Executive resume template

For directors, vice presidents and C-level leaders. It opens with an executive profile and leadership highlights, sizes every role by revenue and headcount, and has room for board and advisory work, the things executive recruiters screen for first.

Templates

Executive resume (document): A polished resume for directors, VPs and C-level leaders that leads with P&L scale, board experience and transformation results. Suited to executive search and design-friendly employers; use the ATS-friendly resume for online applications.
Modern resume (document): A bold one-page resume with a coloured header and highlights section that stands out to design-friendly employers and in referrals. Use the ATS-friendly resume for online applications.

How to use these templates

Open the executive resume and paste in your current CV or LinkedIn profile.
Give the AI the scale of each role: revenue or budget, headcount, countries and who you reported to.
Ask it to "rewrite the highlights as four results with figures". Check every number against what you can defend in an interview.
Download as Word for executive search firms, who often reformat CVs before presenting them to clients.

What executive recruiters look for

State the scale of every role in one line under the title, such as "$450M revenue, 1,200 staff, reporting to the CEO". Without it, a reader cannot judge the size of your results.
Write results, not responsibilities: revenue growth, margin points, cost taken out, acquisitions closed and integrated.
Two pages is standard for executives. Compress anything older than about 15 years into an "Earlier career" line.
List board, non-executive and advisory roles in their own section. They signal governance experience that a CEO or CFO search will ask about.
Make your LinkedIn headline and experience match the resume; retained search firms check both.

Frequently asked questions

How long should an executive resume be?

Two pages for most senior leaders, occasionally three for a long board career. Page one should carry the profile, highlights and current role.

Should an executive resume include a summary?

Yes. A three or four line executive profile that names your level, industry, scale and signature strength is what search consultants read first.

Do I need a different resume for board positions?

Many people keep a separate board CV that leads with governance, committee work and sector expertise rather than operating results. This template is a good base for both.