They say it’s tough at the top, but it’s even harder trying to get there.

Landing any Chief Executive Officer role is not easy. You will need to utilise every string in your job-hunting bow to get one. Why is it so difficult? Primarily because of the quality of the candidates you will be up against. Apart from being very ambitious people, they will almost certainly be highly educated professionals who will be used to applying for senior positions and getting promoted.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that we are here to give you the edge over your rivals.

This page outlines all the steps you need to take and the content you should include in your application to win that all important first interview. It does this by giving you access to professionally written examples you can copy and also clear cut advice on how to expertly write, format, optimise and strengthen your CV.

 

Latest CEO CV templates
CEO CV template 1
CEO CV template 2
CEO CV template 3

 

Latest CEO cover letters
CEO cover letter example 4
CEO cover letter example 5
CEO cover letter example 6

CEO CV example

the first page of a CEO CV
CEO CV 1 second page

Chief Executive Officer CV

CEO CV 2 page one
CEO CV 2 second page

4 Free CEO CV templates

Click image to download

Free CEO CV template 4

Free CEO CV template 5

Free CEO CV template 6

Free CEO CV template 7

2 Professionally written CEO CV examples

 

CEO example 1

 

Maxine Corry
Dayjob Limited
The Big Peg
120 Vyse Street
Birmingham B18 6NF
England
T: 0044 123 456 7890
E: info@dayjob.com


PERSONAL SUMMARY

Maxine can lead people, projects and organisations to success. She will always provide leadership and vision to manage a company in the best interests of its shareholders and employees. Possesses the ambition, passion, and vision to collaboratively guide and empower any organisation and strengthen its work. A highly organised individual who enjoys being part of a team but is also able to work independently in a varied role where no task is too big or too small for her. As a true professional she is familiar with corporate law and the management of best practices. In her current role she drives profitability at every opportunity and ensures that the business always meets its goals. Through her career she has always been a consensus builder who works with the Board President to resolve conflicts between Board officers, committee chairs and other senior managers. Right now, would like to join a business that is committed to responsible leadership, innovative technological solutions and excellence.

 

CAREER HISTORY

CEO – Start Date – Present
Employers name – Location
Responsible for planning the company’s overall strategy and giving direction to the executive team.

Duties;

  • Supporting the board of directors and supplying them with appropriate information.
  • Proposing appropriate annual and long-term financial objectives for the Company.
  • Developing growth strategies focused on capturing a greater global market share.
  • Being the recognised point of contact with a variety of organisations and individuals including Directors, businesses, stakeholders.
  • Engaging and influencing a range of people including professionals, members of the public and funders.
  • Leading employees to encourage maximum performance and dedication.
  • Keeping the Chairman informed on all important matters.
  • Reviewing detailed financial and non-financial reports to devise solutions or improvements.
  • Developing succession plans, in collaboration with the Board, for all senior levels in the Company.
  • Getting feedback from the board regarding the overall direction of the company.
  • Ensuring effective implementation of Board decisions and the successful execution of their preferred strategy.
  • Filling of all required legal and regulatory documents and monitoring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
  • Actively participating as a member of the team to move the organisation towards the completion of its goals.
  • Making sure that there is clarity of objectives and focus for all employees and that there are clear and appropriate standards and measures of performance.

JOB TITLE – Start Date – End Date
Employers name – Location

JOB TITLE – Start Date – End Date
Employers name – Location


KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Professional

  • Experience at working with a Board of Trustees or equivalent.
  • Ability to work to deadlines whilst maintaining professional standards.
  • Effectively managing multi-departmental resources and budgets.
  • Have strong communication, presentation, writing and multitasking skills.
  • Track record of delivering results at a senior management level.
  • Influencing and working with decision makers at all levels.
  • Able to accept good new ideas and implement them quickly.

Personal

  • Acting with the highest levels of ethics and integrity.
  • Operate as a positive role model for other members of staff.
  • Understand own personal strengths and weaknesses.
  • Having a strong leadership presence.

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Strategic planning
Leadership skills
People management
Organisational effectiveness
Financial modelling
Change management
Leadership

 

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

University name  –  Degree details              Study Dates
College name      –  Qualifications                Study Dates
School name       –  Subjects / Grades          Study Dates

 

REFERENCES

Available on request.

