When envisioning the general manager's responsibilities, you can ask yourself, is there anything these people don’t do? From strategic planning and budget management to team leadership and customer relations, a GM encounters an array of challenges daily.
Research shows that managers spend 54% of their time on administrative tasks, 30% on solving problems and collaborating, 10% on strategy and innovation, and only 7% on developing people and engaging with stakeholders.
This role demands versatility and adaptability, spanning the corporate hierarchy and requiring a unique blend of skills to navigate different levels effectively. As a GM, you're involved in day-to-day operations, staying current on numerous fronts while avoiding micromanagement to maintain team morale.
Our general manager resume guide will help you craft an application that captivates recruiters and shows your multifaceted expertise.
These related guide and cover letter examples are also worth checking out:
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- Director of Operations Resume Example
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- Retail general manager Resume Example
- Regional Operations Manager Resume Example
- General manager Cover Letter Example
General manager resume sample
Take this example general manager resume and tailor it to your own needs. It only takes minutes with the Enhancv resume builder.
Lisa Smith
general manager
lisa.smith@email.com | LinkedIn | New York, NY
Summary
Experienced general manager with over 15 years of experience leading teams to success in dynamic business environments. Proven ability to drive growth, improve operations, and implement strategic initiatives. Strong leadership skills and a passion for team development.
Experience
general manager
XYZ Corporation, New York, NY
March 2018 – Present
- Oversee daily operations, ensuring efficiency and profitability.
- Implement strategic plans to improve company performance and customer satisfaction.
- Lead a team of 150+ employees, fostering a culture of excellence and accountability.
- Successfully increased revenue by 25% through innovative marketing strategies and operational improvements.
Operations Manager
ABC Enterprises, Chicago, IL
January 2012 – February 2018
- Managed operational processes and systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Developed and executed initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs by 15%.
- Coordinated with various departments to streamline processes and improve communication.
- Played a key role in the successful launch of a new product line, contributing to a 30% sales increase.
Assistant Manager
LMN Company, Boston, MA
June 2008 – December 2011
- Assisted in managing daily operations and staff supervision.
- Conducted market research and analysis to support strategic planning.
- Implemented training programs that improved employee performance and satisfaction.
- Led a project to upgrade the company's IT systems, resulting in enhanced productivity and data management.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Harvard Business School, Boston, MA
Graduated: 2008
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
University of California, Berkeley, CA
Graduated: 2004
Certifications
- Certified Manager (CM) – Institute of Certified Professional Managers, 2016
- Six Sigma Green Belt – American Society for Quality (ASQ), 2014
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Operations Management
- Leadership & Team Development
- Financial Analysis & Budgeting
- Marketing Strategy
- Process Improvement
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Data Analysis & Reporting
Languages
- English (Native)
- Spanish (Proficient)
How to format a general manager resume
Follow these tips for an impeccable resume layout:
- Resume format: For most general managers, a reverse-chronological resume is preferred, as it clearly displays your unique career history progressively backward. It shows a clear career progression in a format widely recognized by employers. The reverse-chronological is best for those with a solid, linear career path and those wanting to emphasize their latest roles and achievements prominently.
- Resume design: Choose a professional resume template to impress recruiters at a glance. Ensure 1” margins on each side and select a sleek, easy-to-read font like Lato, Rubik, or Arial. Use elegant colors like dark blue, gray, or green to emphasize your strengths without appearing unprofessional.Aim for a 1-page resume to respect recruiters' time, prioritizing relevant information over listing every project.
- Header, contact info, & photo: A neat header at the top of your resume should contain essential contact information, like your name, phone number, e-mail address, and job title. Consider adding your LinkedIn profile for a quick overview of your path. You could also opt for a resume headline: a great way to set the tone of your resume. As for photos, check the requirements of the specific job you’re after. Generally, don’t include it as it might cause unconscious bias.
- File formatting: Choose a format that’ll keep your unique design in place. A PDF is perfect for that task, and it passes ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) with flying colors! Name your file in a way that won’t confuse hiring managers. Include your first and last name, and the word “resume.” Like so: FirstName_LastName_Resume.
- Top sections: Your general manager resume should contain these sections: executive summary, work experience, skills, and education. We’ll discuss them in more detail below.
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Let's begin by highlighting your core strength: your experience.
