Workplaces in the tech vendor space leave no room for the less than exceptional and this standard first applies to your CV. Knowing that the competition at an Executive-Level is tougher than ever, it’s crucial that you utilise your CV as an ultimate reflection of your personal brand. Your CV should not be a simple rundown of skills, educational attainment, areas of expertise and employment history; it must showcase your ‘edge’ as a competent and efficient individual.

Most of the Executive-Level CV’s spread across my desk don’t do the applicant’s expertise and achievements justice. As a professional, you must understand that a CV is more than just listing your experiences and narrating your personal data – it is about quantifying all CV contents to highlight the value you can contribute to the organisation’s growth and success.

Professionals who attained the Executive tag are measured using completely different criteria and your CV needs to match this. To give you a fresh perspective regarding your CV presentation, I wrote some tips to help you secure an Executive-Level position in your desired company.

1. Conformists find it difficult to make it to the cut

Even professionals commit the mistake of making a standard CV format that presents only a list of experiences. It may seem like a common knowledge, but it is often surprising given that key expertise and achievements have not been eloquently expressed.

Executive-Level CVs should be articulated in the most concise and thoughtful way possible. As a starter you can follow a ‘challenge–actions– results’ structure and measure your execution and accomplishments in numbers wherever they will most likely fit.

2. Overlook objective statements

Far from what professionals typically do, never outline your career objectives. At the Executive-Level Managers are more concerned about hiring professionals who know their value in the company, so don’t waste the first few lines of your CV introducing your objectives. Instead, write a brief overview of yourself and your top three achievements that will feature your expertise. With this, you will only need roughly 15 seconds to capture their attention.

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3. Keep it simple and concise

Do not highlight your entire career. Your CV should not appear as an autobiography or a dissertation of your life. Your CV should only highlight your last 10 to 15 years of experience, focusing on what you achieved and brought to your business’ development. Provide a snapshot of the talent that would make Hiring Managers go after you. Your CV should be about retelling your success story as a competent professional and highlighting your value as a skilled worker.

4. The longer the better perspective

Avoid essay-style CVs. Since the birth of smartphones and other similar gadgets, Hiring Managers view CVs using small devices… not the ideal tool for reading an essay is it? Come up with a CV that will capture and hold their attention without stressing them with too many words. Use dot points, concise yet substantial statements, easy-to-see highlights, and plenty of white space where their eyes can find rest. Essentially just get straight to the point and make it obvious why you are a fit.

5. Disregarding the value of a cover letter

Your cover letter is your CV’s booster. It should provide additional branding value and underscore the unparalleled level of experience you can bring. Making your CV succinct is imperative but the role of your cover letter is to give you an opportunity to sell your value before they even go through the context and details of your achievements.