best skills for project manager resume

Project Manager Resume [2024] - Example & Full Guide

As a project manager, you’re the be-all and end-all of any project.

So, you’re great at setting goals, strategic planning, creating budgets, leading a team towards a common goal, keeping tabs on everyone and everything… 

Actually, is there anything you can’t do?

Well, if you’re here, chances are your weak point is writing a job-landing project manager resume .

And, yes—it may seem hard to transfer all of your work experience, skills, and professional achievements onto a single piece of paper. With the right guidance, however, it doesn’t have to be!

So, in this article, we will cover everything you need to know about writing an effective project manager resume, including:

Project Manager Resume Example

Step-by-step guide to write your project manager resume, 50 project manager skills to put on your resume.

Like the look of Jennifer’s IT Project Management resume? Create your own modern project management resume in minutes with these easy-to-complete resume templates and get started on your journey to earning the best PMP certification . 

Quite impressive, right?

These are the elements that make this project manager resume an example to follow:

• Reverse-chronological format. This resume format is the most popular around the world and effectively shows off the candidate’s work experience.
• Eye-catching resume summary. The project manager resume example above includes a brief and to-the-point resume summary that highlights the candidate’s skills and area of expertise.
• Contact information. The project manager resume example above includes all the necessary contact details, such as the candidate’s email address, location, phone number, and relevant social media handles.
• Achievement-focused work experience section. In this project manager resume example, the candidate doesn’t simply mention their responsibilities - they also include their work achievements to help them stand out from other candidates.
• Relevant education section. The candidate only includes their key education details, such as their Bachelor’s degree and a field-related minor.
• Use of bullet points. The candidate uses bullet points to organize and present the information which makes this project manager resume example look neat and structured.
• Well-organized skills section. This project manager resume example includes the candidate’s soft and hard skills that are relevant to the IT industry and project management.
• Effective use of additional sections. The candidate takes advantage of the extra space on their project manager resume by including relevant additional sections, such as their industry-related certifications and academic achievements to show off their professional background.

We've also got more resume examples that you might want to check out:

• Program Manager Resume
• Operations Manager Resume
• Business Development Manager Resume
• Human Resource (HR) Resume
• Office Manager Resume

Writing a project manager resume is no different than working on any other project - you definitely need to have a plan and know the exact steps you’re going to take.

Luckily, you don’t need to figure it out yourself!

We’ve covered each step of writing a powerful project manager resume for you, so let’s dive in:

#1. Pick the Right Format for Your Project Manager Resume

The reverse-chronological resume format is by far the best option for your project manager resume. 

As we’ve mentioned above, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular resume format worldwide. It’s also a recruiters’ favorite!

Here’s what it looks like:

This resume format gives the recruiter a clear picture of your professional background and work achievements by putting your project manager's work experience in the foreground.

Now that you’ve chosen a format for your project manager resume, let’s address the resume layout . 

These are the resume layout elements you should pay attention to:

• Font style . Your project manager resume has to be easily readable, so choose a professional font style that looks good on both PDF and paper.  
• Font size. Keep your font size at 11-12 pts for body text and 14-16 pts for section headings, so that your project manager resume is easy-to-read and fits into a single page.
• Bullet points. Whenever possible, use bullet points to present information and make your project manager resume easy-to-scan as well as well-organized.
• Resume length. Recruiters go through hundreds of resumes every day, so it’s best to fit your project manager resume in one page to make sure they actually read it.
• Resume file format. If not asked otherwise, always save your resume as a PDF file so that it looks the same no matter the device or OS the hiring manager uses. 

Use Our Tried & Tested Templates 

As a project manager, you’re great at time management.

So, you probably aren’t too excited about spending hours on pointless tasks… like formatting your project manager resume.

And especially so when you could be focusing on more important things instead, such as perfecting the contents of your project manager resume.

What if we told you there’s a quick and easy shortcut?

Instead of wasting your time on designing your resume, just pick one of our professional resume templates and dive straight into filling in the contents of your project manager resume!

Besides, our resume templates are far more visually appealing than basic text-editor resumes.

Check it out for yourself:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that you’ve dealt with formatting your project manager resume, you can start filling in the contents.

Let’s begin with the basics - simply add your contact information , including:

• Your first name and last name
• Your title 
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your location
• Relevant social media handles (optional)

Here’s an example of a contact information section that includes all of the above:

Lauren Anderson

Project Manager

012-345-6789

[email protected]  

Boston, Massachusetts

linkedin.com/in/laurenanderson29

This step is as easy as it looks - you just have to make sure to fill in the contact details correctly.

Otherwise, you may leave a bad impression which can hurt your application. 

After all, no company wants a project manager who’s sloppy and doesn’t pay enough attention to details.

#3. Write an Impactful Project Manager Resume Summary

The next step is writing an impressive project manager resume summary .

Your resume summary is meant to provide a quick overview (2-3 sentences) of your professional background to let the hiring manager see whether you’re a relevant candidate.

So, to make sure the recruiter doesn’t put your project manager resume aside after taking just a glance (and actually reading the whole thing), your resume summary has to be effective.

Here’s what a powerful resume summary includes:

• Your title and years of experience
• Your most relevant skills in project management
• Your top 1-2 professional achievements

And here’s an example of an impactful project manager resume summary:

• Strategic and detail-oriented Project Manager with 7+ years of experience. Outstanding organizational, time management, planning, and problem-solving skills. Met all project deadlines for 5 years straight and increased Company X’s market share by 12% through successful branding projects. 

#4. Make Your Project Manager Work Experience Stand Out

As a project manager, you have tons of work experience , so the next step is to list it effectively.

First things first - let’s get the formatting right.

Here’s how you should format the work experience section in your project manager resume:

• Follow the reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent (or current) position and go backward in time. 
• Add your job title. This is supposed to give the recruiter a clear idea of the role you had in the previous workplace.
• Include the company's name and location. You can also briefly describe the company if it’s not a well-known name.
• Add the date of employment. To show how long you worked at the company, use the mm/yyyy format.
• Write down your achievements and responsibilities. Stick to 5-6 bullet points for the most recent roles and 2-3 for older jobs.

Now, no doubt you want your project manager resume to make a lasting impression on the hiring manager and help you land the job. 

So, filling in just the basic work experience details isn’t nearly enough - you’ll end up with a project manager resume that’s similar to other candidates’ resumes.

If you want to make your project manager resume stand out, ask yourself - what exactly are hiring managers looking for?

Sure, it’s your years of experience, but the responsibilities you had in previous roles weigh in much less.

To recruiters, the most important part of your professional background is a proven track record of success . 

As such, the key to a job-winning project manager resume is this: 

Make your work experience section stand out by focusing on your achievements over your responsibilities whenever possible.

So, here’s what you can do to take your work experience section to the next level:

• Use action verbs to describe your achievements and responsibilities, e. g. spearheaded, managed, resolved, executed, etc.
• Only include relevant work experience, e. g. you already have relevant project management experience, so the recruiter won’t be impressed that you scooped ice cream in high school.
• Make your achievements quantifiable , e. g. ”Consistently delivered projects up to 12% below the budget” instead of “Consistently delivered projects under the budget”.

Here’s an example of what an impressive work experience section could look like:

IT Project Manager

08/2017 - 01/2022

• Led and coached a team of 16 IT specialists.
• Managed the Lean Training project for all 54 IT department employees.
• Consistently delivered projects up to 12% below the budget.
• Initiated and managed the project to replace all aging equipment, lowering monthly electricity costs by 23%.
• Introduced a project performance management system that increased project efficiency by 18% over the period of 3 years.

#5. List Your Education Right

Whether you have a degree in project management, business administration, or any other related field, what matters most is your work experience, so keep your education section brief. 

Simply list your education starting with your highest degree as such:

• Degree Name
• University, college, or other institution
• Location (optional)
• Years attended 

As a project manager, technically you aren’t required to have a degree (though this can make competing against candidates with a diploma much harder), so only include your high school education in your project manager resume if you don’t have higher education .

Here’s an example of the education section:

BSc in Project Management

Colorado State University Global

09/2012 - 06/2016

#6. List Your Project Manager Skills

The skills section shows the recruiters your professional abilities, so it’s one of the most important sections (alongside the work experience section) in your project manager resume.

Here are some tips on how to list your skills effectively:

• Tailor your skills section for project management. The point of the skills section is to prove to the hiring manager why you’re a great candidate for this position, in particular, so listing all of your skills is redundant.
• Include any of the skills you have that the company is looking for. Carefully read the job description and see whether the company has listed any specific skills - if you match them, make sure to include them in your project manager resume. 
• Research the most in-demand project management skills. The skills you need largely depend on the field (IT, marketing, retail, etc.), so research the project management field you’re specifically applying to and write down any of the industry-related skills that you have.
• Take a look at your achievements. Not sure which skills you have? Your achievements are proof of your skills, so go back to the work experience section and take a closer look. For example, if you consistently deliver projects before the deadline, you’re likely skilled at time management, planning, delegation, etc.
• List your soft skills and hard skills separately. This will make your project manager resume well-organized and easy to navigate.

Need some inspiration on which skills to include in your project manager resume?

Take a look at our list of the 50 most in-demand project management skills!

Soft Skills for a Project Manager

• Public Speaking
• Active Listening
• Communication Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Problem-solving
• Negotiation
• Conflict Resolution
• Analytical Thinking
• Adaptability
• Stress Management
• Time Management
• Collaboration
• Compromising
• Organizational Skills
• Emotional Intelligence
• Resourcefulness
• Decision-making
• Attention to Detail

25 Hard Skills for a Project Manager

• Business Strategy Knowledge
• Forecasting
• Project Management Methodologies
• Microsoft Office Proficiency
• Technical Documentation
• Project Management Software Proficiency
• Process Management
• Strategic Planning 
• Statistical Analysis
• Risk Evaluation 
• Risk Management
• Database Management
• Programming Languages
• Technical Writing
• Prioritization
• Evaluation of Project Performance Metrics
• Goal Setting
• Financial Management
• Contract Management
• Vendor Management

#7. Include Your Project Management Certificates

While some companies don’t require project managers to have a degree, many are looking for certified project managers.

Having a project manager certificate also means that you’ll get paid more - in fact, certified project managers earn up to 16% more compared to their uncertified colleagues. 

So, don’t let your certificates go to waste and include them in your project manager resume (in reverse-chronological order, of course, in case you have multiple certifications )!

Here’s how to do it:

• Certification name
• Name of agency 
• Year of obtainment
• Location (if applicable)
• Date of expiration (if applicable)
• Expected date of obtainment (if applicable)

And here’s an example:

Certified Project Manager Professional (2019-2022)

Project Management Institute

#8. Make Use of Relevant Additional Sections

Do you still have some extra space on your project manager resume?

Take advantage of it!

Show off your project management experience by adding one or more of these additional sections:

• Associations and organizations you’re a part of, alongside your role in them.
• Publications , such as studies, interviews, and others.
• Conferences , whether they’re on project management or industry-related subjects.
• Awards , if any of them are related to project management.
• Languages are always a plus, but even more so if you’re applying to an international company.

And here’s an example of how to put these extra sections on your project manager resume:

Conferences

• BRIDGE 2021
• English - Native or Bilingual Proficiency
• Russian - Professional Working Proficiency

#9. Match Your Project Manager Resume With a Cover Letter

Now that you know how to write an effective project manager resume, there’s one more thing we need to address - how to write an impactful cover letter .

The point of a cover letter is to prove to the hiring manager that you’re the full package - a competent project manager and the perfect fit for the company.

So, your cover letter should be personalized for the position and include any important details that you haven’t mentioned on your project manager resume.

Here’s how to write a compelling cover letter (even if you aren’t confident in your writing skills!):

• Start your cover letter by putting your contact information in the header.
• Directly greet the recruiter and mention your top 1-2 achievements in the first paragraph.
• In the body of your cover letter, describe your professional background (work experience, skills, etc.) in detail, explain why you want to work for this particular company, and stress why you’d be a great asset to them.
• To end your cover letter , include a call to action.

Check out our guides on cover letter writing tips and cover letter mistakes to make sure your cover letter is top-notch. 

Here’s an example of a convincing project manager cover letter :

Want to show the hiring manager that you are thinking of every detail from A to Z? Match your cover letter to your project manager resume with our cover letter templates !

Key Takeaways

Congrats - now that you know the step-by-step plan of writing a project manager resume, you’re prepared to write a job-winning project manager resume for yourself! 

Before you start, let’s run over the main elements of writing an effective project manager resume:

• Use the reverse-chronological resume format to put your project manager work experience in the center of attention.
• Write an eye-catching resume summary to spike the recruiter’s interest in reading your project manager resume.
• To land the job, focus on your achievements over responsibilities when describing your work experience.
• Only add industry-related soft and hard skills to your project manager resume.
• Add extra sections, such as certificates, awards, associations, etc., to paint a full picture of your professional background.
• Convince the hiring manager you’re the perfect candidate by attaching a compelling cover letter to your project manager resume.

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28 Project Manager Resume Examples for the Job in 2024

• Project Manager Resumes by Experience
• Project Manager Resumes by Role

Writing Your Project Manager Resume

According to the  Project Management Institute (PMI) , the demand for project managers is expected to grow a whopping 33 percent through 2027.

The need for project managers and the  increase in pay transparency laws  means it’s an excellent time to pursue a project management job.

But that’s easier said than done. 

Whether an entry-level or senior project manager, you must  build a resume  showcasing your ability to plan, manage budgets, produce reports, and ensure projects are on schedule.

We’ve handcrafted 28 project manager resume samples that  have helped candidates get jobs at great companies like Lyft and Atlassian.  Plus, our writing guide can help you navigate the  resume writing process  to help you land that first-round interview. You’ve got this!

Assistant Project Manager Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• A resume objective is for candidates with less than two years in the field. It demonstrates your eagerness for the role, your relevant skills, and your goals for the future. It’s a lot to ask in two to three sentences, so you’ll likely need to take a few whacks at it before you’ve cut it down to the proper size. We believe in you!
• Including relevant courses or awards is a great way to show hiring managers that you’ve learned the skills necessary for the job. Only include the courses or awards that are most relevant to increase your credibility immediately.

Entry-Level Project Manager Resume

• Our top tip? Make sure your  entry-level project manager resume  is easy to read.
• Make your body font size relatively big, include section headers, and leave white space (especially in the margins).
• Always customize your experience to match the  project manager job description  as much as you can. If you lack technical skills, highlight transferable skills like communication, collaboration, and time management.
• If you don’t have any experience relevant to project management, that’s okay, too. Employers know you’re just starting, so include any job experience you have, including projects, internships, or even volunteer work.

Associate Project Manager Resume

• Including a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), for example, on your associate project manager resume will immediately tell recruiters you know the principles and best practices required.

