CEO Resume Examples and Tips (+ Writing Guide) 2024

While being a CEO is accompanied with a myriad of benefits and advantages, it doesn’t exclude you from submitting a CEO resume to apply for an executive opening.

There is even a believe that a CEO resume should weigh more impact that a regular resume.

But what could inspire this believe aside from it following CEO resume best practices such as utilizing proper tone and formatting guidelines?

In this article, you’ll gain extensive insight into:

• A CEO resume example that stands out among the competition
• How to write a CEO resume that immediately captures recruiters’ attention and gain their trust
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a CEO resume
• Custom CEO Resume Examples to boost your inspiration

Want to save time and have your interview-ready CEO resume in just 2-5 days?

Let our CEOMichaelHR certified resume writers take the guesswork out of resume writing by summing up and showing off your executive skills and experience.

CEO Resume Example

Our resume samples are written by certified resume writers and this is an excellent representation of what recruiters are looking for in a CEO resume.

Reference this example as you create your own CEO resume.

One of our users, Ashphu, had this to say:

My resume writer did a great job with the format, as well as the content. He wonderfully conveyed my career story & skills in a concise and direct manner. I started getting phone calls from potential employers almost immediately after the resume rewrite.

See more success stories

Recommended reading: Are Resume Writing Services Worth It? – CEOMichaelHR

CEO Resume Sample Template

BOBBY JONES
Austin, TX| (210) 654-XXXX| bobbyjones@gmail.com| linkedin.com/in/seyla-xoxo

Summary

Highly accomplished Chief Executive Officer offering demonstrated experience in both domestic and international tech operations; equipped with track record of leading teams of over 400 employees in 3 locations; Initiated transition to mobile technology, which resulted in 50% of overall sales; Increased company revenue by 150% in a 3-year span; Thrive in dynamic, demanding and deadline-driven environments while remaining focused and pragmatic

Highlight

> Visionary leadership
> Key partnership development
> Organizational restructuring
> Complex problem resolution
> Global strategic alliances
> Marketing planning
> Risk management
> Effective time management
> Expert negotiations
> Budget/sales forecasting
> Public & media relations

Professional experience

Chief Executive Officer | 2015 – 2020
AZXP Tech Global

> Reduced $1.5m annually overhead expenses in the distribution center by implementing lead flow and six sigma practices

> Built an internet drop-ship business utilizing customers marketplace technologies

> Implemented over 30 customers website> Significant improvement to the supply chain reliability by delivering products on time and with improved quality; delivered over 35m units per year

Vice President | 2008 – 2015
Goldspan Inc.

> Improved inventory turns by 50%, reducing working capital needs by $7m

> Grew top-line sales from $130m to $160m through improved reliability of supply chain and customer service

> Consolidated business functions and locations eliminating over $15m in operating overhead manually

> Facilitated and directed 3-10 associates on a daily basis in regards to proficient customer service

> Actively maintained record keeping of assets within an asset management database of over 1,000 assets to ensure accurate inventory

Education

Masters of Business Administration | 2004
Stanford University

Bachelors of Business Administration |1998
Stanford University

Certifications

2017 Certified CEO Designation| The CEO Institute

2016 Certified Manager| The Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM)

Awards

2018 New York City Development Council “40 Under 40” Award

2017 Finance Monthly CEO Awards, April 2017

Memberships

Business Networking International (BNI)

Young Presidents Organization (YPO)

American Management Association (AMA)

What Are Key Sections Of A CEO Resume?

Before we advance into how you can tailor an interview winning CEO resume, let’s first go over the key sections of a CEO resume.

They include:

Header where your contact information is written, such as your full name and professional title, phone number, email, LinkedIn profile or link to your professional website.

Jaw-dropping resume summary, which is an attention-grabbing introduction of yourself and your quantified achievements.

Professional experience section, where your professional experiences are outlined in a chronological order.

Education section, where your highest degrees, all the way to your Bachelor’s degree are highlighted.

