A Complete Guide to Writing a Project Manager Resume [2024]
Project managers are responsible for juggling the different aspects of a project, ensuring there's a coherent end-product. It's a bit like writing a resume! Unlike project management, however, there are no deadlines, budgets, or strategic planning. In your project management resume, you want to distil your experience into a single page of A4.
Sounds challenging, right?
But how do you sell yourself without sounding generic? Okay. So, you're a pro at planning, leading a time, writing budgets, and fixing problems on the fly. Translating all your talents, experience, and education onto the page seems impossible. It doesn't have to be with the right guidance.
In this guide:
⟩ Sections of a Project Manager Resume
⟩ Step-by-Step Project Manager Resuming Writing Guide
Sections of a Project Manager Resume
Perhaps the biggest question about writing a resume is what to include and what to leave out. With a set limit of a page, you're forced to make some hard choices. Some people – especially those with over a decade in an industry – may choose to cover 1 ½ pages. However, it can annoy some employers who are already struggling under the dozens or hundreds of resumes they've received.
As a rule, it's sensible to follow the standard format, including the relevant sections. At a minimum, your project manager resume should include:
Contact Information: Full name, professional email, phone number, and LinkedIn profile; easy to find and up-to-date.
Professional Summary or Objective: In this brief introduction, state your career goals, project management experience, key skills, and any other headline items you want to showcase. If you've got a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget, mention it here.
Skills: Well-curated list including project scheduling, risk management, agile methodologies, stakeholder communication, and proficiency in tools like MS Project and Jira. You can also include a soft skills list – as these are particularly relevant to project management. Some people may choose to leave soft skills to the interview.
Professional Experience: Dynamic descriptions of past roles, emphasizing leadership in cross-functional teams, successful project outcomes, and quantifiable achievements (e.g., "Led a team of 10 in a project that resulted in a 30% increase in efficiency").
Education: Details of relevant degrees (e.g., Bachelor's in Project Management), certifications (e.g., PMP, Agile Certified Practitioner), and dates of completion.
Certifications and Licenses: Separate section for professional certifications that add credibility and expertise, such as PMP, Six Sigma, or ScrumMaster.
In addition to these core sections, you might choose to mention any awards and recognition you've received. Anything recognising your specific contributions to project success and professional excellence should be highlighted, as they can help you stand out from the crowd. Adding a line to your professional summary about any awards is also sensible.
Other sections could include professional development, e.g., workshops and seminars attended or ongoing learning initiatives and volunteer experience. If you're relatively new to the field, these can help pad out your resume. They demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and community engagement, informing the employer about what kind of person you are.
Step-by-Step Project Manager Resuming Writing Guide
Start your resume with a rough draft. Don't worry about achieving perfection on your first attempt. After you've written your initial draft, you can revise, refine, and edit.
Throughout your resume, sprinkle specific keywords related to your industry. Employers often screen resumes for these keywords to filter out the worst-quality or least-relevant pieces. So, if you want someone to actually read it, it's sensible to add a few keywords – especially in the skills section. (More on this below.)
Below, we've covered every step in writing a successful project manager resume. Let's get started:
1. Choose the Right Format
Wait, isn't there one format for a resume? It's a common misconception. While the most common option is the reverse-chronological format, other options do exist. Usually, the resume begins with the most important information at the top, e.g., your contact information and professional summary. Recruiters tend to scan through resumes first. So, it helps to keep this information where it's expected.
Reverse chronological order means starting with your latest experience and working backwards. You should include plenty of details about your most recent position, becoming more simplistic as you go further back. After all, nobody wants to read about your paper round at 15.
Other options include:
Combination Resume: Blends chronological and functional formats to spotlight skills alongside work history. Optimal for those with diverse skills or changing industries.
Functional Resume: Emphasises skills and experiences over chronological job history. Ideal for those with employment gaps, career transitions, or specialized skill sets.
2. Add Your Contact Information
You've decided on your basic format. Now, it's time to start filling in the details. Your contact information should be featured as the headline item. Add your first and last name in large lettering with your current position listed beneath it.
Alongside your name and position, include:
Your phone number
Your email address
Your location (city and region)
Relevant social media handles, e.g., LinkedIn (optional)
Here's a fictional contact information section for a project manager's resume:
Example:
Jordan S. Mitchell
Project Manager | PMP Certified
(555) 123-4567
Austin, Texas
linkedin.com/in/jordan-s-mitchell
Don't overthink it. It's as simple as it sounds. Just make sure all the details are correct – project managers should have an eye for detail.
3. Write Your Project Manager Resume Summary
The next step is the hardest. Listing your qualifications or professional experience is one thing. Turning this information into a punchy, job-securing paragraph or two requires a masterful bit of copywriting.
Your resume summary provides recruiters with a snapshot of your professional background. It's not an essay. In fact, recruiters will spend an average of seven seconds or less reading a resume – much of that is spent on the summary.
Include your title and years of experience, your career goals, your biggest professional achievements, and any other skills you want to showcase.
Resume Summary Example:
Seasoned Project Manager with 10 years of experience, specializing in construction and infrastructure projects. Proven track record of completing projects 25% ahead of schedule and under budget, while managing budgets exceeding $5 million. Skilled in stakeholder engagement and known for enhancing operational workflows, resulting in a 40% increase in team productivity.
