The best executive resume format can help you reach recruiters.
Imagine the excitement you feel when you’re contacted by a recruiter for the job of your dreams. If you want to increase the number of contacts you make, it’s important to use the best executive resume format, as well as an effective cover letter for your resume. Thinking like your recruiter will ensure you understand what they’re looking for and increase the chances they will contact you over the other candidates.
Good Searches Are Essential
When you post your executive resume bio, you need to make sure it is fully searchable to increase the chances recruiters will find you. In general, blogs can be difficult to search. However, social media sites, such as LinkedIn, are highly searchable. Always fill out your profile as much as possible to ensure your profile will hit more frequently.
Be Careful of Your Friends
You may think who you’re friends with doesn’t matter, but in the recruiting world, it really does. What your friends say and do on your social media profiles can have a dramatic impact on how recruiters and prospective employers see you. While you don’t have to cut out all of your friends, make sure photos are properly filtered and prevent your friends from posting information about you to your profile. All it takes is one bad post and it can ruin your entire reputation among recruiters and businesses alike.
Be a Thought Leader
Businesses want employees who are able to think for themselves and will be positive contributors to the workplace. For this reason, it can be invaluable to write articles for your industry, even if you submit them on an unpaid basis. Recruiters often use your name to search for published works that may be attributed to you. This will showcase you as a thought leader in your field and can increase the chances you will be recruited.
Do Some Research
Just like website content, the best executive resume format is focused on keywords. Many recruiters now use software to look for certain key words or phrases within your executive resume bio. If they can’t be found, you won’t be contacted. If you aren’t sure which words would be most useful to you, some research into your industry can help. It can also help to post different versions of your resume on various sites and see which ones perform best.
Do Your Best
It’s not all about your cover letter and resume. Many recruiters will look within companies for their top performers to attempt to recruit them for bigger and better things. While you can boost your chances by adjusting your resume and cover letter, one of the best things you can do is excel at your job. When you stand out and are recognized, recruiters will take notice.
How Lying on a Resume Cost These 5 Executives Big Time
Lying on your resume has always been taboo, but it’s a tempting prospect given the fact no one is going to check up on every little detail you claim. However, when you are putting together your executive resume bio, it’s critical to make sure every piece of information is irrefutable. Learning how resume lies have cost some executives at major companies will help you realize the importance of honesty when using an executive resume service. Scott Thompson of Yahoo
Thompson, the former CEO of Yahoo, made a major blunder on his executive resume bio when he listed his degree from Stonehill College as a computer science degree. After all, he was applying to one of the biggest Internet companies in the world. Unfortunately, his actual degree was in accounting. Once this falsehood was discovered by an activist investor, he resigned his position in May of 2014. Ronald Zarrella of Bausch & Lomb
To obtain his position as CEO of Bausch & Lomb, Ronald Zarrella claimed to have earned an MBA at New York University. While Zarrella did take classes at NYU, he never earned a degree there. In 2002, the company discovered this discrepancy; however, instead of firing him or requesting his resignation, they simply revoked his $1.1 million bonus for the year. He continued to hold the position until his retirement in 2008. David Edmondson of RadioShack
Edmondson served as the CEO of RadioShack from 2005 to 2006. On his executive resume bio, he claimed to hold two degrees, including a theology degree from Heartland Baptist Bible College that requires three years of attendance. In reality, he did not hold a degree at all and only attended the heartland Baptist Bible College for two semesters. He resigned after this was uncovered. Marilee Jones of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
One would think a prestigious university like MIT would conduct a thorough background check on their executives. However, Marilee Jones was hired as the Dean of Admissions in 1997 under the impression she held a total of three degrees. The truth is she did not have any degrees. This information was received by the university via an anonymous tip, which forced Jones to quit the position. Jeffrey Papows of IBM’s Lotus
When IBM sought executives for its Lotus project, Jeffrey Papows applied, claiming to hold a PhD from Pepperdine University. He also stated he was a black belt in taekwondo and flew airplanes while in the Marines. Unfortunately, none of these facts turned out to be true. He resigned in 2000, not because of these lies in particular, but due to sexual harassment accusations brought by a former Lotus executive.
As you can see, lying on your resume may land the job, but once these falsehoods are uncovered, the consequences can be devastating. If you’re looking for executive resume writing services, contact us. We can help you showcase your skills without feeling the need to embellish the facts.
