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How to “Secretly” Update LinkedIn While You’re Still Employed

executive linkedin update

Updating LinkedIn for a stealth job search? 

How can you make it look like you don’t have a foot out the door?

Maybe you don’t want the boss to think you’re looking around, but you’d like to promote your skills for a next-level opportunity.

In 7 Must Know LinkedIn Tips for Executives, I cover ways you can put yourself “out there” at the start of your job search.

Keep these other things in mind when updating LinkedIn on the down low:

Your boss and teams are probably updating LinkedIn, too.

There’s now more than 10 million C-suite executives on LinkedIn, according to these LinkedIn demographics, with more joining every day.

In short, if you’re on LinkedIn, so is your boss – and they’re updating their Profile continually or considering it.

Your colleagues are also likely combing LinkedIn to see what co-workers are doing, and wondering how to properly adjust their own profiles while employed. (There’s nothing stopping you from joining them by looking at how they’ve described their own backgrounds.)

Your first step, described in 5 Steps to a Best-in-Class Executive LinkedIn Profile, is to add a LOT more content, which can benefit you by educating employers on your value proposition and making your profile findable on more keywords.

While you’re updating your own profile, keep an eye on whether your executive team and colleagues are doing the same  – and you’ll probably spot some revisions on their end, too.

Your LinkedIn update can promote your employer as well as your own career.

If you fear the boss looking over your shoulder, relax. Your LinkedIn profile can tout your expertise AND the company’s reputation at the same time, to everyone’s benefit.

First, think about how to market your employer’s value proposition and your role in it. Start by answering these questions:

  • What product or service does your employer deliver, and what type of positive reputation do they have for doing it?
  • How has your work helped them stay competitive or innovative in the field?
  • If you met someone at an industry conference, what would you tell them about your employer?
  • How would you describe your impact or legacy in the industry? In your team?

Then, turn these answers into a synopsis (for your About or Experience sections) that benefits both YOU and YOUR EMPLOYER, such as this example:

As Chief Revenue Officer for XYZ Company, I work behind the scenes to ensure our sales teams completely understand the B2B market for sheet metal components.

By partnering with suppliers on steel and fabrication requirements, we’ve created trend-setting, innovative products. Our sales and revenue metrics reflect a #1 ranking among major residential and commercial customers.

My role as CRO demands an insider’s view of product strategy, growth opportunities, lead generation, and marketing, enabling me to collaborate with senior executives and build a data-driven organization.

We strive to create a positive customer experience with the right talent, sales enablement, and integrity that has positioned XYZ as the premier source for quality building and roofing products.

This About section for a Chief Revenue Officer describes a company-focused and driven leader with the right skills to take the company forward – and to satisfy the needs of prospective employers.

Note the KEYWORDS added throughout this section, which help strengthen this executive’s searchability by recruiters.

Your LinkedIn update should, however, go light on confidential metrics.

Your resume and LinkedIn Profile are used differently: you can distribute your resume confidentially, but you can’t take back company secrets after they’re published on LinkedIn.

So, it’s best to tune your Profile to avoid disclosing confidential details on LinkedIn (even if you’re adding the same data to your resume).

Think about it: if you’re describing extensive turnarounds or transformation projects, this could imply that your employer is struggling. Showing how you’ve improved productivity might also show that your company doesn’t hire strong teams.

To decide how to update your LinkedIn Profile without giving away corporate secrets, consider the following:

  • Are there sensitive projects (such as a restructuring) you shouldn’t mention online?
  • Do your achievements contain metrics, such as revenue or new customer volume, that are only known to company insiders?
  • Would any of your accomplishments tip off competitors and give them an unfair advantage?
  • Have you participated in “undercover” growth initiatives or M&A strategies not yet announced?

If any of these are true, consider removing the details or referencing them in a more “general” manner.

Your LinkedIn account should ALWAYS use a personal email, NOT a company email address.

You may have provided your company email address when signing up for LinkedIn, but if you haven’t changed it, now’s the time.

Your employer can not only see any email coming into your account (including any messages related to your job search), but could also take ownership of your account, making it inaccessible to you!

So switch over to a different address while your job search is just getting underway. This guide will help you change your primary LinkedIn email address.

Your future self (who may soon be employed elsewhere) will thank you.

To summarize, updating your LinkedIn Profile while you’re still employed is a great idea – and a common step for many leaders in today’s job market.

Take a moment to ensure you’ve portrayed BOTH you and your employer in the best light, even while searching for a perfect-fit new job.

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5 Strategies for Handling a Gap on Your Resume

employment gap resume

Concerned about showing an employment gap on your resume?

Life happens and work gaps happen, too.

Executives, just like other candidates, often experience lapses in employment due to job searches, board work, illness, downsizing, performance, and of course, COVID.

Your resume, however, is meant to be an impressive picture of your accomplishments, value proposition, and skills – NOT the place to bring up a potentially negative aspect of your work history.

So how DO you explain a gap in employment?

Here are 5 strategies for handling the gap – both on your resume AND in your interviews: 

 

1 – Realize that gaps in employment aren’t rare.

You aren’t the only leader facing this issue.

Maybe you lost your passion for the industry – or realized the company was headed for troubled times. Some executives find themselves job hunting after realizing their employer had a much different cultural, financial, or leadership philosophy (see Regret Taking Your New Job? What to Do Next).

