President Resume Examples & Templates

Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, scan resumes for keywords and structure. They rank, filter, or reject resumes that lack the right terms or use odd formatting.

For a President role you need to show strategic leadership, P&L ownership, board engagement, M&A experience, corporate governance, fundraising, and stakeholder management. Include metrics like revenue growth, EBITDA improvement, and headcount you managed.

• Use clear section titles: "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills", "Certifications".
• Use keywords from President job postings, like "strategic planning", "P&L responsibility", "board reporting", "mergers and acquisitions", "change management", "stakeholder relations", "EBITDA" and "governance".
• Use a readable font like Arial or Calibri and save as .docx or clean PDF.

Avoid tables, columns, text boxes, headers, footers, images, and graphs. ATS often misread those elements and drop content.

Don't swap exact keywords for creative synonyms. ATS looks for exact phrases. Also don't hide dates, job titles, or employer names in images or headers.

Keep formatting simple. Use bullet points, short lines, and consistent date formats. That helps both the ATS and the hiring manager read your experience.

Pick a clean, professional template that shows leadership and results. Use a reverse-chronological layout so recent executive roles sit front and center. That layout reads well and parses reliably for applicant tracking systems.

Keep length tight. One page works for early or mid-career executives. Two pages work if you led multiple divisions, drove major M&A deals, or managed large P&L responsibilities.

Choose an ATS-friendly font like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for headings so recruiters scan easily. Keep consistent margins and 1.0–1.15 line spacing to avoid clutter.

Use clear section headings: Contact, Executive Summary, Professional Experience, Board & Committees, Education, and Select Metrics or Highlights. Put measurable outcomes under each role, like revenue growth, cost savings, or headcount changes.

Avoid complex columns, heavy graphics, and text boxes that break parsing. Limit color to a single accent for headings. Stick to simple bullets and bolding for emphasis so both people and systems parse your history.

Watch common mistakes: excessive job descriptions without metrics, inconsistent date formats, and tiny margins that jam the page. Don’t use nonstandard fonts or obscure icons that ATS can’t read.

Why a tailored cover letter matters

A President role shapes strategy, culture, and results. You must show how you will lead, not just list titles. A tailored letter connects your experience to the board's priorities and shows real interest in the company.

Key sections breakdown

• Header: Put your name, contact details, company name, and the date. Add the hiring manager's name if you know it.
• Opening paragraph: State the exact President role you seek. Show genuine enthusiasm for the company. Name your top, relevant strength briefly.
• Body paragraphs (1-3): Link your past work to the job needs. Highlight leading a P&L, driving revenue growth, mergers, or operational turnarounds. Mention one or two technical skills like budgeting or ERP systems when relevant. Show soft skills like stakeholder management and team building. Give numbers to prove impact, like revenue growth or cost savings. Use keywords from the job description to match filters.
• Closing paragraph: Reaffirm your strong interest in this specific role and company. State confidence in your ability to deliver results. Ask for an interview and thank the reader for their time.

Tone & tailoring

Keep a professional, confident, and warm tone. Write like you speak to a hiring partner. Use short sentences and active verbs. Customize each letter to the company. Avoid generic templates and vague claims.

Final tips

Keep paragraphs focused. Use one main idea per paragraph. Proofread for clarity and plain language. Let your leadership voice come through clearly and directly.

You're vying for the role of President, so every word on your resume must pull its weight. Small mistakes can cost you interviews or trigger doubt about your judgment.

Below are common pitfalls specific to executive-level resumes and clear fixes you can apply right away.

These FAQs and tips help you craft a President resume that highlights leadership, strategy, and measurable results. Use them to sharpen your profile, choose the right format, and present achievements that hiring boards can scan fast.