how to write a resume for business manager

• • Drove sales growth of 18% by implementing strategic sales initiatives.
• • Strengthened relationships with leading finance company representatives, resulting in improved business engagements.
• • Spearheaded team to achieve 150% of the set sales target in Q2 2020.
• • Streamlined operations, which resulted in decreased costs by 10%.
• • Ensured achievement of excellent customer service standards, boosting customer retention by 20%.
• • Secured average monthly sales revenue surpassing $1million.
• • Implemented an employee reward system, leading to 20% increase in staff productivity.
• • Reinforced compliance with company policy and procedures among all store employees.
• • Orchestrated effort to expedite financial settlement on all exchanged vehicles within agreed time frame.
• • Regularly trained teams in product knowledge, resulting in improved sales performance.
• • Proactively upsold add-on products, enhancing sales revenue by 30%.
• • Efficiently maintained up-to-date product knowledge, resulting in better customer satisfaction.
• • Ensured accurate and prompt processing of all documentation, proposals, and quotes.
• • Facilitated the achievement of 100% team compliance with safe working practices.
• • Received 'Best Sales Associate' award for excellent sales and customer service.

5 Business Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your business manager resume must highlight your leadership skills. Showcase your ability to motivate and manage teams effectively. Demonstrate your financial acumen and strategic planning prowess. Your resume should reflect a solid track record of achieving business goals.

All resume examples in this guide

Traditional

Resume Guide

Demystifying the business manager resume format, detailing your relevant experience on your business manager resume, creating your business manager resume skills section: balancing hard skills and soft skills, detailing your education and top business manager certifications on your resume, choosing between a resume summary or objective, how to include other relevant sections for your business manager resume, key takeaways.

One common challenge faced by Business Managers is effectively communicating their broad range of skills and experiences in a concise manner on their resume. Our guide can assist by providing clear strategies and examples on how to summarize diverse responsibilities and achievements, making your resume more impactful and engaging for potential employers.

Enhance your application for the business manager role with our concise guide on how to:

• Format your business manager resume, ensuring a balance between professionalism and creativity, in line with best practices.
• Align your resume with the business manager job requirements by incorporating relevant industry keywords.
• Utilize distinct resume sections to highlight your skills and achievements, making a case for why you're the top pick for the business manager role.
• Draw from leading business manager resume examples to effectively tailor your experience.

Recommended reads:

• Business System Analyst resume
• Product Analyst resume
• Business intelligence analyst resume
• Business Systems Analyst resume
• Business intelligence director resume

While a touch of creativity can be appealing, it's the clarity and relevance of your business manager resume format that truly resonates with recruiters.

To ensure your resume not only captures attention but also maintains it, consider these four streamlined steps:

• If your career boasts a wealth of pertinent and recent accomplishments, the reverse-chronological resume format is your ally. It naturally emphasizes your experience, placing your most recent roles at the forefront.
• Design a straightforward header: incorporate your contact information, a headline reflecting the position you're vying for or your current designation, and a link to your professional portfolio.
• While brevity is key, if you're targeting a senior position or have accumulated over ten years of industry-relevant experience, extending your resume to two pages is permissible.
• To ensure consistent formatting across various platforms, always save and submit your business manager resume as a PDF.

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• functional skill-based resume format - that puts the main focus on your skills and accomplishments;
• hybrid resume format - to get the best of both worlds with your business manager experience and skills.

Recruiters' top picks for business manager resume sections:

• A header with essential contact details and a headline showcasing your current role.
• A summary or objective that aligns your standout expertise with the role's demands.
• An experience section that delves into your key responsibilities and achievements.
• A skills section that intertwines job requirements with your unique capabilities.
• Education and certifications sections that bolster your professional credentials.

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Proven experience in strategic planning and business development.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including team management and conflict resolution.
• Financial acuity, with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Strong communication skills, including negotiation and presentation abilities.
• Experience in project management, demonstrating the ability to lead initiatives from conception to completion.
• Color on Resume
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Showcase your credibility in the resume experience section. For an effective business manager resume:

• Highlight measurable achievements.
• Scan the job advert for keywords and integrate them throughout your experience section.
• Emphasize your technical proficiencies and how you've applied them in various roles.
• Keep it simple: mention your responsibility, relevant skills, and the outcomes.
• Use this section to convey your unique value, soft skills, feedback received, and the type of company culture you thrive in.

Top professionals ensure their experience section offers a captivating look at their expertise. Check out our sample business manager resumes for guidance.

• Managed a team of 15 sales executives, achieving a 20% increase in monthly revenue.
• Implemented cost-cutting measures resulting in a 15% reduction in operational expenses.
• Developed and executed marketing strategies that led to a 30% growth in customer base.
• Led cross-functional teams in the successful launch of three new product lines, resulting in a 25% increase in market share.
• Implemented efficient inventory management system, reducing stockouts by 40%.
• Developed and managed key client relationships, leading to a 35% increase in repeat business.
• Designed and executed a comprehensive digital marketing campaign that increased online sales by 50% within six months.
• Spearheaded the implementation of CRM software, resulting in improved customer relationship management and a 20% increase in customer satisfaction.
• Analyzed market trends and competitor activities to identify new business opportunities, leading to a 15% expansion in international markets.
• Developed and implemented a training program for sales staff, resulting in a 30% improvement in product knowledge and sales performance.
• Negotiated contracts with suppliers, achieving a cost reduction of 12%.
• Led a cross-functional team in the successful execution of a company-wide rebranding initiative.
• Managed a portfolio of key accounts, generating $2 million in annual revenue.
• Implemented data-driven decision-making processes, resulting in a 15% increase in operational efficiency.
• Led the integration of a new CRM system, enabling streamlined communication and improved customer retention.
• Developed and executed a comprehensive market expansion strategy resulting in a 40% increase in international sales.
• Optimized supply chain processes, reducing lead time by 25%.
• Led a team of analysts in conducting market research, providing insights for new product development.
• Implemented a performance management system, resulting in a 20% improvement in employee productivity.
• Developed and executed strategic partnerships, leading to a 30% increase in market reach.
• Oversaw the financial planning and budgeting process, resulting in a 10% reduction in costs.
• Managed regional sales team, achieving an annual revenue growth of 15%.
• Developed and implemented a customer loyalty program resulting in a 20% increase in customer retention.
• Led the successful launch of a new product line, generating $5 million in sales within the first year.
• Implemented lean manufacturing processes, resulting in a 30% reduction in production costs.
• Developed and executed a sales strategy that increased market share by 25%.
• Led a team in the successful execution of a company-wide ERP system implementation.
• Developed and implemented a business continuity plan, ensuring uninterrupted operations during unforeseen events.
• Analyzed financial data and market trends to identify cost-saving opportunities, resulting in a 10% increase in profitability.
• Led a team in the successful acquisition and integration of a competitor, expanding the company's market presence.

Quantifying impact on your resume

• Include financial KPIs you've directly influenced, as this will demonstrate your ability to effect positive financial change.
• List the number of team members you've managed in past roles, showing your leadership and team management skills.
• Quantify cost-saving measures you've implemented, illustrating your strategic problem-solving abilities and fiscal responsibility.
• Detail numerical growth in sales or revenue under your management, reflecting your capacity to drive business success.
• Cite specific percentages of improvement in efficiency or productivity due to your initiatives, highlighting your dedication to process optimization.
• Specify the size of budgets you've handled, indicating your experience in managing substantial financial resources.
• Mention the number of projects you've overseen and their outcomes, showcasing your project management skills and completion rate.
• Record any significant increase in customer base or market share achieved under your leadership, establishing your impact on business expansion.

Writing your business manager experience section without any real-world experience

Professionals, lacking experience, here's how to kick-start your business manager career:

• Substitute experience with relevant knowledge and skills, vital for the business manager role
• Highlight any relevant certifications and education - to showcase that you have the relevant technical training for the job
• Definitely include a professional portfolio of your work so far that could include university projects or ones you've done in your free time
• Have a big focus on your transferable skills to answer what further value you'd bring about as a candidate for the business manager job
• Include an objective to highlight how you see your professional growth, as part of the company
• How to Write Your First Job Resume Guide
• Job Shadowing on Resume

If your experience section doesn't directly address the job's requirements, think laterally. Highlight industry-relevant awards or positive feedback to underscore your potential.

Recruiters hiring for business manager roles are always keen on hiring candidates with relevant technical and people talents.