Project Management Intern Resume

• For instance, in project planning, you must’ve picked up on leadership, time management, and technical expertise—all transferrable to project management.

Junior Project Marketing Manager Resume

• Your cover letter and resume should form one cohesive whole without being complete copies of each other.
• The goal is to expand on your achievements in your cover letter while still covering most of the abilities mentioned in your resume. So, once you’ve finished building your resume, a free AI cover letter generator can make sure the two documents share similar keywords and achievements.
• If you have more experience in the field, you can consider getting a PCDM or becoming a PCM.
• If you’re newer to the role, try getting entry-level certifications like those offered by Hubspot or Google Ads.

Senior Project Manager Resume

• Employers expect more from senior employees, so they’ll pay extra attention to minor details like punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
• Always  check your resume  multiple times before you submit your application. We’d recommend having several friends look it over, too, just to make sure you didn’t miss anything.
• Always list your highest level of education, whether a college degree or a high school diploma.
• Unless you’re an entry-level candidate, don’t worry about adding your GPA, any awards, or relevant courses. Those are all secondary to work experience.

Senior DevOps Project Manager Resume

• Say, you’ve worked extensively as a product manager in finance and insurance. Including this info in your career objective makes you a notably more eligible prospect for another organization in a similar industry.

Implementation Project Manager Resume

• For instance, in his resume, Jacob leaps right into the work history section with his outstanding accomplishments as an implementation project manager at Cognizant. You’ve probably noticed he strategically sprinkles in powerful action words like “spearheaded” and “led,” painting the image of a team captain who gets the job done.

Salesforce Project Manager Resume

• For a compelling sales project manager resume that strikes the right chord, let the skills section be the spotlight for your expertise in programs or tools specific to the role. Worthy mentions include Salesforce Chatter, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce Agile Accelerator, Smartsheet, and Jira.

Real Estate Project Manager Resume

• In each work history section, add four bullet lists encapsulating your most impressive feats in the real estate industry, all tailored to the job ad and prospective employer’s needs. Optimizing asset management strategies and increasing portfolio by $3.2M makes for an excellent example of a customization level likely to blow away recruiters.

Software Project Manager Resume

• A software project manager resume with proof of operating below budgets and optimizing savings will be a favorite among hiring managers. Therefore, including achievements such as saving an estimated $51.2k annually would get you closer to winning the job.

Project Management Professional Resume

• Your soft and hard skills have a place here to set you apart from any other average project manager. Go on a full display mode to highlight your competencies in RiskWatch, Zapier, Harvest, and so on, and show how you’ve used them to optimize project budgets and timelines.

SAP Project Manager Resume

• Numbers matter most here so quantify all past project achievements, success rates, etc. Have a habit of submitting work before deadlines are even close? Mention it! Clearly state how many SAP projects you’ve delivered on time. Adding a project management certificate has also never harmed any candidate!

HR Project Manager Resume

• Make sure your HR project manager resume consists of tools like these in the skills section . Further, write down any instances of you helping a company retain or acquire the top talent for a position while lowering extra costs such as overtime wages.

Project Manager Scrum Master Resume

• Accordingly, align your entire project manager Scrum Master resume around the description and mention how you’ve tackled mishaps, boosted efficiency, and improved a team’s overall productivity. Throwing in a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certificate will greatly help if you’re still an intermediate in this field!

Digital Project Manager Resume

• Therefore, your digital project manager resume must embed metrics in every client satisfaction rating, early delivery time, cost reduction, and proper team management strategies.

Clinical Project Manager Resume

• In your clinical project manager resume, you should therefore highlight your project management metrics, including and not limited to cost reduction, timely completions, team collaborations, and resource prioritization to meet preset goals.

Risk Management Project Manager Resume

• You’ll likely need a master’s degree for this advanced role, and be sure to use your job experience bullet points to highlight specific and successful stories on your risk management project manager resume.

Agile Project Manager Resume

• Even if you lack direct work experience, you can emphasize other relevant achievements or projects that align with you’re desired role. For example, a candidate with experience in Scrum and finance will be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of an Agile project manager position at Goldman Sachs.

Healthcare Project Manager Resume

• If you don’t have adequate paid experience to add to your healthcare project manager resume , a globally recognized certificate like the Project Management Professional (PMP) can help prove you’re a leader and have the relevant expertise to be successful.

Creative Project Manager Resume

• For example, the responsibilities of a project manager at a magazine will share many similarities with that of a creative project manager at an advertising agency. Try to think of similar projects you can use to highlight your competency to come across as a well-rounded candidate.

Marketing Project Manager Resume

• Adding measurable results to your marketing project manager resume is a fantastic way to spotlight the magnitude of your achievements. It also showcases the potential you bring to your next employer.

Engineering Project Manager Resume

• For example, you can really boost your chances of being hired by including your knowledge in management tools like Trello and Confluence, not to mention expertise in engineering software like AutoCAD and ANSYS.

Technical Project Manager Resume

• In your skills section, use primarily hard skills like “SQL,” “Agile Development,” and “Google Analytics,” to show off your training. You can add a few soft skills, but most of the list should be learned, technical abilities that you can demonstrate if needed.
• LinkedIn and GitHub are excellent links to add since they show employers you’ve got the connections and the skills to succeed.

IT Project Manager Resume

• Stuck on how to alter your resume? Start by highlighting keywords and phrases in the  project manager job description . Then find a way to incorporate a few of those highlighted phrases in your work experience bullet points and skills.
• You can start by ensuring you have colored section headers in different fonts than your body text. Then play around with the layout, margins, and font size until you hit the sweet spot.

Integrated Project Manager Resume

• Consider using a  resume template  to make your resume aesthetically pleasing and easier to read. It also allows you to let your personality show; pick a template that speaks to you! 
• For project managers, try to include metrics relating to the number of projects you’ve managed or the number of teams you led. Any percentages relating to relevant KPIs are also a good idea, but if you’re just starting, don’t worry about it. That can come later!

Architectural Project Manager Resume

• Of course, don’t make your skills section a complete copy-paste of the employer’s requirements! Simply use it to tailor your skills section and add a few keywords from the job description in your work experience and skills section.
• As a rule of thumb, highlight six to eight up-to-date and in-demand skills in your  resume skills section .

Electrical Project Manager Resume

• Reverse-chronological is the best format for managers since it shows your career progression. Plus, it’s easier for employers (and ATS!) to scan at a glance. It’s a win-win!
• Start by nailing your technical abilities as an electrical engineer. We’d recommend making each work experience bullet point focused on a different skill (such as communicating with vendors, coordinating schedules, or maintaining equipment).
• Then add your project manager skills into the mix, again using each work experience bullet point to highlight one skill.

Related resume guides

• Account Manager
• Business Analyst
• Product Manager
• Construction Project Manager

Regarding the “skills” section, it can be tough to find the right balance between listing too many  skills on your resume  and including all areas of strength. It’s a push-and-pull for two reasons:

• You need to include enough relevant skills to get past automated filters companies use (called an ATS) that grade resumes based on keyword matching.
• The person reviewing your resume, either an HR professional or a project manager themselves, will be wary if you list more than 10 skills on your resume.

To strike the right balance, ask yourself if you’d be comfortable answering questions about a given skill in an interview.

For example, if you list “reporting” as one of your skills, you should be able to immediately answer the question “How do you know if a project is on track?” by pointing to specific metrics or reports on your resume or cover letter.

Another good litmus test to determine whether or not you should include a skill is if you can discuss using that skill in one of the projects you list on your resume. This accomplishes two things:

• Reinforces that you’re only including strong skills.
• Provides more context regarding how you deployed your skills in project management (making your resume and candidacy even better).

After all, what would be more convincing to you: a candidate listing a skill or discussing how they used it to achieve a specific outcome? When in doubt, put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes and ask yourself what they would like to see on a project manager resume.

So, what are some common skills you should include on your project manager resume? Look no further than our list!

Skills to include on your project manager resume:

Hard skills.

• Project Management Software (Jira, Trello)
• Microsoft Office/ Google suite (Excel/Google Sheets, PowerPoint/Slides)
• Project Management Frameworks and Methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, Kanban)
• Programming Languages and Frameworks (JavaScript, Node.js, Python, Django)
• Data Analysis
• CRM Experience (HubSpot, Salesforce)
• Digital Marketing

Soft skills

• Public Speaking and Communication
• Problem-solving
• Prioritization
• Conflict Resolution

If you’re in a more senior role and have many of these skills, you should focus on the skills mentioned in the job description.

Yes, customizing your resume like this means more work. However, it’s worth it—our data suggests that this practice alone increases your chance of getting an interview by 11 percent.

As a practical example, look at this sample project manager job description. Look at the underlined skills—they’re what you might want to include if you applied for this position. Try to match the language in the job description as best you can.

Sample project management job description and skills:

• Be accountable for the entire project lifecycle: develop scopes of work and associated project plans and own the day-to-day operations to ensure that projects remain on track and within budget
• Lead internal and external status meetings: capture notes, assign action items to team members and own all necessary follow-up
• Relay clear and specific expectations, timelines, priorities, challenges, and new developments in detail to key internal and external team members/parties
• Own daily project plan components, including task estimation, resource allocations, and new work requests
• Coordinate internal reviews and implementation-related quality assurance efforts
• Come from a place of perpetual learning, always seeking to improve and optimize processes, develop new ones, and participate in the overall growth of the department and agency
• Work with Jira, Smartsheet, or other project management tools
• Eliminate scope creep by ensuring that projects remain within parameters identified in the scope of work
• Communicate issues, bug reports, and change orders to leadership

Project manager resume summary or objective

Before we dive into the topic of resume objectives and summaries, let’s first set the stage with some definitions:

• Resume summary: A short summary of your work history and accomplishments as a project manager. Recommended for professionals with 10+ years of experience in the industry.
• Resume objective: A short statement expressing a few of your skills and what you’re looking for in your next project manager role. Recommended for entry-level candidates.

Although they might sound drastically different, they’re pretty similar in reality, so don’t get too hung up on specific definitions. The key is that you should only include a  resume objective  or summary if it adds real value to your resume.

Resume real estate is valuable since you’re limited to one page, so you can’t waste words. Hiring managers spend, on average, six seconds reviewing a given resume. Don’t divert attention from your work experience and skills if your objective or summary doesn’t provide anything of value.

Senior project managers should use a  resume summary  since it’s a high-level highlight reel showcasing your most significant accomplishments or goals in two to three sentences.

WRONG – generic resume summary

“Experienced project manager with a history of working across departments to achieve goals and positive outcomes on the projects I manage.”

RIGHT – specific project manager resume summary

“PMP certified project manager with 5+ years of experience owning all stages of the project lifecycle from inception through monitoring and closing to deliver projects that exceed expectations on time and under budget.”

The second resume summary works well because it leads with this PM’s certifications (we’ll touch on this more below) while also showcasing their experience delivering projects on time and within the allotted budget. The first example will take up space on the page.

On the other hand, an objective should be used by more junior project managers to talk about your skill set and what you’re looking for in your next role. It can also be used by PMs who are undergoing a career change or looking for something specific in their next role.

WRONG – vague resume objective

“I’m looking for an opportunity to work as a project manager at a growing organization where I can utilize my unique abilities to plan, scope, and deliver projects.”

RIGHT – resume objective tied to experience

“Project manager with experience building web apps as a software engineer and leading projects that have a meaningful impact on the company’s bottom line. I’m looking for a role where I can utilize my ability to communicate effectively with developers and executives alike.”

The second resume objective is a great way to call attention to the fact that this project manager has experience as both a software engineer and a project manager, which can manifest itself in more effective communication between those two groups.

Projects and work experience

When it comes time to talk about your work experience on your project manager resume, you must tell the story of the projects on which you worked. You’ll have more room to dive into this in your  project manager cover letter , so how do you keep it short and sweet in your resume? 

Rather than talking about one-off tasks you completed, focus on one to two of the biggest projects you led. The beauty of being a project manager is that the experience you should discuss is right in your job title.

Here are some questions you might want to answer about the projects you worked on when talking about them on your resume:

• What was the scope or goal of the project?
• How big was the budget, and what was the timeline? Was it a year-long project, or was it a short-term one?
• How large was the team involved, and with what departments did you collaborate?
• What kind of reporting or metrics did you use to determine success?
• Did you encounter any major roadblocks? How did you remove them?
• What kind of collaboration did you have with the executive team? Did you give a presentation upon project completion?
• You can and should use quantifiable metrics here!

Remember that you should also mention some of the skills listed in your official “skills” section. For example, did you use Trello to ensure the project was on time? Did you build reporting to measure project success?

Let’s describe a specific example of how all of this might work when describing your work experience as a project manager.

WRONG – non-specific work experience

Feedzai August 2016 – May 2018, New York NY Project Manager

• Managed several projects in collaboration with the executive team from inception through to closing
• Regularly removed roadblocks to ensure projects were delivered on time
• Presented the results of each project in a clear and efficient manner
• Worked collaboratively with the engineering, product, marketing, and customer success teams

RIGHT – work experience detailing a specific project

• Led the development of content prediction engine, which grew to $1.5M in annual revenue
• Analyzed the scope of the project based on competitive analysis, interviews with customers, and customer feature requests
• Set deadlines for incremental goals, allocated budget, and worked across software, marketing, and executive teams to ensure all teams were properly resourced
• Communicated progress and roadblocks to stakeholders, including executive management, and made proactive recommendations to remove roadblocks leading to the on-time and on-budget delivery of the project

Specialization and industry experience

Since project managers are in such high demand, they can work in various industries and have a wide range of specializations.

So, if you’re looking for a more specialized PM role, you must highlight your experience in that specialization on your resume. If you’re looking for an I.T. project manager or technical project manager role, you should focus on your experience shepherding projects related to software.

Conversely, if you’re applying for a construction project manager role, your field experience will be more valuable. Focus your resume on the position you’re applying for, and pay particular attention to the  project manager job description .

Education and certifications

No matter what you went to school for, you should include your highest level of education on your resume. If you’re an entry-level project manager, you should include relevant classes you took in school that will convince the hiring manager you’ll make for an effective PM.

When you’re a senior PM, you should avoid listing relevant classes because you want the focus of your resume to be your work experience. Since you want to keep it to one page, you can’t afford to use that space for classes.

No matter where you are on the career ladder, certifications can help your candidacy as a project manager.

Top program manager certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
• Professional Scrum Master (PSM)
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
• Kanban Management Professional (KMP)

If you have one of these certifications, you should include it in your education section and your resume objective or summary, should you include one.

Finalizing your project manager resume

Don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of “great.” Building a project manager resume can be daunting, but the hardest part is getting started. Don’t worry about perfection just yet; instead, focus on making your resume great. No one-size-fits-all “perfect” resume exists because each person has different experiences and skills. Just do the best you can!

