5 Management Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

“I wanna speak to the manager” may sound hilarious to meme-creators, but it’s not always so funny when the manager is, in fact, you. A powerful and coveted position by many, a job in management holds significant challenges. Managers often need to communicate top-down directives while also advocating for their team's needs.

Modern managers must adapt to evolving trends, such as the increase in remote work and the emphasis on work-life balance, which are now significant considerations for employees when deciding to stay with an organization.

In your job, you need to balance between being a leader, an empath, and sometimes, even a therapist! Show recruiters you can overcome any obstacle with a strong management resume.

Let's explore a sample management resume.

Management resume sample

If you don’t know where to begin, take a look at this sample resume. You can build off it or create your own, with the Enhancv resume builder.

Having seen an example, let’s see what format provides the best setting for your credentials.

How to format a management resume

As a manager, you set high standards for the work you do, but mostly for yourself. Your resume layout is a way to reflect excellence. From document length to file name, follow our expert tips to impress hiring managers.

Top sections on a resume

The first thing you might want to do is outline your manager resume sections. Here’s what you shouldn’t go without:

• Contact information
• Work experience
• Educational background
• Key skills
• Professional summary
• Bonus: leave some space for additional sections

We’ll discuss all of these in detail below.

Resume format

Considering the sections order we mentioned above, the reverse-chronological resume is your best option. This resume format will list your work history comprehensively, starting with your most recent experience.

Resume designs

• Go for a two-page resume if you have <10 years of experience. Two-page resumes are said to be 2.9 times more effective for managerial positions.
• If you do choose the 2-page format, Set your margins between 0.5-1” on all sides to make the document easier to read.
• Choose a single or a two-column layout depending on how detailed you want to get on your resume.
• Choose elegant colors and classic fonts to make your resume memorable while keeping the focus on your expertise.

Contact information

• A clear header on top of your resume should respond to what hiring managers are looking for. Save them time—they’ll appreciate it!—by neatly stating your contact information: name, job title, and email.
• As a manager, you might have a well-established LinkedIn presence. So, include a link to your profile or even your personal website in your header.
• Generally, photos can be a cause for bias, and your manager resume has a lot of things to impress with. Still, check with the specific job posting.

File formatting

• Sstick to this popular naming convention: FirstName_LastName_JobTitle.
• A PDF format will keep all your resume elements in place but check the job description as some companies will require a different format.
• Ready to put theory into practice? Use our free AI resume checker to make sure your resume is up to the highest standard!

Now that you have your resume format perfected, let's delve into the crucial details of showcasing your experience effectively.

How to write your management resume experience

As a manager, your experience section is vital to your success. It can be quite versatile depending on what you’re manager of. For example, if you’re a retail manager, you might focus on your knack for boosting sales and managing inventory. Conversely, a project manager would highlight their skills in keeping projects on track and within budget.

No matter your specialty, be sure to include key achievements that show off your leadership skills and the positive impacts you’ve made—like boosting team efficiency or cutting costs.

Crafting a resume that speaks directly to the job you're applying for is not just a good practice—it's a strategic necessity.

Create a targeted experience section

Tailoring your resume to match the job description is a move that will secure interviews. Like managers, recruiters are busy and will appreciate spotting the keywords they seek on your resume.

Let’s look at a real manager job description.

And now, let’s see an experience entry tailored to it.

Here’s why it works:

• Experience as a Project Manager in clinical trials mirrors the job requirements, meaning the candidate is well-suited for the role with a proven track record in the same capacity.
• The description aligns closely with key job responsibilities such as managing clinical trial protocols, ensuring stakeholder communication, and overseeing project delivery, directly addressing the priorities outlined in the job description.
• The bullet points illustrates specific, measurable successes such as a 20% improvement in project coordination efficiency and effective management of over 40 clinical trials.

Quantifiable experience turns responsibilities into measurable achievements. Let’s explore how that works.

How to quantify your experience on resume

As a manager, you need to be results-driven. And results are best measured with numbers. Moreover, in a resume filled with words, numbers catch attention quickly. Just remember: listing plain numbers without context is never a winning strategy. Always explain what the tangible result you’re mentioning led to or achieved.

Below you can see our suggestions on how to prove your management experience.