 

 


 

CEO CV template 2

 

Maxine Corry
Dayjob Limited
The Big Peg
120 Vyse Street
Birmingham B18 6NF
England
T: 0044 123 456 7890
E: info@dayjob.com


PERSONAL SUMMARY

A decisive and forward-thinking CEO who can transform vision into results. Maxine’s values are grounded in creating the conditions for people to perform at their best and feel fulfilled and confident in their work. She is able to take on any role that requires extensive foreign travel and dealing with senior level members within the industry. At the moment she works for …….. as part of a fast-paced CEO office. Her duties include handling several operational matters from different people at the same time, with precision and in a calm manner. Her long career is littered with evidence of leading in the delivery of key targets, service improvements and the management of change. On a personal level she has strong inter-personal skills, along with the ability to judge situations quickly and adapt her style accordingly. Currently, she is looking to join a reputable company which understands that work is only one part of life.

 

CAREER HISTORY

CEO – Start Date – Present
Employers name – Location
Responsible for handling the overall direction of the firm in relation to strategic planning and the coordination of business initiatives.

Duties;

  • Representing the company in its dealings with the public, government, business partners, and investors.
  • Ensuring the organisation operates efficiently by providing a high quality of service to its stakeholders.
  • Leading staff in line with the Company’s management systems and protocols.
  • Serving as the external spokesperson and principal liaison for the company.
  • Overseeing the daily operations of the company and the work of executives.
  • Representing the company at external events and with stakeholders and potential stakeholders.
  • Engaging in media obligations with interviews and in public relation campaigns.
  • Evaluating the work of other executive leaders within the company and making recommendations for improvements.
  • Delegating work to individual members of staff and then ensuring the work has been done.
  • Maintaining spending in accordance with approved capital expenditure and other investment budgets.
  • Putting in place processes that encourage effective strategic planning.
  • Regularly reviewing the operational performance and strategic direction of the Group’s business.
  • Making sure the Board receives accurate, timely and clear information to enable it to discharge its duties.
  • Working with the Board to build consensus in decision making.
  • Complying with all reasonable and lawful directions and policies received from the Board.

JOB TITLE – Start Date – End Date
Employers name – Location

JOB TITLE – Start Date – End Date
Employers name – Location


KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Professional

  • Solid track record of effectively managing multi-departmental resources and budgets.
  • Ensuring compliance with regulatory policies and all legal requirements.
  • Delivering long term financial sustainability and stewardship of valuable resources.
  • Presenting complex information to influence thinking and strategy.
  • Excellent written, presentation, verbal communication, and IT skills.
  • Making sure company policies and procedures are developed, maintained and disclosed.
  • Navigating ambiguity and relentlessly solutions driven.

Personal

  • Fostering ethical and responsible decision making by Management.
  • Willing and prepared to take measured risks.
  • Reflective and sensitive to the impact on others a decision will have.
  • Setting high standards of performance for self and others.

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Implementing changes
External relations
Media relations
Developing strategies
Fundraising
Corporate compliance
Decision making
Risk management

 

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

University name  –  Degree details              Study Dates
College name      –  Qualifications                Study Dates
School name       –  Subjects / Grades          Study Dates

 

REFERENCES

Available on request.

 


Stunning CEO CV layouts

Below you are 8 professionally designed Chief Executive Officer CV templates. Each one is different and highlights a candidate’s relevant competencies, unique work experience as well as their communication skills.

Click on the images below to see the full PDF version.

CEO CV example 1

CEO CV example 2

CEO CV example 3

CEO CV example 4

CEO CV example 5

CEO CV example 6

CEO CV example 7

CEO CV example 8

Areas to focus on when writing a CEO CV:

  • Operations, marketing, strategy, financing, creation of company culture.
  • Human resources, hiring, firing, compliance with safety regulations, marketing.
  • Setting strategy and vision.
  • Setting budgets within the firm.
  • Creating annual operating plans.
  • Financial management.
  • Developing a strategic plan to advance the company’s mission and objectives.
  • Planning, developing, and implementing strategies.
  • Policy making.
  • Oversee foreign operations.

Link to a CEO CV example: 

To download this template please either login or register for our Free or Premium membership.

Sign Up

Get immediate access to this CV AND over 1000 + other Premium & Free CV templates.

All for ONLY $4 a month.

With all our Premium templates you will get the fully editable MS Word;

  •     One page version.
  •     Two page version.
  •     Matching cover letter.

All you need to do is simply enter your personal details into the ready made text boxes and within minutes you will have a professional CV.

Unlimited downloads – Money back guarantee – Cancel anytime.


How to write a CEO CV

 

Applying for lucrative senior managerial roles is hugely competitive. Meaning your CV must be at the top of its game and better than the competition.

The below guide will help you to craft the perfect Curriculum Vitae needed to convince recruiters that you can steer their company to success. It will advise you on how to optimise each section for maximum effect.