Hard skills or technical ones are quite beneficial for the industry - as they refer to your competency with particular software and technologies.

Meanwhile, your soft (or people) skills are quite crucial to yours and the company's professional growth as they detail how you'd cooperate and interact in your potential environment.

Here's how to describe your hard and soft skill set in your business manager resume:

• Consider what the key job requirements are and list those towards the top of your skills section.
• Think of individual, specific skills that help you stand out amongst competitors, and detail how they've helped you succeed in the past.
• Look to the future of the industry and list all software/ technologies which are forward-facing.
• Create a separate, technical skills section to supplement your experience and further align with the business manager job advert.

Find the perfect balance between your resume hard and soft skills with our two lists.

Top skills for your business manager resume

Strategic Planning

Budgeting and Finance

Project Management

Knowledge of Business Laws and Regulations

Data Analysis

Risk Management

Sales and Marketing

Supply Chain Management

Human Resource Management

Proficiency in MS Office Suite

Communication

Problem-Solving

Decision Making

Time Management

Negotiation

Adaptability

Critical Thinking

Conflict Resolution

When detailing your skills, always back them up with tangible evidence, be it quantifiable results or certifications.

Your education section can reflect a variety of skills and experiences relevant to the position.

• List post-secondary qualifications, noting the institution and duration.
• If you're currently studying, mention your expected graduation date.
• Exclude qualifications unrelated to the role or industry.
• If relevant, delve into your educational background, especially if it was research-intensive.

Including both relevant education and certifications on your business manager resume can set you apart. It not only showcases your qualifications but also your commitment to the profession.

When listing these on your business manager resume, make sure to:

• Highlight degrees and certificates relevant to the role.
• Mention the awarding institution for credibility.
• Include the start and end dates, or if the education/certification is ongoing.
• If relevant, incorporate a few keywords from the job advert within the description of the certification or degree.

If you have additional certifications not directly related to the role, consider placing them towards the end of your resume. This way, they can be viewed as personal interests rather than core qualifications.

For a quick update, check out our list of popular business manager certifications curated by the Enhancv team.

Best certifications to list on your resume

• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) - APICS
• Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) - CIMA
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) - CFA Institute
• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) - SHRM
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) - ISC(2)
• Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) - IIBA
• Financial Risk Manager (FRM) - GARP

If you have basic certificates, place them in the skills or experience section. This saves space for high-demand industry certificates.

• GPA on Resume
• Cum Laude on Resume

Many business manager candidates ponder whether to include a resume summary or objective.

Here's a breakdown:

• A Resume objective outlines your career aspirations. It tells recruiters why you're applying and the value you can bring.
• A Resume summary offers a snapshot of your significant achievements, giving a quick overview of your expertise.

New professionals might lean towards an objective, while seasoned experts might prefer a summary. Whichever you choose, ensure it's tailored to the role.

For inspiration, review examples from established business manager professionals.

Resume summary and objective examples for a business manager resume

With a strong background in technology and over 10 years of experience as an IT Project Manager, this professional leverages exceptional project management skills to deliver complex projects on time and under budget. Strategic thinker with a proven track record of reducing costs by 20% and increasing overall operational efficiency.

Armed with 7 years of experience in product marketing, this individual is eager to transition into business management. Recognized for successful leadership in team settings, creating strategic partnerships, and driving revenue growth. Notably launched an award-winning product line that increased sales by 35%.

Bilingual Operations Manager with 8 years of experience seeks to apply expertise in process optimization and team management in a Business Manager capacity. Has a knack for identifying areas for improvement and implementing successful solutions, leading to a reduction of operational costs by 25% within two years.

Accomplished educator with over 15 years of experience is seeking to leverage strong communication and organization skills in a Business Manager role. Known for developing and implementing successful educational programs and maintaining high standards of performance and quality.

Enthusiastic graduate with a major in Business Administration, eager to kickstart a career in business management. Demonstrated proficiency in market research and data analysis during academic projects, coupled with strong leadership capabilities from leading various student organizations.

A motivated finance professional seeking entry into business management. Successfully completed an internship with a focus on financial analysis and projections, while demonstrating excellent problem-solving capabilities and strategic decision-making skills.

Apart from the standard sections listed in this guide, you have the opportunity to get creative when building your profile.

Select additional resume sections that you deem align with the role, the department, or the company culture.

Here are the ones we recommend:

• Language skills - use a profficiency framework to indicate your aptitude level;
• Hobbies and interests - you can share more about your favorite books or how you spend your time. It's great for culture alignment;
• Volunteering - helps you highlight the causes you care about and hints at people skills you gained such as teamwork, emotional intelligence, and organizational skills;
• Awards - the space for your most prominent business manager professional accolades and achievements.

Make sure that these sections don't take too much away from your experience, but instead build up your business manager professional profile. You can add them as a second column to your resume, or on a second page.

• Format your business manager resume for clarity and coherence, ensuring it aligns with the role.
• Highlight key sections (header, summary/objective, experience, skills, certifications) within your business manager resume.
• Quantify achievements and align them with skills and job requirements.
• Feature both technical and personal skills across your resume for a balanced portrayal.

Looking to build your own Business Manager resume?

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7 Manager Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

Best for candidates with 3+ years of experience

With your job experience and a stunning resume layout, recruiters will be ready to give your application the official stamp of approval.

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Like this template? Customize this resume and make it your own with the help of our Al-powered suggestions, accent colors, and modern fonts.

• Manager Resumes
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Manager Resume FAQs

It’s not easy being the boss. In management, you help employees advance their careers, improve the business’s bottom line, and juggle priorities without dropping the ball.

While it’s not a walk in the park, you’ve learned to handle whatever corporate life throws at you. Yet, demonstrating your abilities on a manager resume is challenging. How do you showcase experience and knowledge on one page?

We have the  top resume tips  to help you  make a resume you’ll be proud to submit, and we’ll also walk through the manager resume writing process.

These seven manager resume samples are helping managers land their next role in 2024, and they can help you  write a resume  that will catch any hiring manager’s attention.

Manager Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Start your work experience bullet points with action verbs like “led,” “founded,” “directed,” “oversaw,” and “managed” to immediately convey your role.
• If you’re a senior manager, tailor your work experience only to include the most relevant positions and technical skills, but if you’re newer to the field, consider adding a  resume objective  to convey your passion and abilities further.

General Manager Resume Example

• Strategically placing your MBA at the top of your general manager resume sends a clear message that you’re prepared to help a business run smoothly.

Case Manager Resume Example

• Elevate your case manager resume by harnessing the power of a cover letter maker to weave in different ways you’ve supported diverse populations.

Project Manager Resume Example

• While it’s not much different than an objective, this lets employers know your qualifications and your abilities before they even look at your work experience.
• Even if you have one certification, it’s worth including it in its own area, so it’s easier to pinpoint.
• Don’t have any certifications? Research certifications available for project managers and start learning. Whether it takes you a lot of time or a little, know that you’re taking a big step toward forward movement!

Product Manager Resume Example

• Whenever possible, state your impact using quantifiable metrics. Even if they’re rough estimates, numbers are the best way to demonstrate your management abilities. 
• Your product manager resume should explicitly state your role, project goals, and impact for each position listed in your work experience.

Account Manager Resume Example

• You can also focus on other important metrics like the number of accounts you opened, the success of your upsells, and how you improved customer retention.
• When choosing a template, make sure you choose one that allows plenty of room for work experience, skills, and contact information.
• Using a template doesn’t mean you can’t get creative; feel free to make it your own with color and different fonts to help it look more like  you .

Operations Manager Resume Example

• Ideally, you should limit this list to five to seven technical skills.
• For example, did you collaborate with partners to target a specific goal? Did you launch a new rotation system that improved efficiency?
• Consider your responsibilities and how you went above and beyond to meet your goals and help others.

Related resume guides

• Assistant Manager
• Store Manager
• Account Manager
• Product Manager

It may feel like a struggle right now, but we highly recommend you keep your manager resume at one page.

You may have valuable experience in more senior positions, and figuring out what to cut is hard. It’s okay to exclude the job you held in college, entry-level roles, and possibly mid-level roles, depending on how much experience you have.

A good rule of thumb is to include three jobs in your resume, beginning with your most recent position. If you include four to six bullet points for each role, you’ll find it’s a breeze to keep your management resume to a page.

But if you’re still struggling, keep in mind that those details you really want to include will help you write a manager cover letter that stands out.

