Resume Tips: How to Get to the C-Suite
I see a lot of mid- to senior-level resumes. My most common takeaway:
“Your resume doesn’t show the strength of your background.”
Even though you’re often not applying through regular online channels, you must make it clear that you have the skills required for the level you’re targeting. I’ve worked with many people going for the top, and by focusing on the skills companies look for at those levels, we’ve seen a lot of successes, including a senior director who became the COO of a start-up and the CFO of a small firm who became a VP in a $12B company.
There are three key skills that are almost universally desired in any executive. Other knowledge will be particular to your industry, but can be made explicit when you use examples to support these universal skills. They are:
Leadership (people, financials, expertise)
Strategic planning (short- and long-term business plans, innovation/process improvement)
Change management (communication)
Photo credit: Brooke Lark