What are the current trends for executive resumes?

lendaddy · 07:11 PM

Though I've read countless, I've never had to complete my own. I know what I like to see but never gave any thought to what the industry norms are. My preference is short/succinct 1-2 pages and no fluff but I don't want to commit a faux pas by going overboard in that direction. I've read some "professionally drawn" resumes that friends have paid for and they were embarrassingly overstated and boastful.

So I guess my question is if I'm risking anything by being overly succinct?

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Maybe you can ask Mark Hurd...

lendaddy · 08-09-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widebody911

Maybe you can ask Mark Hurd...

I think he's all set with retirement....

Seriously though I'm not looking for an outline just a couple be sure to's and a few be sure not to's.

stomachmonkey · 08-09-2010, 07:32 PM

Career switch?

lendaddy · 08-09-2010, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Career switch?

Yea, opportunity to anyway. I've been recommended to an exec for a position and he likes what he's heard but wants a resume before we meet.

Government work is killing me, it's soul sucking. I cannot describe it an better than that. I could go hours on the subject, but I don't think I have enough whiskey in the house for that tonight.

TechnoViking · TechnoViking's Garage

Hire a pro. I had mine done and I was amazed at how it looks. I could have never done as well on my own.

It's like doing your taxes. For the most basic scenario, you can get turbotax and do just as well as anyone. But when things reach a certain level of complexity, save yourself the aggravation and just pay someone to do it. Here's the gal that did mine:

Marie Zimenoff - LinkedIn

stomachmonkey · 08-09-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Yea, opportunity to anyway. I've been recommended to an exec for a position and he likes what he's heard but wants a resume before we meet.

Government work is killing me, it's soul sucking. I cannot describe it an better than that. I could go hours on the subject, but I don't think I have enough whiskey in the house for that tonight.

Well good luck then.

I hope you get it.

Whatever you do with your resume please have it reviewed by as many people as you can before submitting it. Never be the only one to proof your own work if you can avoid it.

jyl · jyl's Garage

One page. Very, very clearly laid out and formatted. Succinct. For each position, no more than one or two crisp sentences of fluffery. If there is the slightest typo or grammatical or formatting error, you don't deserve whatever job you're seeking. Skip the personal interests crap. If an "objectives" sentence, tailor it to the position sought, no cookie-cutter blather. I'm not a HR person, these are just my own rules. With credit to Strunk and White.

lendaddy · 08-09-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Well good luck then.

I hope you get it.

Whatever you do with your resume please have it reviewed by as many people as you can before submitting it. Never be the only one to proof your own work if you can avoid it.

Good advice, thanks.

lendaddy · 08-09-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

One page. Very, very clearly laid out and formatted. Succinct. For each position, no more than one or two crisp sentences of fluffery. If there is the slightest typo or grammatical or formatting error, you don't deserve whatever job you're seeking. Skip the personal interests crap. If an "objectives" sentence, tailor it to the position sought, no cookie-cutter blather. I'm not a HR person, these are just my own rules. With credit to Strunk and White.

I agree, one page...don't make any mistakes. Just get n the door for an interview which is where you win/lose.

campbellcj · 08-09-2010, 10:07 PM

I agree with the "short and sweet" philosophy. A few other things off the top of my head: (1) emphasize results and accomplishments, not responsibilities, (2) if it's relevant, describe budgetary and/or P&L responsibility you have held (successfully), (3) focus on your management and leadership strengths and downplay (but don't totally omit) technical abilities.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

Should I quit saving my magazines for you?
Jim

lendaddy · 08-10-2010, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

Should I quit saving my magazines for you?
Jim

Just had the one you sent me out this weekend. I would love to move forward with that idea but I'm just not in the right position financially.

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

Sign on to CareerBuilder.com Jobs - The Largest Job Search, Employment & Careers Site, and load your resume there. They have a free resume review service, very worthwhile,
That is also the best jobsite for professional job hunting, IMHO..
Good Luck.

TechnoViking · TechnoViking's Garage

One page resumes are for 20-something college grads. Executives can and should use more space. I'm tellin' ya, hire this done. You're getting some bad advice here from people who do not write resumes for a living.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I always tell people to focus on results (numbers count!). Which reads better? (made up)

- I managed and administered the technology for staff with a focus on education and updates.

- Managed over 100 technical stations with 15+ annual updates to each station. 99% on-time update rate and 20% reduction in staff requests.

legion · 08-10-2010, 06:51 AM

Len, I'm convinced that people like you always land on your feet. It's clear that you are a man with innovation and drive.

Take my best friend: He worked in IT. He had to take a job in a machine shop and another as a photgrapher during the dot com crash. Out of the blue one day, a video game developer calls him up and offers him a job based on some stuff he'd done in college (8 years ago at that point). He did that for almost two years, when Nvidia called him up and offered him a job.

Even if you don't get this job, hopefully it will motivate you to keep looking. I'd really hate to see you devolve into a career bureaucrat. Industry needs people who can innovate.

t6dpilot · t6dpilot's Garage

TechnoViking you have a PM.

lendaddy · 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

Len, I'm convinced that people like you always land on your feet. It's clear that you are a man with innovation and drive.

Take my best friend: He worked in IT. He had to take a job in a machine shop and another as a photgrapher during the dot com crash. Out of the blue one day, a video game developer calls him up and offers him a job based on some stuff he'd done in college (8 years ago at that point). He did that for almost two years, when Nvidia called him up and offered him a job.

Even if you don't get this job, hopefully it will motivate you to keep looking. I'd really hate to see you devolve into a career bureaucrat. Industry needs people who can innovate.

Thanks, that's very flattering but likely more credit than I deserve. I've been very lucky to have great friends and an amazing/understanding/supportive wife. I do feel completely wasted in this gov role though as there is almost zero motivation to improve anything, it's almost discouraged....that messes with a guy.

Mr.Puff · 08-10-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Though I've read countless, I've never had to complete my own. I know what I like to see but never gave any thought to what the industry norms are. My preference is short/succinct 1-2 pages and no fluff but I don't want to commit a faux pas by going overboard in that direction. I've read some "professionally drawn" resumes that friends have paid for and they were embarrassingly overstated and boastful.

So I guess my question is if I'm risking anything by being overly succinct?

Check out this book: Knock 'em Dead: Resumes. It comes with a bunch of resume samples. A few of them are by executives.