Matt Glodz
January 22, 2022
The resume template you choose will leave a first impression - either enhancing or detracting from your credibility as an executive.
By leveraging effective resume design, you’ll help recruiters quickly find key information and draw their attention to your most impressive achievements.
On the other hand, sloppy or unprofessional document design can work against you, hurting your chances of securing interviews.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
While you may have come across graphic resumes that include multiple columns and colors floating around the internet, recruiters agree that a traditional design works best for executives.
Traditional resume templates are viewed as classic, elegant, credible, and professional – all attributes you want to convey.
Darrell Rosenstein, Founder of The Rosenstein Group, says that “A clean, minimalist style is preferred for an executive resume. A modest black and white design is a safe bet even when applying for positions in the creative industries.”
If you are applying for jobs at large companies that use applicant tracking systems, using a template with multiple columns, graphics, or excessive colors can also hurt your chances.
“Looking for a job is tough. Don’t let formatting issues add an unknown hurdle,” said Kelly Garland, Principal of executive recruiting firm Garland Source.
“Pictures, big initials, and funky address formats might make your resume import poorly into a company’s internal applicant system.”
As an executive, your accomplishments should speak for themselves. Unless you are applying for a design-related role, you don’t need to worry about impressing recruiters with a flashy document.
“I want to see hard results and achievements,” explained Rosenstein.
“Not just in words, but more importantly, in numbers. Someone who is gunning for a top-management position must show their capacity to provide high-level solutions to the macro problems that any company has to deal with.”
When choosing an executive resume template, consider the following tips:
Below, we provide examples of effective executive resume templates that leverage the principles we discussed.
We encourage you to use these as inspiration as you design your own resume.
If you like one of these ATS-friendly executive resume templates, click on the sample image to download the template in Word format for $9.99.
Our classic executive resume template is a client favorite.
This template pairs two classic and modern serif fonts, resulting in a tasteful presentation.
Our minimalist executive resume template is appropriate for clients in conservative professions such as legal and finance.
Our accent executive resume template leverages classic formatting and a subtle splash of color to leave a positive impression.
Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.
As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.
Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.
Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Writing Services: If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional resume writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.
Executive Resume Template Downloads: If you plan to prepare your own resume, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly resume templates for Microsoft Word.
Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.
After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.
At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years.
He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.
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