We want to share with all of you some Resume Tips for C-Level Executives that has been prepared for our students and alumni by BlueSteps, the career management service of the AESC that have partnered with IE.

They are also having a complimentary seminar on October 4th, 2012.  Details of the event will be posted in the IE Alumni group on LinkedIn 

Resume Tips for C-Level Executives
By BlueSteps.com
What does a C-level resume/CV look like these days? What information should it include? What information should you leave out?
Here are some tips to help you get started:

Contact Information
Don’t use an AOL email address. It may seem like a silly suggestion at first, but an AOL address will give the reader an impression of an old-fashioned, behind-the-times individual, fair assessment or not. A Gmail address is very important to have on a resume/CV. It says that you are up-to-date with technology (even if you personally are not).
Including a URL to your LinkedIn profile and to your professional website, if you have one, is also very valuable to the reader, as it is an opportunity for them to obtain additional information from these sources, while also demonstrating your familiarity with Job Search Web 2.0 tools.

Glance Factor
When recruiters or executive hiring managers first come into contact with your resume/CV they are going to give it on average a 10-second glance. Does your resume/CV pass the test? If you are unable to showcase your talent and accomplishments in such a way that they jump off the page, you may not get a second look.

Maximize Your Resume Real Estate
The most critical section of your resume/CV is the top one-fourth to one-third. This small area has to show the reader at a glance who you are, what you have done, and what you can do for them! Some refer to this section as the “profile” or “summary.” The information in this section must be clear, compelling and concise. Think of it as your marketing and branding section—it is what differentiates you from all other candidates.
This section should include:
 Two sentence overview of you the candidate. Be brief.
 Feature three accomplishments that emphasize top talents.
 Keywords.
 Your degrees, certifications, languages, and experience that relate to the potential position.

Keywords
It may seem like C-level executives wouldn’t need to worry about keywords. Wrong. Recruiters will run the resume through a keyword search, particularly if the position is in an industry where it is paramount that top-level management have expertise in certain key areas or have very specific management skills.

Experience
Avoid a list of job descriptions. Focus on your accomplishments that tell your success story. Generalities don’t make the grade. Quantified accomplishment-based statements in the experience section show a true C-level’s value. What has been the key impact you have had in each position? Express it in numbers whenever possible.

Length
Resumes/CVs today need to be read not only on computers, but also on iPhones and other mobile devices. Therefore, the resume/CV must be kept to two pages. I know, you’re a C-level executive and you deserve more space to talk about all of your accomplishments; however a longer resume just does not work today.
LinkedIn profiles and professional websites can highlight more detail. A resume/CV should highlight the last 10-15 years of experience. This helps keep the resume length inline and the focus current.

File Formats
Having various file formats is helpful. A Word document, plain text, and PDF are the most common formats that are usable in most cases. You will also want to have a complete LinkedIn profile with a professional photo, and a professional website is also encouraged.
In addition to your public LinkedIn profile, a BlueSteps.com profile will also confidentially raise the visibility of C-level executives to top global search firms.

About BlueSteps

IE Business School and BlueSteps, the exclusive career management service of the AESC, have partnered to provide you with a direct link to over 8,000 of the world’s top retained executive search professionals, as well as provide you with a suite of premium career management tools and services specifically designed for executives. As a IE Business School student or alumni, you are entitled to an exclusive discount of 30% on a BlueSteps Membership. Premium BlueSteps services are also included at no additional cost (a savings of $89 USD /year). To join Bluesteps today, contact the IE Career Management Center at careers.online@ie.edu
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