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Table of contents

Manager resume sample
Which format is best for a manager at each career stage?
How to write a resume for a management position
Why managers need cover letters
Key takeaways for your manager resume
Resources to help prepare for your interview

Managers wear a hundred different hats. From writing schedules to managing budgets to communicating decisions to your team, good management is all about handling whatever tasks come your way.

Writing a great manager resume will put your best qualities in the spotlight. While it might seem daunting, the payoff is huge — you’ll have more job prospects and a better chance of landing your ideal role. You understand the importance of your resume, and soon, you’ll master the art of creating a truly remarkable one.

This guide will show you:

The best manager resume examples.
How to write an impressive manager resume.
Manager resumes for different experience levels.
Why even managers need cover letters.
Key takeaways to help you land your next job.

Need to write a resume quickly? Do it with our Resume Maker. Choose the right design for a manager and get section-by-section advice, including auto-generated text you can easily edit.

Manager resume sample

Sample resume for a product manager

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What makes this such a strong manager resume:

Professional layout
This resume uses a neat and professional style that keeps the candidate’s information organized.
Includes a certification
Including certifications is especially helpful for management level roles because it conveys a sense of expertise and continuous learning.
Hard and soft skills
Including both hard and soft skills shows that this candidate has both the technical skills and the interpersonal people skills to achieve results and inspire his team.

Which format is best for a manager at each career stage?

Choosing the right resume format is crucial, as it should effectively highlight your extensive managerial experience and skills.

Three distinct resume formats cater to job seekers at various career stages.

Seasoned professionals like managers typically benefit most from a chronological resume format. This type emphasizes a rich work history, allowing you to showcase your progression and achievements.

However, a functional or combination resume format could be more suitable if you’re a manager transitioning into a new industry. The functional format centers on skills, which is ideal if you wish to highlight transferable competencies. The combination format, meanwhile, strikes a balance between skills and experience.

Here’s how each format might benefit a manage at different career stages:

New managers may benefit from a functional resume format. This emphasizes your skills and potential, making it suitable for first-time or junior managers.
Midlevel managers who have a blend of relevant skills and experience would benefit from a combination resume format. This format allows for showcasing a strong mix of your skills alongside increasing management experience.
Senior-level managers with a wealth of professional experience to draw from should opt for a chronological resume format. This highlights your extensive career history and progression in management roles.

Templates for manager resumes

Create your resume

Whether you’re managing a small creative team or a large data-driven organization, your resume template should convey your unique approach to management and your professional personality.

You’ll want to choose a management resume template that suits your style and your industry.

Many templates are available, from sleek and professional designs to more innovative and creative templates. You can also find plenty of free templates for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Pick what resonates with you and the image you want to project. Remember, the goal is to compile a clear, well-structured resume that effectively portrays your professional progression.

How to write a resume for a management position

Looking to elevate your management career? Begin by learning how to write a resume to get attention from recruiters in your industry.

So, how do you achieve that? Start with a well-structured resume outline, which should always include:

Your contact information prominently displayed in the header.
A compelling, keyword-rich resume profile.
A dedicated section emphasizing relevant managerial skills.
A chronologically arranged work experience section, starting with your most recent role.
Your educational qualifications, including degrees and diplomas.
A couple of optional sections to enhance your resume, such as certifications, achievements or professional affiliations, if you wish to include them.

Now, let’s delve into each component and address specific challenges managers might face.

Step 1

Organize your header

As a managerial professional, your resume should immediately convey a sense of authority, clarity and professionalism. One of the first places a hiring manager will look is the header of your resume, so you have to get it right.

Here are the fundamental elements to include in your resume header as a manager:

Your name: Your full name should be prominently displayed and easily identifiable.
Contact number: A direct line where potential employers can reach you.
Professional email address: Ensure your email address is professional and appropriate. Ideally, it should include some variation of your name.
Your location: Your city and state are sufficient.

In addition to the basics, consider including the following to give hiring managers more insight into your professional presence:

LinkedIn profile: As a managerial professional, a well-maintained LinkedIn profile can demonstrate your networking skills and endorsements and provide a broader picture of your professional background.
Professional website or portfolio: If you have a professional blog, a portfolio of projects or a website that showcases your career achievements, include it.