At a glance, recruiters and employers want to see your management skills and abilities in action. There are so many types of managers, such as project managers, operations managers, account managers—the list goes on.

No matter the company or the profession, your resume job description bullet points should be chock-full of examples of where you led projects and teams successfully. You’ll have a winning resume when you back up your claims with numbers by writing descriptive points like Led and coordinated a project with HR to re-design new-hire training, which reduced average onboarding time by 18%.

If you’re looking to move up the ladder rungs, the best thing you can do in your manager resume is to show how you’ve exercised ownership and autonomy in your experience.

In your work history section on your resume, write about experiences where you headed up your own projects from start to finish , volunteered mentorship or suggestions that left a positive impact , and demonstrated a high aptitude for time management, organization, and problem-solving .

Samples › Business Manager

Business Manager Sample

Download and customize our resume template to land more interviews. Review our writing tips to learn everything you need to know for putting together the perfect resume.

Not sure how to format your resume? Download our free guide and template .

Business Managers are the leaders of others and their resumes must make an impact. A great way to gain attention as a Business Manager is to list your measurable accomplishments and show how you've made a difference in your company. Below, you'll see an example of how to make an impactful resume that stands out to recruiters.

You should never use a creative resume

Many job seekers think that an eye-catching resume template will help them stand out to hiring managers and increase their chances of landing an interview. This is a myth put out by resume builders that value design over content.

The truth is that most hiring managers prefer a traditional resume format.

Creative resume templates, like the one pictured here, can actually hurt your chances of landing an interview. Instead, you should use a basic resume format that quickly communicates your basic information and qualifications–like the one included below.

Business Manager resume (text format)

How confident are you feeling about your resume? If you need more help, you can always refer to the following resume sample for a position.

City, State or Country if international

Phone | Email

LinkedIn URL

BUSINESS MANAGER PROFESSIONAL

Results-producing Business leader spanning 20+ years showcasing year-over-year improvements in office productivity, operational efficiency, customer service ratings and team collaboration/retention. Strong and decisive Business leader with excellent analytical, organizational, team building and planning skills. Maintains uncompromising focus on high quality standards and bottom-line profit improvement. Effective technical and communication abilities. Excels at turning under-producing individuals into teams that work efficiently and exceed all expectations. Customer service orientated and excellent at performing crisis management and ensuring customer loyalty and increasing bottom line revenues.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Office Administration

Customer Service

Project Management

Staff Supervision

Crisis Management

Operations Management

Training and Development

Time Management

Team Leadership

Budget Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Business Manager

Castle Management Company Inc | San Ramon, CA | 03/2012 to Present

Responsibilities

Own & manage all facets of organization from conception (startup operations), to the incredible success of the property management business. Key driver in development of an organization-wide strategic planning, vision process, and startup operations of the property management business. Drive sales efforts and shoulder responsibilities of site supervisions, accounting, and project management. Monitor all aspects of the business operations including strategic planning, research, finance, HR, and marketing.

Analyzed problems, formulated options, and presented solutions offering win-win outcomes.

Led efforts to resolve issues with tenants, home repairs, and managed over 200 single family homes.

Aided business development efforts, developed processes, and played a key role in driving revenue growth.

Revenue Growth: $20k/yr → $385k/yr (6+ years) // Property Numbers: 11 → 225 / yr (7+ years).

Business Leader

Carmel Realty Company | Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA | 07/2000 to 03/2012

Provided ongoing management, annual performance reviews, objective-setting and training planning for all direct reports.

Worked with regional business services and finance organizations to develop processes to ensure country level allocation of sales.

Executed on account management processes and tools to expand long-term relationships for J&J that deliver growth opportunities for both parties.

Assisted each affiliate on their marketing and business plans development and implementation.

Provided regional business perspectives to Sales & Market senior leaders.

Cooperated & led other functions to develop business strategies that optimally balance margin with selling effectiveness.

Established and maintained excellent customer relationships within assigned territory.

Complete School Name, City, St/Country: List Graduation Years If Within the Last Ten Years Complete Degree Name (Candidate) – Major (GPA: List if over 3.3)

Relevant Coursework: List coursework taken (even include those you are planning on taking)

Awards/Honors: List any awards, honors or big achievements

Clubs/Activities: List clubs and activities in which you participated

Relevant Projects: List 2-3 projects you have worked on

Everything you need to write your business manager resume

 Now that you’ve seen an example of a job winning Business Manager resume, here are some tips to help you write your own. You should always begin with a summary section. Remember to use basic formatting with clear section headings and a traditional layout. Finally, be sure to include top skills throughout your resume. We’ve included several examples common for Business Manager below.

Let’s start with your resume summary section.

 The resume summary replaces the out-of-date resume objective. A summary outlines the most impressive parts of your resume for easy recall by your potential employer, while also serving to fill in personal qualities that may not appear elsewhere on the page. Remember that summaries are short and consist of pithy sentence fragments! You can check out the Business Manager resume example for more information!

Always start with your most recent positions at the top of your resume. This is called  reverse-chronological format , and keeps your most relevant information easy for hiring managers to review.

2. Formatting

Our experts recommend you start your resume with a resume summary, like the one above. Other common sections are Work Experience, Education, and either Skills or Core Competencies. Here are some guides from our blog to help you write these sections:

How To Write Your Resume’s Work Experience Section

How To Write Your Resume’s Education Section

Good Skills To Put On Your Resume

Some resumes will include other sections, such as  Volunteer Experience  or  Technical Skills . When it comes to what sections you need to include on your resume, you will know best!

Other sections for you to consider including are foreign language skills, awards and honors, certifications, and speaking engagements. These could all be relevant sections for your resume.

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3. Appropriate skills

Process Improvement

Operational Excellence

Staff Retention

Documentation

Departmental Oversight

Communications

Multitasking

4. Experience section

Your Work Experience section should make up the bulk of your resume. This section should include your relevant job titles, companies that employed you, and the dates you were employed.

The bulk of your Business Management resume should be the Work Experience section. While this section should include your relevant job titles, company, and the dates you were employed, it should also include your accomplishments and key skills. For example, let's dissect a bullet point from the resume sample above: • Analyzed problems, formulated options, and presented solutions offering win-win outcomes. This is an effective statement because it demonstrates the practical use of skills such as analysis and problem solving in the context of the job. Soft skills are hard to measure, so providing context is a great way to describe your competency.

Let’s wrap it up!

Standout resumes will include a resume summary, a traditional reverse-chronological layout, and the skills and experience relevant to your job target. This resume example shows how to include those elements on a page. It’s up to you to insert your personal compelling qualifications.

Keep your resume format easy to scan by both humans and computers; our resume template is designed by our experts to satisfy both audiences. And be sure to include your own skills, achievements, and experiences. Job-winning resumes are resumes that successfully market you, leading recruiters and hiring managers to want to learn more!

Finally, emphasize your interest with a customized cover letter. When writing, remember that the resume and cover letter should support each other. Check out our  cover letter tips and examples  for more advice.

Didn’t get the specific answers you were looking for on this page? Hire a professional resume writer to get the advice you need to land your next job. 

Related posts:

ATS Resume Test: Free ATS Checker & Formatting Examples

What Does Relevant Experience on a Resume Mean?

How to Tailor Your Resume to Different Positions

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Business Manager Resume Example

Business Managers are vital to any company, so show employers that you’re vital to them based on your outstanding resume.

Our resumes have been proven to work.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

Business Managers oversee the business’s operations and its employees. They are responsible for identifying opportunities and goals for the company and enacting policies to meet those goals. They also evaluate the company’s performances while ensuring employee and business productivity. 

In this article, we’ll discuss

• Which format is right for your resume
• How to write a resume summary 
• Describing your work experience
• Listing your skills
• Including your education 
• Naming your certifications
• Choosing the right template

Business Manager Sample Resume 

Business Manager, Mattel Inc. 

