What Makes an Executive Resume Unique?

Are you prepping to write your first executive resume and wonder what makes it different than the others you've written? You're probably thinking, "Hey, a resume is just a resume, right?" Wrong! In actuality, an executive resume is very different; just ask the many reputable executive resume writing services out there.

So what makes the executive resume unique? Here are a few characteristics to consider:

The Executive Profile

The standard resume you're probably accustomed to introduces your purpose in writing the resume through the objective. However, in executive resumes, the standard introduction often comes in the form an executive profile. While it is similar to the objective in that it explains why you're applying for a particular position, it goes a bit further to also summarize your key qualifications.

Instead of a 1-2 sentence objective, your executive profile will stretch out to 4-6 sentences, or maybe more. It will target specific skills and/or qualifications to help you highlight your standout abilities in a way that will stop hiring managers from having to sift through your resume for the information.

The Need to Showcase Your Knowledge of Productivity and Money Making

As an executive employee, you have a unique job. Rather than showing that you're a good worker, you need to show that you're a good leader. This requires highlighting your ability to guide your staff, create initiatives that can guide your company in a new and innovative direction, and of course, make the company some money. This could easily be accomplished by showcasing, project by project, how many you've led for what amount of time and how much money each brought in.

Your Resume Should Accommodate High-Level Execs

As an executive yourself, it's important to consider the gadgets hiring recruiters and managers may be reading your resume on. If you create a resume that is dense with very little white space and the person reading your resume is using some type of PDA, they may close your resume to avoid getting frustrated. So as you write yours, keep in mind the amount of white space needed to make the resume simple to read. You could even send it to your own PDA to gauge its appearance.

There is so much that makes the executive resumes unique - these are just a few. But if you keep these ideas in mind, you will be that much closer to creating the high-quality resume you need to secure a great position.