Desirable traits: tips on enhancing your resume for executive roles

Making the shortlist for executive-level roles can be difficult, so it’s imperative to perfect your application. Charlotte Hasler, Recruitment Manager at Reed, outlines some top tips for creating a stand-out resume.

5 mins read
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5 months ago

Taking time to perfect your resume is a crucial step toward landing the executive job you desire. When considering the job application, you want to focus on how your leadership skills, industry experience, and professional achievements qualify you for a leadership role. This begins when you submit your resume.

It's important to remember that hiring managers sift through hundreds of resumes, so if you're applying for a c-suite position such as chief executive (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO) or similar, highlighting your relevant skills and experience is critical.

Charlotte Hasler, Recruitment Manager at Reed, looks at some of the ways you can build a desirable resume to help land those executive roles.

Q: What are employers looking for on a resume?

A: Decision makers in search of their next executive-level hire are looking for that all-important impact. They’re looking to hire someone who’s going to add value, drive business growth, reduce costs, streamline operations, increase productivity in staff performance, and deliver key results. 

The most effective way to promote this is by referring to achievements throughout your resume – be specific including quantifiable information. It’s worth adding a summary section to each of the most relevant jobs to reinforce your impact.

Q: What do achievements emphasize?

A: It’s clear that executives are expected to deliver results and add value to the organization, which means you need to go beyond merely stating your job responsibilities on your resume and showcase your accomplishments. 

Clearly state what it is you’ve achieved, with clear emphasis on how it impacted the company, added value to your portfolio and helped you develop into a senior member of staff. Evaluate what you’re proud of, what challenges you’ve managed to overcome, how the company has changed/developed because of your actions, and how you’ve performed in line with your targets. 

It's critical to quantify your achievements for maximum impact. Some recruiters often overlook the achievements section, but it’s one of the best ways to give your resume that competitive edge.

Q: What about leadership skills?

A: At an executive level, your primary responsibility is to lead the organization towards sustained growth, while effectively managing people. Because of this, employers looking for c-suite professionals want to know if you have the ability to motivate, inspire, and guide teams to achieve not only their individual goals but also the wider organisation's ambition.

"To make your resume stand out, it's crucial to highlight your key achievements and quantify the impact you've had on previous businesses."

Charlotte Hasler

Recruitment Manager, Reed

Specify how you’ve managed teams, your leadership style, and the results you achieved. As a rule of thumb, include relevant key skills such as strategic planning, team building, communication, and decision-making in your personal summary or when describing previous roles.

Q: Is resume customization important?

A: At the executive level, I highly recommend customizing your resume for each role to highlight your suitability. At this point in your career, you’ll have years of experience, knowledge and skills, but it’s about knowing which areas of your work to highlight.

To present a strong application, you'll need to thoroughly understand the requirements and expectations of the role, so take time to analyze the job description. Don't forget that hiring managers are looking for someone to meet their needs – not the needs of the applicant – so be sure to tailor your application accordingly.

Q: Should relevant industry experience be included?

A:Businesses in the market for a senior executive want to know if a potential applicant has extensive industry experience or can show evidence of transferable skills. 

Industry experience can come in a variety of forms, including work experience, voluntary work, courses, qualifications, and certifications. If you’ve completed any leadership courses from accredited bodies or a reputable business school, shout about them – they can enhance your resume, as can any relevant courses in the desired field. 

Degrees or higher qualifications should always be included, particularly if you have an MBA or equivalent, along with affiliations to chartered institutes or other industry bodies. Any qualifications gained outside of the role will go a long way to proactively show your dedication and commitment to a job or sector, which is something that hiring managers hold in high esteem.

Q: How long should a resume be?

A:Many executive-level professionals struggle to keep their resume to a readable length; we recommend limiting it to two or three pages. While it can be tough to know what to cut down, you can keep a resume concise by:

  • Focusing on achievements and impact at previous roles rather than a detailed description of job responsibilities.

  • For any past experience – usually from 10-15 years ago – the date range, company name and job title will suffice. It's recommended to still include the basic details of your earlier career, as hiring managers are often interested in the career path you’ve taken.

  • Streamlining sections that don’t need to be so wordy. Consider using bullet points to get your message across.

Q: Does wording matter?

A: Absolutely. Careful attention should be paid to the way your resume is written – as the way you articulate yourself will help employers understand more about you. 

