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How to Build an ATS-Friendly CV for Executive Roles in Real Estate Franchises

UUnknown

2026-02-20

10 min read

ATS-proof your executive CV for CEO/COO roles at Century 21, REMAX and national franchisors with a metrics-first template and 2026 optimization tips.

Struggling to get executive interviews at major brokerages? Your CV might be invisible to ATS — or to the hiring committee poring over 100+ resumes.

For seasoned leaders targeting CEO/COO roles at franchise brokerages like Century 21, REMAX or national franchisors, the challenge in 2026 is twofold: pass the machine (ATS and AI screening) and persuade the humans (boards and search committees). This guide gives you a proven, ATS-friendly executive CV template, optimization tactics aligned with late 2025–early 2026 trends, and advanced strategies that turn a metrics-driven resume into interviews and offers.

The 2026 landscape: why executive CVs must evolve now

Industry moves in late 2025 and early 2026 — from leadership shifts at boutique Century 21 affiliates to multi-office conversions into REMAX — show consolidation and brand switches accelerating across franchised brokerages. Buyers and boards now expect leaders who can deliver:

Transaction and agent scale (agents, offices, GCI)
Digital transformation (CRM, AI lead routing, PropTech integrations)
Profitability & governance (P&L, EBITDA, board experience)
Talent strategies (agent recruitment, retention, training)

Concurrently, applicant screening moved deeper into automation: modern ATS platforms and recruiter AI in 2026 perform semantic keyword matching, skills graphing, and even metric extraction. Your executive CV must be both human-readable and machine-parsable.

Executive CV: core principles for CEO/COO roles in franchise brokerages

Lead with a data-rich career summary — first 3–5 lines are scanned and read. Include headline, years of leadership, and 3–5 top metrics (agents managed, offices, GCI, EBITDA improvement, retention).
Use standardized headings (e.g., Career Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Board & Governance, Education). ATS parse these reliably.
Prioritize keywords from job descriptions and company pages — “franchise conversion,” “GCI,” “agent recruitment,” “P&L responsibility,” “CRM implementation,” “EBITDA margin,” “board governance.”
Quantify everything — percentages, dollar figures, agent and office counts, timeframes, and ROI where possible.
Keep formatting simple — no headers/footers, images, tables or unusual fonts. Use bullet points, plain text sections, and standard fonts for the resume file that ATS can parse.

ATS behavior in 2026: what changed and how you adapt

Recent vendor updates (late 2025–early 2026) show ATS increasingly using NLP models to map skills clusters and surface latent skills. Recruiter AI also ranks candidates by “impact density” (depth of metrics and demonstrated outcomes). Actionable adaptations:

Mirror language from the target role and franchisor press releases — e.g., if REMAX highlights “global presence” and “digital marketing,” include those exact phrases where true.
Include both acronym and spelled-out forms: GCI (Gross Commission Income), CRM (Customer Relationship Management).
Embed 4–6 core competency keywords in a dedicated Core Competencies section near the top to boost relevance scoring.
Provide a one-page plain-text resume (or a hidden plain-text version in your document) that ATS can read if PDF parsing fails.

Executive CV template: ATS-friendly and board-ready

Below is a modular template with copy-ready labels and examples tailored for CEO/COO candidates targeting franchised brokerages. Replace bracketed text with your content.

Career Summary

Seasoned executive with [X] years leading franchised and regional brokerages. Proven track record scaling agent networks to [# agents], overseeing [#] offices, and driving [GCI or revenue] growth. Expert in franchise conversions, P&L ownership, digital transformation, and board governance. Recent highlights: led [example metric], improved EBITDA by [X%], and launched CRM automation yielding [outcome].

