INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Top Executives positions are at a 8% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 2,704,400 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 209,500 to 2,913,900 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Top Executives jobs was $107,680 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $45,850, and the highest 10% more than $208,000.
Our conclusion? The Top Executives job market is wide open for candidates.
Top executive director sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to Craft the Perfect Executive Director Resume Experience Section
Perfecting the experience section: Executive director resume checklist:
- Be careful with bullet points: use no more than 4-6 per position;
- Mention only positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- List your experience in chronological or reverse-chronological order;
- Highlight your results by using numbers – e.g. percentage increase/decrease in an important metric that’s followed by - your hard work;
- Use action words whenever possible… but more on that below.
Need examples? We looked through thousands of Executive Director resumes and gathered some examples of what the ideal experience section looks like. Check them out below!
- Prepare and present powerful, persuasive sales presentations that effectively demonstrate the value proposition of Salut United solutions.
- Collaborated across Development, Marketing, Services, and Salut growth teams, developing an internal services road-map with clear priorities for the implementation of new projects and solutions
- Establish projects success measures and KPIs.
- Prepare and give business reviews and presentations to the management board on a monthly basis.
- Leadership by example, resilience, and a willingness to work collaboratively with the Board of Directors.
- Fostering important stakeholder connections in our community.
- Organizing fundraisers from book stores to the shelter's largest yearly fundraiser.
- Establishing and maintaining relationships with our volunteers.
- Maintaining adoption rates.
- Lead Social media efforts including Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to get our adoptable pets the most exposure possible.
- Hire staff, schedule staff, and coach individual performance.
- startup from scratch of Consumer & SoHo Business Unit, break even in 10 months => www.sicuritaliaprotezione24.it
- growth: sales, revenues and margin increase (>10% YoY)
- churn: reduction > 30% in 24 months
- customer satisfaction (NPS) improved > 30%
- active member of IoT Smart Home Observatory of Milan Politecnico
- Management of 200 employees, sales operation across Italy
- above 1,5 billion € sale revenues/year (25% growth in three years)
- TIM Brazil turnaround, most successful in history of GSM Association
- Management of commercial Operations on subsidiaries (Chile, Argentina, Greece, Brazil)
- Reshape of stores channelsand commercial policiies
- Launch of the new Distributors and Retail sales channels in Italy
- Founder of the Sales Community for 10.000 dealer's sales people
- Developing and driving implementation of client development strategy
- Identifying and initiating strategic projects across Africa
- Engineering design project management (overhead power lines, substations, etc.)
- Generated opportunities with Megatron Federal for R45 million deal
- Led negotiations and managed the design process
- Generated the opportunity for the Kiswishi substation, HV and MV network, project management for its design and construction in the DRC
- Linfox India
- Laura Ashley UK Ltd
- Laura Ashley Ireland
- Laura Ashley France
- Texplan Manufacturing Ltd (UK)
- Premier Home Logistics (UK)
- Laura Ashley Hotels (UK)
- Trustee Laura Ashley Retirement Benefits Fund (UK)
- Company Secretary - Ocean Freeway Pty Ltd (WA)
- Linfox India (2013-2014)
- Texplan Manufacturing Ltd (UK) (2006-2011)
- Laura Ashley Hotels (UK) (2010-2011)
- Laura Ashley UK Ltd (2006-2011)
- Laura Ashley Ireland (2006-2011)
- Laura Ashley France (2006-2011)
- Premier Home Logistics (UK) (2006-2011)
- Trustee Laura Ashley Retirement Benefits Fund (UK) (2008-2010)
- Company Secretary - Ocean Freeway Pty Ltd (W.A.) (1987-1989)
- Responsible for all areas of the corporation and report to the Physician President and the Board of Directors
- Responsible for revenue cycle, info tech, facilities, accounting, HR, benefits, marketing, call center, rehab, patient reg, ancillary services, credentialing, insurance, risk mgmt, managed care, offices, & physician compensation
- JOI maintains its own tax identification number and operates independently to the most extent, but is fully owned by Baptist Health (5 hospital health system) as an integrated system
- Team physicians for the Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL), Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Florida Marlins AA), Jacksonville Sharks (National Arena League), Jacksonville Armada (North American Soccer League), Jacksonville University, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and 7 local high schools
- Recruited and hired 15 new physicians & recruiting 5 additional surgeons
- Opened 5 new rehab offices in new markets, 2 new physician offices in new markets, relocated one physician office, and renovated one physician office
- Grew annual revenue from $44 million to $58 million
- Cultivated high performing organization through strategic recruitment of 18 new physicians, directing talented staff in processes to achieve effectiveness and quality for 315K annual patient visits, over 10K annual surgeries, and over 10K pain management cases.