Business Insider even suggested applicants with resume gaps should be seen as more valuable, as they have often experienced a period of upskilling, self-reflection, or career exploration.

Of course, layoffs, mergers, or restructuring inevitably hit many industries. All of these situations are, unfortunately, very common!

You may also find attitudes toward gaps have softened (as a similar shift has occurred with hybrid work). Your gap is probably not the huge issue you might think it is.

No matter what the cause, most gaps are easier to explain in person during your interview – and some won’t even come up, especially if years have passed since you left.

 

2 – Add a brief note to your resume if your gap occurred during COVID.

If you were unemployed between 2020 and 2022, you have plenty of company.

covid employment gapThe pandemic and its impact on business disrupted many operations and left businesses reeling – with little opportunity to recover.

Many executives and senior leaders worked hard to keep the company afloat during this unprecedented time. When revenue tanked, costs soared, or supply chain issues surfaced, you may have needed to shut the doors or scale back teams.

If this happened to you, a COVID gap can be easily noted on your resume, with an entry such as “Left operation after COVID-related shutdown” under the description of your job.

Depending on the pandemic’s effect (especially in retail or restaurant businesses), you might not even need to mention why the operation didn’t survive.

 

3 – Leave a long-ago gap for discussion during your interviews.

You may fear disclosing a gap in your work history, no matter when it occurred.

However, it’s likely that recruiters or employers aren’t as concerned about a long-ago gap as you are. Downsizing and industry changes have become so common that you might not find it necessary to mention a lull in employment.

Here are situations where a gap from 6+ years ago may not be relevant (and you don’t need a resume entry):

  • You transitioned from one leadership role to the next, but were unemployed for a few months while job hunting;
  • Your executive team experienced a reorganization, and while it took a while to find your next job, you’ve been employed steadily for the last several years;
  • Most of your industry or company took a substantial hit due to circumstances beyond your control (such as the fallout from a previous recession), and nearly everyone was unemployed at that time.

In these cases, try leaving your work gap to be discussed during the interview (and plan to be ready with a brief summary).

Resist the urge to over-explain on your resume or LinkedIn Profile, unless you are presented with evidence that these gaps are hurting your job search.

 

4 – Take action if a recent (non-COVID) gap could affect your brand.

Perhaps you left a former employer of your own accord in recent years, then went back to work. In this case, you SHOULD mention the gap on your resume.

masters degree employment gapIt’s best to show this time between employers as a positive career step. For example, your work history can show an entry called Sabbatical or Master’s Degree Studies that covers the time you took to upskill, work on a special project, or attend an educational program.

You could also use Family Care to describe how you managed the needs of children, tended to an ailing relative, served as executor of an estate, or handled similar scenarios.

Don’t worry about the implications of these situations. Recruiters and employers have seen these circumstances before; you didn’t invent them!

Whatever you use, stick to the TRUTH and use a simple, concise description. (If your situation was more complex, such as incarceration or extended layoffs, consider working with a career coach to come up with an overall plan.)

The idea is to offer employers a glimpse of what may have happened, without dwelling too heavily on this aberration in your career.

 

5 – Bring the focus back to your personal brand.

Even if an employer comments on your break in employment, your best interview and job-search strategy is to emphasize what you OFFER.

If you’re prepared with a synopsis of your gap – coupled with reasons you can drive revenue, growth strategy, compliance, or technology modernization – this part of your employment will be less important.

As an example, consider these interview statements that place emphasis on the executive’s future contributions:

“It’s true that I left the manufacturing industry during a family situation that is no longer a factor in my life. I’m ready to continue delivering the same level of insight and change that took 6 of our regions to the top of the market.”

“Taking a sabbatical to re-center my career into non-profit was the best move I ever made. Combined with my development experience raising more than $7M in 2 different companies, I’m ready to lead the $25M in growth important to you today.”

 

The bottom line: no matter when and how your gap occurred, it may not be a deal breaker to employers.

Your executive resume and LinkedIn presence should always emphasize capable leadership and a strong value proposition, rather than draw attention to unrelated periods in your career.

 

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8 Resume Success Factors to Get Noticed!

8 Resume Success Factors to Get Noticed!

Resume success factorsI get asked every day about resume best practices and resume success factors.

People want to know where to start, what to believe, and how to write a strong resume if: “I don’t have anything awesome to share”.

Trust me; everyone has plenty of awesome things to share in their resume as addressed in this post: How to Add Achievements into Your Resume.

 

 

Other common resume questions I field:

One page, two pages, or three pages❓

Graphics or no graphics❓

Which keywords to include or avoid❓

How far back do I go with my work history❓

The answer to ALL of the above is ‘it depends’. You are unique; therefore, your resume will be unique as well.

Unfortunately, I don’t have one magic resume formula that works for every job seeker, but for me, all great resumes stem from the same 8 success factors. The following points summarize the key areas I feel should be carefully considered to create a successful resume:

 

1. Write your resume with your audience top of mind

Yes, the resume may be all about you but it isn’t meant FOR you. Have a clearly defined target picked out so content can be shaped more specifically and speak more directly to each reader’s needs.  General resumes don’t work.

2. Keep content relevant; tailor details

Similar to the point above, the more specific the content in a resume = the better. One, single stagnant resume can not possibly address every job’s requirements and nuances.  Customize your resume content in just a few simple steps for each application.

