VP role. 40% raise. 5 weeks. Here's the blueprint.

I share client wins pretty regularly on LinkedIn.

This week, I want to walk you through the work behind the scenes because I think it's more useful than just the headline number.

My client had been doing VP-level work, but currently had a Director title. She had been a VP previously, but that experience showed up on Page 4 of her resume. She wasn't sure how to position all of that great early career experience without giving away her age.

We started working together in January and she landed a great VP role within 5 weeks (including a 40% raise).

Here’s what we actually did (and what you can use today):

We emphasized her C-Suite relationships

Throughout her career, she had been advising CEOs and working at the executive level, even when her title didn’t always reflect it. You might take it for granted that you are doing this kind of work - in your resume, you literally need to spell it out. This serves two purposes: it lets the reader know that you are comfortable partnering with the C-Suite, but it also sets you up to show up in SEO/GEO searches for C-Suite talent.

In this case, we brought this experience to the surface and made it the centerpiece of her resume and LinkedIn headline. If you’ve been doing VP-level work without the VP title, that story needs to be told clearly.

We didn't bury the lede

She had significant, impressive experience earlier in her career that was getting lost at the bottom of her resume. We pulled the highlights into her executive summary where they’d actually be seen. Don’t let your best work hide where nobody looks: make sure to share it early (with numbers).

We stayed at 2 pages

I know there’s a lot of debate about resume length. My honest take: most of the time, 2 pages is enough (and one page honestly isn't near enough for executives).

Putting it all together

None of this is magic. It’s just knowing what hiring managers are looking for and making sure your resume and LinkedIn give it to them clearly and quickly.

Yes, this market is hard, but people are still landing great roles and meaningful raises.

If you’re reading this and realizing your resume isn’t telling the right story — that’s exactly the work I do with clients every day.

Learn more about my services here and book a call to discuss here - I’m starting to fill up for Q2.

One more thing:

Over 240 of you signed up for Amanda Northcutt's workshop on building your own consulting practice recently. The large response told me something: many of you are thinking beyond the traditional job search.

I want to make sure I'm bringing you what you actually need. What's your biggest challenge right now: the job search, a career pivot, or something else entirely? Would you like to see more webinars or events? Just hit reply and tell me. I read every response.

This week's LinkedIn posts:

​When I was 25, I led a team of 30 and had numerous direct reports who were in their 40s and 50s.​

​"There is no amount of botox that will hide my age."​

​"Am I too old?"​

​Poll: How is today’s economic climate impacting your career plans? (1150+ votes)​

​"I have spent 30+ years helping people and no one will respond to my messages."​

​I've been telling my clients not to write Open to Work posts on LinkedIn.​

As always, thank you for being part of this community.

Best -

Colleen​
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