I need some advice it’s been a minute since I applied for jobs but will be out of work by end of June. I have a great resume but am worried my current and previous title will get it passed over as it may be viewed as too senior. The sector I am in now has overinflated titles (many Executive Vice Presidents) but in traditional corporate settings these are rare extremely expensive senior roles. I am looking at VP level jobs, do I drop the EVP title and if so what do I use to show the career progression I have had? Also I left my previous role and returned as a contractor late last year for a higher title do I note that this is contract or leave as is? (Because it looks like I have been in the role a short time).

3 Comments

1. Michelle`May 30,2024 at 1:43PM UTC

   Good morning! Don’t down play your position titles - let ur light shine and own your accomplishments. I was listening to NPR yesterday afternoon and and an outgoing C-suite male leader was discussing how his company is driving change and giving the company accolades for having had four women in leadership roles over the past 10 years; sadly I wasn’t shocked. Have been in a male dominated field my entire career - my advice would be to ask yourself - what would ‘he’ do. If you are on LinkedIn I’d recommend paying for the premier membership while searching and applying for positions . The built AI function is a wonderful feature for comparing your resume to potential positions.

2. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 2:55PM UTC

   Without knowing what industry/sector you are coming from and going to, my advise is a little limited.

   However, this is what cover letters are for! I would put your appropriate title and everything you have been able to achieve on your resume as anyone would. If you are worried about getting passed over for being too qualified (it does happen), I would explain this in the cover letter. While there is a big difference between EVP and VP, it is not as big of a difference between IC and Director. I personally have seen the latter a few times. Without a cover letter explaining why they want an IC role vs Director, they will be DQ'd as the thought is that they won't stay and as soon as they can find an appropriate level role, they will be gone. A cover letter explaining that they no longer want to manage, want a better work life balance, etc goes a long way. Basically, a company doesn't really care if you are overqualified (assuming you can do the job at hand), as long as they trust you will stay and they are not going to lose you.

   For you, explaining that you are looking for a VP level role in the cover letter could help quell some concerns. While my title was EVP, this is what I actually did, etc. I look forward to explaining how my experience lines up perfectly, etc.

   I know it is incredibly scary to be going back out into the job market, especially if it has been a bit. Have confidence in what you have accomplished, and know there is a company out there that could really use your experience, soft skills, and talents. Confidence (not cockiness) goes a long way in interviews. You got this!

3. Joanne RosenMay 30,2024 at 5:52PM UTC

   That's a lot of questions!

   If you were in banking, then everyone knows those roles always have insane titles. It seems like almost everyone at Wells Fargo is at least a VP.

   What we do with our clients is put in the more common role title (Branch Manager instead of VP, Branch Operations). I once wrote a resume for someone whose title was Chief Smile Officer (She was head of HR). Your resume needs to resonate with the reader who is more than likely a recruiter first.

   If you are looking for VP roles, you need to make sure you are presenting yourself at that level. That means, having an Executive resume, which is quite different from mid-career. It needs to really illustrate your executive value, your contributions, and your ability to bring those to the next company.

   Yes, note that it's a contract like this: Senior VP (Contract)

   Finally, if you'd like some help, we offer a FREE resume analysis. Email yours to: Mark@WriteChoiceResumes.com

   Cheers!

   Joanne