 

What to put in a CEO CV

Show that you can beat the competition by using your CV as a trophy case of your abilities and corporate accomplishments. It’s vital that you put in it your real understanding of the managerial methodologies required for this role as well as any relevant technical skills and specialisms.

Use it to draw recruiters to your overall professionalism and to show that your leadership and management skills are way better than the other candidates. You can do this by including the following competencies into your job application.

 

Formatting your CV

Get that perfect look by choosing a composition that is clear, orderly and concise.

One of the ways to do this is to have a well laid out document that is easy to navigate and which makes your key selling points prominently stand out. All of these and more can be done through using the correct structure and format.

Keep your CV simple and use minimal styling to ensure a pleasant reading experience. Utilise lots of white space so that the wealth of information included in it can be easily navigated.

Use a chronological layout, with your last or current position first, thereby ensuring that a recruiter sees your most recent work experience first. Write in professional, clear and easy to read fonts such Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman. To highlight relevant skills the Hiring Manager is looking for, make specific keywords or phrases bold.

 

How to structure your CEO CV

Make your job application shine by using the following framework to organise your CV:

  • Contact details, include more than one form of contact, preferably an email and mobile.
  • Personal profile, this summary acts as introduction to your CV.
  • Career history, give details of your work experience in reverse chronological order.
  • Achievements, explain how you have helped previous employers by give examples that include figures and statistics etc.
  • Skills, list those professional and personal competencies that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
  • Academic qualifications, show off where you were educated and long with the grades. Also include any training courses, certificates and accreditations.

 

CEO Personal profile

Personal profiles which are also referred to as career objectives and executive summaries, are the first thing a Hiring Manager will read. This is because they are parked at the top of your CV, above everything else. Typically, they are a few short concise paragraphs of no more than 5 to 7 lines.

You can use them to beat off the competition by immediately showcasing why you’re the best hire for the job.

 

Use it as a hook

Your aim is to quickly grab the readers attention and keep them reading your CV. It’s as simple as that. Do this by swiftly introducing yourself and highlighting your most noteworthy managerial achievements, relevant leadership competencies and strong personal ambition. All things employers at this level want to see.

 

Writing one for a high profile role

Remember that the recipient of your CV will almost certainly be one of the board of directors. They want to see specific results not generic waffle. You’ve got to show the top brass that you’re a top-notch candidate who not only talks their language but can also fit straight into their demanding role and make a success of it.

Start by writing a powerful introduction that clearly explains key points like:

  • The direction in which you will steer the business.
  • How you will lead the company to greater profitability.
  • Your past track record of relevant wins and how you can repeat it with them.
  • How you can cut costs and improve employee retention rates etc.
  • Your desire to continue climbing the corporate ladder.

 

Tip – Do not mention what motivates you or what your career objectives are. Solely focus on listing your performance and how you can improve theirs.

 

Career history

Wow prospective employers with your wealth of experience. Use the employment history to give them plenty of examples, facts and figures on how you have positively impacted your previous employers.

 

Possible problem

By this stage of their career, a Chief Executive Officer is bound to have potentially decades of experience behind them. The trick is to condense all of this into a CV that should have a maximum length of 2 pages. It’s difficult but not impossible. The solution is to ruthlessly focus on only that information which is relevant to the job you are applying for and leave out everything else.

 

How to layout your work experience:

CEO career history layout example

 

Current employment first

Always start with your current or most recent job first and then work backwards. This is known as the reverse-chronological order and has the advantage of showing your promotions and career progression in a logical order. This format is also ATS-friendly and easier for recruiters to read and follow.

 

Duties

Focus on giving samples of current and past responsibilities relevant to the post you are applying for. Give most attention and space to your most recent roles, from say the last 5 years, and reduce the amount of detail for older positions.

 

Bullet points

Reshape your CV and attract eyeballs with bullet points that swiftly outline your executive and managerial responsibilities. They make things easier to read and visually more appealing by breaking up large chunks of text. Have 6 bullet points for your current or last position and roughly 4 or less for the ones farther back in your work history.

 

Achievements

It’s vital you show potential employers that you’re capable of getting results. So, proudly shout about your past wins.

 

Statistics

To add weight to your application you must provide evidence to back up your claims. Therefore, whenever you can include quantifiable metrics through numbers, figures and percentages when talking about ROIs, budgets, profits and KPIs. Give them statistical data they can mine and use to compare you against other candidates.

