Project Manager Resume [2024] - Example & Full Guide

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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.

project manager 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:

reverse chronological resume

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:

resume examples

#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. 

job search masterclass novoresume

#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 :

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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How to Write the Perfect Project Manager Resume

Precious Oboidhe

Updated: October 10, 2023

Published: August 30, 2023

Writing a perfect resume is one of the most important “projects” you’ll do as a project manager. Nail it, and you will make a great first impression and seal your role as a project manager with your preferred company.

people discuss project manager resumes with experts

In this article, you’ll learn how to write a project manager resume that impresses hiring managers.

Whether you're a seasoned or entry-level project management  professional , this guide will help you create an outstanding resume that lands your dream role.

Let’s get started.

How to Write a Project Manager Resume That Gets You Hired

Project manager resume examples.

→ Download Now: 12 Resume Templates [Free Download]

When finding a job as a project manager, you’ll compete with other candidates for your recruiter’s attention. To help you win, we’ve created nine steps you can use to write your project manager resume.

project manager resume key words

4. Ensure you use the right keywords.

Recruiters often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter unfit resumes. They do this by scanning lots of resumes for keywords that relate to the job description .

After the scan, the ATS software recommends the top applicants, enabling recruiters to reduce the number of candidates they need to interview.

Put another way, a recruiter may not see your project manager resume if an ATS software screens it out because it lacks job-specific keywords. To prevent this, here are some keywords to remember when creating your project manager resume.

52 Project Manager Resume Keywords

  • PMP certification
  • Stakeholder management
  • Budget management
  • Team management
  • Effective communication
  • Project planning
  • Change management
  • Leadership engagement
  • Resource allocation
  • Project management software
  • Project scheduling
  • Issue resolution
  • Scope management
  • Project coordination
  • Project tracking
  • Vendor management
  • Negotiation
  • Daily stand-ups
  • MS Office Suite
  • Forecasting
  • Contract management
  • Project status report
  • Milestone tracking
  • Resource planning
  • Change control
  • Project initiation
  • Schedule tracking
  • Budget tracking
  • Project execution
  • Performance reporting
  • Project review
  • Process improvement
  • Risk mitigation
  • Quality assurance
  • Resource optimization
  • Budget optimization
  • Conflict resolution
  • Data analysis
  • Deliverables
  • Project evaluation
  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Team building
  • Project risk identification
  • Project risk analysis
  • Get creative, and try to use the same keywords in the job description.
  • If a keyword appears multiple times in a job description, try to use it in your resume.

5. Discuss relevant results in your work experience.

When writing your work experience, you must show what you can bring to the table by being specific about what you achieved in previous roles.

If you’re a new or transitioning project manager, you can talk about what you’ve done in other areas of your life or your former industry.

The bottom line is that recruiters want to see how your former results relate to the open role. The best way to do this is to get specific and quantify everything.

Consider the following questions.

  • How long did a project last?
  • When did a project start and end?
  • What percentage of goal deadlines did you achieve?
  • What’s the exact amount of budget you worked with?
  • How many people did you work within your team?
  • How much revenue did you help generate?

These questions have numerical elements. Numbers help you get specific, and that’s what project management is all about.

For instance, don’t say, “ Delivered assistance to the Human Resources Department by training new employees; provided 6 to 8 hours of training monthly.”

Instead, say, “Assisted the Human Resources Department by providing 6 to 8 hours of monthly training for 57 new employees.”

Mentioning the hours and the number of employees you trained monthly shows you’re valuable as a project leader and team player.

6. Add your education to your resume.

The education section of your project manager resume should be brief. Remember, what matters more is your experience.

When writing about your education, start with your highest degree. Then, list your degree name, institution, institution location, and years attended. Here’s an example.

  • Fairfax University, USA
  • 09/2022 – 06/2024
  • BSc in Business Administration (Concentration in Project Management)
  • South College, USA
  • 09/2018 – 06/2022

7. List your project management skills relevant to the role.

As a veteran or entry-level project manager, you may have many project management skills. Unfortunately, you can’t list them all in your resume. So, identify and write the top skills that show your professional competence.

Before listing your project management skills, read the job description to find skills the hiring manager wants and list them first.

Afterward, include other project management skills relevant to your industry, like construction, IT, marketing, finance, or manufacturing.

Here are some general project management skills to consider including in your resume.

33 Project Management Skills

  • Organization
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Time management
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Public Speaking
  • Critical thinking
  • Adaptability
  • Goal Setting
  • Microsoft Office
  • Persuasive skills
  • Decision-making
  • Strategic Planning
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Risk Management
  • Vendor Management
  • Process Management
  • Database Management
  • Financial Management
  • Contract Management
  • Project Management Methodologies
  • Project Management Software Proficiency

8. Include any project management certifications you have.

Certifications are a plus when you’re applying for a project management position. Aside from differentiating you from other candidates, they can help you seal a role and earn you 16% more salary .

It’s best to list your certifications chronologically. Here’s an example:

  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification program – Awarding Institution (2023)
  • PRINCE2 Certification – Awarding Institution (2022)
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification – Awarding Institution (2021)

9. Proofread your resume.

Having errors in your resume won’t look good on you. It makes you give the hiring manager a poor first impression, and it shows a lack of attention to detail.

To avert these, use editing software like Grammarly , Pro Writing Aid , and Hemingway Editor to proofread your resume.

Now that you know the steps for writing a project manager resume, let’s review some examples you can use for inspiration.

1. Entry-Level Project Manager Resume

Entry-Level Project Manager Resume Example

If you’re applying for a role in a specific field, be sure to include your relevant experience. Take a look at the resume above. The project manager’s skills and experience apply to the construction industry.

The resume also includes industry-relevant keywords like OSHA and AutoCAD.

What we like: Even with their extensive work and industry experience, the candidate fits all of their accomplishments into one page.

3. Technical Project Manager Resume

Construction Project Manager Resume example

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The Best Project Manager Resume Keywords & Buzzwords | Everything You Need

BEST PROJECT MANAGEMENT KEYWORDS, BUZZWORDS & SKILLS

If you are a project manager, what are the best project manager resume keywords to integrate into your resume? 

What if you are not a project manager, but instead are seeking to hire a new PM or a senior project manager? What are the best project management buzzwords to use when searching through job databases and applicants’ resumes? Which keywords for project managers should you integrate into your job posting or search criteria?

Everything You Need to Know: Project Manager Resume Buzzwords, Keywords & Skills

This free guide is designed for Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, Program Management Leads, HR Staff, Hiring Managers, Change Management Project Leads, Recruiters, and other Project Management Practitioners.

  • If you are a new or very experienced project manager who is seeking a project management role, this guide provides you with a  step-by-step overview, best project management skills and resume buzzwords, and everything you need to know to increase the success of your resume.
  • If you are a hiring manager, HR staff, or recruiter, this complete guide provides you with a list of key project management skills and keywords for screening the resumes of project management job seekers to identify the best candidates.

“I have been a Sr Project Manager & Change Management Lead for over 15 years, and have led large-scale projects across Intel, Cisco, Goldman Sachs, State Street, Apple, Deloitte, and other firms .  Throughout my years of experience in finding new project opportunities, and also in screening project managers to be part of my team, I have discovered that applying the project management keywords below has greatly increased my successes”

Ogbe Airiodion Senior Project Manager & Change Management Consultant

Let’s Quickly Discuss the Interviewing & Resume Selection Techniques Used by Recruiters

What many project and program manager job seekers don’t realize is that 80%-90% of project management resumes and CVs are rejected before they are even seen by human eyes.

You might be spending a lot of time enhancing your LinkedIn profile or posting your resume on Monster.com , CareerBuilder , Indeed , Dice , Glassdoor , and other resume job boards, and still your profile or resume is not getting picked up by recruiters and hiring managers.

And even when it is seen by an actual person (a hiring manager, recruiter, head hunter, etc.), it is often rejected due to the various factors explained below in this coaching article for new and senior project manager resumes.

What should a project manager put on his or her resume? What project management skills are needed for a program manager to increase the chances of their PM resume being selected? What are the best project management keywords for resumes?

These are all great questions, but …

… before your project manager resume or program manager CV is seen by a live person, it often must pass muster with what is known as an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) bot or an ATS spider that crawls thousands of databases of resumes – across LinkedIn, Monster.com, CareerBuilder, Indeed, Dice, Glassdoor, and other resume job boards – seeking specific project management keywords and program manager skills within resumes.

LinkedIn is becoming the first place that recruiters go to find candidates. According to LinkedIn, over 1.6M recruiters actively use LinkedIn to find candidates. These recruiters use LinkedIn Recruiter, which has a robust ATS interface. 