Maintain a clean, straightforward header design that aligns with your role as a manager. A simple, readable resume font and clear formatting is key — no need for overly decorative elements or bright colors. Your accomplishments and skills should take center stage, not graphic design elements.

Step 2

Summarize your career in one paragraph

Just like a well-crafted introduction sets the tone and draws you into a good story, your resume’s profile should be designed to pique the interest of the hiring manager.

Situated at the top of your resume, your profile offers a snapshot of your managerial skills and experience. This crucial section lets you demonstrate your value and persuade the reader to delve deeper into your resume.

Now, your profile style will largely depend on where you are in your professional journey:

Managers with a wealth of experience in their field will find a resume summary to be the most suitable. This should be a concise paragraph of around four or five sentences highlighting your key skills, experiences and professional achievements. It’s your chance to convey your expertise and managerial prowess quickly and effectively.

However, a resume objective might be the more strategic choice if you’re transitioning into a management role for the first time or from a different industry or field. This goal-oriented statement allows you to articulate your career aspirations, explain why you’re transitioning and highlight transferable skills you can bring to the management position.

Ultimately, the goal of your profile is singular and crucial: to convince the hiring manager that you and the role are a perfect fit.

To nail this, take the time to understand the company’s values and objectives. Review the company’s mission statement and any available information about its culture. Customize your resume to accentuate the achievements and skills that align closely with their needs.

Professional summary for manager resume example:

Experienced hotel manager with over five years in the hospitality industry, excelling in operations management within multicultural environments. Possesses a comprehensive understanding of hotel and restaurant management, backed by a four-year degree in the same field. Exhibits meticulous planning, organization and attention to detail. Proven capability in delivering excellent guest relations, swiftly resolving issues and managing time effectively. Seeking to leverage these skills to further enhance guest satisfaction and operational efficiency in a challenging hotel management role.

Sample objective for branch manager resume:

Detail-oriented manager seeking to leverage proven strategic thinking, autonomous initiative and team leadership skills in overseeing daily operations to generate positive revenue and enhance customer service standards. Committed to safety leadership, continuous learning and revenue growth to meet or exceed business plans. Experienced in federal compliance with OSHA regulations and DOT standards. Aiming to apply these skills to effectively manage, support and lead the team while advancing operational excellence.

Pro tip

Always tailor your professional summary or objective for each managerial position you apply for. No two management roles are identical, and by adjusting your resume for each job, you can underline the skills and experiences specifically sought in the job description. This approach makes you more relevant and increases your chances of sailing past the applicant tracking system (ATS).

Step 3

Identify the most desired management skills

Whether orchestrating multipronged projects or building a cohesive, multifunctional team, you use a diverse array of management skills every day. The challenge lies in effectively demonstrating these skills on your resume in the most compelling manner.

Hard skills come into play during task-specific responsibilities, such as strategic planning, budgeting or project management. Soft skills, on the other hand, are exercised when facilitating team collaboration, communicating effectively or resolving conflicts.

This isn’t a competition — soft skills vs hard skills. It’s better to consider it a strategic partnership where your skills harmonize to create a well-rounded manager like yourself.

This balance is particularly important for managers, as the role often requires technical abilities to understand and oversee operations and the people skills to motivate and lead a team effectively.

Hard Skills

Financial management
Project management
Decision-making
Data analysis
Regulatory compliance

Soft Skills

Leadership
Teamwork
Time management
Emotional intelligence
Adaptability

Pro tip

In management, your ability to use new technology is important. Alongside your other technical skills, make sure to list your computer skills.

Step 4

Focus on your work experience

As a manager, this may not be your first rodeo. Whether you’re a seasoned manager or just stepping into your first managerial role, you have professional experience that showcases your abilities, from successfully completing projects to implementing strategies.

When it comes to your resume, it’s all about how you package your work experience in an appealing, easy-to-understand way. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:

Highlight impact, not just roles. Instead of listing routine managerial tasks, focus on achievements that can be quantified to bring your professional journey to life. For instance, cite the number of successful projects completed or the percentage increase in efficiency or profits achieved.
Show career progression. You’ve surely risen in the ranks throughout your career. List your positions, beginning with the most recent, so hiring managers can clearly see how you scaled the career ladder over time.
Use bullet points to emphasize achievements. You never want to overwhelm the reader. One way to avoid that is adding between three and five bullet points to previous roles. Each bullet point should touch on an achievement or project you played a role in. Add quantifiable metrics whenever possible.