3. Share real-life examples of success; not generalized details or superlative statements

Fluffy details like ‘excellent people-person’ or ‘strong team leader’ don’t provide enough context. Instill confidence in the reader with specific stories and concrete examples of achievement.

4. Provide proof. Back up claims with results  

Context without results is like a story without an ending. Employers need a way to measure ability and impact. Quantitative details help support your level of success, so be sure to share ‘how many, how much, and how often’. Proof of ability often lies within results. 

5. Strive for quality of content versus quantity

In a resume, more can be less. The file is not meant to act as a complete career chronology of everything you’ve ever done.  A resume is a marketing tool that must summarize your top-selling points succinctly.

6. Stay authentic

Never feel pressured to write your resume like someone else. Your skill sets are unique, your experiences are unique, and your value is all your own. You can’t box every single person’s career story into one type of resume format. Ensure your resume embraces your true self and shares details both uniquely and authentically.

7. Make the resume as long as you need to convey the above and not one word more

Depending on your career length, experiences, and job target, your resume length will vary. Average resume length is 1-3 pages – pick what works best for YOU; no need to conform to page length myths.

8. Emphasize your value

All of the above points must center around the value you bring to the table. Identify the pain points of each application/organization/employer and position yourself as their problem solver. To accomplish this, you need to first know thyself.  What do you have that your competitors do not? How can you positively impact the organization in question?

 

If you are struggling to write a resume on your own, incorporating these 8 resume success factors, reach out. My personal executive resume writing process is comprehensive and customized.  It is caring and collaborative.  It is also strategic and supportive.

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CFO Resume: Make a High-Value Impact

CFO Resume. Executive holding a chart graph

You’re a top producer –  which means you need a resume that produces results too. If you are sending out your CFO resume and not getting the desired responses, there is likely some work to be done.

A CFO resume must illustrate unique and high value, presenting the candidate as an astute business leader who is well-informed of both current financial and corporate challenges. Apply these 3 strategies to raise the value and impact of your CFO resume:

1. GET CURRENT

If you haven’t conducted a job search in some time you are likely behind in modern job search trends. Today’s CFO resumes involve strong strategies and polished presentations to stand out. Some significant tactics include:

  •  Keep it short. A densely packed resume can do you more harm than good. Nobody wants to read a ‘career obituary’ (everything ever done and every role ever held). Think succinct marketing tool and make every word count.
  • Keep it focused and relevant. Eliminate lengthy job descriptions and generalized overviews; these are a given. Pinpoint pertinent career content that demonstrates a solid understanding of the role requirements. Qualify content carefully and only share details and specifics that directly address the readers’ needs.
  • Keep it loaded with results. Pack in power statements with exact metrics for massive impact.  Top achievers need examples that provide the proof and front-load statements for greater punch:
  • Raised $34M in venture and corporate funding in 3 years.
  • Negotiated $21M acquisition with additional $6M equity investment.
  • Generated $40M in additional cash by identifying and eliminating underperforming assets.
  • Saved $50K in annual software maintenance and licensing fees by implementing an updated software program.

 

 2. KNOW YOUR VALUE

CFOs typically progress along a similar career track and share many skills and values, but no two are exactly alike. Why should YOU be chosen to lead financial decisions in this top corporate role? Spend time contemplating and calculating your ‘10% difference’. What makes you unique?

Drill down to identify what makes you an authority in your industry and flesh out examples of where you’ve risen to the challenge. You need to convince high-level recruiters, boards, committees, and executive management that you can make a positive financial impact to the business.

Provide specific profit and revenue gains, cost savings, or streamlined efficiencies to support your statements and skills.  You can’t just claim to be good at something, you must prove it.

Develop a strong value proposition to summarize high-level experiences and work to support this statement throughout the document. Targeted branding or value proposition statements include:

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

STREAMLINES FINANCIAL PROCESSES FOR FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES | $300M in COST-SAVINGS | BUDGETS up to $2B


or….

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Expert in Venture & Corporate Funding | Revenue & Business Expansion | M&A Administration

Drives operational and financial efficiency as a trusted advisor and partner, creating over $40M in annual cost savings. Connects entrepreneurial companies with venture capital to heighten business performance.


3. SHARPEN THE PRESENTATION

Top executives need distinct resumes that scream polished professional. Employ savvy layouts and design components (charts, graphs, or colour) to ensure the resume impresses at first glance.

  • Chart it. Visually represent revenue increases, profit or productivity advances, or cost savings. Graphs or charts often speak louder than words.

  • Bullet it. Deliver ‘bite size’ and easily digestible points instead of heavy blocks of text. The difference can be dramatic. Here’s a comparison:

Before: 

Sought out areas for revenue improvement and increases. Located and handled negotiation for an acquisition, valued at $6M, which ultimately produced a strong return on investment (approximately eight times the return over a five year time span).

After:

  • Helmed $6M acquisition negotiation which produced 8 times the return on investment within 5 years, strengthening revenue potential.

 

The bulleted content above is sharper, key details jump out, and wordiness is drastically reduced.

 

 

As a leading results-generator you likely lack the time to tackle a proper resume renovation, so don’t risk being passed over for a position at the top; turn your project over to a trusted professional.

A top performer like yourself understands the return on a good investment and the cost of a bad one.  Your career is too valuable to gamble with using a resume that may never work. Partner with a pro to ensure ROI: www.CareerImpressions.ca

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8 Executive Resume Red Flags

8 Executive Resume Red Flags

resume red flags

People often ask me to review their resumes and note any potential red flags that they should address. Although I’m not able to review the majority of resumes that are sent to me (I simply do not have the capacity!), here are 8 executive resume red flags that I personally come across.

