As a business operations manager, you may grapple with the challenge of concisely showcasing your extensive experience in process optimization and team leadership on your resume. Our guide offers targeted strategies to help you distill your vast expertise into a compelling narrative, ensuring your most impactful achievements take center stage.
- Find different business operations manager resume examples to serve as inspiration to your professional presentation.
- How to use the summary or objective to highlight your career achievements.
- How to create the experience section to tell your story.
- Must have certificates and what to include in the education section of your resume.
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The importance of format and layout in your business operations manager resume
Consider you're an HR professional at company X, evaluating two business operations manager candidate resumes. John Smith presents a simple, traditional, and easy-to-read resume. Edward Price, however, uses a non-conventional, often illegible format. Whose resume would you spend more time on to understand their experience? This scenario underscores the importance of your business operations manager resume’s design. It should be simply formatted and clearly communicate why you are the ideal candidate for the role.
Achieve this balance by:
- Listing your experience, beginning with the most recent and relevant, in reverse chronological order;
- Ensuring your header contains essential information, such as contact details, a headline, and a portfolio link. Include a professional photo in the business operations manager resume header if you have one;
- Including only the most important and relevant resume sections to showcase your expertise and stand out from other candidates;
- Editing your business operations manager resume to be no longer than two pages if you have extensive relevant experience. Use your limited resume space judiciously.
Also, remember that your business operations manager resume might initially be scanned by an Applicant Tracker System (ATS).
When it comes to ATS:
- Opt for simple and legible fonts like Raleway, Rubik, Lato, etc., making your experience easy for the ATS to scan;
- Use serif and sans-serif fonts, both of which are ATS-friendly;
- Avoid overused options like Arial and Times New Roman, which, while suitable, may lack personality.
Contrary to a common myth, our recent study shows that the ATS can effectively process both one-column and two-column resumes. Learn more about this in the ATS myths guide.
Finally, when submitting your business operations manager resume, always export it as a PDF to ensure all information remains intact, making the document easier to print, read, and scan.
The layout of a resume can differ by region – Canadian resumes may use a distinct format.
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Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.
Don't forget to include these six sections on your business operations manager resume:
- Header and summary for your contact details and to highlight your alignment with the business operations manager job you're applying for
- Experience section to get into specific technologies you're apt at using and personal skills to deliver successful results
- Skills section to further highlight how your profile matches the job requirements
- Education section to provide your academic background
- Achievements to mention any career highlights that may be impressive, or that you might have missed so far in other resume sections
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven experience in operational strategy development and implementation
- Strong project management skills with a history of successful project completion
- Demonstrated ability to improve processes, streamline operations, and drive efficiency
- Expertise in budget management and cost reduction strategies
- Leadership and team management experience, with examples of motivating and guiding teams
Advice for your business operations manager resume experience section - setting your application apart from other candidates
Your resume experience section needs to balance your tangible workplace achievements with job requirements.
The easiest way to sustain this balance between meeting candidate expectations, while standing out, is to:
- Select really impressive career highlights to detail under each experience and support those with your skills;
- Assess the job advert to define both the basic requirements (which you could answer with more junior roles) and the more advanced requirements - which could play a more prominent role through your experience section;
- Create a separate experience section, if you decide on listing irrelevant experience items. Always curate those via the people or technical skills you've attained that match the current job you're applying for;
- Don't list experience items from a decade ago - as they may no longer be relevant to the industry. That is, unless you're applying for a more senior role: where experience would go to demonstrate your character and ambitions;
- Define how your role has helped make the team, department, or company better. Support this with your skill set and the initial challenge you were able to solve.
Take a look at how real-life business operations manager professionals have presented their resume experience section - always aiming to demonstrate their success.
- Oversaw the implementation of a new CRM system, enhancing customer data analysis and improving sales tracking by 25%.
- Led a cross-departmental team to streamline operational processes, reducing overhead costs by 18% annually without sacrificing service quality.
- Initiated a company-wide waste reduction program that cut down material costs by $500,000 in the first year and increased sustainability metrics.
- Developed and executed a business expansion strategy that increased market share by 10% in the software industry.
- Negotiated with vendors to secure more favorable terms, resulting in an annual saving of $200,000.
- Managed a budget of $4 million, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to achieve strategic company goals.
- Launched a productivity improvement project which boosted team efficiency by 30% through better resource management and training.
- Collaborated with IT to enhance data security measures, mitigating risk and achieving a 99.9% system up-time.
- Spearheaded a customer service improvement initiative that raised customer satisfaction scores by 20% within one fiscal year.
- Coordinated with international teams to manage supply chain logistics, reducing delivery times by 15% despite challenging market conditions.
- Implemented an employee development program that reduced turnover by 22% and fostered a culture of continuous improvement.
- Piloted a digital transformation initiative that automated key operations, leading to a productivity increase of 35% in core business processes.
