Project Manager Resume Examples & Tips

Project manager resume examples

You’re looking for the best project manager resume. 

You’ve mastered agile and sprint methodology, but somehow making a professional project manager resume has got you stumped. 

Don’t worry – EVERYONE struggles making the perfect resume.

How do I show my education on a resume? 

How do I show project manager skills on my resume?

Should it fit onto one page?

How the heck can I make all of this fit into one page?!

Sound familiar? Yeah, we’ve all been there. The perfect PM job was just posted and you’re just not sure that your resume is good enough to get you noticed. 

You want to get your resume in…but once you send it – it’s gone. It’s all up to the project management employment gods at that point.

How can you make sure your resume is going to stand out from the hundreds of other candidates applying?

Well, you can relax. 

Top 5 Mistakes to avoid on your Project Manager Resume

  1. Assuming your PM skills are obvious. A lot of hiring software looks for skill keywords like agile, asana, bootcamp, jira, scrum-master and more – so make sure you list them all.
  2. Focusing on education over experience: Most PM applicants have the right education but employers are looking for project management experience as the difference maker.
  3. Choosing resume format that looks cluttered or organized: A project manager’s resume should clean, organized and easy to read. Project Management is all about organizing information.
  4. Overusing buzz-words without backup: Don’t just use the lingo, show them you know what it means and how you’ve used it.
  5. Having too many resume pages: Too much information is a project manager resume killer. Remember that the hiring managers have jobs and deadlines and no time to read your life’s story.

That’s what we’re here for and you’re about to learn how to make the most professional project manager resume that gets noticed by employers and recruiters.

This guide is going to show you:

  • A project manager resume example that is better than most others
  • How to write a project manager resume example that gets you noticed by employers
  • Methods of writing your resume experience whether you have project manager experience or even no experience
  • The best way to list your project manager skills on a resume

Looking For Another Resume Example?

Visit the Resume Examples page to find hundreds of the latest resume examples for all job categories!

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Now that you have seen what a great resume can look like, here’s how you can make one for yourself.

 

Picking the best Project Manager Resume Examples and Format

 

Being a great project manager is not only about making sure a project gets done. It requires you to build a project plan that takes all of the deliverables and build a work back schedule that makes sense to the team and your boss. 

You need to make sure that every element of the project is done at the right time and that it’s in its right place. When you look at your project portfolio or epic and everything is where it’s supposed to be it’s every PM’s dream. 

 It’s the same thing with your Project Manager resume. 

 And proper resume formatting is what catches an employer’s eye in a pile of a thousand PM resumes.

 The average resume only gets seconds to make an impression. So let’s make sure yours makes the right one!

 

Put your most recent project work and education first!

Most resume formats use reverse-chronological order. This puts your most recent experience, education, etc. at the top and then works backwards in time as you proceed down. This may not seem important, but it is the best project manager resume format to use. Project management is a fast moving type of work and changes on a monthly basis. 

 If an employer is seeing a project manager position where you championed MS Project and focused on bi-monthly status meetings before they see your more recent position which shows your expertise in Asana and leading the company’s agile methodology and are a scrum master you’re likely get thrown in the “no” pile pretty quickly.

 

Project Manager experience over education (most of the time)

As a PM you know your projects are what matter most. You want to make sure you’re picking a resume format that puts them front and center. You want to make sure you get your greatest project accomplishments across and they should be the most noticeable section of your resume. Education on a Project Manager resume is important and can’t be overlooked, however it is not where most will stand out. The exception is when you have exceptional education, such as a Masters in Project Management (MPM), or when you are seeking your first job and need to rely on your education to show your skills. 

 

Create a clean and professional Project Manager Resume

It doesn’t matter how much time you’ve spent on your PM resume. The reality is that hiring managers will only spend a few seconds deciding if it goes in the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ pile. A clean and professional layout will help your resume get into the yes pile. Clearly labeled sections without too much text with efficient use of white space will give your future employer’s all they need to see your best accomplishments and why they should hire you.

 

Create a resume in .pdf or .doc?

The vast majority of employers want your resume in .pdf format. So you want to make sure you can output your resume into a .pdf. Your best bet is to review the job posting to confirm which resume format the employer wants. 

Your resume header is your first impression. Make it a good one! 

Your resume header as a Project Manager should be organized and clear, after all these are important qualities in a PM. 

 Get your resume contact details right so they can reach you

Make sure you always include a phone number and email address at a minimum. But don’t stop there. Include any contact information that you have for yourself. Home phone, mobile phone or fax number can’t hurt either. But make sure you’re ready to receive their calls or faxes. 

 

Social media on a resume?

Most project managers will include LInkedIn on a resume. LinkedIn is an excellent supporting social media for a project manager as it provides an excellent ability to show your PM skills. It also will show references and endorsements from other professionals. It’s not advisable to put personal social media accounts on your resume.

 

Should I put a photo on my resume?

Some employers don’t allow photos on a resume – so always check with the job posting and the employers website. If it is allowed it is always a good way to stand out. Remember there are hundreds of Project Manager resumes being submitted for every posting and you need every little advantage to get your resume noticed.