How This Chief of Staff Resume Led to a Director Interview & $75K Raise
When I first started helping mid-senior level professionals with their resumes, I had no idea how much strategy went into a single document. A single chief of staff resume. Boy, was I in for a surprise! A resume isn't just a list of jobs—it's your personal marketing pitch. And nowhere is this more true than for leadership positions like Chief of Staff.
I recently worked with a client who completely transformed their job prospects with one resume overhaul. Get this: they reapplied for a Chief of Staff role they were previously rejected for—and this time, they not only got the interview but also landed a Director-level interview with a $75K salary increase on the table. All within 6 days!
So what changed? Let me break down the exact strategies we used, so you can apply them to your own leadership resume.
Watch: Chief of Staff Resume Example
Does a Chief of Staff Resume Need One or Two Pages?
This is probably the number one question I get from executive clients, and I totally get the confusion. We've all heard that "rule" about keeping your resume to one page, right?
Let me tell you about a client who was absolutely convinced they needed to squeeze 15 years of leadership experience onto a single page. The result? Tiny fonts, no white space, and key accomplishments either missing or buried. It was a mess!
For leadership and executive roles like Chief of Staff, a two-page resume isn't just acceptable—it's often necessary and expected. Why? Because these positions require depth, strategy, and a proven track record of impact that simply won't fit on one page without sacrificing important details.
Think about it this way: hiring managers for executive positions want to see your progression, your strategic thinking, and your measurable results over time. They need context and specifics to understand the full scope of your leadership capabilities. Trying to cram all that onto one page is like trying to summarize War and Peace in a tweet—it just doesn't work!
I've had clients push back on this advice until they saw the difference. Once we expanded to two well-organized pages, their resumes started getting responses almost immediately. The difference was night and day.
Chief of Staff Resume Format: The Foundation of Success
Let’s get one thing straight: your resume is not a job diary. No one wants to read a laundry list of every task you’ve ever done. Your resume is a sales pitch.
I remember when my client first showed me their original resume. It was crammed onto one page with tiny font and no breathing room. "I was told to keep it to one page no matter what," they explained.
Let's break down exactly how we formatted this successful resume from top to bottom.
At the very top, we included my client's full name followed immediately by "MBA" right after it. This matters! Having those three letters next to your name carries significant weight, especially in strategic leadership roles. Below that, we placed all contact information clearly and professionally.
One mistake I see all the time is executives hiding their credentials or burying them in the education section. Don't do that! If you've earned advanced degrees or certifications that are relevant to leadership roles, showcase them prominently next to your name.
A Chief of Staff resume should read like a roadmap—clearly outlining where you’ve been, what you’ve achieved, and why you’re ready for that next big step.
Lead with Executive-Level Competencies
Immediately below the contact information (before anything else), we strategically placed the top four competencies that kept appearing in job descriptions:
Financial Analysis | Portfolio Management | Financial Technology (FinTech) | Client Success
This wasn't just a random decision. Here's the psychology behind it: by presenting these competencies first, we're helping the reviewer see all of your experience through this specific lens. We're essentially programming them to view you as a strategic leader before they even get to your work history.
And here's the bonus: we're also placing critical keywords in prime position for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). I cannot tell you how many qualified candidates get filtered out because they didn't strategically place keywords where they matter most.
Career Snapshot: Make Your First 5 Seconds Count
Next came a concise career snapshot. Recruiters scan resumes in just 6-10 seconds! Your summary has to immediately communicate your value or they'll move on faster than you can say "interview."
Chief of Staff Resume Example Snapshot:
“Finance & Risk Management Leader with 15+ years of expertise in strategic planning, credit risk, and capital markets. Proven ability to optimize multi-billion-dollar portfolios, deliver data-driven results, and implement advanced financial strategies. Bilingual in English and Spanish, recognized for building strong client relationships and leading cross-functional teams to drive high-growth initiative”
Notice how it immediately positions them as a strategic leader, not just a doer? That shift in perception makes all the difference for landing six-figure roles.
For a Chief of Staff position, your summary should:
Include your total years of experience (15+ years is typically preferred)
Highlight your specific expertise in leadership, strategy, and operations
Mention concrete impact: revenue growth, executive decision-making, or efficiency improvements
Use strong action words that convey leadership: spearheaded, led, optimized, transformed
Areas of Expertise: Keep Them Up Top, Not Bottom
This is crucial—we placed the "Areas of Expertise" section immediately after the summary. Why? Because I've learned the hard way that you can never be sure if the reviewer will make it to page two, or even the bottom of page one.
