CEO Resume Examples

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Table of contents

CEO resume examples
Choosing the right CEO resume format
5 steps to writing a CEO resume
Adding a cover letter
Key takeaways

As a CEO, you’re masterful at strategic vision, leadership and stakeholder management. But the one thing that seems to vex you is your resume.

That’s okay! It’s never too late to learn how to write a resume that perfectly portrays your extensive experience and competencies. In fact, considering you always seem to have the answers, putting together a great resume will be just one more successful project to call your own.

This guide will show you:

CEO resume examples for different situations.
What makes a great CEO resume example.
Proven strategies for writing a job-winning resume.
What to include in each section of your CEO resume.
How to select the ideal resume format and design for the position.

If you’re ready to make your resume today, head directly to our Resume Builder. There, you can choose a design of your liking and get advice and easy-to-edit, auto-generated text for every section.

Startup CEO resume example

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What makes this a great CEO resume sample

Objective statement lays out clear goals
When overseeing a startup, you must get others to buy into your vision, and the same goes for your career. To do so, this candidate wrote an extremely compelling and clear resume objective.
Offers a mix of hard and soft skills
Even CEOs need to showcase their skill set, and this applicant does so by featuring a range of technical skills and interpersonal skills suited for the job of CEO.
Certifications and education are used wisely
With less experience than other leaders, this applicant relies on their academic accomplishments and professional certifications.

Experienced CEO resume example

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What makes this a great CEO resume sample

Great use of quantifiable metrics
This CEO applicant lists their top successes in terms of duties and strategy alongside their ability to deliver tangible value.
Work history shows a clear trajectory
You don’t normally become a CEO overnight, and this resume shows a clear trajectory of increasingly ambitious undertakings until they reached their current status.
Communicates a bold vision
This resume uses action words and bold language to show that they can communicate a powerful vision to motivate and inspire the workforce.

Looking for a specific job title? Check out more resume examples related to your career field:

Choose the right resume format for your CEO resume

When you’re in the C-suite, selecting an appropriate resume format is critical for properly highlighting your leadership abilities, strategic acumen and rich career arc.

There are three different resume formats, each suited to an executive at a particular stage in their journey.

Chronological resume format: Ideal for seasoned executives, this format emphasizes your work history and accomplishments. For example, a CEO with years of consistent experience in the manufacturing industry can showcase their successive roles and the business growth they’ve driven.
Functional resume format: This competency-focused format is better for executives making a sector switch. Let’s say you’re a CEO shifting from retail to tech. You could leverage this format to underscore your transferable skills and knack for innovation.
Combination resume format: Midcareer executives might find the balance between skills and experience in this format ideal. For example, an executive with significant experience in sales looking to step into a CEO role could benefit from this format by giving equal weight to their sales strategies and leadership roles.

Once you’ve figured out which format is best for you — the next step is to infuse creativity into your document with a compelling design.

Select an appropriate CEO resume template

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As a CEO, you call the shots. No one will stop you from choosing whichever resume template you like.

But some rules apply to everyone, even the chief executive.

An important rule is choosing a style based on your industry. For example, if you’re a CEO in a highly-professional, buttoned-down industry like banking or medical devices, it would be best to pick a professional resume or a simple template.

However, if you’re in a more laid-back environment known for thinking outside the box, you should consider using a creative resume to show off your adventurous side.

Don’t forget, you can always download our resume templates for Word or use a Google Doc resume template if that’s what you’re looking for.

Now, let’s assemble a resume fit for a CEO.

How to write a CEO resume in 5 easy steps

The key to a top-notch resume is tailoring it for every job — and you can do that for your CEO resume in just five steps.

Later, check out our resume examples for more inspiration.

STEP 1

Understand the company you’re targeting

As a CEO, you know better than anyone that aligning with a company’s mission is critical. But how do you craft your resume to land interviews when coming in from the outside?

The company’s website is an essential resource. Read their mission statement, values, vision and any published strategic plans. Glean insight into their products and services, target markets and competitive positioning. Take note of their corporate culture and the leadership style they seem to value.

Finally, dig into the recent news about the company, including press releases, news articles and financial reports. All of this will help you understand the company’s current state, recent achievements and future plans.

Now, it’s time to start writing.

