I have three questions to start with today. What do you think are the right answers?
Question 1: How long should an executive CV be?
Question 2: How long should a board CV be?
Read further for more on the answers and, importantly, the why…
When discussing CVs with potential Non–Executive Director (NED) candidates, I’m often asked the above questions and more.
Whilst considering the length of your CV is important, there are broader factors to focus on, particularly the content and alignment of your CV with the role. It’s important to understand that there are many differing opinions on what information should be included.
Getting the foundations in place
I was recently invited for the second time to the WILD retreat to present on “Opening doors to a NED career”. I thought I would share some of the insights that I provided as they apply to anyone that is moving from an executive position to a board career when writing their CV. They also really apply to any application at any level.
In preparation, I asked four Chairs last year and this year what they thought and why about the length and content of a board CV – and other aspects of what is required to become a NED.
They also had differing opinions.
One said one page, another said two pages only, and the others said enough pages to show they can do the role. I agree with the last statement. Bear in mind more than five is too much. One may not be enough to articulate your expertise.
One of the reasons I always run through a slide deck with WILD and aspiring NEDs is to teach them the WHY of how a CV should be written for whatever role is under consideration. These basic principles set apart a great CV from a reasonable CV. Otherwise, candidates talk to family, friends, or mentors, they hear differing views based on their experiences, and completely change the CV from what it should be.
Takeaway 1: If someone offers advice on how they think it should be done, always ask them WHY.
Takeaway 2: Always follow what the ad asks for, or, call and ask the contact if possible.
Takeaway 3: Be targeted. A targeted CV contains only the relevant achievements, qualifications and personality traits required to be successful in the advertised role.
If that’s 3+ pages, that is fine.
Stepping up to board opportunities
Question 3: What key areas of expertise do boards currently seek?
The Chairs I spoke with indicated they were seeking a good understanding of Strategy, People, Finance / Funding, and Cybersecurity. Artificial Intelligence is now getting a lot of airtime as well. One said that experience of hard times and having some good war stories was an advantage. Being able to speak to difficulties, and not just the easy times, and how you navigated them is an advantage.
Questions for you when considering moving from executive to board:
- Have you reviewed the skills that you can see in the current NED’s and do you complement them? What can you offer them that they already don’t have?
- Does it specifically ask for an area of expertise that you don’t or do have? You may be wasting your time applying if you don’t have that expertise. Be targeted on your board search selection.
- Do you really have an interest/passion in the area the organisation and board work in?
The Chairs I spoke with also commented that Executive experience can help validate the area of expertise you will bring to the board role. Hence, if you have strong HR or legal skills from your executive career, highlight those if the role requires them, even if you haven’t yet demonstrated these skills at a board level.
If you are looking for support in writing your CV at any level, reach out to Janice or myself to discuss the WHY and how we may be able to assist you further.
Check out these links also:
Who is WILD: https://wildforstem.com/wildprogram/
It’s a great program and hopefully will continue. However it is seeking support from the industry to assist it.
Some of the great outcomes that have come from the program include:
- 45% of members/attendees acquire a new role or promotion after completing the WILD program.
- 27% joined a board after completing WILD.
A further tip – Content matters, as well as the way you format it.
Please don’t do two-columns CVs. They are hard to read, and the ATS doesn’t parse them very well.
