You can always update your old resume, or buy a book on writing an executive resume for senior SITG executives. However, later in this chapter we have examples of resumes for this purpose, and recommendations to three top proven resume writing professionals.
If you are a “branded” SITG C-Level job seeker, graduated from a big name school (ideally with an MBA), and have worked for top branded companies, count your blessings. If your disposition is pleasant and you are not arrogant, you have quite a combination of positives going for you in seeking an SITG job with a middle market PEG. Additionally, if you have represented branded products, not job hopped or made a questionable job change or two, your resume will automatically attract the attention and interest of a certain number of PEG hiring authorities.
However, especially in a tight job market, a less stellar resume is typically viewed differently if your degree is from a “minor” branded school. If your functional employment history has been with non-branded companies or those ranked below the leaders in their respective industries, your resume must focus on your roles in goals achieved, metrics results, and contributions to employer growth. PEGs will notice your resume numbers rather than adjectives. Focus on numbers such as: KPIs, cutting dollars wasted, improvement metrics, percentage sales increase, and profitability. Lean, no-nonsense, action-oriented resumes.
You can’t expect your resume alone to get you hired for a skin in the game job opportunity, but done well, it’s a critical first step. Your goal is to get a face-to-face interview with a middle market PEG hiring authority whose company is a match with your skills, experience, and interests. If you managed a brassiere manufacturing company, you will probably not be a fit with a missile systems designer and manufacturer. When I was a Vice President with Weidemann Consultants in New York City years ago, there was a saying, “Macy’s wants Gimbels.” Like attracts like. Remember, key references from your most recent employment periods will be asked to verify your resume claims.
Produce a resume stating facts and details of your results that you are prepared to back up in an interview with knowledgeable references and related documentation such as a self-rating quiz. Provide metrics, percentages, monetary values, and numbers related to your stated results.
Be sure to sufficiently identify each of your past employers in the line following the company’s name. List sales volume, manufactured or distributed products, or types of services, markets, various locations, and parent company’s name. A pet peeve of mine is that numerous resumes I receive do not explain what the applicant’s company does.
Avoid using jargon. Use language understandable by most business people. Be concise, curb using too many adjectives. Instead use data, numbers, and metrics. “Cut to the chase”. I wouldn’t worry about length since your PEG target employer is in the due diligence business. Their approach is typically the more info they have, the better hiring decision they will make. Aim for brevity, facts, data, numbers, results, and sufficient detail.
Based on your past affiliations, the more branded names in your resume of products, employers, vendors and markets, the more interest to the reader. Brand names typically connected with any of the PEG’s current portfolio companies or targeted acquisition prospects are preferred.
Be careful of putting specific sensitive or confidential financial information in your resume about your current or most recent employer if you are under a confidentiality agreement.
I like to see “reason for leaving” after each employer change and state the employment period. Many promising SITG senior executive job offers are lost if this information is misinterpreted. Your job change explanations (covering the last twenty years or so) should be credible and optimally verifiable.
Regardless of your motive, never omit former jobs from your employment history. You have to behave as if fifteen of your former employer references will be checked by the PE firm before they make you an offer. Social media sites like LinkedIn will probably contain most or all of your former bosses’ bios free for the PEG’s perusing. So again, be prepared for PEG cold reference calls about you.
Does your current resume and cover letter adequately show your real overall financial values, results, and potential contributions in metrics? Depending on your C-Level function, you should touch on productivity measurement versus industry norms in Sales, Operations, Marketing and Support productivity. Also indicate when you have been employed in any PEG owned portfolio companies in similar industries and related markets to your own career achievements. Mention if you have previously put your money into a portion of the company’s equity.
Remember to write a frank and honest resume, especially regarding your job titles, experiences, and accomplishments. I advise most executives to ask their most important references in their most recent jobs to provide them with a written one paragraph reference. I always recommend they send each reference a copy of their resume and a reference request confirming the resume statements covering the time they worked with the job seeker. If the resume is not truthful and contains gross exaggerations, most references will not agree to confirm their mutual experiences with the resume’s statements. Numerous times I have emailed a job candidate’s resume to the reference I am checking and the first thing I am asked is, “Who wrote this bull crap, anyway? It’s mostly baloney!”
Do you need a proven first class executive resume writer to help produce an effective resume? Below are proven experts I recommend if you want top notch help producing a high quality resume and cover letter.
Mark S. Freedman, Director, The Resource Planning Group, Inc.
http://www.resourceplanning.com/#!bios/c20r9
Ph. 1-413-458-9462
Email: [email protected]
Mark is skilled in creating a cutting-edge personal branding presentation as well as the traditional resume format. He applies that expertise in both consulting assignments and resume production.
In 1994 Mark founded the Career Strategies Division that provides resume and cover letter development and production, direct targeted mailing, and search strategy coaching and counseling to senior level executives worldwide. His clients represent all line and staff functions within a broad range of industries. They include food service, biotech and pharma, consumer products, manufacturing, hospitality, telecommunications, IT and high tech, and sports management. He has established alliances with national job banks and outplacement organizations to provide resume consultation and development to their clients and members.
Previously, Mark served as Executive Director of large and medium-sized human service agencies in California and New York. He has developed leading-edge programs and procured the grant funding for persons with a broad range of disabilities to maximize their potential and integrate them into an independent life in their communities.
Mark has been a featured speaker at many New York City metropolitan area organizations on the topic of executive job search strategy. He has been published in Resumes! Resumes! Resumes!, Career Press, 1997, and Resume Winners from the Pros, Wendy S. Enelow, Impact Publications, 1998.
He received his B.A. from California State University, Hayward, pursued his M.A. at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and earned credits toward a Ph.D. while teaching Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Jan Melnik M.A., MRW, CCM, CPRW, Specialties: Professional Career Management, Interview Coaching, Job Search Coaching, and Resume Writing Services... create branded resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, critical leadership initiatives addenda, bios, and other targeted career-search tools for the highly motivated and accomplished professional... Executive Coach | Career Strategist | Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Coach |
www.janmelnik.com
Ph. 860-349-0256
Email: [email protected]
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