How to Write a Business Resume
In today’s competitive business landscape, your resume is your introduction to potential employers, opening doors to new career opportunities and advancement. To stand out among the many qualified candidates, you’ll need to align your resume with your goals and the specific job you want. This guide will equip you with practical insights, writing strategies, and strong examples of business resumes. You’ll learn how to craft a dynamic resume that shows your unique business achievements and expertise, increasing your chances of securing your dream job.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
Your resume profile should be concise and persuasive. In just two to three sentences, you need to catch recruiters’ attention and entice them to keep reading. Start by thoroughly analyzing the job post and extracting keywords that reflect the company’s desired skills and qualifications. Then customize your profile to align with the position and highlight your top accomplishments and experiences. In a business resume profile, the general focus should be on your leadership abilities, strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and record of success driving revenue and profit growth.
Senior-level Profile Example:
Business Manager with 10+ years of advancement and experience. Confident leader who sources and develops high-potential talent. Strategic planner with a talent for finding and capturing business opportunities. Adapt readily to new work challenges and industry conditions. Master of Business Administration.
Entry-level Profile Example:
Business graduate with strong recent entrepreneurial and internship experience. Naturally curious and committed to gaining and applying new expertise. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
2. Add an achievement-driven professional experience section
Instead of writing a long list of your past job duties, create bullet points to feature what you achieved as a result. By showcasing your results and contributions, you can demonstrate your potential for future success.
Quantify your experience wherever possible to highlight the tangible impact you’ve made as a business professional. Use numbers, percentages, or specific metrics that align with your target job to emphasize your ability to drive growth. For instance, you could highlight the percentage increase in sales or profits you achieved, the cost savings you implemented, or the number of clients you successfully managed.
Senior-Level Experience Example
Business Change Manager, Assurant, Deadwood, SD | January 2017 to Present
- Analyze performance metrics to identify areas for business growth and improvement
- Set ambitious yet attainable team goals, and relay new initiatives to staff
Highlights:
- Worked with senior managers to optimize procedures and initiatives, increasing revenue by 23% in 2020
- Mentored and motivated a 25-person team to increase productivity by 32% last year
- Introduced service best practices that raised client satisfaction score by 30% in 3 years
Entry-Level Experience Example
Business Owner, Syracuse T-Shirt Designs, Syracuse, NY | September 2021 to Present
- Launched and run all aspects of this local-themed T-shirt company
- Reached a positive cash flow within second month of operating
- Coordinate with suppliers and screen printers
- Source unique and creative designs via social media
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Highlight your pertinent degrees, coursework, and certifications – this information provides evidence of your expertise, which can be a differentiating factor in a competitive business landscape. Certificates like the Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) reflect specialized knowledge. Six Sigma, Lean Management, or Agile methodologies can give you a competitive advantage as well.
Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details:
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [AWARDING ORGANIZATION], [Date]
Example:
Project Management Professional (PMP), PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, 2017
Education
Template:
[Degree Name], [SCHOOL NAME], [City, State Abbreviation], [Date]
Example:
Master of Business Administration, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, Columbus, OH, 2020
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
A key skills section calls attention to the many ways you can generate value for a business. When creating your list, include any skills that align with the demands of your target industry, and tailor it to the specific needs of the company you’re applying to. Here are some examples of skills you could include on your business resume:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Benefits and Compensation | Client Satisfaction and Retention |
| Coaching and Mentoring | Contract Negotiations |
| Corporate Change Leadership | Cost Reduction and Elimination |
| Cross-Functional Collaboration | Data Gathering and Analysis |
| Digital and Social Media Marketing | Financial Forecasting |
| Market Trend Research | Marketing Strategy Development |
| Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) | Organizational Development |
| Performance Management | Process Redesign and Improvement |
| Productivity and Efficiency Gains | Project and Program Management |
| Regulatory Compliance | Reporting and Documentation |
| Revenue and Profit Growth | |
How to Pick the Best Business Resume Template
When you’re ready to assemble your resume, it’s time to pick a template. The best resume template for business professionals is clean and organized. A simple design is key, ensuring the focus remains on your skills and achievements. Look for templates that provide clear sections with plenty of white space for easy readability. Choose one you can tailor based on your needs and the requirements of the business industry. Through a professional and cohesive resume aesthetic, you can make a great first impression.