 

Getting the most out of people

Being a good CEO isn’t just about writing mission statements, setting goals and increasing revenue, it’s also about inspiring your staff to do more, better.
An effective Chief Executive Officer must be able to bring out the best in others by monitoring overall and individual staff performance to ensure everyone is on track. Examples of how you can bring out the best in employees:

  • Identify the strengths of individual team members and then place them in roles their skills are needed the most.
  • Listen carefully to what people say and empathise with them.
  • Boost confidence by giving recognition and reward those who do their job well.
  • When someone gets it wrong, criticize the action, not the person.
  • Create a working environment where workers are supported and feel valued.
  • Getting people from different cultural backgrounds to work together.

 

Professional skills

Being a good CEO means more than just having lots of experience, it’s about possessing those hard competencies that make a real impact. Below you will get an idea of the portfolio of must have skills that every effective CEO should have.

 

Hiring the right people

Finding the best talent out there and then retaining them is also vital. Mention your ability to get the right people into the right roles by ensuring that there is good culture, behavioural and cognitive fit.

 

Budgetary control

To be successful a CEO must possess the numerical, analytical and mathematical skills needed to accurately inspect a company’s financial information. They must have the right characteristics required to put policies in place for areas such as cash management, budgetary planning, expanding into new markets and making strategic acquisitions. Examples of good budgetary management:

  • Ability to put numbers into forecasts and budgets.
  • Making forecasts about the budgetary needs for future accounting periods.
  • Presenting budget and fiscal data in clear and comprehensive manner.
    Comparing actual with budget forecasts.

 

Staff management

You should not underestimate the importance of good staff management, it’s the backbone of every business. Getting the best out of a business means getting the best out of your people. If you can show this in your CV, you’re onto a winner. Focus on showing your ability to;

  • Coordinate a diverse team of executives to execute their tasks and reach common goals.
  • Get everyone efficient, organized and productive.
  • Ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of their own responsibilities and what is expected on them.

 

Why is good staff management important?

Because if it is poor, then it can mean low employee morale, meaning that staff turnover will be high leading to more being spent on hiring. Give examples of how you have created a positive work environment through:

  • Having a two-way communication with colleagues so that they feel happy, valued, and listened to.
  • Guiding people to separate their personal problems from organizational ones.

 

Hitting targets

Mention that you work smart and not hard to achieve goals. However, don’t overdo it by boasting that you always hit all your targets. Instead, be honest (and more believable) by stating that you hit most of them i.e. 70%. Explain your formula for success, how you:

  • Shape the future by setting goals that are not too easy or too difficult to reach.
  • Have a clear idea of your objectives.
  • Understand the capacity of your teams’ strengths and weaknesses.
  • Communicate clearly to people what is required to get the desired result.
  • Make the target visible, by putting up charts and boards relating to it everywhere.
  • Micromanaging performance and rewarding those who consistently do well.

 

Overcoming challenges

You’ll certainly face many challenges throughout your managerial life. Impress recruiters by showing how have dealt with them. Explain how easy it is for you to come up with workable ideas through brainstorming sessions. Give examples of how you have brought new perspectives and views to difficult situations. Stress how you are an optimistic and positive individual who can remain calm when under extreme pressure. Also, write about how you do not have an ego, and if required are not afraid to ask for help or accept support when needed.

 

Personal skills

When it comes to being an effective CEO, soft skills are just as important as hard skills. Apart from having lots of common sense and a strong desire for constant personal development, a good Chief Executive Officer should have the following traits:

 

Making decisions

CEOs should be comfortable making important and difficult decisions. One of their strongest strengths should always be their decisiveness and ability to come to conclusions speedily and with conviction. They must be able to do this in circumstances of ambiguity and incomplete information. Conversely, they must also know when not to decide if there is insufficient information.

 

Willing to take risks

Prepared to take calculated risks, but only after careful thought and analysis of all the different possibilities.

 

Motivating others

Getting the best out of an organisation means getting the best out of its employees. It’s therefore essential as a senior manager, that you can inspire others to buy into your optimism, enthusiasm and vision. In your CV examples of how you achieved this by:

  • Ensuring the best staff are paid what they’re worth.
  • Providing everyone with opportunities for learning and development.
  • Acknowledging and rewarding people for hard work and getting things done.

 

Clear communicator

Being able communicate with employees using concise, easy-to-understand language is a must for any leader. Additionally, you must be a firm but friendly individual who is able tactfully nudge underperformers in a way that does not totally alienate them. These skills will allow you to maintain morale, get a message across and ensure that everyone knows what to do.

 

Problem solving skills

The problems facing CEOs are larger and more complex than normal. It’s therefore important that you tell a potential employer about a time when you have used your technical skills and knowledge to overcome major obstacles.

