Career level · 15+ years
Executive CV writing
An executive CV is read as a business case. Functional detail is assumed; what is being assessed is judgement, remit and results at the level of the organisation.
Quick answer
An executive CV is read as a business case, not a job history. Lead with your remit, meaning P&L, headcount, geography and the functions reporting to you, then show commercial results such as revenue, margin and cost, with the context each depended on. Boards and search consultants read for judgement and for the situation you are strongest in: growth, turnaround or transformation.
Overview
At executive level the audience changes. Boards, chairs and search consultants read for commercial outcomes, the size of the remit, and evidence that you have handled the specific situation they are hiring for, which is usually growth, turnaround or transformation.
Focus
What a executive CV has to prove.
- Business results: revenue, margin, cost, market position
- Remit: P&L size, headcount, geography, functions reporting in
- The situation you were hired into and what state you left it in
- Board and stakeholder exposure, including investors and regulators
- Strategic decisions and what followed from them
What changes
Compared with the level below.
The CV stops describing what you manage and starts describing what you changed. Functional expertise becomes context rather than content.
Mistakes
What costs candidates at this level.
- Describing the size of the organisation rather than the size of your remit
- Strategy language with no outcomes attached
- Omitting the context a result depended on, which makes it unbelievable
- Six pages, when the audience reads fewer than most
- Nothing about the type of situation you are strongest in
FAQ
Executive CV questions
How long should an executive CV be?
Two to three pages is typical. Boards and search consultants read quickly, so every line has to earn its place, and early career can be compressed into a short summary. Supporting detail, such as a full list of transactions or board appointments, belongs in a separate document that you provide if a search firm asks for it.
Do executives still need a cover letter?
Often yes, though it should be shorter and more pointed than at other levels. For advertised roles and formal search processes, a one-page letter linking your track record to the organisation's current situation helps. For a headhunter's approach, a brief covering email usually does the same job. The CV sizes you; the letter explains why this role, and why now.
How do I handle confidential results on an executive CV?
Name your employers, but handle sensitive numbers carefully. Use percentages, ranges or rounded figures where exact data is confidential, for example "grew EBITDA by 30% over three years" instead of the absolute figure. Anything under a non-disclosure agreement or market-sensitive, especially at listed companies, should stay out. Search consultants read that discretion as a positive signal.
How much does executive CV writing cost?
Executive CV writing is $279 in USD for 10 or more years of experience, written personally by Chanuka Jeewantha. LinkedIn optimisation at the same level is also $279, and an executive cover letter is $159. Booking all three together saves 30%. Standard delivery is 5 to 7 days, with one revision round and editable Word and PDF files.
Have your CV written for this level.
Choose your package, your experience level and how fast you need it. The price is shown before you commit.