How To Write a Business Resume
With a competitive business landscape, your resume is your introduction to potential employers, opening doors to new opportunities and career advancement. To stand out, you must align your resume with your career goals and the specific role you want.
This guide will equip you with practical insights and real business resume examples. Learn how to craft an engaging resume that showcases your unique business accomplishments and industry expertise. We’ll also provide writing strategies to capture the attention of hiring managers and increase your chances of securing your ideal job.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your business qualifications
Your resume profile should be concise and persuasive. In just two to three sentences, you need to captivate recruiters and entice them to continue reading. Start by thoroughly analyzing the job description and extracting keywords that reflect the company’s desired skills and qualifications. Customize your profile to align with the position in question, actively demonstrating your persuasive prowess by selling some of your most impressive accomplishments and experiences. In a business resume profile, the general focus should be your leadership powers, strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and track record of driving results. Mention your years of experience and discuss how you plan on using these abilities to bring success to the organization.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Business manager with over 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 your business experience with compelling examples
Instead of writing a long list of duties, create bullet points to feature what you’ve accomplished as you carried out past responsibilities. These points should showcase your past contributions and demonstrate your potential for future success. To make a lasting impression on employers, quantify your experience wherever possible to highlight the tangible impact you’ve made as a business professional.
Use numbers, percentages, or specific metrics to substantiate your achievements and emphasize your ability to drive results. For instance, you could highlight the revenue you generated, the percentage increase in sales or profits you achieved, the cost savings you implemented, or the number of clients you successfully managed. Start each bullet point with an action verb to illustrate how you accomplished daily tasks and executed long-term goals.
Senior-Level Professional 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 three years
Entry-Level Professional 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 business-related education and certifications
Your commitment to academic excellence and staying up-to-date with industry trends is invaluable, so be sure to highlight your most pertinent degrees, coursework, and certifications. This information provides evidence of your expertise, which can be a differentiating factor in a competitive business landscape. Starting with your highest level of education, list the degree name, institution, location, and completion date.
Highlight relevant coursework and certifications to show employers you possess the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the field. Certificates like the Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) feature your specialized knowledge. Six Sigma, Lean Management, or Agile methodologies can give you a competitive advantage. Format your certification section in the same way. List the certificate name, issuing organization, and date received.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Master of Business Administration
- Ohio State University, Columbus, OH | 2020
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, 2017
4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to business
A key skills section calls attention to your professional capabilities and aptitude for the role. When creating your list, it’s essential to focus on those that align directly with the demands of the business industry. Prioritize skills that underscore your proficiency in critical areas of business operations and customize the list 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 | 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, pick a template. The best resume template for business professionals is clean and organized. A simple design is key, ensuring that the focus remains on your professional accomplishments and skills. Look for templates that provide clear sections with plenty of white space for easy readability. Choose one that allows for customization, enabling you to tailor the layout and design to suit your specific needs and the requirements of the business industry. Maintain a professional and cohesive aesthetic throughout the document to make an excellent first impression.
Business Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
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
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 professional experience section, particularly when trying to describe your work. It's common to feel like you've exhausted your vocabulary as you attempt to convey your business responsibilities. To help you over this hurdle, we curated a list of commonly used action verbs to use on your business resume. These dynamic verbs will energize your bullet points, enabling you to articulate your achievements and contributions with precision:
| 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 description?-
Between 2021 and 2031, employment for business and finance occupations is expected to increase by 7%. 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 above the crowd. Especially if you have a specific job opening in mind, it's crucial to tailor your resume accordingly.
Carefully review the job description and extract keywords and phrases. Incorporate this language throughout your resume organically, especially in your resume profile, key skills section, and work experience bullet points. Additionally, emphasize your specific accomplishments and experiences directly related to the job responsibilities mentioned in the posting.
What is the best business resume format?-
When choosing a resume format for a business professional, the most suitable option is often the combination format. This blends elements of both the chronological and functional formats, allowing you to highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments while presenting your work history in a clear timeline. The format is ideal for business professionals with a solid work history who want to showcase their career progression while emphasizing their key skills and achievements. However, sometimes chronological and functional formats are more appropriate. Ultimately, choose the format that will serve you and your situation best.
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Crafting a complementary cover letter for your resume increases your chances of securing an interview. The secret to writing 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, be sure to explore our business analyst and MBA cover letter guides.
