What’s a Board Document and How to Write it

In my last blog post, I talked about why you should be on the Board and one of my big supporters and a past client asked “but how can to find a Board Position?”

So here’s the next step towards being on the Board of Directors. While this post talks about a more focused Board Resume towards a specific position I would suggest start building a generic one that you can alter later.

Tell me, do you have a “Board Document”? You can’t travel outside your country without a valid passport, can you? If you are looking for a board position, the first thing you would need is a “Board Document.”

“A Board document is nothing but a fancy word for a resume that is tailored to board positions. It’s very natural to think, but I already have a resume, why do I need another such thing?

So, like we modify the resume to match each job we apply for, we need to customize the Board resume to the audience it’s supposed to captivate.

Your Board Document is supposed to persuade the audience for a meeting. Umm… and how do you do that? By ensuring that your Board Document is Clear and is Focused on the role that you’re applying for.

3 Essentials of a perfect Board Document

Precise & Concise: A Board document like any executive resume should be no longer than 2 pages.

Template: Fancy or not doesn’t matter, just ensure it allows the reviewer to navigate through the document easily and grasp every piece of information import for the Board Position you’re applying for. It doesn’t need to be ATS friendly if it will be viewed by a human.

Structure: It must start with a Board Profile or summary followed by Board experience if any. Executive experience highlighting board-level involvement you may have, Memberships & Professional Affiliations, Certifications & lastly Education.

What each segment must include:

Board Profile or Summary: It is a high-level view of your experience targetted towards the specific Board Committees in the prospective organization.

Board-level experience: If you’re applying for a Board position for the first time include relevant participation in Board Level activities as an Executive.

Executive Experience: This section must include relevant titles and executive roles you hold or have held, in your corporate journey. If possible, talk about your accomplishments that align with the company’s strategic plan.

Memberships & Professional Affiliations: Do not forget to mention your contributions as a member of associations or industry bodies that are directly affiliated with your professional industry.

Certifications & Education: Include important certifications and qualifications related to the Board vertical.

If you have any questions or you’d like to make valuable suggestions for others, please feel free to leave a comment.