If you need a launching point, feel free to use our  free resume templates  or choose a  Google Docs resume template . Or you can try a  resume outline  to give you a relatively blank slate to build on. Add on to include your experience, skills, education, and contact information until it’s complete. Then, and only then, do you need to worry about the details (in which case, go back and reread this guide to make sure you’re hitting all the right notes). 

Feel free to edit any of the resumes above in our resume builder or download the project manager resumes as PDFs. Then as you write, follow the rules in this guide. You’ll be well on your way toward landing your next (or first) role as a project manager!

Here’s a quick summary of our  resume tips :

• Only include skills you’d be comfortable being interviewed on in your resume. Include these keywords both in your skills section and in your work experience bullet points.
• Make sure your resume objective or resume summary adds value to your candidacy. Avoid vague or generic statements.
• When discussing your work experience, highlight the details of one to two major projects you worked on instead of focusing on one-off tasks you completed.
• Be sure to include your highest level of education and any certifications you have in your resume objective or summary.

And that’s it! We wish you the best of luck in whatever role you hope to land!

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• The 25 project management skills you ne ...

The 25 project management skills you need to succeed

Anyone who oversees projects is a project manager, but to become a more thoughtful manager (with a higher impact), you need to develop the right project management skills. Learn what skills are necessary to become a successful project manager and how to build them.

If you’re interested in honing and developing your project management skills, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll cover 25 key skills you need to succeed as a project manager or project administrator , and how you can develop those skills over time.

What are project management skills (and why do they matter?)

Project management skills are the attributes you develop to become a more experienced project manager. Building a project management skill set includes learning technical and hard skills, such as portfolio management and project scoping, and soft skills (for example, adaptability).In honing these skills, you’re preparing yourself to more effectively perform in your role. 

Project management is the practice of organizing and executing work efficiently—and helping your team do the same. For a while, project managers had to be trained and certified in complicated project management technology. Traditional project management tools were hard to set up and required constant maintenance, which is where the position “project manager” comes from.

Modern project management tools

Modern project management evolved from traditional project management in two distinct ways. As companies and teams democratized their project management processes, they needed more team members and team leads who were able to manage a process from conception to completion. In order to support those team leads, project management software has also evolved, from complex mechanisms to flexible and easy-to-use tools.

Today, any team member may be called upon to run a project and become the de-facto project manager—which is why modern project management tools are built to be flexible enough for anyone to use on any project, so you’re able to jump in and hit the ground running. 

These tools, like Asana , make it easy to track, manage, and organize work—without the learning curve associated with traditional tools. With today's project management tools , you can easily implement project management best practices and bring a new level of clarity and visibility to your project team. 

How to use your project management skills

Project management tools do the heavy lifting when it comes to reducing silos, increasing visibility, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration. As the project manager, you can use these tools to give your team the insight they need to get their best work done. While you don’t need to learn complicated skills or tools in order to become a successful project manager , there are hard, soft, and technical skills you can develop in order to improve your management and collaboration skills.

Some of these skills might not apply to you—while others might be things you’re already seasoned in. Like everything in the five phases of project management , approach this list with flexibility and work on the skills that are most relevant to you.

10 soft skills for project managers

Soft skills are what we call “non-technical skills,” or skills that can help you improve your quality of work—without a specific tool or technical requirement. These are also called “people skills” or “interpersonal skills” because they often help you work with and relate to others in your workspace. These 10 skills are the most important soft skills for project management:

1. Collaboration

Collaboration is the cornerstone of all project management skills. In project management, collaboration helps you get work done quickly and more efficiently. When you can coordinate across teams, you gain valuable insights into your project that you might not find within your team. If more minds are involved in the work, projects are inherently more creative and well developed.

To improve your collaboration skills, practice having conversations. Use techniques like active listening , where you stay engaged and focused when others are speaking to you. It sounds simple, but learning how to have open communication, reduce boundaries, and co-create are critical for a collaborative team.

2. Teamwork

Everyone on your team has something to bring to the table, and your team is more effective working together than they would be alone. Teamwork ensures that everyone feels welcome, valued, and they are supported to contribute.

If you’re working to boost your teamwork skills, dig deeper into team brainstorms , 1:1 conversations, and ask for feedback from your team—how can you be a better team member? Notice if there’s someone who hasn’t spoken up in a while, and be supportive when another team member has a new idea.

3. Communication

Miscommunications are common when you’re working with a group of people. Learning how to communicate well and avoid these will make projects run more smoothly and be more enjoyable. 

To develop your communication skills, practice being open and honest with your coworkers. This requires a lot of trust between you and your team members. To build this trust, encourage your team members to bring any thoughts into a discussion—even if you disagree with them.

4. Time management

Time management and organization skills go hand in hand. As you become better at organizing your tasks, you’ll also have a clearer sense of everything that’s on your plate and how long your upcoming tasks are going to take.

Still, it can be hard to buckle down and prioritize your work. To improve your time management skills and reduce procrastination, try prioritizing tasks. When you’re clear on which tasks are higher priority, you can tackle them first, to make sure nothing gets left behind or falls through the cracks.

5. Leadership

Even if you don’t think of yourself as a leader or have a role in team management, when you’re managing a project, your project team is looking to you for leadership, guidance, and support. 

To develop your leadership skills, practice approaching situations with empathy and understanding. Good leaders bring everyone together and make them feel supported to foster teamwork and collaboration.

6. Organization

For a lot of project managers, organization is the most intimidating soft skill. You might think organization is either something you “have” or “don’t have.” But, like every other project management skill in this article, you can develop your organizational skills and become a Marie Kondo in your own right.

The best way to become a better organizer is to create (and maintain) a central source of truth for your work and your team’s work. We’re often disorganized because work is disconnected—in fact, the average employee switches between 10 tools per day . Instead of splitting your time between 10 tools, try using a digital organization tool to act as that one central source of truth for your team.

7. Problem solving

Problem solving skills are collaborative, iterative skills that help you approach a problem and, ultimately, solve it. Developing problem solving skills isn’t about always having the “right” answer to every problem—rather, people with great problem solving skills practice approaching problems from new perspectives and methodically working towards a solution.

To become a better problem solver, use data-driven decision-making frameworks or routine analyses. For example, if you need to solve for how to boost sales by 10% over your competition, you can run a competitive analysis to determine where you currently stand in the market. Then, use that information to solve the problem of lower sales. In this case, you could develop a new marketing strategy coordinated with the sales team.

8. Critical thinking

Critical thinking, like problem solving, doesn’t have a “solution.” You can’t “win” at critical thinking, but you can practice approaching problems logically instead of making decisions based on your emotions. Good critical thinkers practice analyzing information in front of them and forming their own conclusions based on the facts—the way Sherlock Holmes solves a mystery.

To practice critical thinking, always take a step back and ask yourself: how did I come to this conclusion? Could there be another answer? Am I being swayed by something other than factual information? Emotional decisions aren’t necessarily bad—in fact, some of the best decisions are those we’re passionate about. But critical thinking is a helpful way to make sure you’re approaching a situation from the right perspective.

9. Adaptability

At some point, whether it’s this project or the next one, aspects of your project plan will change. Maybe your deadline or priorities shifts, and you need to adapt your workflow accordingly. Great project managers are able to pivot and adapt to new situations to continue steering their project team in the right direction.

Becoming more adaptable is all about understanding when and how to shift gears. To do this, you need to understand yourself. Developing other soft skills, such as self-awareness and mindfulness, can help you be more in touch with and manage your emotions, which are often in flux during times of change.

10. Conflict resolution

Inevitably, conflict will arise during the projects you manage. It could be that a stakeholder wants to change the project scope. Or maybe you missed your budget or deadline. Conflict resolution is about addressing both sides of the conflict so everyone feels heard and supported. If there are harmed parties, take the time to listen to them and try to find a solution that works for everyone. Even when that can’t happen, approaching the conversation with patience and empathy can help defuse a potentially frustrating situation and lead to a better result.

7 hard skills for project managers

Unlike soft skills, hard skills are quantifiable abilities. While the soft skills mentioned above are applicable for many work skills, these seven hard skills are relevant specifically to project management. Developing these will help you become a more well rounded and efficient project manager.

1. Project planning

At its core, a  project plan  (sometimes called a project charter) is a blueprint of the key elements your project needs to succeed. Typically a project plan will include seven things:

Goals and  project objectives

Success metrics

Stakeholders  and  roles

Scope  and  budget

Milestones ,  deliverables , and  project dependencies

Timeline  and  schedule

Communication plan

Some of these things, like your goals or your milestones, might already be defined in your project roadmap or brief. But your project plan is where all of these project elements come together to create a cohesive picture of your upcoming work.

A lot of planning goes into the beginning of the year for what our vision is and where we will be by the end of that particular year. Once that is done, we summarize it in a project so it's visible to everyone... Having that visual representation in Asana makes it easier to move things around.”

2. Project scoping

Project scope is the size, goals, and limitations (i.e., deadlines and resources) for your project. Your project scope will define what you can achieve within a certain timeframe and budget. Setting and defining your project scope is important in order to prevent scope creep , which is when your project deliverables outgrow your original project scope.

In order to improve your project scoping skills, practice setting project scope early and often. Once you’ve set your project scope, share it with stakeholders and surface it frequently, so everyone is on the same page about the project’s aims and limitations. Use it as a point of reference, so you know when to say no to new asks.

We have been able to reduce the number of products that we’ve oversold and the number of times we have to contact the customer to push a ship date out.”

3. Writing a project brief

Your project brief outlines your general project objectives and how you plan to get there. This can serve as a helpful North Star to guide planning sessions.

The most important thing to remember about your project brief is that it’s a living document. As you develop your project plan and get input from stakeholders, you can adapt and update your project brief. In general, your project brief should contain a link to your project roadmap if you created one, a list of your project stakeholders and their responsibilities  (sometimes called a RACI chart), other relevant documentation or files, and any other high-level information your team might need.

Having executive oversight and insight into projects is key so we can quickly get up to speed on what is happening at any point.”

4. Hosting a project kickoff meeting

A kickoff meeting is an opportunity to align with your project stakeholders. This is your chance to clarify your project goals and scope, and share any documents you’ve already put together like your project roadmap, project brief, or supplemental documentation like a bill of materials for a marketing campaign or a creative brief for a design team.

To host a successful kickoff meeting, plan to share the documentation you have put together with project stakeholders. Then, host a brainstorming or Q&A session to align on any additional variables, like budget,  resources , or final deliverables.

5. Project roadmapping

A project roadmap is a high-level overview of your project’s key deliverables and timeline. Project roadmaps are helpful for complex initiatives with a lot of stakeholders because they help the entire project team get on the same page before the project even starts.

Traditionally, project roadmaps are created in Gantt chart-like software , in order to display a general schedule of your project as a horizontal bar chart. To create a project roadmap, use a tool like Timeline in Asana to create a rough timeline of your project, adding key milestones or important dependencies.

6. Mapping your project timeline

Your project timeline is the order and duration of events during your project lifecycle. Knowing your project timeline helps your team track project success and deliver the right assets on time.

In order to build a great project timeline, make sure you clarify the start and end dates of your project, as well as any key milestones. As you continue building out individual tasks and deliverables, set dependencies between tasks, and clarify the start and end date of each piece of work.

7. Task management

Once your project is officially underway, task management refers to how well you manage your and your team’s time. The best project managers have visibility into what their team is working on in real-time, so they can help their team effectively prioritize and execute work.

But you don’t have to magically know everything that’s happening in your project—instead, use task management software.  Task management software  is more than a to-do list—it’s a way to get a holistic view of all of the work happening in your project. With effective task management, you can empower your team to work more productively, efficiently, and effectively.

With Asana, we can see project progress and blockers, plus feedback and action items, all in one place. We're now able to complete work more efficiently and effectively, which has become even more critical while working from home. We’d be lost without it!”

8 technical skills all project managers need

Soft skills: check. Hard skills: got it. The only thing you have left to master are technical skills!

Technical skills refer to your knowledge of specific tools and softwares within project management. These tools aren’t hard to learn—as we mentioned before, modern project management is built to be flexible and easy to use. These eight skills are aspects of project management roles you should become familiar with, so you know when and how to leverage them.

1. Project management software skills

Project management software  has come a long way from legacy tools that were difficult to use and required a project management professional to implement. But like any tool, even easy-to-use ones, the software you choose takes time to learn and truly master. Make sure the tool you select has a written  guide  and  helpful videos  to teach you the ins and outs of how to use it.

2. Gantt charts

Gantt charts are a way to visualize your project as a horizontal bar chart, where each bar represents a piece of work and the length of each bar represents the amount of time that work will take.

Project milestones

Dependencies

Real-time project progress

Start and end dates

Traditional Gantt chart technology can be tricky to use and limited in scope, which is why, at Asana, we took the best of Gantt chart technology and created  Timeline , a Gantt-chart like tool that helps you see how all of the pieces fit together.

Launching an album has so many moving parts, and Asana helps us track every detail, who’s responsible for it, and when it needs to be completed.”

3. Kanban boards

Another popular type of visual project management is the  Kanban board . Each column in a Kanban board represents a stage of work, like  New ,  In progress , or  Done . Individual work is represented by cards, which move through the columns until they’re completed.

Kanban boards tools  are a popular visual project management tool for lean project management teams, particularly product, engineering, and software development teams. They’re an Agile methodology , designed to be adaptable and flexible to adjust to development needs in real-time.

4. Agile management

Agile management is a lean project management methodology that’s particularly popular with product, engineering, and software development teams. Agile operates on a system of continuous improvement and incremental evolution, and it encompasses several lean methodologies, like lean portfolio management ,  Scrum , and  Kanban .

In order to manage an Agile team, it's the project manager’s job to coordinate between team members and stay flexible. This can mean changing the project schedule, aligning with teams working on a different project, or just staying in touch with effective communication.

5. Workload management

If you’ve managed projects before, you know how hard it is to gain clarity on who is working on what—but it doesn’t have to be.  Workload management  helps you measure your team’s bandwidth and make sure they aren’t over- or under-worked. It’s an interactive process that doesn’t have a beginning or end state—rather, an effective project manager will continuously monitor their team’s workload to ensure no one is burning out.

There are two steps to using workload management software . First, start by figuring out your team’s capacity, competencies, and current workload. From there, allocate resources based on individual workload, or rebalance workloads as needed.

6. Cost management

In project management, cost management is considering how each task impacts your budget at every stage of the project. Cost management is a key part of project leadership, and an important element of whether or not your project is a success. Staying within budget is as important as hitting your project due date, and cost management can help you get there.

To manage cost effectively, good project managers define their costs and budget at the beginning of a project. Make sure project stakeholders and team members all understand the budget. Then, during the project, keep cost and budget in mind. Check in on your spending several times during the project to make sure you aren’t overshooting your budget. Once the project is completed, tally predicted cost vs. actual cost to determine how effective your cost management strategies were. This can also help you benchmark for future projects.

