10 Data Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

According to U.S. labor reports, data architect and data management jobs are on the rise faster than most other technical industries, with an expected 8% increase by 2030. That means over 150,000 new jobs are created each year.  

Data management specialists with leadership abilities are in high demand across the country.

If you are in the market for a job as a data manager, this guide will help you perfect your resume so that it gets seen by more people.

Having a well-written resume is the first step in your job hunt. In this guide, we will discuss the common problems and difficulties that data managers face when detailing their work. The most common of these problems include:

• Demonstrating a mix of technical prowess and business management know-how
• Indicating knowledge of data compliance and security protocols
• Using numbers to quantify the impact of their work
• Showing they have solid connections in the industry through networking groups and associations
• Including advanced technical knowledge and continuing education

By the end of this guide, you will have the know-how to craft a compelling data manager resume that uses the proper format and necessary sections to get you recognized. Plus, it will score better with applicant tracking systems, which look for specific keywords to determine qualifications.  

There are many different types of data specialist jobs out there. If a data manager resume is not quite right for your needs, check out these resume guides for similar jobs:

• Database Administrator (DBA) resume
• Data Architect resume
• Knowledge Manager Resume
• Business Intelligence Analyst resume
• Data Scientist resume

Before we get into it, let’s take a look at this real-world example of a data manager resume.

Liam has over 9 years of experience as a Test data manager and is looking for a new managerial position within the same field.

Data manager resume example

Liam’s resume is a great example of utilizing each section to demonstrate his experience, skill set, and achievements.

Starting with the header, he includes his title along with a hard and soft skill that matches the skills for the new job. His summary provides more of his essential skills and how he used those skills to improve the company’s data management and procedures.

In the resume experience section, each job includes relevant details for the new position without duplicating the other. It also shows his career progression and how each job has advanced him toward his career goals.

Here’s what this applicant does well in their resume:

• Quantifiable achievements: Emphasizes significant accomplishments, such as "enhancing forecast accuracy by 35%" and "increasing data accuracy by 45%." These specific metrics demonstrate the impact of their work.
• Relevant skills and certifications: Lists pertinent skills like SQL, Python, data visualization, and machine learning. The inclusion of certifications like "Advanced SQL for Data Analysis" and "Machine Learning Specialization" reinforces their expertise in these areas.
• Leadership and collaboration: Highlights leadership roles and collaborative efforts, such as "led a team of 10 analysts" and "collaborated on a cross-functional team." These points showcase their ability to work effectively in team environments and lead projects.

Notice how the two-column format allows the reader to see everything on one page. This format is the preferred method for anyone with several years of experience and a wide-ranging skill set.

Sections that only list specific skills or short descriptions don’t need a lot of space and work well as a side column. Use Enhancv resume builder to view your resume in different templates and choose the one that works best for you.

Before we talk about the sections you need to have on your data specialist resume, we will talk a little more about the resume format.

How to format a data manager resume

Formatting your data manager resume is much easier than you think. These days, most word-processing applications allow you to create a new document without worrying about the technical settings.  

New documents come preset with one-inch margins and a standard font size between 10-12 points. When choosing your font or typeface, you can always go with the classic Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri, even if they are a bit outdated and overused.

If you don’t have an old resume to work on, try using one of Enhancv resume templates. They include all of the proper formatting and more, like:

• Access to more modern fonts, like Rubik, Bitter, Lato, Exo, Montserrat, Raleway, and Volkhov
• Dozens of preformatted resume sections
• Custom Enhancv sections to showcase a more diverse skillset

By the end of this guide, you will have a 1-2 page resume that lists your work and education in a  reverse chronological format. This is the standard format that everyone uses.

When you are ready to submit your resume for a new job, you will save it as a PDF document (.pdf). This format will preserve the look of your resume no matter what operating system they are using.  

If you have your old resume handy, run it through our resume checker to see how it holds up to today’s standards.

It’s time to get to the meat and potatoes of your resume. We will discuss adding relevant work experience in the proper format that showcases your technical and business skills.

How to write your data manager resume experience

The main purpose of a resume for a data specialist is to list relatable work experience that shows new employers you have the skills and experience for the job. The keyword here is relatable.

Data managers have several years of work experience to detail on their resume. Your job is to cherry-pick your past work experiences that highlight the skills necessary for the job. This means you will leave out any jobs where you did not manage databases, create new processes to analyze data, lead a technical team, or improve data security.

This section is where you will add several relatable keywords that indicate your skills and experience.

