How to Write The Best Board-Level Resume

Update: December  2020 — Read my article on Forbes.com on next-gen board resume writing 

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Considering throwing your name into the hat for a coveted Board-level seat? Great! First, make sure your executive resume is Board-level ready!

Yes, there is a difference between your corporate executive resume and your Board CV.  To compete with other Board candidates, you must consider—and promote—the contributions your candidacy will bring as a member of the Board of Directors (BOD) and not just the accomplishments you have delivered thus far as a member of the C-Suite.

To write the best Board-level CV you must communicate how you plan to bring a differentiating voice to the Board of Directors. 

When writing your Board of Directors resume, you should emphasize an experience that supports your value statement as a member of the board of directors. 

For example, we recently worked with a CHRO who was also a lawyer. This executive’s value offer to the Board of Directors included not only trending knowledge of human capital strategies but also legal strategies.

10 Expert Tips To Write A Great Board Resume 

The following is a partial list of key-value drivers you must weave into your Board-worthy resume.

• Distinction. What is your unique value offer as a Board candidate?
• Board-level experience. List committee and Board experience first.
• ROI Highlights. Include experience that showcases your ability to enhance value to shareholders and describe the improvement in tangible terms.
• Personal Reputation. Share soft/people skills such as relationship building, decision making, and consensus creation.
• Networking. Refer to key alliances that impacted your company’s top or bottom line.
• High-level advisement. Create a highlight section with high-stakes and important collaborations with results from strategic advisement.
• Public image. Promote your industry expertise by listing speaking engagements, community involvement, and mentions in publications.
• Brand championing. Speak to your experience driving company vision, shaping corporate identity, risk management, and protecting/strengthening the company’s brand.
• Business transaction bandwidth. Accentuate leadership through transformations, M&As, restructurings, exits, turnarounds, consolidations, and rebranding efforts, etc.
• Numbers. Quantify ROI, EBITDA growth, stock value, etc.

Bottom-line: You must brand yourself as a Board candidate. You need to help them visualize you in a Board seat and adding value that they would be hard-pressed to find in someone else.

How Do You Find Board Level Opportunities?

Make a list of the companies that might need your expertise. Do you specialize in private equity, IPOs, international growth? Which companies would benefit from your knowledge?

Develop a target list of company boards where they have a gap you can fill. You can even network on LinkedIn with other Board members and create opportunities.

If you need the help our resume writer help, please review our Board Resume Writing Services

Rosa Elizabeth Vargas
Careersteering.com