A Non-Executive Director CV should be different from an Executive one; it should be 2-3 pages maximum and contain a combination of the following:
- Contact details
- Specialist areas/your core skills
- Career roles
- Soft skills
- Professional, educational and technical qualifications
Your CV should include:
1) Contact details
Your address, email & phone numbers should be detailed on the first page. A LinkedIn profile address can also be useful.
2) Your profile, summarising core skills, or useful experience you would offer a client company in a Non-Exec or Chair role which should include your personal areas of expertise.
Be succinct (preferably fewer than 6 points and certainly no more than 8). Ensure that your expertise and experience are backed up by career achievements. These are likely to be a mix of skills that companies require from their Non Execs or around their Board Room table (as per a role spec) such as:
- Strategic Input
- Entrepreneurial Flair
- Operational Expertise
- Finance Expertise
- Risk Management
- Digital Marketing/E-Commerce experience
- IT/Tech/Software Track-Record
- 10 Years’ Experience in Healthcare Sector
- Fundraising experience
- M & A expertise
- IPO involvement
- AIM/listed Company Experience
- Experience of Chairing PE Backed Companies etc.
3) Current and Previous Board-Level Experience
As an actual Chairman, Director or in pro bono Director-like roles such as a Board Consultant, CoSec, involved Investor, Trustee or Governor etc. it is useful to mention any formal Board Sub-Committees that you have either Chaired or were a member of, and give dates. If legally you were not an actual Director, then don't claim this but mention the role and briefly explain how it was 'Director-like'. If you have not been a NED before this is not a problem but mention if you have attended a Non-Exec course or workshop to prepare you for a Non Exec role.
4) Career record with actual dates including a description of major achievements and responsibilities in your more important roles
Minor/brief/early roles can simply be mentioned without descriptions. Career breaks are not a problem so do not try to hide them. Ideally reading the career record will not only tell us and a client what you have done but also back up the skills and expertise listed in the first section.
5) A Summary of Professional, Educational and Technical Qualifications
Detail relevant qualifications in particular for a particular Board appointment or Board Sub Committee, for example, an accounting qualification for an Audit Committee, or a former FCA/PRA Authorised person.
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Be wary of Non-Executive Director websites that ask you to pay to register or gain access to Non-Executive roles.