STEP 2

Make an excellent professional summary or objective

Start your resume with a compelling resume profile. Profiles come in two distinct styles — professional summaries and resume objectives.

Most CEOs should write a professional summary. Summaries are concise career overviews and suit applicants with a consistent work history.

Resume objectives are different. They lay out the goals and aspirations of the candidate. CEOs changing industries have found that objectives are a better forum for communicating their transferable skills and the value they can bring to a new company.

Let’s check out how each of these would look on a CEO resume.

CEO resume summary example:

Visionary and transformative CEO with over 20 years of leadership experience in the manufacturing sector. A proven track record of applying strategic business planning and innovative thinking, resulting in a minimum of 15% in revenue growth year over year. Recognized for designing and implementing business strategies that have improved operational efficiency, productivity and bottom-line growth by an average of 35%.

CEO resume objective example:

Highly motivated and seasoned CEO with over 15 years of experience leading and growing retail businesses. Demonstrated success in optimizing organizational processes, improving team productivity and creating strategic growth plans. Intend to apply understanding of consumer behavior and innovation in a technology-driven environment, aiming to steer the company toward industry-leading advancements and exceptional customer service.

STEP 3

Highlight your most relevant CEO skills

Since CEOs wear many hats, you could easily fill an entire resume just by listing the skills you use daily.

But you’d run out of space quickly, so it’s better to narrow your skills down to the most relevant and important ones.

Always include a mix of hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills show off your technical acumen, while soft skills reveal your interpersonal strengths. Ultimately, hard and soft skills go hand and hand to make you an appealing candidate.

Let’s look at examples of each skill set that applies to CEOs.

Hard and soft skills for a CEO resume

Hard Skills

Strategic planning

Financial management

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Sales strategy

Soft Skills

Leadership

Team-building

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Resilience

Innovation

Here is an example of a strong CEO skills section:

Skilled in financial management, budgeting and forecasting.
Adept at problem-solving and critical thinking.
Capable of managing organization restructuring and change.
Experience with executing business expansion initiatives.

Pro Tip

Make sure to cite your computer skills. Today, no one is immune from needing to be up to date in the latest technology and software.

STEP 4

Write an excellent CEO work experience section

While the exact responsibilities and expectations in each CEO role may differ, the core goals of your resume remain unchanged: you want to illuminate your potential value.

You can show off your previous success with a stirring work experience section. Listing your roles, beginning with the most recent, and including bullet points for each will tell the story of your career arc. As a CEO, your drive and ambition should be evident.

One piece of advice — use action words. These words make even ancient history seem engaging and recent, which is exactly the feeling you want to evoke in the reader.

Here’s an example of a great CEO work history entry:

Chief Executive Officer, XYZ Company
Tacoma, WA
January 2018 – Current

Led the strategic repositioning of XYZ Company, transitioning the organization from a traditional manufacturing focus to a digital solutions provider, generating a 40% increase in annual revenue over three years.
Directed a team of over 100 employees, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and high performance that led to a 30% increase in employee engagement.
Secured $15 million in venture capital funding for strategic growth initiatives.
Negotiated strategic partnerships with global industry leaders, enhancing XYZ Company’s market positioning and revenue.

Pro Tip

As the example above illustrates, quantifiable metrics can put a specific number on your value. When you’re seeking a high-powered role like CEO, numbers are nonnegotiable.

STEP 5

List your relevant education and training on your CEO resume

In today’s corporate landscape, education plays a role in a CEO’s credentials. There are your academic accomplishments, of course, but there’s also the alumni factor. By highlighting your university, you open yourself to connection and conversation with others at the company.

We suggest showcasing your degrees with a detailed education section. The most coveted candidates typically hold an MBA or a similar advanced degree in a field like Business Administration. However, it’s common for CEOs to have degrees from diverse backgrounds like engineering or the humanities.

Remember, your education section isn’t simply a list of degrees. It’s a testament to your due diligence and commitment to lifelong learning.

How to list your CEO education:

Education

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, CA
Focus: Strategic Management
Capstone Project: “Implementing Agile Frameworks in Traditional Business Environments”

Bachelor of Science in Economics
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
President of the University’s Economics Society for two years

Optional sections for your CEO resume

Awards and Certifications

As you write your CEO resume, you should showcase your most impressive achievements, including adding an awards section to your resume. These honors highlight your corporate strategy, leadership excellence or innovative initiatives. They should all underscore your potential to deliver significant value to any organization.