Below is a key example of how these ATS and Recruiting platforms allow recruiters to search for the right candidates using specific keywords.

The first main step in the screenshot below that states: “ Find the right people – Search for any candidate on LinkedIn using keyword search, Boolean search, and 20+ advanced search filters ” is the step where the recruiter enters the keywords and then the system does the rest by searching through millions of records to generate a list of top candidates that matched the entered keywords.

For the next phase of the resume screening process, the recruiter goes in and prioritizes the final list of candidates generated by the ATS system (if the recruiter is using a resume job board), or by the LinkedIn Recruiter platform (if the recruiter is using LinkedIn).

Once the recruiter has finalized his or her prioritized list of candidates, the next step is to connect with those candidates.

See more: Additional Information on ATS Automated Resume Search Tools .

So, if you are a program manager or project manager, how can you get your resume past the profile or resume review bots to ensure it is picked up and reviewed by a person? And when you can do this, how can you ensure that your resume won’t be immediately discarded by the recruiter or hiring manager after they review it?

There are certain program management skills that you should add to your resume to increase the success of your resume getting seen by humans. These “must-have” project management buzzwords and keywords, as well as the best visualization structure to use for your resume are all included below.

Read on for answers to all of your questions on best resume keywords for project managers and program management leads .

Table of Contents

  • List of Best Project Management Resume Keywords & Buzzwords
  • The Best Structure & Format to Use for Your Resume
  • Best Ways to Integrate Skills, Keywords and Phrases into Your Resume
  • Sample IT Project Manager Resume Keywords for IT Projects 

Where Should You Post Your PM CV or PM Resume?

Additional Information on ATS Automated Resume Search Tools

The Best Buzzwords, Examples, and Keywords for Project Manager Resumes

Examples of top project management resume skills to use in your project or program manager resume are listed below. 

You DON’T need to include each keyword in your program management manager resume. Review and decide which buzzwords are relevant and missing on your project management CV, and then add those.  

For recruiters and hiring managers, focus on selecting only the main project management skills and keywords that are relevant to the job position you are seeking a candidate for.

List of Best Project Management Resume Keywords & Buzzwords for Your Resume

  • Assessing outcomes
  • Assessing progress
  • Attention to detail
  • Business alignment
  • Business analysis
  • Business requirements
  • Business requirement gathering
  • Business requirement assessments
  • Business process analysis
  • Business process improvement
  • Business process reengineering
  • Capacity planning
  • Change management
  • Change control
  • Conflict resolution
  • Collaborative
  • Collaborated
  • Coordinating
  • Communication
  • Communicate
  • Change impact assessment
  • Current state assessment
  • Current state-gap analysis
  • Current vs future state gap analysis

Don’t Miss: How to Integrate These Project Buzzwords into Your PM Resume

  • Data analysis
  • Data analysis & design
  • Data modeling
  • Designing project phase
  • Deployment management
  • Development
  • Development & testing
  • Due diligence
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Escalations
  • Executing plans
  • Execution metrics
  • Financial analysis
  • Future state assessment
  • Future state design
  • Gap analysis
  • Great interpersonal skills
  • Great verbal communication
  • Great written communication
  • Impact assessment
  • Integration planning
  • Leadership engagement
  • Manage meetings
  • Managing client expectations
  • Managing conflicts

How Can You Integrate These Program Manager Skills Within Your Resume?

  • Managing IT system development and implementation
  • Managing relationships with key partners
  • Managing vendors
  • Meeting deadlines
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Multitasking
  • Prioritizing
  • Problem solving
  • Process development
  • Process improvement
  • Project coordination
  • Project implementation
  • Project initialization
  • Project management
  • Project planning
  • Project reporting
  • Program risk assessment
  • Program risk mitigation
  • Program management risk mitigation
  • Quality control
  • Quality methods
  • Quantitative
  • Release planning
  • Release scheduling
  • Requirements
  • Requirements gathering
  • Requirements assessments
  • Reporting on the status of projects
  • Resolved project conflicts
  • Risk assessment
  • Risk management
  • Stakeholder
  • Stakeholder management

How to Integrate Project Management Experience Examples to Your Resume?

  • Scope Management
  • Solution development
  • Software Development
  • Status updates
  • Strategic planning
  • Target state
  • Technical requirements gathering
  • Transformation
  • User Acceptance Testing

Are there additional project management buzzwords you feel are missing in the lists above? Click here to contact the AGS (Airiodion) Editorial Team.

Project Manager Resume Examples. How Should a Project Manager’s Resume Be Structured?

In addition to the sections above that cover the best project management keywords for resumes, it is essential for us to address the best resume styles and formats that increase your resume getting selected for an interview. Every little bit helps when it comes to integrating buzzwords into your CV and optimizing the impact of your resume.

If you are a recruiter or hiring manager, this section is also applicable to you. The best project manager resume examples referenced below are those that are easy to skim through and reflects a well structured formatting.

A project manager’s resume should include the following sections:

  • Highlighted Accomplishments
  • If you graduated 12+ years ago, then it is best to include your Education and Certification section after your Expertise section
  • If you graduated or acquired your certification within the last 12 years, then include your Education and Certification section under the Expertise section
  • Professional Experience
  • The Overview should provide a succinct summary of who you are as a professional
  • The Highlighted Accomplishments is where your resume really stands out. First impressions really matter, and so when a recruiter or hiring manager sees your accomplishments upfront, they are more likely to take the time to review the rest of your resume
  • The Expertise section is another vital section that allows you to integrate more keywords and buzzwords into your program management resume
  • The Education and Certification section should include your degrees and related certifications. For example, Agile Certification, PMI Certification, etc.
  • The Professional Expertise section should include a detailed list of your project, program, and work history
  • The Other section should include buzzwords like Excel, PowerPoint, Jive, SharePoint, Microsoft Project, and any other tools and platforms that you’ve worked with in the past. It can also include any military, volunteering, or other experiences you have

Sample Project Manager Resume with best Formatting & Structure .

Email us if you have any questions about this article. Are there additional project management buzzwords you feel are missing in the lists above? Click here to contact the AGS (Airiodion) Editorial Team.

Integrating Project Management Resume Skills, Keywords, and Phrases into Your Resume

Examples of top project management skills and keywords to put on your resume have been integrated into the phrases below. The keywords within the sentences are highlighted in bold font .

The goal with these keyword examples and phrases is to show you how project management keywords can be used in a resume so that they flow naturally . 

  • Collaborated with subject matter experts to update processes and procedures
  • Worked with all stakeholders and senior leadership to rapidly develop multi-prong implementation project plans
  • Successfully  managed  and  coordinated with all stakeholders, across the enterprise, and across regions to ensure that project deliverables were delivered on time
  • Developed, maintained, and tracked project management plans and schedule. Socialized with program sponsors and firm leaders to ensure leadership engagement
  • Strong expertise in applying flexible change management deliverables, including training , communications , and stakeholder engagement to increase end-user adoption of project implementation
  • Provided regular status updates to C-suite executives to ensure effective dissemination of project information
  • Successfully   implemented the various project phases, including planning, build, UAT/testing, Go-Live deployment, and normalization
  • Collaborated with impacted departments and SMEs to conduct a current state assessment, develop a target state solution, and perform a gap analysis  for the project
  • Conducted a  current state vs. target state   gap analysis  for the project
  • Managed  and  successfully  rolled-out the  target state
  • Coordinated  and  scheduled  joint discovery sessions with over 300 subject matter experts across the enterprise
  • Partnered  with the firm’s Risk Manager to build out a Compliance program
  • Managed  six  project workstreams and analyzed  the firm’s enterprise-wide  operating structure
  • Developed  a comprehensive audit framework to  perform current vs. future state gap analysis
  • Designed and delivered  deployment project plans  for a  target state  Shared Service function
  • Established   strategies  to maintain effective communications with all key stakeholders
  • Assessed the firm’s global banking and onboarding program
  • Investigated  and  identified  key  regulatory ,  operational , and  processing  gaps
  • Collaborated  with Ops, Finance, and other stakeholders to develop remediation plans
  • Designed  and  delivered  a target state  operating model
  • Facilitated  steering committee and working sessions, plus provided regular updates to senior executives
  • Responsible for taking small to large, company-wide, mission-critical programs/projects from original concept through final implementation
  • Ensured adherence to product processes, quality standards, and deliverables
  • Provided overall communication and interfaced with all areas affected by the program/project including cross-functional stakeholders , business sponsors, and vendors
  • Developed detailed program/project execution plan and managed all implementation processes including resource allocation, progress tracking , monitoring change control process, testing , documentation , training, and on-time delivery within budget constraints
  • Proven experience in managing multiple large programs/projects in an enterprise environment delivering enterprise software products
  • Personable and well-proven experience working well with all groups including business, operations, and technical organizations
  • Solid experience in decision making and negotiations
  • Excellent communication , problem solving , conflict / resolution management , active listening , time management, and interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrated consistent ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver technical solutions while mitigating or removing hurdles / obstacles
  • Familiarity with a fast-paced project execution environment; a mix of Agile and Waterfall
  • Managed program risks and issues, as well as changes to projects plans and deliverables

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this top guide on the project management skills resumes.