 

1. Task-Heavy Content 🚩

Copying and pasting job descriptions into your resume will provide zero value to the reader. Instead, share pertinent content from your career that demonstrates proof of ability in alignment with job requirements.

 

2. An Objective Statement 🚩

Hiring managers want to know WIIFM “What’s In It For Me”; NOT what your personal end-goal is. Ditch the objective and share a value-based headline/tagline that aligns offerings with needs.

 

3. Loooong Length 🚩

Extremely long resumes are rarely read in full – or appreciated. Think quality of content versus quantity. Distill details down to what matters most, letting value dictate an appropriate length while keeping content focused and succinct.

 

 

When I posted this topic on LinkedIn and asked resume writers, career experts, and recruiters to weigh in with their thoughts on executive resume red flags, responses centred around several common themes. Here is the link to the entire thread but I’ve gone ahead and captured a few of the responses below for your reading pleasure:

 

4. Lack of Focus at the Start 🚩

Kelly Gadzinski: Lacking a bold headline and opening summary that effectively showcases personal brand in a unique and eye-catching way.

Skye Berry-Burke: For me, the key is in the branding headline/ tagline. If I can’t determine your target or industry from the start, my motivation to continue reading is challenged.

Jessica Hernandez : I agree with Skye. I think the branding headline/position title at the top really sets the stage for the entire resume. If this is missing it cripples the entire resume and leaves the potential employer with a big question mark. I’m a big believer in the importance of clarity on a resume and a clear branding headline/position title is critical for that clarity.

 

5. Overpopulated Information 🚩

Kamara Toffolo: Bullet Barf. Listing every single detail with a bullet or bullets that are actually paragraphs. Max 2 lines per bullet, please.

Virginia Franco: Dense text is my biggest beef — when something is too long, too verbose, or doesn’t get to the point — you run the risk that the reader will skip it altogether.

Ana Lokotkova: If it’s a bullet, it means it needs to be short and sweet and not a 5-line long paragraph.

 

6. Deficient Customization 🚩

Omar Osmani: Lack of customization, using the same resume to apply for all positions. Take the time to review and understand the job description. Then customize your resume to help show the potential employer how you are a great fit for the role.

 

7. Missing Results 🚩

Erin Kennedy: Not backing up your value with actual accomplishments. Just saying you are a “business development rockstar” isn’t enough. Prove it. What did you actually do to give yourself that title? The reader wants to know!

Jamie Chapman: I second several of the previous comments about backing up your “brag” items with your experience… it’s not congruent to say, “I’m awesome at managing budgets,” and then never drop a single dollar figure in your resume.

Scott Leishman: Resumes should have specific numbers that show the scope of the candidate’s responsibility and achievements that relate to the position they are going after. Dollar signs are much more powerful and precise than percentages.

Tom Adam: People need to list concrete, measurable achievements, whether it’s performance against sales quotas, up-time maintained in complex IT systems, number of new customers obtained, etc. Listing your duties alone isn’t a resume — it’s a job description. Whether you were an accountant, a sales rep, or a software engineer, we know what you did. What we want to know, however, is whether you were any good at it.

 

8. Weak Attention to Detail 🚩

Jeff Lipschultz: Errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. If you cannot proof your own resume, what kind of attention-to-detail do you possess?

Javier Vinsome: Repetitive action words. Overuse of “Responsible for…”. Employment with no dates.

Sarah Johnston: I’ll add font sizes under 10! The reader should not need to squint to read your resume.

Laura Smith-Proulx: Information shown in bold for no good reason – when it’s detrimental to the candidate. If you’ve job-hopped, don’t put dates in bold or right-justify them. If your positions date back to 1979, don’t put them in bold (and of course, eliminate some of these positions).

 

Thank you career experts and hiring personnel for sharing your insights on these 8 executive resume red flags!

If you are an executive looking to eliminate resume red flags and elevate your resume to a modern standard, visit me at www.CareerImpressions.ca to learn how I can help.

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CEO Resume Strategy: 4 Important Tips

CEO Resume Strategy. Executive in Suit

A CEO career is guaranteed to be rich in detail. However, a common mistake I see CEOs make in their resume strategy is spending too much time writing about their work and not enough time emphasizing their results.

What sets a CEO apart from competitors, though, are results.

Bottom-line business impacts, organizational growth, and business expansion are big, CEO-career wins that need to be strategically packaged and positioned in a resume to generate meaningful impact.

To hook and engage readers, a CEO resume should be less ‘here’s what I did every day’ and more ‘here are some carefully curated big wins, which align well with your role requirements’.

So how can you energize your executive resume with more meaningful content? Here are 4 resume tips to help your CEO resume strategy:

 

Provide clear statements of value

Don’t make readers guess or hunt. Large, heavy blocks of text can bury key facts and make it difficult to decipher clear value. Also, droning on about role oversights or daily responsibilities doesn’t provide a true scale of abilities.

Instead, spoon-feed the reader the facts they want, first…and add scale (size) to details. A good place to start is the resume header – which should be distinct and defined, something like:

President and CEO: 

$45M Global Facilities Management | Teams to 450 | 300% Revenue Growth in 4 Years

 

Continue to provide succinct descriptions of performance throughout the resume, placing a heavier emphasis on related metrics and achievements. Remember, less work and more results.

