Pick a clean, professional template that highlights leadership and results. Use a reverse-chronological layout so hiring managers see your recent director roles first and ATS reads sections easily.
Keep length to one page if you have under 10 years in leadership. Use two pages only if you led multiple functions and have quantifiable outcomes that matter to the role.
Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for headers so section titles stand out.
Leave ample white space and use consistent margins and line spacing. Short paragraphs and bullet lists make achievements easy to scan.
Use standard headings like Contact, Summary, Experience, Leadership Highlights, Education, and Skills. Put metrics and scope near role titles to show impact quickly.
Avoid complex columns, heavy graphics, and non-standard fonts that confuse ATS. Don’t use small text, crowded sections, or long paragraphs that hide key results.
Common mistakes directors make include vague job descriptions, missing metrics, and overusing design that hurts parsing. Fix those by listing measurable outcomes, team sizes, budgets, and clear role scope.