Sample IT Project Manager Resume Keywords

This section is applicable to any project manager, BUT designed specifically for technical program & project managers.

Examples of top keywords for IT project managers and technical program managers to include in their resume include:

  • Application development
  • Conflict resolutions
  • IT service management
  • Information security
  • Information technology
  • IT Project Manager
  • IT program management
  • Large-scale projects
  • Personable and proven experience working with both business, operations, and technical organizations
  • Management and tracking of project progress against the project plan
  • Managing software/IT/security projects
  • Mid-to-large-scale project implementation

How Can You Integrate These Skills into Your Resume?

  • PMI Agile Certified Practitioner
  • PMP certification
  • Resolving conflicts
  • Scrum Master
  • SDLC: Requirements Gathering, Analysis, Planning, Design, Build, Test, Deploy, and Maintain
  • Software development
  • System testing
  • Technical program management
  • Technical Project Manager
  • Understanding of software development, build, test, test automation
  • Understanding of all phases of SDLC from coding to deployment

Email us if you have any questions about this project management skills – resume optimization article.

Just like other job candidates, project managers normally post their resumes on job boards and websites like Monster.com ,  CareerBuilder , and  Indeed.com . 

However, in addition to posting your project manager CV online, it is essential to maintain a professional profile on sites like LinkedIn . This is important because LinkedIn is becoming the go-to place for recruiters to find project managers. LinkedIn’s job-posting platform  now rivals Monster.com

According to a  Forbes  article , “Companies are spending their recruiting budget on LinkedIn licenses more than on Monster licenses.”

So, when developing your project manager resume or building your professional social media profile, remember to include some of these key project manager keywords on your online profiles to improve your chances of being discovered by recruiters and headhunters.

 See below for more information on ATS scanning tools.

Using an automated tool, a recruiter or hiring manager enters specific project management keywords for the project manager resumes they would like to see. The automated ATS bot tool then crawls through thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of resumes using the specific project manager terms.

It then aggregates those project manager resumes that best match the entered project management search terms and submits these resumes to the recruiter. The recruiter then performs additional reviews and narrows down the selection using a more streamlined and predetermined list of project management buzzwords. 

Adding some of the best project management resume keywords and skill sets provided in the examples above will help increase the chances that your resume / CV will be selected by the bots and sent to the hiring manager for additional resume, and hopefully an interview.

“Resume Review Bots” Scanning Resumes for Project Manager Resume Keywords and Skill Sets 

As mentioned in the top section of this article, over 90% of large organizations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to analyze project manager resumes and CVs to identify the first batch of project management candidates that best match the position they are looking to fill.

Unfortunately, the resumes for really qualified PM applicants are often rejected by these resume scanning software because a lot of qualified project managers are not doing a good job in integrating the right keywords onto their resumes.

This article aims to provide you with everything you need to know about which keywords, skills, and buzz words to include in your program/project manager resume, as well as what you can do to optimize your resume to ensure that it reaches an actual human recruiter, as well as the hiring manager.

What are the Best Project Manager Skills to Include on Your Resume?

A few examples of the best project manager skills to include on your resume include: Agile, Planning, Requirements Gathering, Designing, Testing, UAT, Analytical, Assertive, Assessing, Data Modeling, Deployment, and... Read more: https://www.ocmsolution.com/best-keywords-project-manager-resume/

How do You Describe Project Management on a Resume?

The best way to describe project management on your resume is to highlight project keywords and skills that you've used on past projects. Examples of top project management skills and keywords to put on your resume have been integrated into phrases below. The keywords within the sentences are highlighted in bold font. Read more: https://www.ocmsolution.com/best-keywords-project-manager-resume/

What are Project Manager Skills?

Top project management skills include Planning, Requirements Gathering, Stakeholder Management, Impacts Assessment, Designing, Change Control, Testing, UAT, Analytical, Assertive, Assessing, Data Modeling, Deployment, and many more. Read more: https://www.ocmsolution.com/best-keywords-project-manager-resume/

How Should a Project Manager's Resume Be Structured?

A project manager’s resume should include the following sections: Overview, Expertise, Education, Degrees, and Certification, Professional Experience, Military (if any), and Other. Read more: https://www.ocmsolution.com/best-keywords-project-manager-resume/

Click below to Airiodion Global Services know if you have any questions about the information provided in this “best keywords to include in a project manager resume” article.

Also, if there are other major keywords that you strongly believe should be included on this list, kindly let us know.

Contact Airiodion Global Services (AGS) today.

Note: Content on OCM Solution's ocmsolution.com website is protected by copyright. Should you have any questions or comments regarding this OCM Solution page, please reach out to Ogbe Airiodion (Change Management Lead) or the OCM Solution Team today. OCM Solution was previously known as Airiodion Global Services (AGS).

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28 Project Manager Resume Examples for the Job in 2024

Stephen Greet

  • Project Manager Resumes by Experience
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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

Assistant project manager resume example with internship experience

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

Entry-level project manager resume example with 4 years of experience

  • 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

Associate project manager resume example with 8 years of experience

  • 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

Project management intern resume example with customer service experience

  • 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

Junior project marketing manager resume example with 3 years of experience

  • 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

Senior project manager resume example with 5+ years of experience

  • 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

Senior devops project manager resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

Implementation project manager resume example with business data analyst experience

  • 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

Salesforce project manager resume example with 8 years of experience

  • 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

Real estate project manager resume example with 9 years of experience

  • 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

Software project manager resume example with 8 years of experience

  • 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

Project management professional resume example with 9 years of experience

  • 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

SAP project manager resume example with 8 years of experience

  • 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

HR project manager resume example with 9 years of experience

  • 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

Project manager Scrum Master resume example with 10 years of experience

  • 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

Digital project manager resume example with 4 years of experience

  • 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

Clinical project manager resume example with 3 years of experience

  • 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

Risk management project manager  resume example with 5+ years of experience

  • 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

Agile project manager resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

Healthcare project manager resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

Creative project manager resume example with 9+ years of experience

  • 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

Marketing project manager resume example with 8+ years of experience

  • 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

Engineering project manager resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

Technical project manager resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

It project manager resume example with 9+ years of experience

  • 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

Integrated project manager resume example with 5+ years of experience

  • 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

Architectural project manager resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

Electrical project manager resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

Job seeker stands with hands in air, questioning how to fill out job materials

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 key words

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.

project manager resume key words

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

project manager resume key words

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 .

project manager resume key words

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.

project manager resume key words

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!

Create my free resume now

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Project Manager Resume: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

project manager resume key words

As a project manager, having a strong resume is crucial to your success in securing the right job. This is because recruiters rely on resumes to determine whether a candidate is a good match for the role. Therefore, it is important to know what recruiters are looking for when it comes to a project manager’s resume.

In this guide, we will provide you with the ultimate guide to building a winning project manager resume. We will start by discussing why a strong project manager resume is key to success. Then, we will delve into the role of a project manager and the skills required for success. Finally, we will explore what recruiters look for in a project manager’s resume, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

So, whether you are just starting out in your project management career or are a seasoned professional seeking new opportunities, this guide will equip you with all the tools you need to create a powerful project manager resume that will get you noticed.

Format and Layout

A well-formatted and carefully designed Project Manager Resume can be the difference between landing your dream job and being lost in the pile of applications. In this section, we will outline the key components of a successful Project Manager Resume and provide design principles and tips to help you create a winning layout.

Choosing the right format for your Project Manager Resume

There are three primary resume formats to choose from: chronological, functional, and hybrid. Chronological resumes highlight work experience and job titles, functional resumes emphasize skills and achievements, and hybrid resumes combine elements from both.

