INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Top Executives positions are at a 8% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 2,704,400 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 209,500 to 2,913,900 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Top Executives jobs was $107,680 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $45,850, and the highest 10% more than $208,000.
Our conclusion? The Top Executives job market is wide open for candidates.
Top functional manager sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Things to remember when writing your functional manager experience section
Functional manager experience section checklist:
- Keep it short: use no more than 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Go for short, easy-to-read sentences to keep recruiters engaged;
- Focus on relevant job experience that will enhance your application;
- Describe your experience using the C-A-R (challenge, action, result) methodology;
- Ditch buzzwords and go for power words instead.
To illustrate it more clearly, we’ve collected some of the best experience section examples from real Functional Manager resumes. Check them out below!
- Accountability for all learning projects (intake of request, resourcing, needs analysis, learning strategy, instructional design, collaboration with subject matter experts, contracting and management of vendors, implementation and evaluation of learning solutions) ¬ 25 projects yearly
- Coaching, advising and acting as escalation point for operational staff responsible for overseeing the day-to-day project management, design, development and implementation of learning solutions across the portfolio
- Line management of Learning & Development professionals. Highly people focused related to performance, engagement, motivation and management of staff
- Contributed to creation and establishment of Functional Accountability model (value chain)
- Strategic and analytical thinking on functional strategy, goals/objectives and internal projects
- Leading various functional projects e.g. Sourcing Strategy, Service Request Intake and Portfolio Management, Resourcing planning and tracking, Engagement of staff, Service Delivery model
- PDG representative on the PD CoE Learning and Development Network including leading various CoE projects
- Functional representative on the PDG Community Committee
- Functional Manager, Learning and Team Services
- Accountability for all learning projects/solutions (intake of request, resourcing, needs analysis, learning strategy, instructional design, collaboration with subject matter experts, contracting and management of vendors, implementation and evaluation of learning solutions) - PD PEC, PDG MEP and other projects ¬ 25 projects yearly
- Coaching, advising and acting as escalation point for operational staff responsible for overseeing the day-to-day project management, design, development and implementation of learning solutions across the portfolio
- Line management of 5-8 Senior Learning professionals. Highly people focused related to performance, engagement, motivation and day-to-day management of staff
- Contributed to creation and establishment of Functional Accountability model as well as Design & Create Accountability area (Solutions Team)
- Member of Training & Support Services Leadership Team, Strategic and analytical thinking on Functional as well as Accountability area strategy, goals/objectives and internal projects
- Leading various functional projects e.g. Sourcing Strategy, Service Request Intake and Portfolio Management, Resourcing planning and tracking, Service Delivery model
- PDG representative on the PD CoE Learning and Development Network including leading various CoE projects
- Line Management of 6-8 direct reports
- Active member of Training & Learning Management Team responsible for Global Functional business strategy, goals/objectives and projects
- Involved in creating End-to-End Functional Business process, templates, forms etc. (based on ADDIE and Training SOP)
- Coaching, advising and acting as escalation point for learning professionals responsible for the day-to-day project management, design, development and implementation of learning solutions
- Functional representative on the Basel PDG Community Planning Committee - 4 events per year
- Line Management of 6-8 direct reports
- Active member of Training Leadership team responsible for Global Functional business strategy, goals/objectives and projects
- Lead and oversee local Training Coordination and Delivery
- Support local staff on Instructional Design of Learning Solutions for systems and processes
- Lead of the Global Functional Communication Team (0.2 FTE)
- Responsible for Global and Local Functional Awareness Events for PDG - 4 events per year
- Maternity leave Mar 2009 - Jan 2010
- Accountability for all learning projects/solutions (intake of request, resourcing, needs analysis, learning strategy, instructional design, collaboration with subject matter experts, contracting and management of vendors, implementation and evaluation of learning solutions) - PD PEC, PDG MEP and other projects ¬ 25 projects yearly
- Coaching, advising and acting as escalation point for operational staff responsible for overseeing the day-to-day project management, design, development and implementation of learning solutions across the portfolio
- People management of 5-8 Senior Learning professionals. Highly people focused related to performance, engagement, motivation and day-to-day management of staff
- Contributed to creation and establishment of Functional Accountability model as well as Design & Create Accountability area (Solutions Team)
- Member of Training & Support Services Leadership Team, Strategic and analytical thinking on Functional as well as Accountability area strategy, goals/objectives and internal projects
- Leading various functional projects e.g. Sourcing Strategy, Service Request Intake and Portfolio Management, Resourcing planning and tracking, Service Delivery model
- PDG representative on the PD CoE Learning and Development Network including leading various CoE projects
PRO TIP
Show off real numbers that display your accomplishments in past roles. Instead of listing out your responsibilities as Functional Manager, talk about the measurable impact you made to their business. Did you boost their revenue? Increase customer retention? Mention your proudest points on your resume.