• Assessed and identified new opportunities for growth in current and prospective markets, pitching “plus-sized Barbie” to fit the body acceptance movement
• Established the company’s financial, marketing, and employee satisfaction goals and objectives, exceeding all three by 10% on average 
• Recruited and trained 14 new employees
• Performed employee evaluations for 10 individuals on a quarterly basis to determine areas of improvement
• Designed business strategies, including SWOT plans, to meet the company goals
• Ensured the company had sufficient resources such as personnel, material, and equipment to fully and promptly perform its goals
• Developed a comprehensive company budget and performed quarterly budget analyses
• Ensured all company activities adhered to legal guidelines and policies and deferred to in-house legal counsel when necessary 
• Assessed overall company performance in terms of financials, marketing, and selling 
• Supervised 25 employees across 5 departments
• Organized employee trainings to fit new company diversity and multicultural policies
• Resolved employee issues in a prompt and fair manner
• Ensured the work facility was safe, free of security issues and in compliance with all government regulations
• Worked diligently with outside vendors to maintain necessary business supplies in light of the COVID supply shortage
• Maintained a good working relationship with executives and other managers

Business Manager, Starbucks

• Designed and implemented procedures, including the “star rewards” program to improve customer retention by 12% and profitability by 25%
• Ensured the franchise was on track to meet its financial goals by conducting quarterly budget analyses
• Reported to other executives and to the owner directly
• Directed staff of 25
• Approved employee’s monthly schedules, keeping their preferences and time-off needs in mind
• Motivated workers through gift card incentives and positive feedback
• Developed and implemented monthly budgets, adjusting as needed in light of supply shortages and increased materials costs
• Prepared financial reports for owner and Starbucks executives
• Updated job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities like barista training, reading professional publications, and participating in professional organizations like “Coffee Connoisseurs” 
• Recommended 3 new beverages to company executives based on customer feedback  
• Trained another Business Manager for a sister franchise
• Oversaw the building’s expansion to include a drive-thru window
• Hired, trained, and evaluated 10 new employees
• Launched a social media campaign that increased customer engagement with the franchise’s Instagram and Twitter by 12% and 32%, respectively

1. Choose the Right Format for a Business Manager Resume

The first step to drafting your resume is deciding which resume format to use. This depends on your career experience and skillset. 

You have 3 main options for your resume:

• Reverse-Chronological -- this is the most commonly used resume format. With this structure, place your most recent jobs first, followed by the next most recent job, and ending with your oldest position. 

Tip: only include jobs relevant to the position to which you’re applying, so leave out any former jobs that don’t fit. Do include jobs like Spa Manager , Business Development Manager , or Business Analyst . These all show that you can lead others and that you are familiar with the administrative and executive duties expected of a manager.   

• Functional -- this format is best for people who have been out of the workforce for a while, perhaps because they had to care for children or an elderly parent. This format will have headers like “Projects” and “Executive Leadership” with their respective skills listed in bullet points below. At the very end of the resume, include a brief snapshot of your work experience.  

Tip: Read our advice on How to Explain Employment Gaps on a Resume . 

• Hybrid / Combination -- this format is a mix of both Functional and Reverse-Chronological. It provides more detailed work experience descriptions that would typically be seen in the latter, while still offering a bulleted list of skills.  

Tip: When in doubt, choose the Reverse-Chronological resume format. For more details, check out our guide on How to Write Your Resume in Reverse-Chronological Order . 

For a Business Manager, hiring managers want to glance at your resume and get a sense of the following:

• The years you’ve worked in the business industry 
• The kind of businesses you’ve worked for
• Your accomplishments and successes
• Your ability to lead and create reachable goals for the company 

The best format for a Business Manager is the Reverse-Chronological resume format. This is because it shows the trajectory of your career -- how you’ve grown professionally and expanded your work experience and knowledge base. Check out our advice on How to Show Your Job Promotions on a Resume for more details. 

  2. Write a Strong Business Manager Resume Summary

Did you know that, on average, only 10% of job applications result in interview invites?

While this is certainly an optional section, including a resume summary is one of the best ways to land an interview

But first --- what is a resume summary?

A resume summary is one or two sentences at the top of your paper that summarizes your entire resume. It’s the punch line that gets the resume reviewer wanting to know more.

For a Business Manager career, include the following points in your summary

• The amount of time you’ve worked as a Business Manager
• Any outstanding accomplishments or awards (if you have many then include 1-2)
• An adjective or two conveying your personality, such as “organized,” “driven” or “passionate” 

Here is an example of a bad resume summary: 

Business Manager with experience improving business profitability and client retention.   

This is a bad resume summary because it is incredibly vague. How did you improve profitability and client retention, and by how much? And this summary gives no indication of who you are as a person. 

Here is an example of a good resume summary: 

13+ years of managerial experience in the food and beverage and toy industries. Proven to increase profitability by 25% through implementation of rewards programs and keen detailed budget analyses. Passionate about employees and customers alike, implementing diversity trainings for the former and spearheading engaging social media campaigns for the latter.  

This is a good resume summary because it quantifies your accomplishments (more on that later) and details all you’ve done. 

For more information, checkout our guide on How to Write a Killer Resume Summary . Or, browse our Resume Summary Examples . 

3. Describe Your Work Experience as a Business Manager

The next step to drafting your resume is to list your work experience. This includes the name of your position (See: The Right Way to List Job Titles on a Resume ), the name of the location at which you worked, and the length of time in which you worked. 

Your work experience should include the following:

• Company name
• Years worked
• Job description

Be sure to use strong action verbs in each of your bullet points. Here are a few to get you started:

• Accomplished
• Authorized 
• Documented 
• Established 
• Implemented 
• Negotiated 
• Prioritized 

Furthermore, write your resume experience in a way that anyone in your industry will understand. Don't use company-specific language.

For example, let’s say you worked at a place that called “cash flow” something like “the moolah.”  Not everyone is going to know what “moolah” means, so it’s best to stick with the common name of “cash flow” otherwise a hiring manager may not know what you’re talking about, and if the manager is confused, they’re more likely to throw out your resume and move onto the next.  

You should also quantify your resume whenever possible. This means adding a number -- such as a dollar amount or percentage -- to your accomplishments. Quantifying your resume gives the hiring manager a more concrete idea of your workplace performance. For example, say that you “supervised 14 employees,” “improved customer retention by 20% by implementing a new rewards system,” or “saved the business $30,000 by switching to a new, more streamlined POS software.”   

Tip : One way to quantify your resume is by listing your accomplishments and awards . These can be awards or accomplishments earned in your workplace (“Employee of the Year”) or given to you by your industry or a related organization. 

For more information on how to format your work experience, check out our guide on How to Describe Work Experience . 

Don’t have any work experience? We have a guide for Writing a Resume with No Work Experience !

4. List Your Skills

Skills show the hiring manager what you can do for the company -- without taking up too much space in the “work experience” part of your resume.

There are two types of skills -- soft and hard. “Soft” skills are those that are not quantifiable and are more indicative of your personality. Examples include leadership, problem-solving, and communication. In contrast, “hard” skills are those that are learned through formal education. Examples include computer technology, programming or foreign languages, and certifications.  

Business Managers need to have a solid set of both soft and hard skills. The soft skills will help you work with people, namely your employees and investors, while hard skills will help you manage the business and navigate the industry with its heavy competition.  

Here a few ideas of skills to include on your resume:

Relevant Soft Skills

• Communication
• Decision-Making Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Creativity 
• Time Management 

Relevant Hard Skills

• Knowledge of the latest business policies and regulations
• Analytical Thinking 
• Business Insight
• Performance management
• Project Management
• Business Knowledge
• Technical Leadership
• Technical Management
• D2C E-Commerce Solution
• Omnichannel Processes
• Customer Acquisition
• Social Media Branding
• Rapport Building

Tip: When completing this section on your resume, review the employers’ job requirements. Try to incorporate some of the language they use. For example, let’s say the job description states they need someone who can “conduct office meetings and come up with proactive strategies to improve productivity and employee morale.” Include some of these keywords by listing skills like “Leadership,” and “Communication.” 

If you want a more complete list of skills, read our guide on 100+ Key Skills for a Resume in 2021 with Examples for any Job.

5. Include an Education Section 

Business Managers need a Bachelor’s in business administration, business management, or another applicable major. Some positions may require that prospective managers have their MBA. Additionally, you will need 3-5 years of experience before you can be considered for this role. 

When writing your education section, be sure to include:

• The name of the school — e.g. “The University of Nebraska”
• The location of the school
• Your degree (associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree)
• Graduation year 
• Major field or department of study 
• Minor field or department of study (if applicable and relevant)
• GPA (If you're a student or graduates who held lower GPAs, this bit of information may be good to omit unless specifically requested by the employer)

Still uncertain on what to include in this section? Review our guide on How to List Education on Your Resume in 2021 . 

6. Mention Certifications Relevant to the Job

Certifications show employers that you’re expanding on your skills and diversifying your experiences. Not only are you more knowledgeable, but you’re also more employable. 

