1. The cover letter for a senior executive 

The cover letter provides an executive with the chance to effectively communicate their value offer. No matter how impressive your cv is, it is unlikely to be seen unless it is accompanied by an equally impressive cover letter. Far too frequently, cover letters are prepared in haste and come off as though they were prepared last minute. This is a grave oversight, particularly at the executive level.

You should put as much thought and effort into your cover letter as you do into your resume, yet it is something that many senior managers find difficult to do. As there is only so much room to create a good first impression and describe why you are a good fit for the position, we have offered three basic stages to guide you through the process:

  1. THE ART OF COMPOSING YOUR INTRODUCTION (DEFINING WHO, WHY, WHAT AND HOW)

WHO?

The manner in which you approach the recruiter or employer in your initial greeting might reveal a great deal about you to him or her. It will indicate to the recipient that you have completed your due diligence fully if you spend time studying the identity of the hiring expert and send the email specifically to them, but using “Sir or Madam” might sound generic, lazy, or underprepared. Using Google or LinkedIn, you may simply locate the name of the recruiting manager who is looking for candidates. However, even if you are unsuccessful, demonstrating that you have worked more than others to do your study can set you apart.

WHY?

Your cover letter is your opportunity to address why you want to join  that particular firm rather than at any other organization in general. Because of this, it is critical to customize your cover letter and specifically include the name of the firm inside the text, followed by a short description of what it is about them that you are interested in learning more about.

WHAT?

In addition, you must utilize the cover letter to explain to the company what you can do to benefit them. In order to do this, you should provide the recruiter with an overview of your past, which will motivate them to discover more by reviewing your linked CV.

HOW?

Make certain that you begin with a powerful introductory paragraph that is filled with strong verbs throughout. You have one chance to create a first impression on the recruiting manager, and that is via your cover letter. Instead of just highlighting your personal brand, you want to illustrate how it connects with the organization’s and how you can utilize your abilities to make an effect at the firm and assist them in achieving their corporate objectives.

  1. WRITING THE MIDDLE SECTION OF YOUR ESSAY (VALUE AND TRAITS)

VALUE: The major emphasis of this part should be on communicating your real potential to the prospective employer. After doing research about the company’s objectives, successes, and possibilities, you should articulate how you intend to assist to the success of the organization. When applicable, use exceptional performance figures in your argument to strengthen your case.

TRAITS: Describe how your personal characteristics make you a good fit for the position and distinguish you from the competitors. In order to be considered for the post, you must present oneself as the best potential candidate by use strong words. This is an opportunity to exhibit your brand and illustrate how your brand aligns with the business’s culture and the goals the firm is attempting to accomplish via its operations.

  1. WRITING AN IMPACTFUL CONCLUSION, EDITING IT, AND SENDING IT TO THE RECIPIENT.

CONCLUSION: Your cover letter must pique the reader’s interest and compel them to learn more about you—either via your CV or by setting up an interview—by the end of it. Remember to include a strong call to action at the conclusion of your cover letter, directing the reader to either request an interview or refer them to your CV. The use of proper spelling and grammar is required. 

EDITING: In order for recruiters and prospective employers to assess your fundamental writing abilities, your cover letter must be well-written. When faced with a huge number of candidates, the first step for recruiters is to eliminate those who have made simple spelling, grammatical, and typographical mistakes. Consequently, it is critical that you reread your cover letter, or that you have a buddy proofread it with you.

SENDING: When sending your cover letter through email, it is recommended that you copy/paste your cover letter into the body of the email rather than attaching it as an attachment. Most hiring managers will not read a cover letter that has been attached to an email, which is a typical error made by executive candidates.

Keep in mind that you will only have a few moments to capture the reader’s attention, so make the most of every opportunity. The writing of an amazing cover letter might be difficult, but it also can be the difference between obtaining a job and not landing a job.

Every time CEOs tell stories about their job hunt and the career papers they want, the issue that has been on their minds for years comes up…

Is it really necessary for me to have a cover letter, and is it actually being read?

Several executives will say that they individually do not read applicant cover letters (for a variety of reasons, including the fact that they are often poorly written, sound canned, are not customized, and so on). Another group of people will tell me that they do review them—some before they read the CV and some others once they read the resume—and that they are looking for consistency between the two papers as well as interest in their business and job.

