An executive with a long and successful career has a wealth of experience to showcase. But when it comes to your resume, less is often more. As a Certified Executive Resume Master (CERM), I frequently see executive job seekers with resumes stretching to four, five, or even six pages. However, a well-structured executive resume should ideally be two pages – three only if absolutely necessary.
How to Pare Down a Resume without Losing Impact
While brevity is key, resume length is not a “one size fits all” rule. The right length depends on your content and who will be reviewing it. When I encounter a client with a lengthy resume, I use the following strategies to pare it down.
- Section the resume into distinct parts, including an early career section. If an executive has extensive early career experience, I often condense it to just the company name, job title and dates – omitting detailed bullet points about accomplishments that may no longer be relevant. This acknowledges the previous work without taking up too much space.
However, if an executive’s early career ties directly to their current aspirations, I highlight it with a brief paragraph emphasizing leadership and expertise.
For example, imagine Lindsay, who started her career as a software engineer at a tech company. After working for several years and advancing to a senior developer role, she decided to switch careers and pursued an MBA. She then transitioned to management consulting, where she worked with Fortune 500 companies, advising them on digital transformation.
After spending five years consulting, she realized she missed the hands-on problem-solving and innovation in tech. So, she decided to return to the tech industry but this time, she is seeking a role as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) preferably at a startup, where she can leverage both her technical background and strategy skills. In this case, Lindsay’s early career is completely relevant to the position she is seeking now.
2. Remove irrelevant experience. A senior vice president may have started off their career as an account executive, advanced to a managerial role, and then became a director before reaching their current position. Instead of detailing accomplishments from their earliest roles, I focus on the director-level and higher positions where they demonstrated executive leadership.
3. Align the resume with the client’s career goals. When someone writes their own resume, they tend to list every single accomplishment that they are proud of. Many executives struggle to edit their resumes because they feel emotionally attached to every accomplishment. My job is to trim their achievements down to only the most impactful and relevant ones. While every career milestone may be significant, not all of them serve the current job search.
4. Be judicious with accomplishments. Many executives list extensive accomplishments, but not all of them highlight leadership and therefore do not serve them on a resume. When refining a resume, I focus on achievements that demonstrate strategic oversight, vision, and leadership rather than just individual contributions.
When is a Longer Resume Acceptable? There are certain cases where a resume exceeding two pages is justified. This is typically in academic, research or international roles, where a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is required. A CV includes detailed sections on education, research, certifications, projects, publications, and awards.
For executive resumes, three pages may be acceptable in rare cases, such as when an individual has an extensive history of high-impact accomplishments or has worked as a consultant on multiple large-scale projects. However, even in these situations, I ensure every section is necessary and adds value.
Minding the Gaps in your Resume. Employment gaps on resumes are a common concern for executives. Rather than leaving gaps unexplained, I highlight relevant activities that highlight leadership and skill-building during that timeframe.
For example, I personally took a career break to raise my children but remained active in leadership roles through community involvement, board positions and volunteer work. Similarly, I help executives position their time away from the workforce in a way that demonstrates transferable skills and continuous engagement. That time in a parent’s life can include lots of activities that easily translate to the business world and should be included on a resume.
Related: The Importance of Crafting a Modern, Skills-Focused Resume
Why a Resume Writer Can Help You Edit Effectively
An executive resume writer offers an objective perspective, which is often difficult to achieve when writing your own resume or even trying to trim down your resume. Many clients struggle to remove certain experiences because they feel proud of them, even if they no longer serve their current career goals.
A typical conversation might go like this:
- Client: “I know this experience is not entirely relevant, but I still want to include it in my resume because I am proud of it.”
- Resume Writer: “I completely understand why you are proud of these accomplishments, but listing all these bullet points will not help you land this role. Here’s why…
By taking an impartial approach, I help clients refine their resume so that every detail contributes to their positioning as a top candidate.
When applying for an executive role in a competitive market, consider who is reading your resume. Would you want to submit a three-page document when recruiters have hundreds of other resumes to review? The key is to highlight only the most relevant and impactful details of your career. The interview is where you can elaborate further.
Think of your resume as a presentation – no one wants to sit through a long, boring presentation; they want something engaging and powerful that concisely showcases the information.
Not sure how to streamline your resume while maintaining impact? Our expert executive resume writing services can help you craft a compelling, high-impact resume that gets results.
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