Is Your Resume Missing These 5 Important Basics?
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Whether you a seasoned executive or newly elevated to the executive level, you need to be aware of how these five elements impact the effectiveness of your resume.

Profile section. The top one-third of your resume is the most valuable real estate in the resume. This area is where recruiters and hiring managers grab the essence of who you are and what you can do for their company in six seconds. Yes, I said six seconds! This summary should provide the reader with highlights of your strengths and experiences, keywords, and a few accomplishment-based sentences.

Bullet points vs. paragraph format. Succinct bullet points that showcase your talents and skills are much easier to read than bulky paragraphs. Front-loading these bullet points with results first and how you did it second helps the reader grab the important information quickly and will help them identify you as a good candidate.

Achievements vs. responsibilities. Remember when a resume mainly listed responsibilities? That?s ancient history. Responsibilities are job descriptions pure and simple. Employers want to know what you actually achieved?delivered based on key organizational goals. They want to know how you performed?the results of your efforts, not just a description of your job functions. For example: Replace such statements as ?managed marketing department? with ?optimized department by building a marketing team that focused on media needs and captured 15% more market share.?

Board positions or community involvement. If you serve on a board or play a leadership role on a community or civic organization, include this information on your resume. It will provide employers and recruiters with a well-rounded snapshot of you. For instance, your board or community role may be in an industry you are thinking of transitioning to, or may be helpful in expanding your skill set as well as reinforcing skills you already have. Whether you are paid for this work or not, it counts as experience!

Relevant personal interests. There has been controversy over the years whether or not to include interests and side projects. Some consider it unnecessary information. However, looking at this from another angle, it gives a more complete picture of who you are. And especially if your special interest is related to a potential position, make sure it is included.

For example: if you are seeking a position at Titleist (golf ball manufacturer), and you are an avid golfer, adding this information on your resume may help. If you are a marathon runner, it shows the reader you have drive and dedication. I?ve worked with many executives who have effectively leveraged their personal interests/side projects to transition to leadership roles in different industries that interest them. Perhaps you can, too.