how to write manager on resume

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7 Manager Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

Best for candidates with 3+ years of experience

With your job experience and a stunning resume layout, recruiters will be ready to give your application the official stamp of approval.

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Manager Resume FAQs

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It’s not easy being the boss. In management, you help employees advance their careers, improve the business’s bottom line, and juggle priorities without dropping the ball.

While it’s not a walk in the park, you’ve learned to handle whatever corporate life throws at you. Yet, demonstrating your abilities on a manager resume is challenging. How do you showcase experience and knowledge on one page?

We have the  top resume tips  to help you  make a resume you’ll be proud to submit, and we’ll also walk through the manager resume writing process.

These seven manager resume samples are helping managers land their next role in 2024, and they can help you  write a resume  that will catch any hiring manager’s attention.

Manager Resume Example

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Why this resume works

• Start your work experience bullet points with action verbs like “led,” “founded,” “directed,” “oversaw,” and “managed” to immediately convey your role.
• If you’re a senior manager, tailor your work experience only to include the most relevant positions and technical skills, but if you’re newer to the field, consider adding a  resume objective  to convey your passion and abilities further.

General Manager Resume Example

• Strategically placing your MBA at the top of your general manager resume sends a clear message that you’re prepared to help a business run smoothly.

Case Manager Resume Example

• Elevate your case manager resume by harnessing the power of a cover letter maker to weave in different ways you’ve supported diverse populations.

Project Manager Resume Example

• While it’s not much different than an objective, this lets employers know your qualifications and your abilities before they even look at your work experience.
• Even if you have one certification, it’s worth including it in its own area, so it’s easier to pinpoint.
• Don’t have any certifications? Research certifications available for project managers and start learning. Whether it takes you a lot of time or a little, know that you’re taking a big step toward forward movement!

Product Manager Resume Example

• Whenever possible, state your impact using quantifiable metrics. Even if they’re rough estimates, numbers are the best way to demonstrate your management abilities. 
• Your product manager resume should explicitly state your role, project goals, and impact for each position listed in your work experience.

Account Manager Resume Example

• You can also focus on other important metrics like the number of accounts you opened, the success of your upsells, and how you improved customer retention.
• When choosing a template, make sure you choose one that allows plenty of room for work experience, skills, and contact information.
• Using a template doesn’t mean you can’t get creative; feel free to make it your own with color and different fonts to help it look more like  you .

Operations Manager Resume Example

• Ideally, you should limit this list to five to seven technical skills.
• For example, did you collaborate with partners to target a specific goal? Did you launch a new rotation system that improved efficiency?
• Consider your responsibilities and how you went above and beyond to meet your goals and help others.

Related resume guides

• Assistant Manager
• Store Manager
• Account Manager
• Product Manager

It may feel like a struggle right now, but we highly recommend you keep your manager resume at one page.

You may have valuable experience in more senior positions, and figuring out what to cut is hard. It’s okay to exclude the job you held in college, entry-level roles, and possibly mid-level roles, depending on how much experience you have.

A good rule of thumb is to include three jobs in your resume, beginning with your most recent position. If you include four to six bullet points for each role, you’ll find it’s a breeze to keep your management resume to a page.

But if you’re still struggling, keep in mind that those details you really want to include will help you write a manager cover letter that stands out.

At a glance, recruiters and employers want to see your management skills and abilities in action. There are so many types of managers, such as project managers, operations managers, account managers—the list goes on.

No matter the company or the profession, your resume job description bullet points should be chock-full of examples of where you led projects and teams successfully. You’ll have a winning resume when you back up your claims with numbers by writing descriptive points like Led and coordinated a project with HR to re-design new-hire training, which reduced average onboarding time by 18%.

If you’re looking to move up the ladder rungs, the best thing you can do in your manager resume is to show how you’ve exercised ownership and autonomy in your experience.

In your work history section on your resume, write about experiences where you headed up your own projects from start to finish , volunteered mentorship or suggestions that left a positive impact , and demonstrated a high aptitude for time management, organization, and problem-solving .

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Manager resume examples & templates

Related manager resume examples

Manager: there is no more important role in the modern workplace. People develop when they are taught, guided and led by someone who has more experience. The best companies seek to develop the most effective managers – the trickle-down effect of amazing management skills is the most powerful force in business. You learn from your manager and you then pass on the same lessons when you become a manager yourself. What skills does an amazing manager possess and how do you demonstrate these in your manager resume?

Ideally, a job seeker would share a highlight reel with examples of their best management moments, but sadly they currently have to start every interview process with a written resume. Of course, they can be more animated when describing their management style during the interview, but they have to get there first. With this manager resume example and writing guide, we hope to explore the aspects of management that are worth exploring in your perfect resume and the language that you might use to bring your skills to life. We'll show you how to:

• Create a manager resume that brings your management style to life.
• Describe the subtleties of situations that will be relevant to your future employer.
• Make sure that you impress the ATS software with the qualifications the company is actually seeking.
• Make format choices that highlight your most powerful management experiences.

This manager resume writing guide, along with our collection of management resume samples and resume templates, will give you a framework to communicate how you manage those around you, whether direct reports, colleagues or bosses.

What does a manager do? 

No matter what the industry or type of business, the best managers share a multitude of common traits. You have to communicate with others to get things done, you have to focus on the professional development of your team and you have to make sure that work streams progress smoothly and profitably. Organizational and leadership skills are critical, no matter what the nature of your management role. To be considered a great manager, there are many more boxes to tick. 

But what elements of the role could you include in your manager resume? To start with, concise written and oral communication skills are the foundation of solid management. Managers have to set goals for their people, help to align their activity within the overall strategy, and amend their direction depending on results. Great managers realize that alongside the inevitable task-based nature of every role, they need to give their people time and space to grow. Having said this, managers ultimately need their people to achieve results. 

They need to focus on process improvements, planning, evaluation and quality assurance. There are few managers who have no budgetary responsibility and even fewer who have no responsibility for customer service (internal or external). Most managers have to solve problems and suggest solutions on a constant basis. While managers are often seen as managing others, one important aspect is their ability to manage themselves. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence form the bedrock of managerial mental strength. Each of these aspects (and many more) should be included in any managerial resume.

Need more ideas? Go ahead and have a look at these related resume examples from the Business & Management field : 

• Chief officer executive resume example
• Senior business analyst resume example
• Grant writer resume example
• Business marketing manager resume example
• Business Development Manager resume example
• Consultant resume example
• Business Manager resume example
• Product manager resume example
• Project manager resume example
• Business analyst resume example
• Executive assistant resume example
• Program manager resume example
• Procurement manager resume example
• Executive resume example

How to write a manager resume

Before you get started on how to write a manager resume, you need to know what goes into it.

Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Now that the basics are out of the way, let’s get to the content. Taking responsibility for the professional development and achievement of others is an immense responsibility, made harder by the fact that there is no “blueprint” for the perfect manager. Everyone has their own approach. Management responsibilities will also vary greatly depending on the type of work that they and their teams are asked to do and the industry in which they work. It is vital that your business resume reads like a manager from your target  industry. If you are talking about things that would never happen in their company, it will be that much harder to entrust you with their people.

While you will have experienced different managerial requirements in the past, it is important to look deep inside and realize the sort of manager that you feel most comfortable being and how you are able to bring out the best of those around you. Some may call this your management “style.” If your style does not fit with the job description, then maybe you have to be honest and admit that the job isn’t for you. The time to get excited is when you sense that there is a good fit. 

Then you just have to do yourself justice in the action words that you choose for your manager resume. While you won’t have the space to describe various situations in any detail, you don’t actually need to. You simply need to create an emotional response in the mind of the reader. The words that you choose matter hugely. Whether you describe yourself as demanding, understanding, empowering or detail-oriented, a picture will quickly emerge in an employer’s mind. 

The tasks that you choose to highlight (or not) in your resume also seek to highlight the impact that you make. If you talk a lot about communication, performance management and training, for example, it will create a certain impression. If you only talk about operations, analysis and process management, you will be seen in a different light. The right mix of words and tasks will make a potential employer feel that you are the manager for them.

How to get past the ATS? Resume writing using keywords and research

Recruitment is increasingly being assisted by software to help handle the volume of resumes. You can be sure that there will be considerable competition for any management role and the first stage of the interview process is often having your resume scanned by ATS (applicant tracking system) software. If your resume does not pass this software, it may not even be read by a human. The trick here lies in the selection of suitable keywords that are both true to your experience but also targeted towards the industry in which you will be working.

Choosing the best CV format for a manager

You’re ultimate goal here is for recruiters to easily garner the information they seek. That’s why we recommend you stick with reverse chronological order. This format shows off your career progression and allows you to build a story of success.

If your career path is more winding, you may consider a hybrid format or if you are in a highly technical field, a functional resume format may be for you, however, don’t make your manager resume too densely technical. A recruiter without a deep understanding might skip over to more readable parts. Including technical terms is good for the ATS, but make sure that they are integrated into the story of your career. Including a huge list of skills is rarely a good idea. 

Resume summary example: brief and impactful

The summary is the managerial elevator pitch of your resume. It is the equivalent corporate version of the question “Who are you?” How you see yourself as a manager will paint a picture of the impact that you have on those around you. 

The summary has to convey your personality, highlight your experience and give a sense that you know you are able to bring out the best in those around you. The message of any manager’s resume summary should both inspire and reassure. How you choose to describe yourself here will say a lot about your management style, and as the summary is the first (and sometimes only) part of the manager resume to be scanned, those few sentences are critically important. Choose action verbs that hint at how you go about your work, choose adjectives to give an extra dimension to your self-portrayal and choose activity examples that will impress.

Experienced and self-motivated Manager bringing forth valuable industry experience and a passion for management. Results oriented with a proven track record of working collaboratively with team members to achieve goals. Experienced in both retail and culinary settings, and adept at effectively managing all operations.

Manager employment history example

The employment/work history of a manager should be a “greatest hits” of managerial successes. Your prospective boss will have experienced many of these situations themselves, so highlight your unique approach to people management. Any manager could probably fill in their resume with the things that have happened to them over the past week, let alone the past 10-20 years, so it is vital to be selective in the stories that you decide to tell for each role. Make sure that they fit with the sorts of things that you think you will be doing with your new employer and make sure that you lead with the most recent experiences first. If your most recent roles seem of interest, the prospective employer will read further. Ideally, we want them to read until the end. Your employment history needs to hold their attention all the way through the resume.

Talk about how you helped to impact the behaviors and results of those around you. Include facts and figures where possible and give the commercial context of your management actions. Include examples of projects that you and your teams have worked on, as well as the day-to-day management tasks – an ability to juggle temporary and permanent activities is important. No manager is perfect, so it is also important to include a few of your management “lessons” where appropriate. 

Sharing details about how you achieve results with your direct reports and your colleagues is vital to give your manager resume a more human touch. No manager sits in a corner and works independently – much of their success can be ascribed to how they work with others. If you are doing a detailed description of a project, you might consider using the STAR method; S - the situation that you were in; T – the task(s) you had; A – the actions/strategy that you used; R- the result you achieved. This helps to keep your explanations logical and straightforward.

