If you've been asked to submit a company resume, you might be registering the “uh-oh” factor. After all, you probably don't hear or see the term very often. But take heart: Company resumes are often referred to as company profiles, and from another point of view, you see them all the time in the form of company web sites. Both resumes and web sites are designed to showcase a person or company in the best light possible. If you regard your company web site as an effective advertisement for your company, it's probably a great place to glean information for your company resume.

1. Insert the Main Company Details

Place the name of your company at the top of the company resume, along with the main contact person, such as the CEO. Use your company stationery, if you wish, and be sure to include your logo. It's a vital part of your corporate identity and will distinguish you from your competitors.

2. Create Appropriate Headings

Create a list of headings for your company resume, just like you would do for a resume for yourself. You might consider “Our Products and Services,” “Our Clients and Key Accomplishments,” “Our Team” and “Our History and Mission.” You don't have to use the word “our,” but it subtly communicates an aura of pride that seems well-suited to a company resume. And on such a resume, you will want to convey a subliminal message of cohesiveness. Tailor other headings to your company, if you wish. For example, you may wish to add headings such as "Our Awards" or "Our Financial Viability."

3. Discuss Your Company's Offerings

Enumerate your “products and/or services.” Be concrete and comprehensive about your offerings, what you do best and your target audience or customer. Emote company pride, but don't overstate the facts.

4. Discuss Your Clients, Contributions and Accomplishments

Cite your previous clients as long as you're not violating a confidentiality agreement. You can work around this restriction by saying that you provided services to, say, a "major home-remodeling company in the western suburbs of Chicago.” Be specific about your contributions and accomplishments. If you saved a client a considerable sum of money, specify the amount. If you brought a flagging product line back from the brink of distinction, explain briefly how you achieved it. Like personal resumes, emphasize the results of your efforts.

5. Talk About Your Team

Provide a summary of your key team members, including their names, academic distinctions, specialties and any certifications they hold. Tout their longevity with the company, if appropriate.

6. Finish with Your History and Mission

End your company resume with a brief history and mission statement. You might be tempted to place this information at the top of the company resume, but there is a good reason to place it at the bottom: A well-written mission statement – passionate and purposeful – will be the last thing a screener will read, and this could leave the lasting impression you're after.

Tip

You may be writing a company resume because you are competing with similar companies for ongoing project work. In this case, company resumes allow a screener to evaluate many companies at once. To this end, it's always a good idea to call the source and ask for information so that you can tailor the resume to their needs. Like personal resumes, you should avoid overwhelming people with pages and pages of content and confine your company resume to two pages. But if, for example, the source wants detailed profiles on your team members, you should be ready to provide them.

Like web sites, a company resume could benefit from the ideas and suggestions of key employees. Just make sure that someone has decision-making authority to settle disputes.