7 STEPS TO ASX SUCCESS

Women on Boards is increasingly being asked to assist with the recruitment of directors for ASX listed companies, as they seek to diversify the skills and expertise of their boards. ASX roles are highly sought after and hard to achieve.  Here are a few tips for making the short list.

1. Assess your claims against the criteria.

In the case of many companies there is some flexibility about the skill set, but the criteria are usually clear and act as a drafting gate for the short-list. So, read the criteria and if ensure you can mount a case to say you match most items on the list, which often includes having public company experience at a senior executive, C Suite or Non-Executive-Director level.

2. Submit a board ready CV.

Your starter point is a quality Board CV which must be a skills and competencies-based CV which is succinct, achievement-focused, well-formatted, keyword optimized and grammatically correct. 

In the Build Your Board CV Workshop, we emphasize that a board CV sells you to the recruiter and aims to get you through the front door and into the much smaller pile ‘for further consideration.’

A Board CV is not an old fashioned executive CV, which tends to be the life and times of your career that gives chapter and verse of your journey to date. A Board CV pitches your value proposition and unique selling point for a board role. It is your sales document that convinces the recipient to progress you further in the queue.

The preference is two, maximum three, pages. Of course, as Winston Churchill once observed, it’s much harder to write a short document than a longer one. It’s also quite hard for some of us write about themselves, so if that is you, then seek help. It’s a wise investment.

3. Think about the recruiter.

As the chair of WOB I give a good hearing to all applicants. By comparison the quoted figures for search consultants is to give each CV  less than a minute at first glance.

I print the application and then read it at leisure over a coffee at one of my fine local cafes. Not a stressed or rushed process.

So, if you provided an application that is in 8-point font with no page numbers you set yourself back immediately; and possibly get yourself spilled onto the floor of said fine local café. Apart from that initial hurdle, if you provided something that was poorly set out across five plus pages you put yourself at an immediate disadvantage. First impressions do count.

So please think about the needs of the recruiter.

4. Be impressive.

When addressing the selection criteria, you need to do more than just restate material from your CV. The best applications covered how they could add value to the board. This requires research and good knowledge of the sector and the company which can be found in company reports and/or via a helpful informant.

5. Write a good cover letter.

6. Consider applying for the WOBSX program.

Getting an ASX board role is a considerable achievement and it is unusual to go from zero or a few small board roles to an ASX board. But its competitive, so for those who do not make the cut the message is to continue to apply. You may also like to consider enrolling in the WOBSX program; a director-led, peer support program to assist women to achieve ASX Board roles. The specific aims of the program are for participants to:

● improve understanding of the role and function of an ASX director;

● better position themselves for roles in the sector;

● develop stronger networks with the ASX Director community.

The aspirational goal of the program is that more than 25% of participants will have

secured listed company ASX directorships within two years of completion.

The program was over-subscribed in 2018/19/20/21. Seven syndicates have graduated and two are currently underway, under the guidance of leading ASX NEDs. We are currently accepting applications for a syndicate in Sydney.

7.  Let WOB help you.

It is good to remember that there are thousands of high-quality paid and unpaid board roles in sectors beyond the ASX. Take a look at the vacancies on our website. When thinking about boards to target, WOB can assist you to make this assessment.

Whatever you do, don’t give up, and continue to let us support you in any way we can.

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