Best Practices for Updating an Executive Level Resume

by Debra Wheatman on Jul 15, 2011 in Resume Writing Advice

As time goes by, it is natural that you will have accrued a lot of achievements in your career. Of course, you will not be able to reference everything – your resume would read like a Tolstoy novel. As you might imagine, opinions differ on the optimal length for an executive level resume; common sense tells us that hiring managers do not want to ‘read’ through a lengthy document that delves into the minutiae. They want ‘a taste, not the plate’. In other words, the resume should be the appetizer; your interview is the main course.

This begs the questions: What do you eliminate? What do you include to ensure that you don’t give TMI, but still make certain that your resume glistens like a shiny new penny? Here are some tips that will help you make the most of your background:

1. Review your professional experience. Dated information does not need to be listed in full detail. Less is sometimes more. Mentioning the company name, your title, and the years you were employed will often suffice.  Your more recent experiences are going to carry more weight. You will want to use key accomplishments in the top third of your resume, most commonly referred to as ‘prime real estate’.
2. If you have continued to expand your knowledge via training and / or certifications, include this information on your resume. The same goes for awards. Take a critical look at your past information. Do you see something that is no longer relevant or doesn’t add much value? Remove it. Your resume is a marketing tool. Don’t waste space mentioning a 1982 course in COBOL if you are now an expert in Java.
3.  Be consistent.  If you add a new job to your resume, make sure you follow the same format.  Visual presentation is important. You don’t want your resume to look like a striped shirt with plaid shorts. This document is a direct reflection of you. If you do not give your resume the care it deserves, what message does this send to a hiring manager?
4. I received a resume from a candidate this past week who didn’t list his most recent contact information. I dialed the number, which was disconnected. Update your email address, cell phone, and home numbers. You might miss out on a key opportunity with what is a silly error.
5. After you have made revisions, have someone else look your resume over for accuracy.  When you are too close to a project you cannot see the forest through the trees – meaning you cannot always catch your own mistakes.

You should update your resume at least once a year, even if you are not making an immediate job change.  Your resume should always be ready for an opportunity that might present itself.

Debra Wheatman

CPRW, CPCC and President of Careers Done Write, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career road maps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries. Visit careersdonewrite.com to learn more.

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