Could your executive resume actually be too SHORT?

Most job hunters remember the days of single-page resumes, when hiring professionals warned them that any document daring to breach this "rule" would be quickly eliminated from consideration.

Fast forward to the rapid-fire job market of today, and you'll find that things have changed considerably.

Not only have many executives jumped ship amid volatile corporate changes, but numerous mergers, downsizing efforts, and layoffs have cluttered the employment landscape.

The result? Job hunters have more information than ever before to incorporate into an executive resume.

However, it seems that plenty of executives still sell themselves--and their resumes--short.

Consider the case of Richard* (fictitious name), an executive with a long tenure in the financial services industry.

He wanted to go after sales positions both inside and outside his industry, and possessed a solid history of wealth management experience, sales awards, and business-to-business relationship-building skills.

Yet, for all his experience, Richard was still cramming more than 20 years of sales proficiency and executive history into a single page. His resume didn't even do him the honor of providing metrics on his revenue performance, nor did it spell out how his career progression was tied to his ultimate goal, which was Vice President of Sales.

Naturally, we worked together to extract some impressive numbers (4 years in President's Club, leadership for a 10-person team, multimillion-dollar revenue growth, etc.). In the process, we discovered that his core strength (building strategic alliances) actually accounted for up to a THIRD of his department's revenue, making this skill a central theme.

Incorporating and assembling these facts made it easy for his resume to stretch out and breathe--giving space to shout his value proposition and clearly tell a story of success. In the end, his resume pushed past the single-page mark, making it much easier for the reader to digest.

If this situation sounds familiar, it's time to break out of your comfort zone and advance your resume into the 2-page arena. Keep in mind that a clean, easy-to-read design surrounded by plenty of white space can showcase your achievements, and that employers appreciate being able to quickly scan a resume for relevant information.

Here are 3 tips to jumpstart your resume-building process--and incorporate your strongest points into a powerful document worthy of your stature:

1 - Start by asking colleagues to comment on your value proposition.

You'll find that, as your career has progressed throughout different positions and companies, your brand value has remained intact. Often, you'll see major themes emerge when looking at your work history from an aerial viewpoint.

For example, natural leaders usually find that they are drawn to work environments where the team needs a strong focal point. Problem-solvers inevitably end up at companies where there are operational or process improvement issues to overcome.

Whatever your unique strengths, showcasing them on your resume--even if you typically would wait until the interview to discuss these qualities--allows employers to see how your work will have an impact on their success.

Not sure how to approach colleagues? Consider what alliance partners, vendors, or suppliers have noted about your performance.

Of course, you'll want to ensure that these qualities and capabilities take center stage on your executive resume.

2 - Write dollar-driven specifics that back up your value proposition.

Figures are the best way to demonstrate proof of your capabilities, as they provide eye-catching points that hit home for hiring managers.

Budget amounts, sales revenue, cost savings, productivity gains, and other metrics are all useful information for an executive resume.

What if your previous employer won't allow you to disclose these amounts? Consider using percentages to indicate improvements in revenue, market share, or profits that drive home the same point on your brand.

3 - Add judicious use of white space and text effects.

An understated, yet powerful presentation is a hallmark of the most effective executive resumes.

While many people opt to use a built-in Word template, doing so can reflect poorly on your leadership strengths. Formatting and visual design are key elements of an effective resume, and can require some creative thinking on your part.

Executive resume samples are readily available on the Internet, and while copying text is not recommended, looking closely at different formats will give you an idea of the best presentation for your materials.

For a clear brand message, add white space around the title of your resume, plus the section headings and individual jobs. Be sure to use boldface text to set off areas of particular emphasis.

In summary, you'll find that expanding your executive resume to 2 or even 3 pages can inspire hiring authorities to take a second look.

These steps will help you to easily expand your resume with relevant information--leaving you with a strong brand message in a just-right amount of space.

Stop Saving It All For The Interview!

Recently, I had a delightful conversation with Jennie Dorris of 5280 Magazine in Denver on the subject of (what else?) effective resumes that catch the eye of employers... and it may have been just as eye-opening for me as it was for her.

What I've found among many job hunters is this: their confidence extends mainly to the interview--meaning that they're convinced they can land the job if only their resume will make it past the gatekeeper first.

However, if you REALLY want to land interviews, you'll need to turn this idea upside down! Get that value proposition that you carry about in your head, plus your vision of that perfect interview, down on paper INSTEAD.

Why? Well, for starters, the resume presentation you have in mind (the one that holds back the good stuff) won't sway anyone enough to call you.

While you may have been led to believe that you should save your strengths for the interview, you're actually better off presenting your value proposition as fast as you can so that no one misses it.

I've always told my clients the same thing - what I'm really intent on capturing is that interview story that you're saving up, because it will make or break the reception you gain from your resume.

So, remember to take a step back, analyze what you want the employer to really know about you, and get THAT story on your resume (instead of the dry, responsibility-focused one you have now).

Give employers what they WANT on an executive resume

I've seen it yet again - a functional resume that goes to great lengths to "hide" work chronology and the current job title of the executive using it.