7. Project portfolio management

With project portfolio management (PMM), you can get a bird’s-eye view of your team’s work across multiple projects. Unlike traditional project management, PMM involves working on multiple projects or large-scale initiatives simultaneously. Project portfolio management tools help you get a holistic view of all of your team’s work in real-time, so you can connect strategy to execution.

Portfolios are also a key Asana feature for our team. It is a great tool for our executive team so they can see our big pieces of work all in a single place with the status, progress and ownership. Our CEO visits our portfolio daily and adds comments. He loves to be able to see what's going on in a snapshot.”

8. Change management

If you’ve ever rolled out a big organizational change, you’ve likely practiced change management, even if you didn’t know it. Change management is the process of introducing organizational change—like new processes or tools—over a set period of time to make them easier to adapt to.

At Asana, we use the Asana Way of Change, a six step process developed by our Customer Success team that incorporates proven change management strategies. To learn more,  read our guide to change management .

The standard of our creative team, for a while, was just to react to work. But we’ll never do the best work we possibly can without a clear process.”

How to build your project management skills

Twenty five skills might feel like a lot, but remember that you don’t need to master every skill in this list. Some, like Agile, are only relevant for specific teams. Others, like organization, become virtually effortless with a little focus and great tools .

Keep in mind that developing your project management skills takes practice. Challenge yourself to focus on one or two new skills for each project—whether that’s trying out a new  visual form of project management  like Kanban, drafting your first ever project plan, or leaning into time-management.

There are also classes you can take to develop hard and soft project management skills. Though you no longer need certifications in order to be considered a project manager, the  Project Management Institute  (PMI) offers courses, learning events, and their famous  Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) , which was the first project management guide ever published.

Finally, once you’ve  selected a project management tool , you can also take their classes to learn technical project management skills. At Asana, we’ve developed the  Asana Academy  and  How to Asana  series to help new project managers learn new soft, hard, and technical skills.

Build your project management toolkit

If you manage a project, you’re a project manager—and you likely already have some key project management skills. The most important thing is to be intentional, listen to your team, and collaborate with your team members. The rest will follow.

Project management doesn’t need to be complex. Asana was designed specifically to keep project manager’s organized, with tools, automations, and customizations built for collaborating and coordinating everything from a simple brainstorming session to a full-fledged product launch. 

Related resources

What are story points? Six easy steps to estimate work in Agile

What is a flowchart? Symbols and types explained

How to choose project management software for your team

7 steps to complete a social media audit (with template)

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

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Looking to score a job as a Project Manager?

An awesome resume is going to be key. This guide is your one-stop-shop for writing a job-winning Project 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 Project 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 Project Manager Resume
• The Best Skills To Include On An Project Manager Resume

How To Write A Job-Winning Project Manager Resume Summary

How to write offer-winning project manager resume bullets.

• 3 Project Manager Resume Examples

The 8 Best Project Manager Resume Templates

Here's the step-by-step breakdown:

Project 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 Project Manager?

When hiring a project manager, companies typically look for candidates with a combination of technical and soft skills. On the technical side, project managers should have a solid understanding of project management methodologies, such as Agile or Waterfall, and possess the ability to use project management software effectively. They should also have a strong understanding of budgeting, scheduling, and risk management, as well as experience in managing projects from initiation to completion.

Soft skills are equally important in project management. Companies seek candidates who possess strong leadership and communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and who are able to come up with creative ways to overcome challenges.

A track record of success in Project Management is also highly valued. Employers want to see that candidates can deliver projects on time and within budget.

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

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

• Tailor your resume to the job description: Match your skills and experience to the requirements listed in the job ad.
• Highlight your leadership and collaboration skills: including your ability to manage teams and stakeholders, and your ability to work with cross-functional teams.
• Use keywords: Include industry-specific keywords and terms related to account management to make your resume more searchable.
• Showcase your communication skills: Emphasize your ability to effectively communicate with customers and colleagues.
• Use specific metrics to quantify your accomplishments:  such as the size of the project, the number of team members you managed, the budget you were responsible for, and the timeframe in which you completed the project.
• Include any relevant certifications or training  that you have received in project management, such as PMP or Agile.
• Keep it concise: Limit your resume to one or two pages and use bullet points to make it easy to read.
• Proofread your resume: Check for spelling and grammar errors, as well as consistency in formatting (I recommend Hemingway App ).

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

The Best Project 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 the 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 Project Manager Keywords

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

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

• Project Management
• Engineering
• Development
• Communication
• Coordination
• Interpersonal Skills
• Construction
• Organization
• Specifications
• Team Member

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 resume
• Open a copy of your target job description
• Head over to ResyMatch.io
• Copy and paste your resume on the left and then do the same for the job description on the right
• Hit scan and review the results

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.

Here's a video walking through this whole process:

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 can 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 Project Manager role, it might look like this:

You can see how the first bullet includes the Project Manager job title, the years of experience this candidate has, and it wraps up with a value-driven pitch for how they've helped companies in the past.

The next two bullets are “Case Studies” of specific results they drove at their company. Finally, their last bullet focuses on a volunteering stretch project that led to some amazing results.

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, 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 Project Manager Highlight Reel:

While the content in this example is a bit more light, you can see all of the elements of a great Highlight Reel (especially the emphasis on measurable outcomes and results!).

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-fill language and they only talk about the actions that they took rather than the results and outcomes those actions created.

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:

❌ Responsible for coordinating with vendors to ensure timely delivery of project components. 

✅ Coordinated with vendors to increase project component delivery rates to 98% over 12 months through teamwork and collaboration.

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 project manager resume and paste it into the tool, then hit “Analyze”
• ResyBullet will score your project manager 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 project manager resume

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

First, we had, “Responsible for coordinating with vendors to ensure timely delivery of project components.” 

ResyBullet gave that a score of 5/100.  While it is a good length, it's missing relevant skills, compelling language, and measurable outcomes:

Now, let's take a look at our second bullet,  “Coordinated with vendors to increase project component delivery rates to 98% over 12 months through teamwork and collaboration.”

ResyBullet gave that a 65 / 100. Much better! This bullet had more content focused on the specific criteria the hiring team is looking for. We can see that they increased the delivery rate to almost 100%, and we see what methods they implemented to generate those 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!

And if you want to learn more about the underlying strategies behind writing great resume bullets, check out this guide.

3 Project Manager Resume Examples For 2023

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:

Project Manager Resume Example #1: A Traditional Background

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

For our second Project Manager Resume Example, we have a candidate who has a non-traditional background. In this case, they are coming from an Event Planner background and highlight their transferrable skills.  Here's an example of what their resume might look like when applying for Project Manager roles:

Project Manager Resume Example #3: Senior Project Manager With an Advanced Degree & Certification

For our third Project Manager Resume Example, we have a candidate who has 10+ years of experience, a Master's Degree in Project Management and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMI). This person is targeting a Senior Project Manager 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 Project 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:

Key Takeaways To Wrap Up Your Job-Winning Project 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 Project 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 project manager role you apply to
• Open your Project Manager 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 Project Manager resume to the examples on this page to make sure you're on the right path
• Use a tool like HemingwayApp 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 Project Manager interviews and job offers.

Laura Lorta

Laura is an Editor at Cultivated Culture. She transitioned from teaching into the world of content so she's no stranger to career pivots. She also has a bachelors in Entrepreneurship and a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction / Bilingual Education. She currently shares job search advice to help people like you land jobs they love without applying online.

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Resume Worded   |  Resume Skills

Skill profile, project manager, improve your resume's success rate by using these project manager skills and keywords ..

• Hard Skills and Keywords for your Project Manager Resume
• ATS Scan : Compare Your Resume To These Skills
• Sample Resume Templates
• How To Add Skills
• Soft Skills for Project Manager Roles
• Project Manager More Resume Templates

Resume Skills and Keywords from Related Jobs

Browse skills from similar jobs, frequently asked questions.

• 3. Effective Action Verbs for your Resume

Get a Free Resume Review

Looking for keywords for a specific job search for your job title here., © 2024 resume worded. all rights reserved., project manager resume keywords and skills (hard skills).

Here are the keywords and skills that appear most frequently on recent Project Manager job postings. In other words, these are the most sought after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. Go to Sample Templates ↓ below to see how to include them on your resume. Remember that every job is different. Instead of including all keywords on your resume, identify those that are most relevant to the job you're applying to. Use the free Targeted Resume tool to help with this.

• Project Management
• Project Planning
• Change Management
• Engineering
• Microsoft Access
• Project Coordination
•  Find out what your resume's missing
• Construction
• Project Managers
• Strategic Planning
• Business Strategy
• Product Development
• Contract Management
• Agile Project Management
• Project Engineering
• Microsoft Project
• Software Project Management
• Social Media

Resume Skills: Process Management

• Lean methodologies
• Process improvement
• Quality control
• Cost reduction
• Waterfall methodology
• Risk Management
• Quality Assurance
• Stakeholder Management
• Meeting Facilitation
•  Match your resume to these skills

Resume Skills: Techniques

Resume skills: project management tools.

• ProjectLibre
• Office 365 (Teams, Planner, SharePoint)
• Zoho Projects

Resume Skills: Technical

• MS Office Suite
• Google Suite
• Microsoft Azure
• Microsoft Office Suite

Resume Skills: Software

• Ticketing Systems
• Google Workspace

Resume Skills: Verticals

• Digital Marketing

Resume Skills: Data Analysis & Reporting

• Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables)
• Google Sheets
• SAP BusinessObjects
• Crystal Reports

Resume Skills: Agile & Scrum

• Agile methodology
• Scrum framework
• Sprint planning
• Story Mapping
• Retrospectives
• Continuous improvement

Resume Skills: Languages

• English (Fluent)

Resume Skills: Systems & Protocols

Resume skills: technologies, resume skills: methodologies, resume skills: programming, resume skills: operating systems, resume skills: other tech tools, resume skills: business tools.

  Where on my resume do I add these buzzwords? Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or projects. Alternatively, you can also include a Skills section where you can list your technical skills in order of your proficiency. Only include these technical skills or keywords into your resume if you actually have experience with them.

   Does your resume contain all the right skills? Paste in your resume in the AI Resume Scan ↓ section below and get an instant score.

Compare Your Resume To These Project Manager Skills (ATS Scan)

Paste your resume below and our AI will identify which keywords are missing from your resume from the list above (and what you need to include). Including the right keywords will help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems (i.e. resume screeners) which may scan your resume for keywords to see if you're a match for the job.

Sample Project Manager Resume Examples: How To Include These Skills

Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or skills section , like we've shown in the examples below. use the examples below as inspiration..

  Where on my resume do I add these buzzwords? Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or projects. Only include these technical skills or keywords into your resume if you actually have experience with them.

How do I add skills to a Project Manager resume?

Go through the Project Manager posting you're applying to, and identify hard skills the company is looking for. For example, skills like Engineering, Management and Project Planning are possible skills. These are skills you should try to include on your resume.

Add other common skills from your industry - such as Project Coordination, Project Management and Construction - into your resume if they're relevant.

Incorporate skills - like Project Managers, Business Strategy and Sales - into your work experience too. This shows hiring managers that you have practical experience with these tools, techniques and skills.

Hiring managers often want to see evidence of leadership and management on a Project Manager resume, so try to include any examples of where you led a project or managed other people.

Leading and delivering projects to completion are critical skill sets when it comes to Project Manager roles.

Try to add the exact job title, Project Manager, somewhere into your resume to get past resume screeners. See the infographic for how to do this.

Word Cloud for Project Manager Skills & Keywords

The following word cloud highlights the most popular keywords that appear on Project Manager job descriptions. The bigger the word, the more frequently it shows up on employer's job postings. If you have experience with these keywords, include them on your resume.

Project Manager Soft Skills

Here are common soft skills that appear on Project Manager job postings. Unlike hard skills, which refer to tools, software or techniques, soft skills focus on character traits and interpersonal skills. Instead of listing these phrases on your resume, try to show them through your bullet points like in the examples below.

• Team Leadership
• Team Building
• Public Speaking
• Working with Investors

Tip: Do not list these words or phrases on your resume, and instead focus on the hard skills we described above.

We also found variations and further specializations to your job title. Browse through the related job titles to find additional keywords that you can include into your resume.