For Project Manager positions, hiring managers tend to prefer chronological resumes, as they provide a clear and concise summary of relevant experience. If you have gaps in your work history, a functional or hybrid resume may better suit your needs.

project manager resume key words

Key components of a Project Manager Resume

Your Project Manager Resume should include the following sections:

-Contact Information

-Professional Summary

-Work Experience

Your contact information should be front and center, including your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile URL. Your professional summary should be a brief, attention-grabbing statement that highlights your experience and accomplishments. Work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order, highlighting your most recent and relevant positions. Education and skills should be listed towards the end of the resume, with a focus on certifications, technical skills, and any relevant training.

Design principles for a winning Project Manager Resume

When designing your Project Manager Resume, keep the following principles in mind:

-Clean, professional font and design -Consistent formatting and alignment -White space for readability -Use of color to draw attention

Avoid using flashy fonts or images, and keep the overall design clean and easy to read. Use bullet points to break up text and enable quick scanning. Keep the formatting consistent throughout the resume, and be mindful of alignment and spacing. Lastly, use color sparingly to draw attention to key headings or sections.

Common mistakes to avoid when formatting your Project Manager Resume

The most common formatting mistakes include:

-Overcrowding the resume with text or information -Inconsistent formatting or alignment -Using overly complex language -Not highlighting key achievements or results

project manager resume key words

Remember, your Project Manager Resume should be easy to read, concise, and well-organized. Avoid including irrelevant information, and focus on the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position. Use achievement-oriented language to demonstrate past success and highlight any specific results that showcase your abilities.

By following these tips and principles, you can create a winning Project Manager Resume that reflects your skills and experience, and demonstrates your value to potential employers.

Crafting your Project Manager Resume

Crafting a strong Project Manager Resume is essential in today’s competitive job market. In this section, we’ll explore several tactics to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Identifying your key skills and strengths

Before you begin crafting your resume, it’s important to identify your key skills and strengths. This will help you tailor your resume to showcase your unique qualifications and differentiate you from other candidates. As a Project Manager, some of your key skills may include:

  • Strong communication skills
  • Leadership abilities
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Agile project management experience
  • Risk management expertise

Once you’ve identified your key skills, make sure to highlight them throughout your resume in a way that demonstrates your expertise and how you have utilized these skills in previous roles.

Showcasing your achievements and contributions

When crafting your Project Manager Resume, it’s important to showcase your achievements and contributions in previous roles. This not only demonstrates your capabilities and experience but can also be a powerful way to differentiate yourself from other candidates.

Be sure to include specific examples of how you have contributed to the success of projects in previous roles, including metrics and results where possible. This will help demonstrate the impact that you have had on past projects and highlight your unique contributions.

How to align your Project Manager Resume with the job requirements

To increase your chances of success in securing a Project Manager role, it’s important to align your resume with the specific job requirements. Carefully review the job description and tailor your resume to include specific skills and experience that are relevant to the position.

Highlighting your skills and expertise that directly align with the job requirements can help demonstrate that you are a strong fit for the role and increase your chances of securing an interview.

Tips for writing an impactful summary statement

The summary statement is one of the most crucial elements of a strong Project Manager Resume. This section provides a snapshot of your experience and qualifications and can be the deciding factor in whether your resume is selected for further review.

To write an impactful summary statement, consider the following tips:

  • Be concise and specific, outlining your key qualifications and experience in a succinct manner
  • Emphasize your unique value proposition, highlighting your most relevant skills and experience
  • Tailor the summary statement to the specific job requirements to demonstrate your fit for the role
  • Start the statement with an attention-grabbing sentence that highlights your most relevant experience or achievement.

By following these tips, you can craft a powerful and impactful summary statement that will set you apart from other candidates and increase your chances of success in securing a Project Manager role.

Professional Experience

As a Project Manager, having a well-crafted resume is crucial to showcase your skills and experience. Here are some tips on how to effectively highlight your Project Management experience:

How to effectively highlight your Project Management experience

  • Start with a summary or objective statement that highlights your years of experience in project management, as well as key skills and accomplishments.
  • Use bullet points to list your previous Project Manager roles, highlighting the scope of each project, your responsibilities, and the outcomes achieved.
  • Emphasize your experience managing budgets, resources, timelines, and ensuring quality deliverables.
  • Highlight your expertise in managing people, including team building, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management.
  • Use relevant technical terminology to show your experience and knowledge, for example, Agile, Waterfall, or PRINCE2 methodologies.

Examples of successful Project Manager duties and responsibilities

Here are some examples of duties and responsibilities that successful Project Managers often perform:

  • Define project scope, goals, and deliverables that align with business objectives.
  • Create and execute project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
  • Identify, monitor, and mitigate project risks, and escalate issues when necessary.
  • Liaise with stakeholders, including team members, clients, and vendors, to manage expectations and ensure successful project delivery.
  • Motivate team members and foster a positive team dynamic, leveraging individual strengths and minimizing weaknesses.
  • Monitor and report project progress, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and milestones, to ensure project success.

Useful action verbs to use in your Project Manager Resume

To demonstrate your accomplishments and impact as a Project Manager, you should use strong action verbs to describe your experience. Here are some examples:

  • Coordinated
  • Implemented
  • Streamlined
  • Communicated

How to quantify and showcase your Project Management achievements

To stand out as a strong Project Manager candidate, you should showcase your achievements in quantifiable terms. Here are some ways to do so:

  • Use specific numbers, percentages, and metrics to describe project success, for example, completing projects on time and under budget or achieving a high client satisfaction rating.
  • Highlight your impact on team performance and productivity, for example, reducing team turnover or improving team morale.
  • Showcase your contributions to business goals and objectives, for example, launching a new product or increasing revenue.
  • Use case studies or portfolio examples to demonstrate your expertise and success in managing complex projects.

Your Project Manager resume should showcase your experience, skills, and achievements in a compelling and quantifiable format. With these tips, you can create a resume that will stand out to hiring managers and help you land your next project management role.

Key Skills and Qualifications

As a project manager, it’s important to have not just industry-specific skills, but also a set of skills and qualifications that are universally applicable. Here are some key skills and qualifications to include in your project management resume:

Top Project Management skills and qualifications to include in your resume

Leadership:  Project managers are responsible for leading their team towards the project’s goals. This requires strong leadership skills, including the ability to motivate, communicate, and delegate effectively.

Communication:  Effective communication is essential for project managers since project success depends greatly on how well team members communicate with one another. In addition to verbal and written communication, a project manager should be skilled in active listening and negotiation.

Organizational skills:  Being organized is crucial for keeping up with project deadlines and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Effective project managers should be detail-oriented and able to manage multiple tasks at once.

Risk management:  Project managers need to anticipate potential risks and have a plan in place to mitigate them. Being able to identify and prioritize potential risks and develop contingency plans is an essential skill for a successful project manager.

Budgeting:  Many projects have tight budgets, so managing costs and keeping expenses within budget is an important skill for project managers. This includes forecasting costs, creating budgets, and monitoring spending throughout the project.

How to showcase your leadership and communication skills

When it comes to showcasing your leadership and communication skills on your resume, be sure to highlight any relevant experience you have in managing teams, leading projects, or delivering presentations. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a team or stakeholders.

One effective way to showcase your leadership skills is to highlight any awards or recognitions you’ve received for leading a successful project or team. Don’t be afraid to talk about a time when you had to lead through a challenge or difficult situation. These kinds of experiences can demonstrate your skills as a leader.

Understanding and highlighting your technical skills

As a project manager, you don’t need to be a technical expert in your field, but having some technical knowledge can be helpful when communicating with your team and stakeholders. Understanding key technical concepts and terms can also help you anticipate potential problems and identify solutions.

Be sure to highlight any relevant technical skills you have on your resume, such as experience with specific software tools, programming languages or project management methodologies. Use examples to demonstrate your ability to leverage your technical skills to complete projects successfully.

A strong project manager resume should include a mix of industry-specific skills and universal skills that highlight your leadership, communication, risk management, budgeting, and organizational abilities. Understanding and highlighting your technical skills can also help set you apart from other applicants in the field.

Education and Certifications

The world of project management is highly competitive, so having the right credentials can give you a significant advantage in your job search. Recruiters and employers commonly look for candidates who have earned certifications or have relevant college degrees. These credentials can showcase your expertise and knowledge in project management, as well as your dedication to your career. Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate your education and certifications section in your project manager resume to make an impact.

When it comes to the education section, including your highest degree is a must. Start with the most advanced degree you have earned and work backward. Adding any relevant coursework, academic honors or awards will also help you stand out from the crowd.

For the certification section, think about which credentials are most relevant to the role you are pursuing. Highlighting the project management certifications that you hold will show recruiters that you have a deep understanding of project management. Certifications from highly reputable organizations demonstrate your ability to adhere to industry-standard practices, which are highly sought after by employers.