Of course, it's not producing any interviews, and the job hunter is desperately seeking a critique to find out where the resume has gone wrong.

Employers in today's market are savvy, seasoned, and perhaps even a bit weary. They've probably seen it all by now, including executive resumes that don't give up credible, easy-to-find information in a way that makes sense.

So, give them what they crave!

Your resume will make an ethical, professional case for you, but only if you "come clean." By this, I mean showing your full work history with dates and descriptions of what you did.

Now, if you have past (relevant!) experience that qualifies you for a new job, but you don't want the employer to miss it, add a Career Highlights section on the first page that shows this information.

However, don't peel your work chronology off in order to do this! The mistake I see many executives make is that they believe these are opposing pieces of information, instead of resume sections that complement each other.

Work history is of absolute importance to the reader of your resume. The harder you may try to "cover" something, the more an employer will react (in a negative way, that is).

If you can't figure out how to pull relevant information onto the first page of an executive resume, see samples of my work for real-life case studies.

Secrets of an Executive Resume Writer: Where to Put Key Information

Like hiring managers and recruiters, I read plenty of resumes sent to me by job hunters hopeful for a shot at a great new role. And like hiring authorities, I struggle to find the most pertinent information about each candidate as I scan through the documents.

Many professionals still adhere to resume formats that kill their chances of winning an interview, burying their most attractive credentials and making it harder for employers to see salient points.

However, it's not your fault! Setting out to write your own resume is a daunting task that throws even the most skilled writer for a loop.

Marketing managers, HR directors, and even journalists can struggle to write a successful, interview-winning resume, as they often miss key points about their own career histories and are unsure how to quickly make that critical first impression.

What truly masterful executive and professional resume writers know is that the ORDER in which your resume displays your skills can make or break the reception you get.

Here's an example: I recently received a resume from a seasoned operations executive that listed his education first, then his work history. No professional summary, just a quick list of who he'd worked for and a few numbers.

Halfway into reading it, I spotted some organizational projects that he'd led that had trimmed expenses by 30%, allowing the company to open a new facility with no extra staff! Why wasn't THIS information front and center?

In another case, I worked with an executive that had graduated from Notre Dame, plus earned an MBA from a prestigious university.

Even though his recent experience as a CFO was much more prominent than the education, these university names could be a key qualifier that resonated with employers.

Therefore, I brought this information to the forefront by noting it in the executive profile of his new resume--eliminating eyestrain for hiring managers who might be on the lookout for these notable qualifications.

My advice for you? Take a STRATEGIC look at what you offer, noting the top 3-5 qualifications, credentials, and achievements that will make you stand out among others vying for the same job.

Next, redistribute this information on your resume so that it gives an immediate impression of who you are, what you do, and why employers need YOU to solve business problems.

You'll find that, the less your reader needs to hunt for key data, the higher volume of interviews--and successful job offers--will come your way.

Job search strategy: How carving your own path leads to success

If you've read my book, How to Get Hired Faster, you know that I'm a strong advocate of finding your niche and "selling it" to prospective employers.

Now, this New York Times article features a Denver executive job hunter who did just that: he found, as many do, that job boards don't produce fast results and that he needed to widen his network.

He notes that, along the way, he became more involved in maintaining business connections. At the urging of a key contact, he initiated a dialogue with hiring authorities about an open position, even though it seemed beneath his level.

This is a key strategy that I advocate to anyone in the job market ! You'll never know if a company realizes that YOU are the solution to their business needs until you make an attempt to COMMUNICATE this message.

In the end, he was hired at a Denver-area company as a result of his conversations and connections with the CEO--after convincing the firm that his expertise could produce the business results that they sought.

What a great success story! Of course, this is proof that you can influence employers to take note of your unique skills--without chasing down job leads or relentlessly pushing the Send button to distribute your resume.

Get rid of that functional resume format - please!

I'm starting to see the resurgence of functional resumes - and this is a critical concern of mine, since they rarely, if EVER, work for job hunters.

Backtracking for a moment, the functional resume slaps all your skills and achievements onto the front page, with little mention of which employer is related to each accomplishment.

Then, in the ensuing sections, the work history is listed like this:

Operations Manager, Company A, Denver, CO, 2005-Present
Operations Supervisor, Company B, Chicago, IL, 2000-2005
Process Improvement Analyst, Company C, Littleton, CO, 1992-2000

...and so on, with NO detail under each job.

As I've mentioned here before, hiring managers have rightfully developed a strong distaste for these documents. After all, they seem to be "hiding" something with the lack of descriptions for each job, plus the detail all lumped together.

If you're trying to minimize job hopping or unrelated work experience, STOP. Take the time to analyze how you can connect your career path to the job you seek.

After all, every role you've held (yes, even the not-so-great ones) has prepared you for your current set of qualifications. Surely you can find a way to describe your job chronology in a way that makes sense.

Plus, you'll need to prepare this information for the interview anyway.

Create your resume in the classic, reverse chronological format, and pull out some selected achievements to display in the top of your document--that is, if you want RESULTS.

If you're stuck on how to fill in a career gap, search this blog or google for my articles on that subject. It's a lot easier than you think!