The "Executive Profile" (A.K.A. "Qualifications
Summary or "Career Summary") goes directly below
the objective/resume title. This brief section consists of
one or two short paragraphs or several bulleted statements
condensing for employers your breadth of experience, major
areas of strength, and relevant highlights from your background.
This is the perfect place to really "sell" yourself,
and if done well this section can often be enough all by itself
to convince an employer to contact you for an interview.
Your profile should explain how an employer would benefit
by hiring you. It should encapsulate the key strengths you
bring to the table and convincingly address why you should
be called for an interview vs. your competition. Keep your
profile concise. You're not telling your life story here. Just
hit on whatever elements from your background are most compelling
in terms of your new career target. You will expound on these
strengths later in the resume, but in the profile your goal
is to summarize your most saleable traits, experience, and
credentials.
Before you begin your profile section, make sure you have
a solid grasp of what employers are looking for in your targeted
field. Research job ads on the Web or in the newspaper similar
to what you are looking for to identify the key skills and
credentials you offer that match employers' needs. Compare
the job ads you find and take note of similarities between
your background and frequently requested/required skills mentioned
in these ads.
Draw up a list of your top five to ten marketable skills and
accomplishments, and use this as the basis for your qualifications
summary. Keep in mind that employers particularly value executives
who can prove they have helped to generate revenue, enhance
shareholder value, improve morale, save time, cut costs, improve
service, solve problems, or further company goals. These traits
are universally valued, regardless of the industry or field
you are pursuing, so detail your most standout accomplishments
in these areas in your Executive Profile.
Reprinted with permission from The McGraw-Hill Companies,
excerpted from The
Career Change Resume by Kim Isaacs and Karen
Hofferber. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
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Karen's Bio: Karen is senior resume writer at ResumePower.com.
Her goal is to prepare clients for career advancement through
powerful resumes and career coaching services. Karen is a Certified
Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), demonstrating advanced proficiency
in the creation of winning resumes and cover letters. She has
served as the Resume Advisor on Monster.com's Resume Tips message
board and writes informative articles on how to write a winning
resume. Her passion for helping her clients achieve their dreams
is evident in every resume she produces. Karen's dynamic personality
and unwavering support help drive her clients to achieve their
goals. Karen coauthored The
Career Change Resume: How to Reinvent Your Resume and Land
Your Dream Job (McGraw-Hill, April 2003).
Karen won high praise for sharing her creative approach to
resume design as a speaker for the National Resume Writers'
Association's interactive chat.