You can either get business certifications directly through your university or through online programs. 

Certification programs include:

• Google eCommerce Analytics
• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
• Certified Business Process Associate, Professional, or Leader (CBPA)
• Association of International Product Marketing and Management Brand Manager (AIPMM)  
• American Management Association Certificate in Analytical Skills

For more information on certifications, check out our guide on How to Include Certifications on Your Resume the Right Way.

7. Pick the Right Template

Now it’s time for the fun part -- picking the aesthetics of your resume! 

Here at EasyResume, we offer several different templates. 

• Academic : these resumes are professionally structured with minimal aesthetics in order to provide a clear and concise glimpse of your experiences. This is best for current students or those looking to pursue a career in an academic field as a researcher or teacher. 
• Creative : these resumes are bold and colorful with eye-catching fonts to help you stand out from the crowd. This is best for those in creative fields like marketing and art. 
• Elegant : these resumes are contemporary and stylish in a way that highlights you and your experiences. This is best for those in fields that prefer austerity, such as the healthcare and finance industries. 
• Modern : these resumes have sleek designs that are fresh and bold with tasteful fonts and clean lines. This is best for individuals applying to startups or to companies with a young audience or product.
• Professional : these resumes have a clean, crisp look that incorporates only one or two accent colors. The focus is solely on the text, pulling the recruiter into your experiences and accomplishments. This is best for individuals applying to straight-laced companies that mandate a suit-and-tie dress code.  

Your resume template should reflect the job to which you’re applying. For a Business Manager career, try a Professional or Modern format, as these will showcase your abilities and skills in an aesthetic yet polished way. 

If you want to create your own template, read how with our Step-by-Step Guide on How to Create a Resume Template in Microsoft Word . 

8. Takeaways

We’ve done it! Almost. 

Now it’s time to get down to business -- actually creating the resume. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

• Research the job description to locate keywords
• Use a Reverse-Chronological resume layout
• Write your resume summary, including the amount of time you’ve worked in the industry, an adjective or two conveying your personality, and any outstanding awards or accomplishments 
• Include your education and relevant certifications
• Write your experience section in a way that any outsider could understand. Talk more about the how and why of your responsibilities. Quantify your results.
• Pick a resume template that fits the position to which you’re applying.

Start from our resume example to save time.

Good luck with the interview that is sure to come your way!

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Business Development Manager Resume Example for 2024

Creating a resume is hard.

Creating a compelling resume that’s going to land you your dream business development manager job is even harder.

But worry not - in this guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to create a compelling business development manager resume!

Here’s what we’re going to cover:

• Job-Winning Business Development Resume Example
• Step-By-Step Guide on How to Create a Compelling Business Development Resume
• Formula for Listing Work Experience the Right Way

Let’s dive right in. 

Business Development Manager Resume Example

The above business development manager resume example does everything right, including:

• Picking the right resume format . The reverse-chronological resume format is the most popular format for recruiters worldwide, and as such, is always a safe choice.
• Listing the relevant contact information. The resume includes typical details like phone number and email, as well as a LinkedIn profile (optional, but relevant for a business development role).
• Capturing the recruiter’s attention with a compelling resume summary. The resume summary briefly describes the candidate’s work history and gives the recruiter a reason to dig deeper into the resume.
• Using bullet points to concisely convey information. The recruiter doesn’t have all day. Unless they can scan your resume in a matter of minutes, they’re simply going to skip over you as a candidate. By including bullets in your resume, the hiring manager can read your resume more easily.
• Keeping the education section minimalistic. Unless you’re a recent graduate, there’s no need to go too in-depth with your education section. Simply listing the degree, university, and dates attended is enough.
• Lists the right skills. The above business development manager resume example skips over general and irrelevant skills, focusing solely on the ones that are relevant for the role.
• Takes advantage of the optional resume sections. The resume example above includes “Honors” and “Certifications,” which help the applicant further stand out from the competition.

How to Write a Business Development Manager Resume - 8 Simple Steps

Inspired by the resume example above, but still not sure how to start your own business development manager resume?

We’ve got your back! Just follow these 8 steps and you’ll be good to go, starting with:

#1. Pick the Right Business Development Resume Format

As we previously mentioned, the best resume format for a business development manager is the reverse-chronological one , which looks like this:

While there are other formats out there (namely functional and combination ), they’re nowhere near as popular as the reverse-chronological one and are more likely to harm your chances of getting a job than anything else.

Once you pick the format, then you have to start working on your resume layout, which includes:

• Keeping your resume under 1 page. Unless you have 20+ years of work experience, most recruiters expect you to keep your resume under one page. Chances are if it’s more than a single page, you’re including information that’s not super relevant for your role. If Elon Musk can keep his resume under 1 page , so can you!
• Creating distinctive section headings to ensure that the different sections in your resume are easily identifiable.
• Picking the right font size and style. The norm is 11-12 pt for standard text and 13-14 pt for section headings. Pick a professional (but distinct) font like Ubuntu, Roboto or Overpass.
• Save your resume as a PDF (unless requested otherwise). 

Or Use a Tried-and-Tested Business Development Manager Resume Template

Let’s face it: as a business development manager, you have much better things to do than spend hours formatting your resume.

You have to pick the right font size, structure the resume layout, make sure the format works with applicant tracking systems , and so on…

Want to skip over all that AND create a well-designed, compelling resume in minutes?

Use one of our free resume templates !

All you have to do is hit the link above, pick a template, and you’ll be set with a job-winning resume in less than an hour.

And the best part? Our resume templates look much, much better than the conventional text-editor resumes :

#2. Add Your Contact Information (Avoid Typos!)

Once you’re done with your business development manager resume layout and formatting, it’s time to start filling in the contents…

And the first section you’ll have to tackle is contact information . This section consists of:

• Your name and surname.
• Your professional title.
• Your phone number.
• Your email.
• Your location (City, state, and country. No need for an address)

If LinkedIn is important to your role (e.g. if you use it to reach out to potential biz dev partners), you should also include your LinkedIn profile URL in the contact information section.

Here’s what a business development manager contact information section would look like on a resume:

Business Development Manager

123-123-1234

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/johndoe21

#3. Write an Eye-Catching Business Development Resume Summary

When a recruiter lays their eyes on your resume, you have around 6 seconds to convince them that you’re a relevant candidate and that they should read your resume more in-depth.

If you fail to do so, they’ll simply skip over to the next candidate.

So, how can you make sure that the recruiter sees value in your business development manager resume straight away?

The answer is simple: you need to create a compelling resume summary.

A resume summary is a short, 2-4 sentence “summary” of your work history. It gives the recruiter a snapshot of:

• Your role and years of experience
• Your 1-2 top achievements
• Your most important skill(s) as a business development manager

Simply by scanning this resume section , the recruiter can instantly tell that you’re a qualified candidate for the role.

Here’s what a convincing business development manager resume summary would look like:

Self-starting business development manager with 6+ years of experience seeking to help Company X enter the German market. Experience at Company Y includes finding, negotiating with, and establishing partnerships with software installation partners in Berlin. Over $500,000 in revenue was generated for Company Y through such partnerships in 2020.

#4. Create a Compelling Work Experience Section

Your work experience is the #1 most important selling point for you as a candidate.

After all, work experiences are what differentiate an A-player business development manager from the rest.

So - how can you create a work experience section that stands out ?

First, let’s start with the formatting. When listing your work history, do this:

• Start with your current or most recent role and go backward in time from there.
• Don’t list jobs you’ve worked 15+ years ago or jobs that aren’t too relevant for the role you’re applying for. E.g. the hiring manager doesn’t need to know that you used to work as a part-time shop assistant 8 years back.
• Begin each entry with your job title. Add the company name underneath that, the dates worked, and 3-5 of your top achievements or responsibilities in bullet points.

Simply listing your work experience, though, is not enough. Sure, it’s going to get your foot in the door, but it might not convince the recruiter to pick you over other business development manager candidates.

So, what can you do to take your resume one step further?

Here’s what we recommend:

• When possible, focus on achievements over responsibilities. The recruiter has seen dozens of resumes for your profession, they know what your responsibilities are. Focusing on achievements helps you stand out better from other candidates.
• When listing your achievements, quantity them. Instead of saying “Increased sales to a record high number,” say “Increased sales by 20% in 2021 by changing up the software demo process.” 
• The best way to quantify your achievements is to include the achievement (increased sales), the number (by 20%), timeframe (2021), and the actions you took (changing up the software demo process).

