Executive Resume

---
name: executive-resume
description: "Writes executive resumes with achievement-focused content, leadership narrative, and ATS-friendly formatting."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Executive Resume

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Write an executive or senior-level resume focused on achievements and leadership impact
- Create an ATS-friendly resume that also impresses human reviewers
- Craft a career narrative that positions you for your next role
- Update an outdated resume with modern formatting and achievement-focused language

**DO NOT** use this skill for entry-level resumes, academic CVs, or creative portfolios. This is for experienced professionals and executives who need to demonstrate strategic impact and leadership outcomes.

---

## Core Principle

AN EXECUTIVE RESUME IS NOT A HISTORY OF YOUR JOBS — IT IS A CASE STUDY IN LEADERSHIP IMPACT, WHERE EVERY LINE ANSWERS: "WHAT DID YOU CHANGE, BUILD, OR IMPROVE, AND WHAT WERE THE MEASURABLE RESULTS?"

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Target role** | "What role or type of role are you pursuing?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Career history** | "Share your last 3-5 roles with titles, companies, dates, and key responsibilities." | No default — must be provided |
| **Top achievements** | "What are the 3-5 results you are most proud of? Include numbers." | No default — must be provided |
| **Leadership scope** | "How many people have you managed? What was your budget authority?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Skills and expertise** | "What technical skills, industry expertise, or certifications should be highlighted?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Education** | "Degrees, certifications, and relevant training?" | No default — must be provided |

**GATE: Confirm the brief before writing.**

---

## Phase 2: Strategy

### Resume Architecture

```
## Executive Resume Structure (2 pages maximum)

1. **Header** — Name, title, contact info, LinkedIn URL
2. **Executive Summary** — 3-4 sentences positioning you for the target role
3. **Core Competencies** — 8-12 keyword skills in a grid
4. **Professional Experience** — Reverse chronological, achievement-focused
5. **Education and Certifications** — Degrees, credentials, relevant training
6. **Additional** — Board seats, speaking, publications, languages (optional)
```

### Achievement Mining

For each role, extract achievements using the CAR framework:

```
## CAR Framework
**Challenge:** What was the situation when you arrived or took on the project?
**Action:** What specific leadership actions did you take?
**Result:** What measurable outcome did you deliver?

Example:
Challenge: Revenue had plateaued at $2M for 3 years
Action: Restructured the sales process and launched a partner channel
Result: Grew revenue to $3.5M in 18 months (75% increase)
```

Extract 3-5 CAR achievements per role for the most recent 2-3 positions.

**GATE: Present the resume strategy and achievement inventory for approval.**

---

## Phase 3: Write

### Executive Summary

```
[Title/identity statement] with [X years] of experience [driving specific outcomes]
in [industry/function]. Proven track record of [top 2-3 achievements summarized].
Known for [leadership style or differentiator]. Seeking to [target role objective].

Example:
"Operations executive with 15 years of experience scaling SaaS companies from
startup to $50M+ in revenue. Built and led teams of 80+ across 4 departments.
Known for building systems that reduce operational costs while improving
customer retention. Seeking a VP Operations role at a growth-stage technology company."
```

### Core Competencies Grid

```
| Strategic Planning | P&L Management | Team Building |
| Process Optimization | Change Management | Stakeholder Relations |
| Revenue Growth | Data-Driven Decision Making | Cross-Functional Leadership |
```

Include keywords from the target job description.

### Professional Experience

```
## [Job Title] | [Company Name] | [City, State] | [Start Date – End Date]
[One-line company description if not well-known]

[Scope statement: what you were responsible for — team size, budget, revenue, geography]

- [Achievement bullet: verb + what you did + measurable result]
- [Achievement bullet: verb + what you did + measurable result]
- [Achievement bullet: verb + what you did + measurable result]
- [Achievement bullet: verb + what you did + measurable result]
```

### Achievement Bullet Formula

```
[Power verb] + [what you did] + [for whom/what scope] + [resulting in measurable outcome]

Examples:
- "Spearheaded digital transformation initiative across 4 departments, reducing manual processes by 60% and saving $1.2M annually"
- "Built and scaled a customer success team from 3 to 22, improving retention from 78% to 94% in 12 months"
- "Launched a partner channel program that generated $800K in new revenue within the first year"
```

