Ensuring that your CV effectively showcases your leadership skills and project successes can be a daunting challenge for any team manager. Fortunately, our guide provides insightful tips and structured templates to ensure your CV captures your managerial competencies, helping you stand out to potential employers.
- Design and format your professional team manager CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading team manager CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your team manager CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
Structuring and formatting your team manager CV for an excellent first impression
The experts' best advice regarding your CV format is to keep it simple and concise. Recruiters assessing your CV are foremost looking out for candidates who match their ideal job profile. Your white space, borders, and margins. You may still be wondering which format you need to export your CV in. We recommend using the PDF one, as, upon being uploaded, it never alters your information or CV design. Before we move on to the actual content of your team manager CV, we'd like to remind you about the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS). The ATS is a software that is sometimes used to initially assess your profile. Here's what you need to keep in mind about the ATS:- All serif and sans-serif fonts (e.g. Rubik, Volkhov, Exo 2 etc.) are ATS-friendly;
- Many candidates invest in Arial and Times New Roman, so avoid these fonts if you want your application to stand out;
- Both single and double column CVs can be read by the ATS, so it's entirely up to you to select your CV design.
PRO TIP
For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a team manager CV
- Leadership Experience shows proven ability to manage teams.
- Key Achievements highlight major successes leading projects.
- Management Skills section details relevant managerial competencies.
- Professional Development indicates ongoing leadership training.
- Team Performance Metrics demonstrate success in improving team output.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your leadership experience by detailing the size and scope of teams you have managed, including any significant projects that you led to success.
- Showcase your ability to improve team performance by providing examples of implemented strategies that increased productivity, improved morale, or enhanced collaboration.
- Emphasise your communication skills by mentioning specific instances where you successfully mediated conflicts or facilitated effective team meetings and decision-making processes.
- Include your proficiency in relevant management tools and software, which could range from project management platforms to performance tracking systems that you have used to manage teams efficiently.
- Mention any coaching or mentoring experiences where you have developed team members' skills, contributing to their professional growth and the overall strength of the team.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your team manager CV header
Right at the very top of your team manager CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for team manager:
- "Senior Project Manager | Agile & Waterfall Methodologies | PMP Certified | 10+ Years in Tech Leadership"
- "Regional Sales Manager | Strategic Planning | MBA | Proven Record in Market Expansion | 15 Years' Experience"
- "Operations Team Leader | Supply Chain Optimisation | Six Sigma Black Belt | 8 Years' Operational Success"
- "Human Resources Manager | Talent Acquisition Specialist | CIPD Level 7 | Employee Relations Expert | 12 Years"
- "Head of Customer Service | Multilingual Call Centre Expertise | Customer Satisfaction Champion | 7+ Years Leadership"
- "IT Infrastructure Manager | Cybersecurity Focus | Microsoft Certified | Scalable Solutions Developer | 10 Years in IT"
Opting between a team manager CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your team manager CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a team manager job:
- Seasoned IT Project Manager with over a decade of experience in overseeing software development lifecycles and leading cross-functional teams. Skilled in Agile methodologies, possessing PMP certification, and delivering multimillion-pound projects under stringent deadlines with a record of 30% reduced project delivery times for a multinational corporation.
- Dedicated Customer Service Manager with 8 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, excelling at team leadership, problem resolution, and customer satisfaction. Proven track record in boosting customer retention rates by 25% through the implementation of innovative loyalty programs and excellent service standards within two major UK service providers.
- Formerly an accomplished Marketing Specialist seeking to leverage 6 years of experience in brand management and communication strategy into the world of team management, bringing forth strong analytical skills, a creative outlook, and a commitment to driving team success within a competitive sales environment.
- Experienced Hospitality Professional making a transition to Team Management, utilizing a background of 7 years in high-paced, customer-centric environments, with a flair for team coordination, event management, and operational improvements aimed at enhancing overall guest experience and staff efficiency.
- Aspiring to initiate a career in team management, bringing forward a passion for leadership and a steadfast commitment to cultivating team dynamics that foster success. Eager to apply my degree in Business Administration and intern experience in project coordination for optimizing team workflows and productivity.
- Aiming to embark on a professional journey in team management, capitalizing on my recent MBA and enthusiasm for collaborative environments to drive team performances that align with strategic objectives. Keen on mastering industry-leading methodologies and contributing to the collective achievement of organisational goals.
How to meet job requirements with your team manager CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Steered a team of 15+ sales associates, achieving a 20% increase in sales over a 12-month period through strategic planning and execution of innovative sales techniques.
- Implemented a robust performance tracking system, which reduced staff turnover by 25% and significantly improved team morale and productivity.
- Conducted quarterly training sessions to develop team members' leadership skills, resultantly nurturing two junior team members into supervisory positions.
- Led project teams through the successful launch of three major product lines, coordinating cross-department efforts and ensuring project deliverables were met on time and within budget.
