How to improve your executive resume format for success

When working on your resume, you must devote 100% of your attention to creating the content that goes on it. Once all your t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted, you need to start considering the formatting choices you have made. Have you used the right formatting tricks to display your strengths and experiences in the best possible way on your resume?

Writing an excellent executive resume is not the easiest thing in the world. However, if you spend hours on your resume only to let all of your impressive achievements drown in a messy or boring format, it is a sad thing. Here are five things you can do to ensure that the formatting of your executive resume is perfect:

Improve the readability

Your main goal should be to place your best skills, qualifications, and achievements on the resume in a way that a hiring manager can spot them in mere seconds. You can ensure this by leaving a lot of white space on the resume. Choose a professional font and break your paragraphs down into simple sentences. Follow the short paragraphs with a bulleted list for a better impact when writing your executive resume.

Choose a modern format

A boring black-and-white resume with no quirky elements will never convince a hiring manager that you are a creative and innovative individual. If your resume still carries a list of professional references, your resume will immediately be seen as outdated by the hiring manager. Instead, go for a simple and modern format for your executive resume. Another thing that you must look out for is a resume objective statement which will make your resume seem several years older.

Let your brand shine through

Are you applying for a job in a creative industry such as fashion, publishing, or advertising? Then, your resume must be different from everyone else’s. The traditional chronological resume format in black and white will not do you any favors in the job market. When you want to showcase your brand, adding a splash of color to your resume always works. Also, you can display testimonials on your resume from your previous clients and coworkers to impress potential employers.

Use name dropping

Another thing we have seen many executives do to gain attention in the job market is to incorporate logos into their resumes. If you have provided your services for key clients or companies that are widely known in your field, you can consider displaying their logos on your resume. Use a functional sidebar to display the logos of your key clients to attract attention from hiring managers. Don’t forget to mention the names of the clients/companies in the text of your resume.

Age-proof your resume

Ageism in the hiring process is a huge problem that we help our clients fight every day. Even if you have the perfect resume, certain employers may reject you due the age bias. One of the major indications of an outdated resume is a text-dense document. Some easy ways in which you can age proof your resume is by adding color, using visual elements, and incorporating unique elements. Following the reverse-chronological format will also help you fight ageism in hiring.