Archive for category leadership resumes
Need a Leadership Resume Fast? Don’t Panic
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, executive resume writer, leadership resumes on May 9, 2012
On the receiving end of a recruiter’s call? Found a great job online, but it closes soon?
Your elation can quickly turn to panic, especially if you haven’t updated your resume in some time.
You’ll want to maximize every minute, of course, while creating a document that makes it look as if you’ve spent weeks crafting each word.
Here are 3 shortcuts to reviewing and refreshing your leadership resume – all in short order – to meet the demands of a choice job:
1 – Gather your thoughts.
Before your fingers hit the keyboard to start the resume writing process, take a step back.
Resumes are much more effective if they directly tie your experience to the job, so you’ll need to build your value proposition around this particular role. You can always create a newer version to fit a different job. Read the rest of this entry »
Is Your Executive Resume Stretched Too Thin?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in cio resumes, executive resume writing, leadership resumes, technology resumes on March 1, 2012
Recently, I had a conversation with an executive who was concerned about the effectiveness of her resume.
While I can’t comment on how well it represented her (since I’m not familiar with her career), I couldn’t help but notice the diverse job goals listed across the top: “CIO – Operations Director – CEO.”
Wow! That’s a lot to ask of any executive resume – and it’s a lot to hang your professional hat on as well during a job search.
Here’s why: the hiring audience looking for each of those executive leaders will be focused on an entirely different part of your experience and competencies. Read the rest of this entry »
3 Tips to Fire Up Your 2012 Job Search
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in job search, leadership resumes, linkedin profile writer on December 31, 2011
Looking forward to your 2012 job hunt – or dreading more of the same old, same old?
If you’ve spent time job searching in 2011, or are facing a pending layoff, the start of a New Year might not seem exciting or even particularly inspiring.
However, there’s good reasons to reconsider what you might have read or experienced in 2011 – plus ways to drive your job search forward and stay focused on your goal for the coming year:
1 – Realize that companies ARE hiring.
As badly as you want to find the perfect fit in your next job, companies want to find YOU.
Don’t believe this? Run a Google search on the phrase “How to find candidates on LinkedIn.” Out of the 14 million or so results, you’ll see thousands of articles on recruiting.
What this tells you is that there are plenty of companies searching for your talent. Therefore, if you haven’t already optimized your LinkedIn Profile for key search terms, it’s time to get going. Read the rest of this entry »
Does Your Executive Resume Miss Out On the Latest Trends?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive resume writing, executive resumes, leadership resume writing, leadership resumes, resume trends, resume updates on November 2, 2011
Putting together your resume for the first time in years? Believe it or not, resume trends have changed substantially in just a short period of time, due to intense competition in the job market.
You’ll soon find that you’re up against other executives with custom-designed, focused documents. Therefore, you’ll need to ensure that your resume is in line with cutting-edge changes in format and style.
What’s changed? Besides the fact that an objective isn’t workable anymore, many executive resumes now contain a splash of color, a branding headline, or a metrics- and detail-packed summary that replaces tired, overused phrases.
Consider implementing these trends into your executive resume as a way to stand out:
A touch of color.
While color can seem like a huge stretch for a resume, it can also be a valuable tool that makes certain elements stand out. Read the rest of this entry »
3 Strategies for Writing a Bold, Branded Executive Resume
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, executive resume writing, leadership resumes, personal branding, resume writing on October 26, 2011
Launching a strategic executive job search – and hoping to make a splash?
In previous years, listing the size of budgets managed, divisions run, or revenue generated might have been enough for a recruiter to hunt you down.
However, in today’s economic climate, executives are being asked to deliver more and brand themselves as well-rounded leaders prepared to tackle industry challenges and obstacles to growth.
Your executive resume will be judged much differently than in the job markets of years past, due to intense competition and the fact that employers can be much more selective.
It’s important to look at your executive resume with a fresh perspective. Have you missed opportunities to market yourself?
Do hiring authorities fail to understand what you bring to the table? Are you being passed over for jobs, even though you’re well-qualified?
If so, these 3 strategies can help you reassess the strength of your executive resume – with ideas for powerful content and leadership storytelling:
1 – Demonstrate strategic, not tactical, value.
Employers are not only looking for your leadership skills – they’re intent on finding a leader that will impact growth, retain top talent, and impress their competitors.