Your resume should grab an employer’s attention, emphasising your skills and accomplishments. Also consider your word choices – phrases such as ‘directed company vision’, ‘implemented strategic change’, ‘managed large teams’ and ‘delivered successful results’ will help convey the impact and results of your work, when used with quantifiable data such as team sizes and results delivered.

"When applying for executive roles, your career history and track record play a key part."

Charlotte Hasler

Recruitment Manager, Reed

A well-polished resume will set you apart from other candidates by highlighting your strengths, skills and ability to fulfil the role requirements, while ensuring that you have the best opportunity to secure an interview and, most importantly, the job.

Are you looking for your next executive level role? Submit your resume and work with one of our specialist recruitment consultants today.

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Graduate Technology CV Template
3 mins read
  1. Article

Graduate Technology CV Template

Before you start populating your CV - do you research. We've analysed over 600 data points from Google and the O*NET Skills Database to find out the key skills required to be successful in a host of technology roles. Explore the data now to upgrade your CV

Visit state of skills

[Full Name]
[Home address]
[Contact Number] • [Email Address]
[Social Media]
Driving Licence • Own Car

Add as many vehicles for communication as possible here. This will show that you are open to new products and communication methods. If you are a member of a development forum such as GitHub, Stack Overflow etc. then add your details - making sure that all details/names you provide are business appropriate.

Personal Statement

Keep this section of your CV short, factual and snappy. This is the equivalent of your ‘blurb’ that makes the employer read on. It’s your opportunity to highlight ‘who you are’ and ‘what you want’, but remember balance is key. There’s a danger in both underselling and overselling yourself.

I graduated from the University of [university name] in [year] with a [degree class] degree in [subject]. Since then I have undertaken a [work placement/internship/graduate scheme] at [organisation name]. This experience allowed me to develop a host of technical skills including [skill] as well as [skill].

Whilst working with [organisation], I worked in the [team name] team contributing to projects including [project name]. I was responsible for/organised [task], and helped to increase [profit/other metric] by [£X/X%].

I am looking for an opportunity within an [business type/industry] organisation, where I can bring real value, and develop my skills further.

Education

This part of your CV is more important when on the first rungs of the ladder career wise, so it’s in your best interest to match your theoretical knowledge and experience to the job you are applying for.

Make sure you add any placements years, dissertations, research papers written, technical skills learnt, and projects completed that are relevant, and again match the salient points to the role. 

[University Name]
[Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

[Degree Class] [Degree Name]

[College/School Name]
[Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

A-levels:

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

GCSEs:

  • [Number] GCSEs, grades [range], including Maths and English

Work experience

If you are a recent graduate or someone new to the IT market, this section should be aimed at supporting your application, be it a first step or career change into IT. Unless you’ve completed a work placement or have volunteered, there’s a chance your work experience may not be particularly relevant, however the importance of this section is two-fold.   

Any jobs you’ve had whilst at college or university can demonstrate an attitude to work, and show that you already have experience working under instruction.

If you are new to IT, then you need to focus on any transferable skills you have. For example, if you are applying for a web development role, talk about arranging window displays in previous retail positions. If you are applying for a business analyst job, highlight experience in dealing with and processing information (to show communication and data gathering skills).

[Job Title], [Company Name] [Location]
[Date M/Y- Date M/Y]

Achievements and responsibilities:

  • Brief role overview

  • Worked alongside [team] to produce [project]

  • Implemented [change] which resulted in [benefit]

  • Received an [award name] for [reason]

Hobbies and interests

Do not underestimate the importance of this section. It can be an excellent opportunity to show creativity, leadership and many other traits that a potential employer may be looking for – above and beyond your academic achievements and work experience.

For example, if you ran a club at university it shows organisational and leadership skills. If you are an avid photographer, and have had work appear online it shows creativity, passion and commitment.

However, be warned, this can sometimes be subjective. So where possible, try to ensure anything listed here reinforces a work application and your general persona - some pastimes and hobbies may unintentionally allow a potential employer to form a negative opinion.  

References

References are available upon request.

Download our full graduate technology CV template.

Parenting Out Loud: improving support for working fathers
11 mins read
  1. Article

Parenting Out Loud: improving support for working fathers

​​The idea of ‘Parenting Out Loud’ is that dads can be loud and proud, open and transparent, about their caring responsibilities at work.

