How to Write a Resume for Manager Roles
Candidates wishing to successfully apply for manager jobs need to create a resume that is tailored to meet the specific skills, experience and knowledge of a manager role. You must emphasis previous managing experience, whether as a team leader in a food and beverage outlet, or as a middle manager in a large corporation. Academic qualifications such as a Masters in Business Administration, or MBA, should also be highlighted. When applying for manager jobs, it is vital that your resume reflects the core competencies and specifications that the role requires. Use of a cover letter, keywords and specific objective are vital to create a resume that stands out for managerial jobs.
Emphasis a managerial objective
Resume objectives are often too generalized to be useful to potential employers. Tweak your objectives to the details of each manager job role. For example, an office manager role would fit a candidate with the objective “As an Office Manager, I want to coordinate and control all office activities in an effective and efficient manner, helping my organization save time and money as well as to better serve the end customer.” This objective is specific to the manager role, describes what you want to achieve in your new job and how your work can serve the organization.
Employ key words
When recruiting for managers, organizations look for key words within the body of your resume. These key words are those that match the words used in the job advertisement and specifications. If a Project Manager role requires a candidate with “forward thinking” and “the ability to multitask”, ensure that you utilise the keywords of “forward thinking” and “multitasking” within your resume, either as a description of previous jobs’ responsibilities, or as a skill you obtained from earning your professional qualifications.
Use a cover letter
Each managerial job is different, and although your CV may be perfect, it can often be too short to include details that are less important, but may be what sets you apart from other candidates. Include other managerial accomplishments that do not fit on your CV in your cover letter, such as attendance at leadership seminars, voluntary managerial work at your local youth community center, or additional language skills. You can also use a cover letter to stress the convergence between the organization’s core values and your own work ethic, which can help your resume stand out from the crowd.
Highlight managerial skills and experience
Do you hold an MBA? Highlight this on your resume, listing any achievements and your Grade Point Average (GPA). Do you have experience managing a team of people in previous roles? Discuss your team’s performance, such as “delivered new product project within budget and on deadline” and your role managing them. If you have led teams, whether for short periods on a project basis, or if your previous experience was in a manager’s role, ensure you highlight these experiences on your resume.
Emphasize concrete achievements
Too often, resumes are overly generalized. All candidates can claim to have improved efficiency, but stressing how exactly you improved revenue in your previous work as a Sales Manager will make your resume stand out. Wherever possible, use real-world examples and figures, such as “Increased sales by 20% in first year of employment by improving marketing strategy.” By highlighting your managerial accomplishments from previous jobs, your resume is more likely to beat the competition.
Keep it short and sweet
Employers often do not have the time to read through thousands of long winded applications. Keep your resume to two or three pages at the most. Ensure that you include all relevant information, such as education level, professional qualifications and most importantly, work experience. Use notes to demonstrate managerial skills in project management, solving team problems, motivating team members or assuming leadership and responsibility.
