Executive Resume Writing Tips

Until a little while ago, resume for me was just another piece of document among the sea of documents in a job seeker's folder. But then I met this very talented friend of mine who told me that she failed to land a job which she deserved so well. Reason? A poorly drafted resume. That was the moment when the importance of resume struck me. True, a resume alone cannot land you a job, but a well written resume coupled with a good cover letter can brighten your chances of getting one. Many employers believe that your resume reflects what you actually are. The common myth about resume writing is that it has to be short and precise, maximum two pages. But this may not go down too well with employers, who are always on a look out for the most suitable candidate. Besides your qualification they would also like to know in detail about what responsibilities you have handled, what projects you have worked upon, and most importantly what kind of a person you are. For this it is of utmost importance that your resume describes all the necessary information and has an equally appealing visual impact.

Writing a resume for an executive position is a bit different from writing an ordinary resume. As an executive you will be responsible for handling many tasks of vital importance. Working at the top management level requires certain qualities like integrity, character, forward thinking, inter-personnel skills, consistency, leadership, etc. Your resume should reflect all these qualities. Humane qualities are particularly important if you are applying for a human resource position.

Here are some tips which will help you to write an executive resume:

Be descriptive, yet precise: Most employers do not have time to go through page long descriptions about your qualifications or achievements. Give an overview about your experience, achievements and qualification in brief. However do not forget to mention in detail the accomplishments which you think you need to communicate to the potential employer.

Clearly state the objective: This helps the employer to understand what you expect from him or the company. Giving a briefing about your credentials is a good idea because it specifies what valuable services you will be offering in return.

Career history: Specify all the positions you have worked upon previously. It is a common myth that you only need to include the experience of past ten years. True, the employers will be interested in your recent experience but if you have worked for some prestigious organization during initial years or have some outstanding accomplishment to your credit, always mention it. Give an account of all the responsibilities you have handled in your career. Provide necessary evidences to support your point. This is important because only stating your responsibilities gives the reader an idea about 'what you were supposed to do' and not 'what you actually did.' Documenting your achievements always sets you apart from other candidates.

Including personal information: This is a tricky area where you need to tread carefully. You can never assume personal biases of the reader. Though there is no harm in including volunteer work or other social group memberships, affiliations to religious or political groups should be strictly left out. Also hobbies or personal interests should not find a place in your executive resume unless your resume is targeted to impress a particular individual. In spite of this if you think you have a good valid reason to include your personal information, go ahead.

Make a difference: If you are eying an executive position just stating your functions won't help. Emphasize upon how your policies made a difference to your previous organization. Understand the requirements of the employer and project yourself accordingly.

Aesthetics: Last but not the least, this is the most important aspect of a good resume. Employers won't bother to read your resume if it is visually unappealing no matter what your credentials are. This not only holds true for executive resume but for ordinary resumes as well. Hence make that extra effort to make your resume look good. Using a quality paper and good formatting techniques can help you in the long run.

Thus a good resume can actually open doors to your dream job while a bad one can shut the doors without giving you an opportunity to make that 'first impression'. Hope the executive resume writing tips given in this article help you land your dream job.