Here are some certifications that are highly relevant for Project Management:

Project Management Professional (PMP):  This certificate from the Project Management Institute is highly recognized globally and highly reputable for project management professionals. It is a validation of your in-depth knowledge and mastery of project management concepts.

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM):  The CAPM is considered an entry-level certification in project management, but it can still be beneficial for beginners. It is ideal for students or professionals while they are still gaining experience in the field.

PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner Certification:  The PRINCE2 certification helps establish a common language between project management teams, leading to increased efficiency and better communication.

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM):  This certification is mostly recognized in Agile project management environments. It demonstrates your knowledge of the Scrum framework method as well as the ability to work effectively with a Scrum team.

When building your project manager resume, including your education and certifications section will prove to be advantageous. Summarizing your education credentials and relevant certifications can give you a competitive edge, as it emphasizes your expertise and displays your commitment to professional development in project management.

Additional Sections

As a project manager, you want your resume to stand out from the competition. One way to accomplish this is by incorporating additional sections that showcase your unique qualities and interests.

When adding extra sections to your resume, it’s important to consider the relevance of the information you include. While interests and hobbies may not seem directly related to project management, they can offer insight into your personality and highlight skills that translate to the workplace. For example, if you enjoy team sports, it shows that you are a team player and can work collaboratively.

When including a section on personal achievements, it’s important to keep it concise and relevant. Quantifiable achievements such as successful project completion, budget savings, or process improvements are highly desirable to potential employers.

Ultimately, additional sections in your project manager resume should enhance your qualifications and show what makes you unique as a candidate. Keep in mind that the information you include should align with the requirements of the job you are applying for.

Customizing your Project Manager Resume

As a project manager, your resume should be tailored to the specific industry and company you are applying to. A generic resume may not effectively convey how well-suited you are for the job or demonstrate your unique qualifications.

To get started, you should first identify your target industry and company. Research the company’s mission, values, and culture to understand what they are looking for in a candidate. This can help you tailor your resume to their specific needs and highlight the skills and experiences that make you the best fit for the job.

Crafting a tailored Project Manager Resume is important because it shows that you understand the company’s needs and have taken the time to research their requirements. It is a reflection of your commitment and professionalism.

To research job requirements and company culture, start by reading the job description carefully. Look for keywords and phrases that indicate what the company is looking for in a project manager. Take note of the required skills, experience, and education.

Next, research the company’s website, social media pages, and other online resources. This can give you valuable insight into the company’s culture, values, and work environment. Consider how you can align your skills and experience with the company’s goals and values. This will help you create a resume that stands out and demonstrate why you are the best fit for the job.

The key to a successful project manager resume is tailoring it to the specific industry and company you are applying to. By researching the job requirements and company culture, you can create a resume that effectively showcases your skills and experience, and demonstrates your commitment to the job. By following these tips, you can craft a winning resume that will help you land your dream project manager job.

Example Project Manager Resume

In this section, we will provide a comprehensive example of a successful Project Manager Resume. We will also explain how each section of the resume contributes to the overall narrative and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the example.

Personal Information

The resume starts with personal information, such as the candidate’s name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile. The personal information section is essential as it enables hiring managers to contact the candidate for an interview.

The next section is a summary of the candidate’s skills and experience. It is a brief statement that summarizes the candidate’s career goals, expertise, and achievements. The summary section is critical as it sets the tone for the entire resume.

The professional experience section is the heart of the resume. It showcases the candidate’s past and present roles in the industry, including the job title, company name, duration, and a brief description of responsibilities. The professional experience section is crucial as it demonstrates the candidate’s ability to manage projects successfully.

The education section includes the candidate’s educational background, such as degree(s) earned, university or institution attended, and graduation date. It is a critical section, especially for those with advanced degrees, as it demonstrates the candidate’s academic qualifications.

Certifications

The certification section highlights the candidate’s certifications and licenses, relevant to project management. This section is especially important for those seeking senior-level project management roles.

  • The example resume begins with a clear and concise summary of the candidate’s key strengths and accomplishments, which immediately captures the reader’s attention.
  • The professional experience section is well-organized, highlighting the candidate’s achievements through concrete examples, making it easy for the hiring manager to assess their qualifications.
  • The education section is adequately described, providing information about the candidate’s degree, institution, and graduation date.
  • Including a certification section underscores the candidate’s commitment to continuing education, making them more attractive to employers.

Weaknesses:

  • The example resume could benefit from additional formatting to make it more visually appealing and easier to read, such as bullet points, bold text, and italics.
  • The candidate could also include more specific details about their job responsibilities and accomplishments to make their experiences stand out even more.

This example of a Project Manager Resume provides valuable insights into the essential components of a successful resume. By carefully crafting each section, emphasizing relevant experiences and certifications, and paying attention to formatting, candidates can create a resume that stands out in a competitive job market.

Cover Letter Tips for Project Managers

As a project manager, your cover letter is your first impression on potential employers. It’s important to make it effective and attention-grabbing. Here are some tips to help you write an impressive cover letter that will help you stand out from other applicants.

How to write an effective Project Manager Cover Letter

  • Start with a strong introduction – In this section, you should introduce yourself and your interest in the job. Show your passion and enthusiasm for the position and the company.
  • Highlight your skills and experience – This is where you should showcase your skills and experience that make you the best fit for the job. Share your accomplishments as a project manager and how you have made a difference in your previous roles.
  • Show your understanding – Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the role, the company, and the industry. This will give the employer confidence that you are the right candidate for the job.
  • End with a strong conclusion – Summarize your skills and experience and express your eagerness to discuss the opportunity further.

Key components to include in your Cover Letter

  • Contact information – Include your name, address, phone number, and email address.
  • Salutation – Address the hiring manager by name, if possible.
  • Introduction – Start with a strong opening statement that captures the attention of the reader.
  • Body – Highlight your skills and experience, and how they make you the best fit for the job.
  • Closing – End with a strong conclusion, expressing your eagerness for the opportunity and your willingness to discuss the details further.

Examples of strong Cover Letters for Project Management roles

Here are some examples of effective cover letters for project manager roles:

The first cover letter highlights the candidate’s experience as a project manager and their understanding of the industry. They also demonstrate their leadership and problem-solving skills.

The second cover letter showcases the candidate’s passion for project management and their ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. They also emphasize their ability to work with cross-functional teams.

An effective project manager cover letter should showcase your skills and experience that make you the best fit for the job. It should also demonstrate your understanding of the industry, company, and role. By following these tips and examples, you can write an impressive cover letter that will help you land your dream job.

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Improve your resume's success rate by using these Project Management skills and keywords .

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  • ATS Scan : Compare Your Resume To These Skills
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  • How To Add Skills to Your Project Management resume

Project Management Resume Templates

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

Here are the keywords and skills that appear most frequently on recent Project Management job postings. In other words, these are the most sought after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. So try to include them on your resume where possible. Go to the Sample Templates ↓ below to see how to include them on your resume. Remember that every job is different. Instead of including all these keywords on your resume, identify the keywords most relevant to the job you're applying to and include those. Use the free Targeted Resume tool to help with this.
  • Project Planning
  • Change Management
  • Engineering
  • Microsoft Access
  •  Find out what your resume's missing
  • Team Leadership
  • Project Coordination
  • Construction
  • Project Managers
  • Strategic Planning
  • Business Strategy
  • Product Development
  • Contract Management
  • Agile Project Management
  • Negotiation
  • Project Engineering
  • Program Management
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
  • Capacity Building
  • International Development
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Vendor Management
  • Community Development
  • Proposal Writing
  • Service Delivery
  • Civil Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • Microsoft Project
  • Commissioning
  • Engineering Design
  • Manufacturing
  • Project Estimation
  • Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
  • Public Speaking
  • Higher Education
  • Event Management
  • Project Management Office (PMO)
  • Project Delivery
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Customer Service
  • Facilitation
  • Software Project Management
  • IT Strategy
  • IT Management
  • Business Process
  • Project Portfolio Management
  • Business Analysis
  • Business Process Improvement
  • Agile Methodologies
  • Requirements Analysis
  • Integration
  • Python (Programming Language)
  • C (Programming Language)
  • Communication
  • Data Analysis
  • Risk Management
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • Cross-functional Team Leadership
  • Product Management
  • Earned Value Management
  • Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • Drug Development
  • Feasibility Studies
  • CRO Management
  • Biotechnology
  • Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS)
  • Clinical Development
  • Cost Management
  • Procurement
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
  • Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
  • Commercial Management
  • Value Engineering
  • Clinical Research
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Digital Marketing
  • Advertising
  • Google Analytics
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Email Marketing
  • Product Marketing
  • Social Media
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Online Marketing
  • Brand Development
  • Event Planning
  • Public Relations
  • Copy Protection
  • Agile & Waterfall Methodologies
  • Enterprise Software
  • Case Management
  • Social Services
  • Community Outreach
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Mental Health
  • Working with Adolescents
  • Supervisory Skills
  • Psychotherapy
  • Volunteer Management
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Behavioral Health
  • Staff Development
  • Group Therapy
  • Fundraising