Therefore, your executive resume has to take your brand message a step further than just listing results, and talk about the situations encountered in your career.
Consider whether the following scenarios apply to your background: Read the rest of this entry »
The Lesson Behind Update Your Resume Month
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, it executive resume writing, leadership resume writing, leadership resumes, resume updates on September 9, 2011
Resume too outdated to impress employers? Get it updated before a recruiter calls
The inquiries all start out in a similar fashion: “I’ve been contacted by a recruiter for a dream job at (fill in the blank here: Google, Microsoft, Citibank, etc.), and I haven’t polished my resume in months or even years. Can you help?”
Do I want to help? Absolutely. But with the rush of great candidates in the running for equally great jobs, there’s a limit to how much I can do.
Don’t get me wrong—I LOVE to write about your technology or operations career… digging in to find out why you’ve earned promotions, how your work addressed challenges, and the ways you make revenue for employers—in other words, the salient points that make a recruiter sit up straight and reach for the phone.
However, there’s only so many hours in my day—which brings me to the reason why September is Update Your Resume Month. Read the rest of this entry »
Does Your Cover Letter Make These 5 Critical Mistakes?
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in cover letters, executive job search, leadership resumes on August 8, 2011
Does your cover letter make these mistakes?
You’ve polished your resume to no end, especially after finding a job posting that precisely fits your skills.
But did your cover letter merit the same attention?
Many hiring managers use your cover letter to gauge your interest in the company, as well as your aptitude for the job.
Therefore, when you resort to “Dear Sir, I’m interested in your open job, here’s my resume,” you’re missing out on a critical chance to persuade employers to take you seriously.
Here are 5 of the most crucial mistakes made in cover letters—those that can quickly knock you out of the running for a leadership job: Read the rest of this entry »
What You Should Know Before Contacting a Recruiter
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive job search, executive recruiters, leadership resumes on August 2, 2011
Considering contacting a recruiter to find out about executive or leadership jobs in your field? Many job hunters assume that forging connections with recruiters will put them closer to lucrative, high-level positions that aren’t otherwise advertised.
However, a successful recruiter-job seeker relationship doesn’t just happen. It’s important to understand the relationship among all involved parties (the recruiter, company, and you), get your resume in top shape, and to be ready to deal with potential objections.
These tips will help you be ready to work effectively with a recruiter—with better results from the relationship and a faster outcome for your job search: Read the rest of this entry »
Facing layoff from Cisco? Plan your job hunt strategically
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in cio resumes, Engineering resumes, it executive resume writing, leadership resumes, linkedin, social media on July 24, 2011
Cisco Systems announced its largest layoff ever in July 2011, and employees are certainly feeling the aftershocks.
With 6,500 staff being cut (up to a 14% drop in its workforce), Cisco has announced that it plans to restructure in order to maintain a competitive position.
If you’re one of those affected by this or other layoffs, what should you do? It’s no secret that professionals have bemoaned the state of the job market now for several years.
Will YOU fare better? Yes (and you can read more here about your chances of finding a job quickly), but you’ll need to map out a plan that is as sound as any project you’ve ever tackled.
Consider that most people going through the shock of a layoff tend to react quickly, aggressively responding to posted jobs without taking time to regroup or prepare a plan. This is at least one main reason behind a job search that drags on for too long.
Then, there’s your competition: even though like Google, Apple, Yahoo, Citrix, and NetApp will be waiting at Cisco’s door to lap up well-qualified talent, there’s no shortage of eager job hunters ready to outdo your search tactics.
Therefore, it pays to take these key steps in your search:
1 – Decide if you’re able to relocate.
One of the biggest decisions you’ll face in the job search is also one that can have the most impact. If you have the ability to put down roots somewhere else, you’ll become a better candidate for other technology companies outside of Cisco—and for recruiters.
2 – Map out your desired targets.
You’ll need to not only identify the best companies for your talent, but also research their needs.
What is going on inside your target companies or industries? What business challenges do they face? And most importantly, how will YOUR skills make a difference there?
When you sit down to write a cover letter directed toward these firms, you’ll be glad you went through this exercise. Spend some time online and within professional journals to extract data on what these companies need, then write directly to their pain points.
3 – Polish your resume – but not in a vacuum.