A content-heavy, work-focused excerpt might read:

CEO of the company for the past 5 years, overseeing all aspects of company operations and reporting, including investor relations, financing, operational strategy, business development, safety, contract negotiations, change management, treasury management, capitalization for projects, safety, and budgeting.  Focused strategies on EBITDA growth and revenue expansion, increasing both dramatically during tenure. To create necessary operational cost-savings, reduced closed down operations in one city and renegotiated long-term service contracts with vendors to reduce expenses.

 

 A sharper, results-focused excerpt which distills job tasks and showcases impacts:

In first year, realized EBITDA growth of 250% and increased production 360%. Continue to drive all aspects of national operations, including investor relations, financing, safety, business development, contract negotiations, and capitalization of company and projects, overseeing a team of 100 and a budget of $125M.

  • Expanded revenue from $1.5M to $26M over 5 years after introducing sales optimization process.
  • Reduced employee turnover from 120% to 10% in 1 year by initiating new benefit program.
  • Generated $5M+ in cost-savings by renegotiating long-term service contracts.

 

Pack the file with plenty of action, and mix it up

Vary word use throughout the resume, both for keyword purposes and increased reader engagement. For example, starting every bullet point with the word “managed” does not provide depth and breadth of ability, nor will it excite the reader.

Instead of dwelling on ‘responsible for’ statements, drive action and energy into your file with easy to absorb ‘sound bites’ or bulleted statements with varying action words and bolded measurements of achievement. An example:

  • Exceeded EBITDA target 6% in 2020 and 5% in 2021, achieving best financial performance of all districts.
  • Reduced district COR $2.6M after leading most successful tuck-in acquisition in company’s history.
  • Slashed TRIR score 35% in 2020 and an additional 15% in 2021 by establishing safety committee to build an organically-grown safety-first culture.

 

Additional heavy-hitting, executive action words to consider:  helmed, orchestrated, spearheaded, generated, reduced, engineered, secured, raised, produced, steered. See a longer list here.

 

Hammer home main themes so your unique brand and offering are clear

When we share something more than once it improves the chances of the information resonating. It also increases the reader’s confidence.

Repeat and reinforce key concepts, required skill sets, keywords, and personal impacts in your CEO resume to drive home your personal value proposition and brand. The more a reader reads something, the easier it will be to remember and buy into.

If your value proposition is: “Output-Oriented Leader Who Drives Revenue and Profit Growth through Continuous Improvement and Strategic Change”……. then you need to reiterate achievements in these areas throughout the file. Give an example of revenue/profit growth in every role possible, and provide multiple examples of continuous improvement strategies or positive change.

Start the resume with strong statements in alignment with this branding statement and continue the theme to the very end. The goal is to back up your claim to fame, with proof!

 

Improve resume reading performance

Will your resume pass the initial 5-second scan? If you want the reader to take a second, harder look, the resume must grab attention immediately. Make it easy to navigate the file, quickly. Tighten language. Shorten statements. Clearly define sections.

Deliver important details with emphasis. Various design components such as charts, graphs, bolded words, larger font/text, and the inclusion of colour are all potential ways to make important facts pop off a page. When used appropriately, and in strategic moderation, design can help guide the reader’s eye. Just ensure the design does not distract!

Take the examples below. Here, key content is shared in unique ways, making details hard to overlook:A Group of Impacts

The ultimate CEO resume strategy is to infuse the file with content that compels a reader to engage and learn more. Details should be well aligned with position requirements and easy to spot and absorb.  Avoid work basics and deliver bold results!

Want more examples of strong, executive resumes?  See these resume samples.

Looking for a modern, professional CEO resume strategy that sets you apart from competitors? Check out my resume writing packages at: www.careerimpressions.ca 

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How to Update LinkedIn While Still Employed

How to Write Your LinkedIn Profile When You're Still Employed

Need to update LinkedIn for a stealth job search – while still employed?

How can you make it look like you don’t have a foot out the door?

Maybe you don’t want the boss to think you’re looking around, but you’d like to promote your skills for a next-level opportunity.

In 7 Must Know LinkedIn Tips for Executives, I cover ways you can put yourself “out there” at the start of your job search.

Keep these other things in mind when updating LinkedIn on the down low:

Your boss is probably updating their LinkedIn profile, too.

There’s now more than 10 million C-suite executives on LinkedIn, according to these LinkedIn demographics, with more joining every day.

In short, if you’re on LinkedIn, so is your boss – and they’re updating their Profile continually or considering it.

Your colleagues are also likely combing LinkedIn to see what co-workers are doing, and wondering how to properly adjust their own profiles while employed. (There’s nothing stopping you from joining them by looking at how they’ve described their own backgrounds.)

Your first step, as shown in 5 Steps to a Best-in-Class Executive LinkedIn Profile, is to add more content. You can do this while keeping an eye on whether your executive team and colleagues are doing the same – and you’ll quickly realize you are NOT alone.

 

Your LinkedIn update can promote your employer as well as your own career.

If you fear the boss looking over your shoulder, relax. Your LinkedIn profile can tout your expertise and the company’s reputation at the same time, to everyone’s benefit.

