How To Write a Management Resume
When you’re looking for a new management position, you want a role that aligns with your career goals and allows you to continue to grow in your field. And a great resume is a big part of landing that job. Learn how to write a management resume that shows a hiring manager how you can effectively lead a team, take charge of projects, and ultimately make a positive impact on the company’s bottom line.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
The profile section of your resume is where you can let the reviewer know exactly what kind of manager you are and how you lead your team. Software proficiency is great, including your years of experience and any specific project management tool or CRM, but don’t forget to include how you lead. If you focus on 1-to-1 mentoring or prefer to use whole-team collaboration to foster growth, say that. Let the profile section be your management mission statement on how you can affect positive change at the company.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Senior Sales Manager with 15+ years of advancement and experience. Drive steady revenue growth by training and coaching sales teams to provide top-caliber service experiences to customers.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Management Professional with 2+ years of experience. Adept at guiding teams through complex projects while fostering the talents of each employee. Well-versed in major scheduling and management software programs. Master of Science in Management.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
When applying for a management position, the hiring manager is probably more interested in what you accomplished for your past employers than the day-to-day minutia of your job duties. Focus on numbers and tie metrics to overall company profit and growth where possible. Include the size of your team, especially the number of direct reports, as well as if you had to collaborate with other departments. Effective management involves identifying issues and proactively discovering and implementing solutions. Please include any initiatives you participated in or specific challenges you addressed.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior Sales Manager
KSCG, New York, NY | January 2016 – Present
- Train and motivate staff to engage prospective clients and secure challenging deals
- Took territory sales from $1.2M to $5M while driving a 30%+ profit gain
- Voted #1 manager by employees 5 out of 7 years
- Developed new training programs and sales incentives that helped improve staff retention by 50%
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Managerial Associate
Dallas Graphic Design, Dallas, TX | March 2021 – Present
- Assemble teams of graphic artists, copywriters, and other creative professionals based on the needs of each project
- Monitor and performance-manage direct reports to ensure consistent work quality
- Source, vet, and hire contractors for specialized tasks
- Set detailed project schedules and budgets
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Many management positions require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and some may be looking for specific study areas, such as an MBA or a Bachelor of Science in Management. If you haven’t finished your degree or it’s not directly related to management, you may choose to mention specific coursework in this section to show that you have some formal education on the subject, even without a degree.
Management certifications can help you stand out from a pack of candidates with similar education and job experience, so if you’re a Six Sigma Black Belt, a Certified ScrumMaster, or have a professional certificate in team leadership, make sure to note that.
Certifications
Template:
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
- Certified Project Manager, HR Institute of America, 2021
Education
Template:
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example:
- Bachelor of HR Management
- Dallas University, Dallas, TX – May 2019
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Every industry has management roles, and each company has its own idea of what a manager should do and what skills they should have. When creating your resume, it’s important to tailor it to each position with targeted keywords that focus on common skills and proficiencies expected at this level. We’ve provided a list below to get you started, but don’t forget to add any that may be especially industry relevant, such as accounting and finance, for a business management position.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Ability to triage and prioritize issues | Active listening |
| Adaptability | Analytical skills |
| Collaborative mindset | Creative problem-solving |
| CRM software | Cultural awareness |
| Google Suite | High emotional intelligence |
| Managing budgets | Microsoft Office |
| Project management | Strong leadership skills |
How To Pick the Best Management Resume Template
If you have a decent amount of experience as a manager, you may find it challenging to organize your job history and skills into a few bullets on a page. A management resume template can help by providing a framework that can still be tailored to your skills and each position. The best templates for managers are simple and organized. This isn’t the place to show off your graphic design skills or write paragraphs about your work. Stick to formats with easy-to-skim bullets and provide space for profile, work history, key skills, and education sections.
Management Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Sarah Smith
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Dallas, TX 33333 | LinkedIn
Profile
Management Professional with 2+ years of experience. Adept at guiding teams through complex projects while fostering the talents of each employee. Well-versed in major scheduling and management software programs. Master of Science in Management.
Key Skills
- Budgeting & Cost Accounting
- Conflict Management & Resolution
- Cost Reduction & Elimination
- Emotional Intelligence
- Meeting Facilitation
- Performance Evaluation
- Project Scheduling & Management
- Reporting & Documentation
- Task Prioritization
- Team Management & Motivation
- Vendor Contract Negotiations
Professional Experience
Managerial Associate, Dallas Graphic Design, Dallas, TX | March 2021 to Present
- Assemble teams of graphic artists, copywriters, and other creative professionals based on the needs of each project
- Monitor and performance-manage direct reports to ensure consistent work quality
- Source, vet, and hire contractors for specialized tasks
- Set detailed project schedules and budgets
Highlight:
- Negotiated new vendor contracts, reducing average project costs by more than $5,000
Managerial Intern, Arkansas Technology, Little Rock, AR | November 2020 to March 2021
- Scheduled meetings between team members and project managers
- Generated budget projections to help management select vendors and contractors
- Drafted post-project summaries to give the executive team insight on each project’s successes and challenges
- Requested work samples and quotes from potential contractors
- Reviewed project plans for clarity and accuracy
Education & Professional Development
Master of Science in Management, Houston School of Business, Houston, TX | 2021
Bachelor of HR Management, Dallas University, Dallas, TX | 2019
Certified Project Manager, HR Institute of America | 2021
Technical Skills
Microsoft Office Suite | Oracle | ProWorkflow | Scoro | SmartSheet
Darcy Hall
(123) 456-7891 | [email protected] | Boise, ID 83707 | LinkedIn
Profile
Restaurant Manager with 7+ years’ experience streamlining operations for high-quality eateries. Passionate about elevating both the restaurant work culture and customers’ dining experience. Skilled at balancing urgent priorities in a fast-paced service environment.
