Takeaways From the Top: Insights from an Executive Resume Writer
Four years ago, I started writing resumes and professional biographies for some of America’s top executives. I’ve immersed myself in their industries, translated their impressive statistics, and learned their lingo—all with the goal of positioning them for a fulfilling “retirement.” In reality, they never truly retire—they just shift their intensity and talents to something new and purposeful to them.
I tried to enter each resume interview without preconceptions of what their personalities will be like and without intimidation of the level of accomplishment that sometimes seems impossible for one person to achieve (When do they sleep!?!). They still surprise me at almost every turn.
I’ve now been fortunate to tell the stories of an incredibly diverse set of elite professionals and have noticed common themes that have emerged from their journeys—themes I feel are lessons to us all, especially those who are starting out in their own careers.
Know the importance of mentorship. The number one thing I hear from almost every single client is that their key to success was not where they went to school (a great majority are not Ivy Leaguers) or where they got their first job. Instead, it’s the fact that every single one of them had someone who championed them. Finding a good mentor is everything. Good mentors challenge you, broaden your perspective, open doors, and encourage you to take risks. When given a choice of paths before you, they say “take the one that feels most uncomfortable, because that’s where you will grow the most.”
Focus on relationship building. As a result of their experience with mentors, the proudest achievements of most executives I’ve worked with center around people, not profit. When I ask them “what legacy do you leave as you retire?” they nearly always reply with a story about the teams and relationships they built, the young professionals they mentored who are now executives themselves, and the cultures they shaped. That’s what they want to last beyond them, more than any growth or revenue rate.
Be someone other people want to work with. Yes, these executives are type A—exceedingly intelligent and incredibly driven—but they are also quick to share credit, never stop learning, and appreciate where they came from. They actively seek out people who know more than them in each role they take on. They hold the door open for those behind them to rise up. More than their technical acumen, I have come to truly believe those are the special qualities that motivated their teams to outperform goals and, in turn, propelled them to the C-Suite.
Learn from every experience. While we don’t dedicate a lot of space on their resume to it, many executives say they learned as much from a job or role that didn’t work out as they did from their favorite roles. While sometimes stressful or unpleasant, these experiences were big “aha” moments that helped them further refine what their right fit is—and isn’t—without letting it distract them from their goals. If a job wasn’t what they hoped it would be, they learned from it… and moved on.
Just like my clients, I plan to always continue learning and building on these takeaways. I share these insights often when people ask me what it’s like to get to know these incredible professionals. While my job is to write their resumes, I’m grateful for the opportunity to dive deeper than the metrics and accomplishments that end up on paper and get to know each unique person. As they’ve taught me, that’s what matters most.
In addition to her writing work for seasoned executives, Jeannie Hodes is a senior writer at ProjectYou. To work with a writer like Jeannie on your resume, reach out to ProjectYou. Find out how our career coaching can help you find and advance in a career you love. Our assessments, 1:1 career advising, consultation, and professional resume and LinkedIn reviews can take your career to the next level.