- Accelerated growth of organization through effective opening of five new rehab offices and two new physician offices within new markets, growing annual revenue from $44M to $60M.
- Developed strong diverse teams, leading and motivating through positive leadership, emphasizing corporate values, quality care, and patient service excellence.
- In partnership with the MD, led the company from a micro-cap business through to entry into the ASX300 Index.
- Led multiple forms of Capital Raising and Debt Finance exercises - largest Capital Raise; $35m, largest Debt Finance; $100m.
- Negotiated and led Due Diligence on a number of acquisitions, growing company from 8 to 65 sites at the end of the engagement.
- Managed operational integration of all acquisition resources into the company operations.
- Key company contact point for Investors, Stock brokers, Finance providers, Company Secretarial, legal and other advisors.
- Direct control and guidance of multiple operational departments; Finance, Technology, Marketing, Human Resource, Call Centre and Administration.
- Promoted the adoption of significant technical innovations, e.g. digital imaging platforms to increase radiologist productivity by 200%, Call Centre to reduce abandoned calls from 12-16% to 1% at clinics.
- Managed all audits and complete production of Annual Reports and other statutory filings
- Developed our flagship five-month fellowship for senior NGO staff which now has 200+ alumni who report increased impact, improved confidence and stronger, more effective networks.
- Have reached 2000+ civil society staff through our training programs and events with 85% reporting increased skills, new relationships, and 95+% reporting satisifction with the programs.
- Worked closely with the Executive Director to grow the number, reach and quality of our programs, diversify our revenue sources and drive efficiency and impact.
- Clover SA: A leading consumer brand, producing dairy and other value-added products;
- CJP Chemicals: A stockist and distributor of specialty and commodity raw materials to a variety of industries;
- Dartcom SA: A specialised distributor and manufacturer of components used by the telecommunications industry;
- Izandla Property: A property fund and manager;
- Tarsus: South Africa's leading IT distribution group;
- Concord Cranes: An entity that specialises in crane hire;
- Prowalco: A distributor of pumps and dispensers for the fuel industry;
- Afrit Group: A trailer manufacturer; and
- Goscor Group: An entity involved in the supply, servicing and renting of industrial and construction equipment.
- Directed all aspects of $2M operations, including grant management, public relations, human resources, program evaluation, marketing, artistic leadership, strategic planning and continuous quality improvement
- Implemented a new vision and rebranding strategy for the organization that highlighted social change initiatives, generating widespread media attention and increased audience participation by 20% in one year
- Trained, managed, evaluated and mentored a staff of 42 educators, managers and volunteers using an entrepreneurial model that led to mission-driven buy-in at all levels, including a 20 member Board of Trustees
- Ad hoc duties as needed, including event management, community engagement and facility management
- Directed all aspects of $1M operations, including grant management, human resources, marketing, budgeting, project evaluation, public arts programming, continuous quality improvement and strategic planning
- Created and supervised all marketing and public relations initiatives, and by way of a 5-year impact strategy, generated an effective and recognizable organizational brand
- Secured 20+ partnership agreements with cultural, education, and social service organizations to advance the organization’s outreach activities and expand audience/donor base, leading to a 20% revenue increase in 3 years
- Partnered with a 12 member Board of Directors in all development activities, effectively cultivating, soliciting, and maintaining strong relationships with individual, corporate, foundation, and government donors and sponsors
- Trained, managed, evaluated and mentored a staff of 95 educators, directors, artists and volunteers using an entrepreneurial model that led to mission-driven buy-in at all levels
- Engaged and coordinated artists from multiple disciplines to foster a culture of collaboration, exploration and creativity that attracted a constituency of 50,000 artists, clients, patrons, donors and volunteers from all backgrounds
- Ad hoc duties as needed, including those related to event management, technical support and public engagement
- Executive Director at Herdt Consulting. Serves as the Program Manager (PM) for Herdt Consulting's two largest prime contract supporting the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Philadelphia in Material and Asset Management (MAMs) and the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) ERP Business Office.
