Acquiring a leadership position in a new company will open the door to a wide range of career opportunities for you down the line. A leadership role will also present you with the means to significantly influence a company’s culture and make a lasting impact on the trajectory of the business.

However, landing a leadership position is no walk in the park. You may be keen on assuming bigger responsibilities in your current company or in another organization, but you’ll likely have to compete for the role and prove your worth first. This means showcasing your credentials on your resume and demonstrating on paper that you have what it takes to steer a team or a department.

To that end, here’s a list of the credentials you need to highlight in your applications to properly present your leadership potential and capabilities:

1) Formal Education

Your formal education serves as a foundational credential that can significantly bolster your candidacy for a leadership position. This is especially true if you’re aiming high immediately after completing your studies or if you’re just a few years out of school.

Highlight degrees in areas such as business administration, management, or organizational leadership if you have those. For instance, an MBA is a noteworthy indicator of your commitment to a deep understanding of business strategy and management. Take the same approach when applying for specialized leadership roles in office-based or work from home computer and IT jobs. Your background in computer science, computer engineering, IT, or a similar field should help you score a job above the entry level for your discipline, for example as a technical search engine optimization (SEO) manager or innovation officer.

When presenting this credential on your resume, clearly state the degree, the institution, and graduation year. Ensure that the relevance of the degree to the leadership role is emphasized, perhaps in a sentence or two explaining the subjects you took and excelled at or the skills you were able to pick up both in the classroom and during your on-the-job training. This will help your employer get a better idea of how your educational background equips you with a knowledge base that’s crucial for effective decision-making and strategic leadership.

2) Certifications

Certifications serve as tangible proof of your expertise and commitment to staying current in your field. When putting together your resume and application letter, make sure to highlight certifications relevant to leadership and management roles, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) credentials. These certifications signal to employers that you possess specialized skills essential for successful leadership.

In your resume, create a dedicated section for certifications, listing them with their issuing institutions and dates of completion. Clearly articulate how each certification translates into practical leadership capabilities, whether it be in project management, team collaboration, or agile methodologies.

3) Executive Education

Participating in executive education programs, workshops, or seminars demonstrates your proactive approach to leadership development. These experiences go beyond traditional education and often focus on practical skills and insights from industry experts, which can definitely catch the attention of recruiters.

If you’ve undergone executive education, highlight the specific programs you attended and the skills you acquired during your time there. Also explain how these executive education initiatives have honed your strategic thinking, decision-making abilities, and leadership competencies.

4) Industry-Specific Training

The presence of industry-specific training on your resume demonstrates your commitment to mastering the nuances of your field, making you an ideal candidate for leadership roles within that industry. Whether it's compliance certifications, specialized workshops, or sector-specific courses, these credentials showcase your deep understanding of the industry's challenges and opportunities.

When presenting these training credentials on your resume, be specific about the training received, emphasizing how it uniquely equips you for leadership within the industry in a specialized context.

5) Leadership Courses

Your enrollment in leadership courses will indicate a deliberate effort on your part to enhance your leadership skills beyond your formal education. If you’ve taken them, courses that focus on strategic leadership, communication, and organizational behavior can help recruiters see your leadership potential.

On your resume, articulate how each course contributed to your leadership toolkit. Highlight any projects or case studies you worked on during these courses that demonstrate practical applications of leadership concepts. This will show not only your theoretical understanding but also your ability to translate leadership principles into real-world success.

6) Membership in Professional Organizations

Active membership in professional organizations related to leadership or to your industry can significantly enhance your resume. Your membership will show your prospective employers how immersed you are in industry trends, as well as how willing you are to network.

Specify the organizations you’re a part of and any leadership roles you've taken within them in your application. This could include serving on committees, organizing events, or contributing to publications. Such involvement showcases knowledge and your dedication to the broader professional community. This, in turn, reinforces your suitability for leadership positions.

7) Published Work or Research

If you've contributed to the knowledge base of your field through published articles, research, or case studies, highlight these achievements in your application. This credential demonstrates your thought leadership and your ability to drive innovation.

On your resume, provide details about the publications, including where they were featured and any notable impacts. Upon contributing valuable insights to your industry, you’ll be turning yourself into a compelling candidate for leadership roles.

8) Awards and Recognitions

Awards and recognitions serve as concrete evidence of your leadership impact. Include these accolades on your resume no matter if it's for team achievements, project success, or individual leadership excellence.

Be clear about the nature of the award and the context in which it was received. This makes it easy for recruiters to see your accomplishments and reinforce their notions of your perceived leadership capabilities.

9) Leadership Development Programs

Lastly, your participation in leadership development programs within your organization can be a powerful credential on your resume. These programs often indicate that you've been identified as having high potential for leadership roles.

Specify the programs you've completed, outlining the skills and experiences you gained and emphasizing how the insights and experiences from these programs have prepared you for broader leadership responsibilities. Such details will shine the light on your commitment to personal and professional growth within your current workplace.

Clearly stating your desire to be a leader and then presenting the skills, experiences, and credentials that make you worthy of the role will go a long way in improving your chances of landing the job. Craft your resume, then, with a narrative that communicates your leadership journey and the qualities that set you apart from other candidates. This will serve as your passport to the position you dream of and provide the roadmap for the next phase of your professional journey in the Philippines.