### Power Verbs (by category)

```
Leadership: Spearheaded, Championed, Orchestrated, Directed, Mobilized
Growth: Accelerated, Scaled, Expanded, Launched, Pioneered
Improvement: Streamlined, Optimized, Transformed, Revitalized, Modernized
Financial: Generated, Reduced, Saved, Increased, Maximized
```

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### 1. ATS Optimization

```
## ATS Checklist
- [ ] File format is .docx or ATS-compatible PDF
- [ ] No headers/footers for critical info (some ATS cannot read them)
- [ ] No tables for body content (use for competencies grid only)
- [ ] No graphics, charts, or images
- [ ] Standard section headings (Professional Experience, Education, Skills)
- [ ] Keywords from the target job description appear naturally
- [ ] Dates are in consistent format (Month Year – Month Year)
- [ ] No abbreviations without spelling out first use
```

### 2. Resume Quality Checklist

```
- [ ] Maximum 2 pages
- [ ] Executive summary is tailored to the target role
- [ ] Every bullet starts with a power verb
- [ ] 80%+ of bullets include a measurable result
- [ ] Most recent role has 4-6 bullets, older roles have 3-4
- [ ] No personal pronouns (I, me, my)
- [ ] No duties lists — achievements only
- [ ] Consistent formatting throughout
- [ ] Contact info includes LinkedIn URL
- [ ] Proofread by another person
```

### 3. Tailoring Guide

For each application:
- Adjust the executive summary to match the specific role
- Reorder core competencies to prioritize the most relevant skills
- Ensure the top 3 bullets in your most recent role align with the job description
- Mirror the language of the job posting (their terms, not yours)

---

## Example 1: VP of Marketing Resume (Excerpt)

```
## VP of Marketing | TechScale Inc. | San Francisco, CA | 2020 – Present
B2B SaaS company, $15M ARR, 120 employees

Led a 12-person marketing team responsible for pipeline generation, brand, and content.

- Grew marketing-sourced pipeline from $3M to $8.5M annually through demand generation restructuring
- Reduced customer acquisition cost by 35% by shifting budget from paid to content-led growth
- Launched ABM program targeting Fortune 500 accounts, closing $2.1M in enterprise deals in year one
- Built and mentored a team of 12, promoting 4 to senior roles within 18 months
```

## Example 2: COO Resume (Excerpt)

```
## Chief Operating Officer | GrowthWorks LLC | Austin, TX | 2018 – Present
Operations consulting firm serving mid-market SaaS companies, $4M revenue

- Scaled the firm from $1.2M to $4M in revenue over 4 years while maintaining 40% profit margins
- Built operational systems that reduced client delivery time by 50% without adding headcount
- Hired and developed a team of 15 across operations, finance, and client success
- Negotiated vendor contracts saving $280K annually
```

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Duties instead of achievements** — "Managed a team of 10" is a duty. "Built and led a team of 10 that increased revenue 40%" is an achievement.
- **No numbers** — an executive resume without metrics looks like a junior resume. Quantify everything.
- **Three or more pages** — executive resumes are 2 pages maximum. If it is longer, you are including too much.
- **Objective statement** — outdated. Use an executive summary instead.
- **Including every job** — positions from 15+ years ago get one line or are omitted. Focus on the last 10-15 years.
- **Fancy formatting** — creative layouts break ATS systems. Clean, professional formatting wins.

---

## Recovery

- **User cannot quantify achievements:** Use directional metrics ("increased by approximately 30%") or scope metrics ("managed $2M budget"). Even estimates beat no numbers.
- **User has gaps in employment:** Address briefly — freelance work, consulting, education, or personal projects. Gaps are less concerning for executives than for entry-level roles.
- **User is changing industries:** Lead with transferable achievements (revenue growth, team building, process improvement). Minimize industry-specific jargon from the old industry.
- **User has been at one company for 15+ years:** Break into 2-3 entries showing progression (promotions, expanded scope). Demonstrate growth within the organization.