Crafting a compelling CV that effectively highlights your strategic leadership and business acumen is a significant challenge for any executive. By utilising our guide, you'll receive tailored advice on structuring your achievements and expertise to position yourself as the standout candidate.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
How complex should the format of your executive CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your executive CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a executive CV
- Professional Summary offers a snapshot of your achievements.
- Key Skills section highlights leadership and strategic abilities.
- Professional Experience showcases career progression and impact.
- Education and Professional Development indicate your foundation and growth.
- Board Memberships and Associations show networking and influence prowess.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Focus on strategic impact by showcasing outcomes where your decisions resulted in significant organisational growth or transformation, highlighting your ability to operate at a high level of influence.
- Include specific examples of leadership, such as change management or culture development initiatives you've led, demonstrating your capacity for driving organisational success through people.
- Emphasise financial acumen by detailing experiences where you've directly impacted the bottom line, whether through cost-saving measures, revenue generation, or effective budget management.
- Highlight your ability to foster stakeholder relationships by providing instances where you have successfully navigated complex negotiations or formed strategic partnerships.
- Reflect your forward-thinking mentality by mentioning any innovative projects you spearheaded or how you have integrated emerging trends and technologies to advance your organisation's objectives.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning executive CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for executive:
- Chief Financial Officer | Strategic Financial Planning | ACA Certified | 20+ Years of Leadership Experience
- Director of Operations | Efficiency Optimisation | Six Sigma Black Belt | 15 Years Progressive Management
- Head of Marketing | Brand Development | Digital Strategy Expert | MBA | 12 Years Industry Insight
- CTO | Innovation & Technology Leadership | Ph.D. in Computer Science | 18 Years Driving Change
- VP of Human Resources | Employee Relations | CIPD Qualified | 25 Years Cultivating Workforce Excellence
- Global Sales Director | Market Expansion Specialist | BSc in Business | 10 Years of Sales Mastery
Choosing your opening statement: a executive CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a executive job:
- With over 15 years of experience leading marketing strategies for Fortune 500 companies, I possess a proven track record of increasing market share and revenue. Expertise in digital marketing, brand management, and data analytics, with my most notable achievement being the successful launch of a cross-channel campaign that resulted in a 27% increase in product sales.
- Seasoned finance executive with 20 years of experience managing portfolios exceeding £10 billion. Specialised in risk management, financial analysis, and regulatory compliance, with a staunch commitment to maintaining fiscal integrity. Spearheaded a financial turnaround project, resulting in a sustained 15% growth in net asset value over five years.
- Former healthcare professional transitioning into corporate leadership, bringing a wealth of experience in patient care, team management, and operational efficiency. Having led a hospital department for a decade, I possess a unique perspective on customer service and employee satisfaction paired with a passion for streamlining organisational processes.
- Accomplished educator with 12+ years shaping academic programs at top-tier universities, now pivoting to corporate training and development. Combines an in-depth understanding of adult learning principles with cutting-edge curriculum design skills, eager to leverage these to enhance employee performances and drive organisational growth.
- Eager to embark on a career in technology sales with no prior industry experience, bringing a rich background in client relations and a tenacity for results-driven success. Dedicated to mastering product knowledge and sales strategies, with an objective to consistently exceed targets and contribute to market expansion.
- Graduating summa cum laude in environmental science and aiming to transfer academic prowess into actionable, sustainable business practices within a leading renewable energy firm. While having no direct industry experience, I bring analytical skills, a fresh perspective on ecological challenges, and a commitment to driving environmental innovations.
How to meet job requirements with your executive CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Highlight strategic leadership roles and decision-making responsibilities, detailing how your vision and governance have positively impacted the organisation's trajectory and profitability.
- Showcase your experience in driving organisational growth, providing specific examples of successful mergers, acquisitions, or market expansions you have managed.
- Include measurable accomplishments, such as revenue growth, cost reductions, or efficiency improvements, using precise percentages and financial figures to substantiate your claims.
- Emphasise any experience in digital transformation or innovation within the company, demonstrating your ability to adapt and lead in a rapidly evolving business environment.
- Mention key stakeholder engagement experiences, highlighting your ability to communicate effectively with boards, investors, and industry partners to secure buy-in on critical initiatives.
- Detail examples of robust risk management and decisive action in crisis situations, underscoring your capability to maintain stability and confidence under pressure.