Yes, your resume needs to be as ready as possible to compete against others, but don’t forget that a large part of what gets someone hired is the reaction they get from employers.
Therefore, it makes sense to circulate your resume among former Cisco colleagues and networking contacts for feedback—ensuring that you haven’t missed anything critical about your skills or projects.
This is true even if you have it professionally written – you’ll want to verify that your resume writer understands technology.
4 – Identify networking venues (online or otherwise) and potential contacts.
Networking doesn’t always mean in-person contact, but the more personal, the better. If you already belong to a professional or trade association, start using these contacts. If you don’t, now’s the time to join one.
Getting involved at either a local or national level in these associations can help boost your visibility, as can joining Groups within LinkedIn. Here, you’ll want to join in professional discussions, but on the subject of technology or engineering topics, NOT to advertise your job search.
Within LinkedIn, you can also use the Advanced People Search function to gather names of potential contacts, either because they work at your target companies or they have some insight to offer. Don’t forget recruiters, either – online networking gives you a good chance to check them out.
5 – Maximize your LinkedIn Profile.
If you’ve ignored your LinkedIn Profile for a while, now’s the time to beef it up. Recruiters like to look carefully at your job titles, education, and critical achievements online before considering you for a potential slot.
You’ll also find (as many of my engineering and leadership clients do) that your interviewers will look you up on the site, and so you’ll want that Profile to be more than ready – with a professional or personal headshot, a powerful Summary, and solid listing of job titles and accomplishments.
Following these 5 tips will give you a strong head start on the competition you’ll encounter, both in the job market at large and from other Cisco employees.
Even with substantial job market challenges, strategic planning pays off with a faster job search – and a better position on the other end.
3 Easy Ways to Overcome the Challenge of Resume Writing
Posted by Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Resume Writer in executive resumes, leadership resume writing, leadership resumes on April 4, 2011
Trying to get your job search off to a strong start – only to be hampered by the resume-writing process?
Do you struggle to articulate the high points of your career and brand – or to sum up the reasons you should be considered over others?
If so, you have plenty of company, especially if your career is at the executive or senior professional level. Many leaders have discovered that it’s easier to actually drive change, improve company operations, or transform revenue performance than it is to write about it.
Here are 3 main reasons why resume writing can be difficult–followed by 3 simple ways to make the process easier:
1 – You’re too close to the subject.
Most executive leaders and skilled professionals are subject matter experts in all types of leadership competencies, from strategic planning to team delegation.
However, when asked to describe their strengths, most of them will resort to tactical or skills-based descriptions, rather than illustrating the ways in which they add strategic value.
You’re naturally good at what you do, but telling your story requires a higher level of analysis—a process that most executives and senior-level professionals don’t think to undertake for themselves.
2 – Marketing copy isn’t your strong suit.
Most COOs spend their time ensuring that costs are reined in and that the company’s infrastructure will support growth, while sales managers are assessing the competition, CEOs are busy forming strategic forecasts, accountants are closing the books, IT Managers are negotiating with vendors, and CIOs are dealing with the rising costs of technology.
Of course, these activities leave precious little time to become well-versed in marketing.
Even if marketing campaigns ARE part of your leadership role, you’ll still find that it’s much harder to create promotional copy when the product is YOU.
3 – You haven’t created your personal brand message.
As with any type of promotion, branding is a key element of marketing. When it comes to job search, your personal brand is basically the value proposition and reputation that you’ve forged throughout your career.
Even if you’re in touch with what your value-add means to your next employer, it’s difficult to articulate it for others to read! It’s even harder to translate your personal brand into the context of a cohesive executive or professional resume.
Now, here are some tips to help with the process of writing about yourself:
• Ask colleagues about what they see as your most valuable accomplishments and proficiencies. What compliments do you receive on your work?
• Consider looking at executive or professional resume examples, which are readily available online, to get an idea of the marketing style that appeals to employers in today’s job market. How does yours stack up?
• Talk to past supervisors to find out the strengths you brought in your job. What were the key reasons for your past promotions?
• After putting together a draft of your resume, show it to others. What do THEY think you’re missing about your own message?
In summary, writing your resume can seem like the most challenging part of your job search. However, don’t give up and just list your duties!
Instead, spend some time figuring out how to frame your most valuable achievements and brand in a way that captures (and holds) employer interest.
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