Sounds simple enough, right? Now let’s see what achievements look like on a convincing business development manager resume example:

Pear Inc.  

05/2016 - Current

• Helped drive over $500,000 in sales during my 2nd year at the company.
• Hired 3 other business development specialists that reported directly to me.
• Established SOPs and guidelines for partner outreach, sales negotiations, and more.

#5. List Your Education Concisely

As a business development manager, your educational background is not nearly as important as your work history.

That said, it’s still important that you get this right.

When working on your educational history, do this:

First things first - add a section header saying “Education.”

Then, add your latest degree first . List the degree title and major (B.A. in Business Administration), university name (Chicago University), and years attended (2012 - 2016).

If you have more than a single relevant degree, you can include both (E.g. Masters and B.A.). You can completely skip on your high school degree, though, if you have any sort of higher education.

Here’s what the education section would look like on a business development manager resume:

B.A. in Business Administration

Boston University, Boston, M.A.

08/2012 - 05/2016

#6. Include the Right Skills

On to the next section!

After education, you need to include a skills section in your business development manager resume.

The key here, though, isn’t to list every skill under the sun, Instead, you should specifically include the ones that are going to help you excel at the role you’re applying for.

At the end of the day, not every business development job is the same. One hiring manager, for example, might be looking for a biz dev manager with more marketing skills, while another might be seeking someone with good knowledge of sales.

So, the best thing you can do here is to scan the job ad and look for the essential skills the role requires, and plug them in your skills section (as long as you actually possess these skills, that is).

Now in case the job ad doesn’t mention a lot of skills, here are some that are essential for business development managers in 2024:

13 Essential Business Development Manager Skills

• Negotiation Skills
• Sales Skills
• Salesforce CRM
• Pipedrive CRM
• Google Analytics
• Customer Acquisition
• Digital Marketing
• Time Management
• Lead Generation
• Communication skills
• Active listening
• Interpersonal skills

#7. Got Some Space Left? Include Additional Sections

At this point, your resume should already be one-page long . If that’s the case, you can simply skip over to the next section.

If you still have some space, though, you can use some of these optional resume sections to add some more substance to your business development manager resume.

These sections aren’t going to win you the job on their own, but they can help convince the recruiter to pick you over a candidate with a similar skill-set and work experience.

Here are the optional resume sections for a business development manager:

• Certifications. Got a certification to prove your prowess with Salesforce CRM ? Or maybe you just have that fancy CBDM certification ? Any of these should go on your resume.
• Honors & Awards. Have you won any industry-related awards? Add them to your business development manager resume!
• Languages. Language skills come in handy in any client-facing role. You can use them to communicate with a prospect whose English is not as good or to simply build up a rapport.
• Hobbies & Interests. While they’re not going to win you the job on their own, hobbies can still have a space on your resume. Specifically, they help show the recruiter what you’re all about in your free time and can sometimes serve as common ground with your interviewer.

Here’s how these optional sections would look like in your business development manager resume:

Certifications 

• CBDM Certified Business Development Manager, June 2018.
• Salesforce Sales Consultant Certification, October 2016
• Spanish (Advanced)
• Italian (Intermediate) 
• Creative Writing

#8. Attach a Matching Cover Letter

Just like any other profession, business development managers are required to submit a cover letter alongside their resume within their application.

Here are some tips to ensure that your cover letter shines as bright as your resume:

• Start by addressing the cover letter by the recruiter’s name, last name, or professional title. Writing “Dear Sir or Madam” and “To Whom It May Concern” just means that you didn’t do much research on where you’re applying.
• Write an attention-grabbing introduction . Here, you mention your job title, years of experience, and 1-2 key achievements.
• The bulk of your cover letter should elaborate on your key achievements and skills. If you want to go the extra mile, you can include information on why you’re passionate about working for that exact company.
• Conclude your cover letter with a call to action.
• Finally, go through our guides to cover letter tips and mistakes to make sure that your cover letter is nothing short of perfect!

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap! 

By now, you should have all the information you need to create a compelling business development manager resume.

Before you go, let’s do a quick summary of our main learning points:

• Use the reverse-chronological resume format, as it’s the most popular one out there.
• In your work experience section, focus more on achievements instead of responsibilities.
• List essential business development manager skills like sales, lead generation, and more.
• If you have extra space on your resume, include some of the optional sections like hobbies, certifications, and others.
• Finally, work on your cover letter to make sure that it’s as good as your resume.

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How To Write A Resume In 7 Steps (With Examples)

• How To Write A Resume
• Resume Skills Section
• Resume Objective Section
• Career Objective Section
• Resume Reference Section
• Resume Summary Section
• Resume Summary Example
• Resume Interests Section
• Address On Resume
• Relevant Work Experience
• Anticipated Graduation Date On Resume
• Education Section On Resume
• Contact Information On Resume
• Statement Of Qualifications
• How To List Publications On Resume
• Accomplishments On Resumes
• Awards On Resume
• Dean's List On Resume
• Study Abroad On Resume

Resumes are still the most important document in your job search . Generating a professional and interesting resume isn’t easy, but there is a standard set of guidelines that you can follow. As hiring managers usually only spend a short time looking over each resume, you want to make sure that yours has a reason for them to keep reading.

If you’re looking to write a resume, rewrite a resume you already have, or are just curious about resume format, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will go through the steps to writing an excellent resume, as well as offering examples for what sections of the resume should look like.

Key Takeaways:

A resume is a short document that details your professional history in a way that tailors your experience and skill set for the particular job you’re applying for.

Resumes follow a few standard formatting practices, which hiring managers and recruiters expect to see.

Highlighting your work experience, skills, and educational background with relevant keywords can help you get past applicant tracking systems and into more interviews.

How to write a resume

Writing a resume involves using the proper formatting, writing an introduction, and adding your work experience and education. Stuffing your entire professional life into a single page resume can feel overwhelming, but remember that you’re distilling the relevant parts of your professional experience in order to catch the eye of the recruiter .

Formatting your resume. To start, use a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Google docs. Standard resume formatting calls for:

1 inch margins

10-12 point font

A professional, commonly-used font

Additionally, there are three resume formats that are commonly used. Most people should stick with a chronological resume format , but the combination resume format and functional resume format can be effective for more advanced workers or those who have significant gaps in their resume.

Write a resume header . It doesn’t matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can’t contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information:

Your full name. First and last.

Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly.

Your email address. Nothing inappropriate — [email protected] is a safe choice.

Location. City, State, Zip Code is fine, but you can include your full mailing address if you think it’s appropriate.

Your social media (optional). LinkedIn is the obvious one you’d want to include, but make sure your profile looks good. If you have an online portfolio , either on a personal blog/website or on a site like Journo Portfolio , feel free to include that here as well.

Your job title. Also optional, but can be useful for applicant tracking systems.

Resume introduction. You have four options for your resume introduction: a resume objective, summary statement, resume profile, or qualifications summary. For most job-seekers, a resume summary statement is the best choice. Regardless of which resume introduction you choose, avoid first-person pronouns (I/me/my).

Resume objective. A resume objective is the goal of your resume. Since the objective of every resume is to land a job, this is not the most original or impressive opener you can have.

On the other hand, it’s a good choice for an entry-level applicant or someone who is changing career paths . This should be a 1-3 sentence summary of why you’re motivated to get the position you’re applying for.

Who should use a resume objective: Entry-level applicants, career-changers, and recent college graduates.

Resume summary. This is the best opener for most job-seekers. As the name suggests, a resume summary highlights the most salient aspects of your resume.

It should include your current position, how many years of experience you have, some of your biggest achievements, and possibly your career goals. This should be a 1-3 sentence spiel and should include some quantifiable experiences.

Who should use a resume summary: Most job seekers; anyone with quantifiable accomplishments to emphasize and a broad range of skills.

Qualifications summary. A bullet point list (4-6 points is the sweet spot) of your qualifications for the position. It’s best used by applicants going for jobs that require a fixed skill set. It’s not a great choice for entry-level applicants who lack quantifiable achievements.

You’ll notice that a qualifications summary takes up more space than a resume objective or summary, but it can actually save the hiring manager time if you provide a bunch of valuable information right off the top.

Who should use a qualifications summary: Those applying to a job with requirements for certain skills and job-seekers who have a lot of experience in their industry and/or field.

