By Richard Sterling, Partner at AltoPartners Australia.

This article was first posted on LinkedIn. To read the original post, click here.

So many C-suite résumés read like LinkedIn profiles on sedatives, polished but lifeless.

Impressive titles? Yes. Lists of responsibilities? Usually. But where’s the spark? The leadership thread? Where’s the evidence they reshaped the role not just occupied it?

After nearly 30 years in executive search, I’ve reviewed thousands of résumés. Some impress. Many don’t.

The best résumés go beyond a catalogue of roles. They make a credible leadership case.

So, let me offer a candid perspective on what I look for, what raises red flags and what turns a résumé from ordinary to remarkable.

The First Impression

The résumé, although not always the beginning of an executive search process, needs to make a strong first impression.

Job titles alone tell me little. “Chief Executive Officer” might mean leading a national For Purpose organisation with complex funding streams, or running a small community service with a team of five. Without context a title is just a label.

I want to understand the size, scope and circumstances. Was the organisation expanding, stabilising, recovering from a funding shortfall or navigating a merger? These details matter.

Beyond responsibilities, I’m looking for outcomes. It’s one thing to say you were “responsible for transformation.” It’s another to say you “secured $4 million in new funding and unified three regional programs under a single service model.” One is vague and the other is concrete.

I also watch for red flags. Short stints, sideways moves, unexplained gaps. They’re not dealbreakers but they do prompt questions.

For example, if someone spent only nine months in a senior role, I’ll want to understand why. Was it a turnaround role that wrapped up early? Did a values misalignment lead to a planned exit? Whatever the reason, offering the context up front helps frame the story constructively.

What I’m Really Reading For

Every résumé prompts a decision as to what I should dig into further? On its own it won’t determine suitability but it always shapes the questions I’ll ask next.

I’m reading for leadership, judgment and credibility. I compare what’s written to what I find through research, interviews, referees and online footprints. If the numbers don’t add up or the story shifts, credibility suffers.

Presentation matters as well but I’m not looking for artistic flair. No fancy fonts, no rainbow colours or novelty bullets. Just clarity. Logical structure. Clean, easy to read formatting. A professional tone, free of jargon.

What Strong Résumés Do

A strong résumé doesn’t just tell me where you’ve been. It shows how you lead, what you’ve achieved and why it matters.

It should reveal how you’ve shaped strategy, delivered results, strengthened teams and led with values aligned to mission.

Intent may guide you but impact defines you.