Business Manager Resume Examples

Crafting a business manager resume can feel like navigating a maze. You're juggling multiple roles daily, yet putting it all on paper effectively is daunting. Despite your skills, translating them into a compelling resume that stands out isn't simple. You risk undervaluing your experience and achievements when recruiters see generic, outdated resumes. Even the most seasoned business managers find it tricky to highlight their unique value. But don't let your resume be a "business as usual" document. This guide will help you tailor your resume to showcase your competencies and leadership skills, making recruiters take notice.

Selecting the right resume template is crucial. It dictates how well your achievements and skills are highlighted. An effective template ensures your resume is both professional and easy to read, capturing recruiters' attention quickly.

Our library offers over 700 resume examples to help you craft a resume that stands out. Don't wait—start building your standout resume today!

What to focus on when writing your business manager resume

A business manager resume should clearly convey your leadership skills, strategic vision, and ability to drive business growth. It must highlight your experience in managing teams, budgets, and projects to show you can handle complex tasks. Including quantifiable achievements and industry-specific knowledge will strengthen your profile. For a more impactful resume, add:

• Demonstrated success in increasing revenue or reducing costs.
• Proven experience in team management and development.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Expertise in industry-specific software or tools.

Must have information on your business manager resume

When crafting your business manager resume, it's crucial to include key sections that highlight your qualifications and experience. These must-have resume sections are:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications

Additional sections such as Professional Affiliations, Awards, or Volunteer Work can further strengthen your resume. Tailor these sections to showcase your unique strengths and accomplishments.

Which resume format to choose

For your business manager resume, the best format is the reverse-chronological format, highlighting your most recent experience first. In terms of fonts, opt for modern alternatives like Rubik and Montserrat, which are cleaner and more professional compared to the old standards of Arial and Times New Roman. Always save your resume as a PDF to ensure the layout remains consistent across different devices and software. Keep your margins around 1 inch on all sides to give your content enough breathing room. Use clear and distinct section headings, as these help Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) easily scan and identify key information in your resume.

A business manager resume should include the following sections:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications
• Achievements
• Professional Affiliations

Resume Mentor's free resume builder handles all of this for you, ensuring your resume stands out with ease.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

Your resume's experience section is crucial. It helps potential employers understand your career history and what you can bring to their company. This section should be organized with your most recent job first and go backward from there. Usually, you only need to cover the last 10-15 years, unless older positions are particularly relevant. Include job titles that are related to the position you seek.

Tailor your experience to match the job you're applying for. Use specific action words like "managed," "developed," and "boosted." Focus on your achievements using numbers and results to show your impact. Now let's look at some examples.

This example is poorly written because it lacks detail and specific accomplishments. It doesn't tell the reader much about what you actually did or how you excelled. Now, here's an improved version:

This example stands out because it is focused on achievements. Numbers like 30%, 25%, and 15% give clear indications of success. Each bullet point demonstrates how you made a tangible difference within the company. It shows that you have a history of bringing value, not just fulfilling job duties. Employers can quickly see how you might bring similar results to their team. This level of detail makes your resume memorable and effective.

Business manager resume experience examples

Ready to jump straight into the specifics? Here we go! This section covers different ways to highlight your business management experience—because let's face it, nailing your resume shouldn't feel like pulling teeth.

Achievement-focused

Showcasing your top accomplishments is a great way to demonstrate your capability and impact. Highlight milestones that stand out, and make sure they’re quantifiable.

Skills-focused

Emphasize critical skills that make you a strong candidate for the role. Think about both soft and hard skills that are relevant to business management.

Responsibility-focused

Outline your main responsibilities to give a clear idea of what you managed on a day-to-day basis. Detail how these responsibilities made a difference.

Project-focused

If you’ve led significant projects, highlight them. Share the scope, the team you managed, and the outcomes.

Result-focused

Focus on the results you achieved in your roles. This can include measurable outcomes like sales numbers, efficiency improvements, or cost reductions.

Industry-specific focus

Highlight experience that is specifically relevant to your industry. Detail your expertise and how it has made you an asset in that field.

Problem-Solving focused

Highlight examples where you identified problems and came up with solutions. Describe the problem, your solution, and the outcome.

Innovation-focused

Show off your creative thinking skills with examples of how you’ve introduced innovative ideas or practices.

Leadership-focused

Demonstrate your leadership capabilities with examples of how you’ve led teams, projects, or initiatives successfully.

Customer-focused

Show how you’ve put the customer first in your past roles. Highlight improvements in customer service, satisfaction, or relationships.

Growth-focused

Detail how your actions have contributed to company growth. This can include expanding market share, opening new locations, or increasing revenue.

Efficiency-focused

Focus on how you’ve improved efficiency in your roles. Include specific examples and quantifiable results.

Technology-focused

Highlight your experience with technology, whether it’s implementing new systems, using data analytics, or improving IT infrastructure.

Collaboration-focused

Show how you’ve successfully collaborated with various teams or departments. Include examples of joint projects and the outcomes.

Training and Development focused

Detail how you’ve contributed to training and developing staff. Include examples of programs you’ve developed or results you’ve achieved.