Resume profile. A resume profile is similar to a resume summary, but goes into more detail about your accomplishments at your current or former job, while also telling the reader about your career goals. Think of a resume profile as a section that pulls all the best parts of your work experience section into one place.

Who should use a resume profile: Anyone with significant accomplishments under their belt, expertise in a niche field, or applying to a job in the same industry that they have lots of experience in.

Resume headline. Resume headlines aren’t necessary, but you can include one alongside any of the four types of resume introduction listed above. A resume headline comes between your contact information and the resume introduction of your choice.

Headlines can be used by entry-level applicants and experienced job-seekers alike. The important point is that your headline should be short and to the point. Additionally, you should use title case when writing your resume headline (capitalize words as you would for a book title).

Who should use a resume headline: Any job-seeker who wants to showcase their experience or unique value right off the bat.

Work experience. Your work experience section is the place to let hiring managers know that you have relevant experience that would allow you to handle the job you’re applying for.

If you’re using the chronological resume format, your work experience section would come after your resume summary/objective. In a funcitonal reumse, it would follow your skills section. Either way, work experience should be listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent experience at the top).

When listing your work experience, you should include all of the following information:

Job title. Start by stating the position you held at the company. These are easy cue for the hiring manager to look at and determine whether your past positions would help you succeed at their company.

Company Info. Include the name of the employer, the location where you worked, and perhaps a brief description of the company, if it isn’t a well-known name.

Dates Employed: Use the mm/yyyy format if you want to be sure that most applicant tracking systems (ATS) will pick it up. Whatever format you use for dates, be consistent, or your resume will look sloppy.

Job Description. Don’t just list your job’s responsibilities; hiring managers and recruiters already have an idea of your duties based on the job title. Instead, list your most important and impressive responsibilities/achievements at the job with bullet points. Determine which of these are most relevant for your new role based on the job description.

Ideally, each bullet should be no longer than a single line. However, two lines is acceptable, if used sparingly.

Always start with a strong action verb, followed by a quantifiable achievement and a specific duty. For example: “Developed ad campaigns for clients, increasing sales by an average of 27%.” Each job title should include 3-5 bullet points.

The order that you include this information can be changed around, as long as you are consistent throughout your resume. However, the bullet points detailing your job’s achievements should always be the last item for each entry.

It’s important that you tailor your resume’s work experience section to the job you’re applying for. We recommend reading the job description carefully and highlighting the action verbs in one color and the skills, adjectives, and job-specific nouns in a different color.

Educational background. In almost all cases, your education section should come after your professional history. If you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, you may choose to put your educational achievements first.

Like the section on your professional history, educational experiences should come in reverse-chronological order, with your highest level of education at the top. If you have a college degree, you don’t need to add any information about your high school experience. If you didn’t finish college, it’s okay to give a list of what credits you did complete.

Each educational experience can be listed in the following format:

Degree/Program Name College/University Name Dates attended

You don’t need to add anything else, especially if your resume is already impressive enough. But if you’re struggling to fill up the page, or you feel that aspects of your educational experience will help make you a standout, you may consider also including:

Minor. If you think it rounds out your not-exactly-relevant-to-the-job major nicely.

GPA. Only if it was 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, it’s not going to do you any favors to include this.

Honors. Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc.

Achievements. If you wrote a killer thesis/dissertation that showcases intimate knowledge relevant to the job to which you’re applying, you can include its title and a very brief description.

Extracurricular activities. Only include if they’re relevant. For example, if you’re applying for a management position and you were president of your student government.

Certifications/Licenses. If the job you’re applying for requires/likes to see certain certifications or licenses that you have, you may include them in this section as well.

Skills section. Your impressive skills should be scattered logistically throughout your professional history section, but you should also include a section solely dedicated to highlighting your skill set . Skills can be broken down into two categories:

Hard skills are skills you learn through training and indicate expertise with a technical ability or job-specific responsibility.

Soft skills are your personality traits, interpersonal abilities, and intangible qualities that make you more effective at your job.

Your resume should have a healthy mix of hard and soft skills, as both are essential to job performance. However, since soft skills are harder to prove in the context of a resume, we recommend leaning more toward hard skills. Additionally, whenever you list a soft skill, make sure that it has a correlating item in your work experience section.

For example, if you say you are skilled in collaboration, you should mention a time when a team project was a major success somewhere in your work experience section.

Optional sections. If you still have space left or there’s more you want to show off that doesn’t quite fit in any of the above sections, you may consider adding an additional section covering one or more of the below categories:

Language . Being bilingual is always impressive, and can be included on a resume for any company. Highlight this more if your position involves liaising with international distributors and/or clients. Don’t lie about your proficiency level.

It may be best to not mention it if you’re not particularly proficient speaker . Such as if you took courses in school, or haven’t really managed to gain fluency. It can end up looking like an attempt to inflate your credentials, which you want to avoid.

Volunteer experience . Always a good thing to include. It shows you’re a team player who behaves in a way that promotes the greater good, without thought of personal gain. Especially good for entry-level candidates and those applying for jobs at a non-profit. If you have gaps in your work history, you can also consider including volunteer experiences in your work history section instead.

Personal projects. A personal blog, published works, or a portfolio of your past projects are all good things to include. They show you take initiative, enjoy and take pride in your work, and that you can handle the responsibilities of the job, if relevant.

Certifications/licenses. If you didn’t include these in your education section, this is another good place to list relevant certifications or licenses that you have.

Interests . This is largely just a space filler if your resume is light in other areas. However, if your hobbies are directly related to the job that you’re applying for, it’s not a bad idea to include them. And it might draw a recruiter’s attention if you end up sharing some of the same interests as they do.

If you have several seemingly random items that are valuable, but don’t warrant creating a whole separate section for, you can also make a section called “Additional Experience.” Here you can include all of the above categories in one place. Just make sure that each item is clear and easy for readers to understand.

Resume samples

Now that we have a good idea of how to write a resume, let’s take a look at some example resumes:

Jack Pilgrim Washington , DC 14015 – (555) 444-3333 – [email protected] – www.linkedin.com/jpilgrim Resume Summary Graphic designer with 3+ years of experience creating and implementing promotional materials and social media graphics. Worked with sales and marketing teams to increase inbound calls by 23% YoY through compelling digital media. Adept at planning, managing, and prioritizing multiple deadlines at once, and thrives in fast-paced work environment. Work Experience Creative Designs | Washington, DC Lead Graphic Designer | June 2018-Present Worked with sales and marketing teams to create landing pages, sales proposals, and supporting media elements to drive sales by over $250,000 per quarter Trained, managed, and mentored team of 4 junior designers to fulfill 40+ project orders on a weekly basis Conducted UX research through surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to plan content marketing strategy, driving organic search traffic by 12% Presented proposals, results, and status updates to set of 4-7 clients, ensuring customer satisfaction at or above 95% for 3 years straight Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Junior Graphic Designer | July 2016-May 2018 Translated client needs and branding strategies into design and content strategy, increasing client retention by 22% Reduced project turnaround time by 8% by Utilizing web-based ticket system for completing and archiving finalized pieces Posted digital artwork to network IPTV using web interface to produce high-end info-graphics and other materials Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Marketing Intern | September 2015-July 2016 Assisted marketing team with data collection, analysis, and presentation using Google Analytics Drew up storyboards for new marketing campaigns alongside sales team, increasing brand awareness through social media Wrote 500-1000 word articles to pair with graphical elements on page, leading to a 40% boost in engagement on company website Education Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia May 2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Skills Adobe Creative Suite Typography HTML/CSS WordPress Collaboration Organization

