How To Write a Business Administration Resume
To write a compelling business administration resume, you must showcase your experience managing profit and loss (P&L), coordinating business operations, and driving bottom-line value for your employers. In this type of role, you often serve a number of functions, so demonstrate your ability to manage personnel and improve profitability. This guide provides valuable tips and insights to help you craft an accomplishment-driven resume that encapsulates the strongest aspects of your career as a business professional.
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
1. Create a profile summarizing your business administrator qualifications
To grab the hiring manager’s attention, start your resume with an engaging summary of qualifications. Lead with an opening sentence that lists your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that match the job posting. Sell yourself as a business administrator who can improve internal processes, reduce operating costs, and achieve strategic objectives for your companies. Include a significant metric or monetary figure to separate you from the competition.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A business operations manager with over 10 years of experience specializing in change management, process improvement, organizational development, and strategic planning. A strong history of building and leading high-performance teams to refine business operations and drive profitability for multimillion-dollar companies.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A business administrator with entry-level experience specializing in operations support, process improvement, accounts payable (AP), and office administration. Adept at identifying opportunities to enhance business operations and streamline workflows.
2. Create a powerful list showing your business administrator experience
Employers are rarely impressed by resumes that feature generic job responsibilities. To generate interviews during the job search, demonstrate your proven track record of creating value for your teams, clients, and organizations. Feature your strongest career achievements and incorporate hard numbers to paint a clearer picture of your experience.
For example, if you were managing large budgets or client accounts, include a monetary figure to establish a sense of scope for the reader. If you optimized an internal business process or identified opportunities to reduce operating costs, emphasize the positive impact on the business.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Business Operations Manager, East Coast Insurance, Boston, MA | October 2016 – present
- Manage office administration and business operations for a multinational insurance company, including coordinating AP and accounts receivables (AR) for client business accounts valued at up to $2 million
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability by 10% across insurance lines by driving multi-certification and cross-training initiatives across the insurance sales organization
- Lead the recruitment and development of over 100 staff across sales, operations, and human resource (HR) departments and ensure compliance with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Business Administration Assistant, Cityline Physical Therapy, Pittsburgh, PA | July 2021 – present
- Deliver office administration and business operations support to the accounting department for a physical therapy practice, including managing scheduling for patient appointments and team meetings
- Coordinate with the accounting team to identify opportunities to streamline the billing process and reduce data entry, resulting in a reduction of 15 work hours per week
- Support payroll processing valued at $150,000 and interface with HR administrators to coordinate employee benefits and compensation
3. List any education and certifications relevant to business administrators
In addition to your education, feature relevant industry certifications to demonstrate your areas of expertise as a business professional. These credentials won’t guarantee an interview, but they can differentiate you from the competition during your job search. A Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) designation is a strong option, demonstrating your advanced knowledge of business solutions. As you advance in your career, consider pursuing an MBA to further position yourself as a thought leader in your space.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
- University of Syracuse, New York, NY | 2018
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- CBAP, IIBA, 2018
4. List key skills and proficiencies for business administrators
During the initial phase of the hiring process, your resume will be scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS) for specific keywords. If your document lacks a sufficient number of key terms, the ATS won’t identify you as a qualified candidate, and your document will be automatically rejected before it reaches the hiring manager. The best way to mitigate this risk is by strategically integrating skill sets from the job posting into your profile, work experience, and skills section. Below, you’ll find a list of keywords you may encounter during your job search:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Accounting | AP |
| AR | Budget management |
| Business administration | Business operations |
| Business process improvement | Change management |
| Client relations | Cross-functional leadership |
| Employee onboarding | Financial analysis |
| Financial reporting | Microsoft Excel |
| Microsoft Office Suite | HR administration |
| HR management | Office administration |
| P&L | Payroll processing |
| Process improvement | Project management |
| Recruitment | Strategic planning |
| Vendor management | |
How To Pick the Best Business Administration Resume Template
When selecting your template, focus on structure, readability, and organization over visual appeal. Your document should look sleek and professional but not at the expense of your content. Avoid flashy colors, graphics, and overly decorative fonts that may draw the reader’s eye away from your qualifications and experience. Choose a simple, elegant template that allows the hiring manager to easily scan your resume for key information.
Business Administration Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Anna Cortez
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345
Profile
A Business Administration Leader with five years of experience specializing in HR administration, business process improvement, and operations management. A proven track record of coordinating with cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives and drive operational excellence for large organizations.
Professional Experience
Office Manager & Business Administrator, Retail Software Inc., New York, NY
October 2018 – Present
- Manage business, HR, and administrative functions, process monthly payroll valued at $300K, and conduct account reconciliations for a retail POS software company
- Oversee a team of 10+ administrative assistants to plan travel, logistics, and schedules for sales executives and management teams, coordinate daily office workflows, and organize virtual events to improve employee engagement and morale during Covid-19
- Liaise between employees and the HR department to coordinate the employee benefits program and resolve issues related to compensation packages
Business Administrator, The Restaurant Store, New York, NY
May 2016 – October 2018
- Resolved aging AR for client accounts valued at $50K-$200K for a restaurant equipment supply company, which included coordinating collection and billing activities
- Conducted research on account issues and discrepancies and standardized review processes to reduce billing errors by 20%
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
University of Syracuse, New York, NY September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Business Administration
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Business Process Improvement
- Accounts Receivable (AR)
- Operations Management
Frequently Asked Questions: Business Administration Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for business administration resumes?-
It’s easy to run short on action verbs during the resume-building process. Often a limited number of verbs can accurately convey your professional experience. That being said, differentiating your word choice can enhance the impact of your bullet points and eliminate the appearance of redundancy. We’ve compiled a list of action verbs to build your business administration resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Built |
| Collaborated | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Designed | Developed |
| Drove | Enhanced |
| Evaluated | Examined |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Improved | Led |
| Liaised | Managed |
| Oversaw | Performed |
| Planned | Resolved |
| Spearheaded | |
How do you align your resume with a business administration job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 911,400 new job openings are projected for business and financial occupations yearly. The median income for these positions was $76,850 in 2022, which was nearly $32,000 higher than the national average for other occupations. Due to the lucrative nature of these opportunities, you’ll need to carefully align your resume with the job description to differentiate yourself from the competition.
For example, if an organization seeks a business administrator to execute accounting functions, emphasize your payroll processing and billing operations knowledge. If a company is looking for a candidate with strong leadership capabilities, provide examples of you collaborating cross-functionally or managing vendor relationships.
What is the best business administration resume format?-
Reverse chronological is the ideal format for business administration resumes. This approach places your most recent and relevant experience towards the top of your document. Functional resumes should be avoided in most instances, even at the entry level, as simply listing skills won’t be enough to make a lasting impression on the hiring manager. If you lack hands-on work experience, consider featuring academic projects to demonstrate your business acumen.
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Once you finish building your resume, consider crafting a matching cover letter to strengthen your job application. Tailor your document towards each company you apply for.
In your middle paragraphs, mention something specific about the organization’s reputation or culture and why this draws you to apply for the position. For more insights, visit our business analyst cover letter guide.