How to write your general manager resume experience
The general manager role is so versatile, that the tasks you’re required to perform can vary a lot. Navigating the optimal approach for your general manager resume can be challenging. Here are some tips on formatting your GM resume:
- Reverse chronological order: List your work experience starting with the most recent position and work backward. This format highlights your most recent and relevant experience first.
- Clear job titles and company names: Bold or capitalize job titles and company names to make them stand out. Include the location and dates of employment for each role.
- Concise and relevant bullet points: Use bullet points to list your key responsibilities, achievements, and contributions in each role. Focus on quantifiable results and specific examples of how you added value to the company.
- Highlight leadership and management skills: Emphasize your leadership, strategic planning, and operational management skills. Include specific examples of team leadership, project management, and business growth initiatives.
- Use action verbs and keywords: Start each bullet point with strong action verbs (e.g., led, managed, developed, implemented). Include industry-specific keywords that can be found in the job description to ensure your resume passes through ATS and catches the eye of recruiters.
PRO TIP
Measurable impact is crucial on a GM resume as it directly reflects one's ability to drive tangible results and improve organizational performance. Demonstrating quantifiable achievements displays your effectiveness in strategic decision-making, resource management, and overall contribution to the company's success.
As you examine the job description for your target general manager role, pay attention to two primary aspects: industry and processes. These two areas are unique to the job and will guide you in framing your experience section. If you’re applying for a general manager position in a specific industry (hospitality, retail aviation, etc.) and have experience in this industry, emphasize it.
Let’s take a look at a real-life restaurant general manager job description.
General manager
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced and results-driven general manager to lead our full-service restaurant. The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of food standards, demonstrate financial acumen, and have a proven track record of managing and developing teams to achieve operational excellence and financial targets. This role is critical to ensuring the seamless collaboration between kitchen and front-of-house operations, maintaining high standards of food, service, and facility, and fostering a positive and professional work environment.
Skills & Requirements
- Minimum 2 years of general manager experience in a full-service restaurant (scratch kitchen experience preferred).
- Minimum age requirement of 21 years.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Results-driven; able to coach the team to hit restaurant targets (i.e., Wine Club Community growth).
- Ability to read, understand, and communicate in English.
- Demonstrates financial acumen.
- Extensive food knowledge and standards (Executive Kitchen Manager level).
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Preferred certifications: ServSafe and state/local licensing requirements.
- Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 lbs.
- Must be able to stand for at least 10 hours per shift.
- Must be able to work 50-60 hours per week.
- Must be able to work flexible shifts and schedules, inclusive of weekends and some holidays.
Role & Responsibilities
- Oversee all aspects of restaurant operations and lead all Management and Hourly Team Members.
- Adhere to policies and manage assigned operating systems.
- Ensure collaboration between kitchen and front-of-house operations.
- Represent company values and create a respectful, positive, and professional work environment.
- Manage people by: approving hourly team member hiring decisions; ensuring managers are effectively directing workgroups; strategically navigating through challenges that occur in the restaurant; mentoring and developing managers.
- Take steps to ensure financial metrics are met and involve department managers to achieve results.
- Focus on service and ensure execution of all food, service, and facility standards
- Be responsible for achieving monthly sales and profit targets and analyzing/interpreting metrics.
- Be accountable for the overall success and results of the Wine Club Community.
- Effectively operate computer systems including a POS System, Online Team Member Scheduler, Inventory/Ordering software, and the Microsoft Office Suite.
- Maintain a safe and healthy work environment and uphold food safety standards.
- Maintain a professional image by adhering to guidelines listed in the Team Member Handbook.
Now let’s see a well-written experience sample tailored to that ad:
06/2018 - 05/2024 
- •Oversaw daily operations and managed a team of 50+ employees, including both Management and Hourly Team Members.
- •Implemented and adhered to company policies and operational systems, enhancing overall efficiency.
- •Ensured seamless collaboration between kitchen and front of house operations, fostering a cohesive team environment.
- •Mentored and developed managerial staff, resulting in a 20% improvement in team performance metrics.
- •Achieved monthly sales and profit targets consistently, analyzing metrics to drive strategic business decisions.
- •Maintained a safe, healthy work environment and upheld food safety standards, achieving high health inspection scores.