First, think about how to market your employer’s value proposition and your role in it. Start by answering these questions:

  • What product or service does your employer deliver, and what type of positive reputation do they have for doing it?
  • How has your work helped them stay competitive or innovative in the field?
  • If you met someone at an industry conference, what would you tell them about your employer?
  • How would you describe your impact or legacy in the industry? In your team?

Then, turn these answers into a synopsis (for your About or Experience sections) that benefits both YOU and YOUR EMPLOYER, such as this example:

As Chief Revenue Officer for XYZ Company, I work behind the scenes to ensure our sales teams completely understand the B2B market for sheet metal components.

By partnering with suppliers on steel and fabrication requirements, we’ve created trend-setting, innovative products. Our sales and revenue metrics reflect a #1 ranking among major residential and commercial customers.

My role as CRO demands an insider’s view of product strategy, growth opportunities, lead generation, and marketing, enabling me to collaborate with senior executives and build a data-driven organization.

We strive to create a positive customer experience with the right talent, sales enablement, and integrity that has positioned XYZ as the premier source for quality building and roofing products.

This About section for a Chief Revenue Officer describes a company-focused and driven leader with the right skills to take the company forward – and to satisfy the needs of prospective employers.

Note the keywords judiciously added throughout the text – strengthening LinkedIn SEO on terms relevant to a job search.

 

Your LinkedIn Profile should contain a toned-down version of your achievements.

Your resume and LinkedIn Profile are used differently: you can distribute your resume confidentially, but you can’t take back company secrets after they’re published on LinkedIn.

So, it’s best to tune your Profile to avoid disclosing confidential details on LinkedIn (even if you’re adding the same data to your resume).

Think about it: if you’re describing extensive turnarounds or transformation projects, this could imply that your employer is struggling. Showing how you’ve improved productivity might also show that your company doesn’t hire strong teams.

To decide how to update your LinkedIn Profile without giving away corporate secrets, consider the following:

  • Are there sensitive projects (such as a restructuring) you shouldn’t mention online?
  • Do your achievements contain metrics, such as revenue or new customer volume, that are only known to company insiders?
  • Would any of your accomplishments tip off competitors and give them an unfair advantage?
  • Have you participated in “undercover” growth initiatives or M&A strategies not yet announced?

If any of these are true, consider removing the details or referencing them in a more “general” manner.

 

Your company email address should be changed to ensure access to your LinkedIn account.

You may have provided your company email address when signing up for LinkedIn, but if you haven’t changed it, now’s the time.

Your employer can not only see any email coming into your account (including any messages related to your job search), but could also take ownership of your account, making it inaccessible to you!

So switch over to a different address while your job search is just getting underway. This guide will help you change your primary LinkedIn email address.

Your future self (who may soon be employed elsewhere) will thank you.

 

To summarize, updating your LinkedIn Profile while you’re still employed is a great idea – and a common step for many leaders in today’s job market.

Take a moment to ensure you’ve portrayed BOTH you and your employer in the best light, even while searching for a perfect-fit new job.

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How to Handle an Employment Gap on Your Resume

employment gap resume

Concerned about showing an employment gap on your resume?

Life happens and work gaps happen, too.

Executives, just like other candidates, often experience lapses in employment due to job searches, board work, illness, downsizing, performance, and of course, COVID.

Your resume, however, is meant to be an impressive picture of your accomplishments, value proposition, and skills – NOT the place to bring up a potentially negative aspect of your work history.

So how DO you explain a gap in employment?

Here are 5 strategies for handling the gap – both on your resume AND in your interviews: 

 

1 – Realize that gaps in employment aren’t rare.

You aren’t the only leader facing this issue.

Maybe you lost your passion for the industry – or realized the company was headed for troubled times. Some executives find themselves job hunting after realizing their employer had a much different cultural, financial, or leadership philosophy (see Regret Taking Your New Job? What to Do Next).

Business Insider even suggested applicants with resume gaps should be seen as more valuable, as they have often experienced a period of upskilling, self-reflection, or career exploration.

Of course, layoffs, mergers, or restructuring inevitably hit many industries. All of these situations are, unfortunately, very common!

You may also find attitudes toward gaps have softened (as a similar shift has occurred with hybrid work). Your gap is probably not the huge issue you might think it is.

No matter what the cause, most gaps are easier to explain in person during your interview – and some won’t even come up, especially if years have passed since you left.

 

2 – Add a brief note to your resume if your gap occurred during COVID.

If you were unemployed between 2020 and 2022, you have plenty of company.

covid employment gapThe pandemic and its impact on business disrupted many operations and left businesses reeling – with little opportunity to recover.

Many executives and senior leaders worked hard to keep the company afloat during this unprecedented time. When revenue tanked, costs soared, or supply chain issues surfaced, you may have needed to shut the doors or scale back teams.

If this happened to you, a COVID gap can be easily noted on your resume, with an entry such as “Left operation after COVID-related shutdown” under the description of your job.

Depending on the pandemic’s effect (especially in retail or restaurant businesses), you might not even need to mention why the operation didn’t survive.

 

3 – Leave a long-ago gap for discussion during your interviews.

You may fear disclosing a gap in your work history, no matter when it occurred.

However, it’s likely that recruiters or employers aren’t as concerned about a long-ago gap as you are. Downsizing and industry changes have become so common that you might not find it necessary to mention a lull in employment.

