Best Project Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

You’re well-versed in PM methodologies, keep information flowing seamlessly, and can win stakeholders’ respect. Describing all that in a project management resume is a project that must be aced!

Read on because in this guide, you’ll see some great project manager resume examples and templates. And you’ll also learn exactly how to move your project manager resume writing task from “backlog” to “done".

This guide will show you:

• A professional project manager resume sample you can refine and make yours.
• An easy formula for writing a project management resume that will land you 10x more interviews.
• Tips to create a resume for a project manager better than any other PMP resume you’ve written in the past.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

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Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume samples here.

Are you here just to write up project management skills on your resume? Switch to: Project Management Skills on a Resume (20+ Examples)

Also, check out our guides for:

• Agile Project Manager Resume
• Project Coordinator Resume
• Program Coordinator Resume
• Project Engineer Resume
• Operations Manager Resume
• Construction Project Manager Resume
• Production Supervisor Resume
• Scrum Master Resume
• IT Project Manager Resume
• Best Sample Resumes for 500+ Jobs

Project Manager Resume Sample

Now, here’s the job-winning project manager resume formula:

1. Choose the Right Project Manager Resume Template

Project managers are responsible for turning grand ideas into deliverable projects, products, or features. In a word, they deliver value. The purpose of your project manager resume is to do just that: deliver your PMP value to the employer. In the very first iteration. 

Your starting point? Structure your resume the way it can show your biggest wins:

• Go for a respected style like the reverse-chronological resume format. This resume style zeroes in on who you are right now. Your skills, your strengths, and your experience.
• Add your contact information to a resume header.
• Divide your document into these resume parts:
• Header with contact info
• Summary Statement/Career Objective
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Additional Sections (Conferences, Extra Training, Volunteering, Certifications, Etc.)
• When designing your resume, make good use of white space, eye-friendly headings, and clear resume fonts for an ATS friendly resume.
• How long should your resume be? If you have years of experience under your belt, go for a two-page resume. Otherwise, a one-page resume template should do the trick.
• And for one of the most important resume tips. Save your project management resume template as a PDF to keep the resume formatting intact. Word documents and other file formats can shred your formatting.

Remember: employers will look you up online, so make sure your online presence is perfect and optimize your LinkedIn summary & profile to boost your chances of landing a job.

Read more about resume formatting: Resume Formats: How to Pick the Ideal One

2. Add Experience to Your Project Management Resume

What is project management experience? Projects. So, for the best project manager resume you have to spotlight your most successful ones. HR managers will fish for your on-the-job expertise, because it’s crucial for a project manager. Maybe more than for any other kind of applicant. 

Follow these rules when putting work experience on your resume:

• Start by listing your newest job title.
• Add your company’s name and your start and finish dates.
• Create a job description of your project management roles:
  • Focus on accomplishements over duties and responsibilities.
  • Write six bullet points to showcase your achievements.

How do you write achievements on a project manager resume?

Project Manager Job Description for a Resume

A good resume layout will get your project management resume more eyeball time. But it’s how you put projects on a resume that gets you the job. Remember, no more responsible for project A or managed project B—instead use action/power words like supported, generated, created, and provided. Then briefly describe the scope you were accountable for, and add numbers and percentagesto show that results you achieved had measurable impact. 

How many years of experience should you list on a resume? See our guide: How Far Back Should a Resume Go: How Many Jobs or Years?

But what if you’re writing an entry-level resume? The beauty of building a project manager resume experience description is, everyone has some experience managing projects. If you’ve set and met a work goal, managed a resource, led a team, or reshaped any process, you’re a (junior) project manager already.

So brainstorm all the projects you’ve managed or took part in in the past. Really dig into your memory to pinpoint previous successes. Check these project manager resume samples:

Entry-Level Project Manager Resume Example (Work Experience)

Again, everyone is a project manager if they think hard enough. The key action is to show that in an entry-level project manager resume experience section.  

Read more: What Does Relevant Experience Mean?