- Revamped company-wide inventory management system, which decreased stock shortages and overages by 40%.
- Drove a collaborative project with marketing and sales teams to align operational efforts, which elevated lead conversion rates by 18%.
- Managed and optimized IT expenditures, cutting technology costs by $300,000 annually while maintaining operational efficiency.
- Championed the development of an operational risk management framework that reduced downtime incidents by 25%.
- Directed the successful merger integration of acquired entities, ensuring a seamless transition with a 98% retention rate of key personnel.
- Authored the operational playbook outlining key procedures and protocols boosting cross-departmental adherence and operational compliance by 85%.
- Co-authored a comprehensive report on operational efficiency leading to a corporate-wide restructuring that saved $750,000 annually.
- Optimized vendor management processes, enhancing delivery schedules and improving inventory turnover by 30%.
- Developed KPI metrics that directly correlated with business performance, with a resulting increase in departmental accountability and performance tracking.
- Spearheaded an inter-departmental initiative to leverage big data analytics, improving decision-making and boosting quarterly revenues by 12%.
- Rolled out an employee productivity tracking system that resulted in an average 15% increase in individual performance metrics.
- Cultivated partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance the supply chain network, reducing logistical costs by 20%.
- Facilitated the transition to a lean manufacturing model, which uplifted production efficiency by 40% as well as streamlining operational costs.
- Oversaw market analysis and competitive intelligence activities to inform the executive team's strategic decisions.
- Implemented an enterprise-wide cost control system that shrank operational expenses by 17%, while maintaining all critical functions.
- Redesigned the internal reporting structure to improve transparency and communication between operations and executive leadership, resulting in enhanced strategic alignment.
- Managed the rollout of an agile framework across the business operations department, leading to a 22% faster project turnaround time.
- Brokered a company-first technology partnership that integrated AI-driven analytics into the operational workflow, enhancing predictive maintenance capabilities.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Specify the total budget you have managed and demonstrate your ability to handle significant financial responsibilities.
- Include the percentage by which you reduced operational costs through efficiency improvements, showcasing your cost-saving abilities.
- Detail the number of projects you've led simultaneously, reflecting your multitasking and project management skills.
- Mention the size of the teams you've supervised to highlight your leadership and team management experience.
- Report on the revenue growth attributed to operations optimizations under your management to emphasize your contribution to profitability.
- Quantify the improvement in customer satisfaction scores due to process enhancements you implemented to show customer-centric outcomes.
- Illustrate the reduction in process turnaround times you achieved to demonstrate your focus on efficiency and productivity.
- Present the number of new operational procedures or systems you introduced to underscore your innovative approach to operations management.
Action verbs for your business operations manager resume
What if you don't have any experience?
There are two very common scenarios about candidates with less experience. They are either:
- Fresh out of college in search of a business operations manager role
- Transferring over from a completely different field
Both of these types of candidates still have a shot at landing their first job in the industry.
All they need to do about the experience section of their business operations manager resume is:
- Consider their strengths - would the outcomes of their previous roles or niche skill sets impress recruiters? Feature those towards the top of your resume
- Exclude any and all irrelevant experience items - remember that at the end of the day, you're telling a story that aims to align with the ideal candidate for the business operations manager job
- Win recruiters over with personality - perhaps your ambition, dreams, and diligence would make you the perfect fit for the business operations manager role. Dedicate resume space to detail your personality traits by showcasing how they've helped you succeed in past roles
- Tailor your experience to specific job requirements - ensure your business operations manager resume answers the advert in the best way possible.
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List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
In-demand hard skills and soft skills for your business operations manager resume
A vital element for any business operations manager resume is the presentation of your skill set.
Recruiters always take the time to assess your:
- Technological proficiency or hard skills - which software and technologies can you use and at what level?
- People/personal or soft skills - how apt are you at communicating your ideas across effectively? Are you resilient to change?
The ideal candidate presents the perfect balance of hard skills and soft skills all through the resume, but more particular within a dedicated skills section.
Building your business operations manager skills section, you should:
- List up to six skills that answer the requirements and are unique to your expertise.
- Include a soft skill (or two) that defines you as a person and professional - perhaps looking back on feedback you've received from previous managers, etc.
- Create up to two skills sections that are organized based on the types of skills you list (e.g. "technical skills", "soft skills", "business operations manager skills", etc.).
- If you happen to have technical certifications that are vital to the industry and really impressive, include their names within your skills section.
At times, it really is frustrating to think back on all the skills you possess and discover the best way to communicate them across.