Alternatively, you might consider either a resume headline or resume objectives. Usually, candidates will include these variations for specific reasons. For example, resume headlines get straight to the point with a punchy line highlighting your value. On the other hand, resume objectives are excellent if you're applying for your first project manager position. Tell your prospective employer what you want to achieve – it's a brilliant way to demonstrate your passion.
4. Showcase Your Work Experience
Your work experience will form the biggest section in your project manager resume. Starting with your current (or most recent) position, work backward. People with several previous jobs or decades of industry experience have the challenge of condensing their work history.
In this case, only provide details on the most recent 2-3 roles, reducing the rest to a single line. And ignore any roles that aren't relevant to the job or industry you're applying for unless you lack other examples.
Here's how to format each role:
Job Title: Clearly state your role to give recruiters an immediate understanding of your position in previous workplaces.
Company Name and Location: Include these details, adding a brief description of the company if it's not widely recognized.
Employment Dates: Display your tenure at each company using the MM/YYYY format to show the duration of your employment.
Achievements and Responsibilities: List your key accomplishments and duties. Aim for 5-6 bullet points for recent roles and 2-3 for earlier positions.
When you're listing your accomplishments, be specific. Use action verbs at the start of each bullet point, e.g., completed, achieved, spearheaded, and quantify your achievements, e.g., delivered projects up to 15% under budget.
Remember, your work experience and professional achievements are what separate you from everyone else. While the section shouldn't be written as a boast, don't be shy about what you can bring to the role.
Here's an example of how to write out a position for your project manager resume:
Work Experience Section Example:
Senior Project Manager
TechSolutions Inc., Seattle, WA
March 2016 – July 2022
Spearheaded a portfolio of technology projects with a total budget of $10 million, achieving a 95% on-time completion rate.
Led cross-functional teams of up to 30 members, enhancing collaboration and driving a 40% increase in overall project efficiency.
Implemented Agile methodologies, resulting in a 50% improvement in project delivery timelines and a 30% reduction in costs.
5. List Your Educational Background
Most project manager positions will expect a degree in either project management, business administration, or a related field. Usually, the more experience you have, the less important your educational background is. Nevertheless, it's a key part of any project manager's resume.
Follow this format:
Degree Name
University, college, or other institution
Location (optional)
Years Attended
Avoid listing every educational achievement you've earned. Mention your degree and any other postgraduate qualifications. You may also include details of specific modules, projects, or extracurricular activities you think are essential.
If you don't have a degree, you can still apply to be a project manager. You should list your high school education in this section. New applicants or recent graduates may choose to put the educational background section ahead of their work experience, as this is the most relevant information.
Here's an example of the education section:
Example Education Section:
Master of Science in Project Management
University of Excellence - San Francisco, CA
May 2022
Specialized in Agile Project Management and Strategic Resource Allocation
Capstone Project: Developed a comprehensive project plan for a technology startup, increasing project delivery efficiency by 30%.
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
Innovative College - Seattle, WA
May 2018
Major in Management, Minor in Information Systems
President of the Business Strategy Club, led a team of 20 students in national competitions.
6. Highlight Your Key Skills
The skills section is typically just a list of keywords you think represent your professional qualities. There are two types of skills:
Hard skills are precise, learnable capabilities that can be clearly measured, including talents like programming, mathematics, or proficiency in using software applications.
Soft skills, on the other hand, are more intangible and difficult to measure, involving personal traits and interpersonal abilities such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Most people focus on hard skills in their project manager resume. As mentioned, companies screen CVs for mention of these skills. If you choose to mention soft skills, do so separately.
Not sure where to begin? Review your past experiences, from your educational background to your employment history. Consider the qualities you demonstrated and the techniques or software you mastered.
Here are some skills to consider:
Hard Skills:
1. Scheduling
2. Budgeting
3. Risk management
4. Quality control
5. Agile methodologies
6. Scrum management
7. Process improvement
8. Task delegation
9. Performance metrics
10. Contract negotiation
11. Resource allocation
12. MS Project
13. Data analysis
14. Change management
15. Compliance monitoring
Soft Skills:
1. Leadership
2. Communication
3. Team collaboration
4. Adaptability
5. Problem-solving
6. Decision-making
7. Conflict resolution
8. Empathy
9. Listening
10. Motivation
11. Patience
12. Creativity
13. Persuasion
14. Time management
15. Stress management
7. Additional Sections
Most candidates won't require any further sections than those listed above. However, there are a few additional aspects some people may wish to mention.
Project management certificates are the most obvious factor—especially if you don't have a degree. In fact, certified project managers earn up to 16% more on average. Citing a certificate usually involves the name of the certificate, the name of the agency, and the year of obtainment.
Alongside certificates, if you've got space, you could add any of the following:
Membership in professional associations or organizations, including your specific role within them.
Publications you've authored or contributed to, including studies and interviews.
Participation in conferences, particularly those related to project management or your industry.
Recognition and awards received in connection with project management.
Proficiency in multiple languages, which is especially beneficial if you are seeking a position at an international company.
Key Takeaways
Remember, it's a balancing act. Only include features that will help you secure the position. Keep your project manager resume concise and easy to read. Any recruiters should be able to read your resume and understand your professional history in under a minute or so.
Include essential sections like contact info, professional summary, skills, experience, education, and certifications to organize your resume effectively.
Highlight critical project management skills and quantify achievements to demonstrate your effectiveness and impact in previous roles.
Use targeted keywords and tailor your resume to meet the specific requirements of the job listing, ensuring it resonates with employer needs and ATS systems.