At the senior level, the CV remains one of the basic forms of job search and marketing communication tools one requires to project themselves above the rest. Unlike at a young professional level, this document is perhaps not the first interaction a potential employer has with you. Online presence takes first spot. However, the curriculum vitae is still the most common personal branding tool used by job seekers at any level. Whether you are actively searching for a job or a potential employer discovers you via your online profiles, having an impressive Senior Executive CV can help cement their interest in you, and puts you on the right track towards landing your desired role.

So let’s get back to the basics.

Here are 10 tips on how you can make your Senior Executive CV stand out.

1. Create a personal summary and target the CV

Your personal statement should be the same across your networks; on your LinkedIn profile, on your blogs, shortened on your twitter bio, and definitely on your CV. Personal branding is a necessary tool for senior level managers, and standardizing it helps in marketing yourself. Furthermore, you should target your Senior Executive CV towards the job you are seeking or the types of jobs you’d like to be sought for. You may have vast experience in a number of fields but give the potential employer a clear idea of what direction you are headed in by placing emphasis on achievements in that area.

2. Detail your achievements

Your professional section is one of your most valuable, and it should be polished meticulously. Your current role should take up the most space, delving specifically into your achievements. State the challenges you faced, how you solved the problems and lastly, what the outcomes were.  Not to mention, potential employers don’t have time to guess at your achievements; state clearly the ‘what’s, ‘how’s and ‘so what’s, and prove to them why they need you on board.

3. Avoid using weak verbs

You are way past the point of being ‘responsible for’ certain tasks. Explore more suited action verbs that ensure descriptive prowess. These can include: authored, fortified, forged, galvanized, transformed, spearheaded, steered or enriched. However, only use these to hone in on what your particular responsibility was. Don’t litter your Senior Executive CV with unrelated terms as it may come off as superfluous.

4. Have a concise education section

At this level, the earliest education you should feature on your CV should be the undergraduate degree. Focusing on postgraduate education and certification courses is more relevant to a potential employer. Including your ‘O’ levels, although not frowned upon, may just be a waste of valuable resume real estate.

5. Don’t go over 3 pages

With each stage in your professional career, your Senior Executive CV has to be re-analyzed in order to keep it relevant. Don’t keep adding on to it without reorganization. You have to give a potential employer a clear idea of what direction you are heading in. In addition, you should remove irrelevant experience and limit the resume to 3 pages. Downsizing to 2 is even better. The important thing is to keep it short and simple.

6. The key is in the keywords

When you are actively searching for a new C-level job, you want your CV to get noticed immediately. Pay attention to the words used in the job description, and use them in your application to tailor your CV to what the employer is looking for. It also ensures that your Senior Executive CV seamlessly passes the initial stage via the ATS (applicant tracking system) and that you’re well on your way to landing that interview.

7. Focus on your fonts

Now that your CV is substantial and meaty in terms of the content, you need to make it visually endearing – but within context. I say within context because your resume is not an art project. Stick to a professional layout and use no more than two fonts if you plan to differentiate the titles from the rest of the document. Generally, stay away from flowery fonts and use more modern style, easy-to-read, sans serif fonts. Great examples are Helvetica, Arial, and Calibri. If you are loyal to Times New Roman, that’s fine too, although you should be aware that it won’t make your resume stand out as it is the most commonly used typeface. Look here for more info on CV fonts. Correspondingly, your Senior Executive CV design and font should match that of your cover letter to show uniformity.

8. No pictures, please

Photos, graphics, and other visual representations should be featured only on portfolios, in similar illustrative documents, or online. The Senior Executive CV is not the place for photos or any other irrelevant info. Present yourself only as the sum of your achievements thus far, because that is what is used to show a potential employer how you can be an asset to their company.

9. Hobbies? Really?

Yes, hobbies and interests outside the workplace show that you are keen on all-rounded development. That being said, only include hobbies or interests in your CV that are…you guessed it…relevant. Instead of saying ‘reading books’ à la the CV you were required to write up in your Form 2 English class, state how you formed a community book club with an exploration into how the style of writing of female authors was influenced by the era in which they lived. This shows you are a critical thinker; a necessary trait for leaders. If you play golf, try and deliver this information in a way that shows the employer that you can use networking at the country clubs to create new business ventures.

10. Proofread

It goes without saying that anyone in senior level management cannot be forgiven for typos and grammatical errors. This can be fatal to the advancement of your application. Proofread your Senior Executive CV at least twice, then have a peer review it. The final document should be stellar. Don’t do yourself a disservice by making mistakes that reflect poorly on you as a professional.

If you follow these tips on how to write your Senior Executive CV, then you are well on your way to securing that interview!

Need help with your CV? Whether you’re busy or not sure where to start, we help coaches, consultants and senior professionals stand out in their CV, LinkedIn profile and more. Schedule a consultation today by clicking here!