If the job description says, “Utilizing scripting and querying tools like Python, R or SQL, data visualization/BI tools, statistical methods, and data modeling to produce reports, data files, and dashboards,” You want your resume experience to include those job-specific keywords.

If your resume experience section gets too long, we will go over how to use additional resume sections to list those skills that make you an effective data manager.

Let’s take a look at a real-world example of resume experience for a data manager position in a large company:

Ok. There are a few issues with this example that miss the mark. After reading this, we get a vague idea about their experience with risk management analyses and managing “big data,” but it falls short of being an impressive representation.

Some key issues to focus on:

• The company name and location are in the wrong place. This should be under the job title and not in the bullet points.
• There is minimal use of job-related keywords.
• Fails to quantify the impact they had on the company.
• Includes irrelevant information - “Function/Group: Risk Management Analysis”

Let’s try this again but with some more details about the work they did and how it affected the company:

You can see how adding some specific details has turned this lackluster resume experience into something that makes hiring managers want to meet you right away.

Here is what this example does well:

• Uses numbers and percentages to quantify their results.
• Includes job-specific keywords that applicant tracking systems search for.
• Highlights leadership skills that are necessary for management roles.
• Indicates advanced knowledge of analyzing data to improve backend performance.

To keep each resume experience section from getting too long, keep your bullet points to 4-6 points. You just want to whet their whistle, not drown them with irrelevant details.

How to quantify the impact on your resume

One critical mistake data managers make when listing their past work experience is not demonstrating how their procedures and analyses improve their data accuracy and backend performance.

Quantifying your experience is key to showing a potential employer what you can do for them. The best way to do this is by adding numbers and percentages in your resume experience and other sections.

Here are some examples of quantifying your relatable work experience:

• Improvements in data efficiency: “Developed and implemented ETL processes resulting in a 45% improvement in data processing times.”
• Data accuracy improvements: “Provided training and support to staff on data management best practices, resulting in a 25% increase in data literacy and a 20% reduction in data-related errors.”
• Project completion: “Designed and implemented 3 digital marketing projects using Google AdWords, that produced a 20% ROI.”
• Data growth management: “Migrated 6 company databases to AWS to allow for an annual 10% increase in customer and product databases.”
• User experience improvements: “Oversaw UX department in improving webpages and apps that increase time on page by 15%.”
• Demonstrating innovative solutions: “Developed and executed a data strategy aligned with organizational goals, resulting in a 10% increase in revenue and a 15% improvement in customer satisfaction.”
• Cost reduction: “Reviewed current processes and procedures and developed cost-saving measures in data storage and processing, which produced a 24% reduction in data management costs.”
• Data security enhancements: “Developed new data governance and procedures, resulting in a 20% improvement in data accuracy and a 15% reduction in data security incidents.”

See how some of these examples quantify multiple points. This is a great way for more experienced data managers to include more details about their experience without taking up precious space.

Next, we’ll focus on building a data manager resume for those with no real-world manager experience.

How do I write a data manager resume with no experience

Every successful data manager started where you are today. How did they find their first manager job? By creating a resume that demonstrates both technical and business expertise through relatable non-managerial work experience.

There are plenty of data analysis jobs that can give you the skills and experience to lead teams and develop new data strategies. Some of these job titles include:

• Data Architects
• Data Warehouse Specialist
• Database Administrator
• Business Intelligence (BI) Analysis

Here is an example of resume experience that highlights relatable skills:

You can see by this example that this person has proven technical and managerial skills and is focusing on detailing how they can cut costs and increase processing times. This is a good example of detailing your resume experience to fit specific job requirements.

Notice how they included job-specific keywords and quantified their experience in the company description line? This is another excellent way to showcase your experience without adding an extra bullet point.

Creating a targeted resume is the best way to increase your chances of scoring well on applicant tracking systems and getting that first interview. Carefully review the required skills and experience for each job you apply for and tailor your resume experience and additional sections to match.

Now let’s talk about how you will add those all-important essential hard and soft skills that every data manager needs.

How to list your hard skills and soft skills on your resume

Experienced data managers will have a long list of technical, business, and interpersonal skills that they fall upon to effectively manage people and data.

Hard skills are those technical skills you pick up in school and entry-level jobs. They include necessary skills, like data mining and warehousing, running SQL queries and processes, using computer software, and analyzing detailed reports.

