Top 5 Myths of Executive Resume Writing

1)    Myth: An executive resume should be only one, or at the most, two pages.

While it is true that you have only a few seconds to capture a reader’s attention and it is also true that with each additional page you reduce your chances of your resume being read thoroughly, for most executives it is unrealistic and nearly impossible to compress many years of experience into one or two pages. When attempted, important achievements are left out to make room for a full chronology of the career history and education. What is left is a boring listing of companies, positions, and dates that are guaranteed to turn off the reader and land your resume in the circular file.

A better strategy is to write your resume with exactly as much detail and description as is needed to persuasively convince the reader that you are the ideal candidate to solve his or her problems – to compel the reader to pick up the phone and call you for an interview. While this is sometimes a difficult balance to strike, you should review and edit your resume with a very discriminating eye toward reducing unnecessary wordiness. Every word in your resume should have a purpose. Use succinct, dynamic, action-oriented language to convey your ability to add value to the reader’s company and you will capture and hold attention through three or even more pages.

2)   Myth: An executive resume should include a clearly stated objective.

It is essential that your executive resume is audience-focused – it must succinctly communicate that you understand the employer’s needs and that you are uniquely qualified to meet those needs. While the use of an objective is a controversial issue, at its basis, an objective tells the reader what you want from him or her. A popular and often more effective alternative to the objective, the executive profile, allows you to establish focus for the resume while summarizing the key qualifications and value you offer the employer. This is a subtle but critical difference – one that may weigh heavily in opening the door to an interview.

3)    Myth: An executive resume should thoroughly describe the responsibilities of each position.

The absolute most important element of your executive resume is your value proposition. Your unique ability to solve business problems, meet challenging goals, and produce desired results should be the focus of your executive profile (see above) and this focus should be supported by proof throughout your career. How better to do this than through achievement-oriented, results-focused descriptions of your career history? While employers and recruiters will want to know the scope of your position (number of direct reports, amounts of budgets managed, areas of management authority, etc.) this is most effectively communicated within the context of the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the results of your actions. “Responsibilities” only tell the reader what you were supposed to do, not what you actually did do. Use powerful, active language to concisely tell the reader the “story” behind your most recent or relevant positions. By documenting your consistent ability to produce results and solve problems you will demonstrate your ability to produce similar results in the future.

4)    Myth: An executive resume should include only the last ten years of experience.

Content of your resume should be selected strategically to support your focus and value proposition. While it is true that readers of your resume will be most interested in your most recent experience, there is often value in including experience further back in your history. Perhaps your early career includes work for well-known, prestigious companies. Perhaps you want to document the full scope of your cross-industry experience, much of which occurred in your early career. Perhaps you believe some valuable networking opportunities may come out of your experience 15 or 20 years ago. Or perhaps your most impressive accomplishments were in a position you held 12 years ago. In any case, it will be apparent to the reader that your executive career did not suddenly materialize ten years ago so there is little harm and many benefits to summarizing this early experience. Of course, this does not mean that you must give equal page weight to your early career. If you feel early dates will be used to screen you out, subtly leave them out of your early career summary. If some early career positions have more strategic relevance than others, give them more emphasis in your summary. Think carefully about the content of your resume. If there is solid reasoning behind your desire to present early experience, than do so.

5)   Myth: An executive resume should include personal information, to indicate the many dimensions to your life and interests.

There is no way to predict the personal biases of the individuals who will read your resume. The first and primary way that an employer uses a resume is to screen candidates out. Don’t give them any reason to screen you out. Board memberships, related volunteer work, and professional associations should often be included but religious affiliations, family status, country club memberships, and hobbies have no place on an executive resume. The only exception to this is when you are preparing a resume specifically written to appeal to a single individual who you are absolutely certain would be fascinated in your piloting license or passion for golf. Even then, be careful, you never know where your resume will be passed. However, if you are certain that your personal information will help you to break the ice and build rapport, you may have a valid reason for including it.

Michelle Dumas is the principal of Distinctive Documents, a leading Internet-based resume preparation and job search coaching firm that has been serving clients across the U.S. and internationally since 1996.

Ms. Dumas has earned her NCRW, CPRW, CCM, JCTC, and CEIP industry credentials. As one of only two professionals worldwide to earn all five of the recognized industry credentials, she is considered one of the top professionals in the resume writing field. Since 1999, Michelle has worked on the National Resume Writers' Association (NRWA) Certification Commission, setting and upholding resume writing quality standards through rigorous training and certification programs for members. She has also served as the NRWA New England Regional Board Representative, 1998 to 1999, and 2001 to present.

Michelle is a contributor to five nationally published books on resume preparation, and her articles on job search and career management topics have been featured on numerous websites. Through active membership in the Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches (PARW/CC), the Career Masters Institute (CMI), the Association of Job Search Trainers (AJST), and the Career Planning and Adult Development Network, Michelle maintains up-to-date knowledge of global trends in resume development, career management, and job searching

For more information about the services of Distinctive Documents or to contact the author about this article, please call (800) 644-9694, send an e-mail message to information@distinctiveweb.com, or point your browser to http://www.distinctiveweb.com

Copyright © Michelle Dumas 2002
This article can be reprinted on your web site or in your print publication provided you print or post the name and contact information exactly as it appears above and print or post the copyright notice.

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