Two pages for most executive roles, including CEOs and board directors. A third page is acceptable for executives with 25+ years of experience, substantial board service, or significant publications and speaking engagements. Every line must earn its place. Resist the urge to be comprehensive; prioritize the last 15 years and the most impactful roles. Source: Spencer Stuart, spencerstuart.com.

Drop GPA after 5 years in the workforce. At the executive level, your accomplishments far outweigh academic metrics. Do list your degree, institution, and year. If you attended a highly selective program (Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, MIT Sloan, Kellogg), the school name carries meaningful signal with executive search professionals. Source: HBS Career Services.

Corporate board seats are largely relationship-driven. Start by joining advisory boards, non-profit boards, and PE-backed company boards to build governance experience. The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) offers director education and certification programs. Spencer Stuart and Korn Ferry's board practice are among the leading search firms for public company board placements. Source: nacdonline.org.

Retained search firms (Spencer Stuart, Egon Zehnder, Korn Ferry) are paid an upfront retainer and work exclusively on a search, typically for senior roles ($250K+ base). Contingency firms are paid only if their candidate is hired and work on mid-level roles. For C-suite and VP searches, retained search is the standard. Build relationships with retained search partners proactively. Source: AESC, aesc.org.

Non-compete enforceability varies significantly by state. California, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma largely ban them. In states where they are enforceable, they are typically 6 to 24 months and geographically scoped. The FTC adopted a national ban in 2024, but a federal court set it aside and the FTC dropped its appeal in 2025. Always have an employment attorney review any non-compete before signing. Source: Federal Trade Commission, ftc.gov.