A Board CV is different from a career CV in a number of ways. It is important you identify your transferable skills, articulate your seniority and achievements and highlight past board (or proxy board) experience. All in a succinct way.
It’s worth remembering that each board approach and vacancy are different. The strategic direction and life-cycle stage of the organisation, as well as the forces and complexities within the sector, drive the increasing focus of board composition and the skills matrix.
For aspiring directors, this means a careful rethink of how to present their capabilities as cutting and pasting from a corporate resume will signal they ‘don’t get it’ when it comes to the role of boards and directorships.
“Creating a good Board CV that stands out is about getting you above the pack,” said Women on Boards co-founder Claire Braund, who together with co-founder Ruth Medd runs regular Build Your Board CV virtual workshops.
ALSO READ: DON’T GIVE ANYONE A REASON TO PUT YOU IN THE TOO-HARD PILE
Those reading the board resume require different and specific information. Nomination committees need to know your value proposition in the context of their particular board. The fundamental question for you to answer is: “what can I really contribute to the strategic direction and challenges of this board?”
Top tip: Get a third-party review: your colleagues, clients and others who know you will often do a better job of articulating your unique strengths and contributions than you will. Get several people to review and comment on your profile. Even better if you can ask someone who sits on a board.
Other tips:
- Write for your reader - not yourself
- First impressions count
- Achievements impress
- Director attributes impress
Board CV resources at your fingertips
Want more tips? Women on Boards has a suite of downloadable resources with more invaluable pieces of advice like this to help members* prepare their Board CV. From sample professional summaries to a Board CV template members can browse through the resources in their own time.
*Free for Full, Premium and Corporate Members. Not a member? Click HERE to upgrade.
Build Your Board CV Workshop
Check out our
Events Calendar for details of our next Build Your Board CV Workshop.
Prefer to do it in your own time? You can purchase the On Demand version of our Build Your Board CV Online course
HERE for $175.