• Content Management
• Content Development
• Content Strategy
• Publications
• Copywriting
• Web Content Writing
• Copy Editing
• Newsletters
• Content Marketing
• Digital Media
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Advertising
• Social Media Marketing
• Marketing Strategy
• Adobe Photoshop
• Art Direction
• Brand Development
• Creative Strategy
• Print Production
• Adobe InDesign
• Creative Services
• Print Production Management
• Adobe Illustrator
• Marketing Project Management
• Graphic Design
• Creative Briefs
• Office Administration
• Administrative Assistance
• Construction Management
• Administration
• Event Planning
• Accounts Payable
• Human Resources (HR)
• Customer Service
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Project Portfolio Management
• Requirements Analysis
• Integration
• IT Management
• Project Management Office (PMO)
• Vendor Management
• IT Project & Program Management
• Business Analysis
• Agile Methodologies
• IT Strategy
• Program Management
• Business Process
• Information Technology
• Business Process Improvement
• Software Development
• Clinical Trials
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Clinical Research
• Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Protocol Development
• Electronic Data Capture (EDC)
• Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS)
• Clinical Monitoring
• Clinical Development
• Regulatory Affairs
• Life Sciences
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
• Data Management
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Public Health
• Data Collection
• Biotechnology
• Digital Communication
• Internal Communications
• Online Marketing
• Strategic Communications
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Community Management
• Direct Marketing
• Architectural Design
• Architecture
• Construction Drawings
• Architectural Drawings
• Architectural Project Management
• Design Research
• Sustainable Design
• AutoCAD Architecture
• Space Planning
• Building Information Modeling (BIM)
• Residential Design
• Interior Design
• Green Building
• Electrical Wiring
• Value Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Contractors
• Project Estimation
• Electrical Design
• Contract Negotiation
• Change Orders
• Subcontracting
• Electrical Controls
• Design-Build
• Power Distribution
• Pre-construction
• Project Implementation
• Project Delivery
• IT Service Management
• Requirements Engineering
• Telecommunications
• Mobile Devices
• Agile & Waterfall Methodologies
• Product Management
• Requirements Gathering
• Cross-functional Team Leadership
• Google Analytics
• Email Marketing
• Event Management
• Product Marketing
• Public Relations
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Brand Management
• Service Delivery Management
• Service Delivery
• Outsourcing
• Managed Services
• Service-Level Agreements (SLA)
• IT Outsourcing
• IT Operations
• Cloud Computing
• ITIL Certified
• Incident Management
• Process Management
• Logistics Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
• Warehouse Operations
• Operations Management
• Transportation
• Transportation Management
• Warehouse Management Systems
• Military Operations
• U.S. Department of Defense
• Inventory Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Lean Manufacturing
• Lean Management
• Supply Chain Optimization
• Procurement
• International Logistics
• SAP Products
• Process Scheduler
• Sales Management
• Renewable Energy
• Account Management
• Data Analysis
• Qualitative Research
• Scientific Writing
• Research Ethics
• Grant Writing
• Literature Reviews
• Quantitative Research
• Report Writing
• Presentations
• Civil Engineering
• Research and Development (R&D)
• Medical Devices
• Manufacturing
• Materials Science
• Design of Experiments (DOE)
• Simulations
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Client Relations
• Business Development
• Online Advertising
• Business-to-Business (B2B)
• Digital Strategy
• Business Planning
• Construction Project Management
• Cost Management
• Quantity Surveying
• Cost Control
• Construction Site Management
• Construction Safety
• Project Control
• Construction Estimating
• Infrastructure
• Virtualization
• Windows Server
• Data Center
• Active Directory
• Disaster Recovery
• Data Migration
• CRO Management
• Clinical Operations
• Clinical Data Management
• Drug Development
• Trial Management
• Therapeutic Areas
• Regulatory Submissions
• Interior Architecture
• Design Management
• Capital Projects
• Commissioning
• Process Engineering
• Stormwater Management
• Environmental Consulting
• Environmental Compliance
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Science
• Remediation
• Groundwater
• Environmental Permitting
• Water Resource Management
• Environmental Management Systems
• Hazardous Waste Management
• Water Quality
• Environmental Remediation
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
• Sustainability
• Groundwater Remediation
• Environmental Policy
• Engineering Management
• Systems Engineering
• Signaling System 7 (SS7)
• Wireless Technologies
• SAP Implementation
• SAP PM Module
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
• SAP Project Management
• SAP Materials Management (SAP MM)
• SAP Netweaver
• SAP Sales & Distribution
• Business Intelligence (BI)
• Materials Management
• Business Transformation
• Performance Management
• Business Process Mapping
• Health Insurance
• International Sales
• People Management
• Copy Protection
• Enterprise Software
• Customer Experience
• Internet Protocol (IP)
• Employee Relations
• Employee Engagement
• HR Policies
• Talent Management
• Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
• Succession Planning
• HR Project Management
• Personnel Management
• HR Transformation
• HR Consulting
• Organizational Development
• HR Operations
• HR Strategy
• Workforce Planning
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• Employee Benefits Design
• Interviewing
• Benefits Administration
• New Hire Orientations
• Software Implementation
• Salesforce.com
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Software Documentation
• Financial Services
• Diversity Recruitment
• Financial Analysis
• Commercial Mortgages
• Financial Reporting
• U.S. VA Loans
• Corporate Finance
• Forecasting
• Cash Management
• Internal Controls
• Financial Modeling
• Technical Recruiting
• Commercial Real Estate
• Managerial Finance
• Financial Accounting
• Management Accounting
• Financial Planning
• Embedded Software
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• Unified Modeling Language (UML)
• .NET Framework
• Embedded Systems
• Information Systems
• Information Assurance
• Training Delivery
• Instructional Design
• Training & Development
• Employee Training
• Leadership Development
• Supply Chain Operations
• Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
• Strategic Sourcing
• Enterprise Architecture
• Data Warehousing
• Solution Architecture
• Quality Management
• Test Planning
• Test Automation
• Test Strategy
• HP Quality Center
• Test Management
• Regression Testing
• Quality System
• Quality Control
• Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)
• Oracle Database
• Change Project Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Project Governance
• Facility Management (FM)
• Facilities Project Management
• Facilities Operations
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
• Corporate Communications
• Media Relations
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Press Releases
• Production Management
• Direct Mail
• Video Production
• User Experience (UX)
• Web Project Management
• Content Management Systems (CMS)
• Digital Project Management
• Digital Transformation
• Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
• Localization
• Website Localization
• Internationalization
• Translation
• Linguistics
• Localization Testing
• Language Services
• Terminology
• Proofreading
• Intercultural Communication
• Corporate Events
• Sponsorship
• Live Events
• Budget Management
• Event Production
• Relationship Building
• Entertainment
• Troubleshooting

Get your Resume Instantly Checked, For Free

Upload your resume and we'll spot the issues in it before an actual project manager recruiter sees it. for free., project manager resume templates.

Here are examples of proven resumes in related jobs and industries, approved by experienced hiring managers. Use them as inspiration when you're writing your own resume. You can even download and edit the resume template in Google Docs.

Resume Example Entry Level Project Manager

An effective Description of the templates...

Download this resume template

At first, it might seem intimidating to apply for project manager jobs with little to no prior experience in this line of work. But if you have a strong academic history and the skills to succeed as a project manager, you can break into this field. Use your resume to highlight projects you worked on in school, extracurricular activities, and any other experiences where you had to use skills such as problem solving and organization.

Tips on why this template works

   education and academic background.

On an entry-level resume, leading with your educational history can put your strengths in the forefront - especially if you excelled in school. If you had a high GPA or academic honors, it’s great to mention those here, as well as any coursework or projects you did that could be relevant for project management.

   Volunteering and internships

Even if you don’t have an extensive work history, you’ve likely done internships, community service, and other projects that show who you are and where your strengths lie. Extracurricular activities can also tell recruiters that you’re driven, ambitious, and actively involved in your community.

Resume Example Senior Project Manager

As a senior project manager, you won’t only be managing projects; you’ll likely also be managing other members of your team. To get this kind of job, you’ll need to show that you have leadership capabilities along with the experience and expertise of a senior-level professional. Your work history should highlight any management or leadership roles you’ve held in the past, in addition to any previous achievements managing projects.

   Emphasis on work experience

If you’ve been working in project management for many years, you’ll have a lot of work history to show for it. Leading with this section places the emphasis on your experience and all that you’ve learned from it.

   Promotions at previous jobs

Being promoted shows that you achieved a high level of excellence and that you’ve been regarded as a top performer with past employers. This resume includes an example of a promotion, which demonstrates leadership and professional growth.

Resume Example Technical Project Manager

Technical project management jobs often require you to have a background in IT, engineering, or another tech-related field. If you’re pursuing one of these positions, you’ll want to use your resume to highlight your technical expertise as well as your project management experience. This resume template will show you how to do just that.

   Tailored to the specific position

This resume effectively showcases prior work history with examples of both project management and technical experience. A work history like this one clearly demonstrates that you have the right blend of skills to succeed in a technical project manager role.

   Detailed bullet points with measurable results

As much as possible, when talking about your accomplishments, you should mention the specific results that you achieved through your actions. This resume template is filled with quantifiable results (e.g. increased ROI and reduced onboarding time for new hires) that show the impact you had at your previous workplace.

Resume Example Marketing Project Manager

Marketing project managers collaborate closely with the marketing department of a business. If you’re seeking a job as a marketing project manager, use a resume similar to this template to highlight your skills and experience in fields such as marketing, journalism, or communication.

   Great action verbs in bullet points

Describing your accomplishments with strong verbs like “led”, “coached” and “designed” shows that you have taken an active role in your success - something any potential employer will be glad to see.

   Use of skills, education, and projects sections

In this resume template, the skills and education sections complement the work experience. Mentioning personal projects and achievements outside of work can also help you come across as a well-rounded individual.

Resume Example IT Project Coordinator

An IT project coordinator helps manage and plan technical projects. This position is more specialized than a typical project coordinator role, and it generally requires you to have some technical experience or education. On your resume, make sure to highlight your knowledge of computer systems as well as any relevant softwares you know how to use.

   Showcases relevant work experience in IT

If you want to get hired as an IT project coordinator, focus your resume on technical positions you’ve held (as well as roles where you’ve worked with IT departments). Pointing out past experience in jobs such as a computer administrator or systems analyst may help give you an edge over your competition.

   Hard PM and coordinator skills displayed in skills section

Your hard technical skills can be crucial to your success as an IT project coordinator. If you’re proficient with softwares such as NetSuite ERP, and Oracle Hyperion, list these competencies in a skills section to demonstrate your technical expertise.

Resume Example Construction Project Coordinator

Construction project coordinators handle logistics and planning for construction projects. For this role, in addition to the organizational and communication skills needed for project coordination, you should have at least a basic understanding of building processes, standards, and codes. You may also need to manage teams of workers, so leadership experience is also a huge plus.

   Resume shows a strong background in construction

Because this project coordinator role requires specialized construction knowledge, your resume should emphasize your construction-related work history. Having experience as a foreman, electrician, or inspector is especially valuable because it shows recruiters that you have a solid understanding of construction projects.

   Past promotions demonstrate leadership and management potential

YAs a construction project coordinator, you’ll work closely with construction teams to ensure that projects get completed. You need to be an effective leader -- and what better way to demonstrate leadership on your resume than highlighting your past promotions? When you’ve advanced to greater levels of responsibility at prior jobs, hiring managers can clearly see that you are a strong performer with the ability to lead by example.

What hard skills should you include on a Project Manager resume?

On top Project Manager resumes, skills like Project Management, Project Planning, Management, Change Management, Engineering, Microsoft Access, Project Coordination and Construction appear most often. Depending on the exact role you're applying to, skills like Business Strategy, Project Managers, Software Project Management, Sales and Project Engineering can also be effective keywords to include on your resume.

How do resume skills compare between a Content Project Manager and a Creative Project Manager?

Popular skills we often see on resumes for Content Project Manager positions include:

In comparison, skills we see on Creative Project Manager resumes include:

What are good resume skills to include for different Project Manager roles and job titles?

Depending on the specific role you apply to, you may need to emphasize different skill sets. Here are a few examples:

• Business Project Manager : Business Process Improvement, Stakeholder Management, Change Management, Project Delivery and Project Management
• Construction Project Manager : Construction Management, Construction, Contract Management, Construction Project Management and Project Estimation
• Software Project Manager : Software Project Management, Agile Methodologies, Agile Project Management, Scrum and Software Development
• Supply Chain Project Manager : Supply Chain Management, Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Logistics Management and Six Sigma
• Creative Project Manager : Art Direction, Adobe Creative Suite, Digital Marketing, Brand Development and Creative Strategy

What soft skills are common in Project Manager roles?

Examples of Project Manager soft skills include Time Management, Teamwork, Communication, Leadership and Team Leadership.

Target your Resume to a Job Description

While the keywords above are a good indication of what skills you need on your resume, you should try to find additional keywords that are specific to the job. To do this, use the free Targeted Resume tool. It analyzes the job you are applying to and finds the most important keywords you need on your resume. It is personalized to your resume, and is the best way to ensure your resume will pass the automated resume filters. Start targeting your resume

Most resumes get auto-rejected because of small, simple errors. These errors are easy to miss but can be costly in your job search. If you want to make sure your resume is error-free, upload it to Score My Resume for a free resume review. You'll get a score so you know where your resume stands, as well as actionable feedback to improve it. Get a free resume review

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Project Manager Skills: Boss Up Your Resume With These 7 Key Skills (+Resume Example)

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated November 22, 2023 8 min read

Are you interested in taking on the role of a project manager? Whether you've been formally trained for the job or you've just been recently promoted, having the right project manager skills in your resume makes all the difference . 

As a project leader, having expertise in your field is great but not enough. 

You also need to have specific soft skills to be able to keep everyone else on your team on the same page throughout a project. 

Leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence are just some of the essential skills any project manager should have. 

In this article, we'll explore the top hard and soft skills that you need in your resume to score a job as a project manager.

Plus, we'll show you an example of a project manager resume written by a certified professional resume writer that you can use as your first draft.

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

Why you should invest in gaining new skills as a project manager

Top project manager skills to put on a resume, 1. problem-solving skills, 2. tech savviness, 3. project management methodologies (pmms), 4. effective communication, 5. negotiation, 6. leadership, 7. project-specific hard (technical) skills, project manager resume example.

First things first. Why are your skills so important?

As IBM executive Alex Kaplan puts it, skills are the currency of the future . 

It's easy to see why — your skillset is like a valuable commodity. The more skills and knowledge you have, the more attractive you'll be to potential employers. In a way, it really is an investment.

That's why expanding your knowledge and skills is always worth exploring. 

Furthermore, since the start of the pandemic, there's been a shift in the skills employers look for on resumes . 

According to a 2021 McKinsey research , more than half of companies now prioritize advanced cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, decision-making, and quantitative skills. 

And, since 2019, project management skills have been particularly in demand.

Just take a look at the infographics below.

Hence, it's no surprise that project managers are looking to upskill themselves. They need to demonstrate a wide array of social, cognitive, and technical project manager skills to stay ahead of the competition. 

So, you should do that, too.

A resume of a modern project manager should display a full range of skills that employers look for nowadays. 

We'll explore the top 7 project manager skills that are in demand, why they're essential, and how to demonstrate them on your resume. 

Hint: Things have changed in the past few years, and so have the requirements for project managers. What worked in 2010 is no longer enough. 

Projects often encounter obstacles, delays, and unexpected challenges. 

That's why project managers must have the ability to quickly spot and resolve any issues that arise to ensure projects get done on time and within budget. 

Problem-solving skills allow you to identify the root cause of an issue, come up with solutions quickly, and move forward with the project.

In addition to that, you should be able to communicate effectively and explain your decisions and solutions to the team. Ideally, all while keeping everyone on the team happy. 

Here are 3 examples of how to demonstrate problem-solving skills on your resume:

• Came up with the idea of a cross-departmental team brainstorming session to find solutions to complex company-level problems.
• Developed management strategies to resolve employee disputes, resulting in a more cohesive work environment.
• Researched potential solutions to an intricate technical issue, identified the root cause, and devised a permanent fix.

It's predicted that AI will take over 80% of project management tasks by 2030 , according to Gartner, a technological research and consulting firm. 

But don't panic — this doesn't mean that you're going to be replaced. 

Instead, AI will help you by automating mundane tasks, such as data collection, tracking, and reporting. This will give you more time to focus on tasks that AI still can't do. 

Hence, project managers need to be tech-savvy and learn to work with AI rather than against it.

As a project manager , you'll need to know what tools are out there, how to use them to your and your teams' advantage, and teach your team members to work with them effectively, too.

Here are 3 examples of how to show you're tech-savvy on your resume:

• Applied AI tools to create streamlined task management systems to improve team productivity.
• Implemented computer vision technology to quickly analyze visual data for quicker decision-making processes.
• Deployed automated chatbots to provide 24/7 support for team members and stakeholders.

First, what's a project management methodology exactly?

Project management methodologies (PMMs) are frameworks for organizing, planning, and executing projects. There are many different types, including Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and Six Sigma — and the one you choose depends on the project's size, scope, industry, and objectives.

Project management methodologies (PMMs)

Waterfall.  Waterfall PMM follows a linear approach, where a project phase can’t begin until the previous one is completed.

Agile.  It’s characterized by iterative development, adaptability, continuous improvement, and collaboration between cross-functional teams.

