Resume tips for managers
If you’ve been working for a few years with not much job growth or movement, you’re probably starting to feel a little bored. You may be looking for an expanded role with more responsibility, or to start heading up a team of your own. Regardless of what your eventual career goals are, the skills you’ll learn through being a manager are valuable to success. You may get in touch with an HR Executive Search Firm to inquire about employment opportunities for managers and team leaders.
Now that you’re ready to kick your job up a notch, it’s time to kick your resume up a notch too. Here are some tips to reboot your CV for a managerial – or higher – level job.
Highlight any awards you’ve received in your positions.
Include some challenges you encountered, and how you overcame them.
Let go of the old objective statement. They don’t usually say much.
In addition to your education, list any training you’ve had that contributes to the job you want.
If your most relevant work experience is not your most recent, list it at the top first, followed by the rest of your experience in chronological order.
1) Focus on the Job You Want
If you don’t know what your dream job is yet, that’s OK. However, if you don’t know what kind of job you’re looking for, your resume probably won’t be very effective for any job. The key is to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for.
Yes, that means you’ll probably have to write a few different resumes to send out, but trust us: It’s worth it. Sending out a stock resume to jobs in multiple areas doesn’t make you look particularly great to any potential employer.
You may have a few different industries you’d like to break into in similar roles, or a few different roles that interest you within your industry. In all cases, make sure your resume speaks to the job you’re applying for.
2) Write Yourself as a Manager
Once you have the basics of your work experience and skills down in your base version, it’s time to target your resume further. Scan the job listing you’re applying for and notice the keywords they use to describe the position and its responsibilities.
Work those keywords and phrases into your resume wherever you can fit them in, and intersperse key managerial terms as well. Take a look at some online resume samples to determine which keywords work the best for your industry or field.
3) Be Specific in Your Descriptions
A lot of job titles don’t translate from company to company. Your official title may be Software Ninja, but just that won’t let a potential employer know which coding languages you know, the programs you’ve developed or the projects you’ve spearheaded.
Make sure your details count. The mistake that a lot of would-be managers make is listing their responsibilities under their job titles without much detail about the accomplishments. Being too vague can make you sound like any other resume submitter out there.
Here’s a tip: Put your accomplishments and responsibilities into dollars and cents. When a potential employer sees the effect you can have on their bottom line on your resume, they’ll be crystal clear on what you’ve done in a particular position.
4) Show, Don’t Tell
This goes hand-in-hand with being specific in your details. Don’t just list your accomplishments and projects under your job title – demonstrate how you contributed to the business goals of each company and team you’ve worked for.
Rather than just telling your potential employer about yourself, use your resume to sell yourself. Promote, advertise and draw attention to the skills and accomplishments that make you the right hire for the job. Those are the resumes that get interviews.
5) Include Relevant Extras
Community service, volunteer and side organisations you’re involved with are interesting, but if they don’t have to do with your work experience or the job you’re applying for, they’re not bringing anything to the table.
To the hiring manager, the extras are great, but only relevant extras. Include your social media profiles, professional organisations, your professional website – or company overview on a professional site like Bloomberg – or your portfolio, but leave it at that. Don’t overload them with information about the doggy day care you run out of your home on weekends.
Breaking into management and upper-level roles may seem daunting, but just by upgrading your resume using a few key strategies, you’ll see the opportunities roll themselves out in front of you.