• Incorporate concrete ways you increased efficiency: Being specific about your role in automating processes or implementing more efficient systems gives a more quantifiable view of your abilities.
• Discuss savings through cost reduction: Emphasize instances where you were able to cut costs without compromising product quality or employee satisfaction.
• Mention revenue growth under your leadership: This immediately illustrates your contribution to the company and underscores your business acumen.
• Highlight reductions in employee turnover: If you managed to lower the turnover rate in your department, it suggests good leadership and a positive work environment.
• Show specifics of risk management: Outline occasions where you navigated business risks successfully. For instance, discuss your role in crisis management or damage control in challenging times.

With your achievements listed, we'll now integrate essential hard and soft skills to complete your professional profile.

Management skills for your resume

It seems everybody has an opinion on what skills make a good manager. And as with everything else, there is no fit-all answer. Use your skills section to give a peek into your management style. Whether you lead by example, encourage team input, or prefer hands-on guidance, explain how your approach helps achieve great results. You might say something like, “By encouraging team feedback, I increased project delivery efficiency by 40%.” Keep your writing clear and straight to the point, using bullet points and action verbs to make your resume easy to scan. This makes it easy for potential employers to see how you lead and the benefits you bring to the table.

Dedicate some space to your hard, or industry-specific skills, and priotitize those that are relevant to the job you’re after. We’ve got some more general suggestions below, but always reflect on your company's needs:

Soft skills depend on what kind of manager you want to be and what team you’re leading. For example, if you’re a manager of a big hospital, you might put more focus on decisiveness and initiative, while a manager of a football team might opt for developing their strategic vision and coaching.

Still, there are universal people skills every manager would benefit from. For example:

Following skills, your education and certifications provide the foundational proof of your expertise and capabilities.

How to list your education and certifications on your resume

Because manager positions are so versatile depending on the field you work in, there’s no one-size-fits-all degree that’s perfect for your manager resume. And this is what makes your education section so important—it’s yet another way to distinguish yourself.

Whatever your degree is, you can make it work in your favor. Higher education provides you with basic skills that apply to every job, like time management, adaptability, teamwork, and persistence.

Organize this section following these tips:

• Clearly mention your highest degree and your major to establish your academic background.
• Include the name to highlight the prestige and credibility of your education.
• State the year you graduated to indicate the recency of your education.
• List courses relevant to management, such as Strategic management and Leadership in Organizations.
• Note any honors such as Dean’s List or Summa Cum Laude to underline your excellence and potential as a manager.

Take a look at this education entry that targets the job posting above:

We like this example for its:

• The education section lists a degree in Project management with a focus on healthcare, aligning directly with the skills and knowledge needed for this particular job
• The GPA score and specific coursework related display the candidate's strong foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of project management in a clinical setting.
• The bullet points detail the individual's specific training and skills relevant to the responsibilities of the position, such as stakeholder communication and compliance management.

While your degree can be in any field, it’s important to list management-related certifications on your resume to demonstrate relevant skills and expertise. These are all strong suggestions:

Armed with qualifications and skills, let’s craft a compelling summary that captures recruiters' interest right from the start!

How to write your management resume summary

If hiring managers only had to read one section of your resume, it’s gonna be your management summary. So, make it captivating. Here’s how:

• Outline your core qualifications and leadership traits that directly apply to the management role in up to 5 sentences.
• Emphasize measurable success like improved project retention rates.
• Reference relevant advanced degrees and management certifications to emphasize your professional credibility.
• Show your commitment to aligning team objectives with company goals to drive profitability and enhance organizational effectiveness.

Here’s a resume summary tailored to the job posting above:

This resume summary proves the candidate isn't just a good fit—they're ready to elevate the company's project management game. It speaks directly to the employer, promising not just to meet expectations but to drive growth and boost efficiency in their projects.

Finally, let's enhance your resume by exploring additional sections that can spotlight your unique qualifications and interests.

Additional sections for a management resume

Surely, your management resume contains multiple “Wow, impressive!” moments. Still, if space allows, you can enhance it further by incorporating optional sections that reveal your personality and achievements.

Consider adding these to your resume:

• Specific accomplishments, such as awards, recognitions, or successful projects that demonstrate your management capabilities.
• Memberships in professional organizations, such as the American management Association or similar groups, can give you credibility and authority.
• Relevant volunteer work is something you should not miss out on in your resume. It gives insight into your human sight and how you’re willing to connect and contribute.
• Articles, papers, or presentations you have authored or contributed to in the field of management.
• Any additional languages you speak, especially if relevant to your role or industry.
• Cover letters are a great way to provide a personalized introduction into your leadership skills and specific achievements.

In conclusion

Your management resume should reflect your unique leadership style and skills. Use our tips on formatting, experience, education, and skills to make your application soar!