Scrum.  Helps self-organizing teams work on more complex projects. It consists of a series of quick daily tasks, short daily meetings, and a leader keeping everyone in check.

Kanban.  It emphasizes visualizing the workflow of a project by using boards and other visuals to show the project’s current status and the stage of each phase (e.g. in-progress, completed, to-do lists).

As a skilled project manager, you should have at least a basic understanding of these methodologies and, ideally, also experience with implementing one or two of them in the past. 

Including them on your resume will make you go from a rookie to a professional mentor to your team.

Here are 3 examples of how to showcase on your resume that you implemented PMMs: 

• Developed a new project management system using Agile methodology to reduce project timelines by 25%. 
• Utilized Scrum framework to lead teams of up to 10 members to complete projects on time and within budget.
• Implemented Kanban techniques to streamline workflows and maximize efficiency.

Can you imagine trying to get a project done without effective communication?

Without it, team members would have no idea of their roles or the project's objectives, and stakeholders and clients would have no clue about the progress of the project.

So, how to demonstrate effective communication on your resume?

First, you can talk about your ability to assess the team dynamics and “tailoring” your communication style to different individuals depending on their position or age . 

How to tailor your communication style depending on someone's position or age?

Position: For example, speaking in more detail to team members, summarizing with stakeholders, and being positive and clear with clients. 

Age: When working with Gen Z , you’ll want to keep in mind that they prefer transparent communication. Millennials, on the other hand, tend to respond better to a more upbeat, diplomatic style of communication.

Second, as the modern workplace is increasingly relying on remote work and async communication , you can't rely solely on communicating via in-person meetings and emails. 

You should show on your resume that you can use various online communication tools and software. 

These are some of the tools that you can mention in your resume skills section:

• Instant messaging: Slack, MS Teams chat
• Online meetings: Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet
• File sharing: OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive
• Project (task) management: Asana, Monday.com, ClickUp 

Other popular project management software include Trello , PlanRadar , Hive , and Microsoft Planner .

Of course, you don't need to list every single online tool or project management software. Most have similar UX, so familiarity with a few will be enough. 

Tip: If there are any specific online tools mentioned in the job ad, include them in your resume.

Project managers negotiate with stakeholders in all stages of a project. In a sense, they’re the middlemen between customers, clients, team members, senior management, and other partners. 

Negotiation begins when you’re just starting on a project. First, you need to set the project scope and goals . When defining goals and tasks, you need to reach a consensus with multiple stakeholders. 

To set realistic timelines, for example, you may need to bargain with the team, senior management, or the client. It can involve negotiating with your team and optimizing processes to save time and money .

Or vice versa, you may also need to ask for a budget expansion from the sponsors.

And ultimately, in any project that involves multiple stakeholders, there’s also a strong chance of conflict. 

Being a good negotiator comes in very handy in those situations. 

Let's look at examples of how to display negotiation skills on your resume as a project manager :

• Negotiated favorable financial terms with vendors, delivering savings of up to 25% on materials and services.
• Achieved a 35% reduction in operational costs through successful negotiation strategies.
• Secured a $2.5M discount for a multi-year contract renewal, saving the company 30% on the total agreement.

A key part of being a successful project manager is having strong leadership skills. 

A project manager should be able to motivate and guide their team in order to reach project goals. Leadership is also about understanding the limitations of a team and ensuring that tasks are properly allocated, taking into account the individual capabilities of each team member. 

This often means taking a situational approach to leadership, understanding the different needs of your team, and varying the leadership styles accordingly. 

For example, some members may welcome a coaching approach, whereas others thrive under democratic or affiliative leadership.

Let's look at examples of how to display leadership skills on your project manager resume :

• Directed a team of 10 engineers in the development of a new software product, meeting all deadlines and surpassing customer expectations.
• Led the successful training and onboarding of new team members, ensuring adherence to established processes and standards.
• Led a cross-functional team of 15 members in the development of a new product line, which resulted in the launch of a successful product in the market.

Apart from a variety of soft skills and general leadership skills, you should also have specific technical knowledge in project management.

This way, you understand all stages of a project, can weigh in on all aspects of it, and help your team members.

What sort of hard skills you'll need will depend on your industry and the particular company, but here are some examples:

• Programming : Knowledge of programming languages, such as Python, C++, or Java comes in handy in web development, software engineering, and other IT industries. 
• Data analysis and visualization : Data analysis is used in many different sectors, including business, logistics, pharma, and finance. Consider learning software like Excel, R, Tableau, or Python.
• Marketing: In marketing, you can demonstrate knowledge of social media marketing , inbound marketing, UX & UI trends, CRM and CMS, and tools like Google Analytics, SEO tools , and WordPress.
• Design: Project managers in the fields of graphic and UI/UX design should have a basic knowledge of tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, Sketch, InVision, and also  UX design tools .

And here's how to showcase hard skills on your project manager resume :

• Utilizing SEO and keyword research to optimize content for search engine visibility. 
• Proficient in creating clickable prototypes with InVision.
• Utilized R to develop statistical models and generate insights from data sets.

Finally, to help you tie everything we talked about together, here's a project manager resume example.

This resume was crafted by a certified professional resume writer specifically for the role of a Project Leader.

Project Leader Resume Example

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

There are several things that make this project manager resume example noteworthy:

• A strong and effective resume summary is right at the top;
• The work experience bullet points include great examples of how Tizian used his problem-solving and negotiation skills (e.g. “Identified and resolved any problems and worked on the reduction of unnecessary expenses.” );
• Skills section is thematically divided into three blocks: language , computer, and soft skills;
• It includes relevant hard skills for a project manager role;
• Emphasis on important soft skills (communication, analytical, leadership, etc.).

Creating a project manager resume?

Let AI manage the writing for you.

Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

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• • Accelerated outbound sales cycle by 330% by designing and implementing customer acquisition platform for training and managing technical and IT teams
• • Established and curated strategic partnerships with 6 out of 10 top state manufacturing companies which resulted in $20M additional annual revenue
• • Led re-architect effort of a core SaaS product to reduce the platform deployment time for clients by 2 months
• • Lead a team of developers to build a proprietary CRM system for enterprise and its strategic partners, optimizing sales process and increasing sales revenue by 24%
• • Curated a $2M business implementation project that saves ~ $3.5M on operational inefficiencies between sales and development departments
• • Researched user behavior and led strategic product roadmap discussion across multi functional teams
• • Integrated Tableau reporting system into BI sales workflow, which led to 23% increase in post-meeting inquiries for technical sales department
• • Streamlined post-sales support to increase customer retention rate among enterprise clients by 27%
• • Acted as liaison between 3 country offices
• • Maintained and documented inventory of over 4,000 items
• • Led a team of 15 as a project manager, creating a trusting, respectful team in the process
• • Consistently ranked in the department's top 3 for completed tasks
• • Trained over 270 temporary remote workers

26 Project Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your project manager resume must showcase an impeccable track record of completed projects. Highlight your ability to deliver within specified timelines and budgets. Demonstrate your leadership skills by detailing how you've successfully led diverse teams. Provide concrete examples of how your strategies improved project outcomes.

All resume examples in this guide

Senior Project Manager

Junior Project Manager

Entry Level Project Manager

Agile Project Manager

Assistant Project Manager

Associate Project Manager

Business Project Manager

Clinical Project Manager

Commercial Project Manager

Creative Project Manager

CRM Project Manager

Digital Project Manager

Electrical Project Manager

Engineering Project Manager

Event Project Manager

Financial Project Manager

Freelance Project Manager

Implementation Project Manager

Infrastructure Project Manager

SAP Project Manager

Software Project Manager

Technical Project Manager

Web Project Manager

Marketing Project Manager

Certified Project Management Professional resume example

Resume Guide

Project manager resume example

Formatting Tips

Resume Experience

Skills On Resume

Certifications & Education Tips

Resume Summary Tips

Additional Resume Sections

Key Takeaways

By Experience

Project managers need to have strong resumes – not only to stand out from other applicants but also to show their experience and accomplishments in a manner that shows recruiters quantifiable achievements.

See, as a project manager, you play a key role in ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. Furthermore, you are responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and objectives.

This is a huge investment for any business, and it’s the reason why recruiters evaluate all project manager applications with scientific accuracy. Including yours.

Let’s see what you’ll learn here:

• Begin with a Project Manager resume example to understand the layout and essential information.
• How to list your skills in managing projects, leading teams, and meeting deadlines.
• How to share examples of successful projects you've led, highlighting budget management and problem-solving.
• How to phrase specific parts of your resume, e.g. how you coordinate with different departments and stakeholders to ensure project success.

If you’re specializing in a specific field of project management, we’ve got guides that cover it all:

• Program manager resume
• Program analyst resume
• Project analyst resume
• Scrum master resume
• Product manager resume
• Operations manager resume
• Systems analyst resume
• Change management resume
• Management resume
• IT manager resume
• IT project manager resume

Project manager  resume example

Here's what this applicant does well in their resume:

• Quantifiable achievements : Demonstrates impact with specific, measurable results, such as increasing sales revenue by 24% at Tesla and improving outbound sales cycle by 330% at Rover Games.
• Professional progression : Shows a clear career trajectory from Project Coordinator to Senior IT Project Manager, underscoring increasing responsibility and expertise.
• Technical skills and certifications : Lists relevant technical skills and certifications like PMP and Agile Certified Practitioner, aligning with the demands of project management roles.
• Key achievements section : Highlights significant accomplishments, like saving Tesla $100M, which adds credibility and draws attention to major successes.

How to format a project manager  resume

A reverse-chronological resume format  is a gold standard for resumes. The experience (listed from most recent to oldest), is going to be the centerpiece of your resume. This should be your first choice too.

Here are the most common resume layout elements to be aware of:

• Font family. Choose a professional font  that looks good both on PDF and printed on paper. Our recommendations are Lato, Rubik, Arial, Calibri, Bitter, or the classic Times New Roman.
• Font size.  The standard font size for resumes is 12p., but it can vary slightly between 10p and 14p so that you can fit your resume on a single page. Anything above or below will make it difficult to read.
• Color . Use color sparingly. We suggest using one base color for your content, and a secondary one for highlights, such as your section headings.
• Margins.  Use a standard 1-inch. A smaller margin will make you want to cram too much unnecessary information.
• Length . Keep to a maximum of two pages. The rule of thumb is to go back up to 10 to 15 years of relevant experience.
• Create a resume header  with your basic content information, including your phone number, a professional email address, your location, and a link to your professional LinkedIn profile. Don’t add a photo if you’re applying for a US or a UK company - it’s frowned upon.
• File format . Save your resume as a PDF , to preserve your formatting. Modern applicant tracking software can read them flawlessly.

If you’re wondering whether your resume format ticks all the ATS boxes, give our Resume Checker a spin:

Is your resume good enough?

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

The top sections on a project manager resume:

• Contact information : Provides recruiters with necessary details to get in touch.
• Summary statement : Presents an overview of qualifications and expertise relevant to project management.
• Project management experience : Demonstrates your background in and knowledge of managing successful projects.
• Skills : Highlights your project management abilities - both soft and technical.
• Education and certifications : Proof of professional development, showcasing relevance to the project management field.

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Project execution history : Recruiters prioritize this to understand your experience in leading and managing projects from initiation to completion.
• Leadership skills:  Essential for a project manager's role, recruiters look for this to ensure you can guide, motivate, and monitor a team effectively.
• Time management skills : Critical in meeting project deadlines, recruiters prioritize this to confirm your ability to allocate resources and time efficiently.
• Risk management skills : A key element in project management, recruiters value this to ensure you can identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks in a project.
• Certification in project management : Recruiters prioritize qualifications like PMP or Agile certificates, which are specifically relevant and demonstrate your proficiency in project management.

How to write your project manager resume experience

Use your resume experience section to prove exactly why you’re the right person for the job.

The experience section is less about efforts and more about accomplishments. HRs will hire people who have a track record to show it, and this is the place to do so. Here’s how to frame your experience:

• Use direct action verbs  to highlight the work you achieved as a project manager.
• Feature relevant, strong project management skills that are most required in the job application.
• Include precise numbers and business results to showcase the value you provided.
• Tailor your resume to the job description. For example, if it uses terminology, such as “Prince2”, and what you use is “Prince 2”, or “Prince II”, chances are this mismatch will affect your ATS (applicant tracking system) score.

Now, let’s look at some practical examples.

• • Responsible for project management processes and procedures for contracted work.
• • Reviewed customer specifications and requirements for potential future product development.
• • Handled communicating with project progress and challenges to stakeholders.
• • Responsible for the reporting and documentation of all departmental activities.

Notice how shallow the example above is.

Although it shows some of the tasks you handle, it doesn’t highlight any of the results. It also includes basic job duties that any candidate can copy from resumes online.

That keeps you away from getting hired.

We’ll show you a better example of how you can improve your experience section.

Let’s make some simple tweaks.

• • Introduced an expense tracking strategy to stay within yearly budget goals which reduced business costs by $1.2M.
• • Developed strong cross-functional relationships with big clients and stakeholders across different levels of the business.
• • Lead monthly meetings with 8 project teams to identify challenges and resolve software development issues.
• • Conducted post product launch evaluation to identify successful software features and find ways to improve on them

The second example, on the other hand:

• Shows enough details about your past work.
• Demonstrates more metrics and examples, which enhances trust and shows credibility.
• It portrays you as a professional project manager who contributed a lot to the company.

Need more work experience section tips? Go through our guide here: How to Describe Your Work Experience on Resume .

How to quantify impact on your resume

You’ve heard many times that quantifying your achievements makes it easier for hiring managers to evaluate your performance in previous companies. To kick off your brainstorming process, let’s look at a few work situations in project management that you can use to show numbers in your resume :

• Include the number of projects you've managed: This demonstrates the breadth of your experience and your hands-on expertise.
• List the sizes of teams you have led: Showing the number of people you've managed can indicate your leadership and coordination skills.
• Mention the budgets you have handled: This reflects your ability to manage resources, which is key for any business.
• Detail the percentage by which you've completed projects under budget: This showcases your financial management skills, and how you save resources.
• State the average percentage of projects delivered on time: On-time project delivery is crucial and this shows respect towards deadlines and efficiency in project execution.
• Quantify the overall project performance improvement under your management: This can help demonstrate your value-add in improving operational effectiveness.
• Provide the number of risk assessments performed or handled: This indicates your active involvement in risk management, a critical aspect of project management.
• Include the number of successful stakeholder negotiations: Demonstrating your skills in managing stakeholder expectations can indicate your communication and negotiation abilities.

How do I write a project manager resume with no experience

Let's be honest here for a second:

Having experience is a plus to your resume. It makes hiring managers more confident in recruiting you.

But, HRs understand well that job success isn't only about experience. Many attributes can make a difference in an applicant.

