CIO Resume Examples, Template & Resume Keywords (2024)

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The Structure of a CIO Resume

If you’re looking for a Chief Information Officer (CIO) role, you likely have lots of previous work experience in information technology. If this is the case, you will highlight your leadership and IT skills. You’ll also show off your understanding of IT operations and strategic planning.

IT professionals must understand the business structure and how they can do it with high-level information technology. You’ll need to show off these project management and technical skills to show that you’re the best CIO candidate.

Your resume structure will usually follow your resume format. As CIOs need lots of experience, the chronological resume format will be the best option since it focuses on employment history. Keep in mind that you can also use two other types of resume formats: the functional resume format and the combination resume format. Functional resumes are great for candidates with little experience as the focus is placed on their skills. Combination resumes are a good option for those with lots of skills and experience to show off to an employer.

Contact information

The resume header is an essential section of your resume and provides all of your contact information. In this section, you should include:

• Your name
• Address
• Email Address 
• Phone Number 

If you need to provide more information, you can include a link to a networking profile, like LinkedIn.

Resume summary 

The resume summary is a brief 2-3 sentence paragraph. Include your most significant accomplishments and skills. The resume summary is one of the first elements of your resume that a recruiter reads, so take this opportunity to make your resume stand out. Your goal is to draw the hiring manager or recruiter in, so think about whether you have any traits or experience that can set you apart from the rest of the competition.

Skills

In the skills section of your resume, you will want to list 8-12 of your best skills. These should consist of a good mixture of hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills refer to industry-specific skills usually necessary to fulfill the job’s primary responsibilities, such as knowledge of enterprise resource planning (ERP). Soft skills are general employability skills that support primary skills, such as leadership and communication skills. The best resumes will have a mixture of both of these elements.

Here are a few examples of skills a CIO may consider adding to their executive resume:

• Technical skills 
• Computer science 
• Software development 
• Project management 
• Agile methodology
• Strategic planning 
• Microsoft Office 
• Cybersecurity 
• Information security 
• Problem-solving 
• Analytical skills
• Leadership skills 
• Mentoring 
• People management 
• Interpersonal skills 

Work experience 

The work experience section of your professional resume acts as a record of your work history and your years of experience. List each job in reverse-chronological order, with your most recent job listed first. As CIOs require lots of professional experience in IT departments, executive management, IT management, and senior management positions, you should include your main achievements. Feature three to five key accomplishments for each previous job in bullet point format to prove your value to the recruiter or hiring manager. You should include the company name, your job title, and start and end dates for each job.

Education 

Be sure to include all your degrees and certifications in the education section of your resume. CIOs and chief technical officers (CTO) typically require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a relevant field of study. Some useful certifications for CIO positions include Certified Associate in Project Management, Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control, and Certified in Governance of Enterprise IT. Refer to the job posting to understand the education you will need for the role and include this on your resume.

Do’s and Don’ts for a Chief Information Officer Resume

Here are some tips to keep in mind to help you write the best CIO resume:

Do: 

• Use a resume template or look at a resume sample to help you construct a well-structured and clear professional resume. 
• Thoroughly study the job description, so you know what the ideal candidate looks like, and address the job post’s needs through your resume. 
• Include specific examples of  how your previous IT projects made a difference to your employer.

Don’t: 

• Write your resume with no assistance. Use ResumeHelp to produce the best resume you can with our builder, which includes professional resume templates and job-specific advice.
• Talk about your high school GPA or any unrelated academic information. This is unnecessary info compared to what the recruiter is really interested in: your extensive experience in IT.
• Submit your resume without properly proofreading. Improve your resume writing by ensuring that your spelling, punctuation, and grammar are perfect.