

-- You want to include your college activities and GPA even though you earned a college degree more than 20 years ago

-- You are targeting CEO-type positions, but have included detailed descriptions on internships you held during college

-- You want to transition into a non-profit executive role, but have prominently listed your real estate license, social work degree and financial analyst certification.

--  Your goal is to move away from engineering positions and start building your career in management, but your resume outlines every engineering project you held since high school.

Well, for starters, I certainly hope that none of you fit into the above scenarios...however, I am confident that your brain is starting to tick and you are getting my point. Executive resumes are strategic marketing tools that must effectively "sell" you to employers.

Therefore, you need to identify the most impressive and RELEVANT aspects of your career background to highlight and emphasize on your executive resume. In reality, a global company is not going to be too concerned about whether their next CEO made the Dean's list in college, instead they want to hear specific examples about his/her achievements in strategic planning, P&L management, revenue growth, cost reduction and more.

So release any emotional attachment to your experience, educational credentials, certifications, licenses and volunteer activities. Make sure that you are maximizing your resume space on leadership tasks, position descriptions, career-defining achievements and any other supporting information that would qualify you as the ideal candidate. Just think strategic document and remember, relevant, relevant, relevant.

Your executive resume is not the kitchen sink and everything is not needed! Need a few refresher tips on developing your executive resume? Check out my previous posts:

Revisting Resume Best Practices

Is Your Professional Resume Carrying Your Career Baggage?

Are You Marketing A Sleepy, Imposter Resume?

Still have trouble getting your executive resume into a career document that you can love? Schedule your f'ree, 15-minute resume consultation with me today and get honest feedback on your job search calling card.