General Manager, H&M, White Plains  October 2014 - September 2019 

• Served as a successful leader, promoting and achieving store success.
• Encouraged employees to do their best and increased store productivity immensely.
• Identified and maximized sales opportunities and increased customer retention rates.
• Successfully handled visual merchandising and worked to promote company vision.
• Led recruitment efforts and training of new employees.   

Assistant Store Manager, H&M, White Plains  September 2012 - September 2014

• Provided optimal assistance to the General Manager and handled a variety of tasks.
• Assisted with recruitment and training of new employees, while also monitoring the productivity of current employees.
• Worked to ensure a neat and attractive sales environment and assisted in the setup of visual displays.
• Handled work logs and the organization of employee files.
• Assisted with payroll and distributed paychecks to employees.

Sales Associate, The Guilded Lynx  May 2009 - August 2012 

• Served as an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Sales Associate in this high-end jewelry boutique.
• Remained informed and up to date on the current stock and offerings.
• Answered all customer queries with friendliness and expertise.
• Worked to provide optimal browsing and buying experiences for all visitors and customers.

Resume skills section example: diverse and effective

Although the details of what a manager does might vary greatly, the basic skill-set of people management contains many elements that will not change, regardless of what industry you work in or what management position you are in. All these skills need to be present in a manager resume and it is incredibly important that they are communicated clearly. You should include examples of both hard and soft skills and while more detailed explanations can be included in the employment history section, the skills section is perfect for the one- or two-word hardest-hitting variant. Choose which skills you wish to highlight carefully. Here are a few resume examples of longer-form skill descriptions:

• Managed over 350 direct reports in store retail teams of 5-35 people.
• Ran a company-wide merchandising training and development initiative.
• Ran recruitment and HR programs through boom times and recessions as hiring manager.
• Won countless awards for staff development and team engagement.
• Prioritized a team focus on customer satisfaction – both external and internal.
• Utilized the latest technologies to ensure that my teams worked effectively.
• Ran my teams with know-how, passion, trust, dynamism and foresight.

Here are some sample shorter skill phrases / words that you could include in this resume section: People Development, Strategy Alignment, Communication, Delegation, Employee Supervision, Training & Development, Recruitment, Performance Management, Operational Excellence, Systems Optimization, Planning, Budgeting & Finance, Quality Assurance, Inter-Functional Cooperation, Customer Service, Problem Solving. Make your executive resume stand out from the crowd by tailoring your skills to the specific role.

• General Management
• Problem Solving Skills
• Business Development Strategies
• Interpersonal Communication Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Multitasking Skills

Education sample: constant learning

In terms of education and qualification, many managers will possess a bachelor’s degree in business administration from a reputable university or college. Although they will have work experience from more junior roles, the theoretical experience from a degree will always come in handy later on. Management is not something that you make up as you go along. When employers are looking to hire a manager, they will also want to see evidence of continuous improvement in terms of training courses and personal development. Make sure that this resume section is as full as possible. 

Associate of Communications, Purchase College, Purchase  August 2001 - May 2005  High School Diploma, White Plains High School, White Plains May 1997 - September 2001

Resume layout and design: manage your image

The structure of your manager resume also plays an important role in making sure that the most important aspects of your career are noticed. There are no specific rules about which format to choose, but here is a guiding principle: Ensure that it is visually clean, easy to read and symmetrical. You will have a lot to say about your achievements, but the starring moments of your career will be lost if it is cluttered. 

While you can always design your format yourself, resume templates can make the process much easier. Resume.io's collection of template samples includes a wide range of attractive layouts – choose one that you like the look of! For managers of various industries, the Professional template samples, Modern or even Creative resume templates might be great choices! By clicking on the editable manager resume example at the top of this page, you'll be able to adjust our manager sample sentences inside the template of your choice.

An effective resume in 2024 needs to be long enough to cover all the necessary information, yet not so long that it will dilute your story. Find that perfect balance.

Key takeaways for a manager resume

• Showcase your management skills and people work experiences.
• Describe how your manager blueprint has made your teams successful.
• Highlight the aspects of your personality that make you a great manager.
• Make your managerial elevator pitch in the resume summary section.
• Include both hard and soft skills with relevant examples.
• Make sure that your manager resume sounds like you and not some generic version of you.
• Include as much detail about your personal development and learning as you can.

We hope this manager resume writing guide has left you excited about all the career possibilities to come! Don't forget to check out the top of this page for our editable manager resume example with pre-filled sample sentences. You'll easily be able to adapt the writing and change the template inside our resume builder. 

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

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Manager Resume Examples: Skills, Job Description, and Tips

As an experienced manager, you already know how important it is to put your best foot forward when it comes to presenting yourself to potential employers. One of the most critical elements of this process is your resume, which serves as your introduction to decision-makers who are determining whether you have what it takes to be a valuable addition to their team. A strong manager resume is essential to making a positive impression and securing the job you want.

Importance of a strong manager resume

In an era in which the job market is more competitive than ever before, it is essential to have a standout resume that showcases your skills, qualifications, and experience in a clear and compelling way. Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes for each open position, so it is crucial to make sure yours stands out from the crowd. A strong manager resume demonstrates your ability to lead, organize, and inspire a team while also highlighting your specific industry expertise and accomplishments.

Overview of the contents

Throughout this article, we will explore different elements of a strong manager resume, including skills, job descriptions, and tips. We will provide examples and templates to make the resume creation process easier, and our subject matter experts will share their insights into what hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. Ultimately, this article will provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to create a manager resume that showcases your unique qualifications and makes you the top candidate for the job. We will cover important topics such as resume formatting, work experience, key skills, and personal branding. So, buckle up and get ready to create a resume that will help you take your career to the next level. In order to succeed as a manager, there are certain key skills that are essential. These skills fall into three main categories: interpersonal and communication skills, technical skills, and other essential skills.

Interpersonal and communication skills are perhaps the most important skills for a manager to possess. Effective communication ensures that a manager’s team members are on the same page and working toward the same goals. Active listening is an important part of effective communication, as it allows a manager to truly understand what his or her team members are saying. Conflict resolution is another key interpersonal skill, as it enables a manager to mediate disagreements and prevent them from escalating into larger problems. Finally, leadership is the ultimate interpersonal skill, as it allows a manager to inspire his or her team members, rally them around a common vision, and guide them toward success.

Technical skills are also important for a manager to possess. Budget management is perhaps the most important technical skill, as it enables a manager to manage the financial resources of his or her team or organization effectively. Project management is another key technical skill, as it enables a manager to oversee the process of completing a project from start to finish. Finally, human resources skills are essential, as they allow a manager to manage his or her team effectively and to hire the best people for the job.

Other essential skills that are important for a manager to possess include time management, strategic thinking, and problem solving. Time management is essential for a manager to prioritize tasks and ensure that deadlines are met. Strategic thinking enables a manager to look beyond the day-to-day tasks and consider the big picture, which is essential for long-term planning and success. Finally, problem solving is an important skill for a manager to possess, as it enables him or her to come up with creative solutions to unexpected challenges and to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

A successful manager must possess a range of key skills, including interpersonal and communication skills, technical skills, and other essential skills. By continually working to develop these skills, a manager can ensure his or her team’s success and help lead his or her organization to greater heights.

Manager Resume Samples

As a manager, having a well-crafted resume is crucial to landing your dream job. There are different types of manager resumes, and it is essential to choose the most effective one that showcases your skills and experience.

A. Types of Manager Resumes

Chronological:  This is the most common type of manager resume format, where your work experiences are listed in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. This format highlights your career growth and achievements and is ideal if you are applying for a job in the same industry as your previous experiences.

Functional:  A functional resume highlights your skills and achievements rather than your work experience. This format is ideal if you have gaps in your employment history or if you are changing careers.

Combination:  The combination resume is a mix of the chronological and functional formats, highlighting both your work experience and relevant skills. This format is suitable if you want to showcase both your career growth and specific skills.

B. Manager Resume Sample Examples

CEO/Executive:  A CEO or executive manager resume should emphasize leadership skills, strategic thinking, and overall business acumen. This resume should highlight your substantial work experience in managing complex operations and leading teams. An effective CEO or executive manager resume should also showcase your education, certifications, and other relevant achievements.

Sales Manager:  A sales manager resume should show your ability to drive revenue and lead a team of sales representatives. This resume should highlight your experience in sales, marketing, and team management. It should also emphasize your ability to develop sales strategies and identify new business opportunities.

Operations Manager:  An operations manager resume should showcase your ability to oversee business operations and deliver results. This resume should emphasize your experience in managing finances, personnel, and logistics. It should also highlight your ability to implement and streamline processes to increase efficiency and productivity.

Crafting an effective manager resume requires identifying the most suitable format and showcasing relevant skills and experience. With the right manager resume examples, you can stand out from other applicants and land your desired job.

Crafting a Manager Job Description

When it comes to crafting a manager job description, it’s essential to ensure that it’s well-structured and informative. A job description should provide a clear overview of the position, its requirements, and the responsibilities that come with it. Here are the important aspects to cover:

A. Job description format

Job title:  The title should be clear and concise.

Objective:  This section should define the purpose of the role and highlight its relevance to the organization.

Responsibilities:  The responsibilities section should outline the key tasks and functions of the role.

Requirements:  This section should detail the skills, qualifications, and experience necessary for the role.

B. Important components of a manager’s job description

Mission statement:  The mission statement should reflect the values and objectives of the organization.

KPIs:  Key performance indicators should be included to establish clear expectations for the manager’s performance.

The scope of duties and responsibilities:  This section should detail the range of responsibilities that the manager will be expected to carry out.

Experience, education, and qualifications:  The experience, education, and qualifications required for the role should be clearly outlined.

As a manager, it’s important to showcase your skills and qualifications in your resume. By including relevant information in your job description, you can attract the right kind of candidates and ensure a successful recruitment process.

Tips for Writing a Good Manager Resume

When it comes to crafting a compelling manager resume, it’s crucial to know how to highlight your unique strengths and accomplishments while avoiding common resume mistakes. To help you get started, here are some tips for writing a good manager resume:

A. How to Create a Strong Summary Statement

• Avoid clichés : Instead of using generic phrases like “detail-oriented manager,” try to showcase your personality and specific accomplishments.
• Highlight your unique strengths : Use your summary statement to emphasize your unique strengths and what makes you stand out from the crowd.

B. Writing Effective Job Descriptions

• Use bullet points : Organize your job descriptions using bullet points to make them easy to read and understand.
• State accomplishments, not just responsibilities : Don’t just list your responsibilities; focus on your achievements and quantify them whenever possible.
• Use keywords : Incorporate relevant keywords from the job posting, industry, or company mission statement to show you’re a good fit for the role.

C. Highlighting Your Skills

• Matching specific skills to job requirements : Identify the specific skills required for the job and selectively highlight your relevant experiences.
• Incorporating transferable skills : Even if you don’t have direct experience in a particular role, showcase your transferable skills that demonstrate your ability to adapt and contribute to any team.

D. Making Your Resume Stand Out

• Using action verbs : Start each bullet point with a strong action verb to show you’re a dynamic and results-driven manager.
• Avoiding common resume mistakes : Proofread your resume carefully to eliminate any grammatical errors or typos that could detract from your professionalism.
• Following the rules of the road : Stick to a clean and easy-to-read resume format, and make sure your resume stays under two pages in length.