Resume Skills: Software Tools

  • MS Projects
  • MS Office Suite
  • Advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, vLookup)
  •  Match your resume to these skills

Resume Skills: Management Tools

  • Microsoft Teams

Resume Skills: Project Management

  • Resource Allocation
  • Agile & waterfall methodologies
  • Lean and Six Sigma Principles

Resume Skills: Technical

  • Basic Coding (Python, Java)
  • Database Management (SQL, Oracle)
  • Systems Engineering
  • Process Simulation
  • Design for manufacturing
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • 3D Modeling
  • Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

Resume Skills: Frameworks

  • ITIL framework
  • MoSCoW Prioritization
  • STAR Method
  • Waterfall Model

Resume Skills: Software

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Microsoft Office
  • Google Suite

Resume Skills: Coding

Resume skills: product design tools, resume skills: business intelligence tools.

  • SAP Business Objects
  • MicroStrategy

Resume Skills: Techniques

  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Data Modelling
  • Performance Metrics
  • Process Improvement
  • Customer Requirements Analysis
  • Work Breakdown (WBS)
  • Critical Path Method (CPM)
  • Earned Value Management (EVM)

Resume Skills: Languages

Resume skills: data analysis, resume skills: enterprise resource planning (erp) systems.

  • MS Dynamics

Resume Skills: Quality Control Frameworks

  • Lean Management

Resume Skills: Project Management Software

  • Zoho Project

Resume Skills: Communication & Collaboration Tools

  • Google Meet
  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 Management 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 Management Resume: 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 Management resume?

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

project manager resume key words

Add other common skills from your industry - such as Change Management, Team Leadership and Engineering - into your resume if they're relevant.

project manager resume key words

Incorporate skills - like Social Services, International Development and Project Managers - into your work experience too. This shows hiring managers that you have practical experience with these tools, techniques and skills.

project manager resume key words

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

project manager resume key words

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

project manager resume key words

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

project manager resume key words

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...

Entry Level Project Manager Resume Sample

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.

Education and academic background - Entry Level Project Manager Resume

   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.

Volunteering and internships - Entry Level Project Manager Resume

Resume Example Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager Resume Sample

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.

Emphasis on work experience - Senior Project Manager Resume

   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.

Promotions at previous jobs - Senior Project Manager Resume

Resume Example Technical Project Manager

Technical Project Manager Resume Sample

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.

Tailored to the specific position - Technical Project Manager Resume

   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.

Detailed bullet points with measurable results - Technical Project Manager Resume

Resume Example Marketing Project Manager

Marketing Project Manager Resume Sample

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.

Great action verbs in bullet points - Marketing Project Manager Resume

   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.

Use of skills, education, and projects sections - Marketing Project Manager Resume

Resume Example IT Project Coordinator

IT Project Coordinator Resume Sample

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.

Showcases relevant work experience in IT - IT Project Coordinator Resume

   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.

Hard PM and coordinator skills displayed in skills section - IT Project Coordinator Resume

Resume Example Construction Project Coordinator

Construction Project Coordinator Resume Sample

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.

Past promotions demonstrate leadership and management potential - Construction Project Coordinator Resume

Word Cloud for Project Management Skills & Keywords

The following word cloud highlights the most popular keywords that appear on Project Management 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.

Top Project Management Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

Project Management Soft Skills

Here are common soft skills that appear on Project Management job postings. Unlike hard skills, which refer to tools, software or techniques, soft skills focus on character traits and interpersonal skills.

project manager resume key words

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

Get your Resume Instantly Checked, For Free

Upload your resume and we'll spot the issues in it before an actual project management recruiter sees it. for free., what are the top skills you should add to your project management resume.

Here are some of the most popular skills we see on Project Management resumes:

What are the differences in resume skills between a Marketing Project Manager and a Project Manager Team Lead?

What are good resume skills to include for different project management 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:

  • Project Manager Team Lead : Copy Protection, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Agile Methodologies, Project Planning and Integration
  • Marketing Project Manager : Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing, Advertising, Marketing and Google Analytics
  • Program Supervisor : Program Development, Case Management, Social Services, Community Outreach and Crisis Intervention

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

Scan your skills and keywords.

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Find out what keywords recruiters search for. These keywords will help you beat resume screeners (i.e. the Applicant Tracking System).

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project manager resume key words

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project manager resume key words

  • Project Manager Resume Example

Resume Examples

  • Common Tasks & Responsibilities
  • Top Hard & Soft Skills
  • Action Verbs & Keywords
  • Resume FAQs
  • Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on Project Manager Resumes:

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Project Manager Resume Example:

  • Led and managed multiple projects simultaneously, resulting in a 15% increase in project completion rates.
  • Developed and maintained project timelines and budgets, resulting in an average project cost savings of 20%.
  • Implemented project management methodologies such as Scrum and Agile to ensure timely delivery and successful completion of projects.
  • Coordinated and managed projects involving cross-functional teams, resulting in a 10% increase in team efficiency
  • Developed and maintained project plans, timelines, and budgets to ensure successful delivery within scope, schedule and budget
  • Communicated project progress and identified risks to stakeholders and upper management
  • Assisted senior project managers in project planning and execution, including creating project timelines and budgets
  • Communicated with team members to gather information and update project plans and status reports
  • Assisted in the coordination of project-related activities such as meetings and team building activities
  • Agile/Scrum Methodologies
  • Project Planning & Execution
  • Project Management
  • Budget Management
  • Risk Management
  • Cross-Functional Team Coordination
  • Time Management
  • Communication & Stakeholder Management
  • Team Building & Motivation
  • Documentation & Status Reports
  • Business Administration

Top Skills & Keywords for Project Manager Resumes:

Hard skills, soft skills, resume action verbs for project managers:, generate your resume summary.

project manager resume key words

Resume FAQs for Project Managers:

How long should i make my project manager resume, what is the best way to format a project manager resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a project manager resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a project manager, compare your project manager resume to a job description:.

  • Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the Project Manager job
  • Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
  • Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for Project Managers:

  • Resume Writing
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Use These Resume Keywords to Pass ATS (+ Keyword Examples)

  • Julia Mlcuchova , 
  • Updated May 9, 2024 11 min read

No matter how many resume writing guides you read, none of them ever fails to stress the importance of resume keywords. But why is that? 

Well, it's because they play a key role (wink wink) in making your resume ATS-friendly . Without them, your job application simply won't reach the recruiters’ eyes even if you're the perfect candidate for the job. But more on that later. 

The burning question is: How can you tell which resume keywords are the best for you? 

And that's exactly the question we'll be answering today! 

So, if you're currently in the process of crafting your resume, be sure to continue reading our article and learn: 

  • What are keywords on a resume;
  • How to know which resume keywords to use;
  • Where to place your resume keywords;
  • Which keywords are the most sought after;
  • And, conversely, which (key)words to avoid. 

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

 Why care about resume keywords

What are keywords on a resume, how to know what keywords to use in a resume, where to use keywords in your resume, the most in-demand resume keywords in 2024, what resume keywords to include based on your profession, what resume (key)words you should avoid, key takeaways: resume keywords.

However, we can't delve into resume keywords without spending a few words on the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and keyword scanners . 

ATS is an HR computer software specifically designed to streamline the recruitment process. It can help the hiring managers in several ways, but what's interesting for you is how it processes your resume:

  • Firstly, ATS scans your resume for relevant keywords (parsing).
  • Secondly, it awards your resume a percentage score based on how closely your keywords match those sought after by the employer. The more relevant keywords, the higher the score. 
  • And thirdly, it filters through the submitted resumes and ranks them based on the abovementioned percentage score. And the higher you rank, the more likely you are to get noticed by the recruiters. 

Besides the ATS, recruiters can also use standalone keyword scanners. But these function on more or less the same principles.

The bottom line is, in the world of job hunting, keywords are a pretty big deal . And you must get them just right!

Does your resume list the right keywords?

Find out how good your resume really is with our AI Resume Checker.

So, what exactly do keywords for resume look like? 

