5 IT Project Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Balancing the technical and managerial aspects of IT project management can be tricky.

Your IT project manager resume must demonstrate expertise in specific technologies as well as highlight your leadership and strategic planning abilities.

The challenge lies in presenting this dual expertise concisely that appeals to both IT and HR professionals.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How to format your IT project manager resume so that hiring managers will see your technical skills and industry knowledge right away
• How to showcase your relevant skills whether you have a long work history or no experience so potential employers will know you can do the job
• What keywords to include and how to format your resume so that it passes ATS filters
• Ways to quantify impact on your IT project manager resume so that companies will see how you achieve impressive outcomes

For additional resume guides in related roles, explore some of our other examples.

• IT Infrastructure project manager resume
• Process manager resume
• Program manager resume
• Project manager resume
• Technical project manager resume

IT project manager resume example

• Emphasizing SAP and PMI certifications: The resume effectively highlights the SAP and PMI certifications, which are crucial for an IT Project Manager role. This is particularly relevant as SAP is a leading enterprise resource planning software, and PMI certification is a gold standard in project management. Highlighting these certifications upfront demonstrates a strong foundation in both the technical and managerial aspects of IT project management.
• Quantifying achievements: The resume successfully quantifies achievements, such as managing budgets worth millions, reducing customer turnover by 20%, and increasing productivity by 30%. This approach not only showcases the candidate's capabilities but also provides concrete evidence of their impact. Quantifying achievements is an effective way to stand out and demonstrate value to potential employers.
• Diverse skill set emphasis: The resume covers a wide range of skills from project management methodologies (like Scrum, Waterfall, TOGAF) to technical skills (such as Java, Python, AWS). This breadth of skills is essential for an IT Project Manager, as it shows versatility and the ability to handle various aspects of IT projects. Including both managerial and technical skills makes the resume more appealing to a broader range of IT roles.

How to format an IT project manager resume

Your IT project manager resume must demonstrate technical expertise, beginning with the formatting. It’s the first thing recruiters notice and your first opportunity to send a message.

Highlight your organizational skills by focusing on key areas to demonstrate your technical strengths. Here are a few things to focus on when formatting your IT project manager resume:

• Reverse chronological layout - this resume style puts the central focus on your work history in a reverse timeline. Show steady career growth in your field with an experience section that showcases your project management achievements.

• Header - the top of your resume should include a brief but important header that provides professional contact information and a link to your online profile or portfolio. Including a URL to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio will show employers how you maintain a visible and impressive digital presence.

• Key achievements - industry achievements demonstrate a proven track record and up-to-date knowledge in the rapidly evolving tech industry. Use metrics like growth percentages, projects managed, and teams led to highlight your value.

• Limit to one page - just because you can fill pages and pages with your work experience doesn’t mean you should. Recruiters are busy and don’t want to comb through every job you’ve ever had. Include only the strongest and most relevant information on your IT project manager resume and tailor every section to fit your target job.

Ensure preservation of formatting and added security by using a PDF file format instead of Doc. Incompatible or corrupted files won’t look good for candidates claiming to have tech expertise.

For help getting started, use Enhancv’s resume builder to easily edit an ATS-friendly IT project manager resume template and download a PDF that gets callbacks.

How to write your IT project manager resume experience

Your resume experience section is where you show your work history along with accomplishments from each job. Each role should include 3-4 bullets highlighting your top achievements.

IT project managers often struggle to find the right balance between detailing the technical aspects of projects and showcasing the outcomes. Resumes need to reflect the impact of their work, such as improvements in efficiency, cost savings, or revenue generation.

However, they must also demonstrate technical competence without delving too deeply into jargon that might alienate non-technical recruiters.

Let’s look at an IT project manager resume sample experience section.

What doesn’t work in this example:

• No action verbs - starting each bullet with passive language like “followed” or “managed” without context doesn’t tell employers anything. Use strong action verbs to show how you will get the job done.

• Needs measurable outcomes - this candidate lists generic duties with no mention of their outcomes. Show hiring managers how you will impact success at their company with measurable results.

• Lacking technical keywords - in an industry with rapidly evolving tech, you need to show that your skills are up-to-date and relevant. Be sure to include industry keywords that show your IT expertise.

Let’s make a few changes and take another look at this example.

What works in this example:

• Displays industry knowledge - using keywords like .NET, UX, and Azure show companies that your industry skills are current and make your IT resume more ATS-friendly.

• Tailored for the target job - potential employers want to know that you will provide solutions to their problems. Study the job description and highlight achievements that show you’re the candidate for the role.

• Provides evidence of success - don’t expect recruiters to take your word for it when you claim success. Show the specific outcomes you achieved with real metrics like “$3.2M in revenue” and “increased profits by 18%’.

How to quantify the impact on your resume

IT project managers must demonstrate how they will impact success in their new role. Companies want to know that you’ve achieved impressive outcomes with measurable results.

Quantify the impact on your IT project manager's resume by using real numbers and data. Showcase project completions and your use of skills.

Here are a few things to consider when quantifying the impact on your IT project manager resume:

• Include the number of projects managed, indicating extensive experience in project handling.
• State the budgets of projects overseen, demonstrating financial management skills.
• Mention the size of teams led, showcasing leadership and team management capabilities.
• Quantify time saved in project completion, reflecting efficiency and time management.
• Highlight the percentage of projects completed under budget, showing cost-saving abilities.
• Detail the number of stakeholders managed, illustrating communication and coordination skills.
• Specify the scale of IT infrastructures implemented, indicating knowledge in handling complex systems.
• Note the percentage increase in productivity or efficiency due to your projects, proving impact on business operations.