By following these tips, you can create a strong and compelling manager resume that highlights your unique strengths and accomplishments, and ultimately focus on your core skills for the job.

Customizing Your Manager Resume

As a manager, having a strong resume is vital to landing your next job. But what many job seekers don’t realize is that simply having a well-written resume isn’t enough. To stand out from the competition, it’s important to tailor your resume to each job description and make it ATS (applicant tracking system) friendly.

A. Tailoring your resume to each job description

When applying for a job, it’s essential that you align your skills and qualifications with the requirements of the position. Take the time to thoroughly read the job description and highlight keywords or phrases that the employer is looking for. You can then incorporate these words or phrases into your resume to show that you possess the necessary skills and experience.

Furthermore, customize your professional summary, job titles, and language to match what the job posting specifies. Highlight any applicable achievements and accomplishments related to the required skills and qualifications for a particular job. This not only presents you as the ideal candidate but also shows the employer how passionate and invested you are in the job.

B. Making your resume ATS friendly

Many companies use ATS technology to help manage the high volume of applications they receive. ATS software filters resumes based on predetermined criteria, such as relevant keywords or work experience. Unless your resume includes these critical elements, it may never be seen by an actual human.

Here are some tips to make your resume ATS friendly:

• Use keywords and phrases from the job description
• Keep formatting simple and consistent
• Avoid using graphics, pictures, or special characters
• Use standard headings and bullet points
• Use a simple and easily readable font

Customizing your manager resume to each job specification and making it ATS friendly is crucial to landing your dream job. By taking the time to tailor your resume, you increase your chances of making it through to the next stage of the hiring process.

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

Your resume is arguably the most valuable piece of paper for your career. But this document can be daunting for many. Maybe you’re not sure how to fit in all your information onto one page. Maybe you’re not sure about the right way to format and write your resume. Maybe you don’t even know what the heck a resume is!

Whatever your concern, we’ll break down everything you need to know about making the perfect resume, from scratch.

What Is a Resume?

What are employers looking for in a resume.

• Pick Your Format
• Start With Your Basic Information
• Add in Your Work Experience
• Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience
• Don’t Forget Your Education
• Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests
• Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)
• Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)
• Edit and Refine It

What Are Some Examples of a Good Resume?

A resume is a summary of your career, whether yours is just getting started or has been going on for years. Coming in at around one page in length (two only under specific circumstances), it showcases the jobs you’ve held and currently hold, the responsibilities you’ve taken on, the skills you’ve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table as an employee. Together, those things make it super easy for any hiring manager to see your qualifications and fit for a role.

For all the work you may put into writing one, hiring managers actually spend very little time—mere seconds in many cases—looking at your resume. But despite this sad fact, it’s safe to say that creating a great resume (rather than hastily throwing one together) still matters.

“If you miss the mark, your resume may never be read. Even worse, you might be removed from the applicant pool by a computer before a human even knows you exist,” says Muse career coach Heather Yurovsky , founder of Shatter & Shine. So you want to get it right because, as she explains, isn’t the goal to “spend less time looking for a job and more time in a role you love?”

You might be wondering if you can lean on your LinkedIn profile instead of writing a resume. The answer, sadly, is no. Most hiring managers still expect you to submit a resume, even if they also look at your LinkedIn. Even if you don’t need a resume for a job you’re applying for now, you’re going to need one at some point in your career—they’re not anywhere close to going out of style. So it’s best to always have one at the ready should an opportunity pop up.

And although LinkedIn has plenty of benefits, a resume has one clear advantage: While your LinkedIn is usually a broader picture of your career trajectory, your resume gives you the opportunity to tailor your career story to a specific role or company (more on that later).

Oh, and you’ve probably heard of something called a CV? It’s slightly different from a resume , and usually more common with academics and job seekers outside the U.S.

Hiring managers look for three things on your resume, “What did you do? Why did you do it? And what was the result?” says Muse career coach Martin McGovern , owner of Career Therapy. “If you can answer all three of these questions in...your resume bullet points, you’re going to be on the right track.”

Clear, easy-to-understand language is key. “The truth is that most resumes make no sense. They are stuffed with jargon, they are too technical, and they are filled with redundancies. Try to read a resume that isn’t yours and you will quickly realize that it feels like an alien wrote it,” McGovern adds. Put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter who has no idea how your role works—how can you make your resume accessible to them?

The hiring manager also cares about more than just you and you alone—they care about you in relation to them. “Hiring managers want to see if a candidate matches the requirements” of the role they’re hiring for, Yurovsky explains. “Your resume should paint this picture so the hiring manager not only knows what day-to-day responsibilities you can handle, but why you, above other[s], bring value to their organization.”

How Do You Write a Resume?

Whether you’re someone who’s never written a resume in your life, or you need a nice, thorough refresher on the process of creating one, follow these steps to go from a blank page to a complete—and dare I say beautiful—document.

Related: This Free Worksheet Makes It Easy to Create (or Update) Your Resume

1. Pick Your Format

Before you start typing one single thing, you have to decide what you want the overall resume to look like.

Resume builders can be helpful for this step—they’ll take all your basic information and organize it for you, eliminating some of the legwork. You can also use a pre-made outline, such as one of these free Google Docs templates .

But it’s often safest to start with a clean slate all on your own and eventually upgrade to a more advanced layout. (If you'd still like a place to write all the relevant information before you get started, check out our resume outline .) This allows you to course correct, edit and re-edit, and choose a resume format that best fits your particular situation (after all, not everyone has a career trajectory that’s easy to compartmentalize).

In general, you’re most likely to cover and/or include sections on the following:

• Your work experience
• Your non-work experience, including professional organizations, community involvement, or side projects
• Your education and certifications
• Your skills (specifically hard skills) and interests

So how do you format and organize all of that information?

By far the most common (and safest, if you’re not sure which route to take) option is reverse chronological order . This means you organize your experiences from most recent to least recent. So your work experiences would go above your education, and your current role would go above previous roles you’ve held. This of course has its exceptions—maybe you went back to grad school between jobs, or your most recent role is irrelevant to the job you’re applying for. So the whole page may not be exactly in reverse chronological order depending on your situation. It’s just a guideline.

There’s also something called a functional or skills-based resume . This is used pretty rarely, mainly with career changers and those with limited or complicated work histories. It gets its name because it’s primarily about listing your skills rather than experiences, and showcases them above your work history and education.

You can also opt for a combination resume , which is a mix between a reverse chronological resume and skills-based resume. It highlights your skills at the top, but allows just as much room below to cover your job and school experience.

Use caution when choosing these two formats: “Combo and skills-based [resumes] can be hard to follow, because [they force] the reader to hunt for connections between your skills and experience, and [don’t] provide the full context of your work,” says Muse Career Coach Angela Smith , founder of Loft Consulting. “I’ve also heard a lot of recruiters say that they automatically discount skill-based resumes because they feel the candidate is trying to hide something. I don’t necessarily believe that, but I think it’s important for job-seekers to know that perception is out there.”

2. Start With Your Basic Information

Your contact information should always go at the top of your resume. In this header you’ll want to include anything that could be helpful for a recruiter to get in touch with you. Usually, this means adding in:

• Your full name (preferably the name you use across the web)
• Your phone number
• Your personal email address

You might also choose to include other basic information, such as your LinkedIn or personal website URL, your GitHub (for technical roles), your social media profiles (if relevant to the job), or your address. If you’re looking to move for a job, you may choose to leave out your address or write “open to relocating” to better your chances of getting an interview.

The key is to make this part as clear as possible. If a hiring manager can’t reach you, there’s no point in perfecting the rest of your resume.

3. Add in Your Work Experience

This section will most likely be the bulk of your resume. Even if you’re changing careers, employers still want to see where you’ve worked, what you’ve done, and the impact of that work to get a sense of your background and expertise.

Your “Work Experience” might be one entire category, or you might choose to break it up into “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience” to highlight the jobs that are most important for hiring managers to focus on. Either way, you’ll almost always want to have your most recent experience at the top and your older experience down below.

Within your work experience, you’ll want to include each official job title, the company (and possibly its location), and the years you worked there. Below that, you’ll add in two to four bullet points explaining what you did in that job, the skills you built and exercised, the tools you used, and the results of what you did. If you accomplished a lot during your time there, focus on the responsibilities that made the most impact or you’re the most proud of, as well as the ones that best align you with the job you’re applying for (more on that in the following sections). It’s key here to list, if relevant, quantitative as well as qualitative accomplishments.

For example, you might write:

Associate Accountant, Finances and Co., Ann Arbor, MI September 2017 – Present

• Manage billing and invoicing for more than 50 clients, ensuring the deadlines and needs of our enterprise partners, including Big Company and Super Star Org, are met
• Collaborate closely with sales, account management, and project management teams on project setup, maintenance, and invoice management
• Assist in the streamlining of invoicing guidelines and procedures through documentation and the implementation of new software, resulting in an average two-week decrease in total time spent per client

Your resume bullets should be in past tense if you’re referring to past jobs and present tense if you’re talking about your current roles. In addition, your bullets should always start with a strong action verb that best describes what you did. And if you have examples of your work, consider hyperlinking them here as well.

If you have a ton of experience and this category is starting to run long (read: over one page), consider kicking out your oldest jobs unless they’re super relevant to the job you’re applying for, or extra impressive for your field.

Not sure where to start? “It’s helpful to do a brain dump and create a document that has everything and anything you consider as experience or an achievement,” says Yurovsky. From there, she explains, you can start to whittle down what is and isn’t important. And you can refer to this document later if you ever decide to update your resume for a specific role.

Need more specific advice on listing your work experience on your resume? Check out these additional resources:

• When you’ve held multiple jobs at the same company: 2 Jobs, 1 Company: How to Show Multiple Positions on Your Resume
• When you’re not sure what your accomplishments are or how to explain them: Resume Revamp: How to Turn Your Duties Into Accomplishments
• When you want to spruce up a boring or insignificant job: How to Make Your Most Boring Jobs Sound More Interesting on Your Resume
• When you’re considering fudging a job title: The Answer to “Can I Change My Job Title on My Resume to Make It More Accurate?”
• When you’ve had a bunch of short-term gigs: How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume

4. Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience

Anything you’ve done that’s not work experience—your side gig, volunteer work, special projects—can be hosted under clearly-labeled sections (“Volunteer Experience” or “Activities,” for example). Depending on how robust your work experience is, these things may be worth including, particularly if they’ve helped you level up your skill set or better align you with your dream job. Plus, they make you look that much more well-rounded, passionate, and hardworking.

If you’re a recent grad, you might also build out a section for on-campus activities, such as clubs, organizations, or leadership experience. This can be a great supplement if you’re lacking in the jobs department. You can frame these just as you would professional jobs—including your title, the organization’s name, and bullets describing what your role was and what you accomplished.

Read More: This Is Exactly How to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume

5. Don’t Forget Your Education

If you’re still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year (for folks less up to about a decade out of school), major, and degree. Brand-new grads might also write in their GPA, honors and awards, study abroad, thesis, or other notable achievements. But keep this section super simple, as you don’t want it to take up too much space over your work experience.

