Program Manager Resume Templates and Examples for 2024

Program Manager Resume Template Example

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Your program manager resume should demonstrate your ability to plan, execute, and deliver complex and interrelated projects. It must highlight your methodologies, tools, and certifications, as well as your relevant program management, technical, and soft skills.

Learn our tips and tricks for writing a resume that displays your skills and experience as a program manager so you can showcase your value and expertise to potential employers.

Resume Template Tips for Program Managers

• Choose a format that highlights your achievements: A chronological or combination format can help you emphasize the results and outcomes of your projects and the skills and methodologies used to achieve them. You can utilize bullet points, numbers, and action verbs to quantify your impact and show your value.
• Use a professional and clear design: Your resume should be easy to read and navigate, with a consistent and appealing layout. Use headings, subheadings, fonts, colors, and white space to organize your information and draw attention to the most important sections. Avoid using too many graphics, images, or fancy fonts that may distract from your content or make your resume look cluttered.
• Customize your resume for each job application: Tailor your resume to the specific requirements and expectations of each employer. Use keywords and phrases from the job description to highlight your relevant skills and experience and show how you fit the role and the company culture. Also, you can use a resume summary or objective to capture the recruiter’s attention and summarize your main qualifications and goals.

How To Write a Program Manager Resume

When writing a resume as a program manager, it’s important to include the following sections:

• Contact information: This section should include your name, phone number, email address, and location. You can also include links to your LinkedIn profile or personal website.
• Profile: This section should provide a brief overview of your qualifications, experience, and career goals. It should highlight your most relevant skills and achievements and demonstrate how you can add value to the company.
• Key skills: This section should list your relevant skills, such as resource acumen, quality of past projects, and specific methodologies. Be sure to use specific language that is relevant to the job posting.
• Professional experience: This section should list your previous work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. For each job, include your job title, the name of the employer, the dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments.
• Education and certifications: This section should list your educational qualifications, including the name of the school, the degree or certification earned, and the date of graduation within the last 10 years as well as any certifications you may have.

Remember to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for, and use a template that is easy to read and visually appealing.

Contact information

This one is fairly straightforward — give your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your online professional profile. Ensure your contact information is current so that potential employers can contact you for an interview.

Profile

A resume profile is a short section at the top of your resume that summarizes your main qualifications and goals as a project manager. It should capture the attention of the recruiter or employer and convince them to read the rest of your resume. A resume profile can be either a summary or an objective, depending on your level of experience and career aspirations.

It should include the following elements:

• Your title and years of experience as a project manager.
• Your most relevant skills in project management, such as methodologies, tools, certifications, etc.
• Your top one to two professional achievements, preferably with quantifiable results and impact.
• Your career goals and how they align with the position and the company you are applying for.

Here is an example of a resume summary for a program manager:

Key skills

Using key skills in your program manager resume is important because it helps you stand out from other candidates and demonstrates to potential employers what you’re bringing to the table. A program manager is expected to possess a blend of technical proficiency, analytical skills, be an effective communicator, and show strong team leadership. By highlighting these skills in your resume, you can show potential employers that you have the qualifications they are looking for and that you are a good fit for the job.

It also helps your resume clear the bar of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) which screen and filter resumes based on specific keywords and skills.

Resume writer’s tip: Use specific action verbs

When crafting your program manager resume, incorporating strong action verbs is essential to highlight your accomplishments and demonstrate your impact

To use action verbs effectively in your resume, you should:

• Start each bullet point with a different action verb that matches the skill or accomplishment you want to highlight.
• Use the past tense for completed projects and the present tense for ongoing ones.
• Quantify your results with numbers, percentages, or other metrics whenever possible.
• Avoid repeating the same action verb more than twice in your resume.

Here are ten common action verbs that are effective in the program management industry:

Professional experience

The professional experience section of a program manager resume is where you showcase your previous work experience, the skills you have gained from it, and the impact you had in that position. This section should include the name of the company, your job title, the dates of your employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments. It’s important to tailor your professional experience section to the specific job you are applying for and highlight the skills that are most relevant to that position.

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

Incorporating specific numbers, percentages, and measurable outcomes into your resume can help prospective employers get a clear understanding of the impact of your contributions. By providing measurable results, you not only validate your achievements but also offer concrete evidence of your talent and skill set.

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

Tailoring your resume to the job listing is a great way to show the employer that you are a good fit for the role. To ensure that your resume matches the wants and expectations of the hiring manager, you should read the job description carefully and identify the main skills, qualifications, and responsibilities the employer is looking for. Use the same keywords and phrases that the employer used in the job description throughout your resume. For example, if the job description mentions “agile methodologies,” use the same term in your resume instead of “scrum” or “kanban.”

Review your resume and highlight the most relevant experiences and achievements that match the job requirements. Adjust your resume summary or objective to reflect your main selling points for the specific role. Mention how you can contribute to the employer’s goals and what makes you stand out from other candidates.

What if you don’t have experience?

Making up for a lack of experience on your program manager resume can be challenging but not impossible. There are some strategies you can use to showcase your skills and potential, even if you don’t have much relevant work history. Here are some tips for things to include on your resume or to pursue to beef it up:

• Apply for an internship: Internships are a great way to gain hands-on experience and learn from professionals in your field. They can also help you build your network and get references for future jobs. Look for internships that match your interests and goals, and highlight the skills and achievements you gained from them on your resume.
• Volunteer your services: Volunteering is another way to demonstrate your passion and commitment to program management. You can offer your services to a non-profit organization, a community group, or a personal project that needs your expertise. Volunteering can also help you develop new skills, meet new people, and make a positive impact.
• Shadow a professional in your field: Shadowing a program manager can give you a glimpse into their daily work and challenges. You can learn from their experience, ask questions, and get feedback. Shadowing can also help you decide if program management is the right career path for you. You can find shadowing opportunities through your network, online platforms, or professional associations.
• Apply for a temp job: Temp jobs are short-term assignments that can help you gain exposure and experience in different program management roles. They can also help you earn some income, fill gaps in your resume, and prove your value to potential employers. You can find temp jobs through staffing agencies, online job boards, or referrals.
• Start your own business: Starting your own business can be a rewarding and challenging way to showcase your program management skills. You can create a product or service that solves a problem, meets a need, or fulfills a passion. You can also manage the budget, timeline, resources, and stakeholders of your business. Starting your own business can help you demonstrate your initiative, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
• Take relevant classes or earn certifications: Taking classes or earning certifications can help you update your knowledge and skills in program management. You can also show your dedication and willingness to learn new things. You can find classes or certifications online, at local colleges, or through professional organizations. You can list them on your resume under the education or skills section.

Education and certifications

The education and certifications you should include on your program manager resume depend on your level of experience, the requirements of the job, and the relevance of your education and certifications to the program management field. If you have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field, such as business, management, engineering, or computer science, you should list it on your resume under the education section. You should include the name of the institution, the degree, and the year of graduation within the last 10 years. If you have a high GPA, you can also mention it.

If you have a degree in an unrelated field, you can still list it on your resume, but you may want to emphasize your relevant coursework, projects, or extracurricular activities.

If you have any professional certifications that demonstrate your program management skills and knowledge, you should list them on your resume under the certifications section. You should include the name of the certification, the issuing organization, and the year of completion. If the certification is still valid, you can also mention the expiration date.

You should only include certifications that are relevant to the program management field or the specific job you are applying for. You should also make sure that your certifications are up to date and recognized by the industry.

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A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.