Do you have what it takes to become a senior manager? When it comes to applying for your first senior management position, there are a number of factors you should consider as you put together a relevant CV and cover letter.

The CV

You may have spent time working your way up the professional ladder by showcasing your education and educational qualifications. Now you’re looking at senior management jobs, it’s time to concentrate on your career and professional highlights rather than your education.

Take time to look at the company you are applying to, the key skills they will be looking for and your relevant experience in the required field. Key examples of times when you have taken on extra responsibilities or widened your job role will show an employer that you’re ready for a more senior position.

Using numbers to promote your achievements gives real substance and gives a real scale to what you’ve accomplished within a company. For example, letting a potential employer know that you have scaled back delivery times by 10% or have increased year-on-year revenue by 14% will provide evidence of any claims you are making that you have been an asset to a company previously and will be to theirs.

Writing Your Cover Letter

There are also ways in which you should write your cover letter to suit a senior management role. Firstly, and before you start to write the letter itself, make sure you are addressing it to the right person. A cover letter is your first impression and first chance to get in front of the company’s hiring manager. Call the company to double-check any names or at least take a good guess, via research, by finding the name of the Human Resources manager. If you’re looking for senior management jobs, then landing on the wrong desk is at least better than landing on any desk with a vague ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Senior management recruitment is a tough field, so your cover letter needs to stand out amongst the others. When starting a cover letter, you should be clear and well-informed about the organisation you are applying to. Your introduction should be relevant to them, stating why it’s their company you want to work for and what’s attracted you to the position. Be sure to name the company specifically and then tell them exactly why you are the right person for the job. It’s easy to copy and paste your CV at this point, but your cover letter needs to be an extension of your CV and not a replica.

Once you’ve introduced yourself and explained your reasoning for applying for a senior management job at this company, the rest of the cover letter needs to expand on the value you would bring to the organisation and how the skills noted in your CV are relevant and matched to the company’s needs. Ending the letter on a question or query or inviting a conversation to begin is a great way to call for a response from the company.

Getting Started

One of the most important factors in being ready to take on a senior management position is having the self-awareness to know your strengths and weaknesses and learn from feedback to develop. If you’re ready for a senior management role, then it’s time to start looking at the opportunities available and putting your CV and cover letter skills into practice. Alltek recruit have numerous senior management recruitment opportunities advertised and make it easier to find the perfect role for you. Simply put the word ‘senior’ into the keyword search, alongside your location, and you can start to explore the opportunities available.