- Quantify the scope of your leadership by specifying the size of teams you've managed, budgets you've overseen, and the geographic or global reach of your strategic influence.
- Address your involvement in developing and executing corporate social responsibility programmes or sustainability initiatives, reflecting your commitment to ethical leadership and social good.
- Articulate any contributions to industry thought leadership, such as published articles or speaking engagements at high-profile events, positioning you as an expert and influencer in your field.
- Spearheaded a digital transformation initiative by consolidating disparate systems into a unified tech stack, boosting operational efficiency by 30%.
- Negotiated and secured a landmark deal with a leading tech company, expanding the product reach by 200% and substantially increasing market share.
- Launched a sustainable business strategy that reduced carbon footprint by 15% while maintaining profit margins through investment in renewable energy sources.
- Orchestrated the turnaround of a struggling business division, resulting in a revenue increase from £2m to £6m within two years.
- Implemented a rigorous cost control programme, slashing operational costs by £500,000 annually without compromising product quality.
- Launched three new product lines that captured an additional 12% of the market share within the first year of introduction.
- Directed global marketing strategies, elevating brand presence in 10 new countries and increasing brand awareness by 25% internationally.
- Enhanced corporate governance policies, ensuring compliance with new regulatory standards and mitigating risk exposure by 40%.
- Fostered strategic partnerships with four industry leaders, delivering collaborative projects that enhanced innovation and customer satisfaction.
- Cultivated a high-performance culture that saw employee satisfaction scores improve by 20% while reducing staff turnover by 15%.
- Streamlined the company's supply chain processes, enhancing efficiency and resulting in cost savings of £1m+ annually.
- Pioneered the expansion into three untapped markets, growing the customer base by 100,000+ and boosting topline revenue by 18%.
- Led a cross-functional team in a major enterprise software overhaul that increased system productivity by over 35%.
- Initiated a leadership training programme that developed ten new managerial candidates, cementing the company's future leadership pipeline.
- Delivered cost-effective solutions by renegotiating vendor contracts, leading to a 20% reduction in expenses while maintaining service levels.
- Championed the development of a customer-centric approach that achieved a 5% increase in client retention rates year-on-year.
- Executed a company-wide rebranding strategy that positioned the brand as a leader in the marketplace, attracting a 40% increase in potentials investors.
- Drove the successful acquisition and integration of two competitors, expanding the company's footprint and enhancing economies of scale.
- Pioneered the adoption of AI-driven analytics tools, enhancing data-driven decision making and increasing quarterly revenues by 22%.
- Oversaw the launch of a multi-platform marketing campaign that resulted in a 45% increase in user engagement across digital channels.
- Nurtured a culture of continuous learning, reducing skills gaps and increasing team productivity by 32% through targeted upskilling programs.
- Transformed company operations by leading a successful merger, yielding a 25% increase in overall business capacity and diversification of service offerings.
- Initiated and managed a growth strategy that expanded the company's global presence into 8 new markets, enhancing international revenues by 20%.
- Directed a cost reduction initiative by optimizing logistics and procurement processes, resulting in annual savings of £750,000.
What to add in your executive CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Key executive CV skills: what are hard skills and soft skills
Let's kick off with the basics. You know that you have to include key job requirements or skills across your CV. For starters, take individual skills from the job description and copy-paste them into your CV, when relevant. Doing so, you'll ensure you have the correct skill spelling and also pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. There are two types of skills you'll need to include on your CV:
- Hard skills - technical abilities that are best defined by your certificates, education, and experience. You could also use the dedicated skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies you're apt at using that match the job requirements.
- Soft skills - your personal traits and interpersonal communication skills that are a bit harder to quantify. Use various CV sections, e.g. summary, strengths, experience, to shine a spotlight on your workspace achievements, thanks to using particular soft skills.
Remember that your job-winning CV should balance both your hard and soft skills to prove your technical background, while spotlighting your personality.
Top skills for your executive CV:
Strategic Planning
Financial Acumen
Business Development
Operations Management
Corporate Governance
Risk Management
Change Management
Market Analysis
Project Management
Data Analysis
Leadership
Communication
Critical Thinking
Problem-Solving
Decision-Making
Negotiation
Innovation
Adaptability
Integrity
Collaboration
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Further professional qualifications for your executive CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your executive CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your executive CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