They can be specific terms or phrases describing requirements that directly relate to the job you're applying for. They typically include essential skills, qualifications, experiences, and competencies that employers are seeking in candidates for a particular role.

Let’s have a look at a specific example so you'd have a better idea of what we're talking about here.

Below, you'll find a mock job posting we've created with highlighted keywords . 

Judging by the sea of orange, you can see that pretty much anything can be made into resume keywords. 

But if we continue to work with our example, we can break the keywords down into several categories : 

  • Degrees (Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Bachelor's degree in Communications)
  • Job duties (developing, implementing, and managing digital marketing campaigns; develop and execute digital marketing strategies; conduct market research; etc.) 
  • Soft skills (Creative thinking, problem-solving abilities)
  • Computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite, Google Analytics, Adobe Creative Suite)
  • Industry-specific hard skills (SEO, conversion rate optimization [CRO], Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager, LinkedIn Ads, HubSpot, Mailchimp)

And now that you've got a solid understanding of what resume keywords are and their importance, let's look at how you can find out what keywords to use in a resume you're currently working on. 

Here's how you can figure it out in 4 simple steps :

Firstly, review your job posting carefully and highlight any words or phrases that pop up (just like we did with our example). This step is by far the most indicative, since the job posting tells you what exactly are these particular employers looking for. 

But what if your job posting isn't particularly generous with the job requirements description? If that's the case, your next step should be to analyze job postings pertaining to the same/similar job position. Although precise requirements can differ from employer to employer, the basic skills needed to handle the job remain largely the same.

Another step worth exploring is to take advantage of tools such as Moz Keyword Explorer or the good old ChatGPT to identify relevant keywords related to your industry, role, and specific skills.

Although AI-powered tools can be daunting, navigating them is actually really simple and intuitive. Our AI Resume rewriter analyzes the content of your existing resume, as well as job postings for your desired job or industry. Besides suggesting new keywords, it can help you nail that professional tone and formatting. All you need to do is upload your resume and wait. That's it!

Following these steps should provide you with plenty of potential resume keywords to choose from. But don't forget, the most reliable source of relevant keywords is always the specific job posting you're applying for .

To ensure that your resume is easy to read for both the ATS and the hiring manager’s eyes, your keywords should be weaved naturally throughout the whole document . 

Yes, we know, it's really tempting to make a “Keywords section,” stuff it with all the necessary words and phrases and be done with it. But, unfortunately, that's simply not good enough. 

Remember how we divided the keywords from our example into different categories based on what types of skills/experience/requirements they represented? Well, all that effort will come in handy now! 

Organizing your resume keywords in such a way gives you a good idea of where to later place them on your resume.

Keywords for resume summary

Since your resume summary ’s main purpose is to hook recruiters by presenting your most impressive qualifications, it's a great place to start sneaking in those keywords!

Generally speaking, there isn't any rule as to which keywords should be featured in this section, but we do have two humble recommendations:

  • The title of the position you're looking to fill. 
  • How many years of experience you have.  

What these two? Well, that's because it's pretty difficult to fit them elsewhere. 

Based on our example, we could start our resume summary with: “Detailed-oriented Digital Marketing Specialist with more than 4 years of experience.”

And voilà — two resume keywords with one stone!

Keywords for education section

Similarly, your education section is also quite straightforward when it comes to keywords. Here, you can simply include keywords in the form of degrees if the job posting calls for any.  

But pay close attention to the wording! 

For example : Our made-up posting uses the phrase “Bachelor's degree in Marketing.” Therefore, in your education section, you should write “Bachelor's degree in Marketing,” not “B.A. in Marketing” !

Keywords for resume skills

And, in your skills section , you should mention your skills. Yes, mind-blowing, we know! 

If there's a place anywhere on your resume where it's okay to dump as many keywords as possible, this is it. Just make sure to further divide your skills section into sub-categories (like language skills, computer skills, interpersonal skills, …) for the sake of readability. 

And, if any of your skills are known in the industry by their acronyms, be sure to include this version of the keyword as well. 

For example: Don't just write “ conversion rate optimization,” or “CRO.” Instead, use both versions like so — “conversion rate optimization (CRO).”

Keywords for work experience section

Finally, we get to the most extensive part of your resume — your work experience section . And here, all gloves are off! You can incorporate a wide variety of keywords describing your skills, your industry knowledge, or job duties. 

Also, don't be afraid of repetitions! In fact, the most important keywords should appear 2-3 times throughout your resume. 

And, one last golden nugget of information for you! If you want to avoid unnecessary words on your resume and come across as more proactive, turn your job duty nouns into action verbs . 

For example like this:

Action verbs on resume example

  • Developed, implemented, and managed over 20 comprehensive digital marketing campaigns across multiple channels, including social media, email, and display advertising.
  • Development and executed digital marketing strategies resulting in a 30% increase in online traffic, a 25% boost in lead generation, and a 40% enhancement in brand visibility and engagement.
  • Conducted in-depth market research and competitor analysis, analyzing data from over 100 sources to identify trends, opportunities, and customer preferences.

As we've already mentioned, each and every job posting is unique and so are the keywords they contain. 

But, there are several keywords that seem to be particularly popular with the employers at the moment. Have a look, why not? Maybe some of them will be suited for your resume as well. 

Top 10 resume keywords for hard skills

  • Data analysis
  • Project management
  • Cloud computing
  • Cybersecurity
  • UX/UI design
  • Software development
  • Statistical analysis
  • Machine learning

Top 10 resume keywords for soft skills

  • Communication skills
  • Adaptability
  • Problem-solving
  • Time management
  • Collaboration
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Critical thinking
  • Analytical skills

Now, let’s zoom in on three professions in particular and look at which keywords are the most widely expected to appear on your resume.

And what a better way to show you how it works in practice than adding some stunning resumes to the mix! 

FYI, if any of these happen to catch your eye, feel free to use them as your first draft. Just click on the red button and write away!

#1 Project manager resume keywords

Project management is about making sure projects get done well and on time. It involves planning, organizing, and leading a team to reach goals within a set budget and schedule. Additionally, project managers help teams work together smoothly and solve any problems that might arise along the way.

Some of the most relevant keywords for you are: 

  • Project Management
  • Agile Methodology
  • Waterfall Methodology
  • Budget Management
  • Risk Management
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Team Leadership
  • Project Planning
  • Schedule Management
  • Cross-functional Collaboration
  • Resource Allocation
  • Communication Skills
  • Milestone Tracking

Project manager resume keywords example

This resume sample was contributed by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.

#2 Data analyst resume keywords

Data analysts sift through heaps of data to uncover important patterns and trends. By doing this, they help businesses and organizations make better decisions based on facts and figures. In a nutshell, they're vital parts of any company.

So, if you're looking to make a career as a data analysts, don't miss out on these neat resume keywords : 

  • Data visualization
  • Data mining
  • Quantitative analysis
  • Data interpretation
  • SQL (Structured Query Language)
  • Python/R programming
  • Statistical modeling
  • Excel/Spreadsheet proficiency
  • Data cleansing
  • Business intelligence (BI)
  • Dashboard creation
  • Predictive modeling

Data analyst resume keywords example

#3 sales resume keywords.

Sales is all about building relationships and helping people find what they need. And so, sales professionals need to listen to customers, understand their needs, and offer solutions that make them happy. After all, it's about connecting with people and making sure everyone leaves with a smile on their face.

On your sales professional resume, don't forget to include these resume keywords:  

  • Customer relationship management (CRM)
  • Business development
  • Client acquisition
  • Account management
  • Lead generation
  • Negotiation
  • Closing deals
  • Cold calling
  • Prospecting
  • Relationship building
  • Client retention
  • Sales strategy
  • Revenue growth
  • Pipeline management

Sales resume keywords example

So far, we've talked (quite extensively) about all the keywords that shouldn't be missing from your resume. But what about the words that should be avoided at all costs? 

Yep, there are such things as resume taboos , and we're going to explore them right now! 

  • Overused buzzwords. First of all, forget about hackneyed language like "innovative," "motivated," or "dynamic." These words have been used so much that they've lost all meaning. Instead, demonstrate these qualities through specific achievements and experiences.
  • Passive language. Remember action verbs? Now, meet their less pretty cousins. Verbs like "assisted," "helped," or "participated in" can make you sound like that one person in a group project that only came for the presentation. 
  • Irrelevant skills. A simple rule of the thumb — if it doesn't add value to your resume, it shouldn't even be on it! 
  • Unnecessary filler words. Finally, go through your resume one more time and be merciless. Every little piece of fluff like "very," "really," "extremely," "basically," or “pretty” must go! 