"I don't know if that person is gonna go to the second page. I don't know how much time they're gonna spend there, but I do know these key skills are pertinent to the roles this person's applying to," I explain to all my clients.
Some core competencies we included:
Project Engagement
Product Demos
Relationship Management
Strategic Planning & Execution
SaaS Solutions
Work Experience: Structuring for Leadership Impact
Now for the meat of the resume—the work experience section. Your experience should sell your strategic contributions. Use a clear, results-driven format:
Company Name | City, State (or "Remote") | Month/Year – Month/Year
Job Title
Brief one or two-line overview of scope and leadership impact
For the location, we specifically noted "Remote" for positions that weren't office-based—a small detail that matters in today's hybrid work environment.
The one-line overview is something many people skip, but it's incredibly important. Why? Because it gives context before diving into achievements. Without this context, a list of achievements can sometimes be confusing to the reader.
Here's the strategy we used for bullet points
We added a brief descriptor before each achievement to guide the reader's eye. Like this:
Business Growth: Led expansion strategy, driving $50M revenue growth in 18 months.
Process Optimization: Streamlined operations, reducing executive decision turnaround from 8 days to 24 hours.
Leadership: Managed a 200+ employee cross-functional team, driving performance and engagement.
This technique helps guide the reader through your experience, especially if they're skimming (which they almost certainly are). It's like giving them signposts that say, "Hey, if you care about business growth, look right here!"
And of course, we packed these bullets with specific numbers and metrics. We didn't just say "increased revenue"—we said "driving $50M revenue growth in 18 months." That specificity makes all the difference.
Example Of Education On A Chief Of Staff Resume
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – [University Name]
BA, Finance – [University Name]
Certifications:
PMP (Project Management Professional)
Six Sigma Certification
By the time recruiters get to this section, they've already formed an opinion about your candidacy. No need to go into detail about coursework or GPA—your professional achievements speak much louder than your academic history at this career stage.
Final Results: Two Executive Interviews in 6 Days & a $75K Salary Boost
So what happened after we overhauled my client's resume with all these strategic elements? The results were immediate and impressive:
An interview for a Chief of Staff role—after initially being rejected for the same position
A Director-level interview with a $75K salary increase
Both interviews secured within just 6 days of submitting the new resume
Why This Chief Of Staff Resume Worked?
It used a clean, professional two-page format
It highlighted credentials (MBA) right next to the name
It strategically placed competencies and expertise sections at the top
It guided readers with descriptive bullet point headers
It showcased specific metrics and achievements
It was optimized for both ATS systems and human recruiters
FAQs About Chief Of Staff Resumes
What is the ideal length for a Chief of Staff resume?
A Chief of Staff resume should be one to two pages long. If you have less than 10 years of experience, keep it to one page. If you have over 10 years of experience with leadership roles and quantifiable achievements, two pages is appropriate. The key is to focus on impactful results and avoid unnecessary details.
What role do soft skills play in my resume?
Soft skills are critical in a Chief of Staff resume. They show your ability to lead, communicate, and manage relationships at the executive level. Key soft skills include strategic thinking, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability, and cross-functional collaboration. Employers look for candidates who can influence decisions, manage change, and build strong internal and external partnerships.
What is the ideal length for a Chief of Staff resume?
The ideal length for a Chief of Staff resume is one to two pages. Senior professionals with extensive experience can use two pages, but only if every section adds value. Keep the content concise, relevant, and results-driven to make a strong impact.
About Career Coach and Author
Hi, I’m Erica Rivera, career coach and founder of Career Coaching Diva. I know what it’s like to face a tech layoff—I lived it. When I lost my job at Google, I refused to let it define me. Instead, I took control, pivoted strategically, and built a career on my terms.
Now, through Career Coaching Diva, I help professionals do the same—because you don’t have to start over. You just need the right strategy.
Let’s map out your next career move. Book a Career Discovery Call today
Your Resume is Your Leadership Sales Pitch
I've seen this strategy work time and again, not just for my client but for dozens of executives I've worked with. The job market for leadership roles is competitive, but with the right resume strategy, you can stand out from the crowd and land those six-figure interviews.
Remember, your resume isn't just a document—it's a strategic sales pitch for your leadership capabilities. Make every word count, every format choice intentional, and every achievement crystal clear.
Have you recently updated your executive resume? What strategies worked best for you? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments below!
