Top Secret Executive Resumes: Create the Perfect Resume for the Best Top-Level Positions

316 Pages·2011·1.09 MB·English

by  Steve Provenzano

Top Secret Executive Resumes,
Second Edition:
Create the Perfect Resume
for the Best Top-Level Positions
Steven Provenzano, CPRW/CEIP
Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States
Top Secret Executive Resumes, Second © 2012 Course Technology, a part of Cengage Learning.
Edition: Create the Perfect Resume for
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iii
Acknowledgments
T
his book would not have been possible without the trust and feedback of thousands of
executives, recruiters, HR managers and career experts over the years. I’d also like to
acknowledge all those at Cengage Learning who helped to create this new edition,
especially Stacy, Jill and Mark for their creativity and input. Special thanks to my parents,
Tony and Doris; brothers Randy, Jim and Bill; and sister Grace Marie. And of course, Max the
Cat. I’d also like to thank some great friends, who’ve always been there for me: Karen
Evertsen, Joan Magic, Steve Harbaugh, Dean Gladwin and Jeff Burns.
About the Author
Steven Provenzanois president of ECS: Executive Career Services & DTP, Inc. A former cor-
porate recruiter and author of eight career-related books, he has written more than 4,000
resumes. Steven has appeared on CNBC several times, CNNfn, WGN, ABC/NBC in Chicago,
and numerous radio programs. He has also been featured in major newspapers, such as The
Wall Street Journal, Crain’s, and the Chicago Tribune. He is a Certified Professional Resume
Writer (CPRW) and Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). His work is
endorsed by Chicago Tribune Career Columnist Lindsey Novak and top executives at firms
such as Motorola. Website: www.Execareers.com. For a free resume analysis, send your resume
in confidence to [email protected], or call toll-free 877-610-6810 or 630-289-6222.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii
Chapter 1
The Power of Now: Determine and Market
Your Career Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Getting Started: Your Personal Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Chapter 2
Organizing a High-Impact Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Functional Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Combination Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Distinguishing Yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Keeping Your Resume Honest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Resume Essentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Name, Address, Phone Number and Email
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Job Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Company Names and Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Job Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Licenses and Certifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Professional Memberships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Eliminate from Your Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Salary Requirements/History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
“Resume” at the Top of the Page or “References
Available Upon Request” at the End . . . . . . . . . .19
Reasons for Leaving a Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Religious or Political Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Any Negative Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
A Photograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Optional Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Objective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Military Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
A Personal or Interests Section
Age and Marital Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
One Page or Two? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
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Contents
Chapter 3
The Proactive Executive Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Chapter 4
Title or Objective? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
The Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
The Objective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Chapter 5
Market Your Skills in the Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Pack It In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Keep It Relevant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
The First Paragraph = The First Impression . . . . . . . . . . .32
A Constantly Changing Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Chapter 6
Developing Your Career History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Chapter 7
Education: Market Your Best Credentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Chapter 8
Designing an Executive Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
What Typeface? What Size? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Bullet Points and White Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Line Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Placement of Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Printing Your Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
What Color Paper? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Chapter 9
Electronic Resumes and the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Formatting Tips for Electronic Resumes . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
The Best Employment Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
The Importance of Your LinkedIn Profile . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Chapter 10
Networking and Using Your Resume Effectively . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Most Important: Build Your Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Your Current Employer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
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Contents
Your Company’s Competitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Trade and Industry Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Selecting Recruiters, Headhunters and
Employment Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
The Growth of Internet Recruiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Trade and Newspaper Want Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Alumni Career Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Career and Job Fairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Pursue the Job Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Cold Calling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
The Informational Interview: A Back-Door
Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Chapter 11
At Last: The Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Research the Company and Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Practice Your Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Present a Professional Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Arrive on Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Be Positive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Don’t Be Nervous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Downplay Personal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Likability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Stay on Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Chapter 12
Motivation and Inspiration: Get Your Career in Gear . . . . . . . . . .71
How to Keep from Being Your Own Worst
Obstacle in the Job Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
How to Retrain Your Brain for Change . . . . . . . . . .73
Networking Tips and Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Adopt These 10 Traits, and You’ll Have People
Knocking Down Your Door, Trying to Do
Business with You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Harness the Power of Networking©:
Easy Steps to Make Your Connections
Count! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
You Are Not Alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
viii
Contents
Interview Tips and Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Ten Good Ways to “Tell Me about Yourself”:
“If Hollywood Made a Movie about My Life,
It Would Be Called...” and Nine More
Memorable Answers to This Dreaded
Job-Interview Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Make-or-Break Interview Mistakes: To Get on HR’s
Good Side, Avoid Certain Behaviors. A Major Faux
Pas, and Your Name Gets Crossed Off That List of
Potential Candidates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Chapter 13
Cover Letter Essentials and Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Close the Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
General Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Writing the Cover Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Track Your Progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Reference Sheet Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Salary History Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Chapter 14
Case Study: Before and After Resume Examples . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Chapter 15
Executive Resume Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285
Websites, Books, Listings and Catalogs . . . . . . . . . . . .285
Job Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286
Networking Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .287
Additional Job Search Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .287
10 Strategies for Planning and Executing the
Job Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .290
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .291
ix