Allison Neederly Chicago, Illinois , 60007 | (333) 222-1111 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/allison.neederly Resume Summary Dedicated customer service representative with 4+ years experience resolving customers’ needs in-person, online, and over the phone. Top achiever at XYZ Inc. with a 100% customer satisfaction rate for Q1 of 2020. Friendly personable, and knowledgable about company’s products and services. Relevant Skills Customer Service Responded to upwards of 200 customer queries daily with XYZ Inc., reducing the average wait time by 56% and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 13% Ability to resolve conflict and create a positive atmosphere for shopping for both new and existing customers through technical proficiency Expert product knowledge and communication skills, and experience training and mentoring new customer service staff Web Chat and Phone Skilled in 3 web chat platforms for helping online customers resolve their queries quickly and accurately Achieved fastest call resolution rate at XYZ Inc., with an average resolution time of under 5 minutes per customer Performed outbound calls for customer satisfaction surveys, as well as writing web-based surveys for 10,000+ customers Troubleshooting Detailed product knowledge allowed for customer technical issues to be resolved at rate within top 5% of all customer service associates at XYZ Inc. Created manual for step-by-step directions for troubleshooting that was implemented for team of 100+ customer service reps Positive attitude took average tech-related negative response from 1/5 stars to 4/5 stars, increasing trust in brands and services Work Experience XYZ Inc. | Philadelphia, PA Customer Service Associate New Look Global | Burlington, VT Junior Customer Service Representative L.L. Bean | Burlington, VT Sales Associate Education University of Vermont | Burlington, VT May 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Priya Laghari New York, NY | (222) 111-0000 | [email protected] | www.priyabizdev.com Resume Profile Strategy Development: Grew John Deere’s international sales by 13% by tapping into undeserved countries in Southeast Asia Management: Oversaw a team of managers representing marketing, sales, and product teams. Streamlined collaborative, cross-functional communications through agile and scrum management system CRM: Developed, customized, and implemented new customer relationship management database for accounts totaling over $10M in value Work Experience Business Development Manager 01/2015-Present Microsoft | Redmond, WA Developed product strategies and roadmap for Google AdWords, increasing inbound traffic by 26% YoY Reduced time training on new software by 50% for new and existing employees by implement e-learning programs Spearheaded digital marketing campaign worth $1M that saw a return of 200% in first year by qualifying leads earlier in the sales funnel Regional Sales Manager 11/2012-01/2015 Big Things Inc. | St. Louis, MO Managed territory encompassing 29 regional locations with an annual revenue of approx. $55M Worked with C-level executives to plan business strategies, resulting in 20% reduction in overhead costs Increased client retention by 12% in first year by implementing a CRM approach based on account profiling and elevating levels of relationship selling Account Manager 02/2009-11/2012 Solutions Corp. | Chicago, IL Implemented and developed CRM strategic plans, increasing retention of long-term clients by 22% Maintained 50+ accounts totaling over $35M in value Generated leads through one-on-one consultation via phone inquiries, online check-ins, and meeting office walk-ins Relevant Skills CRM: Proficient with Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot; some experience with Keap. Used various CRM software over a decade to successfully manage customer relations and quick to adapt to new software and tools that aid in quality of customer experience. Salesmanship: Negotiated and closed over several deals worth $1M+ and skilled in upselling and cross-selling. Adept at working closely with marketing and product teams to maximize the efficiency of the sales funnel for both inbound and outbound traffic. Presentation: Represented Microsoft Northwest Region at quarterly board meetings, ensuring all stakeholders were kept abreast of new developments and opportunities. Also deliver monthly presentations to big clients and vendors to maintain positive relationship. Data analytics. Expert at integrating data from various analytics platforms, including Google, Microsoft Power BI, and SAP BusinessObjects Education Colgate University | May 2008 MBA Fordham University | May 2006 Bachelor’s Degree in Business

For more resume examples and templates:

Resume examples by job

Google docs resume template

Resume templates

Resume builder

Resume Headers Samples:

Tip : Never put your contact info in the header of your document; some applicant tracking systems might miss it.

For more on how to write a resume header:

Resume Header

Resume Titles

Resume introduction examples

Entry-Level Resume Objective.

Recent graduate with a bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Virginia seeking an entry-level role in content marketing. Excellent copywriter with 2+ years experience editing content as a member of the UVa Writing Center.

Career Change Resume Objective.

Eager to apply 7+ years of experience with customer success management to make successful outbound B2B calls, deliver customized business solutions to new and existing customers, and provide expert product knowledge in the role of Account Manager for XYZ Inc.

Example Resume Summary Statement.

Accountant with over 8 years of experience in the medical industry. Adept at advising on management of cash deficits, reconciling departmental accounts, and creating new accounts and codes. Coordinated invoice preparation system for ABC that reduced contractor overhead by 19% YoY.

English teacher with a love of language and 6 years of experience teaching high school students. Developed new curriculum that boosted freshman reading comprehension scores by 12% and created after school book club for AP Lit class, resulting in 100% of participating students achieving a 5 on the AP Lit test.

Example Qualifications Summary.

Executive assistant with 5+ years experience helping maintain efficiency in an office of 25 employees Communicated directly with internal and external stakeholders, helping Senior Vice President manage projects worth $5M+ Proactively managed office schedules, identifying and prioritizing changes to ensure client satisfaction Recognized in a company of 500 for “Outstanding Achiever” in May 2019

Example Resume Profile.

Detail-oriented IT Specialist with 4 years of experience overseeing and improving the infrastructure of IT systems. Adept at building and running troubleshooting systems and testing services. Decreased security risk by 47% through continual optimization, while also improving the speed of client portal by 22%. Excellent communicator both internally and for client-facing discussions. Achieved 98%+ customer satisfaction ratings through weekly and monthly check-ins with accounts valued cumulatively at $500,000.

Entry-Level Resume Headline.

Bilingual College Graduate with 80 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

Experienced Resume Headline.

Business Development Specialist with 6+ Years Experience Scaling Start-Up Tech Teams

For more on resume introductions:

Resume objective statement

Resume summary statement

Resume summary statement examples

Qualifications summary

Sample resume work experience sections

Work Experience XYZ Industries | Seattle, WA Marketing Associate | May 2019-Present Delivered weekly presentations to client-base to communicate brand messaging, increasing client retention by 11% Served as liaison between marketing and product teams, resulting in projects finishing 2 weeks early, on average Leveraged Excel skills to create and maintain spreadsheet to track consumer insights, emergent trends, and inform decisions of marketing team through competitive analysis Managed team of 5 contractors to juggle multiple priority projects simultaneously, never missing a deadline Initiated an affiliate referral program that PR team went on to turn into a revenue-generating stream valued at $30,000 annually ABC Corp | Seattle, WA Marketing Intern | September 2018-May 2019 Developed, maintained, and processed 20+ digital consent forms and distributor forms Worked collaboratively with a team of 10 marketing professionals, closely aligning our goals with the PR team Provided data analysis using Google Analytics and performed keyword research to increase blog traffic by 56% over six months Answered up to 50 customer queries by phone and email each week

For more on building the perfect resume work experience section:

Resume work experience section

First resume (no experience)

Examples Of Education Resume Sections

Graduated recently from a 4-year program.

Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois May 2020 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | Minor in Psychology 3.95 GPA magna cum laude Dean’s List all semesters

Two degrees.

Fordham University | Bronx, New York April 2016 Master of Chemical Engineering Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York April 2014 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Anticipated graduation date (not yet graduated).

DePaul Univeristy | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Arts in History – Degree anticipated May 2021 Current GPA: 3.8

Older job seeker (graduated 10+ years ago).

University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Business Administration

High school graduate (no college degree).

Johnston High School 2016-2020 Head of Computer Club

More on crafting the perfect resume education section:

Education resume section

GPA on resume

Dean’s list

Magna cum laude

Examples Of Skills For Resume

Examples of hard skills include:

Examples of soft skills include:

Here’s more information on how to incorporate skills into your resume:

Resume skills section

Hard skills

Soft skills

Top skills for professionals

Skills-based resume

Resume writing FAQ

What is a resume?

A resume is a one to two-page document that focuses on professional experience, past achievements, education and certifications, and specific skills tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Almost every job application requires a resume, and hiring managers use them as a first impression in determining which applicants get a shot at an interview.

Whether you’re fresh out of college or have 30 years of professional experience, this guide should help craft a resume that stands out from the crowd and get you one step closer to landing your dream job.

What is the format for writing a good resume?

Most people will want to use a chronological or reverse-chronological resume format. This format is compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and is easy for employers to read. Additionally it helps highlight your experience, which helps prove your qualifications.

How far back should a resume go?

A resume should go back no further than 10 to 15 years. However, it is important that all your information is relevant. Therefore, do not include job experience that is irrelevant to your application, even if it’s fewer than 10 years old. Save that information for later discussions.

Should you personalize your resume for each job?

Yes, you should personalize your resume for each job you apply to. Many recruiters use ATS now, which will search for keywords in a resume and reject those that don’t have them. That means that the skills you choose to highlight as well as your opening, such as your resume summary, should be altered to suit each job you apply to.

You don’t need to rewrite the entire resume for each job, but it does show attention to detail and initiative to make sure that your resume is customized. It also makes it more likely that you’ll get past the first step of the process.

State of New York Department of Labor – Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Applications

Harvard University – Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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