Last updated: 09th Feb 2026
Australian executives often find themselves applying for roles – only to get rejected. Very often, the reason for the failure is the humble executive resume.
Let’s get real.
Anyone can build a resume these days.
Download an online resume template. Spin up an AI tool. Use it to create a decent first draft – in seconds.
But here’s the problem most people overlook.
This approach makes you look like what I call “yet another executive”. Yep, a generic, pedestrian candidate.
And in today’s hyper-competitive executive job market, being generic won’t cut it.
The executive resume in 2026 can’t be a laundry list of your titles, metrics and responsibilities that’s propped up with a few formatting tricks.
It must be a strategic marketing document that influences how you’re perceived.
Let’s see how it’s done.
1. Speak To Your Audience.
I often come across client resumes that are too vague.
Even senior executives make the mistake of wanting to keep their options open – creating a one-size-fits-all resume that lacks impact.
Important!
This is particularly common with senior operations and finance leaders in transformation roles.
They have 3-5 reasonable next moves available to them, so they create a resume that attempts to cast a sufficiently wide net.
The result is a “jack of all trades” resume that doesn’t impress anyone.
You must be specific. Identify your ideal next role – and align your executive resume towards it.
Expert Tip.
The company is looking for an employee because they have a clear commercial challenge they need help with. Your #1 job right now is to position yourself as the clear solution to this specific challenge.
2. Ensure Your Executive Brand Is On Target.
You may find yourself attracting leadership roles that you don’t want.
For example, you may have outgrown the need to organise chaos.
You no longer crave the role of a saviour who boards a sinking ship, overthrows a mutiny, plugs the holes in the hull and sails it into the sunset – ahoy!
Yet, you may not realise that your resume screams:
Be mindful of the overarching theme of your brand. Rather than always pitching yourself as a turnaround specialist, you could consider:
- Driving top-line revenue through strategic acquisitions.
- Driving efficiencies with AI technology.
3. Write A Profile That Sells Your Unique Value.
The profile section of your executive resume must offer a 10-second summary of the value you will bring to your new employer.
To write an effective one, ask yourself:
- What problem am I going to solve?
- What changes am I anticipating in my industry?
- How do I show up as a leader to my team?
- What criteria do I use to hire and fire?
Providing concrete answers to these questions will help you avoid writing a resume profile that sounds like a job description.
For example, how often have you seen this on a resume?
What’s wrong with this?
You’re just rehashing a job description – not something executive recruiters will approve of. How do you think it compares to this?
4. Show Me The Money.
Quantifying your achievements has always been critical. But in 2026, you need to pay extra attention to the story behind the numbers.
It’s not enough to say that you captured 14% of market share. Or slashed transportation costs by 20%.
Important!
You must explain how you reached those goals, what that meant for the business, and what roadblocks you encountered.
Paint a “hero’s journey” in every achievement.
Build and release tension by describing which dragons you had to slay, who the princess was, and why you risked your life for her. For example:
Expert Tip.
The most important metrics are tied to shareholder revenue, profitability and customer value. Use them to show that you’re growing the business – not just managing the status quo.
5. Sprinkle In Power Phrases.
Not all words are created equal.
You can showcase commercial acumen by frontloading your sentences with strong verb-driven phrases that scream “executive presence”:
- Delivered A Record-Breaking [Outcome] – Showcases your role in driving key metrics like revenue growth.
- Elevated Team Performance [By] – Demonstrates your ability to turn around underperforming teams.
- Spearheaded Transformative Turnaround [Of] – sells your ability to shake things up.
- Resolved Tension [Between] – speaks to your stakeholder management skills.
I hope these methods help you create an outstanding executive resume and secure a top leadership role in 2026.
Irene
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