Write a leadership CV

A leadership CV should show the size of decisions you made and the results of the people or operations you led.

Diagnose the real decision

For each role, note team size, budget or revenue responsibility, geography, major risks and stakeholders. Remove confidential figures if your employment terms require it.

Put it into practice

Write achievement bullets as action, scale and outcome. Separate collective achievements from your individual decision. Tailor the first page to the requirements of the role you want.

Worked example

Weak: “Responsible for operations.” Stronger: “Led a 12-person service team across two sites; redesigned the triage process and reduced overdue jobs by 24% over six months,” if you can substantiate it.

What can go wrong

A long list of leadership adjectives without evidence is less useful than three credible outcomes. Check dates and claims with references.

Use this in the next seven days

Write the outcome and deadline in one sentence.
Collect the evidence or document named above.
Ask a relevant colleague, manager or adviser to challenge one assumption.
Set a review date and record what changed.

Source and verification

Primary Australian reference. The practical method and examples are editorial guidance. Check the linked source for current rules and details that apply to your situation.

Show scale and boundaries

Where disclosure is allowed, state team size, location, budget band and complexity. Explain your decision authority. “Led a $10 million portfolio” is ambiguous if you only maintained a reporting spreadsheet. A precise description of scope builds trust with a recruiter and can be checked at reference stage.

Choose evidence by role

A first management application should foreground coaching and coordinated delivery. A director application should include cross-functional decisions, budgets and risk. A board CV should show governance judgement and oversight rather than operational activity. Reordering the same achievements for different audiences is legitimate; changing their meaning is not.

Use a verification pass

Check every date, title, credential and result. Ask whether the numbers represent your team, the organisation or your own work. Remove client details that would breach confidentiality and avoid unexplained acronyms. A credible CV makes it easy for an interviewer to ask useful follow-up questions.