- Responsible as the PM for Herdt's ERP sustainment work at Office of Naval Research (ONR) and supports multiple other Herdt contracts in various leadership and technical roles.
- Supports and leads full business development lifecycle efforts from capture to execution.
- Provides executive level change management,organizational strategic and process improvement support.
- Responsible for Process Improvement, Strategic Planning, Change Management, and analytical analysis support.
- Plans, organizes and deploys resources for accomplishing client projects.
- Manages and supervises over thirty Senior Consultants and Associates and manages multiple contracts with annual revenue of several million dollars.
- Co-founded and grew the organization into a respected cultural center with awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Florida Alliance for Arts Education and the Division of Cultural Affairs for the State of Florida
- Directed all aspects of operations, including human resources, marketing, budgeting, project evaluation, artistic programming, fundraising/grant writing, continuous quality improvement, artist/community relations and 5-year strategic planning over 17 consecutive years
- Acted as the Director of Development, and over 5 years secured $5 million in support for the organization from individuals, education institutions, businesses, foundations, government agencies and other stakeholders
- Consistently elevated individual gift-giving by 20% each year through application of strategic, emotionally intelligent use of the Benevon Model
- Created and supervised all marketing and public relations initiatives, and by way of a 5-year impact strategy, generated an effective and recognizable organizational brand that ties the dance arts to social change
- Secured 20+ partnership agreements with cultural, education, and social service organizations to advance the organization’s outreach activities and expand audience/donor base, leading to a 20% revenue increase in 3 years
- Partnered a 12 member Board of Directors in all development activities, effectively cultivating, soliciting, and maintaining strong relationships with individual, corporate, foundation, and government donors and sponsors
- In cooperation with the Board, guided the creation of a comprehensive development program and implemented visionary strategies that increased unrestricted giving by 170% over 3 years
- Trained, managed, evaluated and mentored a staff of 95 educators, directors, artists and volunteers using an entrepreneurial model that led to mission-driven buy-in at all levels
- Wrote all media releases, promotional copy and social media content while also serving as the art director for all print and digital mediums
- Engaged and coordinated artists from multiple disciplines to foster a culture of collaboration, exploration and creativity that attracted a constituency of 50,000 artists, clients, patrons, donors and volunteers from all backgrounds
- Developed and supervised education programs, performance seasons and multi-disciplinary showcases that fostered community relations, leading to an average audience increase of 3,000 members every year across 17 years
- Initiated and grew inclusive/accessibility-based dance education programs for special populations, including persons with unique abilities, at-risk youth and senior citizens, leading to a 25% increase in reach over 3 years
- Ad hoc duties as needed, including those related to event management, technical support and public engagement
- Implemented systematic calendar management strategies averaging 45 meetings per week
- Used discretion with email delegation when communicating on behalf of Executive Director
- Liaison with White House staff, Department of Defense, Mayor's Office, internet and television celebrities
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Executive Director job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action verbs for your executive director resume
Recommended reads:
Impressing recruiters with a top executive director resume skills section
Checklist for an impressive Executive Director resume skills section:
- List both hard and technical skills that are important for the role;
- Check what the job description says and add some keywords based on that;
- Focus only on relevant skills;
- Try not to list things such as “communication”; rather, highlight your soft skills in other sections of your Executive Director resume.