They also tell me that a targeted and well-written cover letter that complements the resume or CV would draw their attention more than a candidate who provides a cover letter that is badly written or does not supply one at all, according to them.

So, can a cover letter help you stand out from the crowd and be more successful in your hunt for a job? The answer is yes, in certain cases, with some companies and some executive search firms. There are no absolutes in the job search, and you will never recognize which employers or executive recruiters are interested in reading your letter unless they specifically state so (which they do not typically do when responding to a job posting). There is no such thing as an absolute in the job search.

When it relates to cover letters, on the other hand, the following suggestions will help you figure out what to do.

  • In general, retained and contingency executive recruiters are not interested in long cover letters; in fact, some will not read a cover letter at all, preferring to dive directly into the resume.

They do, however, recommend that a short introduction be included in the email body.

A brief introductory email (with your resume or CV attached) is recommended for executives who are seeking executive positions. The email should include the following information: the executive role you are searching, your geographic preference, your reason for being on the job market, whether you are open to relocation, and so on. Also, please remember that if you have a mutual contact who has suggested you, it is beneficial to also include the information in the opening line and even the subject line of your email.

As an aside, I’d like to point you that I personally know senior recruiters who prefer to get a longer cover letter (but just one page in length). As a supporting document, they use the letter to introduce themselves (their ROI credentials), get a sense of the person behind the “facts,” and learn how they communicate in writing—all of which, they claim, helps them get to understand the executive a little better when they are initially screening documents and evaluating proposals.

  • In accordance with surveys conducted over the years in the career industry, two-thirds of recruiting decision-makers will read the cover letter you submit with your resume.

Some companies will read your cover letter first, while others will read it after they have reviewed your resume or curriculum vitae. Some employers will not read your cover letter at all. It boils down to personal taste, as it does with a lot of things in life. Some job listings or applications request that you provide a cover letter as well as your resume or CV. That is always a no-brainer. Even if other employers don’t mention it, don’t assume that your letter will be ignored if they don’t specifically request it. As a result, unless otherwise instructed, always include a cover letter—especially when applying for positions that have been advertised.

  • Writing targeted, compelling letters that explain how you and your target employer are an extremely good mutual fits is step number three.

Prepare and add a targeted one-page cover letter or eNote (approximately 150 words or fewer inserted in the body of your email message) that entices your readers to examine your resume and desire to learn more about you and your qualifications. Introduce yourself and your skills with an attention-grabbing phrase that highlights your unique value offer. For example, if you want a CEO with extensive turnaround leadership experience who can restore operational and financial performance in order to achieve sustainable, profitable development, my knowledge is available to you.

Alternatively…if you have a connection:

Company X’s Vice President of Sales, John Marland, advised that I contact you about your company’s need for a Chief Marketing Officer, which I did.

Keep your letter’s content short and to the point, and provide concrete instances of your contributions (at least a handful) and abilities. Match their requirements with your promise of value, and identify the return on investment you will provide.

Conclusion: You would not want to miss out on an opportunity because you failed to provide a cover letter for the hiring authority or executive recruiter who views cover letters to be an essential component of the job search procedure in your job application.

  1. Executive resume or curriculum vitae

Even though your executive bio can be thought of as your “marketing brochure,” or an opportunity to highlight your personal brand, and your cover letter can be thought of as an opportunity to demonstrate your value proposition, your executive resume or CV can be assumed of as your “product specifications.” When it comes to standing out in today’s competitive job market, a solid résumé is not always sufficient. So, what are the elements that make up the excellent executive resume or curriculum vitae? Our top tips for what creates a flawless executive CV are listed below:

SPELLING AND GRAMMAR GET AN A+ IN THIS ESSAY.

This is such a no-brainer that you may be surprised that we include it in a handbook geared for executives, but sadly, we believe it is our responsibility to mention it. Too many errors are made on resumes, especially on executive cv’s, and you want to be completely certain that this does not relate to you. During the course of reviewing your resume, if a prospective employer or search consultant notices any errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation (including typos), your application will be discarded and confined to the boundaries of the trash can. While this may seem harsh, especially for a single spelling mistake, the errors may have a negative impact on your brand and reputation by causing the reader to believe that if your cv contains careless errors, your work will most likely follow suit.