Manager work experience entry example:

Operations Manager, XYZ LLC
Phoenix, AZ
April 2022 – July 2024

Collaborated with team members on cross-departmental projects, leading to four successful product launches and an overall revenue increase of 15%.
Developed and implemented rigorous performance tracking systems, significantly improving operational transparency and reducing time spent on performance analysis by 30%.
Instrumental in refining operational procedures, enhancing workflows and reducing process turnaround time by 35% without compromising quality.

Pro tip

Make full use of action words in your resume. In the realm of management, action words like “orchestrated,” “pioneered,” “transformed” and “implemented” not only make your resume more dynamic and engaging but they also paint a clearer picture of your role as an active leader in your previous positions.

Step 5

Emphasize your industry credentials

While your education forms the foundation of your managerial skills, it’s your professional credentials and industry-specific certifications that give you an edge, especially if you’re a seasoned manager.

If you recently graduated, you should present your education credentials first. But if you’re deep into your career and your other credentials, like certificates, are significantly more recent, you might want to place them above your education.

Manager education entry example:

Professional Certifications

Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute | 2024

Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
International Association for Six Sigma Certification | 2021

Education

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Stanford University, Stanford, CA | 2018

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
University of California, Berkeley, CA | 2016
Honors: Graduated Cum Laude

Step 6

Consider additional sections to add to your resume

Having honed your abilities through leadership positions and project oversight, you’re an accomplished manager. However, if you’re taking your first steps into management or some of your key accomplishments took place outside conventional work settings, consider ways to expand and enrich your resume.

Adding optional sections that underscore your unique journey and skills can be beneficial. These could include:

Volunteer work: If you’ve volunteered for a role that demonstrates leadership or organizational skills — like coordinating a community fundraiser or serving on a nonprofit board — it’s worth mentioning on your resume. It shows you’re passionate and proactive about making a difference, even when you aren’t getting paid.
Language proficiency: In today’s globalized business world, being multilingual can be a significant advantage. Whether you’re collaborating with international teams or conducting business with non-English speaking partners, additional languages can be a beneficial asset.
Personal interests and hobbies: If you have hobbies or interests that show you’re a well-rounded individual with diverse interests, don’t hesitate to share them. Maybe you’re an amateur marathon runner, indicating your dedication and discipline, or you enjoy chess, showcasing your strategic thinking. These details can make your resume stand out.

Pro tip

Have any honors or awards, like “Manager of the Year” or “Outstanding Leadership Award”? Highlight these in a separate section. It’s your chance to show potential employers you’re recognized for your skills and dedication.

Why managers need cover letters

Create your cover letter

Despite your extensive experience and expertise, managers too can benefit from a well-written cover letter.

Your cover letter allows you a chance to elaborate on parts of your career story you couldn’t fit on your resume. Perhaps you have taken a career break for personal development or you’re transitioning into management from a different industry. It’s the perfect medium to address these situations.

If you aren’t sure where to start, we have a comprehensive guide on writing a cover letter that can serve as your starting point. Our professionally curated cover letter examples and our practical guide on cover letter formatting will prove invaluable in making your application stand out among other managerial candidates.

If you’re pressed for time or want to guarantee you’ll be free of errors or grammatical missteps, consider our Cover Letter Builder. It generates sentences tailored specifically for management roles, ensuring you communicate your unique accomplishments and qualifications effectively.

Key takeaways for your manager resume

Write a professional summary

Start with a compelling summary that clearly highlights your key managerial competencies and career goals.
Use action verbs and power words

Start each bullet point in your experience section with action verbs like “led,” “managed” and “oversaw” to show you’re proactive.
Feature quantifiable achievements

Rather than listing duties, focus on your accomplishments, and use numbers and percentages to back them up.
Include a broad range of skills

Mention both hard and soft skills. Include leadership and strategic planning alongside communication and adaptability.
Emphasize professional development

Include any relevant industry credentials or professional development courses you’ve completed to show continuous learning.
Double-check your formatting

Choose a clean, professional template that is easy to read. Make sure your formatting is consistent throughout.
Don’t forget to write a cover letter

Sometimes cover letters get a bad rap, but in reality, they remain a great way to set yourself apart from other qualified candidates.

Resources to help prepare for your interview

Last Updated: January 01, 2025

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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.