How do I write an IT project manager resume with no experience

If you’re making a career change or just breaking into the industry, you’ll need a resume that relies on transferable skills instead of work history.

Use the following steps when creating an IT project manager resume with no experience:

• Choose a functional resume layout
• Focus on transferable skills
• Use additional sections to highlight skill development
• Only include information that is relevant to your target job

A functional resume layout focuses on transferable skills rather than experience. This is a great way to show potential employers that you’ve learned management skills, software, and methodologies by other means.

Though it may be tempting, don’t pad your experience section with irrelevant jobs. Include only prior roles that are relevant to your target position and focus on transferable skills.

Software engineer, program manager, and other IT positions are all great additions to a new IT project manager's resume.

How to list your hard skills and soft skills on your resume

Showing tech skills and management expertise is crucial to an impactful IT project manager resume. Potential employers want someone who can do the technical aspects of the job as well as fit in with company culture.

Skills on your IT project manager resume will be in two categories - hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills are the technical knowledge and abilities needed to perform job duties. Soft skills are the interpersonal and communication skills needed to interact with others.

The main difference between these two sections on your resume is the presentation. Hard skills are listed while soft skills include examples.

Let’s look at an example of hard skills on an IT project manager's resume.

Notice how the candidate above separated their hard skills into two categories. This is a good strategy for a dynamic role like IT project management.

Be sure to only include hard skills that you’re confident in. If you put a coding language on your IT project manager resume, employers will assume you’re proficient.

Be mindful that many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes.  IT project managers must optimize their resumes with relevant keywords and phrases that match the job description.

Make sure to match the skill 1:1  to the way it’s written in the job description so that it is picked up by ATS. But don’t just copy and paste, fit them in organically.

Here are a few more hard skills to consider for your IT project manager resume.

Unlike hard skills, soft skills require a bit more of an explanation. Choose a few top soft skills and provide an example of how you used them to achieve success.

Soft skills are a good opportunity to show employers that you have strong professional competencies like communication and teamwork along with your technical strengths.

Let’s take a look at an example of an IT project manager's soft skills section.

This candidate showcased their soft skills by providing specific examples. Back up your claims with evidence so hiring managers will know how you will achieve success.

Here are a few more soft skills to consider for your IT project manager resume.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

IT project managers will typically have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or related field. Degrees relating to business and project management may also be helpful.

Certifications in specific skills and technologies are a great way to keep your resume current with industry trends.

A good education section needs only a few details:

• Name of degree
• Name of institution
• Years attended

Let’s look at an example of an IT project manager education section.

Similarly, a certification section only needs the name of the certificate and the issuing institution.

Let’s look at an example of an IT project manager certification section.

Always update your resume to reflect your most current skills as you continue to develop them throughout your career.

Here are a few additional certifications to consider for keeping your skills current and your IT project manager resume up-to-date.

How to write your IT project manager resume summary or objective

An IT project manager summary or objective is a great way to introduce yourself as a candidate and highlight your top industry accomplishments in 3-4 sentences.

Though the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between a summary and an objective.

A summary is a brief introduction that communicates your position and value in your industry. An objective looks to the future and captures what you are hoping to achieve in your new position.

A summary is more suitable for experienced candidates with a long career to summarize, while an objective is better for those newer to the industry.

Whether you’ve had a long career or minimal experience as an IT project manager, it is a good strategy to combine the two by highlighting an achievement and sharing a goal for the future.

End your summary with a mutual goal you share with your target company. This will show that you’ve done your research and are prepared to impact success.

Let’s look at an example of an IT project manager resume summary.

What doesn’t work in this example:

• Generic career summary - “Project Manager with experience in financial technology” doesn’t effectively communicate what this candidate has accomplished or is capable of. A more specific example or achievement is better for an opening line.
• Overused buzzwords - terms like “hard-working” and “passionate” are overused and don’t really mean anything. Don’t waste space in your summary by boring your reader with meaningless filler.
• No accomplishments - your summary is your opportunity to grab the attention of hiring managers. Start off strong by including your most impressive and relevant career achievement.

Let’s make a few changes and take another look.

What works in this example:

• Strong introduction - “IT Project Manager with 12 years of experience in financial technology and PMI certification” gives potential employers a clear idea of your capabilities and qualification.
• Real data - including the number of projects and earning “$8.2M in revenue” shows real outcomes the candidate has achieved and highlights a relevant accomplishment.
• Shared goal - this candidate has researched their target company and shows how their previous successes will increase revenue in their new role.

Additional sections for an IT project manager resume

You may have some relevant experiences that don’t fit the standard resume sections on your IT project manager resume, especially if you are making a career change.

If you have skills, experiences, or abilities that are relevant to your target job that you’ve earned outside a traditional work path, consider adding additional sections to your resume.

Here are a few sections to consider for your IT project manager resume:

• Projects - as an IT project manager, it makes sense that some of your biggest accomplishments are previous projects. Add a section to highlight the successes of specific projects.

• Volunteering - volunteer work can be a great opportunity to show relevant soft skills like teamwork and decision-making

• Hobbies- even hobbies and interests can increase the value of your resume if they are relevant to your target job such as niche skills or specialized knowledge in technology

Key takeaways for creating a great IT project manager resume

You’re just about ready to send off that amazing IT project manager resume that gets interviews. Here are a few key points to remember before we wrap up.

• Choose a reverse chronological resume format to show potential employers how you have achieved career growth as an IT project manager
• Show your expertise in both technical skills and management abilities by including organized sections for hard skills and soft skills
• Demonstrate how you will impact success at your target company by highlighting previous achievements with measurable outcomes
• Keep your resume relevant and up-to-date by adding certifications as you develop skills throughout your career