Key skills section, where you list all your relevant skills related to your career path

Other sections, such as certifications, volunteerism, languages, awards, interests, and even memberships

Now, let’s dive into how you can write a CEO resume that impresses recruiters on first sight.

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How To Write A CEO Resume

1. Choose the Perfect CEO Resume Format

For a CEO resume, we recommend using the chronological format.

While both the functional (skill-based) and combination formats are decent options, the chronological format is ideal for executives with extensive work experience that is relevant to their target position.

Comply with these formatting tips for a CEO resume:

• Select the best resume font size and style, and utilize white space to help guide the recruiter’s eye along your resume.
• Use clear and bold headings (e.g., H2) to identify the different sections of your resume
• Pick the right font size and style to ensure your CEO resume looks professional
• Pick a professional resume font like 10–12pt Calibri or Helvetica
• Set one-inch margins
• Send an ATS-friendly PDF resume (unless specifically stated otherwise) to look sharp across all devices
  

Pro Tip

You don’t have to limit your CEO resume to the one-page recommended length if you have more experience to show. This is because as a CEO, you probably have more professional experiences to show than other people.

2. Write an Attention-grabbing CEO Resume Summary

Write an elevator pitch to sell your recruiters in 60 seconds.

Here is your chance to furnish a resume summary that quickly introduces who you are to the board of directors.

In a few sentences, use this intro to detail and summarize your executive experience, management skills, leadership background, and impressive achievements.

Pro Tip

Write this CEO profile summary last to make it easier for you to sort what you’ll write there, since you will already have thought of your top skills and achievements by then

Let’s peruse below these startup CEO resume summary examples that drive success:

Good Example
Highly accomplished Chief Executive Officer offering demonstrated experience in both domestic and international tech operations; equipped with track record of leading teams of over 400 employees in 3 locations; Initiated transition to mobile technology, which resulted in 50% of overall sales; Increased company revenue by 150% in a 3-year span; Thrive in dynamic, demanding and deadline-driven environments while remaining focused and pragmatic

Bad Example
Highly resourceful Senior Sales and Business Development executive with career track known throughout the industry for delivering and sustaining revenue and profit gains within highly competitive markets; Combine both entrepreneurial and business-management skills to drive market share and profit performance; Aggressively identify opportunities, develop focus, and provide tactical business solutions; Committed to turning around lagging operations and preparing companies for fast growth and profitability

Amazing.

Both CEO resume samples sound great.

However, the first one seals the value proposition with strong metrics and quantifiable achievements.

3.  Strengthen Your CEO Resume Skills and Experience Description

Whatever your career path may be whether you’re an Executive Housekeeper at a 3-star hotel or a Chief Executive Officer of a multinational incorporation.

There is no better way to explain your career milestone to potential recruiters than your resume work experience section.

Follow these tips to craft a killer CEO job description for a resume:

• Follow the chronological format beginning with your most recent job
• Place your professional titles on top of each entry, followed by dates worked, then the company name, and about 5 or 6 bullet points showcasing your quantifiable achievements
• Use power verbs (e.g., achieved, established, etc.) to begin each bullet point entry
• Instead of a generic resume, tailor this resume to the specific job posting

Tired of not landing interviews?
Get our free 3-step guide to writing better resume bullet points, featuring
70+metric ideas you can use!

Now, let’s see a list of skills you can furnish on your CEO resume below:

CEO Resume Skills

Hard Skills	Soft Skills
Business Strategy Business Development Partnership Development High-Level Negotiation Organizational Restructuring Risk Management Market Planning Sales Forecasting Budgeting Media and Public Relations	Leadership Interpersonal Skills Communication Active Listening Creative Thinking Skills Problem Solving Critical Thinking Persuasion Vision Organization

Pro Tip
While these skills may look appealing to list all on your CEO resume, try as much as you can to focus on the skills relevant to your target role.

