Michael BudA highly insightful presentation on resumé building was delivered at one of recent The Financial Executives Networking Group’s job club meetings. The speaker at the helm was none other than Adriana L. Cowdin, an executive career coach par excellence. Cowdin, with her rich background as a C-suite executive in both Fortune 500 companies and private equity firms, brought her wealth of knowledge to this enlightening session.
The session drew attention to pivotal aspects of creating compelling executive resumes. Cowdin profoundly stressed the need for a concise and action-oriented executive summary that captures attention within the first few seconds. She enlightened the group on the importance of having a clear value proposition and the need to showcase key accomplishments, leadership experience, and unique personal attributes.
Progressing through the presentation, Cowdin discussed how the professional experience section, of a resume, should be structured. She suggested that the emphasis should be on notable achievements, inclusion of important details, and the use of potent, action-oriented language. Moreover, she underscored the importance of listing educational qualifications and additional training, emphasizing the ones relevant for financial leaders.
Touching upon the technical aspect of resume design, Cowdin provided deep insights into the need for a cohesive structure, balanced white space, and professional design elements. Further, she explained the necessity of tailoring resumes for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recommended tools for keyword optimization like Jobscan.
Throughout the session, questions flew in from the participants, covering a host of topics. Queries ranged from the placement of keywords in resumes to the optimal length of an executive resume. Participants sought advice on the inclusion of reasons for leaving previous roles, and a general consensus on an ideal word count for resumes was also sought.
In conclusion, Cowdin’s well-structured and insightful presentation offered a comprehensive guide to crafting effective, executive resumes for financial leaders. Her detailed guidance serves as a tremendous resource for CFOs, Controllers, and Treasurers and is expected to bring a paradigm shift in their resume strategies.
The session culminated in expressing deep gratitude to Adriana L. Cowdin for her generous contribution and thought leadership in the arena of executive resume writing. Her insights and knowledge sharing have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on The Financial Executives Networking Group.
About Adriana Cowdin:
Adriana L. Cowdin is a four-time entrepreneur, former corporate CEO, and one of the most sought-after executive coaches and keynote speakers in the business world. Founder of Dekaf Digital, she led the company to over 400% growth, resulting in its acquisition in 2023, placing her in the top 1% of women-owned small businesses. With over 20 years of experience, she has successfully coached more than 5,000 executives, leveraging her background as a former Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Customer Officer, and CEO. Cowdin’s expertise in personal branding has been featured in Forbes, Inc. 500, NY Times, Reuters, ABC News, CBS News, and many other top-tier outlets. Known for her direct and results-oriented coaching style, she empowers executives to navigate change with clarity and confidence. Cowdin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in business management, has completed leadership and coaching courses through Harvard Business School, and has been recognized with awards such as the Trailblazer Award and the Multicultural Leadership Award.