IT CONTAINS THE COMPLETE STORY.

Numerous factors may contribute to having a gap, or a series of gaps, on your CV. Here are some of the most common. Consider returning to school for a Master’s degree; maybe you spent some time tending for a beloved one; or perhaps you took a year off to serve for a charitable cause. Taking time away from one’s job is something that many professionals do on a regular basis. If you have completed this, it is critical that the time is accurately represented on your CV. Having several, lengthy gaps in your job history with no explanation might raise red flags in the eyes of a search consultant or internal hiring team, but there is a simple solution to this problem. To do so, just add a new part to your resume titled “Volunteer Work” and include any freelancing tasks or newly gained skills that you worked on within that time frame. Make certain that your resume presents the whole picture, rather than leading the reader to believe the worst.

IT MAINTAINS A SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE FORMAT.

It is a well-known reality that a recruiter only has a limited amount of time to review the large number of applications they get, thus it is critical that the information on your resume be easily accessible. In order to do this, CEOs should avoid using elaborate layouts and instead use standard typefaces and font sizes. No matter how much work experience you have, the typical resume should not be more than two pages in length in the majority of circumstances. In order to properly direct the reader’s attention to essential information, white space must be utilized liberally. Prepare your resume in a basic word format that is suitable with most computers, and avoid using tables, templates, charts, headings and footers since these elements are prone to get jumbled when using a computer that is not up to date with the latest technology. It ensures that one’s personal branding is obvious and consistent. Having a source to your professional online profile can be a great way to provide recruiters and potential employers with additional information that is not included on your resume in today’s digital age. Because resumes are often transmitted and read through computers these days, providing the link to your professional online profile could be a great way to provide recruiters and potential employers with additional information that is not included on your resume. In the event that you are being evaluated for a position despite the fact that you do not include a link to your professional internet presence, recruiters  will Google you to learn more about you. Incorporating a connection may reduce time for both the recruiter and the hiring manager, as well as prevent identity theft.

Maintaining a consistent identity and brand across all media is also recommended, whether it is on LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, or any other social networking site where you do business is also recommended. Use the same name in all of your online accounts, even if you use a middle name or a short form of your name on your CV.

INSTEAD OF JUST LISTING RESPONSIBILITIES, IT HAS QUANTIFIABLE RESULTS TO SHOW FOR IT.

It is critical that you use a selection of quantifiable accomplishments and that they are represented in a legible manner in your resume. If the information is presented in a block of thick writing, the reader will be put off. Instead, it is preferable to highlight your accomplishments in two to five bullet points per position, with a stronger focus on your most recent accomplishments than your previous ones. Metrics may be a powerful tool for capturing the attention of a search consultant and making a positive first impression. Remember that references pertaining to your accomplishments should not be disclosed or made available. At a later point in the application process, you may change your application information.

IT HAS BEEN OPTIMIZED FOR KEYWORDS.

It is critical that you examine and revise your CV for each new chance if you want your candidacy for an executive position to have the most possible effect. Including any keyword phrases or industry related buzzwords in the paper is an important part of this process (without overdoing it).

Keywords play an important function in candidate tracking systems (ATS), and they may help your application get beyond the first step of exclusion and into the hands of a human being for review. However, regardless of whether or not your prospective employer has an applicant tracking system, keywords might assist you in highlighting your abilities and expertise.

COMPANY DESCRIPTIONS ARE INCLUDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

As much valuable information as possible should be included in your resume when it is written for a particular position. Directorship of a big, multinational corporation differs significantly from that of a small or mid-sized business. To avoid any misunderstandings on your CV, make this point abundantly apparent. Including this information on your resume might be as easy as copying and pasting a phrase from your company’s “About Us” section on their website onto your resume. Providing a business description may also be handy in that it enables you to inform the recruiter about the sectors in which you have previously worked, which can be beneficial.

IT MAKES USE OF AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RATHER THAN AN OBJECTIVE STATEMENT TO MAKE ITS POINT.

Many mediocre executive resumes begin with a generic aim such as “an executive seeking new chances to use my talents,” which adds nothing of value to your cv and takes up precious page space on the page where it should not be.