Core Competencies (ATS keywords)

Franchise Strategy • P&L Management • Agent Recruitment & Retention • GCI Growth • EBITDA Improvement • M&A / Conversion • Digital Transformation • CRM / Lead Routing • Board Governance • Training & Development • Stakeholder Relations • Regulatory Compliance

Professional Experience (Reverse chronological)

[Job Title] — [Company / Franchise Brand], [Location] • [Start Date] — [End Date]

One-line role summary with scope (e.g., "Oversaw regional operations for 1,200 agents across 17 offices; full P&L ownership; direct reports: 12.")
Accomplishment bullet: Begin with an action verb, include metrics and timeframe. Example: "Led conversion of two large franchise firms to national brand, integrating 1,200 agents and 17 offices; increased GCI by 18% and reduced operating cost per agent by 9% within 12 months."
Accomplishment example: "Implemented AI-driven lead routing and CRM platform reducing average lead response time from 48h to <1h; increased conversion rate by 24%."
Governance and stakeholder example: "Built executive leadership team and partnered with board to deliver 3-year strategic plan focused on digital monetization and agent profitability; secured $X capital for growth initiatives."

Repeat for prior roles. Aim for 4–7 bullets per role, prioritizing outcomes over responsibilities.

Board & Governance Experience

[Board Role] — [Organization] • [Dates]

Include committee membership (audit, governance, compensation) and specific contributions: e.g., "Chair, Governance Committee — led CEO succession planning; updated bylaws to enhance transparency; improved board evaluation process."
List industry association or non-profit boards relevant to real estate and franchise governance.

Education & Certifications

[Degree], [Institution] — [Year]
Executive education (e.g., "Exec. Program, Real Estate Management, [School]"), broker license, and relevant certifications (e.g., Certified Franchise Executive).

Selected Speaking, Publications & Awards

List relevant panels, industry op-eds, and awards (e.g., "Speaker, 2025 National Franchise Conference: 'Scaling Agent Economies of Scale' ").

Technical & Platform Skills

CRM: Follow Up Boss, Salesforce, kvCORE • Analytics: Looker, Tableau • PropTech integrations, AI lead scoring, marketing automation.

References

Available on request. Note: For board searches, include references from chairs or key investors where appropriate.

Practical, actionable ATS optimization tips

File type: Use a clean PDF for human applications but upload a Word (.docx) when the ATS requests it. Many ATS prefer .docx for parsing accuracy.
Headlines & job titles: Use conventional titles and include alternate titles in parentheses. Example: "Chief Operating Officer (COO) — Franchise Operations."
Keyword density — but naturally: Include 10–20 targeted keywords across the CV; ensure they appear in the Career Summary, Core Competencies, and at least once in relevant role bullets.
Avoid graphics and tables: ATS often mis-read these. Use simple bullets and hyphens for lists.
Maintain chronology: ATS and human reviewers prefer reverse chronological order — if you must use functional sections, also include a clear chronological timeline.
Quantify outcomes: Use numbers early in bullets (e.g., "$12M revenue increase," "18% GCI growth"). Numbers are parsed reliably.
Spell out acronyms: Use both (e.g., "Gross Commission Income (GCI)") to match variations in job descriptions and ATS dictionaries.
Provide a plain-text resume: Keep a plain-text version to paste into forms; strip special characters and bullets if required.

How to tailor your executive CV for Century 21, REMAX, and national franchisors

Each franchisor emphasizes different strengths — brand presence, agent services, or technology — so tailor your CV by:

Research the target brand: Read corporate press (e.g., REMAX’s 2025 expansion news and Century 21 affiliate leadership moves), investor materials, and job descriptions to extract priority keywords and strategic themes.
Map your achievements to their strategic priorities: If the franchisor is focused on digital lead generation, highlight CRM and AI implementations; if focused on franchise conversions, emphasize M&A and change management.
Show franchise-level impact: Boards want to see agent-level economics: average GCI per agent, conversion uplift, retention percentages, and agent satisfaction scores (NPS) where possible.
Include an optional brief 'Target-Brand Fit' line in your summary when applying: one sentence stating why you’re a fit for that brand (e.g., "Experienced in leading multi-office conversions and scaling agent economies — directly aligned with REMAX’s global expansion strategy").