Write your business manager resume summary section

Crafting a strong resume summary for a business manager role is crucial. This section should quickly highlight your top achievements and skills, showcasing why you're the best fit for the job. To describe yourself effectively, focus on key accomplishments and unique qualifications. This will catch the hiring manager's eye and encourage them to read more.

A resume summary differs from a resume objective, resume profile, and summary of qualifications. A resume objective states your career goals, while a resume profile is a short paragraph summarizing your skills and experiences. A summary of qualifications is a bulleted list of your top skills and accomplishments.

Here are two examples of a business manager resume summary:

This summary is not specific. It uses vague terms like "highly motivated" and "excellent." It doesn't provide any concrete achievements or examples. It lacks specifics that make a candidate stand out.

The second example is clear and specific. It highlights relevant experience and major achievements. It uses quantifiable results like "increased annual profits by 20%." This makes it compelling and memorable.

This guide should help you create a resume summary that stands out. Remember to be specific and back up your claims with achievements. This will make your resume more effective and increase your chances of landing the job.

Listing your business manager skills on your resume

Creating a compelling skills section for your business manager resume is crucial. Your skills can emerge as a standalone section, highlighting key abilities concisely. They can also weave seamlessly into other sections like your experience and summary, contextualizing your strengths throughout your resume.

It's critical to emphasize both strengths and soft skills. Strengths showcase what you excel at inherently, such as leadership or decision-making. Soft skills, like communication and adaptability, reflect your interpersonal and organizational prowess. Hard skills refer to specific, teachable abilities like financial analysis or project management.

Skills and strengths can also serve as pivotal resume keywords. These keywords help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and hiring managers alike.

This example is good because it clearly lists skills that are highly relevant to a business manager role. Each skill is specific, making it easy for hiring managers and ATS systems to identify your qualifications. The selection of skills, including both strategic and practical abilities, showcases a well-rounded candidate suited for managing business operations.

Best hard skills to feature on your business manager resume

Successful business managers should possess a range of hard skills to effectively lead and manage daily operations. These hard skills demonstrate your ability to manage projects, finances, and teams proficiently.

Best soft skills to feature on your business manager resume

In addition to hard skills, soft skills are essential for business managers. They help you manage teams efficiently and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics within the workplace. Soft skills show your ability to create a positive work environment and resolve conflicts effortlessly.

These soft skills illustrate your capacity to lead, inspire, and work well with others, which is crucial for any business manager.

How to include your education on your resume

An education section is an essential part of a business manager resume and should be carefully tailored to the specific job you're applying for. Including irrelevant education could clutter your resume and detract from your qualifications.

When listing your degree on your resume, include the degree name, the institution, and the graduation date. If your GPA is strong (typically over 3.5), you should include it along with any honors such as cum laude. GPA is often listed in the format of “3.8/4.0,” and honors should be clearly notated next to your degree.

This example is poorly written because the degree is not related to the business manager job. The GPA is below average and included unnecessarily, which might create a negative impression.

This example is excellent because the degree is highly relevant to the role of a business manager. The impressive GPA is included and highlighted along with the prestigious institution, which stands out to employers.

How to include business manager certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section on your business manager resume is crucial. Certificates showcase your specialized skills and updated knowledge, which can set you apart from other candidates. List the name of the certificate. Include the date you received it. Add the issuing organization. Certificates can also be included in the header for quick visibility. For example, you can write "John Doe, MBA, PMP, Six Sigma Black Belt" at the top of your resume.

Here’s an example of a standalone certificates section:

This example is effective because it lists certificates relevant to a business manager role. Each certificate mentioned demonstrates proficiency in essential areas like project management, business analysis, and quality control. This structured approach makes it easy for employers to see your qualifications quickly. Each certificate is supplemented with the issuer's name, providing authenticity and additional context about your skills.

Extra sections to include in your business manager resume

Creating a stellar resume as a business manager can be your ticket to landing the job of your dreams. While it's important to highlight your professional experience and educational background, including sections like languages, hobbies and interests, volunteer work, and books can distinguish you from the competition and showcase your well-rounded personality.

• Language section — Highlight your proficiency in multiple languages to demonstrate communication skills and global adaptability.
• Hobbies and interests section — Mention activities that show your personality and commitment, helping you appear more relatable and diverse.
• Volunteer work section — Outline your volunteer work to exhibit leadership, empathy, and a willingness to give back to the community.
• Books section — Share books that you've read which are relevant to your profession, showing your commitment to continuous learning and development.

Including these extra sections can make your resume more engaging and comprehensive for potential employers.

Pair your business manager resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a document sent along with your resume when applying for jobs. It provides a personalized introduction to your skills and experiences. This letter explains why you are interested in the job and how you are well-suited for the position. It helps the hiring manager get a sense of your personality and enthusiasm.

For a business manager position, your cover letter should highlight your leadership skills and business acumen. Focus on examples where you have successfully managed teams or improved business operations. Mention any relevant achievements, such as increasing sales or reducing costs. Demonstrating your ability to make data-driven decisions can also set you apart.

Writing a great cover letter is essential to stand out in a competitive job market. Use Resume Mentor's cover letter builder for an easy and efficient way to create a professional cover letter. Its seamless PDF exporting feature ensures your content and formatting remain intact. Start crafting your cover letter today with Resume Mentor and boost your chances of landing that dream job!