Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) and IT Executives must develop a long- and short-term technology strategy and lead teams that execute it to support a company’s vision for growth.
A successful IT Executive is one whose strategy yields tangible results and whose steady progression showcases a history of career growth and success.
The resume must tell the reader how results came to be by balancing Leadership, Fiscal Management and Technical Know-How.
#1 LEADERSHIP:
CIOs, CTOs, IT SVPs and VPs cannot succeed solo. Their success is dependent on leading teams, managing external partners/vendors and internal stakeholders.
☑ TALENT MANAGEMENT: IT Executives must build teams who can execute their strategy. Consider the following and if applicable include in your resume:
► In the world of IT, teams are commonly dispersed to far corners of the earth that brings with it unique complexities. If your teams include offshore and global leadership — spell it out.
► In the world of IT, teams are commonly dispersed to far corners of the earth that brings with it unique complexities. If your teams include offshore and global leadership — spell it out.
☑ STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT: IT Executives must continually engage in conversations with business partners and internal stakeholders to gain and retain strategy buy-in. Be sure the reader is clear on the parties involved and those requiring a compelling case before giving the green light.
☑ VENDOR MANAGEMENT: IT Executives are often judged on the success of a vendor implementation and its contribution to the bottom line. Here’s where it’s critical to include details about enhancements or overhauls to ERPs, software, hardware, etc., and explain how the implementation benefitted the company.
#2 FISCAL MANAGEMENT
IT Executives must manage finances closely, make cost-effective choices where technology investments are concerned and ensure directs are adhering to program and project budgets.
Show results in this area by monetizing wherever possible. Think back to savings attained during vendor negotiations or savings directly resulting from technology investment choices.
#3 TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW
Although most recruiters no longer expect a Senior IT Executive to be hands-on and current on development or programming, the ability to lead teams who are is a must. A career progression that includes tenures in hands-on technical roles shows this and tells the reader you can confidently “talk the talk” with front-line technologists.
DREAM TO REALITY
A resume that showcases strong leadership, fiscal soundness and technical savvy will impress a company looking to fill an IT Executive Leadership role. More importantly, it will show you have what it takes to spearhead an IT strategy that transforms a company’s vision from dream to reality.