Executive Coach Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Executive Coach resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Executive coaches are highly sought after professionals who help high-performing executives become even better—and they’re paid well to do it. Executive coaches help their clients set goals, identify opportunities for growth, and overcome challenges. They offer guidance and support as clients identify new opportunities or take on bigger roles within their organizations.
Executive coaches are often called upon to help executives develop the soft skills and behaviors that are critical for success in leadership roles. They might teach them how to communicate more effectively or help them become more confident in their abilities. They can also help executives become more comfortable in their own skins by teaching them how to set boundaries and say no to unreasonable requests.
Most executive coaches have years of experience in their field and have held senior roles within organizations themselves. They understand what it takes to succeed in corporate environments and are well equipped to help others navigate the politics, bureaucracy, and other unique challenges of large companies.
Here are some tips and an example to help you write a fantastic executive coach resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers everywhere.
How to Write an Executive Coach Resume
Here’s how to write an executive coach resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
When it comes to writing bullet points, the more specific you can be, the better. Rather than saying you “provided leadership coaching,” you could say you “provided leadership coaching for senior-level executives in the healthcare industry, resulting in a 10% increase in client satisfaction ratings over six-month period.”
The second bullet point is much more powerful because it provides specific numbers and details about what you did and the results of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a role as a coach, your resume is likely to be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This system looks for specific terms related to the job opening, like “leadership” or “motivational skills” in order to determine whether your skills are a match. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, your application might not even be seen by a recruiter.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure to include some of the most commonly used coaching keywords on your resume. Here are a few examples:
- Executive Coaching
- Leadership Development
- Coaching
- Business Strategy
- Change Management
- Executive Management
- Organizational Development
- Management Consulting
- Business Development
- Consulting
- Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Employee Engagement
- Leadership Training
- Executive Coaching
- HR Consulting
- Change Management Consulting
- Business Analysis
- Public Speaking
- Business Planning
- Facilitation
- Project Management
- HR Management
- Psychology
- HR Transformation
- Personal Development
- Mind Mapping
- Performance Management
- Talent Management
- Strategic Human Resource Planning
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Executive coaches use a variety of systems and programs to help their clients achieve success. They may be familiar with personal productivity tools like Asana or Trello, or management systems like SAP or Salesforce. Additionally, executive coaches may use various coaching methods and frameworks, such as GROW or Prosci. So if you have experience with any of these programs or systems, be sure to list them on your resume.
Remember The Basics
As you write your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic rules in mind.
Create Easy-to Scan Sections
There are a few things you can do to make your resume look more professional and easy to read. First, use a standard font type and size throughout the document. You should also left-align your text, and use bullets instead of paragraphs to list your experiences. Additionally, try to keep your bullets to 2 lines or less, and use digits for numbers. Finally, leave some white space on the page to make the document less overwhelming.
Be Concise
There is no set length for a resume, but a one-page resume is often best. When trimming down a resume, remove irrelevant information, filler words, and unnecessary details.
Check Your Work
Proofreading your resume is a must to ensure that it looks its best. Spellcheck can catch many basic spelling errors, but it is important to have someone else also proofread your resume for errors in punctuation and grammar. Additionally, be on the lookout for easily confused words, such as their, there, and they’re.
Consider Including a Summary
When it comes to writing a resume, a well-crafted summary statement can be incredibly helpful in giving recruiters a better understanding of your skills and experience. A summary statement is a brief overview of who you are, what you do, and what your best skills are. It’s a great way to show off your most relevant experiences and to explain how you see your skills translating into the role you’re hoping to land. If you’re unsure of how to write a summary statement, or you’re not sure what to include, be sure to check out the examples provided.