How To Write a Shift Leader Resume
A resume for a shift leader needs to present your management, training, and operations experience relevant to the job’s industry. Hiring managers are looking for shift leaders who can oversee large teams on a daily basis and manage various store functions during high-volume periods. Learn how to craft a winning resume and take the next step on the career ladder with this guide.
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
1. Write a brief summary of your shift leader qualifications
The profile is the first section of your resume the hiring manager sees after your contact information. This is where you give the resume version of an elevator pitch. Key things to include in this section are how many years of experience you have, relevant skills, and career achievements.
Sprinkling in a few keywords from the job description can help you tailor this section to the position. If the hiring manager lists cross-functional collaboration, customer service, and team leadership as required skills, putting these in the profile immediately shows you’re a qualified candidate.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A Shift Leader with seven years of manufacturing work experience, specializing in operations management, Lean Six Sigma, resource allocation, and OSHA safety. A strong history of leading cross-functional teams to enhance production efficiency and drive operational excellence.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A Shift Leader with three years of professional experience, specializing in operations management, communication, customer service, and team leadership. Adept at providing support to diverse teams and identifying opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your shift leader experience
The professional experience section is where you show the hiring manager your robust work history and the necessary background to succeed in the position. If you’ve worked as a shift leader before, focus on numbers and data that help quantify your experience.
Ideal metrics to include are the size of your team and the valuation of the company’s inventory or revenue. Make sure to show the value of your contributions as well. For example, reducing lead times is an accomplishment that will resonate strongly with hiring managers within the manufacturing industry due to the impact on order fulfillment, operating costs, and customer success. However, without the percentage and the value of the raw material inventory, the full scope of the accomplishment could be lost on the reader.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Shift Leader, Herbert Manufacturing Corp., Minneapolis, MN
May 2016 – Present
- Manage production floor operations for a high-volume manufacturing site with over $300K in raw material inventory, lead teams of 20 engineers and manufacturing staff, and develop a culture of continuous improvement to reduce lead times by 10%
- Support the employee onboarding process, provide training on quality control and OSHA safety standards to 40+ personnel, and reduce monthly safety incidents by 40%
- Troubleshoot production issues, perform equipment maintenance, and develop inspection schedules to reduce the risk of equipment malfunctions
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Shift Leader, Wegmans Market, Nashville, TN
May 2019 – Present
- Lead a team of 20+ sales associates, department staff, and store personnel to provide quality customer service, maintain inventory, and deliver a positive shopping experience
- Manage store operations, maintain product displays, ensure compliance with sanitation and food safety standards, and identify solutions to customer issues
- Provide training to 30+ new hires on customer service standards and SOPs, create training materials, and provide coaching to improve customer satisfaction scores by 30%
- Coordinate with management teams to establish an inclusive, collaborative work culture and drive continuous improvements to meet quality standards
3. Add your shift leader education and certifications
Shift leaders are often promoted from within the organization, so your skills and experience will likely be the most important factor on your resume. But it is still necessary to list your education. An industry-relevant degree, such as an associate degree in manufacturing or hospitality or a degree in business administration or management, can set you apart from other candidates.
Which certifications are sought after as a shift leader will depend on the industry. Generally, any advanced training, such as an OSHA safety certificate or a ServSafe certification, is valuable.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Manufacturing Production Technology
- Minneapolis College, Minneapolis, MN | 2015
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Food Safety Manager Certification, National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, 2019
4. Include a list of your shift leader skills and proficiencies
As a shift leader, you’re responsible for helping your team succeed. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who can identify gaps in training, coach underperforming staff, and support top performers. A major part of your resume is ensuring the hiring manager can quickly see you fit the position’s needs.
List your most relevant skills to the job in a simple bulleted list. Don’t forget to tailor this section to each job you apply for to increase your chances of moving to the next round. Use the common skills below to start your list:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Cash management | Client relations |
| Communication | Continuous improvement |
| Cross-functional leadership | Customer service |
| Customer success | Employee onboarding |
| Inventory management | Management |
| Operations management | OSHA safety |
| People management | Process improvement |
| Project management | Quality assurance |
| Resource allocation | Staff development |
| Staff training | Team management |
How To Pick the Best Shift Leader Resume Template
There’s no rule saying you must create your resume entirely from scratch, and using a template can save you a lot of time. Look for a template that’s easy to read so the hiring manager can quickly skim your skills and qualifications.
Each section should be organized with headers or set apart with horizontal lines. Bolding, bullets, and italics also help visually separate text for a clean look. Stay away from templates that are too busy or cramped or have distracting colors, images, or fonts.
Shift Leader Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 W Adams Ave, Detroit, MI 12345
Profile
A Shift Leader with five years of professional experience within the foodservice industry, specializing in operations management, food service, guest relations, and inventory control. A proven track record of building and leading high-performance teams to enhance the dining experience and improve guest satisfaction.
Professional Experience
Shift Leader, Olive Garden, Detroit, MI
May 2018 – Present
- Deliver operations management support to the General Manager, including managing team members, conducting scheduling, and purchasing $30K in weekly food inventory
- Lead teams of 20+ waitstaff and kitchen personnel, enhance communication across the front of the house and back of the house, provide coaching and mentorship, and develop a culture of continuous improvement to improve guest satisfaction scores to 85%
- Create reports for the General Manager and District Manager on guest traffic data, survey scores, inventory variance, waste, and portion control metrics
Shift Leader, Carraba’s, Detroit, MI
May 2016 – May 2018
- Coordinated with the restaurant manager to supervise daily restaurant operations, manage teams of up to 20+ servers, hostesses, and kitchen staff, and ensure compliance with food safety and guest service standards
- Developed shift plans to ensure optimal staffing levels during peak traffic, holidays, and bi-monthly promotions to maintain quality standards
Education
Associate of Science (A.S.) Business Administration
Wayne County Community College, Detroit, MI, September 2014 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Operations Management
- Customer Service
- Team Leadership
- Communication
- Process Improvement
Frequently Asked Questions: Shift Leader Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for shift leader resumes?-
Common action verbs for shift leader resumes revolve around managing a team and supporting the organization’s bigger targets, such as key performance indicators (KPIs). As you craft your resume, use engaging verbiage specific to your job duties.
Each bullet is also a chance to further tailor your resume to the job. So, if the position requires mentoring new staff members or resolving escalated customer complaints, work “mentored” and “resolved” into your bullets.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Assessed | Communicated |
| Coordinated | Delegated |
| Directed | Evaluated |
| Facilitated | Implemented |
| Instructed | Managed |
| Mentored | Monitored |
| Motivated | Optimized |
| Oversaw | Prioritized |
| Resolved | Scheduled |
| Supervised | Trained |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
Management occupations are expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate through 2032, which will likely trickle down to shift leaders. This could mean more open positions, but it’s still common to be competing against dozens — and sometimes hundreds — of other applicants.
Set your resume apart and increase the chances that it makes it to the hiring manager's desk (instead of getting kicked out by applicant tracking software) by targeting it to the job. Use keywords from the job duties list in your professional experience and skills sections. Must-have qualifications, such as previous leadership experience, can be mentioned in your profile as well.
What is the best shift leader resume format?-
Reverse chronological is usually the best resume format for a shift leader resume. Show your years of experience to back up a supervisory role, and present a detailed work history. Start with your most recent positions and work backward.
If your resume stretches over more than one page, consider cutting out any jobs that aren’t directly relevant to the industry or position. If this will be your first supervisory role, a functional or combination resume may be a better fit.
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