Business Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Miguel Fernandez
(098) 765-4321 | [email protected] | Syracuse, NY 13207 | LinkedIn
Profile
Business graduate with strong recent entrepreneurial and internship experience. Naturally curious and committed to gaining and applying new expertise. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Key Skills
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Product Sourcing
- Reporting & Documentation
- Supplier Relations
- Team Collaboration
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY | 2022
Competed in New York State Business Design Competition
Select Coursework:
- Basic & Advanced Statistics
- Finance for the Corporate World
- Management
- Marketing & Advertising
Professional Experience
Business Owner, Syracuse T-Shirt Designs, Syracuse, NY | September 2021 to Present
- Launched and run all aspects of this local-themed T-shirt company
- Reached a positive cash flow within second month of operating
- Coordinate with suppliers and screen printers
- Source unique and creative designs via social media
Intern, Byrne Dairy, Syracuse, NY | June 2022 to August 2022
- Learned about placing orders with suppliers and addressing delivery issues
- Attended monthly meetings with district manager to review goals and progress
- Stocked shelves and assisted customers as needed
- Helped develop and launch targeted marketing campaigns
Languages
Fluency in Spanish | Proficiency in Italian
Jacob Smithe, MBA
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Columbus, OH 43035 | LinkedIn
Profile
Collaborative Business Leader with 4+ years of experience in the grocery industry. Strong knowledge of grocery store staffing needs, product mix, and pricing practices. Recent achievements include motivating a team to grow yearly sales by more than 10%. Master of Business Administration.
Key Skills
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Project & Program Management
- Reporting & Documentation
- Revenue & Profit Growth
- Supplier Relations
- Team Leadership & Motivation
Professional Experience
Store Manager, Columbus Food Market, Columbus, OH | June 2020 to Present
- Grew annual sales 10%+ and surpassed all store goals from June 2021 to May 2022
- Revised product mix to improve store’s competitive positioning and reflect consumer trends
- Launched community outreach program to help local residents and raise brand visibility
Assistant Store Manager, Nichol’s Grocer, Columbus, OH | March 2019 to May 2020
- Helped hire, train, and performance-manage 40 employees
- Actively addressed product or delivery issues with suppliers as needed
Education
Master of Business Administration, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH | 2020
Bachelor of Business, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC | 2019
Essie Warren, MBA
(243) 354-4657 | [email protected] | Deadwood, SD 68574 | LinkedIn
Profile
Business Manager with 10+ years of advancement and experience. Confident leader who sources and develops high-potential talent. Strategic planner with a talent for finding and capturing business opportunities. Adapt readily to new work challenges and industry conditions. Master of Business Administration.
Key Skills
- Change Management
- Client Relations & Retention
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Performance Management
- Project & Program Management
- Reporting & Documentation
- Strategic Business Planning
- Team Leadership & Motivation
Professional Experience
Business Change Manager, Assurant, Deadwood, SD | January 2017 to Present
- Analyze performance metrics to identify areas for business growth and improvement
- Set ambitious yet attainable team goals, and relay new initiatives to staff
Highlights:
- Worked with senior managers to optimize procedures and initiatives, increasing revenue by 23% in 2020
- Mentored and motivated a 25-person team to increase productivity by 32% last year
- Introduced service best practices that raised client satisfaction score by 30% in 3 years
Business Sales Development Manager, SelectQuote, Deadwood, SD | July 2012 to January 2017
- Performed market research to find opportunities for growth and service diversification
- Trained ~14 new hires per year on effective sales methods
- Held focus groups with key clients to gauge their evolving business needs
Highlight:
- Spearheaded projects to branch into new sales areas, increasing revenue ~15% YoY
Education
Master of Business Administration, University of Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of South Dakota, Vermillion
Certification
Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, 2017
Frequently Asked Questions: Business Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for Business resumes?+
We understand the challenges that arise when crafting your resume’s experience section, particularly when trying to describe your work. You may find you’ve exhausted your vocabulary as you attempt to convey your business responsibilities. To help you over this hurdle, we curated a list of common action verbs for your business resume. These dynamic verbs can energize your bullet points and allow you to express your achievements with precision. Consider using the following words to liven up your resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Build | Coordinate |
| Create | Deliver |
| Develop | Devise |
| Enhance | Establish |
| Execute | Garner |
| Generate | Grow |
| Implement | Improve |
| Increase | Launch |
| Lead | Organize |
| Oversee | Pioneer |
How do you align your resume with a job posting?+
Between 2021 and 2031, employment for business and finance occupations is expected to increase by 7 percent. Over the decade, the industry is projected to create over 715,000 new jobs. As business professionals compete for these new positions, you’ll need to stand out from the crowd. Especially if you have a specific job opening in mind, it’s crucial to tailor your resume.
Carefully review the job posting, and extract keywords and phrases. Incorporate this language throughout your resume organically, especially in your profile, key skills section, and work experience bullet points. Also, emphasize your specific achievements and experiences directly related to the duties mentioned in the posting.
What is the best Business resume format? +
Most business professionals should use the combination format. A combination resume blends elements of both the chronological and functional formats, allowing you to highlight your relevant skills while presenting your work history in a clear timeline. (For this reason, it’s the ideal format for business professionals with a solid work history.) However, there may be cases where a chronological or functional format is more appropriate. Ultimately, choose the format that will serve you and your situation best.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
Crafting a complementary cover letter for your resume increases your chances of an interview. The key to a strong cover letter is customizing it for the specific organization you’re applying to. Read our business cover letter guide to learn how. For more specific cover letter examples, see our MBA and business analyst cover letter guides.
