What To Include On A CEO Resume + CEO Skills

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Table Of Contents

Learn about the important requirements, skills, and keywords that should be included in a CEO resume.

Being a chief executive officer (CEO) is a highly demanding job requiring you to take on a significant responsibility. As the directing voice, you'll be in charge of growth, integrity, and the company's overall future. Your CEO resume is your passport to the executive role, so it should reflect your competency in leadership and expertise in the industry. By using a strategic approach, companies will know you have what it takes to navigate the complex challenges of the modern business landscape -- and ultimately lead them to success.

In this guide, you'll learn everything you need to include on a CEO resume, plus some important skills to help you stand out during the interview process.

If you need resume help, check out the best resume writing services to work with a professional. Then, upload your resume to ZipRecruiter to start job hunting.

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CEO Resume Example

ALLIE POWERS

50987 HOPPE COMMON. SAN FRANCISCO. CA

+1 (555) 863 1501

EXPERIENCE

FAHEY GROUP

09/2019 - present

Philadelphia, PA/ Ceo

  • Willingness to travel locally and nationally
  • Meets regularly with community decision makers, advancing community interests in alignment with UWSN's mission and values
  • Represents UWSN with professional demeanor and thought leadership at all times with community groups, media, and other stakeholders
  • Maintains regular communications with and oversees stewardship of all major donor and affinity groups
  • Experience in developing partnerships, building teams, and conflict management/resolution

LITTEL-PARISIAN

06/2014 - 07/2019

Philadelphia, PA// Ceo

  • Organize extensive, multiple travel itineraries, including international travel, transfers, accommodation and visas
  • Arrange transport to and from external meetings and arrangement of couriers
  • Process invoices, expenses and timesheets covering different countries and currencies
  • Exceptional at developing PowerPoint / Keynote presentations for meetings on behalf of the

MENA CEO

  • Receive, screen, determine priority, and return phone calls and messages
  • Provide ad hoc admin support to the senior leadership team and understand this is part of the role and not an add on

Join The Break Community

EDUCATION

FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Collage In Management

SKILLS

  • Postsecondary and Employment Pathways
  • Previous decision-making or executive experience in fundraising, philanthropy, college athletics and/or similar industries or fields
  • Track record of compliance with all regulations and policies for philanthropic organizations and good working knowledge of guidelines and regulations affecting and governing college athletics
  • Knowledge and skills in human services' best practices, including financial management, program design, implementation and evaluation

What Is Unique About A CEO Resume?

Unlike a traditional resume, a CEO resume needs to be crafted with careful consideration to show off skills that distinguish you from other leaders in the field. Prioritizing contributions you've made to the company as a whole, rather than just as an individual, is something to include because it demonstrates your ability to think about the bigger picture. A CEO's resume shouldn't only be a summary of part positions, but more of a comprehensive showcase of a leader's journey to success.

What Should Be Included On A CEO Resume?

Let's look at what you should include on your CEO resume.

Resume Header And Contact Information

As a candidate for a CEO position, you want to establish a professional identity from the moment someone starts reading your resume. Displaying your phone number, email, and links to your professional social media makes a solid first impression and gives you credibility -- setting the tone for the rest of your resume.

Education

The education section on a CEO's resume serves as a testament to their academic background. Although these candidates aren't usually known for their education, rather their leadership and professional experience, it plays a vital role in how they achieved such success. If you have an advanced degree, list this first, as it shows you're a lifelong learner. Certifications and other academic achievements are also great things to add to this section.

Work Experience

A CEO's work experience should be the primary focus of the resume. It's important to list current and past positions that demonstrate your ability to have direct responsibility over a company's direction and performance. If you don't have any experience as an executive-level professional, such as a CEO or Managing Director, list the closest thing you have done.

Also, rather than listing job responsibilities or statistics from projects, include achievements such as revenue growth, market expansion, and strategic partnerships - anything that shows you can produce results that propel an organization to success. List as many achievements as possible, especially if you're applying to a new industry and lack specific experience.

This is also a good place to list any memberships to professional organizations. However, avoid listing all your memberships, especially ones to lesser-known clubs.

Professional Skills  

CEOs are held to high standards regarding professional skills as company leaders. Picking the most outstanding skills that show what you're best at is an effective approach to take then crafting your resume because it shows a recruiter that you can succinctly describe what you're good at. That way, they can move on to the next candidate if you don't match what the company is looking for.

What Should Be Left Off A CEO Resume?

Including everything from your professional history on your resume might be tempting, but most employers only look for experience relevant to the position you're applying for. Outdated job experience, like positions from high school or (unrelated) ones from college, should also be left off. Excluding references and non-essential training that doesn't align with a CEO's expertise are extraneous.

If you are pursing a role as a CEO, learn more about daily duties and responsibilities by checking out our CEO job description. When you are ready to apply for a role as a CEO, check out the best job posting sites.

Important Job Skills For CEO 

  • Strategic planning abilities
  • Financial knowledge and experience working with a budget
  • Ability to navigate complex business plans and situations
  • Effective communication and decision-making
  • Experience with risk management
  • Mergers & acquisitions
  • Crisis management skills, including crisis communication experience
  • Ethical leadership abilities
  • Confident public speaking skills
  • Strong analysis and innovative thinking abilities

Wondering what other things to add to your resume? Our best skills for resume guide might help.

The Bottom Line

As a CEO, you'll be responsible for handling a company's success. Your resume should reflect that you can confidently do this and demonstrate your leadership and executive skills that make you attractive to potential employers. While creating your own resume is an option, you can hire a resume-writing service to write and format a resume. It's also important to stay updated on what positions are available. Check ZipRecruiter for the latest CEO jobs!