The campaign launched in April, and you may have seen their takeover of the London Underground, with posters across Euston, Victoria and Waterloo stations.

‘Parenting Out Loud’ involves men:

  • Requesting flexible working for childcare reasons

  • Being ‘loud and proud’ about taking parental leave

  • Coming back from parental leave, blogging about it and telling colleagues how good it was and what they learnt

  • Using their out-of-office to talk about childcare responsibilities

  • Being honest with line managers when they need to work from home to look after their sick children

During the General Election campaign, now-Prime Minister Keir Starmer was criticised by the Conservative Party for asserting his intention to finish working on Fridays at 6pm, because it’s reserved for family time.

A while before that, Piers Morgan criticised Daniel Craig for wearing a papoose – questioning his masculinity.

Elliott Rae works with organisations, through keynotes, workshops, and consultancy, to help them support working dads.

According to Elliott, during the pandemic lockdowns, one positive thing that happened was men got to spend more time with their children than ever before, due to having to work from home. Many men found this to be a profoundly positive experience, improving their relationships with their children and making them happier and mentally healthier as a result.

Read the full interview with Elliott Rae, Author, Speaker, and Founder of ‘Parenting Out Loud’:

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Q: What challenges do working dads face in the workplace?

A: Before I get into that, I just want to say working mums have faced challenges for years. It's good we're now talking about the challenges working dads are facing, because that helps create more equality in the workplace.

It means working dads are more involved and active as parents, and they're going to come across some of those same challenges mothers have faced.

Policy: statutory paternity leave in the UK, at present, is one of the least favourable in Europe. It works out at about £182 per week. And around one-in-five dads don't take any paternity leave at all, just because of affordability.

Shared parental leave hasn’t worked. Yes, some people have had some good examples and situations with it, but as a macro policy, it just hasn't worked. The take up has been around four per cent of eligible couples across the country.

Flexible working: we know, across the UK, men are less likely to ask for flexible working. When they do, they are less likely to have those requests approved, due to traditional gendered ideas about who does caregiving in the home. This exists because managers and leaders are products of their environment. That results in dads being scared to ask for flexible working and not getting it when they do.

It's good we’re talking about flexible working in a range of different industries. In many industries where you have to be onsite, around fifty per cent of the working population, this can be a more difficult issue to address, but it should still be reviewed.

Culture: outdated ideas of what it means to be a man, what it means to be a dad – that men aren't equal caregivers or caregivers at all – still exist in many homes and workplaces. This can be a real challenge for dads when it comes to them being caregivers and having a job.

Q: Why do you think these challenges exist?

A: For decades, society has done things in a certain way. We've had quite rigid gendered parenting roles over the years, and we are still living in a world where they exist.

We may be fighting back against them, but we still have strong ideas around who does the care within households. We haven't reformed government policies to match some Nordic countries, who are doing things much better than we are.

However, in a way, Covid and the lockdown were good for fathers. They spent more time with their children than ever before. For decades, men have dominated in senior roles across industries, and a lot of the time they got there with the help of a stay-at-home partner.

We've done this for many years, and it's an exciting time now, where we are starting to rethink what family could look like, what success is for men, and the options available to dads to be able to do things differently.

Q: To what extent could this help women be more successful at work?

A: Not to namedrop, but I was invited to see Michelle Obama last year in Munich. She spoke about parenting and social impact and leadership. At one point, the interviewer asked Michelle, “How do we support more women, like you, who are successful in their careers? You're the former first lady, but you're also a very involved mother.” And she said, “We get men to do more.”

Society has changed so much. Both partners are increasingly working full time. There needs to be a fundamental shift in how we set up the care in our household. And we are not there yet at all. We know that even in couples where a man and woman both work full time, mothers will still do most of the childcare and domestic care.

The conversations we’re having now are not just good for mums, but for dads too. Research shows men are happier when they have close relationships with their children. Success for many men now looks like: yes, career progression and earning money – but also having strong relationships, knowing our children, and looking after our wellbeing.

We are moving away from just being breadwinners, which was quite damaging for our longevity, health and relationships.

Q: What impact could longer paternity leave have on working fathers?

A: Enhanced paid paternity leave, and an organisational culture that supports dads to take it, is fundamental. When they take it, it has profound impacts on the family.