Key Skills
- Customer Service & Satisfaction
- Food Safety & Sanitation
- Reporting & Documentation
- Social Media Marketing
- Task Prioritization
- Team Training & Motivation
Professional Experience
Assistant General Manager, Lucky Fins Downtown Boise, Boise, ID | January 2020 to Present
- Oversee and facilitate various business areas including cost reduction, digital marketing, personnel management, shift scheduling, and vendor relations
Highlights:
- Introduced training and manager-staff communication protocols that helped raise employee retention by 25% in 2 years
- Negotiated 10% lower kitchen gear costs with vendors
- Identified and recovered $15K in miscellaneous losses
- Launched digital promotions and photo contests that increased social media engagement by 50%
Dining Room Manager, Anthony’s Restaurants, Boise, ID | March 2016 to December 2019
- Hired, trained, and supervised 25+ service team members
- Coordinated menu planning and preparation
- Educated and coached staff on effective product up-selling and cross-selling
- Conducted thorough health and safety training
Highlights:
- Motivated team to consistently exceed monthly sales goal by more than 10%
- Decreased variable costs 10% by reducing inventory waste
- Led restaurant to consistently earn a score of 97%+ from the Central District Health Environmental Health Department
Education
Candidate: Associate of Applied Science – Culinary Arts, College of Southern Idaho, Boise, ID | expected 2024
Coursework on:
- Food Sanitation
- Human Relations
- Menu Management
- The Professional Kitchen I
Eve Gwendoline
(123) 239-0238 | [email protected] | New York, NY | LinkedIn
Profile
Senior Sales Manager with 15+ years of advancement and experience. Drive steady revenue growth by training and coaching sales teams to provide top-caliber service experiences to customers.
Key Skills
- Business Data Analysis
- Client Satisfaction & Retention
- Cost Containment
- Human Resources Administration
- Revenue & Profit Growth
- Staff Training & Development
- Team Motivation
Professional Experience
Senior Sales Manager, KSCG, New York, NY | January 2016 to Present
- Train and motivate staff to engage prospective clients and secure challenging deals
- Took territory sales from $1.2M to $5M while driving a 30%+ profit gain
- Voted #1 manager by employees 5 out of 7 years
- Developed new training programs and sales incentives that helped improve staff retention by 50%
Sales Manager, Pinball Enterprise, New York, NY | March 2008 to December 2015
- Played key role in growing this small business from 10 employees to 100+ employees
- Oversaw and motivated a team of 30 sales associates at peak
- Developed three 5-hour training courses that were adopted company-wide
- Identified and filled service gaps, helping organization achieve 300% revenue growth
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration, University of San Francisco, CA | 2008
Frequently Asked Questions: Management Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for management resumes?+
The professional experience section of your management resume is the most important but can also be the hardest to write. You need to show the person hiring for the position that you can effectively lead and inspire a team, own and support KPIs, and fit in the company culture, all in a few bullets. If you need a little inspiration to come up with action verbs to describe your roles and duties, try this list.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Collaborated |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Delegated | Developed |
| Directed | Evaluated |
| Executed | Facilitated |
| Guided | Initiated |
| Implemented | Mentored |
| Motivated | Negotiated |
| Orchestrated | Planned |
| Resolved | Strategized |
How do you align your resume with a job description?+
Once you have a specific job opening you want to apply for, it’s time to take your management resume template and tailor it so it’s targeted for that specific role. Look for keywords in the job description, such as familiarity with EOS or Jira, and use those to guide the language for your experience and key skills sections.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks down management positions by industry when looking at the job growth outlook. However, many sectors, including computer and information systems, marketing, and finance, are expected to have faster-than-average job growth for those in management. While more open positions may mean less competition, it’s still important to do everything possible to help your resume stand out.
What is the best management resume format?+
While reverse chronological is a common format for management resumes, you may find that you’re able to better highlight your skills and qualifications using a combination resume, especially if you have an extensive job history. A combination resume brings the best parts of the chronological and functional formats together, so you can organize your skills and proficiencies by category for easy skimming but still have a list of previous employers and roles to show experience.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
After you finish your resume, don’t forget to include a targeted cover letter in your application package. A cover letter is a chance to show off your professional communication skills and can give you a place to provide more context on your most significant accomplishments. For example, if your resume states you were able to increase department revenue by 50%, provide a few sentences about how you were able to do this in your cover letter. If you’re not sure how to get started, these management cover letter examples can help.