It’s possible you have unique education experience, such as taking an online course or certification. If you did this specifically as a way to boost yourself within your industry, definitely include it. Again, list everything more or less reverse chronologically—so a grad school degree would go above an undergrad degree, and a more recent relevant online course would go above that.

Learn more about the ins and outs of listing your education on your resume:

• How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume
• How to List Online Courses on Your Resume the Right Way (Because Yes, There Is a Wrong Way)

6. Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests

The skills section of a resume gets a bad rap, but it’s just as important as the rest of the stuff you include. It’s a quick list a recruiter can scan to see if your skill set aligns with what they’re hiring for. And it’s super ATS-friendly (ATS stands for “applicant tracking system,” the robot that in some cases reads your resume before a human does) because it allows you to add in keywords the machine is scanning for.

Usually this section goes at the bottom of your resume, but in special cases—such as a skills-based resume or when someone’s switching fields—you may place it further up.

What exactly do you throw in here? You’ll want to list any hard skills and applications you’re familiar with (Photoshop, SEO, JavaScript, to name a few examples), and, if relevant, your level of expertise. Avoid including soft skills here, like time management or public speaking—save those for your bullet points instead.

Be strategic when filling in your skills. Don’t list things you actually couldn’t do at a high competence level (I’m looking at those of you who say you’re “great” at Excel), and maybe nix skills that are completely irrelevant to the job you want. For example, you may not even need to include Excel if you’re applying for say, a design position, unless it’s listed as a job requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking, I’m a really good volleyball player, but that’s not a “skill,” right? No, it’s not, but it is a hobby. Adding in a hobby section at the bottom of your resume is underrated, and frequently a smart choice. It can be a great conversation starter with a hiring manager, and it can show that you’re a good culture fit—or a culture add—for the company. Also, it’s just a nice way to add in some of your personality. So tack on a bullet point listing out some of your interests, such as hiking, rowing, or crafting (no more than five to seven work-appropriate verbs), and you’re all set here.

7. Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)

You may have heard of a resume summary statement . They’re not super common, but they can be useful to include near the top of your resume if you’re looking to add clarity or context to your resume. If you’re a career changer, you might find a summary statement helpful in explaining your leap and tying your experience to your new path. Or if you’re a more experienced professional, you can use a summary statement to highlight a theme that brings your career trajectory together.

Overall, you probably won’t need a summary statement if your career is pretty linear and your bullet points do a great job of emphasizing what you have to offer in terms of skills and experience. But if you think it makes sense to include one, “Take the time to think about what the person reading your summary wants to know before you write it,” says McGovern. “Good summaries explain why you do what you do and how it can help. For instance: Merging a background in ABC, I help companies improve XYZ through 123. Summaries shouldn’t be any more complicated than that.”

So, taking McGovern’s example, you might say:

Merging a background in social media marketing and PR with seven years in the consumer tech space, I help companies improve their internal and external communication and brand awareness through data-driven, quality content and strategies that align with the modern trends of the space.

Yurovsky adds that “you don’t want your summary statement to be a dense paragraph with too much information. You want it to be easy to read, concise, and memorable. Almost like a tagline.”

Read More: 3 Resume Summary Examples That’ll Make Writing Your Own Easier

8. Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)

Once you have your resume written out—you’ve broken down your work experience, tagged on some activities and additional experiences, and listed out your skills—it’s important to go back to the job description (or multiple job descriptions, if you’re applying to several similar jobs) and make sure that what your resume says matches up with the kind of candidate the employers are looking for. In other words, tailor it .

Let’s explain further. You’ll want to begin by tackling the ATS . This means combing the job description to see if individual words and phrases line up. What skills are they asking for, and have you listed them (so long as you actually have them)? What words are they using to describe their ideal hire, and do you use similar language in your resume?

Next, take a bird’s-eye view. If you were the hiring manager for the role, where on your resume would your eyes be drawn to? And what would you be looking for? Whatever you think will be most important for the recruiter, make sure it’s near the top of your resume, or otherwise emphasized.

Finally, dig into the role and responsibilities of the job. Does your resume reflect similar experience? If not, is there a way you can spin it so that it’s clear you’re capable of doing the job (and doing it well)?

These articles can help you if the word “tailoring” makes you start to sweat:

• What It Really Means to “Tailor Your Resume”
• Your Guide to Making Unrelated Experience Look Relevant on Your Resume
• A Cool Trick: How to Spin 1 Resume Bullet 5 Different Ways

9. Edit and Refine It

Please, please don’t just write your resume and shoot it out without giving it a second glance. Hiring managers may not spend hours browsing it, but if there’s one thing that sticks out more than anything else it’s a glaring typo.

The best approach? Write a rough draft, then leave and come back to it later with fresh eyes to give it an edit.

Cover the basics: Is your contact information correct and updated? Are you using the right verb tenses? Does everything look consistent and accurate in terms of spelling and grammar?

Then do some cutting if your resume’s quite long. It’s no longer a hard-and-fast rule that all resumes must be only one page—but consider it a smart guideline for most applicants, especially if you've got less than 10 years work experience. The exception is if you’re very senior or very established in your career; in this scenario, a two-page resume isn’t completely out of the question. Everyone else, read this article for advice on how to cut your resume down.

Formatting-wise, it’s key to consider a couple things. First, what font are you using , and is it legible (for a human and a robot)? When in doubt, go with one of these simple, but sleek, options: Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, or Helvetica.

Second, are you going to save it as a Word document or PDF ? Neither option is wrong, although a PDF helps ensure that your formatting is maintained, no matter what type of computer the hiring manager uses to open the document.

Third, is your resume formatted in a way that it’s skimmable? If it’s feeling crowded or overrun with words, read this: 12 Tiny Changes That Make Your Resume Easy for Recruiters to Skim .

Once you’ve given it a few good looks, it may be worth sending it to a friend or colleague (or even a career coach ) to get a second opinion. Don’t just have them edit it for spelling and grammar—they should dig into your bullets and offer feedback on whether or not your resume is showing you in the best possible light (it’s smart to also send them the job description for something to compare it to).

Here’s the thing: Your resume won’t ever look exactly like someone else’s, nor should it. How you choose to format it, organize your information, and talk about specific experiences depends not just on your career path, but on your field, the job you’re applying for, the company that job is at, and more.

So there isn’t a universal way to do a resume. But there are common themes. To give you some context as to how yours might turn out, here are three examples of different kinds of resumes.

The Most Popular: A Reverse Chronological Resume

As previously mentioned, a reverse chronological resume is preferred by many coaches and HR experts, mainly because it’s super readable. When everything’s in a clear order, it’s easy to skim and even easier to draw lines between experiences.

Who it’s good for: Just about everyone—from students applying to internships all the way up to senior-level executives (with an optional resume summary statement)

Download an Example Chronological Resume for a Software Engineer

The Unorthodox Route: A Functional or Skills-Based Resume

Rather than listing out your experience in reverse chronological order, a functional or skills-based resume has bullet points that reflect how each of your skills is demonstrated by the work you’ve done over the course of your career. At the bottom, you’ll include everything else, such as your education, job history, professional achievements, community involvement, and other technical skills. This is a good option if you have a somewhat all-over-the-place work history and want to tie everything together neatly.

Who it’s good for: Career changers whose work experiences may not appear to be relevant and people with an abundance of temporary jobs or gaps in their work histories.

Download an Example Functional Resume for a Project Manager

The Creative Angle: An Infographic Resume or Resume Website

This resume type is characterized by how it’s formatted visually. You may choose a reverse chronological order or skills-based style to organize your information, but also use graphics, colors, unique fonts, and even multimedia elements to help that information pop. Keep in mind that any creative resume is still likely subject to an ATS—and certain elements may be unreadable by a robot. So consider going this route only if you know a human will be reading your resume (and that said human might enjoy it).

Who it’s good for: People applying to creative roles (designers, editors, writers, marketers, video producers, for example), startups, or fun companies, or to jobs where a creative resume is encouraged, if not required.

Download an Example Infographic Resume for a Designer

Not a designer but want your resume to look just as pretty as this example? Check out these articles:

• 5 Sites to Create an Awesome Infographic Resume (Even if You’re the Least Creative Person Ever)
• How to Build a Resume Website That Will Impress Every Hiring Manager Who Sees It
• 5 Digital Tools That Will Make Your Resume Infinitely More Beautiful

Your resume is a living, breathing document. So while you won’t go through this whole process every time you apply for a job, you should be thinking about all these things as you go to update your resume for your next career step. You might decide later on to switch up the order, or remove or add things, or even get creative and try out a whole new format. If you’re not getting the calls back you expect, you may decide to scrap it and start over —and that’s totally OK.

Regardless of where this piece of paper goes and how it grows, when you give it the care and attention it deserves, you set yourself up for success. And you’ll make it that much more likely that you’ll land an interview and get the chance to prove to the hiring manager—over the phone or in person—what you’ve got to offer.

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Management Resume Summary: 15 Examples to Help You Write Your Own

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Management Resume Summary: 15 Examples to Help You Write Your Own was originally published on The Muse , a great place to research companies and careers. Click here to search for great jobs and companies near you.

As the first section recruiters see, your resume summary should highlight your top accomplishments and skills, tailored to the specific position you’re applying for. This is especially important for management roles, where a standout management resume summary can help you get noticed in a competitive job market.

Let’s break down what a manager’s summary should include and give you templates and resume summary examples to help you create a standout one for various roles.

What is a resume summary?

A resume summary is a concise section at the top of your resume that offers a snapshot of your professional profile. Unlike a detailed resume experience section , a good summary for a resume provides a high-level overview of your most significant accomplishments , skills , and qualifications.

The goal is to capture the attention of hiring managers and recruiters by highlighting your key strengths and achievements in a few sentences or bullet points. It acts as a quick pitch to persuade employers to continue reading and consider you for the role.

Get that resume summary out there! Browse open jobs on The Muse and find your dream job »

Resume summary for management: how is it different?

A manager resume summary is a focused version of a resume summary that highlights qualifications and experiences specific to management positions. It emphasizes your leadership skills , strategic thinking, and ability to deliver results in areas like project management, office management, operations, general management, or retail management.

How to write a management resume summary

Your resume summary should not only showcase your qualifications but also set the stage for the rest of your resume, demonstrating to potential employers why you are the ideal candidate for their management position.

Follow these tips when writing your management resume summary:

1. Keep it brief

A resume summary usually has three to five sentences or a few bullet points. It helps hiring managers quickly see if you’re a good fit for the job without having to dig through your whole resume.

2. Highlight your leadership skills

Emphasize your experience in leading teams, managing people, and overseeing projects or operations. This could include examples of how you motivated your team, resolved conflicts, or achieved team goals.

3. Emphasize strategic planning and execution

Highlight your ability to develop and execute strategies that contribute to organizational success. Mention specific strategic initiatives you’ve led or contributed to, and how they impacted the company’s bottom line.

4. Demonstrate operational management skills

Showcase your expertise in managing day-to-day operations, optimizing processes, and ensuring efficient workflow. This could involve experience with budgeting, resource allocation, or process improvements.