Action verbs for your functional manager resume
Recommended Reads:
The Best Way to Write Your Functional Manager Resume’s Skills Section
Functional manager resume: skills section checklist
- Scan the job advert for keywords worth including in your resume;
- List both hard and transferable skills;
- Leave room for discussion: include some of your skills in other sections of your resume;
- Focus on skills that prove your expertise and leave the irrelevant ones behind.
Top skills for your functional manager resume
Public Speaking
Digital Solutions
Technical Skills
Spreadsheets
Point of Sales Systems
Data Analysis
Marketing Solutions
Writing
Transparency
Communication
Delegation
Decisiveness
Empowering
Consistency and Reliability
Empathy and sensitivity
Mentoring and coaching
PRO TIP
When describing your experience, don’t go too far from its terminology. Recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes based on them having certain keywords, so make sure you use at least a few keywords mentioned in the job description.
Recommended reads.":
Functional manager resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your functional manager resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your Functional Manager resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
Writing a strong functional manager resume summary
Functional manager resume summary checklist:
- Mention your position and total years of experience in the field;
- Highlight 1-2 of your top achievements;
- Go for shorter sentences and keep them to the point – don’t include anything that doesn’t support your application;
- Add 2-4 keywords present in the job description.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a brief but informative introduction to your experience section. In this section you should go into more depth about what you have done, and how you did it.
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Adding education, courses, and certifications to your functional manager resume
Education Section Tips and Tricks:
- Add info about your highest degree level, incl. year of graduation, place of study, and degree subject;
- Mention some education-related awards you’ve received;
- Share a bit more about your certifications (if they are relevant);
- Entry-level applicants: Tailor your education section by including classes that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.
Top Certifications for Your Functional Manager Resume
Management Crash Course: Tactical Training for New Managers
Master Real World Management Skills -- Practical Exercises to Help You Tackle the 7 Challenges that Every Manager Faces
New Manager: The Basics and More of Being a Great Leader
Go from a slightly uncertain, confused newbie to a confident, skilled manager who builds and leads effective teams.
Management Skills: New Manager Training Update 2022
Management Skills Certification in Developing People, Leading Teams & Process Improvement in the New Hybrid Work Culture
How To Improve Communication In Organization
Using enhance communication to strengthen the organisation
Salesforce Customer 360 ( C360 ) Data Manager Zero to Hero
End to End functionality of customer 360 Data Manager along with details of Cloud Information Model
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PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
The best format for your functional manager resume
Choosing the right format for your resume might seem difficult, regardless of whether you’re a newbie or a master. In short, there are three basic resume formats for you to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
The choice you make depends on your level of experience and the company you’re applying for.
The reverse-chronological resume format is great for you if you have at least 10 years of experience, no employment gaps, and are not looking for a career change. Here, you are expected to list all your previous jobs in a reverse-chronological format, starting from your most recent position and going back to the oldest one. It’s perfect for experienced individuals who are looking for a straightforward way to highlight their expertise.
The functional skills-based resume format, on the other hand, is great for recent graduates or professionals with large employment gaps. It focuses on skills and education, rather than experience. This makes it ideal for showing you’re the right fit without putting too much emphasis on your lack of (relevant) experience.
If you’re looking for something a bit more creative, go for the combination resume format. It’s a mix of the reverse-chronological and the functional skills-based formats, which makes it ideal for all types of applicants. What’s more, it’s considered modern and innovative, and isn’t this what you want your application to feel like anyway?
After choosing the right format for your Functional Manager resume, it’s time to perfect the layout and style.
- Go for traditional 1-inch resume margins;
- Choose a simple resume font, sized 10-12p;
- Make sure that the length of your resume matches your applicant profile: try to fit in a one-page template; two-page templateare suitable only for candidates with over 10 years of experience.
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid issues around formatting and unauthorized editing.
Looking for more ways to make your application stand out? Read this article!
Recommended reads:":
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company, your position, and your general desire to experiment and showcase your creative side, you might want to add some additional sections to your resume. Some examples include:
Creating a memorable functional manager resume
You want your resume to put you in front of other candidates even when the competition is high, right? Right!
One of the easiest ways to do this is by adding a drop or two of creativity. You can choose a colorful and out-of-the-box template, or maybe even put a ‘what my typical days look like’ section at the bottom of your resume
It’s totally up to you. Just make sure to match the level of creativity to the industry, the position, and the company.
What makes a great functional manager resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