3 tips to craft a powerful job description

1. Thoroughly scan the job description for the perfect resume skills
2. Add these skills as keyword on your CEO resume
3. Show how you used these skills to generate bottom-line result

Let’s peruse below the CEO resume job description examples:

Good Example

Chief Executive Officer
YANKIS GLOBAL INC.   |     2016–2022

> Grew revenue 400% over 5 years, from $50,000 to $200,000/month; manage 2,700 customers in 3 states
> Achieved 400% productivity increase with new pumping technology
> Increased cash flow 27% and reduced annual taxes 38% by capitalizing on revised tax laws
> Reduced $1.5m annually overhead expenses in the distribution center by implementing lead flow and six sigma practices
> Implemented a data warehouse to improve executive reporting and exception management

Bad Example
> Cross-sell and executed acquisition of new customers
> Performed price negotiation and contracted with both customers and suppliers
> Ensured after-sale customer satisfaction and efficient follow-up of new customers
> Conducted stellar reporting and budget analysis

The difference between the CEO job descriptions above is crystal clear.  Of course, the first one beats the competition hands down!

It focused on showcasing quantifiable achievements and results while the other is a bare list of job duties and responsibilities.

Pro Tip
According to a study by IBM, CEOs said creativity is the most important job skill. But your resume for CEO jobs can’t just say, “creative.” It has to show bottom-dollar results.

4. Shine Out Your CEO Resume Education Section

The Education section of your CEO resume should say high potential as your experience suggests.

Carefully craft this section and increase your chances of an interview by 27%

Follow these formatting standards to tailor a powerful CEO resume education section:

• Ensure to showcase your highest degree first, including your major, minor (if applicable), college name and location, relevant coursework, Latin honors, etc.
• If you have a second advanced degree, add that next
• Don’t include high school on CEO resumes, unless you haven’t finished any college yet

CEO Resume Example—Education

Education

MBA
Nautech University | 2009–2011

BS Business Administration
Orozo University

Certified Manager Certification (CM)

Note: Do you feel self-conscious if your education isn’t business-heavy? You have nothing to worry about. Did you know only 11% of CEOs have MBAs, as a matter of fact about 33% of CEOs have engineering degrees.

5. Don’t Forget to Include These Additional Sections

Including some additional sections to your CEO resume can transform your overall effort from great to absolute perfect.

Consider adding two or more of the following sections to boost your CEO resume to absolute perfection.

Certifications, such as Certified Manager Certification (PM), or Sales Certifications.

Personal achievements, including professional recognition outside your industry.

Awards, especially job-related ones.

Memberships, (e.g., Board Member of the YZ Health Research Institute).

Hobbies and interests, (e.g., fitness, poetry, traveling).

Foreign languages, with special emphasis on languages you’re fluent in.

6. Attach a Killer Cover Letter

As vital and important as your CEO resume, so is your CEO cover letter as far as your job search is concerned.

There are several key reasons to have a cover letter attached to your CEO resume some of which are:

It tells your potential recruiter you can go the extra-mile for the job opening and how important you find their company to go this mile.

It allows you freedom to provide additional relevant information about your skills and executive experience that your CEO resume cannot contain.

Follow these tips to craft a killer and outstanding cover letter:

• Ensure to begin your letter with an impactful introduction
• Use a highly engaging language and tone to describe your executive experience and management skills in the body of your cover letter
• Use the metric-driven method to quantify your achievements and support your CEO resume claims
• End your cover letter with a strong call to action

Custom CEO Resume Examples

Conclusion

And now, we have come to the end of all things CEO resume-related.

Without any doubt, we believe by now, you are equipped with all the knowledge you need to furnish an outstanding CEO resume and continue to advance your leadership career hitting success milestones.

Got any question or concern on how to tailor a resume for CEOs?

Not sure how to talk about your leadership skills, management certifications, or executive achievements? 

Let our CEOMichaelHR certified resume writers take the guesswork out of resume writing by summing up and showing off your executive skills and experience. Get Started.