Career AdviceResumesExecutive Resume Examples

Write a Powerful CEO Resume

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor
man in suit standing with hand on hip smiling at camera

Are you ready to make the jump to the top of the C-suite, and wondering how to build an unforgettable CEO resume? If, just like a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), you have buckets of experience, can persuade any investor of your company’s value and motivate and guide your employees, then all you’re missing is that CEO title on your resume. Let us help you make that happen with a few simple suggestions.

An Executive Summary Worthy of a CEO Title

When writing your CEO resume, it’s essential to showcase your strategic vision and proven track record of achievements from the get-go. This starts with your career summary.

Grab attention by highlighting how and where you brought value in your past roles. Be very specific and always include concrete metrics to support your claims. Clearly demonstrate how many years of experience you have, how much you’ve increased a company’s revenue or improved processes.

Choose Relevant Experience

No doubt you have plenty of experience. However, even as a CEO, your resume should be no longer than two pages. Instead of listing every single past role you’ve had, only include senior positions that best align with the CEO job you’re seeking. Make sure it’s also easy for recruiters to skim through your experiences by using bullet points of two to three sentences, and use active verbs to increase your impact.

Tailor Your Skills Section

Carefully analyze the job offer you’re applying for to find the right keywords to include in your resume. As you’re targeting an executive role, pick skills that highlight your leadership abilities. Some of the top qualities that recruiters look for in perspective CEOs include:

  • exceptional communication skills
  • ability to develop and implement financial strategies
  • self-motivation
  • a proven track record of relationship-building
  • ability to oversee strategic and operational functions
  • experience designing, developing, and implementing strategic plans
  • proficiency in assessing and minimizing company risks

CEO Resume Example

TOM COOK

Cupertino, CA 94024 | (555) 555-5555 | name@mail.com | linkedin.com/tom.cook

CEO

Highly motivated and results-driven CEO with over 20 years of experience leading successful companies in the tech industry. Proven track record of increasing company revenue by 45%, building strong teams with a 90% retention rate, and driving organizational growth. Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, business development, and operational excellence. Exceptional communicator with a strong ability to motivate and inspire teams toward achieving corporate objectives.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

  • Strategic planning
  • Business development
  • Financial management
  • Negotiation
  • Risk management
  • Team building
  • Sales and marketing
  • Operations management
  • Change management
  • Project management
  • Communication
  • Public speaking
  • Decision-making
  • Problem-solving
  • Innovation

EXPERIENCE

Corporation One, Cupertino, CA | 20XX to Present

CEO

  • Led the company to achieve record-breaking financial results, increasing revenue by 30% and profits by 45% over a period of 2 years.
  • Developed and executed a strategic plan that resulted in the successful acquisition of three smaller companies and expansion into new markets.
  • Built a high-performance team of over 100 employees, providing mentorship and guidance to key executives and staff.
  • Fostered a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, encouraging team members to take calculated risks and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Raised $4 million in capital from investors.
  • Represented the company in high-level negotiations with key stakeholders, including investors, government officials, and industry associations.

Company One, San Francisco, CA | 20XX -20XX

CEO

  • Led the company through a period of significant change, transforming it from a traditional brick-and-mortar operation into a cutting-edge technology-driven business.
  • Developed and executed a strategic plan that resulted in the successful launch of several new products and services within 6 months, positioning the company as a leader in the industry.
  • Built a high-performance team of over 50 employees, providing mentorship and guidance to key executives and staff.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with key stakeholders, including investors, government officials, and industry associations.
  • Negotiated and closed 100+ high-value contracts with major clients, resulting in significant revenue growth.

EDUCATION

University One, Durham, NC | 20XX

MBA

University Two, Auburn, AL | 20XX

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified CEO, Certification Body One 20XX

Certified Board Director, Certification Body Two 20XX

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member, Professional Association One 20XX

Member, Professional Association Two 20XX

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

CEO Employment Prospects

Don’t wait any longer to set up your CEO resume for success. Over the next decade, CEOs will remain in steady demand with an estimated 6% growth rate and around 318,100 openings available each year. Many of those will be from CEOs retiring and leaving space for new leaders like yourself.

To have an easier time finding your next CEO role, consider looking into the following industries, which have the highest levels of employment for CEOs:

  • local and state government
  • company and enterprise management
  • elementary and secondary schools
  • computer system design and related services

How Much Do CEOs Make?

When it comes to pay, Monster’s data indicates that CEOs earn $94,763 on average per year. However, depending on the sector you work for, how much experience is on your CEO resume, and your location, you could make much more than that.

For instance, check out the following two top-paying industries for chief executives and their corresponding average salaries:

  • motion picture and video industries: $498,970
  • media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers: $435,630

Similarly, here are the locations with the highest demand for CEO jobs and their average pay per year:

Not living in one of the above cities? No worries. You can still find out what your CEO salary could look like on Monster’s Salary Page. Simply enter “chief executive officer” and your location. Our free tool will also reveal salaries for other C-suite roles, as well as skills worth pursuing for your career.

Lead Your CEO Resume to Success with Help from Monster

Even the most well-crafted resumes can benefit from an expert's final review. Make your resume gets you into the big league with a free resume assessment. We’ll send you detailed feedback to help you highlight your unique skills and experiences and grab recruiters’ attention.