Stuck in Job Description Mode? Fix This Common Executive CV Mistake

By Constance Johnson | Executive CV Writer | Leadership Coach www.cvcoach.uk | Subscribe to The Executive Edge Vault

🚫 Why Even Brilliant Leaders Get Stuck

Too many smart, experienced executives get caught in what I call “job description mode.”

They list what they did.
What they were responsible for.
Who they managed.
But they don’t show what changed because they were there.

And in today’s competitive executive market, that’s not enough to open boardroom doors.

---

❌ What Does “Job Description Mode” Look Like?

Let me show you the difference and how easy it is to fix.

❌ Common CV Line… Led teams

✅ High-Impact…. Delivered 22% YoY uplift by reshaping team execution

❌ Common CV Line… Managed a £12M portfolio

✅ High-Impact…. Freed up £2M for reinvestment by optimizing portfolio strategy

---

🧭 Why This Undermines Your CV

When your CV sounds like a list of duties, it positions you as a doer, not a driver.

And board-level decision-makers aren’t hiring someone to simply “manage stakeholders” or “lead teams.”
They’re hiring someone to:

• Reshape performance

• Accelerate growth

• Turn around risk

• Deliver lasting transformation

If your CV doesn’t say how you moved the needle, you're likely to be overlooked no matter how impressive your experience.

---

🔧 3 Quick Fixes to Stop Underselling Your Value

1️⃣ Cut one responsibility. Add one result.
Instead of: “Managed regional marketing.”
Try: “Grew regional market share by 16% through a repositioning strategy.”

2️⃣ Show how you led change not just people.
What changed because of your leadership?
What improved, grew, or got solved?

3️⃣ Use metrics as proof of performance.
You don’t need dozens. Even one strong number (“£3M saved” or “18% NPS increase”) signals credibility.

---

💬 Final Thought

If your CV doesn’t reflect how you think, lead, and deliver, you’re asking hiring managers to fill in the blanks and that’s a risky bet.

Instead, make your CV work before the interview.
Let it whisper leadership, before it shouts experience.

---

🎁 Want Your CV to Sound Like This?

As a paid subscriber to The Executive Edge Vault, you’ll unlock access to the exact tools I use to position executives for six- and seven-figure roles:

🔓 Inside the Vault:

• Executive CV Template + Expert Commentary

• STAR-Aligned Impact Bullet Builder

• LinkedIn Optimisation Workbook

• Board-Level Positioning Framework

• Interview Coaching Tools & Scripts

📩 Ready to be headhunted, not overlooked?
Subscribe here or email me at help@mycvcoach.co.uk to start your bespoke executive branding package.

---

🗣 I'd love to hear from you…

Have you ever caught yourself writing in job description mode?
Drop a comment or share one sentence you rewrote after reading this.