Here's the deal:

The hiring company is looking for an entry-level project manager to handle specific tasks. You'll be able to find more details about that in the job application. Here’s how to build your resume:

• Read the job description, identify those duties, and prepare to include them in your resume.
• Feature the specific skills you have that allow you to perform those tasks.
• Support that with your educational background and unique certificates.

We'll teach you in the rest of this guide how you can do all that. Learn how to read a job description and extract the main resume keywords in this guide .

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

Since project managers cover a wide field of responsibilities, it doesn't help to list a handful of skills that are of the same nature.

You must pick the most relevant skills for the position you're applying to. Then use them to show that you can guarantee objectives, ensure quality, mitigate risk, etc.

14 technical skills on a project manager resume

• Project development
• Project Management Software
• Project Schedule
• Data processing
• Microsoft Office: Word, MS Excel, Project, PowerPoint
• ProjectLink
• Oracle Project Accounting
• Project Management Tools
• Risk Management
• Project Deployment

As you may have noticed, these technical skills  are specific to the job duties of any project manager.

Of course, you shouldn’t list them all in your resume.

Identify which skills are most required for the job you’re applying to by reading the job description carefully.

17 important soft skills to include in your resume for a project manager job

• Leadership skills
• Negotiation
• Communication Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Strategic project planning & Project scope
• Multitasking
• Detail-oriented
• Analytical skills
• Team management
• Customer Focus
• Interpersonal Skills
• Business Analysis
• Decision-Making
• Problem-Solving
• Resource Allocation
• Vendors Management
• Project Budgeting

These skills are a must-have for any applicant that’s serious about getting hired. But don’t limit yourself to the skills section for them.

The best way to showcase your soft skills  is in other parts of your resume.

For example, you can include them within your experience section. Or list your skills in your summary section to capture the HR’s interest .

Also, don’t lean too hard on buzzwords. If you decide to use buzzwords  in your Project Manager resume, make sure to use them in the right context and in the right place.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

Project management is a role that requires lots of human interaction, flexibility, and creativity.

And you don’t learn this anywhere in school.

So you might ask:

Why do I need to include an education section in my resume anyway?

Think of it this way:

If you’re the hiring manager and had to cut a list from 1000s of candidates down to a dozen ones, what would your criteria be?

You’ll now focus on the secondary features of the applicants.

You want to hire someone who has all that, plus some relevant educational background .

Your resume needs an education section. Of course, you won’t detail everything you learned since primary school. In fact, you’ll do the exact opposite.

You’ll list your highest school degree, the university or college you went to, and the duration you spent there.

Check out this example:

All in all, the required degree depends on the industry the hiring company operates in.

Most often, those companies ask for a Bachelor’s in management or business. But sometimes they only hire candidates from technical fields such as computer science and IT.

It doesn't matter how strong your resume is. Featuring certifications in project management on a resume is always a plus.

It shows that you've invested lots of time to boost your career and learn new skills. And it also proves that you're experienced in your work.

But the most important thing is this:

It makes the hiring decision easier on recruiters and allows them to feel good about their choices.

If lots of trusted organizations are vouching for a candidate, it's a good thing to trust their judgment.

What are the best project management certificates to feature on your resume?

Top 10 certificates for your resume

• Project Management Professional (PMP) from Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
• Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)
• Master Project Manager (MPM)
• Lean management

Project management and PMP from PMI – the gist of it

Let’s do a blitz round of the hottest questions about whether a PMP certification is worth the money or not.

Is PMP certification still relevant today?

Yes, there’s a growing demand for certified project managers. The demand for project managers is likely to continue to grow as organizations increasingly rely on project-based work to achieve their goals.

Can a PMP certificate increase my salary?

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the median annual salary for non-certified project managers in the United States is $93,000. On the other hand, Project Management Professionals (PMPs), who are certified by PMI, earn a median wage of $123,000 per year, which is a 32% increase compared to their non-certified colleagues.

Should I invest in a master's degree or PMP?

A PMP certification is considered superior to a Master's degree in Project Management. This is because a PMP certification requires at least 7,500 hours of hands-on experience leading and directing projects, as well as an objectively assessed level of theoretical knowledge. In comparison, a Master's degree in Project Management is focused primarily on theoretical knowledge and may not provide the same level of practical experience.

How to write your project manager resume summary or objective

Not sure what the utility of a summary in a resume is? It’s meant to provide a quick overview of your career so that hiring managers can learn more about you at a glance.

Generally, you want to include:

• Most successful projects you worked on
• Strongest project management skills that allowed you to thrive in your past jobs
• Best results and accomplishments you achieved in your career
• Types of projects you were responsible for implementation

To take this a step further, you’ll:

• Include precise metrics to support your claims.
• Use short, direct sentences to keep HRs interested.
• Personalize it by including specific project management keywords, skills, and achievements.

Let’s take a look at some project management resume summaries.

This barely scratches the surface as to who the candidate is and what they’re up to. Instead, it makes them look too uninterested and lazy to update their resume.

Let’s make this better with a few simple changes.

This is a better summary, because:

• It contains precise numbers that serve as strong evidence of your competence.
• It’s more personalized and speaks directly to the hiring manager.
• It features real examples of what the candidate worked on and achieved in their past job.

Finally, the question begs…

Do you need a resume objective ?

We say - you don’t. A project manager is usually an experienced candidate for whom a career objective won’t greatly help.

Additional sections for a project manager resume

You feel you need to add more depth to your resume, but you keep repeating the same bullet points over and over again? Let’s look at some additional sections that can put your experience beyond just professional roles and settings:

• Languages : Demonstrates multilingual abilities, beneficial in global project teams and diverse work environments.
• Professional affiliations : Lists memberships in relevant organizations, indicating engagement with the professional community.
• Volunteer experience : Showcases leadership and teamwork skills in non-professional settings, reflecting personal values and work ethic.
• Awards and honors : Presents achievements and recognitions, underscoring excellence and dedication in the field.
• Publications : Includes articles or papers written, reflecting expertise and thought leadership in project management.
• Personal projects : Describes relevant personal or side projects, showing initiative and passion beyond professional work.

Key takeaways for making an outstanding project manager resume

• Read the job description carefully . Understand what the hiring company is looking for, then craft your resume accordingly
• Use your resume header to grab attention and prove your competence
• Highlight your greatest accomplishments throughout your resume to remind people of your worth
• Use your experience section to feature your relevant expertise in cross-functional teams, and strongest skills
• When faced with competition, add an education and certificates sections to stand out from other

Project Manager resume examples

Explore additional project manager resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

• The career objective clearly states the candidate's career goals and relevant experience.
• The internship experiences provide specific examples of the candidate's relevant experience in the IT industry.
• The strengths and skills sections include specific examples of the candidate's soft and hard skills, providing evidence of their abilities in real-life situations.

• 10 years of work experience as a project manager in Agile teams
• Project Manager Professional Certification
• Bachelor degree in adjacent to project management industry

Looking to build your own Project Manager resume?

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The 12 Best Skills to Put on Your Resume (Plus Examples)

S kills can make or break your resume. They should match the jobs you're applying for and show recruiters that you can succeed at their companies.

Sometimes companies will use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that automatically scan resumes and forward the best matches to hiring managers. Whether a human or a computer is looking over your resume, it pays to have a robust set of skills.

Below, we'll cover some skills to put on your resume, the difference between soft and hard skills and the best ways to highlight skills when communicating about your work experience:

The 12 Best Skills to Put on a Resume

Putting the right skills on your resume signals your readiness for the jobs you apply for. Almost anyone can develop these, regardless of professional background—they're huge green flags for recruiters.

1. Adaptability

Change is the only constant in business, according to Mark Cuban . The skills you develop when you start a job may not be relevant in five years, even if you're still in the same position.

Companies want employees who can adapt to changing times. Demonstrating that on your resume shows employers that you're a good long-term investment.

2. Attention to Detail

Anyone can do sloppy work. Having attention to detail means spotting the little mistakes before they become big problems.

Calling out your attention to detail on your resume sets you apart as someone who will sweat the small stuff and pursue excellence in every part of your job.

3. Communication

Virtually every job involves some amount of communication . Are you a software engineer who just wants to code? You still have to talk to clients about their needs.

Eyeballing a management role ? You'll need to successfully communicate with direct reports to give feedback and achieve team goals.

Talking about your communication skills on your resume, including listening, presentation and writing skills, shows you know how to work with others. You can also mention your communication style to make sure you're a good fit for a company's culture.

4. Creativity

The best employees are not just cogs in a machine. They stand out by thinking outside the box and offering creative new solutions to their company's problems.

But creativity doesn't necessarily mean you're artistic. If you're an analyst, it could mean drawing novel conclusions from data. If you're a manager, it could mean finding interesting new ways to engage your team.

Including creativity as a skill on your resume shows employers that you can offer value beyond the job description.

5. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is your ability to find solutions beyond the obvious. Good critical thinkers can get to the "why" behind a problem, anticipate future problems and elevate the quality of work their teams produce.

Putting critical thinking on your resume takes your skills to the next level. It also speaks to your independence—you come up with solutions on your own, rather than relying on others.

6. Customer Service

Many jobs require some sort of customer service element. Salespeople or project managers talk to customers, helping them get exactly what they're looking for. Other workers, like copywriters or data engineers, may still meet with customers to speak to their area of expertise and demonstrate the viability of their company's work.

Don't take customer service skills for granted. They're valuable in almost any position.

7. Digital Skills

Most office jobs require basic computer literacy. Employers expect employees to know how to open computer and phone applications, send emails and sometimes use video call tools like Teams or Zoom . Being digitally literate can mean knowing when to send a quick chat vs. a long email .

These skills are absolutely worth listing on your resume, especially if you have experience with specific software or tools common in your industry.

8. Leadership

Leadership is your ability to get your team to work together toward a shared goal. It's not just important for managers—individual contributors can communicate better if they have strong leadership skills. ICs can also use leadership skills to take charge when their teams are confused and get the job done.

Putting leadership skills on your resume identifies you as someone who can bring order to a complicated workplace. It also sets you up as potential management material —someone worthy of future internal promotions at a company.

9. Organization

Many jobs require you to juggle several tasks. Organization is your ability to keep everything together, even when you have multiple deadlines or you're working for clients with very different expectations.

Highlighting your organizational skills puts you forward as a candidate who can perform the full range of job responsibilities without getting lost.

10. Problem-Solving

Good problem solvers can take projects from point A to point B in the most efficient way possible. They can also spot solutions that aren't obvious, making them invaluable to their employers.

Setting yourself up as a problem-solver makes you an excellent candidate for almost any job since this skill is so widely used.

11. Teamwork

Teamwork is your ability to function well with your immediate coworkers, but also with other teams you may encounter. It's more than just good communication; it includes good social skills and compassion for others.

Listing teamwork as a skill on your resume shows that you're ready to work in a bustling company where you're one part of a bigger whole.

12. Time Management

Many employers want things done yesterday. That's not always possible, but good time managers offer the next best thing: work that's done well and finished as soon as possible.

Introducing yourself as a good time manager shows that you'll finish tasks before they're due. That's something hiring managers love to see.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills on Your Resume

Hard skills are what you do. Soft skills are how you get it done. Good resumes include both.

Soft Skills for Your Resume

Soft skills are non-technical aspects of work, like being a good communicator or managing your time wisely. They're relevant everywhere.

According to data from LinkedIn, 92 percent of professionals say soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills.

"Soft skills are often what set one candidate apart from another with similar technical qualifications," Dan Schawbel, Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, told Newsweek . "Employers look for candidates who not only have the required hard skills but also possess the interpersonal and communication skills necessary to work well with others and fit into the company culture."

The introduction of artificial intelligence in the workplace may only improve the value of soft skills.

"While AI will automate certain tasks and change the nature of work, it will also place a premium on soft skills that are uniquely human," Schawbel said. "Soft skills related to creativity, emotional intelligence, ethics, collaboration, and adaptability will continue to be highly valuable in the AI-augmented workplace, enabling individuals to work alongside AI systems effectively and ethically."

Hard Skills for Your Resume

Hard skills refer to technical knowledge that you can spend months or even years developing. These are the things you learn in specialized degree programs and job training. Connecting a website to a database, operating a complex piece of machinery and balancing a quarterly budget are all hard skills.

Most jobs require certain hard skills. You wouldn't apply to be a video editor without some knowledge of editing software and techniques.

Companies may teach some hard skills on the job. For example, teaching new salespeople how to use their unique customer relationship management (CRM) software. However, most careers require hard skills that you learn elsewhere, either in school, training or an entry-level job .

How to List Skills on Your Resume

There are two sides to listing skills on your resume: the skills you include and how you express them.

Schawbel recommends creating a dedicated "Skills" section on your resume. List hard and soft skills there.

Next, Schawbel says to back up your soft skills with specific examples from your work experience. Did you demonstrate leadership when you took command of a flailing project at your last job? Write that down, using keywords that highlight those skills like "leadership" or "teamwork." Your work experience is evidence of your skills.

Remember that recruiters and hiring managers read hundreds of resumes. You want to present your highlights without going on and on about yourself. Schawbel recommends starting each bullet point in your resume with action verbs to quickly demonstrate your skills to an employer. Use language like:

• "Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to deliver budget analyses."
• "Wrote marketing emails that increased product engagement by 130 percent over six months."
• "Managed construction projects across multiple sites with 15 direct reports."

Stand out by presenting a different version of your resume for each new job you apply for. Tailor your skill list for each new position by looking at the job's duties and responsibilities.

If you're applying for a management position, include your leadership skills and the times you used them. Otherwise, consider leaving those off the resume and highlighting other skills.

Skills Section Examples by Job Type

Here are some examples of possible skill sections for jobs in multiple industries and experience levels. Use these as starting points to think about skills on your resume. However, you should always look at job descriptions to see exactly what skills to include.

Copywriters write content for videos, emails and other marketing collateral. They try to persuade readers or listeners to buy the product or service they're highlighting.

Hard Skills:

• Copywriting
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Social media marketing

Soft Skills:

• Attention to detail

Data Scientist

Data scientists explore massive data sets with advanced mathematics and computer models. They work with business managers to produce actionable insights from raw data.

• Data analysis
• Data visualization
• Machine learning
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Organization

Nurses perform a range of tasks in hospitals and other health care settings. The exact skills they need depend on their medical subfield and the type of institution they work for.

• Medical knowledge
• Medical technology
• Nursing ethics
• Patient education
• Workplace safety
• Adaptability
• Time management

Project Manager

Project managers organize work across multiple teams. They often bridge the gap between individual contributors and clients or other stakeholders. They keep projects on time and within budget.

• Negotiation
• Project management
• Technical writing

Retail Sales Associate

Retail sales associates sell items, maintain the sales floor and assist customers. This is an entry-level position, but it can be an excellent opportunity to build skills.

