Why Senior Leaders Keep Writing Bad Resumes — And How to Fix Yours

You’ve led teams, signed off on million-dollar projects, and made a real impact — yet your resume reads like a corporate obituary.

 

The blunt truth? Most senior leaders write resumes no one wants to read. They’re bloated, packed with clichés, and miss the audience entirely. If you want your resume to stand out, here’s what you need to stop doing — and how to fix it.

 

1. Stop Making It Top-Heavy — Think Executive Summary, Then the Flex

The top of your resume is your executive summary — stripped down like a sharp executive briefing.

 

We’re all skim readers now. People scan headlines, bold text, and short sentences. Dense intros get ignored.

 

Instead, open with four clean, direct sentences that tell a quick story:

• What you do best
• The kinds of challenges you’ve tackled
• The outcomes you’ve delivered
• What you’re aiming for next

Once that’s set — then comes the “big stuff.” Major roles, leadership wins, and career highlights. This isn’t there to flood the reader. It’s there to flex — and to give those who want more a deeper dive.

 

Most won’t read past your summary. The few who do? They’re the ones you want. Give them substance when they get there.

 

2. Ditch the “Highlights” Under Every Job

If every bullet is a highlight, why even label them? When you write “Key Achievements” under every job, you’re basically saying, “The rest of this isn’t important.”

 

Write direct, impact-driven bullet points. Every single line should answer: Why does this matter?

 

3. Lose the Awkward Keyword Dump — We Still List Them, But Better

The old habit of dumping a messy block of keywords under your name is dead — but that doesn’t mean we stop listing them.

 

We still put keywords at the top — just with purpose. Instead of a cluttered list, we format them cleanly, in categories or clusters that make sense for your industry and role.

 

Then we reinforce them by weaving the same keywords into your summary, bullet points, and role descriptions. This way, you hit the scanner first — and then back it up in your experience.

 

It’s not about hiding them. It’s about making them work both ways: for the system and the human reader.

 

4. Show Some Real Dimension

• “Results-oriented leader with a proven track record” is corporate wallpaper.
• What actually sets you apart?
• Where did you fail, pivot, or drive unexpected success?
• Drop one genuine detail that sounds like you — not like a template pulled from LinkedIn.

 

5. Your Reviewer Might Be Half Your Age

Hiring managers today might be your kid’s age — and they’re not impressed by recycled buzzwords from the 90s.

 

Cut the jargon. Make your impact obvious. Clarity beats corporate speak every time.

 

Bottom Line

Senior leaders who land interviews don’t just list jobs — they show relevance, impact, and clear value. Keep it sharp. Keep it real.