It's important for expectant dads to think about the kind of parent they want to be; the bond they want to have, what kind of music they're going to play or sing to them, what books they're going to read them, what kind of dad they want to be to their child – and build that connection before their baby's even born.

They should be part of the birthing process, and an integral part of the family set up in those first early months.

When dads have that opportunity to bond with their baby, they can learn how to parent independently. We need that time to build strong relationships between fathers and children. We know that when dads can do that, they are more likely to be active caregivers for the rest of a child's life.

It's sad that we have a statutory paternity policy that means dads have just two weeks off. Lots of men will have a physiological, psychological, emotional, even physical change, after becoming a parent. A lot of dads will have a drop in testosterone, for example. That's nature's lovely way of helping us to be caregivers.

We need time to adapt to what it means to be a father. Our life and our relationship with our partner have changed fundamentally. We know that one-in-10 dads suffer from some form of post-natal depression, along with one-in-five mums. One of the key risk indicators for dads developing post-natal depression is a lack of bond with their baby.

Q: In addition to longer parental leave, what support do you think employers should be providing fathers in their workforce?

A: Longer parental leave is imperative. There are around 90-to-100 organisations that have offered equal parental leave – and many more that have enhanced their paternity leave to six-weeks, paid, or 12-weeks, paid, which is fantastic. I think that sends a strong signal. But of course, paternity leave doesn't solve the issues themselves. There’s much more employers can do.

Firstly, they should think about equity and equality when making decisions on who should be allowed to work flexibly, to avoid any bias, and consider whatflexible workinglooks like for working dads.

Organisations should implementdad networks. Having a solid community and conversations in the workplace about the shared experience is so powerful. They can share joys and challenges. Everyone has a different circumstance, so they can explore nuances. These groups can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of fathers. It can also make work feel like a sanctuary, rather than a place that compounds the issues you have at home.

Organisations are starting to understand the power of staff networks for parents, and that dads need their own group within that parenting network. Post-Covid, we’ve seen many big organisations, for example Microsoft and the Co-op, launch spaces for dads.

Role modelling and leadership: leaders who ‘Parent Out Loud’ are compassionate, have empathy, and can challenge their own ideas about gendered parenting roles, support working dads to take the full parental leave that's available, to work flexibly, to make sure they understand employees have lives outside of work and support them being equal caregivers.

Q: To what extent do support needs change depending on the age of their children?

A: Good question, because it's very tempting to focus just on the early years. Don't get me wrong, the early years are important for setting a foundation for what parenting and fatherhood and childcare responsibilities look like in a household.

But we have parental responsibilities for our whole lives. I'm sure there are people reading this who have children going to university or living back home with them after study.

We published a book called ‘Dad’. It’s a curation of 20 stories from different men. There's one story from a dad who talks about his children becoming his friends when they got older and went to university.

There's a story about a dad who became a father during Covid and stories around miscarriage and stillbirth, gay fatherhood, and co-parenting. It's a great example of dads talking deeply about the whole parenting aspect.

Q: What cultural changes would you like to see implemented across UK workplaces?

A: The culture of an organisation represents how things are done, how we make decisions, and how we treat people. It's important for leaders to understand what their company culture looks like, and what that means for people in their organisation.

When it comes to working dads, we know strong, supportive, inclusive cultures will result in higher retention of talent. Dads are going to want to come to work for you, and they're going to be mentally fit and want to go above and beyond.

Cultural change work is deep. It means investing in really getting to know your people. Leaders need to be accountable for how they’re contributing to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. They must have behavioural standards, call out bad behaviour, amplify good practice, and role model ‘Parenting Out Loud’.

I've seen so many people get promoted into leadership roles because of their core professional competency, over and above their ability to lead people. Leading people is a skill we can all learn. When we can create good leaders, we can build positive cultures.

That means those leaders need development and support to understand how to be people-people; the power of active listening, how to implement policies in the right way, to champion staff networks, to be aware of the data and information in their areas, and in their blind spots.

Q: Overall, what piece of advice you would give business leaders to ensure working fathers in their workplace feel sufficiently supported?

A: My advice for leaders would be to invest in supporting working dads to ‘Parent Out Loud’, support dads to be loud and proud about their care responsibilities. Eighty per cent of the gender pay gap is the motherhood penalty – the way in which having a baby can impact a woman's career.

