Executive CV Strategy: Positioning & Impact
Expert guidance on crafting executive-level CVs that pass ATS screening and impress hiring panels. Based on 20+ years of HR leadership experience.
Lead with Strategic Impact, Not Job Duties
At senior levels, hiring panels don't want to know what you were responsible for—they want to know what you achieved. Transform duty-based statements into impact-driven accomplishments.
close Weak
"Responsible for managing a team of HR professionals"
check Strong
"Led 23-person HR function delivering £3.2M operational savings through workforce transformation"
Quantify Everything You Can
Numbers create credibility. They show you understand business metrics and can measure your own impact. Include revenue, cost savings, team sizes, percentages, and timeframes wherever possible.
Metrics to Include:
- trending_up Revenue generated or influenced
- savings Cost savings delivered
- groups Team/budget size managed
- speed Efficiency improvements (%)
- schedule Project timelines met
- emoji_events Rankings or awards achieved
Optimise for ATS Without Losing Humanity
75% of CVs are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems before a human sees them. But keyword-stuffing makes your CV unreadable. Strike the balance:
Use exact phrases from the job description where they genuinely apply to your experience
Standard section headings: "Professional Experience" not "My Career Journey"
Simple formatting: Avoid tables, headers/footers, images, and unusual fonts
Don't: Copy-paste the entire job spec or use white text to hide keywords
Tailor Your CV for Every Application
A generic CV signals a generic candidate. For senior roles, hiring managers expect you to demonstrate genuine interest through customisation.
Minimum customisation for each application:
- • Reorder bullet points to prioritise most relevant experience
- • Mirror the language and terminology used in the job spec
- • Adjust your professional summary to address their specific challenges
- • Research the company and reference relevant context where appropriate
Master the Executive Summary
Your summary is your 10-second pitch. It should answer: Who are you? What level are you? What's your specialism? What value do you bring?
Strong Executive Summary Formula:
"[Title/Level] with [X years] experience in [sector/function]. Proven track record of [key achievement type] including [specific example with metrics]. Known for [distinctive strength] and [another strength]. Seeking [target role type] where I can [value proposition]."
Address Career Gaps Proactively
Gaps in employment are common at senior levels—sabbaticals, caring responsibilities, consulting periods. Don't leave them unexplained.
Career break: "Career Break (2022-2023): Family commitments. Maintained professional development through [courses/volunteering/consulting]."
Consulting: List as a role with specific client achievements, not vague "freelance consulting".
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