Here’s an example of what this section will look like:

Your soft skills are those skills you learn through everyday experiences. They include valuable skills like analytical thinking, a curiosity for learning, and being adaptable to multiple situations. They are the skills that great leaders rely on to be organized and inspire the team to achieve its goal, even during tight deadlines.  

Enhancv Strengths section is where you will demonstrate how you put those soft skills to use:

Here is a comprehensive list of the top hard and soft skills that all data managers should have:

A word or two about applicant tracking systems (ATS) and adding your hard and soft skills.

Recruiters will program the software to search for specific keywords. To increase your chances of scoring well, you want to match the skills on your resume word for word.

If they list “Advanced data analysis” and your resume says “Data analysis,” it may not score as high if it were an exact match.

Next, we will focus on adding your post-secondary education and advanced learning.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

Employers want their data managers to have a well-rounded education with many business and technical skills to fall back on. Whether you are fresh out of college or graduated ten years ago, you need to include your post-secondary education and any advanced degrees or certifications you earned on your resume.

In this section, you will list your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science, information technology, management information systems, or a relatable degree. All you will need to list here is:

• Degree type and concentration
• University name and location
• Dates of enrollment
• GPA

In addition to your post-secondary education, you want to include all technical certifications you have earned. Certifications indicate you have advanced training in data management and analysis and other technical skills, which are essential for succeeding in today’s job market.

All you need to include in this section is the name of the certificate and the company that provided the training, like so:

Some of the top technical certifications for data managers include:

How to write your data manager resume summary or objective

This next section is where you will write a brief statement about your experience and career goals.

Which one is right for you? That depends on how much real-world experience you have.

Entry-level manager roles require a minimum of 5-10 years of relatable work experience. Data managers with an extensive work history will want to write a resume summary. They will summarize their past work experience and why they think they are a good fit for the position in 2-4 sentences.

If you are just starting out as a data expert and have less than 5 years of experience, you will write a resume objective.  

An objective is a short 2-3 sentence description that lists your career objective and how you intend to reach those goals. It is more about listing your career aspirations than your accomplishments so far.

For this guide, we will focus on writing a resume summary that will put you at the top of the recruiting pile. Here is an example of a real-world resume summary for an experienced data manager

Not bad. You get an idea about their experience, but it falls short of living up to their “decades of experience.” You want your resume summary to show your years of experience and how that experience can benefit the company.

You will need more than a vague description to sell your skills.

Let’s take another crack at this and see if we can improve it by including some specific details and changing the narrative.

Notice that this summary has a more personal feel and includes specific details about their experience and management style. Employers love reading things like, “managed multiple projects” and “spearheaded training and system integrations.”

We get a better sense of this person’s experience and their management style. Finding a company that matches your management style can go a long way toward creating a better work environment for yourself and your team.

Additional sections for a data manager resume

As a data manager, you have a long list of technical and personal skills that make you a superb data management specialist.

Here are some of the additional resume sections data manager can include on their resumes:

• Awards and Achievements: You can include school awards, career recognitions, and
• Programming languages: This section allows you to list related but not required programming languages that you have experience with.
• Software: You should list all technical and business-related software you have experience with that isn’t directly mentioned in the job description.

More experienced data managers will sometimes publish articles or books on new processes or methods for managing and analyzing data.

Enhancv resume templates include several useful sections, including a publication section where you can showcase published articles and books:

Where should you post your resume? Job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn have plenty of data manager jobs available. Other tech-related job boards include:

• Dice
• Stackoverflow
• Pathrise
• Flexjobs

Joining a local networking group can also give you access to data manager jobs before they hit the market, giving you a leg up on the competition.

Adding professional associations to your data manager resume

Data specialists need to stay up to date with current trends and new technologies to keep their databases running optimally.

One way to show you have your finger on the pulse of the tech industry is through memberships in professional organizations and local networking groups.  

• DAMA
• EDM Council
• Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
• American Statistical Association (ASA)

You can also find plenty of local networking groups through your social media accounts.

Key takeaways

You now have everything you need to create an attention-getting resume that perfectly details your skills and experience listed in the job description. When applying for a new job, write down the keywords and essential duties of the position and make sure those skills are included in each section.  

As you get ready to start a new job search, be sure to follow the steps laid out in this guide for creating a properly formatted data manager resume, which includes:

• The benefit of tailoring your resume to the specific job post
• Quantifying your work experience to show how your skill improved data performance
• The importance of detailing technical skills as well as business management skills
• The difference between a resume summary and a resume objective and which one to use
• Why you should include additional skills not requested in the job description