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, our free resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

3. Highlight Education on Your Project Manager Resume

If you’re an experienced project manager, adding a degree to a resume is easy. Just limit yourself to listing your highest degree of education. But—if you’re a junior project manager, add a couple of bullet points to your education section to show off your skills. Choose from:

• Relevant coursework
• Dean’s list
• Latin honors
• Extracurricular activities
• Studying abroad
• GPA on a resume

See these project management resume examples:

Project Manager Resume Examples [Education]

Nice. You kept it short, but you showed PM skills. 

Read more: How to List Minor and Major on a Resume

4. Put the Right Skills in Your Project Manager Resume

Good examples of project management skills vary depending on your primary field of expertise. For example, valuable skills for a technical project manager resume will differ from skills on a digital project manager resume.

Start with this list of skills for PM resumes:

Project Manager Skills Resume Examples

• Cost Control
• Risk Management
• Methodologies: Prince2, Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, CPM, CCPM, IPM, PRiSM, Kanban, Scrumban, Lean, XP
• Presentation Skills
• Analytical Skills
• MS Office Skills
• General management skills
• Project Scheduling
• Strategic Planning & Analysis
• Business Development
• Business Case Writing
• Interpersonal Skills
• Teamwork Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Verbal and Written Communication
• Organizational Skills
• Active Listening Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Mentoring
• Problem Solving Skills
• Time Management
• Critical Thinking
• Other core competencies

But—to create a truly agile project manager resume, never use a generic “skills list.” Always pick the PM skills you showcase straight from the job description. 

Here’s how to choose the best project management skills for your resume:

1. Make two lists of skills: one listing all your skills, and another one listing project manager skills from the job ad.
2. Draw connections between both lists to find your resume keywords.
3. Add those soft skills and hard skills to the skills section of your resume.
4. Tweak your resume achievements to prove those PM-related skills.

Here’s what this section should look like in a sample construction project manager resume:

Project Management Resume Examples [Skills]

Why list both hard skills and soft skills? See our guide: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume

5. Add Extra Sections to Your Project Manager Resume

“Whoa, wait a second.” This is what the hiring manager will say when she sees your extra sections on a resume. The way for this to happen is to add in eye-catching strengths you may now not even know you have. These can include your professional achievements, conferences you spoke at, passions, industry awards or resume projects. 

Take the time to brainstorm these extra lures. Fifteen minutes spent typing ideas into a spreadsheet can turn up the gold nugget that will get you hired. You can choose from the following:

1. Resume Licenses & Certifications

Regardless of whether you are a junior or a senior PM, certifications are another way to prove you know the difference between implementation and deployment. According to Wrike, 80% of high-performing projects are led by a certified project manager. So make sure to get certified and put one of these on your project manager resume template:

• Associate in Project Management
• BVOP Certified Project Manager
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Certified Project Director
• Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)
• Certified Project Manager (CPM)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
• Master Project Manager (MPM)
• PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner
• Professional in Project Management (PPM)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
  
  

2. Resume Volunteer Work

Have you volunteered to build homes for the homeless or plan a charity event for animal shelters? Such activities scream “I can manage a project.”

3. Languages on a Resume

It is not a must-have to put on a PM resume, but if you want to work in an international environment, listing languages on a resume will definitely give you extra points.

4. Conferences

Have you attended a Global Scrum Gathering? PM events and conferences show your engagement and prove you want to stay up to date.

See these technical project manager resume samples:

Senior Project Manager Resume Examples [Other Sections]

Polish off your application with extra information: What to Put on a Resume to Make it Perfect

6. Write a Project Manager Resume Summary or Resume Objective

Most hiring teams won’t read your project management resume. They’ll only scan the top of this document. So—put your most important content there. In a resume, that’s a resume profile called a resume objective or a resume summary.

Fresh graduates, career changers, and project managers hunting a new niche should use a project manager resume objective. Applicants with experience in their chosen field should pick a project manager resume summary.

Here’s how to write a resume summary for a project manager:

1. Write an adjective like experienced or dedicated.
2. Add your title (project manager).
3. Share your years of experience (4, 2+, 5).
4. Tell your company-helping goal (cut lead times for Zinky Inc.).
5. Include your best PM achievements.

