Selection criteria outline the specific skills, experiences, and personal qualities ('attributes') that an organisation considers valuable in potential candidates, a factor that is particularly vital for executives aiming to match an organisation's strategic goals and culture.

These criteria often encompass a mix of core and desirable skills, underscoring:

• Leadership excellence and effective team management capabilities.
• High-level educational achievements and relevant career experience.
• Strategic thinking and knowledge specific to the industry.
• Global exposure, reflecting a broad worldview and adaptability to diverse cultures.
• Significant achievements that have positively influenced past organisations.

Commonly referred to as Job Specifications, Position Requirements, and Competency Frameworks, these criteria act as a comprehensive guide for applicants, covering both the technical skills required and the personal attributes favoured.

Executive CVs & Selection Criteria

To address selection criteria in an executive job application, it is important to understand the employer's explicit (stated) and implicit (what you can deduce) requirements and align them with your own attributes, and performance record. This includes:

• Providing detailed and specific examples of how you meet the criteria.
• Having a good understanding of the organisation's strategic aims and how your attributes and experience align with them.
• Having a good insight into who you are as a professional and being able to communicate that effectively in your application.

Each employer sets their own scope and nature of the questions or tests that may be posed, which are becoming increasingly qualitative in nature. Therefore, it is essential for anyone writing on your behalf to have a deep understanding of your professional background.

The sequence for addressing selection criteria in an executive job application typically includes the following steps:

• Explicit selection criteria - Carefully read the job advertisement and the selection criteria to understand the specific skills, knowledge, and experience that the employer is looking for in a candidate.
• Unspoken selection criteria - Engaging directly with recruiters, employers, and your professional network can reveal crucial but unadvertised selection criteria. Ask about company culture, market shifts, regulatory impacts, and economic considerations. Additionally, discussions within your peer network can provide insider insights into the organisation's unspoken needs and expectations, enabling you to tailor your application to align with both the visible and hidden demands of the role.
• Gather evidence - Bring together details of your qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience that best demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria. This may include certificates, awards, and testimonials from previous employers or colleagues.
• CV Alignment - Use the information you have gathered to tailor your CV to the job, highlighting your key achievements, skills, and experience that match the requirements of the employer.
• Accomplishment focus - Use specific examples and evidence to demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria. Make sure to address all the key points and use a clear, concise, and logical structure.

This phone chat provides a valuable opportunity to ensure you select the most appropriate CV package that caters to your unique needs.

In this call, I'll explain my process in detail and the level of personal support and communication you can expect from our collaboration. The aim is to assure you of my ability to accurately and compellingly represent your professional journey, enhancing your chances of securing interviews.

Ready to proceed without a call? Kindly select a package and complete your payment via debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Following this, we'll arrange an in-depth call to explore your requirements.

It's important to note that I schedule CV projects only after a formal agreement. If you're keen to move forward quickly, discussing and finalising a CV consulting package during our call would be advantageous.

If we haven't already spoken, please use the phone icon link on this page to arrange our call.

I do not use junior writers or outsource the work to third parties, I provide the service myself. Here are some advantages of my personalised approach for executive CV projects:

• We'll talk about your career goals, work history, skills, and experiences to for me to learn more about you as a professional.
• Then, I'll use the information I've gathered to write a CV that shows off your most important accomplishments, skills, and experiences in a way that matches the job requirements and what the employer wants, which makes it more likely to be shortlisted.
• This personalised CV service will help me highlight your unique strengths and qualifications that make you the best fit for the job.
• A well-written, personalised CV increases your chances of success in the job application process.
• I will give you fearless and personalised feedback on your CV, which may help you improve it.
• I will pay attention to the details of your CV and make sure that it is error-free, well-formatted, and visually appealing.
• CVs that are tailored to a specific job and employer have a higher chance of passing ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), which are used by many employers to screen applications.

The executive CV development process

This holistic approach aims to boost your success in securing interviews by meticulously aligning your profile with employer expectations and weaving a persuasive story of your skills and experience. Although our strategy adapts to each client's unique needs, this outline showcases our core methodology.

In situations without a specific job target, we apply sector-wide or role-specific criteria to tailor your application, ensuring broad relevance and appeal. Nonetheless, this broad-stroke approach may not be as effective for executive positions, which require bespoke applications.

Steer Clear of Application Missteps:

Neglecting Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

The primary hurdle? Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). It's estimated that a shocking 70% of CVs are eliminated at the initial screening due to a mismatch with the employer's selection criteria, signalling the end for generic CVs.

The One-size-fits-all CV Dilemma

Sending the identical CV for multiple applications is a sure-fire error. Tailor your CV for each application, showcasing how your distinct skills and experiences make you the perfect fit.

Mismatch with Job Requirements

A CV that doesn't reflect the specific skills and experiences sought in the job advertisement is likely to be overlooked. Your CV should closely align with the job selection criteria outlined by the employer.

Overly Stylised CVs

Favour simplicity over excessively stylised CVs that focus on decoration rather than substance. CVs heavy on graphics and elaborate designs can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), significantly diminishing their effectiveness. Furthermore, many organisations and jurisdictions dismiss applications with photos to sidestep allegations of gender or ethnicity discrimination.

To avoid the pitfalls and boost your chances of an interview, focus on devising a CV that's not just clear and concise but also bespoke for the job in question and compatible with ATS requirements.