And there you have it, our short list of shame. Always proofread your resumes to remove these lapses of judgment and use more relevant resume keywords instead.

To sum it all up, resume keywords are essential for making your resume ATS-compliant. 

Resume keywords are specific terms or phrases that describe requirements related to the job you're applying for.

You can find them as : qualifications, soft skills, hard skills, degrees, certificates, years of work experience, job duties, and competencies.

To find out what keywords to use on your resume, follow these 4 simple steps : 

  • Start by reviewing the job posting you're responding to. Highlight any words or phrases that pop up. 
  • Research similar job postings. Secondly, you can find inspiration by analyzing job postings pertaining to the same/similar job position. Because the basic skills needed to handle the job remain largely the same across all companies. 
  • Consider using online keyword research tools. Or, you can employ the help of keyword research tools freely available online.  
  • Lastly, check your resume keywords with AI Resume Rewriter . Besides suggesting new keywords, our Resume Rewriter can help you adjust the language of your resume to reflect your professionalism and  attention to detail.
Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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IMAGES

  1. Project Manager Resume Sample

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  2. Project Manager Resume & Full Guide

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  3. Project Manager Resume & Full Guide

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  4. The Best Project Manager Resume Keywords & Buzzwords

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  5. Project Management Resume Keywords

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  6. Project Manager Resume Examples & Templates for 2024

    project manager resume key words

VIDEO

  1. Areas of Expertise

  2. Project Management Planning

  3. Using ChatGPT to Prepare for a Project Manager

  4. Project Manager Resume

  5. 2 Key Skills for Project Managers

  6. Dreams and Goals

COMMENTS

  1. 33 Project Management Buzzwords To Include in Your Resume

    A project management resume is a document you can send to a hiring manager when submitting your experience for consideration for an open position. Buzzwords are common phrases that may appear in the job description or that you can include in your resume. You can comprise specific buzzwords to write a strong resume that attracts attention from ...

  2. Project Management Keywords for Your Resume (With Example)

    Example of a project management resume with keywords You can examine this project management resume with keywords to help you write your own: Johan Cooper 437-209-1823 | [email protected] | Anchorage, AK Professional Summary Accomplished project manager seeking a position in the Anchorage area. History of successful product development and ...

  3. Project Management Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

    During the course of everyday activities, a project manager will help generate the project, organize its execution, and oversee employee productivity. A product manager resume should highlight skills like time management, interpersonal communication, bookkeeping, and industry-specific knowledge. Download.

  4. Project Manager Resume Keywords and Skills (Hard Skills)

    Resume Worded - Dallas, USA June 2013 - July 2017. Project Manager. Facilitated Agile project management, leading to a 20% increase in team productivity and a 10% decrease in project delivery timelines. Implemented Microsoft Project in the management of timelines and schedules, reducing project slippage by 15%.

  5. Project Manager Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

    Project manager resume sample. Project managers are efficient and organized with excellent communication and leadership skills. They enjoy planning all sorts of activities, have no problem making decisions on their own, and thrive under pressure. If these skills define you, they will help you thrive at any stage of your project management ...

  6. Best Project Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

    To write a successful project manager cover letter: First, get your cover letter formatting right. Next, in the opening paragraph of your cover letter, engage the reader. Use the middle paragraph to prove your understanding of the job duties. Finally, at the end of your cover letter, offer something the company needs.

  7. How to Write a Project Manager Resume (Skills and Keywords to Include)

    Writing the Perfect Resume Headline. For project manager resumes, headlines should include the term "Project Manager" along with role-specific terms. When possible, include the job title as listed in the job description. This is typically the most important keyword on your resume. It's also a good idea to include something that can ...

  8. Project Manager Resume [2024]

    Write an Impactful Project Manager Resume Summary #4. Make Your Project Manager Work Experience Stand Out #5. List Your Education Right #6. List Your Project Manager Skills 50 Project Manager Skills to Put on Your Resume #7. Include Your Project Management Certificates #8. Make Use of Relevant Additional Sections #9.

  9. 12 Project Manager Resume Examples & Writing Guide

    1. Start with a powerful resume summary. A resume summary is a 3-5 sentence summary of your most relevant skills and qualifications. Here's an example of an effective project management resume summary that highlights the candidate's relevant experience, credentials, and skills:

  10. How to Write the Perfect Project Manager Resume

    Keep your resume summary short (3 to 5 lines). Be specific when talking about professional outcomes. Mention a few of your relevant project management skills. Here's an example of an interesting resume summary from Milo Cruz, CMO of Freelance Writing Jobs. 4.

  11. The Best Project Manager Resume Keywords & Buzzwords

    "Resume Review Bots" Scanning Resumes for Project Manager Resume Keywords and Skill Sets As mentioned in the top section of this article, over 90% of large organizations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to analyze project manager resumes and CVs to identify the first batch of project management candidates that best match the position ...

  12. How to Write a Project Manager Resume (Plus Example)

    1. Tailor Your Resume With the Right Keywords. When you submit an online application or resume for a project manager opportunity, it's usually directed to an applicant tracking system (or ATS). This program will scan your resume to determine whether your skills are a match for the job you've applied to by searching for certain keywords that ...

  13. 28 Project Manager Resume Examples for the Job in 2024

    Stephen Greet April 25, 2024. 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.

  14. 23 Project Manager Resume Examples for 2024

    23 Project Manager Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024. Your resume can make or break your search for a project manager position. We've got five resume templates here with the key qualities that project manager recruiters are looking for in 2023 (Google Docs and PDFs attached). See Project Manager Resume Examples.

  15. Project Manager Resume Examples and Template for 2024

    Here are three steps for highlighting your professional skills on a project manager resume: 1. Consider the type of project manager job you're seeking. While project managers all organize activities and lead teams, there are many different project managers who use particular skills according to their fields.

  16. Project Manager Must-Have Resume Skills and Keywords

    Vendor Management. MS Office. Analysis. Collaboration. Compliance. Customer Service. Documentation. Job seeker resumes showcase a broad range of skills and qualifications in their descriptions of Project Manager positions. The top three keywords represent 44.9% of the total set of top resume listed keywords.

  17. Project Manager Resume: The Ultimate Guide for 2024

    A strong project manager resume should include a mix of industry-specific skills and universal skills that highlight your leadership, communication, risk management, budgeting, and organizational abilities. ... Look for keywords and phrases that indicate what the company is looking for in a project manager. Take note of the required skills ...

  18. What Project Manager Resume Keywords Should I Include?

    The following are other examples of project manager resume keywords to highlight on your resume: Risk management. Problem solving. Project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, etc) Project planning. Time management skills. Scheduling. Change management. Organizational skills.

  19. Resume Skills and Keywords for Project Management (Updated for 2024)

    Go through the Project Management posting you're applying to, and identify hard skills the company is looking for. For example, skills like Project Planning, Project Management and Leadership are possible skills. These are skills you should try to include on your resume. Expand. 2.

  20. The Best Project Manager Resume Skills and Keywords ...

    The Best Project Manager Resume Skills and Keywords [Updated for 2023] - CareerTuners.

  21. 2024 Project Manager Resume Example (+Guidance)

    Project Managers are responsible for leading and managing teams to successfully deliver projects on-time and on-budget. In your resume, you should emphasize your successful project leadership experiences, including any project successes and cost savings you have delivered. Project Managers also need to demonstrate their prior experience using ...

  22. Senior Project Manager Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

    If you use the right senior project manager resume keywords in your document, you'll undoubtedly get an interview at the company you've been eyeing. Don't let your numerous years of experience as a project manager go unnoticed. Highlight them by following Jobscan's bulletproof senior project manager resume examples.

  23. Use These Resume Keywords to Pass ATS (+ Keyword Examples)

    #1 Project manager resume keywords. Project management is about making sure projects get done well and on time. It involves planning, organizing, and leading a team to reach goals within a set budget and schedule. Additionally, project managers help teams work together smoothly and solve any problems that might arise along the way.

  24. Senior Project Manager Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

    Avoid jargon, but incorporate keywords related to your industry, project management methods, and the specific role you're pursuing. ... How To Pick the Best Senior Project Manager Resume Template. The purpose of a resume template is to display your qualifications in a visually appealing manner. It provides a cohesive style and solid framework ...

  25. IT Project Manager Resume Examples, Skills, and Keywords

    IT project manager resume, skills, and keywords ‌Before you begin writing the perfect IT project manager resume, start by taking a detailed look at the job description. This seemingly innocuous paragraph contains the key to success. Notice the resume skills they're highlighting. Believe it or not, they're giving you the password—or ...