As a chief of staff, strategic thinking and leadership are vital. Showcase moments from your career where you have developed and executed strategy. Did you create a plan that led to business growth or increased efficiency? Talk about it here. Also, emphasize any direct leadership experience and how you supported senior executives. These are proofs of your ability to handle the complexities of this role.

Add to this, evidence of your excellent communication skills is a must. Include specific examples of when you've managed internal communication or been the point of contact for stakeholders. These examples display your ability to handle high-level responsibilities and complex interactions, which are daily occurrences in the life of a chief of staff.

Networking is key to entering a chief of staff role, more so than in other jobs. Start by forming connections with those who work closely with leadership teams, as recommendations can greatly boost your chances. Attending industry events and joining relevant forums online can help you meet potential referees. A strong professional network could be the pathway to your next role.

Also, note that achieving success in a chief of staff position requires a good understanding of the industry you're in. Show your depth of knowledge through your professional experience and any industry-related projects you've worked on. Place emphasis on situations where you acted as a bridge between different parts of an organization or led cross-functional teams.

When applying for a chief of staff position, your resume should mirror the skills and experiences the job needs. Think about what a chief needs: leadership, organization, and policy understanding. Show how you've done these tasks.

• Highlight your leadership by sharing how you've managed teams or projects. Use phrases like managed a team of 10 professionals.
• Underline your organization skills with examples like oversaw strategic planning and execution.
• For policy understanding, mention any experience with creating or influencing policy, like developed company-wide sustainability standards.

When you describe your past work, use numbers to show your impact. Numbers help employers see your achievements clearly. Think about ways you have helped save time or reduce problems in your past roles.

• Include the percentage of time saved by streamlining communication for the executive team. For example, 'Implemented a new project management tool, leading to a 20% reduction in time spent on email for the executive team.'
• Measure how you improved the team's performance. Perhaps you initiated training that increased staff productivity by a certain percentage. 'Developed a leadership program that increased staff productivity by 15%.'
• Show how you have managed budgets effectively. Mention the size of the budget you have overseen and any cost reductions you achieved. 'Managed an annual budget of $5 million, cutting costs by 10% through strategic vendor negotiations.'
• Talk about how you reduced customer support issues by implementing a new strategy or tool. 'Introduced a customer feedback system that decreased support tickets by 25%.'
• Quantify the number of projects you have led or contributed to. 'Oversaw 30+ company-wide initiatives, delivering 95% on time and under budget.'
• State how much you increased engagement or morale through your leadership initiatives. 'Launched an employee engagement program that boosted morale, reflected in a 40% increase in employee satisfaction survey scores.'

Remember, even if you are not sure of the exact numbers, you can estimate. Think about the scale of the projects you worked on and the benefits they brought. It's important to be as accurate as possible, but a good estimate can still show the value you added.