As an alternative, executives are recommended to begin with an executive summary, which is more akin to an elevator pitch, and which briefly conveys who you are and what you are seeking in a succinct and understandable way It should also emphasize your primary areas of interest as well as how you would add value and return on investment to a prospective employer.

PRONOUNS ARE NOT USED IN THIS VERSION.

Resumes should never be expressed in the third person, even if your resume was created by someone else. On the other hand, pronouns should never be used in a resume. Use of “I” and other pronouns on the page not only seems out of context, but it also takes up valuable page space that might be utilized more efficiently elsewhere.

“Does this seem like a nice resume?” has long been a frequently asked question. However, it is hard to provide a satisfactory response to this commonly asked issue without first comprehending the individual’s professional situation. It is possible to have an”excellent” executive CV for a number of different reasons. What counts most is whether or not it is a successful resume, which is far more difficult to accomplish.

Begin by posing the question, “What is your objective?” The response to that question serves as the foundation for the creation of the resume. To accomplish its goal, your CV must be aspirational as well as historical in nature.

It ought to be seen as a strategic document that will assist you in getting where you want to go in the future. When writing an executive resume, it is important to keep this in mind since it is what ultimately distinguishes a decent CV from an effective one. As you begin to update your own, here is some advice on what you should keep in mind while writing an efficient strategic resume:

  1. FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT IS AN EVOLVING DOCUMENT.

Your CV, as well as the achievements that are stated on it, should vary in tandem with your changing objectives and experience. To keep records of your achievements in an efficient manner, you should maintain an up-to-date, continuing record of the things that you’ve accomplished and for which you have earned acknowledgment on a daily basis, rather than a weekly or biweekly list. When the time comes for you to refresh your resume, you will have a list of good material from which to draw inspiration.

  1. YOUR EXPERIENCE DOESN’T CHANGE; WHAT DOES CHANGE IS WHAT YOU IMPLEMENT.

Consider everything you put as achievements on your resume through the lens of “Does this contribute to my strategy?” while creating your resume. If it does not, it should be removed and replaced with material that is relevant to your professional objectives. You only have a limited amount of room on an executive cv to include a few achievements for each post you’ve had, so why include anything that doesn’t benefit you? Adopt your approach and only draw attention to those aspects of it that will help you go where you want to go!

  1. UNDERSTAND YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

In various positions and sectors, different metrics are necessary to consider. When it comes to advertising, you have such key performance indicators that are crucial, but when it comes to finance, the measurements are totally different. You should be aware of the ways in which things are measured in a particular profession, as well as the types of language that are used to explain those measures. For those considering a career shift, a career consultant may be an excellent resource since they understand how to compose for hiring managers  depending on the sector and function in which you are interested.

  1. CENTER YOUR ATTENTION ON Achievements, NOT RESPONSIBILITIES…AND BE AWARE OF THE DIFFERENCE.

Whenever it comes to producing an executive CV, my sole hard and fast guideline is to emphasize achievements rather than obligations as much as possible. The work is described by its responsibilities; your achievements are described by your achievements. The influence that each prospective applicant had in their past roles is of particular importance to recruiters at the senior level; thus, it’s critical that this comes through strongly in your resume.

  1. DON’T BE Frightened TO BRAG ABOUT YOURSELF.

Beginning at an early age, we are taught not to thrust ourselves forward in order not to come out as arrogant or pretentious. Most seasoned executives I know are comfortable selling everything, but when it comes time to sell themselves, they are apprehensive about the prospect. Talking about oneself works against a number of our ingrained beliefs and practices. When it comes to your resume, you must embrace it! On your CV, you can only express yourself in such a manner that it demonstrates what makes you the most qualified applicant for the position and what you can add to the firm.

  1. UNDERSTAND THE ACTUAL VALUE OF THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE.

People often have difficulty comprehending the unique value they might provide to a business simply because they are too near to see it for themselves. Since they come so effortlessly to us, we tend to take for granted the things we do really well. Before you begin writing your resume, it is beneficial to take a minute to focus on what you do well and how you do it in order to identify your unique selling point, which is the way you address issues and problems in the workplace.

Your cv is a crucial component of your professional toolkit. As a marketing tool, you are positioning yourself for the future when you use one. A targeted executive resume that shows where you want to go rather than merely where you have been will position you for the proper chances and help you stand out from the crowd as a potential candidate.


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