Show them you can get past hurdles by using logic, as well as imagination, to assess a situation and then come up with a workable solution. Demonstrate your ability to:

  • Get to the core of an issue and understand what is really behind a problem.
  • Actively anticipate potential future problems and act to stop them from happening.
  • Give clear examples of how you dealt with difficult and relevant situations during your career.

 

Other key points and phrases to include in your CEO CV:

  • Your ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
  • Remaining focused in a busy environment where there are lots of distractions.
  • Able to take part in high-stakes negotiations.
  • Experience of public speaking and of making comments to the media.
  • Managing change, mention that you are not afraid to alter processes that will result in more efficiency.
  • Willingness to make tough and unpopular decisions.

 

Academic

At this level, it’s fair to say that employers are more interested in your experience than your qualifications. For this reason alone, it’s advisable to keep the education section brief. When listing your educational records, put your highest degree or MBA first and only include any training courses, memberships, awards or accreditation if they are relevant to your role as a CEO.

Don’t forget to mention any:

Certifications, such as the PMC (Project Management Certifications).

Training programmes – include only those that are relevant to your role as a CEO.

Awards that you may have received.

Membership of bodies and groups.

Hobbies or interests that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

 

What does a CEO do?

At the highest point of the corporate hierarchy sits the CEO. They have overall responsibility for the company and are usually elected by shareholders or recruited by the board of directors. Occasionally they can also be the founder of a company.

It is a highly public position that can have a major impact on many aspects of a business such as its stock value and direction.

For this top-ranking company executive, the stakes are always high and the demands very intense. Although it’s a lucrative and influential position, it does require the wearing of many hats, such as:

  • Planning where their business is going and how it will get there.
  • Managing an organisations entire operation.
  • Setting direction and agendas.
  • Communicating with shareholders and the board.
  • Implementing changes and proposed plans.
  • Monitoring company performance.
  • Budgeting and forecasting.
  • Establishing a productive working culture.

 

The salary of a CEO

This really depends on the industry, profession, location, level of experience and benefits in kind like share options or bonuses etc. For instance, an entry level CEO cannot expect to earn the same as an industry veteran with 20 years under their belt.

There are also significant differences between the compensation awarded by large companies and those of small to mid sized firms, as well as between the public and private sectors.

On average though, the annual salary of a CEO in the UK is roughly calculated to be £54,379 per year.

 

 

Links to more CEO related CVs, Resumes & Cover Letters

Chief executive CV
Chief executive CV sample

 

CEO resume
CEO resume template

 

CEO cover letter examples
CEO cover letter
CEO cover letter 1
CEO cover letter 2
CEO cover letter 3

 

Chief Operating Officer CV templates
Chief Operating Officer CV template 1
Chief Operating Officer CV template 2
Chief Operating Officer CV template 3

 

Chief Operating Officer cover letters
Chief Operating Officer cover letter example 1
Chief Operating Officer cover letter example 2
Chief Operating Officer cover letter example 3

 

Chairman resume example
Chairman resume

 

Chief Financial Officer CV templates
Chief Financial Officer CV template 1
Chief Financial Officer CV template 2
Chief Financial Officer CV template 3

 

Chief Financial Officer cover letter examples
Chief Financial Officer cover letter example 1
Chief Financial Officer cover letter example 2
Chief Financial Officer cover letter example 3

 

Related templates

Chief of Staff CV template 1

Chief of Staff cover letter example 1

PA to Chief Executive CV template 1

Managing Director CV template 1

Managing Director cover letter example 1

Management CV templates

 

More leadership CV templates

Area manager CV template

Bank Manager CV template

Business development manager CV template

Catering manager CV template

Change manager CV template

Construction manager CV template

IT manager resume template

IT Project Manager CV template

Logistics manager CV template

Management accountant CV template

Procurement manager CV template

Project manager resume template

Retail manager CV template

Retail operations manager CV template

Sales director CV template

Sales manager resume template

Supply chain manager CV template

Transport manager CV template

 

More Senior Leadership templates

Head of Communications resume

Head of Finance

Head Of HR CV

Head of IT CV

Head of Marketing resume

Head of Operations resume

Head of Procurement resume

Head of Security resume

 

Related links:
CV templates

 

Online courses
Online Management degree
Online MBA

 

Academic and Training links
Business management degree courses
Business studies degree courses
Part time MBA London
Short management courses London

 

Copyright information – Please read
© These CV template examples are the copyright of Dayjob Ltd. Job seekers may download and use this CV example for their own personal use to help them create their own CVs. You are most welcome to link to this page or any other page on our site. However these CVs must not be distributed or made available on other websites without our prior permission. For any questions relating to the use of this CV template please email: info@dayjob.com.