Board CV vs Executive CV: what to include for CEO/COO candidates

Board search committees evaluate governance, independence, and strategic oversight. While your executive CV is action-and-metrics focused, add a board section that emphasizes:

Committee roles and governance deliverables (succession planning, risk oversight)
Experience presenting to boards and investors
Regulatory and compliance leadership
Examples of stakeholder management across franchisees, co-owners, and franchisor leadership

Tip: For active board recruiting, prepare a one-page board CV that condenses leadership highlights into governance-focused bullets.

Advanced strategies to get through recruiter AI and win interviews

Implement a keyword matrix: Pull 10–12 job descriptions for CEO/COO roles at franchised brokerages and build a matrix of recurring keywords. Ensure each high-priority word appears 2–3 times across your CV where true.
Use accomplishment micro-templates: Action verb + metric + context + timeframe + impact. Example: "Spearheaded CRM migration (context) for 850 agents (scope); reduced time-to-contract by 35% (metric) within 10 months (timeframe) resulting in $1.5M incremental revenue (impact)."
Leverage LinkedIn and company pages: Mirror corporate language and add links to verifiable achievements (press releases, case studies). ATS and recruiters cross-reference LinkedIn and resumes.
Prepare an ATS-optimized cover letter: Include key phrases and at least two metrics, and paste it into application fields rather than uploading just a PDF attachment.
Run an ATS scan: Use reputable resume-check tools that simulate modern ATS (2026 versions) and iterate until you score >85% for relevance and parsing.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Avoid role inflation: Don’t use grandiose verbs without backing metrics — boards and AI penalize vague claims.
Don’t hide gaps: For career gaps, use concise, truthful notes (e.g., "consulting; strategic planning project for X months").
Steer clear of proprietary client details: Use aggregate metrics when confidentiality applies (e.g., "improved agent productivity by 12% across a 450-agent estate").
Do not over-style: Fancy templates may look good but break ATS parsing. Preserve simple formatting in main upload.

Final checklist before you submit

Is your Career Summary metric-dense and tailored to the brand?
Do you have a Core Competencies section with exact keywords from the job ad?
Are all bullets accomplishment-oriented with measurable outcomes?
Did you save both .docx (for ATS) and .pdf (for humans) versions?
Have you run an ATS test and iterated based on the results?
Is your LinkedIn profile aligned (titles, dates, achievements) with the CV?

Example accomplishment bullets tailored for franchise CEO/COO roles

"Directed regional operations for 1,200 agents and 17 offices following a major brand conversion; achieved 18% GCI growth and 12% improvement in agent retention within 12 months."
"Owned full P&L for $85M revenue portfolio; delivered a 620 bps improvement in EBITDA through cost optimization and fee restructuring over 24 months."
"Led enterprise CRM migration and AI lead scoring project, shortening average lead response time from 48 hours to under 1 hour and increasing conversion by 24%."
"Negotiated and executed acquisition of 3 regional brokerages, increasing market share by 14% and integrating operations in under 9 months."

Closing: your next steps (30–60–90 day plan for interviews)

When you secure an interview, bring a crisp 30–60–90 day plan that aligns to the franchisor’s priorities. Outline quick wins (agent communication cadence, operational audits), medium-term projects (CRM optimization, recruitment campaigns), and strategic moves (franchise conversion playbook, board reporting cadence). This demonstrates both tactical readiness and strategic leadership.

Conclusion and call-to-action

In 2026, the best executive CVs for brokerages combine machine-friendly keyword architecture with clear, metrics-driven narratives that resonate with boards. Use the template and tactics above to craft a CV that passes ATS screening and convinces human decision-makers you can scale agents, drive profitability, and lead digital transformation. Remember — hiring at the CEO/COO level is about evidence: numbers, governance experience, and the ability to execute.

Ready to convert your CV into interviews? Get a tailored CV review and an ATS-optimized one-page summary from our executive team — we’ll map your achievements to the priorities of Century 21, REMAX, and national franchisors and provide a 72-hour turnaround. Contact us or upload your resume to get started.

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