5. Include quantifiable achievements

Include quantifiable achievements that demonstrate your effectiveness as a manager. For instance, if you’re writing a project manager summary for your resume, you might mention increases in productivity, revenue growth, or successful project completions.

(Here’s how to quantify your resume bullets —even if you don’t work with numbers.)

6. Personalize industry-specific knowledge

Tailor your resume summary to reflect the industry you’re applying for. This can include specific industry-related skills, certifications, or knowledge of best practices. It should also include keywords and skills relevant to the job description, making it easier for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) to identify your resume as a match.

Resume summary template

Here’s a general resume summary template you can use:

[Adjective] and [adjective] management professional with [number] years of experience in [industry]. Proven ability to [relevant skill] and [relevant skill] to achieve [specific result]. Adept at [specific management activity], with a strong focus on [key area of expertise]. Looking to leverage my expertise in [desired role] at [company name].

15 resume summary examples for management roles

Need more inspiration? Check out these 15 well-crafted management resume summary examples for different types of managers—one of them might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Example #1: Project manager resume summary

Detail-oriented and strategic project manager with 10 years of experience in IT and software development. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multimillion-dollar projects to successful completion. Adept at risk management and resource allocation, with a strong focus on meeting project deadlines and budget requirements. Looking to leverage my expertise in agile methodologies at XYZ Tech.

Find project manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #2: Office manager resume summary

Organized and proactive office manager with over 7 years of experience in administrative support and office operations. Demonstrated success in streamlining office procedures, improving communication, and enhancing overall efficiency. Skilled in team management and office software, looking to bring my strong organizational skills to ABC Corp.

Find office manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #3: Operations manager resume summary

Results-driven operations manager with 12 years of experience in manufacturing and logistics. Expertise in optimizing production processes, reducing costs, and improving quality control. Proven track record of leading teams to exceed performance targets and implement continuous improvement initiatives. Seeking to apply my operational leadership skills at DEF Manufacturing.

Find operations manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #4: General manager resume summary

Visionary and dynamic general manager with 15 years of experience in retail and hospitality. Known for driving business growth and enhancing customer satisfaction through strategic planning and team development. Skilled in financial management and operational efficiency, eager to lead the expansion of GHI Retail.

Find general manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #: Retail manager resume summary

Customer-focused retail manager with 8 years of experience in high-end fashion retail. Proven ability to increase sales through exceptional customer service and staff training. Strong background in inventory management and merchandising. Looking to bring my retail expertise to JKL Fashion Store.

Find retail manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #6: Assistant project manager resume summary

Efficient and supportive assistant project manager with 5 years of experience in construction. Known for assisting in the successful completion of projects by managing schedules, coordinating teams, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Seeking to contribute to the ongoing success of MNO Construction.

Find assistant project manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #7: Marketing manager resume summary

Innovative and strategic marketing manager with 9 years of experience in digital marketing and brand management. Proven track record of developing and executing marketing campaigns that increase brand awareness and drive sales. Skilled in data analysis and customer segmentation, looking to bring my marketing expertise to PQR Marketing Agency.

Find marketing manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #8: Sales manager resume summary

Ambitious and results-oriented sales manager with 10 years of experience in B2B sales. Demonstrated success in driving revenue growth, developing sales strategies, and leading high-performing sales teams. Adept at relationship building and market analysis, seeking to leverage my sales expertise at STU Corporation.

Find sales manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #9: Human resources manager resume summary

Compassionate and strategic human resources manager with 12 years of experience in employee relations and talent acquisition. Proven ability to develop and implement HR policies that improve employee satisfaction and retention. Skilled in conflict resolution and performance management, eager to join the HR team at VWX Enterprises.

Find human resources manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #10: Financial manager resume summary

Detail-oriented and analytical financial manager with 10 years of experience in corporate finance and accounting. Expertise in budgeting, financial planning, and risk management. Proven ability to optimize financial performance and provide strategic insights. Looking to bring my financial expertise to YZ Finance Group.

Find financial manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #11: Product manager resume summary

Innovative and customer-centric product manager with 8 years of experience in product development and lifecycle management. Proven track record of launching successful products and driving market penetration. Skilled in market research and cross-functional collaboration, seeking to apply my product management skills at ABC Tech.

Find product manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #12: Hospitality manager resume summary

Guest-focused and organized hospitality manager with 10 years of experience in hotel management and customer service. Proven ability to enhance guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. Skilled in staff training and event planning, looking to bring my hospitality expertise to DEF Hotels.

Find hospitality manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #13: Logistics manager resume summary

Proactive and efficient logistics manager with 7 years of experience in supply chain management and distribution. Proven ability to optimize logistics operations, reduce costs, and improve delivery times. Skilled in inventory management and vendor relations, eager to join the logistics team at GHI Logistics.

Find logistics manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #14: IT manager resume summary

Tech-savvy and strategic IT manager with 9 years of experience in IT infrastructure and project management. Proven ability to lead IT teams, manage budgets, and implement technology solutions that drive business growth. Skilled in cybersecurity and network management, looking to bring my IT expertise to JKL Tech Solutions.

Find IT manager jobs here on The Muse

Example #15: Customer service manager resume summary

Empathetic and results-driven customer service manager with 8 years of experience in customer support and team leadership. Proven ability to improve customer satisfaction and reduce response times through effective training and process improvements. Skilled in CRM software and conflict resolution, seeking to join the customer service team at MNO Services.

Find customer service manager jobs here on The Muse

Key takeaways

Your resume summary is a critical component of your management resume, serving as your first impression to potential employers. Use the examples and template provided in this guide to craft a compelling resume summary that showcases your management expertise and sets you apart from the competition.

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Sales Manager Resume Examples For 2024 (20+ Skills & Templates)

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Looking to score a job as a Sales Manager?

You're going to need an awesome resume. This guide is your one-stop-shop for writing a job-winning Sales Manager resume using our proven strategies, skills, templates, and examples.

All of the content in this guide is based on data from coaching thousands of job seekers (just like you!) who went on to land offers at the world's best companies.

If you want to maximize your chances of landing that Sales Manager role, I recommend reading this piece from top to bottom. But if you're just looking for something specific, here's what's included in this guide:

• What To Know About Writing A Job-Winning Sales Manager Resume
• The Best Skills To Include On A Sales Manager Resume

How To Write A Job-Winning Sales Manager Resume Summary

How to write offer-winning sales manager resume bullets.

• 3 Sales Manager Resume Examples

The 8 Best Sales Manager Resume Templates

Sales manager resume overview: what to know to write a resume that wins more job offers.

What do companies look for when they're hiring a Sales Manager?

Companies look for candidates with strong leadership skills to oversee sales teams and drive revenue targets. They also look for people with excellent negotiation skills to secure the best deals for the company.

Additionally, companies look for candidates proficient in sales management software and tools that help with tracking sales performance and improving sales strategies. Lastly, a strategic mindset and problem-solving abilities are essential for handling complex sales challenges and enhancing the company's revenue.

Your resume should show the company that your personality and your experience encompass all these things.

Additionally, there are a few best practices you want to follow to write a job-winning Sales Manager resume:

• Tailor your resume to the job description you are applying for: Tailor your resume for each application, aligning your skills with the specific requirements of each job description.
• Detail previous experiences: Provide detailed descriptions of your roles, emphasizing hard and soft skills related to the job description.
• Bring in your key achievements: Showcase measurable achievements in previous roles and share your best work.
• Highlight your skills: Highlight your skills in Leadership, Negotiation, CRM Software, and more.
• Make it visually appealing: Use a professional and clean layout with bullet points for easy readability. Also, ensure formatting and font consistency throughout the resume and limit it to one or two pages.
• Use keywords: Incorporate industry-specific keywords from the job description to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and increase your chances of being noticed by hiring managers.
• Proofread your resume: Thoroughly proofread your resume to eliminate errors (I recommend Hemingway App and Grammarly ). Consider seeking feedback from peers or mentors to ensure clarity and effectiveness!

Let's dive deeper into each of these so you have the exact blueprint you need to see success.

The Best Sales Manager Skills To Include On Your Resume

Keywords are one of the most important factors in your resume. They show employers that your skills align with the role and they also help format your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

If you're not familiar with ATS systems, they are pieces of software used by employers to manage job applications. They scan resumes for keywords and qualifications and make it easier for employers to filter and search for candidates whose qualifications match the role.

If you want to win more interviews and job offers, you need to have a keyword-optimized resume. There are two ways to find the right keywords:

1. Leverage The 20 Best Sales Manager Keywords

The first is to leverage our list of the best keywords and skills for a Sales Manager resume.

These keywords were selected from an analysis of real Sales Manager job descriptions sourced from actual job boards. Here they are:

• Communication
• Prospecting
• Collaborative
• Development

2. Use ResyMatch.io To Find The Best Keywords That Are Specific To Your Resume And Target Role

The second method is the one I recommend because it's personalized to your specific resume and target job.

This process lets you find the exact keywords that your resume is missing when compared to the individual role you're applying for.

Here's how it works:

• Open a copy of your updated Sales Manager resume
• Open a copy of your target Sales Manager job description
• In the widget below, paste your resume on the left, paste the job description on the right, and hit scan!

ResyMatch is going to scan your resume and compare it to the target job description. It's going to show you the exact keywords and skills you're missing as well as share other feedback you can use to improve your resume.

If you're ready to get started, use the widget below to run your first scan and get your free resume score:

Copy/paste or upload your resume here:

Click here to paste text

Upload a PDF, Word Doc, or TXT File

Paste the job post's details here:

Scan to compare and score your resume vs the job's description.

Scanning...

And if you're a visual learner, here's a video walking through the entire process so you can follow along:

Employers spend an average of six seconds reading your resume.

If you want to win more interviews and offers, you need to make that time count. That starts with hitting the reader with the exact information they're looking for right at the top of your resume.

Unfortunately, traditional resume advice like Summaries and Objectives don't accomplish that goal. If you want to win in today's market, you need a modern approach. I like to use something I call a “Highlight Reel,” here's how it works.

Highlight Reels: A Proven Way To Start Your Resume And Win More Jobs

The Highlight Reel is exactly what it sounds like.

It's a section at the top of your resume that allows you to pick and choose the best and most relevant experience to feature right at the top of your resume.

It's essentially a highlight reel of your career as it relates to this specific role! I like to think about it as the SportsCenter Top 10 of your resume.

The Highlight Reel resume summary consists of 4 parts:

• A relevant section title that ties your experience to the role
• An introductory bullet that summarizes your experience and high-level value
• A few supporting “Case Study” bullets that illustrate specific results, projects, and relevant experience
• A closing “Extracurricular” bullet to round out your candidacy

For example, if we were writing a Highlight Reel for a Sales Manager role, it might look like this:

The first bullet includes the candidate's years of experience in the role. The next two bullets are “Case Studies” of specific results they drove for companies they worked for. The last bullet wraps up with extracurricular information.

This candidate has provided all of the info any employer would want to see right at the very top of their resume! The best part is that they can customize this section for each and every role they apply for to maximize the relevance of their experience.

