Duties and responsibilities do not belong on a senior executive resume. Accomplishments are the only thing that matters.

Any young manager’s  rise through senior management to perhaps as high as the C-level suite, cuts through many phases of functional management disciplines using skills and abilities.

In the beginning, a cub employee soon after graduation, works hard to be recognized for duties and responsibilities well done. It’s goal number one, just to stand out with anything. The resume, in that early career climb, will detail how well tasks are accomplished; it will list character strengths and core competencies. Anything to get recognized, like the 12 hour days, and the above-and-beyond attitude. Soon after making management level, the resume should begin to take on more of an achievement tone mixed with  higher level responsibilities and accountabilities and less of the junior level skills like communications, team player and computer competencies.

Soon thereafter, as the junior manager rises to senior manager and eventually to executive, the resume takes on a much different feel. Notice how the term manager gives way to terms like Executive, President/VP, Director, etc? These titles are the result of those medals pinned to your chest. The SKILLS AND ABILITES heading is replaced by an ACCOMPLISHMENTS heading. At the executive level you have that history of accomplishment or you wouldn’t be there.

This highlights a perfect example of the need to manage your resume as you rise through the ranks. Instead of just updating your latest job on the top end of your resume, do a total review how your position becomes more top-end centric.  And even if you have been a successful VP driving sales for five years and you are being considered for a C-Level position… you should make sure your resume evolves showing less tasks and more specific bottom-line results. Here are a few “management” level terms that should be removed and replaced with “executive” terms and specific details on the executive resume.

1. Strong Communications Skills – this is a given. No need to state this.
2. Excellent Organizational Skills- what executive doesn’t have these skills.
3. Computer Proficient – of course you are.
4. Team Player- this a manager level or lower. As an executive you become a leader.
5. Managed teams of employees – this is assumed. What did the teams accomplish under your leadership? This where the resume stands out.
6. Exceeded Expectations – means nothing. You make your numbers or you don’t. Give specifics. And if you didn’t, this is another issue addressed at another place on the resume.
7. Budget Management – should be more like P&L accountability.

You get the idea. The resume morphs during your career. Keep upgrading to leadership from management. And begin the process early in your career rise.

Happy hunting,

Chet Baker