Your CISO Resume: Balancing Proactive Security and Business Vision
Your CISO resume has to do a lot.
Your CISO resume has to show that you create robust security policies enterprise safe without creating burdensome security requirements for both IT team and business users. Your CISO resume needs to show that you utilize security as a business enabler, and not a cost center. As if that weren't enough, you have to demonstrate that work well with your peers in the C-suite and that you're a full member and partner in the executive team.
And you have to do that in two pages and a thousand words max.
As I said, it's a big job. So it's not a surprise that you may have been putting off writing your CISO resume, eh?
Your CISO Resume: Business Value is Key
In every IT resume—from network engineer to CTO—the biggest problem is turning the document into a laundry list of technologies. That's a problem at every level—but a much more serious problem if you're a C-level technology leader.
And there's another challenge, specific to a CISO resume.
It can be a lot harder to find and describe the accomplishments that make you stand out in career—because the primary accomplishment of a great CISO is, "Nothing happened on my watch."
But don't panic. It is doable.
Your CISO Resume Needs to Prove That You're Not "Dr. No."
A CISO's job isn't easy. It is, unfortunately, often relatively thankless. That's because the CISO has to, often, set a lot of limits on what employees can do, how they log-in, how they can work.
A very important job, but not always a key to popularity.
Too often in the past—and sometimes today, too—the CISO has been known to try to block everything because there may be a risk. That's laudable, in a sense, but it's ultimately impractical—because if security policies are too difficult or too rigid, people will find backdoors. After all, people have jobs to do, and that's their first priority.
Of course, a lot of CISOs have moved beyond the "Dr. No" strategy—but the image still remains in the minds of many C-suite executives—so it's critical that your CISO resume show clearly that you're a business partner and enabler—and not a necessary evil.
How Can I Make Your CISO Resume Stand Out?
As a professional IT resume writer, I've developed a process that's clear, transparent, and painless.
I believe in getting to know my clients' careers directly, though an extended conversation. I don't expect my clients to fill out endless questionnaires or worksheets; that's an inefficient use of everyone's time—and doesn't really deliver high-quality information.
I take a different approach.
I ask a lot of questions. And since I've been writing IT executive resumes for more than a decade and a half, I know what questions to ask to dig deeper into your career and find the achievements that will ensure you stand out to the hiring committee.
This approach also enables me to get to the real accomplishments you've delivered—to prove that you were doing a lot more than just sailing the ship through calm waters.
I Don't Stop with your CISO Resume
The resume, of course, is only one piece of the puzzle. Once we've completed your resume, we'll get on to your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is still the place a lot of recruiters go to look for talent.
Also, these days, the LinkedIn profile has taken the place of the old cover letter, so it's critical that your IT Executive LinkedIn profile shows who you are to help connect with opportunities where there will be a good and positive culture fit.
Finally, I include IT executive coaching hours (at no cost) in my gold and platinum packages. We can talk about anything from job search strategies to challenges interacting with a new CEO.
My IT executive platinum package is $1897; I don't play games trying to make my clients find out what I charge. My full pricing can be found here.
If you're interested in getting in touch to discuss how I work in more detail, and determine if I'm the write professional resume writer to help you in your career, do get in touch for an initial 30-minute conversation.