Real Estate Executive CV Sample & Expert Tips to Elevate Your Property Career

If you’re aiming for senior roles in the property sector, your CV needs to do far more than list job titles. Recruiters want clear evidence of how you’ve added value — whether that’s driving multimillion-pound developments, negotiating complex acquisitions, or increasing portfolio returns.

Below, we share an achievement-based Global Head of Real Estate CV example and practical tips to help you refine your own.

Whether you’re a real estate executive, investor, development manager, residential estate agent, commercial broker, or property analyst, these insights will show you how to position yourself as the candidate of choice in a competitive market.

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What Recruiters Expect in a High-Impact Real Estate CV

At the executive level, recruiters expect more than tidy formatting. They want a CV that is easy to skim, achievement-led, and full of evidence of the results you’ve delivered.

Below, we break down each section of the sample CV with practical DOs and DON’Ts you can apply to your own.

CAREER SUMMARY

✅ DO use bullet points and specific achievements to highlight your career trajectory.
❌ DO NOT rely on vague clichés like “seasoned real estate leader” or “results-driven executive.”

Example:

• Brings 20+ years’ experience in corporate real estate with Barclays, HSBC, EY and UBS

• Oversaw Barclays’ £1bn+ global real estate portfolio; redesigned office strategy, saving £52m annually while improving team engagement scores

• Consolidated HSBC’s APAC offices from six sites to one through a £1.2bn acquisition

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

✅ DO focus on technical and industry-specific expertise aligned to your target roles.
❌ DO NOT list generic soft skills recruiters expect any senior leader to have.

Example:

• Corporate Real Estate Strategy

• Property Acquisitions & Portfolio Optimisation

• Design & Construction Oversight

• Risk Management & Compliance

• Retail and Workplace Strategy

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

✅ DO separate core responsibilities (in a short paragraph) from measurable achievements (in bullet points).
❌ DO NOT present long lists of duties using “responsible for” language.

Barclays | London, UK
Global Head of Real Estate, Design & Construction | 2017 – Present
Oversaw Barclays’ global portfolio of 4,750+ retail branches, offices in 55 countries and multiple data centres. Directed strategy, site selection, budgeting and construction on projects worth £1bn+.

Achievements include:

• Designed and executed real estate optimisation plan, cutting branch network by 23% and boosting EBITDA

• Introduced new branch model across five markets, raising customer engagement scores by 12%

• Saved £52m annually by rethinking office allocation strategy, increasing capacity by 25,000+ seats

HSBC | Hong Kong
Head of Corporate Real Estate – Asia-Pacific | 2009 – 2012

• Delivered £46m+ in annual cost savings through portfolio optimisation

• Completed £1.2bn HQ acquisition, consolidating six sites into one flagship office

• Brought outsourced work back in-house, cutting labour costs by 15%

…and so on for DCD Properties, EY, First Republic Bank, Northwestern Mutual, and earlier roles.

EARLY CAREER

✅ DO provide an “Early Career” section to show progression.
❌ DO NOT list irrelevant or entry-level jobs in detail.

Example:

• Savills – Project Manager

• Oxford Properties – Director

• EY – Senior Manager, Transaction Advisory Services

BOARD MEMBERSHIPS & CERTIFICATIONS

✅ DO list board seats, memberships and certifications that add credibility.
❌ DO NOT overload this section with minor internal training programmes.

Examples:

• Global Leadership Council, University of Oxford – Saïd Business School

• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), CFA Institute

EDUCATION

✅ DO include recognised degrees and honours.
❌ DO NOT list short online courses here — save those for “Professional Development.”

Example:

• University of Oxford – BA (Hons) in Economics and Management

Key Takeaway

A real estate executive CV needs to show scale, impact and financial outcomes. By replacing generic responsibilities with concrete results — savings, revenue growth, acquisitions delivered — you’ll position yourself as a commercial leader who drives measurable value.

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