You can find plenty of tips and advice on resumes, but it's clear this personal pitch for executives needs to be treated differently than the average one you'll see. Laura Smith-Proulx, a credentialed, certified Executive Resume Writer and former recruiter, joins Tim Muma to help put together a knockout resume for executives, properly highlighting the achievements, accolades and skills to stand out among the other highly-qu...

As a resume writer who frequently assists executives and senior-level professionals to create thoughtful cover letters, I enjoyed talking with Leslie Stevens-Huffman of Dice.com for her insightful article, 10 Ways to Screw Up Your Cover Letter. As she notes, your job search can stall if your cover letter fails to show your value, or makes it obvious that you’re not taking the time to learn about the employer’s business. Unf...

A career biography as a job search document is nothing new; employers and recruiters have often reviewed bios as a part of a leadership or executive portfolio. In fact, don’t be surprised if you’re asked for an executive biography when submitting your resume. However, you don’t want to resort to the tired, “James has served as the IT Director of XYZ Company for 6 years” type of bio. Instead, power up your biography with the...

If your career trajectory contains a few speed bumps (such as a gap in work history or job hopping), you’re among the multitudes in this job market. Given the state of economic affairs over the past few years, most job seekers don’t fit the classic picture of a “stable” work history at a single employer the way they once did. I recently sat down with Jacquelyn Smith of Forbes.com to discuss ways of dealing with a not-so-per...

Frequently, I encounter job seekers who are trying to find out what, if anything, might be missing from their resume. Of course, they also ask what I’d do to improve it. These are valid questions, and in such a competitive market, it makes sense for candidates to request this type of feedback. However, I won’t do it. Why not? There’s simply no way, other than getting to know the twists and turns of your pr...

Does your executive resume pale in comparison to some of the powerhouses you've seen online? Is it a struggle to convey your message of effective leadership in just 2 or 3 pages? If so, a few straightforward changes can be all that's needed to transform your resume from overlooked to standout. Increase your chances of being considered for the coveted corner office by reviewing this list of must-have components for a cutting...

Creating your resume, but stumped for ideas beyond your job titles, places of employment, tasks, and education? Compelling employers to pick up the phone requires a much stronger brand message! If you haven’t focused on your ROI – the benefit companies get when hiring you – your search can go on indefinitely. You might believe that recruiters or HR managers will “get” this message from reading about your past jobs or span o...

If you’ve reviewed executive resume samples lately, you might realize there’s something missing from your own document. Does your executive resume fail to convey your value clearly – and in a matter of seconds? If so, you’ll find that a few, straightforward changes can transform you from overlooked to sought-after. Increase your chances of being considered for the coveted corner office by reviewing this list of must-have co...

Ready to make LinkedIn work harder for you… but unsure how to generate activity from the site? Confused as to why your Profile viewers never get in touch with you? LinkedIn will have a tremendous impact on your job search – generating new Connections, recruiter calls, and networking opportunities – but this only happens when you actively cultivate your Profile as a keyword-rich, career-specific presentation that wows employ...

Moved up to a new leadership role, but without a change in title? You have plenty of company. Many leadership job hunters find themselves handling the duties of a much more demanding position, despite the lack of a formal promotion. These scenarios can be difficult to present on a leadership resume – especially when you’re determined to preserve your career trajectory. Are you stuck listing your job as Manager w...