We understand this challenge - that's why we've prepared two lists (of hard skills and soft skills) to help you build your next resume, quicker and more efficiently:
Top skills for your business operations manager resume:
Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
Data Analysis Tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau)
CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
Financial Modeling and Budgeting Software
Process Improvement Methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean)
ERP Systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
Collaboration Tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
Business Intelligence Tools (e.g., Power BI, Qlik)
Supply Chain Management Software
Database Management (e.g., SQL)
Leadership
Communication
Problem Solving
Analytical Thinking
Adaptability
Time Management
Team Collaboration
Conflict Resolution
Strategic Planning
Decision Making
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If the certificate you've obtained is especially vital for the industry or company, include it as part of your name within the resume headline.
How to include your education and certifications on your resume
We're taking you back to your college days with this part of our guide, but including your relevant higher education is quite important for your resume.
Your degree shows recruiters your dedication to the industry, your recent and relevant know-how, and some form of experience in the field.
Your business operations manager resume education should:
- Include your applicable degrees, college (-s) you've graduated from, as well as start and end dates of your higher education;
- Skip your high school diploma. If you still haven't graduated with your degree, list that your higher education isongoing;
- Feature any postgraduate diplomas in your resume header or summary - this is the perfect space to spotlight your relevant MBA degree;
- Showcase any relevant coursework, if you happen to have less professional experience and think this would support your case in being the best candidate for the role.
As far as your job-specific certificates are concerned - choose up to several of the most recent ones that match the job profile, and include them in a dedicated section.
We've saved you some time by selecting the most prominent industry certificates below.
The top 5 certifications for your business operations manager resume:
- Project Management Professional (PMP) - Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Certified business operations manager (CBOM) - Management and Strategy Institute (MSI)
- Certified Manager Certification (CM) - Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM)
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification (LSSGB) - American Society for Quality (ASQ)
- Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) - Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
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Showcase any ongoing or recent educational efforts to stay updated in your field.
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Business operations manager resume summaries or objectives: real-world samples for best industry practices
Grasp recruiters' attention from the get-go of your application with a professional business operations manager resume summary or objective.
It's wise to select the:
- Resume objective , if you don't happen to have much experience alignment and would like to more prominently feature your dreams and personality.
- Resume summary , if you'd like to have a more standard approach to your application and feature up to five career highlights to help you stand out.
Writing your resume summary or objective should be tailored to each role you apply for.
Think about what would impress the recruiters and go from there.
But, if you need further help with this introductory section, check out some real-world samples in the next part of this guide:
Resume summaries for a business operations manager job
- With over ten years of experience steering operational efficiencies in the tech sector, I have honed a robust expertise in process optimization, leading cross-functional teams, and deploying agile methodologies. Notable achievements include overhauling legacy systems for a leading software firm, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity and a significant reduction in costs.
- Driving operational success for over 12 years in the healthcare industry, I am adept in managing complex projects, enforcing regulatory compliance, and nurturing stakeholder relationships. Instrumental in executing a $5 million cost-saving initiative by streamlining supply chain operations at a major hospital network, I have a proven track record of enhancing operational excellence.
- As a former restaurant manager transitioning into business operations, I bring a unique perspective on customer service excellence and team leadership. Cumulating 8 years of managing fast-paced, high-volume establishments, I successfully implemented innovative inventory control systems that cut waste by 25% while boosting staff retention rates by 30%.
- Transitioning from military logistics to civilian business operations, my disciplined approach and strategic planning skills are complemented by 6 years of managing complex supply chains and logistics operations. At the core of my accomplishments stands the restructuring of the deployment process, which improved operational readiness by 40% for a naval fleet.
- Eager to launch a career in business operations, my objective is to apply my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and passion for operational efficiency to contribute to company growth. My academic projects demonstrate a keen understanding of market analysis and strategic planning, providing a solid foundation for contributing to high-stakes project management scenarios.
- With a fresh MBA graduate's enthusiasm and a strong foundation in business theory, my objective is to leverage my internship experience in financial analysis and project coordination to deliver data-driven operational improvements. My eagerness to learn from experienced industry professionals is matched only by my commitment to achieving tangible business results.
Other business operations manager resume sections to support your expertise and skills
Recruiters are always on the lookout for that business operations manager candidate who brings about even more value to the role.
This can be either via their personality or additional accreditations they have across the industry.
Add to your resume any of the four sections that fit your profile:
- Projects for your most impressive, cutting-edge work;
- Awards or recognitions that matter the most;
- Publications further building up your professional portfolio and accreditations;
- Hobbies and interests to feature the literature you read, how you spend your time outside of work, and other personality traits you deem may help you stand out .
Key takeaways
- The logic of your resume presentation should follow your career highlights and alignment with the role;
- Curate information within different sections (e.g. summary, experience, etc.) that helps highlight your strengths;
- Exclude from your resume irrelevant experience items - that way you'd ensure it stays no longer than two pages and is easy to read;
- Dedicate space within the summary, experience, and/or achievements to highlight precisely why you're the best candidate for the role via your previous success;
- Both your technical and people capabilities should also play a crucial role in building up your business operations manager application. Prove your skill set in various resume sections.