If we want to really encourage gender equity and women's progression in the workplace into senior levels, we must engage with dads being active and equal parents. Those two things are so interlinked it's impossible to get gender equality and female representation in senior roles without engaging dads to be equal parents.

Leaders should also understand the mental health and wellbeing of their people, and of dads. Dads have joys, but also challenges and issues, and they need to be supported through those issues.

Ultimately, this is where society is going. Research shows younger people, including younger parents, are making decisions on where they're going to work based on how much the organisation cares about their whole life – not just their work life.

If you’re looking for a talented professional to join your organisation, or a new opportunity, contact your nearest Reed office now.

Marketing & Creative (Agency) CV Template
3 mins read
  1. Article

Marketing & Creative (Agency) CV Template

Build the perfect marketing and creative agency CV with our free template


[Full Name], [Field of Expertise]
[Home Address]
[Contact Number] • [Email Address]

Profile

This section is your opportunity to explain who you are, and to convince the recruiter to get in touch. It is important to keep it brief, relevant, and to use key words. You should explain your experience and benefit to an employer, and it may also be worth mentioning how you engage with clients.

Having worked in the marketing industry for the last [number] of years, I have gained valuable experience in [area of expertise] working with organisations such as [organisation names], and have a particular wealth of knowledge and skill in [specific area].

My core strengths include, but are not limited to [categorise the areas in which you have worked/had exposure to and how this has benefitted certain organisations e.g. digital, content, SEO, PPC, web campaign pages, whitepapers, articles, videos, infographics, brochures, value propositions, case studies, presentations, blog posts etc.]

I am looking for my next opportunity within an [business type/industry] organisation, where I can bring real value and develop my skills further.

Courses, Training & Education

This is your chance to talk about your qualifications, both academic and vocational. This is a particularly important section for those with less experience. You should give detail about what you studied, where and when, and list them in chronological order. If you have completed professional training and industry specific courses and qualifications detail these first with the relevance to your chosen field.

[Professional Qualifications/Courses/Associations/Memberships]

[Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

  • E.g. CIM Diploma

[University/College Name], [Location]

[Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

  • [Degree Class] [Degree Name] [Add any relevant degree content/modules e.g. dissertation]

[School/College Name], [Location]

[Date M/Y– Date M/Y]

  • A-levels:

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

  • [Subject] – [Grade]

GCSEs:

  • [Number] GCSEs, grades [range], including Maths and English

Achievements

If you have worked on specific projects with clients or campaigns this is a great place to highlight the success of these. Ensure that there are a wide range of keywords relating to your expertise. This will help to ensure that you are picked up by a recruiter on a search.

My important achievements include working alongside the [team name] team at [organisation] contributing to projects including [project name]. I was responsible for/organised [task] and increased [profit/other metric] by [£X/X%]. In my current and past roles I have been responsible for [e.g. digital marketing strategies, website management, SEO, PPC, social media, email, CRM, third party sales, affiliate marketing etc.]

Work Experience

This part of your CV should be clear and succinct, and focus on the last five years of your career, or last three roles that are relevant to your field, in chronological order with the most recent at the top.

If it is not obvious, put a brief explanation of the sector that the organisation sits in/works with. You should highlight your key achievements, and use bullet points rather than lengthy descriptions. If you have worked on specific projects or with particular clients, list this here.

[Job Title], [Company Name] [Location] [Sector]
[Date M/Y- Date M/Y]

Give a brief role overview and you may want to break the role down into particular areas to show your breadth of experience.

Responsibilities:
  • Account management and reporting

  • Account delivery

  • Project management

  • Strategic and tactical planning

Achievements:
  • Worked alongside [team] to produce [project]

  • Implemented [change] which resulted in [benefit]

  • Received an [award name] for [reason]

Hobbies and Interests

This section is not essential to include, but you may wish to depending on the role you are applying for. It can be a useful chance to show a little more of your personality. However, be warned this can be very subjective, ensure anything listed here reinforces your application and the idea that you’ll be the right fit for the role. If you don’t have any real relatable hobbies, it is probably best to omit this section.

  • Undertook a [course] in order to improve my [skill].

  • I organise a weekly [sport] game, manage bookings, transport and help to coach the team.

  • I have recently created and designed a content marketing guide, this includes audience engagement, idea generation and product research.

Download our full marketing & creative (agency) CV template.