See these career summary examples:

Project Manager Resume Summary Examples

The first of those project manager sample resumes shows you’ve actually done the work. The bad resume example, on the other hand, has serious bugs. Why? Lack of numbers and company names makes it as non-actionable as a blank user story.

Writing an entry-level project manager resume? Write a career objective, following the same rules as mentioned above. Only this time take project management achievements and transferable skills from your non-PM jobs. 

What is a strong resume objective for project manager?

Junior Digital Project Manager Resume Objective

Wow. Which candidate would you hire? The difference is obvious.

Get inspired with: Summary of Qualifications for a Resume and Resume Career Objectives for Any Job

7. Engineer a Project Manager Cover Letter to Seal the Deal

Maybe you’ve heard conflicting opinions on how important a cover letter is. Here’s the bottom line—most employers still expect a cover letter along with a creative project manager resume.

Our HR statistics report shows nearly 5 of 10 hiring teams ignore resumes with no letters attached.

For a project manager cover letter, keep it brief. Again, highlight your most impressive accomplishments and experience to make the hiring manager think, “I’d better give this PMP resume a little extra time.”

To write a successful project manager cover letter:

1. First, get your cover letter formatting right.
2. Next, in the opening paragraph of your cover letter, engage the reader.
3. Use the middle paragraph to prove your understanding of the job duties.
4. Finally, at the end of your cover letter, offer something the company needs.

Don’t forget to personalize your cover letter by adding the addressee’s name. You can also check out the business’ website and mention something about it that jumped out at you.

More tips: Project Manager Cover Letter Sample and Guide

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Cramming all the best parts of you into a professional project manager resume that delivers can be a real challenge. You can make the process work for you by adhering to a few important guidelines.

Here’s a recap of how to write a project manager resume:

• Choose a layout that makes scanning your resume easy.
• Focus on wins from your work history as a project manager.
• Match your project manager resume keywords to job description bullets.
• Find PM skills in the online job posting and sprinkle them across your resume parts.
• Include bonus resume sections to show off your PM certifications and awards.
• Proofread your project management resume and craft a personalized cover letter.

That’s it! Now, we’d love to hear from you: 

• What’s the most frustrating part about writing a project manager resume? 
• Do you feel you’re lacking all-important PM accomplishments or have problems choosing the right ones for your resume?
• Is it hard for you to find transferable skills for an assistant project manager resume?

Let’s chat below in the comments, and thanks for reading!

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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.scrumalliance.org/events/search

Frequently Asked Questions about Project Manager Resume

What should a project manager put on a resume?

In addition to the required resume sections, such as resume profile, work experience, education, and skills, a perfect resume should include extra resume parts. And they are:

• awards and accomplishments
• certifications 
• additional training 
• attended conferences

With the Zety resume builder, you won’t have to worry about what to put and what else to leave out. The software will tell you precisely what recruiters want to find in your resume. Pick one of our resume templates and start building your resume.

How do you say you were a project manager on a resume?

Your resume summary and work experience sections will help you explain what you’ve been doing for the last couple of years. Forget about responsibilities, though. Focus on what you’ve accomplished throughout your project management career and build achievement statements around it. To do that, you’ll need power words (supported, generated), numbers ($200,000, +40K), and clear-cut goals.

How do you write a career objective for a project manager?

1. Start with an adjective describing yourself, like dedicated.
2. Name 2–3 transferrable skills of a project manager that you have, such as communication and planning.
3. State your goals aligned with the company’s strategy, for example, to execute the local digital marketing strategy.
4. Mention the job title and company name.

What are the responsibilities of the project manager?

Project management job responsibilities are:

• Turn ideas into deliverables
• Assemble and lead project teams
• Set goals, oversee progress, define deadlines
• Gather and manage budget
• Ensure stakeholders satisfaction
• Evaluate effectiveness and efficiency

But remember! Job responsibilities mean nothing compared to achievements on a resume. Recruiters want to know what you bring to the table with your candidacy rather than read about the qualifications they listed themselves in the job description.

What skills should a project manager have?

• Communication
• Leadership
• Forecasting
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Risk Management
• Budget Management
• Strategic Planning
• Team Management
• Organization
• Delegation
• Negotiation
• Adaptability
• Stress Management