- •Managed the Wine Club Community, increasing membership by 30% over two years.
- •Proficiently operated POS System, Online Team Member Scheduler, and Inventory/Ordering software, ensuring smooth business operations.
Why this section works:
- Demonstrates leadership and management skills: The section highlights the candidate's ability to lead a large team and manage various aspects of restaurant operations, aligning with the job's emphasis on overseeing all management and hourly team members.
- Proven track record in meeting financial goals: The description and bullet points emphasize the candidate's success in achieving sales and profit targets, showcasing their financial acumen and results-driven approach.
- Tailored to job requirements: The experience section is specifically tailored to the job requirements and responsibilities, such as ensuring collaboration between kitchen and front-of-house operations, mentoring managers, and managing operating systems. This customization demonstrates the candidate's direct alignment with the role.
Let’s move on to the skills section of your resume.
General manager skills
Your skills section is like a power bank that charges the company you work for with impact. The most effective way to show your skills is to present them in the context of your previous job activities and accomplishments.
Which ones to choose, though? We already mentioned the general manager responsibilities can vary widely. Your best bet is to target the desired job posting by analyzing it for the most valued skills and specific keywords.
Choose industry-specific hard skills, and describe them in a separate section. These measurable skills, often backed by certifications, provide the technical expertise crucial for a general manager to deal with various business aspects effectively. Underlining them makes your qualifications transparent and valuable to future employers.
Take your pick from our list:
Best hard skills for your general manager resume
- Budgeting
- P&L understanding
- Sales forecasting
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Inventory management
- Strategic planning
- Supply chain management
- Quality control
- Risk management
- Industry-specific knowledge
- Compliance oversight
- Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software
- Business Intelligence (BI) tools
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
- Digital marketing
- SQL
- Financial management software
Soft skills are vital for general managers, enabling effective leadership, fostering a positive work culture, and ensuring smooth communication. While hard skills provide technical know-how, soft skills help apply this knowledge to motivate and guide teams toward success. Both are necessary for a well-rounded general manager. When describing your soft skills, it’s essential to offer context to enable recruiters understand your abilities accurately.
Here’s a list of the best soft skills to consider:
Best soft skills for your general manager resume
Now that we’ve seen how your robust skill set has been honed through years of hands-on experience, let's move on to the educational foundation that has equipped you with the tools to excel in leadership roles.
How to list your certifications and education on your resume
Educational requirements for general manager roles can vary, but a bachelor's degree is typically required. The fields preferred are usually related to the position such as engineering or business. An MBA can also offer a significant advantage in numerous industries.
Let’s see what a well-written education section looks like. We’ve tailored it to the job posting above.
09/2010 - 06/2014 - •Relevant coursework: Financial Management, Operations Management, Marketing Strategy, Organizational Behavior
This education section’s impressive:
- Relevant degree and institution: The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UCLA is highly relevant to the general manager role, providing a solid foundation in business principles applicable to restaurant management.
- Inclusion of GPA: Displaying a GPA of 3.9 on a 4.0 scale highlights outstanding academic achievements and competence in the field, which can be appealing to employers looking for candidates with a strong educational background.
- Relevant coursework: Listing relevant coursework such as Financial Management and Operations Management directly aligns with the job requirements, demonstrating that the candidate has studied subjects that are crucial for managing restaurant operations.
Certifications can provide a competitive edge, particularly in sectors where specialized knowledge is essential. Depending on your experience and industry, consider pursuing certifications in product management, HR, and similar areas.
Additional relevant certifications for general managers include those in project management, business analysis, and leadership development.
Here’s our list of best certifications for the role:
Best certifications for your general manager resume
Now let’s move on to an essential part of your resume: your resume profile.
How to write your general manager resume summary
A compelling resume summary is essential for a general manager, serving as the initial touchpoint for recruiters and potential employers. It should immediately communicate your fit for the role by emphasizing relevant experience, key achievements, and the unique value you bring. A well-crafted summary can significantly distinguish you from other candidates in this pivotal role.
Here are some points to consider that highlight career achievements and core competencies in management.
Now let’s see a good resume summary for a general manager.
Here’s why it’s good:
- Emphasizes key achievements: Clearly mentions quantifiable results like increasing revenue by 30% and reducing costs by 20%, which demonstrates the candidate's impact.