- Spearheaded the adoption of agile methodologies, improving project completion rates by 35% and enhancing responsiveness to changing market demands.
- Managed an annual budget of £500,000, optimising resource allocation while ensuring departmental goals were achieved effectively and efficiently.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline communication processes, resulting in a 30% reduction in inter-departmental delays and a measurable increase in project efficiency.
- Championed employee engagement initiatives that elevated staff satisfaction scores by 40% as measured in annual internal surveys.
- Resolved conflicts within the team through mediation and proactive communication strategies, fostering a cooperative and productive working environment.
- Spearheaded a team of 10 sales associates at Sainsbury's, accelerating sales growth by 18% through strategic planning and training initiatives.
- Implemented a new inventory management system that reduced waste by 25% and enhanced the efficiency of stock handling.
- Cultivated a collaborative work environment, which improved team retention rates by 40% over a three-year period, leading to greater staff consistency and customer satisfaction.
- Oversaw a customer support team at BT Group, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate by implementing a new training program focused on empathy and problem-solving.
- Managed cross-functional projects to streamline workflow, which resulted in a 30% improvement in ticket resolution times.
- Drove the adoption of a new customer relationship management software, enhancing data-driven decision-making and client tracking efficiency.
- Coordinates a high-performing team of 20 developers at IBM, consistently delivering complex software solutions ahead of schedule, contributing to a 10% increase in department productivity.
- Leads agile transformation efforts, resulting in a 15% increase in project delivery speed and a 22% reduction in critical bugs post-deployment.
- Fosters a culture of continuous learning that has enabled the team to incorporate cutting-edge technologies, keeping the company at the forefront of innovation in the tech industry.
- Managed a diverse team of engineers at Rolls-Royce, leading to the successful delivery of three major aerospace projects, each valued over £20M.
- Enhanced team performance through the introduction of lean manufacturing principles, reducing production costs by 12% without compromising on quality.
- Strengthened the supplier quality management process, improving component reliability by 30% and reducing downtime.
- Managed and developed a content creation team at the BBC, increasing audience engagement by 50% through the development and curation of targeted programming.
- Implemented data analytics tools to track viewer trends, providing actionable insights that reshaped content strategy and led to a 35% rise in online subscriptions.
- Cultivated key partnerships with external production studios, expanding the content library by 20% and diversifying programming options.
- Directed a multinational IT support team for GlaxoSmithKline, enhancing global service delivery and achieving a significant 40% increase in team efficiency through process optimisation.
- Implemented a global standardisation for IT support procedures, ensuring consistent service levels across all regions and reducing incident response times by 50%.
- Championed the adoption of innovative IT service management tools, enabling better resource allocation and tracking of support metrics, leading to a higher level of IT service provision.
- Led a finance team at HSBC, successfully managing a portfolio worth over £500M while navigating the complexities of changing financial regulations and mitigating risk.
- Implemented new financial reporting standards that increased transparency and trust with stakeholders, reflected in a 20% growth in investment.
- Streamlined budgeting processes, which allowed for a 15% reallocation of funds into new growth opportunities without affecting operational efficiency.
- Orchestrated the digital transformation for a project team at Vodafone, delivering an enterprise mobile solution that increased customer retention by 25%.
- Pioneered a cross-departmental collaboration initiative that reduced go-to-market time for new products by 18%, boosting competitive advantage.
- Masterminded a skill development program that equipped the team with advanced digital marketing techniques, resulting in a 30% increase in campaign ROI.
Writing your CV without professional experience for your first job or when switching industries
There comes a day, when applying for a job, you happen to have no relevant experience, whatsoever. Yet, you're keen on putting your name in the hat. What should you do? Candidates who part-time experience , internships, and volunteer work.
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PRO TIP
If you have experience in diverse fields, highlight how this has broadened your perspective and skill set, making you a more versatile candidate.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your team manager CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your team manager CV:
Project Management
Budgeting & Financial Management
Performance Measurement
Process Improvement
Data Analysis
Strategic Planning
Risk Management
CRM Software Proficiency
Agile and Scrum Methodologies
Regulatory Compliance
Leadership
Teamwork and Collaboration
Effective Communication
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Conflict Resolution
Adaptability
Time Management
Empathy
Motivational Skills
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your team manager CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your team manager CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education, select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:
- List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
- Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
- Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
Your successful job application depends on how you well you have aligned your team manager CV to the job description and portrayed your best skills and traits. Make sure to:
- Select your CV format, so that it ensures your experience is easy to read and understand;
- Include your professional contact details and a link to your portfolio, so that recruiters can easily get in touch with you and preview your work;
- Write a CV summary if you happen to have more relevant professional experience. Meanwhile, use the objective to showcase your career dreams and ambitions;
- In your CV experience section bullets, back up your individual skills and responsibilities with tangible achievements;
- Have a healthy balance between hard and soft skills to answer the job requirements and hint at your unique professional value.