• Basic mathematics
• CRM or point of sale (POS) software
• Inventory management
• Customer service

Frequently Asked Questions

Still not sure what skills to put on your resume? Here we tackle some common questions.

How Many Skills Should I Put on My Resume?

You want enough skills on your resume to impress recruiters without wasting their time.

"Aim for a list of 5 to 10 key skills. This allows you to emphasize your most critical qualifications without overwhelming the reader," Schawbel says.

Should I Format My Resume for an ATS?

Don't try to write your resume for a computer. It's a myth that most applications are rejected by automated systems—HR workers read most resumes and make decisions based on their merits.

Make things easier for recruiters by organizing information well on your resume. Include a dedicated skills section and describe your work experience directly and efficiently, with callouts to the skills you've listed.

Should I Change the Skills Section for Each Job Application?

Yes. It's a good idea to write a resume draft and then modify that draft slightly for each new job application.

Be sure to mention skills that appear in the job description. Cut mentions of skills that aren't relevant to the position, so that you don't waste recruiters' time.

What Skills Should I List if I Have No Work Experience?

Without work experience, you still have life and school. Draw up a list of transferable skills you've developed throughout your life and use those on your resume.

You should have several soft skills. If you had a leadership position in school, for example, list leadership, communication and teamwork skills.

Transferable soft skills aren't always obvious, but if you put some thought into your activities you should come up with a good list. For example, practicing a musical instrument alongside school demonstrates good time management, attention to detail and creativity.

Should I Add Certifications or Trainings?

Yes. Certifications and training are outside proof of your competence in skills. They can set you apart from other candidates who don't have that kind of evidence on their resumes.

Can I List Skills That I'm Still Learning?

Yes. Feel free to list skills where you're a beginner.

Some professionals label skills with their experience level, such as "beginner," "intermediate" or "advanced."

You can also describe your experience level in your work experience. For example:

• "Learned the core functions of our company's CRM system."
• "Wrote advanced web applications with JavaScript for five years."

Once you have your resume in good condition, you can start thinking about cover letters . Then you can learn more about finding your next opportunity with our review of the best job search apps .

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More From Forbes

5 highest paying skills for project managers in 2024, from research.

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To remain competitive and gain an edge as a project management professional, it helps to learn one ... [+] or more of these five critical skills this year

Within a competitive job market in which 25 million project managers are projected to be in demand over the next few years, it's critical for aspiring and existing project management professionals to stay ahead of the curve so they can secure the highest-paying roles. While the project management profession in itself is a well-remunerated industry, with U.S. median salaries jumping to as high as $120,000, that doesn't necessarily mean that you can sit back, relax, and assume you're worthy of a six-figure salary.

There are things that lie within your power, which you can do to dramatically skyrocket your earnings.

When exploring how to increase and even multiply your salary as a project manager, it's best to look into what are the highest-paying, in-demand skills within the project management industry, so that you can position yourself as best suited for a promotion, or as a star candidate when job-searching.

Highest-Paying In-Demand Skills For Project Managers

The compensation and salary data company, PayScale, compiled a list of high-paying skills which include a combination of hard, technical skills, and soft or power skills for those within the project industry.

It's worth noting that there are some industries in which the impact of these skills on your pay increase will be more visible than others. For example, considering programme/project management within the technology industry, you can expect to earn more for your skill set, as the tech industry is renowned for offering the highest salaries to project and program management professionals. As such, some of the skills listed below are more specific to the technology industry.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

However, many of these skills are equally in demand in other industries as well, so they can still be applicable and relevant to you.

These competencies include:

1. Agile Software Development

Using the agile software development approach for building and delivering software products entails prioritising flexibility responsiveness and adaptability to change as well as collaboration. Following this framework, you and your team would be working in sprints, (short iterations) which allows you to make incremental progress and quickly respond to stakeholder requirements and feedback to meet their needs.

This is the highest-paying skill for project managers, with Payscale data revealing that it can boost your earnings by 47%. Coursera and Skillsoft are two of the amazing resources that are available for you to learn this skill.

The tech industry offers the highest salaries for PMs

2. Business Analysis

Analytical thinking is listed in the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023 as the number one skill needed by professionals over the next few years.

Business analysis, in simple terms, is when you identify business needs and research solutions for them. This skill comes handy in your PM role, as you will naturally be working with stakeholders on a regular basis to gather and analyze data on their needs and define requirements, and then propose the best solution with your program or project. This skill improves salary prospects by up to 43%.

3. Engineering Design

Next on the list is engineering design, which is of course more specifically focused on the technology industry. This involves taking the results of your business analysis, and creating detailed plans and specifications, including prototyping and testing, to ensure you deliver a high-quality product that satisfies your stakeholders' needs. This skill is more relatable to product managers, and provides a 14% uptake in salary.

4. Risk Management/Risk Control

With all the changes that are occurring to disrupt industries in 2024, it's no wonder that risk management and risk control are highly in-demand skills for project and program managers to possess. This skill also has the potential for a 14% salary boost, according to Payscale analysis.

You can learn more about how to comprehensively manage and plan for risk by undertaking courses and certifications such as those offered by the Institute of Risk Management, which are globally recognized.

5. Strategy

Strategic thinking is a trademark of leadership, and of exceptional program and project management. You need to be able to steer your project team in the right direction to achieve successful project outcomes, and this means you'll need to have a solid strategy that is clearly articulated so that everyone is on the same page. Setting clear goals and objectives, and assigning the right team members to fulfil each task according to their strengths requires some practice to get it right, but it can be achieved if you're persistent and intentional. Possessing and showcasing this skill results in a 12% salary increase.

Risk management skills helps ensure your project is prepared for worst-case scenarios and minimizes ... [+] negative outcomes, including those that could affect your job directly

By investing in yourself this year by upskilling in one or more of these five essential competencies, you can position yourself to successfully meet the evolving demands of your stakeholders and the project management industry, and unlock numerous career-building and salary-boosting opportunities.

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Taking a flight to search for jobs in this highly competitive job market, a strong resume is your passport to job opportunities. But what makes a resume stand out from the crowd? It’s the skills that you build over time that make you a valuable asset to your potential employer. Whether you are a professional with years of experience or a fresher looking to start your career journey, knowing the art of selecting the right job skills is paramount.

This blog will take you on a journey to discover the 15 best skills to put on a resume. These skills are divided into soft skills and hard skills, along with examples that reflect your character and technical expertise. Let’s board on this flight of secrets to creating a winning resume that captures attention and swiftly lands the job of your dreams!

On a resume, hard skills are technical abilities or industry-specific skills that require knowledge and qualifications. These skills are typically quantifiable and can be learned through training, education, and work experience. For example, programming languages, data analysis, coding, and project management.

Soft skills, on the other hand, are personal skills and qualities that do not require training. These are character traits and creative abilities of an individual that come naturally and help you adapt to a workplace. For example, communication, teamwork, and time management.

While hard skills demonstrate technical expertise and soft skills highlight your interpersonal strengths, both are important skills to include on a resume. These key skills are essential for achieving professional success and should be strategically incorporated into your resume to demonstrate that you are a capable and well-rounded candidate.

Read More: How to Write a Good Resume Objective? (With 10+ Samples)

• Soft Skills Example – Best Soft Skills to Put on Your Resume

Effective communication is an important skill in any workplace to convey ideas clearly and collaborate with others effectively. This is a must-have skill for a job at all levels.

Leadership qualities help you foster a positive environment in a workplace. This skill set involves guiding and motivating a team to achieve common goals resulting in increased team productivity.

Time management is a very important skill to have in the workplace. This job skill is an ability to prioritize and use time efficiently to meet specific deadlines and complete tasks to achieve goals. This skill helps you plan your work accordingly and to stay productive throughout the process. 

Problem-solving involves critical thinking, identifying problems and complex issues analyzing them, and implementing innovative solutions to overcome those challenges. 

Adaptability is a great skill to possess. It’s an ability to adjust and adapt to new situations, tasks, and work environments. Adding this skill to your resume will help your employer know that you can navigate between different projects and industries and that you can fit well with the workspace and culture.

This is a great skill to put on a resume. Employers are always on the lookout for a candidate who is an amazing team player. Teamwork involves collaborating with the team to achieve common goals and projects. A team player helps build a supportive work environment through active participation and idea-sharing.

Giving out quality work is a required skill at any job. Attention to detail involves thoroughness and accuracy in tasks to ensure quality outcomes are achieved. 

An organization hunts for candidates who think out of the box, and can bring innovative ideas and creative solutions to the table, and therefore is a good skill to list on your resume.

Organizational skills are the ability to multitask and manage competing priorities effectively, resulting in streamlined workflows and increased productivity.

• Hard Skills Examples – Best Hard Skills to Put on Your Resume

Being well-versed with a diverse range of technical tools and software adds significant value and strength to your resume. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and project management platforms such as Asana and Trello are just a few examples of essential technical skills. These tools can help you work more efficiently and show that you can easily adjust to different technology setups.

Employers seek candidates who possess a solid aptitude for analyzing data metrics, recognizing industry trends, and discovering patterns and insights that guide business choices. Having expertise in data analysis tools and methodologies is an extremely valuable hard skill to showcase on your resume.

Project management is a hard skill that allows you to plan, implement, and manage projects from start to finish, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. Showcasing this skill on your resume proves your capability to manage complicated tasks, collaborate with colleagues, and juggle various projects simultaneously.

If you like attracting customers and promoting products and services then marketing strategy is the best skill to put on a resume.

If you are proficient in programming languages such as Python, java, and C++ and possess experience in developing software applications and websites then adding this hard skill to your resume can significantly enhance your candidacy.

Knowing multiple languages like English, Spanish, German, or any other Indian regional language shows that you are culturally aware, adaptable, and can connect with people from various backgrounds. Being fluent in different languages can be advantageous in the business world.

Now that you’ve had a quick look at these resume skills, it’s time to customize your resume to match the job you’re applying for. By incorporating these skills effectively, you can boost your chances of landing your dream job. Make sure to showcase your top skills and accomplishments to stand out as a top candidate in the eyes of recruiters.

Read More: Resume Headline For Freshers: 30+ Examples and Tips

Crafting attractive resumes is now easier than ever, generate creative resumes with Apna’s resume builder effortlessly with just one click to impress your recruiters.

The Apna App is your one-stop destination for finding jobs , connecting with HRs, creating resumes , and preparing for interviews with ease. Download the Apna App today and elevate your career.

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• Top Skills for Your Resume: How to Standing… Top Skills for Your Resume: How to Standing Out in the Job Hunt

Top Skills for Your Resume: How to Standing Out in the Job Hunt

The job market is a dynamic beast. Roles and responsibilities continuously evolve, demanding a workforce equipped with the skills to navigate this ever-changing landscape. In this competitive environment, your resume serves as the critical first impression, a gateway to your dream job.

Creating a resume that gets noticed requires a strategic multi-pronged approach. This blog delves into the essential skills needed to craft a resume that not only bypasses Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) but also resonates with human hiring managers.

Harness the Power of Keywords

The initial hurdle for most resumes is the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). You've likely heard the buzz about keywords on resumes. By incorporating relevant keywords from the job descriptions you're targeting, you can effectively showcase your qualifications and experience. These automated systems scan resumes for keywords and pre-determined criteria aligned with the job description. Here's how to optimize your resume for ATS recognition:

• Keyword Research is Key: Meticulously scan the job description for keywords related to the skills, experience, and qualifications they seek. Integrate these keywords naturally throughout your resume, including the summary, work experience section, and skills section.
• Formatting Matters: Maintain a clear and consistent format throughout your resume. Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman for optimal ATS readability. Utilize bullet points and white space to enhance readability for both humans and machines.

Pro Tip: Don't limit yourself to jobs you've held before. If you possess transferable skills valuable to the position, strategically integrate those keywords as well.

Quantify Your Achievements: Let Numbers Speak for You

Whenever possible, go beyond simply listing your responsibilities. Use numbers to demonstrate the impact you've made in previous roles. Did you implement a cost-saving program that reduced company expenses? You could say “sourced new inventory reducing cost per unit by $1.50”. Found a more efficient way to finish your task at work? Use percentages, for example, to say that you "increased productivity by 20%". This approach not only highlights your achievements but also positions you as a results-oriented candidate.

Tailoring is Key: Craft a Personalized Resume for Each Application

While tailoring resumes for every application can feel time-consuming, it's crucial for maximizing your interview chances. Recruiters and hiring managers sift through countless resumes. A generic document is unlikely to grab their attention.

Here's how to personalize your resume effectively:

• Target the Specific Role: Clearly state the position and department you're applying for.
• Mirror Industry Terminology: Use keywords and terminology relevant to the specific industry and role. Refer back to the job description for guidance.
• Leverage LinkedIn: Research the company and target position on LinkedIn. Look for employees in similar roles and analyze their profiles. You might be surprised by the valuable insights you glean.

Top Skills to Highlight on Your Resume (and How to Showcase Them)

Now, let's dive into the specific skills that employers actively seek and how to effectively showcase them on your resume:

• Communication Skills: The ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively is paramount across all industries. Highlight your communication skills by demonstrating written and verbal proficiency:
• Written Communication: Use strong grammar, appropriate vocabulary, and a clear structure in your resume itself. If applicable, mention experience with writing reports, proposals, or technical documents.
• Verbal Communication: During interviews, showcase your verbal communication skills by actively listening, responding thoughtfully, and articulating your ideas clearly.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: The ability to work effectively within a team is essential in today's collaborative work environments. Highlight your teamwork skills by providing examples of successful collaborations:
• Project Management: Did you contribute to a team project that achieved specific goals? Mention your role and the project's successful outcome.
• Conflict Resolution: Have you mediated disagreements within a team to reach a positive outcome? Briefly describe the situation and your approach to resolving it.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Employers value individuals who can think critically and creatively to solve problems. Showcase your problem-solving prowess by providing specific examples:
• Process Improvement: Did you identify an inefficiency in a workflow and implement a solution that improved results? Explain the situation and the positive impact of your solution.
• Client Satisfaction: Have you successfully resolved a client issue or complaint? Briefly describe the situation and the steps you took to achieve a positive outcome.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: The ability to adapt to change and embrace new challenges is a valuable asset. Demonstrate your adaptability through relevant experiences:
• New Technologies: Did you quickly learn a new software program or adapt to a new technology implementation? Highlight your eagerness to learn and ability to adapt.
• Shifting Priorities: Have you successfully handled changes in priorities or project deadlines? Briefly describe the situation and how you effectively adjusted your approach.
• Technical Skills: While technical skills vary depending on the industry and role, proficiency in relevant software

Need a Helping Hand?

Crafting the perfect resume can be challenging. If you're looking for a jumpstart, SkillUp has curated FREE resume resources .

Remember: While a stellar resume can't guarantee a job offer, it significantly increases your chances of landing that coveted interview. For additional career coaching and resources, visit SkillUp Resources .

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