Here's one more example of a Sales Manager Highlight Reel:

The content of this example showcases a candidate applying for a senior role. Their resume bullets bring in their years of experience, measurable results, and wrap up with high-value extracurricular activities.

If you want more details on writing a killer Highlight Reel, check out my full guide on Highlight Reels here.

Bullets make up the majority of the content in your resume. If you want to win, you need to know how to write bullets that are compelling and value-driven.

Unfortunately, way too many job seekers aren't good at this. They use fluffy, buzzword-filled language and they only talk about the actions that they took rather than the results and outcomes those actions created.

To help solve this, our team dove into bullets from the best resumes that have come across our desk. We used that data to create a formula for a great resume bullet. Here it is:

If you apply this framework to each of the bullets on your resume, you're going to make them more compelling and your value is going to be crystal clear to the reader. For example, take a look at these resume bullets:

❌ Sales Manager with over 10 years of experience.

✅ Sales Manager with 10+ years in sales leadership, driving a 20% increase in revenue growth.

The second bullet makes the candidate's value so much more clear, and it's a lot more fun to read! That's what we're going for here.

That said, it's one thing to look at the graphic above and try to apply the abstract concept of “35% hard skills” to your bullet. We wanted to make things easy, so we created a tool called ResyBullet.io that will actually give your resume bullet a score and show you how to improve it.

Using ResyBullet To Write Crazy Effective, Job-Winning Resume Bullets

ResyBullet takes our proprietary “resume bullet formula” and layers it into a tool that's super simple to use. Here's how it works:

• Head over to ResyBullet.io
• Copy a bullet from your resume and paste it into the tool, then hit “Analyze”
• ResyBullet will score your resume bullet and show you exactly what you need to improve
• You edit your bullet with the recommended changes and scan it again
• Rinse and repeat until you get a score of 60+
• Move on to the next bullet in your resume

Let's take a look at how this works for the two resume bullet examples I shared above:

First, we had, “Sales Manager with over 10 years of experience.”

ResyBullet gave that a score of 35/100. Not only is it too short, but it's missing relevant skills, compelling language, and measurable outcomes:

Now, let's take a look at our second bullet, “Sales Manager with 10+ years in sales leadership, driving a 20% increase in revenue growth.”

ResyBullet gave that a 69/100. Much better! This bullet had more content focused on the experience in the Sales Manager role, while also highlighting measurable results:

Now all you have to do is run each of your bullets through ResyBullet, make the suggested updates, and your resume is going to be jam-packed with eye-popping, value-driven content!

If you're ready, grab a bullet from your resume, paste it into the widget below, and hit scan to get your first resume bullet score and analysis:

Free Resume Bullet Analyzer

Learn to write crazy effective resume bullets that grab attention, illustrate value, and actually get results., copy and paste your resume bullet to begin analysis:, 3 sales manager resume examples for 2024.

Now let's take a look at all of these best practices in action. Here are three resume examples for different situations from people with different backgrounds:

Sales Manager Resume Example #1: A Traditional Background

Sales Manager Resume Example #2: A Non-Traditional Background

For our second Sales Manager Resume Example, we have a candidate who has a non-traditional background. In this case, they come from a background in education, but leverage experiences that help them transition to a Sales Manager role. Here's an example of what their resume might look like:

Sales Manager Resume Example #3: Senior Sales Manager Resume

For our third Sales Manager Resume Example, we have a candidate applying for a senior role. Here's an example of what their resume might look like:

At this point, you know all of the basics you'll need to write a Sales Manager resume that wins you more interviews and offers. The only thing left is to take all of that information and apply it to a template that's going to help you get results.

We made that easy with our ResyBuild tool . It has 8 proven templates that were created with the help of recruiters and hiring managers at the world's best companies. These templates also bake in thousands of data points we have from the job seekers in our audience who have used them to land job offers.

Just click any of the templates below to start building your resume using proven, recruiter-approved templates:

Free Job-Winning Resume Templates, Build Yours In No Time .

Choose a resume template below to get started:.

Key Takeaways To Wrap Up Your Job-Winning Sales Manager Resume

You made it! We packed a lot of information into this post so I wanted to distill the key points for you and lay out next steps so you know exactly where to from here.

Here are the 5 steps for writing a job-winning Sales Manager resume:

• Start with a proven resume template from ResyBuild.io
• Use ResyMatch.io to find the right keywords and optimize your resume for each role you apply to
• Open your resume with a Highlight Reel to immediately grab your target employer's attention
• Use ResyBullet.io to craft compelling, value-driven bullets that pop off the page
• Compare the draft of your resume to the examples on this page to make sure you're on the right path
• Use a tool like HemingwayApp or Grammarly to proofread your resume before you submit it

If you follow those steps, you're going to be well on your way to landing more recruiter interviews and job offers.

Now that your resume is taken care of, check out my guide on how to get a job anywhere without applying online!

Paula Martins

Paula is Cultivated Culture's amazing Editor and Content Manager. Her background is in journalism and she's transitioned from roles in education, to tech, to finance, and more. She blends her journalism background with her job search experience to share advice aimed at helping people like you land jobs they love without applying online.

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Resume Tips for Leaders and Managers

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Instructor: Sarah Johnston

Are you looking for a new job as a manager, but not sure what to do with your resume? Join instructor and professional resume writer Sarah Johnston in this approachable executive skills course. Follow along as she introduces you to practical strategies to create a stand-out resume, with tips that you can put to use the next time you’re interviewing for a new role.

Get started by outlining the unique features of a leadership and management skills-based resume. Find out how to articulate your strengths on the page to craft a branding message that’s targeted for the role. Sarah gives you pointers on sharing your accomplishments and showcasing your talents as a leader, guiding you through everything you need to know to design a memorable, eye-catching, and error-free professional resume.

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GSAS: How to Write a Resume that Hiring Managers Will Actually Read [Beyond the Professoriate Event]

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PhDs often approach resume writing as a self-reflective exercise — they “convert” their CV into a resume and focus on their academic accomplishments. But if you’re trying to catch a hiring manager’s attention, this is a failed strategy.

Instead, PhDs should treat their resume as a persuasive document, designed to convince a hiring manager to contact you for an interview. An effective resume focuses less on your list of accomplishments and more on describing how you can solve a hiring manager’s problems.

This webinar is designed for doctoral students and PhDs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

• What do I need to include in my resume?
• What are common mistakes PhDs make on the resume?
• How can I apply more effective strategies to ensure my resume catches the attention of the hiring manager?

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How To Write a Resume for Your First Job

Imagine yourself stumbling across your dream job listing. You’re reading through the responsibilities and job tasks and you find yourself getting more and more excited as the list goes on. Then, it’s time to apply. But you have no real-world job experience. You’re just a student! How will you ever write a resume for your first job when you haven’t had one yet?

Knowing how to write a resume for your first job does not come naturally. In fact, it feels like a daunting task. If you have little applicable experience yet, or you’re just entering the workforce, how can you prove you’re the right fit for the position? 

Resumes are an excellent way to tout your knowledge, training and (if applicable) skills in the field. You can create an attractive resume highlighting your candidacy without any direct experience or prior work history.

We’ll show you how to write a resume for your first job so you can kick off your work experience with preparedness and confidence.

• Do you need a resume?
• What should you put on a resume?

Crafting a resume with no experience

Finalizing your first job resume, quick guide: write your first resume in 6 steps, do you need a resume for your first job.

While a resume may not be required to apply for your first job, it is highly recommended that you do so, and it will undoubtedly set you apart from the other applicants. A resume reflects your professionalism and commitment to the job application process. It showcases your knowledge, skills, training and prior experience in an easy-to-digest and relatively standard format, making it easy for potential employers to decipher between candidates to choose the best person for the job.

Even for entry-level positions, when many applicants don’t have a prior work history, sharing a resume will give you a competitive edge when written persuasively.

The role of a resume in job applications

A resume plays an important role when applying for jobs. It serves as an introduction to potential employers and those in the company who will decide whether or not to move forward with your application. It also provides a summary of what you bring to the table for those who will be interviewing you during the application process.

The resume is essential for showcasing your skills. A well-crafted and persuasive resume can highlight your achievements and knowledge, even if you have limited work experience in the field you’re applying to. Because your resume is the first contact point between you and a potential employer, it’s crucial to understand how to write a resume for your first job – and how to write it well.

What should you put on a resume for your first job?

There are a few things every resume must include – and those are some of the most essential details.

Contact information

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include the most important part of your resume – sharing your contact information. Start by listing your full name, phone number, email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Without your contact information, potential employers will have a hard time contacting you, which can prevent you from getting an interview.

Why share a link to your LinkedIn profile ? LinkedIn is now an essential part of the job search market. It serves as a shareable resume in addition to showcasing your network. Employers can see if you have any professionals in common from work or personal life, which may help build your credibility as a candidate.

Be sure to act professionally on LinkedIn. Share relevant news and insights to highlight your interest and knowledge of an industry, but be wary of getting too personal or engaging in inappropriate dialogue. Behave on LinkedIn as you would in an office setting with colleagues.

Educational background and achievements

Start by listing your educational information, such as schools attended, graduation dates and relevant academic achievements or awards. Include your major and minor, field of study and GPA. If you were enrolled in courses, projects or study abroad programs relevant to the job, include details to show your knowledge and interests.

Skills section

While you likely have some combination of hard and soft skills, a skills section will showcase the hard skills you’ve learned to prepare you for the job. Soft skills are best to be included in the bullet points to describe your accomplishments in your experience section.

• Hard skills include specific technical skills you’ve learned along the way. For example, computer proficiency, language skills, lab skills or specific training or certifications.
• Soft skills , or human skills, include job aspects that apply to many (if not all) job roles. These include communication, teamwork and problem-solving. If you’re particularly adept in any of these, showcase them and be prepared to share real examples of these skills in action.

Extracurricular activities and volunteer work

Employers look for candidates who go the extra mile to be involved in extracurricular activities. This demonstrates your commitment to becoming a well-rounded human being. Highlight clubs, sports or volunteer activities that you were involved in, especially emphasizing leadership roles or particular responsibilities you had in these activities. This extracurricular activity showcases your ability to multi-task, prioritize time and develop skills and interests.

Example Resume & Writing Guide

See a real-life example of a strong resume, including tips for gathering your own persuasive experience and skills using our Resume Writing Guide !

As a young adult or new graduate, you may wonder how to write a resume for your first job with no real-world experience. Don’t fear – there have been many in your shoes before you!

What does a resume look like for a first job?

Your resume should be straightforward with a clean and concise design. It should be easy to read with a simple flow highlighting information from most important to nice-to-have details. Do not go overboard with design details, fonts or graphics. 

Furman recommends that you use Microsoft Word to build your resume as it can be easier to make changes to a Word document than it is to change a template. However, you can use free resume builder tools online to build your resume in standard formats.

• Myperfectresume.com
• Resumenerd.com

Using strong action words and job-specific keywords in your resume for your first job will significantly impact you. Describe experiences and achievements using strong action verbs, such as:

• Collaborated
• Volunteered

What to put on a resume with no experience?

