Executive Cv Writing

In traditional Executive CV Writing, the output of the process was defined by two issues:

• Quantity: often in the form of a portfolio
• Preparedness: having though through the questions that an Executive Headhunter or company board may ask

Today, much as though these aspects are key to a successful Executive Search, they are process anchors chained to the past.

Modern Executive CV Writing is based on creating a succinct and consistent business solution orientated personal profile. Once created, this can be communicated to executive headhunters and company boards seeking to fulfil senior executive jobs through both your personal network, online and in your Executive CV Writing.

Traditional Executive CV

The difference between the executive job search and that of a managerial job seeker, is that you must show the aspects for which you are to be employed throughout your job application.

While non-executives are employed to fit a company requirement, defined by the job description; executives are employed to create and deliver defined business solutions to existing company problems.

In the traditional Executive CV, the portfolio approach delivered a prepared document in which both all of the aspects of the Executive were shown, and secondly there was evidence of fore through of the process ahead, with both references and materials to support the Executive as a solid and dependable.

In the modern Executive Job Search, while these aspects have not changed, the key strategy now is in being consistently found across all media, as opposed to an active push against one executive position. The results in improved opportunity and quicker engagement

Executive Headhunters

When a company requires a new senior executive, they most often undertake the resultant Executive Job Search by briefing an Executive Search firm, also known as Executive Headhunters. They are engaged because most often the best person most qualified to deliver the required business result is presently engaged in another firm (possibly rival) achieving that exact outcome

Does this executive briefing start with a person specification or job description? No, its starts with a business briefing, the required business outcome that the company board seeks, and hence the broad-brush strategy and personal approach or cultural change that the board believe is key to delivering the business outcome.

Personal brand?

There is much talk presently about personal brand in the world of employment, but I still come back personally to the thought that not many of us want to be compared to a bar of chocolate or a bottle of shampoo.

The use of the term personal brand is used because it conveys quickly one key of modern Executive CV Writing quickly: communication of assured business delivery.

Your career history will define you as a sector specialist in a specific market, or a business leader in a type of situation: expansion, turn around, merger, etc. The question then to answer is how did you achieve these results: through building teams, through driving through on a customer focus, through disposing of non-core assets?

As in every format of the art of Professional CV Writing, attention should be paid to the form of words used in the STAR orientated write up. For instance, those who see themselves as visionary should focus on analysis associated with the Situation, while those who deliver through strong people selection and management should focus more on the Action stage.

In any personal profile and resultant Executive CV, it is key to remember that consistency of reputation and ability to deliver business solutions is more important than the message itself. Secondly, the more defined the message, the more niche headhunters will see you as, the fewer opportunities they will select you for.

Executive CV communication:

Having defined your personal profile, the next step is its communication. In previous times, the scope of finding a suitable executive to fulfil and executive position was defined by:

• The boards network
• Your personal and professional network advocates
• The executive headhunters network

Now techniques involving online search and executive selection, including Boolean search, allow the number and scope of executive candidates to be increased by three to five fold, although still the headhunter will look to place three candidates at maximum in front of their client. Hence, when your competition has increased in executive selection, it is even more essential to have a consistent personal profile, which is found in the right places.

This means it is essential to orientate your Executive CV writing towards:

• Having profiles at core professional sites: LinkedIn, Doostang
• Having a profile at core market professional sites: eg, accounting, pharmaceuticals

In previous non-executive job searches, you may have actively communicated your need for employment through your personal network. If you do this incorrectly, and start actively push marketing yourself, then your chances of employment recede: companies want good executives, and pushing makes you look like a desperate job seeker. So in any executive job search, stick to communication your results, approach and potential availability, and not in advertising your employment desperation.

Executive Job

The primary reason a headhunter will contact you in an Executive Selection is simply summarised by one statement: how you achieved your business results.

Hence, the best Executive CV Writing will ensure that your executive job search is best delivered when a headhunter easily finds you, and that your reputation, results and approach matches their client brief.

Good Luck!

About the Author

Ian R McAllister is the founder of a UK group focused recruitment and employment in skills-short professional sectors, presently covering IT, telecoms and project management. The group also provides professional candidate information and services via a series of online resources, including Professional CV and Executive CV services