Top skills for your Executive Director resume:
Strategic Planning
Financial Management
Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
Data Analysis Tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau)
CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce)
Budgeting and Forecasting Tools
Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS)
Performance Metrics and KPIs
Risk Management Software
Compliance Management Tools
Leadership
Communication
Decision Making
Problem Solving
Negotiation
Emotional Intelligence
Team Building
Adaptability
Conflict Resolution
Visionary Thinking
PRO TIP
When picking skills to feature in your resume, make sure they'll be relevant to the position you’re applying to. The point of listing skills is for you to stand out from the competition. Stay away from repetitive, meaningless skills that everyone uses in their resumes. Or else, they’ll backfire and make you look like an average candidate.
Executive director resume header: Tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your executive director resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your Executive Director resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
Crafting a strong summary for your executive director resume
Checklist: The perfect executive director resume summary section
- Add a couple of keywords from the job description;
- Mention some of your most valuable skills and characteristics;
- Highlight your top achievements (and add numbers!);
- Use no more than 3-5 sentences to guarantee readability and keep - the hiring manager interested.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a brief but informative introduction to your experience section. In this section you should go into more depth about what you have done, and how you did it.
Recommended Reads:
An impressive education section: executive director resume
Executive director resume: education section checklist
- Highlight your highest education degree;
- Include the degree subject, year of graduation, and institution name;
- Mention some of the awards you’ve received during your studies;
- List your certifications (incl. the body that’s issued them);
- Entry-level positions: Give preference to courses that are relevant to the position.
Top Certifications for your Executive Director Resume
Conflict Resolution for Executives and Board Directors
You'll learn diagnosis and resolution techniques for tense, sensitive conflicts with your board directors/exec committee
Non-Executive Directorship For Beginners
Learn how to build a lucrative and rewarding portfolio career as a Non-Executive Director.
A Beginner's Guide To Becoming a Travel Director
How To Get Paid To Travel The World
High-Impact IT Leader - Succeed as CIO/CTO/IT Director 2021!
Complete playbook for IT executives on leading strategy, technology, people and operations
Financial Intelligence For Non-Finance Managers
Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Directors
Recommended reads.":
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Executive Director. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
The right format for your executive director resume
When it comes to formatting your Executive Director resume, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. These include your level of expertise, your total years of experience, and the position and company you’re applying for, to name a few.
You can choose between three basic resume formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
The reverse-chronological format is just that – all your experience listed in a reverse-chronological way. It’s great for experienced professionals who have been in the industry for many years and have no career gaps.
The functional skills-based resume, on the other hand, focuses on skills, education, and personality traits, rather than experience. This makes it great for graduates, people with less experience, or bigger career gaps. The idea is to show you’re the perfect match without putting too much emphasis on your lack of relevant experience.
If none of these sound suitable, go for a hybrid (or combination) resume. It’s a mix of experience, skills, and personality traits. It’s also considered modern and innovative because of its non-traditional structure and sections. Here, you can add details about what your typical day looks like or what your life philosophy is. In short, the hybrid resume format shows who you are, both as a professional and as an individual.
More tips on perfecting your resume style and layout:
- Choose a traditional 12p font;
- Make sure your resume margins are no bigger than an inch;
- Go for a one-page template. If you have broad experience and can’t fit your resume on one page, choose a two-page resume template
- Save your resume as PDF to avoid formatting issues and unauthorized editing.
Read this: Ways to make your Executive Director resume stand out
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
More sections worth adding to your executive director resume
If the industry, company, and position you’re applying for allow for that, you could include other sections in your Executive Director resume. By doing this, you’ll show the recruiter that you’re a real human and not a robot.
Here are some ideas:
The right kind of creativity for your executive director resume
Several years ago, everyone preferred keeping a safe distance from creative resumes. Today, adding creativity to your CV is considered cool, innovative, and one of the best ways to stand out.
You can add a creative section that describes your typical day or even go for a colorful creative template. No matter what you choose, make sure to keep the position, company, and industry in mind. Otherwise, you risk looking silly.
What makes a great executive director resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