Similarly, featuring professional certifications might set you apart if there’s a lot of competition for the position. These certifications show your commitment to advancing your professional development and illustrate your industry knowledge.

How to list awards on your CEO resume:

Best SME Leader – August 2023

Recognized at the Arkansas Business Awards for exceptional leadership in the Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) sector.

Community Leader Award – July 2019

Awarded by the local Chamber of Commerce for exemplary commitment to community development.

Projects

Strategic initiatives and transformative projects are the cornerstones of a compelling CEO resume. These embody your capacity to synthesize insights and strategies into tangible outcomes and signify that you are an implementer, not merely a visionary.

Another reason to feature significant projects in your CEO resume is that they offer a glimpse into your leadership skills. Leadership encompasses innovation, problem-solving, team orchestration, time management and the ability to deliver results. It’s even better when these abilities align with your target industry to emphasize your domain expertise.

How to list projects on your CEO resume:

Acquisition and Integration
Oversaw the acquisition and integration of a complementary startup into our company’s portfolio, expanding our market share and increasing annual revenue by about 15%.
Digital Transformation
Spearheaded a digital transformation project that improved our operational efficiency, lowering costs by 20% and improving customer engagement metrics.
Sustainability Drive
Initiated a company-wide charity fundraiser to reduce our carbon footprint by 30% over two years and position us as a leader in environmental consciousness in our industry.

Languages

You know better than anyone that today’s corporate world is global. In a globalized workforce, your ability to speak more than one language reflects your adaptability and signifies your cultural intelligence.

Additionally, being multilingual vastly expands your communication reach. Imagine the advantage of speaking directly with a diverse array of stakeholders or exploring and seizing international market opportunities. That’s why language skills give a competitive edge to your CEO profile, and you should add them to your resume.

How to list languages on your CEO resume:

Fluent in English and Spanish
Proficient in Chinese

Interests and Hobbies

Enriching your CEO resume with hobbies and interests can offer a glimpse into your personal life and dimensions, complementing your professional achievements.

But it’s key to strike a balance — your selected hobbies should reflect the transferability of skills while also being relevant to the role you’re seeking. For example, strategic board games could hint at your decision-making abilities, while involvement in community service can highlight your leadership and social commitment.

How to list interests and hobbies on your CEO resume:

Volunteering at a local nonprofit organization.
Writing and updating a blog about industry trends and leadership strategies.
Mentoring startup entrepreneurs.

Add a cover letter

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER

You might be thinking, “I’m the boss. Do I really need a cover letter?”

While it’s not always required, a well-written cover letter just might give you an edge over other candidates. This document gives you an opportunity to promote critical skills and initiatives you couldn’t quite capture on your resume. It’s also the perfect forum to explain how you became a CEO or why you want to be a CEO.

If you need assistance, check out our guide on how to write a cover letter and successful examples of cover letters to understand why some cover letters work better than others.

When you’re done, make your document in our Cover Letter Builder so you can be confident your cover letter’s formatting adheres to professional standards. Ideally, it’ll use the same formatting as your resume. See our cover letter templates if you don’t want to fuss with the formatting yourself.

Let’s wrap up with a list of important takeaways.

CEO resume — key takeaways

Write a powerful summary statement
A succinct and compelling summary should reflect your professional identity, accomplishments and goals.
Showcase leadership experience
Good CEOs are good leaders, so your CEO resume should showcase your leadership abilities throughout every section.
Quantify your achievements
Including numbers to back up your claims will increase your credibility in the eyes of potential companies.
Highlight continuous learning
You want to show companies you understand that continuous learning is important for everyone, including the CEO.
Share major projects and initiatives
Successful CEOs oversee transformational projects. Your resume should devote a section to sharing your most successful examples.
Add honors and awards
Give your candidacy an edge by emphasizing how your efforts have not gone unrecognized by others in your industry.
Use professional formatting
Even small mistakes in your formatting and grammar can undermine your application. Always double-check to make sure your formatting is perfect.

Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.

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