You can learn how to write a resume for your first job that impresses potential employers, even without relevant work experience, by emphasizing relevant coursework. Doing this demonstrates skills learned in a classroom or group project setting. Highlight personal or academic projects showcasing your abilities, such as experiences where you took the lead as a group or team leader.

Before submitting your first job resume, review and edit the document for mistakes or improvements.

Proofreading and editing

Attention to detail is critical to potential employers. Check your resume for typos and grammatical errors. Mistakes on your resume may eliminate you as a candidate, especially if grammatical adeptness or attention to detail is essential to the job.

Similarly, ensure a consistent design throughout your resume. Stick to one format, using one legible font and minimal design details. A professional resume appearance can set you apart from other applicants’ resumes that may appear messy or disorganized.

Seeking feedback

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from friends, mentors or even career services at schools or community centers. A peer review from your fellow students, teachers or mentors can provide invaluable input on skills you may be forgetting, plus the extra set of eyes can help detect errors and typos.

Career services at your school or library also serve as an excellent third-party validation and review resource. Furman’s Malone Center for Career Engagement offers in-depth career preparation services for students, such as resume and cover letter assistance , career fairs and networking , personalized advice from advisors and interview prep – just to name a few.

Webinar: Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch

Watch the free Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch webinar for an in-depth look at creating your resume and preparing a pitch to potential employers straight from a Furman career advisor.

Now, do you feel ready and excited to write a resume for your first job? We hope you jotted down notes specific to your experience as you read through the post, but in case you didn’t, writing your resume can be simplified to these simple steps.

• Start with your contact information , including full name, phone number and email address. Consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile.
• List your education experience , including relevant projects, courses and extracurricular activities.
• List both hard skills and soft skills relevant to the job.
• Explain your roles and responsibilities in your projects and extracurricular activities, especially those where you acted in a leadership capacity, using strong action verbs.
• Proofread and gather feedback.

If this is your first time writing a resume for your first job, approach the process with confidence and positivity. Your attitude will shine through the resume, so stay positive!

The perspectives and thoughts shared in the Furman Blog belong solely to the author and may not align with the official stance or policies of Furman University. All referenced sources were accurate as of the date of publication.

How To Study Abroad: A Full Guide for Students

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How To Say You Manage Employees on a Resume

If you’re applying for jobs that involve managing others, hiring managers will be looking for examples of leadership experience on your resume. Here’s how to impress.

3 years ago   •   4 min read

Whether you’re applying for high-level roles , are looking to move into a management position, or just want to take the next step up in your career, experience managing others is often vital.

On top of showing that you have the experience recruiters are looking for, managing a team is also a great way to showcase soft skills like leadership, communication , teamwork, and organization .

Here’s how to get the most out of listing management experience on your resume:

• Use action verbs emphasizing that you managed employees, like Managed , Directed, Supervised , Assigned or Mentored.
• Highlight accomplishments that focus on your managerial experience through your bullet points.
• Call out specific numbers in your resume which give context to your accomplishments and emphasize your seniority.
• Highlight your managerial experience throughout other parts of your resume, like your resume summary .

Let's dive into these, with detailed examples of bullet points you can use.

Emphasize managerial responsibilities in your resume bullet points

If you want to call attention to something specific on your resume, you need to make sure a hiring manager isn’t just going to skim past it. That means prioritizing your most relevant achievements and highlighting accomplishments in easy-to-read bullet points.

Your bullet points should always follow the structure of action verb + what you did + what the result was. Here's an example:

• Managed mixed teams of independent contractors and full-time employees dedicated to SEO marketing, data management, and content strategy; improved employee retention by 87%.

Use action verbs which highlight that you have been a manager

Your top bullet points should focus on resume accomplishments like managing staff, supervising employees, mentoring new hires , or designing and leading training programs.

How To: The action verb you choose matters. Try leading with strong action verbs like Managed, Led , Directed, Supervised, Assigned, Evaluated, Delegated, Coached, Mentored, Motivated , and Coordinated.

Focus on numbers

If you want your management to really impress, you need to get specific. The more explicit you are about exactly what you did and what it achieved, the better — and that means using hard numbers and metrics.

“ Led a team ” is okay; “Led a team of 8 people” is better .

Being specific about exactly how many people you’ve managed and what those teams have achieved allows your accomplishments to speak for themselves. Let's look at an example from a real resume which shows how to emphasize management accomplishments.

How To: Not sure how your bullet points measure up? Resume Worded Pro lets you buy sample bullet points that show other core skill sets that recruiters want, including management skills, communication, leadership, and teamwork.

Find out if your resume shows enough management skills

Managing a team is a good way to showcase your soft skills to recruiters. A quick way to find out if your resume does that is to upload it to the tool below — it’ll let you know if you’ve used action verbs and metrics that highlight your management accomplishments and skills.

Examples of saying you managed employees on a resume

Ready to put those tips into action? Let's take a look at several examples of listing experience managing employees on your resume.

Examples of saying you managed a team on a resume

• Managed a team of 15 outbound sales specialists .
• Managed cross-functional team of 10 in 3 locations, ranging from entry-level analysts to vice presidents, and collaborated with business development, data analysis, operations, and marketing.
• Launched new office and recruited and managed team of 10 employees; grew office revenue by 200% in first nine months.
• Managed and handled 120+ staff, reduced employee complaints and compliance calls by 65%.

Examples of saying you managed staff on a resume

• Grew creative staff from 5 to 15.
• Managed staff of nearly 100 direct and indirect reports, $20M budget, and outside counsel.
• Managed 30 employees involved in receiving, packing, picking, and shipping of customer orders.
• Supervised and directed 30+ field service representatives in the completion of field activities and customer service tasks .
• Conducted yearly performance reviews and established goals, increasing efficiency by 10%.

Examples of saying you managed others as part of a project

• Led team members and vendors to manage the social media advertising strategy for more than 50 social media accounts. Increased conversions by 145%, CTR 50%, and social web referrals 40% in the first six months.
• Served as the product sale fundraising campaign manager and directed 100 volunteer chairpersons. Increased fundraising donations by 40%.
• Overhauled existing employee onboarding processes resulting in an increase in performance of 30% in the average employee’s first three months.

Examples of training and managing others

• Provided help desk training to 6 new employees on hardware, connectivity, and software applications.
• Trained and mentored new and existing account executives and interns on solutions selling strategies, customer relationship management, and advanced product knowledge.
• Coached 30 summer interns and launched a mentorship program for new joiners in the Berlin office.
• Recruited and screened over 35 qualified potential employees over the span of four years, across 4 different departments.

Here are more examples on how to say you trained someone on a resume .

Highlight management throughout your resume

Want to really emphasize your leadership skills and management experience?  Make every part of your resume reinforce that experience. List job titles that accurately reflect management positions and highlight your key skills and experience using a resume summary .

Speaking of key skills, use the tool below to find a list of hard skills relevant to the management or senior level position you’re applying for. For example, search for Human Resources Manager to get a list of skills and keywords recruiters look out for.

How To: Score My Resume is a free tool that will give you personalized feedback on your resume and suggest areas for improvement, including detailed scores on your bullet points, job titles, and skills.

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How to say you trained new employees on a resume, changing job titles on your resume: do’s and don’ts, keep reading, how to show bilingualism on your resume (with examples), oops what to do if there’s a mistake on your resume, getting the basics right: resume line spacing, subscribe to our newsletter.

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How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You a Job Interview

Learn to avoid the biggest mistake job seekers make and write a cover letter that truly makes an impact.

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Most job seekers don’t know how to write a proper cover letter. They believe a cover letter is just a “here is my resume” note. This is a wasted opportunity!

In this article, you’ll discover the secret to writing a professional cover letter that’s truly effective. It’s not hard to do and will give you a significant edge over the competition. We’ll walk you through the process in a few straightforward steps and provide examples to help you along the way.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and create a cover letter that opens doors to your next opportunity.

What is a cover letter and do you really need one?

A cover letter is a short document (around 300 words) that accompanies your resume. Your cover letter should not simply repeat what your resume says . Instead, it should complement your resume, highlight your personality, and potentially address any weaknesses that could otherwise prevent you from getting an interview.

But do you really need a cover letter in 2024? The short answer is YES.

“Over 80% of hiring managers read a cover letter and 60% of applications require one as part of the application,” says career coach Madelyn Mackie . “Even hiring managers and recruiters who say they never read cover letters may find themselves drawn in by a particularly compelling letter.”

In fact, Jobscan analyzed nearly 1 million job applications and found that including a cover letter with your resume makes you  1.9 times more likely  to be invited for an interview compared to those who left out a cover letter.

What’s the biggest cover letter mistake?

The biggest mistake job seekers make when writing their cover letter is to focus only on themselves .

“It’s not about you,” says career coach Susan Schwartz . “It’s about what you can do for them. Talking to them about what they care about—not about what you want—is what’s going to make them want to read your letter. And to hire you!”

According to Schwartz, this is the best way to write a cover letter:

Paragraph 1. A single sentence (maximum two) stating the PROBLEM that the company faces. What is the issue/need/opportunity that this role will address?

Paragraph 2. what solution do you offer how are you the answer to their need again, keep it to a sentence or two., paragraph 3. explanation: what experience do you have that supports your assertion that you can help this paragraph can be 3-4 sentences, but keep it short., paragraph 4. call to action: suggest next steps. not “thank you” but let’s plan to discuss this next week..

Since hiring managers often spend less than 20 seconds on an application, your cover letter needs to grab their attention and get them to look at your resume. By highlighting how your experience matches the job, you make it easier for them to see you as a great fit for the role.

Now let’s examine each of these steps in more detail.

How to write a strong cover letter step-by-step

Now that you know the basics of what to include in your cover letter, let’s go through the process from start to finish to see how you can write a cover letter that will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates.

1. Do your research

Before writing your cover letter, research the company to understand its current challenges and goals. Visit the company website, read their latest news and press releases, and follow their social media channels.

Don’t skip this step! It’s crucial for writing a cover letter that truly resonates with a potential employer and sets you apart from other candidates.

After you’ve researched the company, carefully read the job description. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What specific problems or challenges is this role designed to address?
• How do my skills and experiences align with the job requirements?
• Am I a good fit for the role?
• What unique value can I bring to the company in this role?
• Are there any keywords or phrases that I should incorporate into my cover letter?

After researching the company and the role, you’re ready to start writing your cover letter.

2. Write your opening paragraphs

Many job seekers make the mistake of being too wordy in their cover letters. You’re not writing a novel. Use short words in short sentences. Remember, a hiring manager is going to quickly scan your application, so you need to get right to the point.

Here are some examples of how to start a cover letter:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’ve noticed that NexGen is working hard to stand out in a crowded digital market, and keeping your brand top-of-mind for customers can be tough.

That’s where I come in—I specialize in creating engaging content and smart SEO strategies that boost online presence and drive customer engagement.

I understand that Weissman is seeking to maintain its innovative edge in the dancewear industry while consistently meeting sales and margin targets.

I am confident that my experience and passion for design can help Weissman continue to create stunning, market-leading dancewear.

I understand that Timmons Company needs motivated individuals to manage sales territories and boost product visibility in retail grocery stores around Quincy, IL.

I am excited to bring my self-motivation and sales-oriented mindset to your team, ensuring your products not only maintain their shelf presence but also thrive.

