Whether or not your successive jobs are with larger companies, as you illustrate your pattern of progress make sure that the company is sufficiently described. "Put a brief description of what the company is. I don't want to have to go to Hoovers to figure it out," says Williams. "Is it a subsidiary? Public or private? Tell us."
And pay special attention to the title vice president of finance, he cautions. "That's sometimes the CFO, but not always. If you served as the CFO for a division of the company, say so. You need to define what the job is, and to whom you reported."
Tip 4: Embrace the Gap
Gaps in the chain of experience are huge problems for recruiters who scan short-form résumés. They agree that you should account for all periods. While you want to show progress from job to job, you must explain what you did when the normal ladder-climbing seems interrupted. But don't be afraid to put the spin of true personal benefit on years that, without an explanation, might appear "lost."
"Don't hide dates," is the simple way Lorraine Hack puts it. "Include all years when you list current and prior jobs, as well as the year you graduated college." Afraid it will show your age? Get over it. "We are going to find out anyway when we check you references," she says.
As for time away from work, "you can describe it as time off. But to leave it out creates huge question marks," says John Wilson. It can often be a positive — and proof of a well-rounded candidate — to describe non-work things that happened in your life. Explain that you took time off to take care of a sick family member, or even to travel. "Did you write a book? Sail around the world? That's okay?" says Wilson.
In fact, who's to say? That sailing adventure could win you a key job with Larry Ellison at Oracle.
And as for any strategic work outside the finance department at a company, that can be special. "A CFO résumé should include non-financial experience, including being a sounding board for the CEO or getting involved in operations or sales," says Clothier. "You have to show that you think about strategy, and that you've made decisions that were not just numbers oriented."
Tip 5: Pay Attention to Design
In the form of the résumé itself, reverse chronological order is a must, emphasizing those most recent years and showing your progress. Most recruiters love bullet points, which are crisp and clear and allow you to avoid the "Next I Was..." syndrome. But mainly, avoid clutter.
Recruiters are divided, however, on just where to include credentials, although most seem to suggest they be put at the end.
"Listing a CPA up-front may be the one exception, if you are looking for a corporate finance job for which having that credential is required," says Challenger.
"Don't take up space with the line, "References upon request,'" says Hack. References eventually will be checked, if the candidate moves through the hiring process successfully.
Tip 6: Be Clear and Use Action Words
Crisp, clean, concise: Write your résumé the way you would explain and defend a business decision to other senior managers. "An executive should be able to drive home a point in a résumé," says Hack. Do that by using "plain English" and the active tense, insists Morrill, who quips that an executive résumé "is not a college term paper, where you score extra for using big words." Further, using action words creates a more engaging résumé, she says.
Direct all that clarity to helping the reader understand how finance department efforts advanced the company's business goals during your term there. For instance, if you had a hand in improving costs, include a single sentence that explains how much was saved, over what period of time, and how the results pushed corporate goals forward.
Note: Watch for a second installment soon of what we're calling Tips & Traps for résumé writing. It's called Third Rails for Résumé Writing.
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