Why Strong Leaders Still Struggle With Résumés (And How to Fix It)

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Recently, I partnered with a VP who had been with a large corporation for 18 years. He had led a team through three restructures, doubled revenue in his division, secured multi-million-dollar contracts, and launched an initiative that reduced operational costs by 25%. He had also mentored four managers who later landed promotions.

On paper? His résumé still looked like back in the late 1990s.

With a smile he told me, “I can run an eight-figure budget, but I am not sure how to condense my career into two pages.”

He is far from the only one who feels this way. This is where so many executives and senior leaders in their 40s, 50s, and 60s find themselves.

You have built a career on delivering results, leading teams, and solving complex problems inside respected companies across North America and even globally. You are trusted by your peers, and people come to you for guidance.

But when it comes time to update your résumé, you hit a wall. How do you condense 20 years of experience into something short and powerful? How do you prove results without sounding like you are bragging? How do you show the difference between being a manager and being an executive leader?

Here is the truth: your résumé is not just a list of jobs. It is your leadership story. The mistake most leaders make is focusing on tasks instead of impact.

For example:
❌ “Responsible for managing a team of 12.”
✅ “Built and led a 12-person team that increased client retention by 28% in two years.”

❌ “Oversaw departmental budget.”
✅ “Directed a $25M departmental budget, reallocating resources to cut costs by 15% while maintaining service quality.”

❌ “Handled company-wide projects.”
✅ “Led a cross-functional team on a company-wide systems upgrade that reduced processing time by 40% and improved data accuracy across three business units.”

See the difference? These examples do not just tell us what you did. They show the measurable impact of your leadership.

So how do you uncover those kinds of strengths and achievements in your own career? Here are some practical ways to start:

  1. Revisit Your Performance Reviews
    These are goldmines of feedback. Recognition for leading change, improving efficiency, or developing talent often highlights strengths you overlook.

  2. Track Metrics and Numbers
    Think revenue growth, cost savings, budget size, operational efficiencies, market share, or project delivery. Numbers make your achievements real.

  3. Ask Your Team or Colleagues
    Others often see your strengths more clearly than you do. Ask, “What difference do you think I make on this team?” Their answers may surprise you.

  4. Connect Achievements to Business Outcomes
    Tie your work to results. Did you reduce risk, increase retention, improve culture, or create efficiencies? That is what matters most to decision-makers.

  5. Look for Patterns in Your Career
    What do people consistently rely on you for? Turning around teams, scaling operations, building client trust? These patterns are your signature strengths.

  6. Study Target Job Descriptions
    Compare postings for your next role to your résumé. Identify overlaps and back them up with real examples from your career.

  7. Build a Career Wins Journal
    Keep a running log of wins: KPIs achieved, projects delivered, praise received. When it is time to update your résumé, you will already have the details.

  8. Reframe Soft Skills as Leadership Impact
    Instead of “excellent communicator,” show it: “Presented strategy to the Board, securing $10M in new funding.” Turn soft skills into business outcomes.

Here are three more guiding principles to keep in mind as you update your résumé:

  1. Think in terms of outcomes. Instead of writing what you were “responsible for,” ask: What changed because of me?

  2. Add numbers where possible. Dollars saved, percentage growth, team size, number of projects delivered. These details anchor your story.

  3. Highlight your leadership evolution. Show how you have gone from managing tasks to influencing strategy, culture, and results.

If your résumé has not been updated in years, it is not your fault. Even the most accomplished executives rarely have the time or the distance to step back and frame their story in a way that grabs attention.

I work with executives and senior leaders across North America and global companies to take decades of experience and transform it into résumés and LinkedIn profiles that open doors. If you are preparing for a promotion, considering a career move, or simply want the confidence of knowing you are ready for what comes next, I would be glad to help you bring your story to life.

Reach out to me at: info@distinctresume.com or https://www.distinctresume.com/contact-us