How to write your resume for a leadership promotion
Share
Moved up to a new leadership role, but without a change in title? You have plenty of company.

Many leadership job hunters find themselves handling the duties of a much more demanding position, despite the lack of a formal promotion.

These scenarios can be difficult to present on a leadership resume – especially when you’re determined to preserve your career trajectory.

Are you stuck listing your job as Manager when you’re really a Director? Will you have to settle for Controller when you perform the job of the CFO?

Here are 3 strategies for writing your resume at the next level – even if you’re lacking the title you deserve:

1 - Title your resume appropriately.

A resume title, which is often used as a heading to introduce your objective, can serve as a signal to employers that you’re pursuing a promotion.

In addition to a specific executive title (such as “COO,” “Vice President Sales,” or “Operations Director”), you can add a descriptive headline, or tagline, in the opening sequence that strengthens your case.

In this sample CIO resume, the title is used to direct employer attention to the goal – while describing the candidate’s executive-scale achievements as evidence of related qualifications.

This resume example for a Global Biotech Program Manager shows how a descriptive resume title, tagline (“Leading Clinical Research Programs…”), and opening paragraph of the candidate's current job all demonstrate capabilities that fit the target position.

In both cases, these job hunters were able to land roles at the desired leadership level, despite working at a lower-level title (in name only).

2 - Describe your reporting level and leadership influence.

Within the same CIO resume example, the phrase “CIO-level” is used to point out the fact that the candidate holds the same level of responsibility.

Since many CIOs report to the CEO of the company, that fact is listed as well – reinforcing the idea that this candidate is already a member of the executive team.

For this CFO candidate holding international oversight of financial administration, his recruitment and reporting authority as a direct recruit of the company CFO made a significant difference to employers.

No matter your level, demonstrating that you’ve played an important part in strategic meetings or worked alongside key executives shows that your contributions are critical to the bottom line – and therefore above your current pay grade.

3 - Alter your section headings.

Like any marketing message, your leadership resume must repeat critical information to reinforce a message of brand value.

This sample of a resume for an IT Director shows how “IT Leadership Qualifications in Action” can resonate for a candidate who has risen to a senior management level before pursuing a Director’s job.

Consider using section headings with the word “Leadership,” “Executive,” or “Management” for a section of career achievements that show next-level strengths.

“Financial Leadership Competencies” is used on the previous CFO sample resume, showing how keywords and accomplishments can directly correlate to an executive role.

The bottom line?

Giving yourself a descriptive boost on your resume can help employers realize how well-positioned you are for a rise to the executive suite – and how effectively you’re already handling the scope of responsibility they’ll require from you.