The interim executive’s CV is their most important document. It should be polished, professional, well thought-out and worthy of an accomplished executive. Above all, it should inspire confidence that you are capable and motivated to take on any challenge.
Think about your audience. At Boyden your information will be uploaded to a global database, where it must command the attention of consultants who are working under pressure. Make it easy for them to quickly understand why you are the most qualified candidate.
Focus on deliverables, outcomes, impact, size and scale. Your CV should communicate how you benefited each business you have worked with, whether in sales growth, margin improvement, efficiencies, overhead reduction or risk mitigation – and how quickly you were able to deliver results.
Make sure your experience is relevant and recent. Clients are most interested in what you have done within the past 5-10 years. When we present you as a candidate for a specific opportunity, we will work with you to highlight your most relevant projects.
Avoid common pitfalls. As interim solution providers, we are often required to work at a fast pace; therefore, candidates who present themselves in the clearest way and have the most relevant experience will likely be the candidates contacted for a role. The following will work against you:
- Ambiguity: Ambiguity in your CV could cause you to be overlooked when we are looking for a specific skill set in a short timeframe. Clarity is imperative.
- Text-heavy pages: Large blocks of text can be off-putting and easily overlooked. We recommend using bullet points and facts and figures, which can deliver your message much more powerfully.
- Too much information: While the CV of an interim candidate is likely to be longer than most, it is still important to ensure that it is succinct and makes an impact in the first couple of pages.