Here are situations where a gap from 6+ years ago may not be relevant (and you don’t need a resume entry):

  • You transitioned from one leadership role to the next, but were unemployed for a few months while job hunting;
  • Your executive team experienced a reorganization, and while it took a while to find your next job, you’ve been employed steadily for the last several years;
  • Most of your industry or company took a substantial hit due to circumstances beyond your control (such as the fallout from a previous recession), and nearly everyone was unemployed at that time.

In these cases, try leaving your work gap to be discussed during the interview (and plan to be ready with a brief summary).

Resist the urge to over-explain on your resume or LinkedIn Profile, unless you are presented with evidence that these gaps are hurting your job search.

 

4 – Take action if a recent (non-COVID) gap could affect your brand.

Perhaps you left a former employer of your own accord in recent years, then went back to work. In this case, you SHOULD mention the gap on your resume.

masters degree employment gapIt’s best to show this time between employers as a positive career step. For example, your work history can show an entry called Sabbatical or Master’s Degree Studies that covers the time you took to upskill, work on a special project, or attend an educational program.

You could also use Family Care to describe how you managed the needs of children, tended to an ailing relative, served as executor of an estate, or handled similar scenarios.

Don’t worry about the implications of these situations. Recruiters and employers have seen these circumstances before; you didn’t invent them!

Whatever you use, stick to the TRUTH and use a simple, concise description. (If your situation was more complex, such as incarceration or extended layoffs, consider working with a career coach to come up with an overall plan.)

The idea is to offer employers a glimpse of what may have happened, without dwelling too heavily on this aberration in your career.

 

5 – Bring the focus back to your personal brand.

Even if an employer comments on your break in employment, your best interview and job-search strategy is to emphasize what you OFFER.

If you’re prepared with a synopsis of your gap – coupled with reasons you can drive revenue, growth strategy, compliance, or technology modernization – this part of your employment will be less important.

As an example, consider these interview statements that place emphasis on the executive’s future contributions:

“It’s true that I left the manufacturing industry during a family situation that is no longer a factor in my life. I’m ready to continue delivering the same level of insight and change that took 6 of our regions to the top of the market.”

“Taking a sabbatical to re-center my career into non-profit was the best move I ever made. Combined with my development experience raising more than $7M in 2 different companies, I’m ready to lead the $25M in growth important to you today.”

 

The bottom line: no matter when and how your gap occurred, it may not be a deal breaker to employers.

Your executive resume and LinkedIn presence should always emphasize capable leadership and a strong value proposition, rather than draw attention to unrelated periods in your career.

 

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3 Quick Ways to Update Your Executive Resume

3 quick ways to update your executive resume

Professional man cheering with his hands up while looking at a computer as he updates his executive resume

Your dream job jumped out of nowhere, and you need an updated executive resume in a pinch? If it’s been some time since you’ve dusted off your file and need it NOW, here are 3 quick ways to update your executive resume and get it noticed.

  1. Find Your Focus

Winning executive resumes have a clear focus. What is it that you do best? How do you want potential employers to see you and your career story?

Having a clear job target ensures you can position yourself as the perfect fit. It’s much easier to sell yourself to employers when you develop a personal brand that showcases specific career highlights and accomplishments.

Pinpoint what you can do for an employer – what’s the one big problem you can solve? How do your skillsets, qualifications, and experience help an organization excel? Once you know your value proposition, be sure every point on your resume supports it.

Know what they need.

To truly position yourself as the one for this role, you need to know precisely what this company needs. Spending a little time upfront to research the company gives you an area of focus, so you can highlight the specifics they are looking for. Even skimming company literature and job postings is a great place to start. Pay particular attention to the keywords and phrases you see repeatedly (and mirror their language back at them!)

Showcase your achievements.

Boring job descriptions blend in with the crowd – but hard-hitting business facts and results jump off the page and demand attention! Employers want to see what you have achieved as a top leader. The best executive resumes include proof to back up the claims.

Use action words and phrases with numbers, percentages, or comparisons to describe your positions.

 

  1. Make ruthless cuts.

You only have a couple of pages to make a significant impact—every word matters. Recruiters and employers will spend approximately 6-7 seconds on the first pass of a file. Be sure the essential points don’t get lost in a sea of unnecessary words.

Edit your file and delete unnecessary content, outdated phrases, and overused words.

While your resume is about you, it should focus on what you can do for a company, not what YOU like to see on the file. Keep all points relevant to the value you offer.

Typically, executive resumes only detail work history from the last 10-15 years and run 2-3 pages in length. Ensure every role has a brief overview (what you stepped into and where you took things) and bullet your accomplishment statements.

Delete any overused words that will show up on every other file (detail-oriented, team player, outstanding communication skills). Rather than SAYING these things, give examples that SHOW how you put these skills to work to achieve results.

Be sure to leave off outdated phrases such as “references available on request” (they know and will ask if they want them). And cut any unnecessary words – can you say it in 1 word instead of 3? Do it!

 

  1. Clean up the format.

Readability is your number one goal. Most recruiters and hiring managers prefer a clean, easy-to-read format. Simple is better, with clearly defined sections, standard fonts, and lots of white space.

  • Use a format that adds interest while highlighting the specifics you want to jump OUT.
  • Use keywords to your advantage – there may be certain words or phrases you include on your file to get better noticed as a match, but your #1 priority is to optimize for the human eye. Make sure your reader’s eye is drawn to key points.
  • Add interest to your file with colour, bold text, or italics (used sparingly and strategically).
  • Avoid lengthy paragraphs or text-heavy bullet points. Make sure details are easy to skim and scan.
  • Use titled sections to organize and make it easy for your reader to find the info they seek.
  • Use numerals instead of writing out numbers and the % or $ signs instead of the words.
  • Keep the style consistent throughout.
  • Lead with results (meaning, start the statement with the result) versus burying results far within the text. Remember that readers scan left to right, so placing results near the left side of the page will make it easier to pick them out.

