Steps to Take Before Writing Your Executive Resume

Writing a resume feels like such a chore, especially when you're writing at the executive level. There are so many facts and details that you need to pull together that the thought of it all could give you a headache.

Gaining some organization is one great way to make the writing process a bit easier while ensuring that you add the details that are necessary to get you an interview. If you're not sure how to get started, here are some steps to take before writing your executive resume.

Decide the Next Step In Your Career

If you were to seek executive resume assistance, the professional helping you would probably recommend that you decide whether you're still on the right career track before starting your resume. This may seem obvious; something you should be doing all along, but some executives discover after leaving a job that they have been following a career path more because it make sense and less because it's really what they want.

So if you're not sure what you really want to do, now's the time to sit down and reevaluate your path. You may discover that the next step in your career is totally different than it was before you started your last job.

Take Another Look at Your Industry

Once you've decide what direction you want to take, it's good to take another look at your industry to see how you could fit in. Set up Google Alerts to get news and information on a daily basis. This information could help you see what companies are in trouble, who is leaving their jobs and where there may be places for you to solve problems within specific companies and the industry as a whole.

Find Companies That Suit Your Goals

Next, instead of just hopping online and searching jobs by title or keywords, take time to write down about 20 companies that you would like to work for. Write down what you like about each company and how you think you could fit in. You never know, those companies could have openings, you might know people to network with within them or you could approach them on your own with your skills if you find you're a really good match.

Once you determine what you really want and what the industry you work in wants, you could develop your resume from a new perspective. So before you lay fingers to keys, take time to really think about your life as an executive and how you want to make a difference in your industry.