3. Prove you can do the job

Now you need to provide evidence that you’re the right person for the job. The best way to do this is to highlight your relevant experience and achievements. Here are some things you should focus on:

• Specific Accomplishments : Share examples of your successes, such as increasing sales, leading projects, or improving processes.
• Relevant Skills : Highlight the skills that match the job requirements, like planning, organizing, technical proficiencies, or specific industry experience.
• Problem-Solving : Discuss times when you successfully tackled challenges, such as resolving issues, managing conflicts, or implementing solutions.
• Industry Knowledge : Demonstrate your understanding of the field and awareness of current trends and standards.
• Team Collaboration : Mention how you’ve effectively worked in teams, mentored others, or collaborated across departments.

Remember to keep it concise. Your letter isn’t meant to tell your whole story; it’s about making a compelling case that you understand the key aspects of the job.

Your goal is to leave the reader eager to learn more about you. Here are some examples:

“Over the past five years, I’ve led digital marketing campaigns that ramped up organic traffic by 40% and bumped up conversion rates by 25%. I’ve worked with diverse teams to create compelling content that resonates with audiences and used data analytics to refine strategies for maximum impact. My experience with social media management and email marketing also ensures a holistic approach to your digital marketing needs.”

“With over ten years in apparel design, specializing in activewear and dancewear, I have a proven track record of developing designs that resonate with customers and drive sales. My expertise includes conducting global trend research, selecting inspiring materials, and leading teams to transform creative concepts into market-ready products. I am proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and have experience with CLO3D, ensuring that my designs are both innovative and technically sound. My leadership skills have been honed by mentoring junior designers and managing cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative and efficient design process.”

“With several years of experience in CPG retail sales and merchandising, I have successfully managed sales territories, maintained product placements, and executed promotional strategies. My ability to plan and organize, combined with proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with iPads, positions me well to contribute effectively to your sales team. I am adept at thinking on my feet and delivering results in dynamic environments, ensuring that products are always tagged, rotated, and optimally displayed.”

4. Conclude with a call to action

When wrapping up your cover letter, it’s crucial to include a strong call to action in your closing paragraph. This isn’t just about expressing gratitude—it’s about setting the stage for the next steps in the hiring process.

Instead of a simple “thank you,” aim to propose a specific plan, such as scheduling a meeting or a call to discuss how you can contribute to the company.

Here are some examples of how to end a cover letter :

“Let’s discuss how I can help NexGen Creative Agency achieve its sales goals next week. Please let me know your availability for a meeting.”

“How about we chat next week about how I can help Weissman shine even brighter? Let me know when you’re free.”

“Let’s plan to discuss how my self-motivation and sales-oriented mindset can boost product visibility for Timmons Company next week. Please let me know your availability for a meeting.”

There is no need to add anything more. Time is valuable, so hiring managers won’t spend it on a cover letter that isn’t concise and to the point.

Expert tips for writing a cover letter

We’ve gone over the basics of how to write a good cover letter. Here are some expert tips for formatting and how to make your cover letter even better.

Format your contact information correctly

Before diving into the content of your cover letter, it’s important to format the contact details and header correctly. You’ll need to include your name, full address, phone number, and email address.

Here’s an example:

Personalize your greeting

To whom should you address your cover letter to? “For maximum impact, see if you can find the hiring manager or recruiter for the role, and send your letter to them,” says career coach Susan Schwarz . “Addressing your letter to a specific person will significantly increase the likelihood of someone reading it.”

Check the company’s website or LinkedIn profile to find the name of the hiring manager. However, if you can’t find a specific name, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice.

To end a cover letter, you can use “best regards” or “kind regards” followed by your full name.

Show your personality

While it’s important to maintain a professional tone in your cover letter, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. But remember, you don’t want to overdo it—keep it concise and relevant .

Here are some ways to show your personality in your cover letter:

• Briefly mention a specific project or experience you enjoyed.
• Highlight a distinctive skill or trait that sets you apart.
• Talk about how your values align with the company’s mission or culture.
• Describe a unique volunteer experience.

Emphasize your adaptability

According to LinkedIn , the top “skill of the moment” is adaptability . This means being open to new ideas, ready to pivot when needed, and always looking for ways to improve. In a world where the only constant is change, being adaptable can set you apart.

Here’s an example of how to incorporate adaptability into your cover letter:

“In my previous role as a CPG retail sales merchandiser, I consistently demonstrated my ability to adjust to changing market conditions, customer preferences, and sales strategies. This adaptability allowed me to increase sales by 25% in a highly competitive market.”

Show enthusiasm

Research shows that 40% of employers would not hire a candidate if they lacked enthusiasm. Remember, you’re much more attractive to employers when you’re on fire .

Here’s an example of how to show enthusiasm for the company you’re applying to:

“I’ve long admired Weissman’s commitment to the dance community and the artistry of your costumes. Your dedication to empowering performances and celebrating creativity is inspiring, and I’m excited about the opportunity to join your passionate team.”

Balance professionalism with friendliness

Try to strike a balance between a professional and friendly tone. Don’t use overly formal language, but make sure your writing is polished and error-free. Use humor sparingly, as it can be easily misinterpreted.

This approach helps you come across as both competent and personable, making you an ideal candidate.

Cover letter do’s and don’ts

• Do personalize . Address your cover letter to a specific person whenever possible.
• Do be concise . Keep your cover letter to one page.
• Do show enthusiasm . Mention specific reasons why you want to work there.
• Do include measurable accomplishments . These are achievements that can be quantified , such as increasing sales by a percentage.
• Do show your personality . Share brief anecdotes or unique experiences relevant to the job.
• Do be professional yet friendly . Avoid overly formal language.
• Do proofread your cover letter. A single mistake can damage your chances of getting an interview.
• Do include a call to action. Suggest scheduling a meeting or a call.
• Don’t be too formal . Strike a balance between professionalism and friendliness.
• Don’t overuse humor . Humor can be easily misinterpreted or come off as unprofessional.
• Don’t repeat your resume . Your cover letter should complement your resume, not repeat it.
• Don’t include irrelevant information. Focus only on what’s most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Don’t use clichés . Phrases like “I am a hard worker” or “I think outside the box” are overused and add little value.
• Don’t make excuses . Avoid explaining gaps in employment or other potential negatives.
• Don’t forget to tailor each letter . Customizing each cover letter will help it pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Cover letter examples

Here are a few cover letter examples that show how to highlight your skills, show your personality, and match your experiences with the job.

Cover letter example for someone with no work experience

Starting your career can be challenging, especially when you don’t have much experience to showcase. But don’t worry—a well-written cover letter can highlight your strengths and potential.

• Addresses the company’s needs : The letter begins by acknowledging the challenges the company faces, demonstrating an understanding of the industry and the company’s needs.
• Offers a solution : The candidate clearly states how they can provide value by offering a fresh perspective and innovative ideas.
• Highlights relevant experience : Even with limited work experience, the letter mentions a successful internship project that aligns with the job’s requirements.
• Shows enthusiasm and passion : The mention of a passion for sustainability and eagerness to contribute to the company’s efforts showcases the candidate’s genuine interest.
• Proposes next steps : The call to action is clear and professional, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute, which shows initiative and confidence.

Cover letter example for someone changing careers

Changing careers can be a bold and exciting move, especially when you have a strong foundation of transferable skills. The following example of a cover letter demonstrates how to effectively highlight your previous experience and enthusiasm for a new industry.

• Engaging opening : Starts with a bold question that captures attention and sets the tone for the rest of the letter.
• Clear value proposition : Quickly establishes how the candidate’s project management skills can benefit the finance industry.
• Relevant experience : Highlights a specific project that showcases the candidate’s ability to improve efficiency and manage complex tasks.
• Expresses enthusiasm : Shows genuine excitement about the career change and the specific company.
• Call to action : Concludes with a clear and confident call to action, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute to the company’s success.

Cover letter example for someone re-entering the workforce

Re-entering the workforce after a significant break can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase your resilience and the valuable skills you’ve developed during your time away.

The following cover letter example demonstrates how to effectively address employment gaps while highlighting your strengths and enthusiasm for the role.

• Strong opening statement : The cover letter begins with a compelling statement about the importance of adaptability and innovation, setting a positive and forward-thinking tone.
• Addresses employment gap : It acknowledges the employment gap upfront, providing context without dwelling on it, which demonstrates honesty and transparency.
• Highlights relevant experience : The letter emphasizes past accomplishments and specific projects, showcasing the candidate’s skills and ability to deliver results.
• Shows enthusiasm for the role : The candidate expresses excitement about re-entering the workforce and aligns their values with the company’s mission.
• Proposes next steps : It ends with a clear call to action, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute to the company’s success.

Generate a perfectly crafted cover letter in seconds

If you’re still having trouble writing your cover letter, try Jobscan’s AI cover letter generator . It analyzes both your resume and the job ad to create a completely original cover letter customized for the job you’re applying for.

To learn more about how the cover letter generator works, watch this brief video:

You can try Jobscan’s cover letter generator for free below:

Key takeaways

Follow these key takeaways to write a compelling cover letter that sets you apart from other candidates and opens doors to new career opportunities.

• Write with the employer’s needs in mind. Explain how you can address their specific challenges and contribute to their goals.
• Keep it brief . Use short sentences and paragraphs to make it easy for hiring managers to scan quickly.
• Address your letter to a specific person . If you can’t find a name, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice.
• Showcase your relevant experience. Use specific examples to demonstrate your abilities.
• Inject your personality. Share brief anecdotes or unique experiences relevant to the job.
• End with a strong call to action . Suggest a meeting or a call to discuss how you can contribute to the company’s success.
• Proofread your letter. A single error can torpedo your chances at getting an interview.
• Show enthusiasm. Showing excitement and a willingness to learn can make you a more attractive candidate.

A cover letter should be one page long, consisting of three to four paragraphs. The total word count should be around 250-400 words.

When you don’t have a specific name, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid using “To Whom It May Concern,” as it is considered old-fashioned.

When emailing a cover letter, use a clear subject line like “Application for Content Developer – [Your Name].” Paste your cover letter into the email body. Attach your resume.

Yes, a cover letter is necessary because good first impressions are important. By highlighting your qualifications and showing enthusiasm for the role, you can gain an advantage over someone who doesn’t send one.

Employers look for personalization in a cover letter, showing that it’s tailored to the specific job and company. Highlight relevant experience and skills that match the job requirements. Include specific achievements that demonstrate your capabilities and contributions.

Yes. Providing specific examples of your achievements helps demonstrate your skills and qualifications, making your application more compelling to employers.

A cover letter starts with your contact information, first and last name, the date, and the employer’s details. Begin with an introduction about your suitability for the role. Include a brief section highlighting relevant experience and skills with examples. Conclude by asking for an interview.

The primary goals of a simple cover letter are to make a good impression, get someone to read your resume, and offer you a job interview. It also shows you have good communication skills, which are highly valuable in today’s workforce.

The opening sentence should state the problem the company faces or pose a thought-provoking question to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Robert Henderson, CPRW, is a career advice writer and a resume expert at Jobscan.

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