 

While I always recommend being prepared with an updated file on hand. When time is of the essence, these 3 quick ways to update your executive resume can help get your file into interviewers’ hands!

For more tips on crafting an outstanding executive resume, check out 7 Must-Haves for an Impactful Executive Resume.

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7 Must-Haves for an Impactful Executive Resume

7 Must-Haves

As an executive looking for your next leadership challenge, you need your executive resume to make an impact and stand out from the crowd! A dry autobiography with a list of qualifications and job tasks isn’t going to achieve that for you.

Ensure your executive resume does not read as a history of your career (looking back) but as a marketing document (looking forward) that sells a specific product (you!) to a defined target market (your dream company).

Here are 7 must-haves to create an impactful executive resume that gets you noticed for top jobs.

 

7 Must-Haves for an Impactful Executive Resume

  1. Quantifiable results.

What details are unique only to you? What information can you share in your resume that no one else can? Your results.

A list of qualifications and generic responsibilities can be found on many executive resumes. But stories, accomplishments, and challenges unique to your leadership story will help you stand out from the crowd.

Give specific examples of how you cut costs, increased revenues, or saved time (give numbers, even if they are approximate). Share about times that you overcame obstacles to achieve success, directed teams to great outcomes, or turned around operations/situations/finances.

Emphasize relevant results to the particular company you’re applying to.

Use a storytelling formula to share your results:

  • Implemented new procedures that saved the company $40K over 3 months.
  • Led a team of 12 to increase sales by 30% over the previous year.

 

  1. Leadership skills

Unique to executive-level resumes, employers want to see what you can do and how you can lead and develop a team, a division, or a business to drive results. Demonstrate your ability to manage, find, and develop talent. Speak to your ability to direct processes and budgets.

Results-driven scenarios are a great start, but executive resumes also need to highlight leadership savvy. How have you mentored, guided, or helped lead a team to success? What is your leadership style and how has that benefited others? How have your decisions improved an organization?

 

  1. Modern format with white space

We are visual creatures and make quick decisions. Your executive resume might get skipped over if you have an outdated format crammed with big blocks of text.  If the file is hard to read, key content may never be seen or read!

Recruiters and hiring managers often begin with a quick scan, spending only a few seconds on the first pass. A modern format that quickly displays key areas ensures the essentials are easy to spot. A clean format also makes it easy for a reader to track through the file and pick out big wins and relatable details.

Use an accessible format that draws attention to the most crucial information, is pleasing to the eye, includes appropriate white space, and visually sets you up as the senior professional that you are.

 

  1. An eye-catching start (professional summary)

The top one-third of your resume is prime real estate – you want to capture attention early to get your readers engaged. Start strong with a clear headline that states intent (Executive Leader ….Chief Executive Officer….or EVP of Operations are examples). Next, ensure the opening shares an obvious benefit – how can you make an impact? What are you best known for?

This is not a ‘save the best for last’ type situation – if you don’t grab attention early, readers may not stick around to read to the end.

Make the start of your executive resume easy to read with a benefit statement and 4-5 bullet points of your career highlights (with quantifiable results). Mine up some of your best and most impactful successes near the start of the file. Feed the reader the really good stuff, first!

 

  1. Core proficiencies section

Soft skills and core proficiencies should focus on executive-level skillsets like change management, people development, risk mitigation, emotional intelligence, adaptability, financial stewardship, optimization, or innovation.

Target this section of your resume to each position. Think of the essential skills recruiters or hiring committees are looking to check off their list. Aim for critical proficiencies (both hard and soft) unique to your industry (rather than generic skills like ‘team player’ or ‘detailed oriented’).

 

  1. Keywords and phrases

Although I’m sure you are also networking, using LinkedIn, and working with recruiters, there may also be times when your executive resume needs to pass through an applicant tracking system.

Write for both humans (first and foremost) but also consider the system. Both ‘readers’ need to see alignment in resume content. Consider the keywords and phrases in the target job to address in your executive resume to improve file performance.

Use the job posting as a guide. The posting includes all the words and key phrases to consider. Integrate select words and phrases organically and truthfully throughout the file.

 

  1. Work History

This seems obvious, but I must mention it….an executive resume needs more than a history of your work and a list of responsibilities. The goal is to show how each role and company contributes to your career story. How can you highlight your value and impact? Can you provide the proof?

Tell a story about your career history, but do it succinctly. Heavy detail is not as important as quality facts.

Avoid a list of duties beginning with “I was responsible for”. Instead, start points with action words such as innovated, developed, motivated, helmed, generated, or directed.

Aim for reverse chronological order and focus heavily on your last 10-15 years of experience. If you have earlier experience that is VERY relevant, there are ways to position big impacts from earlier times in the file without having to go into great depth.

 

You only have one chance to make a first impression. Be sure your executive-level resume grabs attention, engages your readers, and gives an obvious benefit, demonstrating the value and impact you have to offer a company.

For more tips and resources on crafting an impactful executive resume, visit my blog or review a list of my award-winning executive resume writing services.