- Showcases relevant experience: Displays over 15 years of experience in leading teams and managing operations, underscoring the candidate's extensive background.
- Highlights core competencies: Focuses on essential skills such as strategic planning, team leadership, and resource management, aligning with the general manager role requirements.
Now that you’ve crafted a compelling summary that demonstrates your key qualifications and achievements, think of any additional sections that’ll make your application one of a kind!
Additional sections for a general manager resume
Take a look at the top six additional sections we picked for a general manager. These provide a deeper insight into your capabilities and experiences, demonstrating why you’re the ideal candidate for the role.
- Achievements and awards: Showing recognitions and awards emphasizes your success and the impact of your contributions in previous roles.
- Professional affiliations: Including memberships in relevant industry associations demonstrates your commitment to staying informed and connected within your field.
- Volunteer experience: Showcasing your involvement in community service or volunteer work proves your dedication to social responsibility and leadership outside of the workplace.
- Projects: Highlighting specific projects you’ve led or contributed to provides concrete examples of your problem-solving and project management abilities.
- Languages: Listing languages you speak fluently can set you apart, especially in companies with a global presence or diverse clientele.
- Hobbies and interests: Including your hobbies and interests can provide a well-rounded view of your personality and demonstrate attributes that might be relevant to the role. Then again, not every hobby must have marketable value. Sometimes we do things because they bring us joy, and that’s enough. For one thing, this can even make us more concentrated and dedicated to what we do.
Key takeaways
Think of your resume as the blueprint for a remarkable structure – your career. As a general manager, you’re the mastermind who designs, plans, and oversees the construction of success. Every line on your resume should be meticulously crafted, showcasing your ability to turn vision into reality and ideas into actionable plans.
Here’s how to do that:
- Choose a reverse-chronological resume format to present a captivating career overview.
- Choose an easy-to-read and follow resume layout.
- A little color on your resume can go a long way to enhance your strengths.
- Keep a clear, presentable header, and name your file correctly to win over recruiters.
- Customize your experience section to show you’re as versatile as general managers need to be.
- Quantifiable impact always captures attention, especially for results-oriented professions such as general management.
- Illustrate your soft, or people skills, to give hiring managers insight into who you are.
- Consider additional sections to show your personality.
General Manager resume examples
Explore additional general manager resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Deputy General Manager
By Role
Assistant General Manager
Division Manager
Manager In Training
Team Manager
Restaurant General Manager
Reasons for the effectiveness of this resume:
- Demonstrates sector-specific abilities
- Exhibits a consistent focus on a specific industry segment
The applicant has not only developed a career in restaurant management but has also consistently worked within luxury restaurants and hotels. This focus on a specific niche indicates commitment and an aspiration for advancement in the field.
Hotel General Manager
Factors contributing to the success of this resume:
- Illustrates field-specific technical abilities
- Distinctive interests and skills that match the role
In some cases, specialized skills can provide an unforeseen benefit, depending on the job's requirements. The applicant is fluent in three languages, which can be a significant advantage for a hotel general manager position. Possessing relevant skills like these makes a candidate highly attractive to recruiters.
Fitness General Manager
Factors that make this resume successful:
- Customizes the title to match the desired position
- Presents soft skills as key strengths
This general manager resume exemplifies the importance of tailoring the title to the targeted role. "Fitness GM" and "gym GM" convey nearly the same meaning, but recruiters may filter resumes based on the specific title they seek. It is crucial to adapt your resume to suit the intended job.
Warehouse General Manager
Reasons for this resume's effectiveness:
- Presence of pertinent trainings and courses
- Demonstration of particular successes and accomplishments
Trainings and certifications can be highly specific to a given industry. Although not mandatory for all General Manager positions, they can be beneficial for specialized roles such as Warehouse General Manager. Having certifications in areas like health and safety standards can give you a competitive edge.
Construction General Manager
Factors contributing to this resume's success:
- Display of industry awards
- Customized bullet points for the target job
Featuring awards and accomplishments on your resume is an effective method to showcase specialized skills and set yourself apart from competitors. Numerous general managers perform similar tasks daily, but not all of them are recognized with awards for their work.
Automotive General Sales Manager
Elements contributing to this resume's effectiveness:
- Each section is succinct and captivating
- Soft skills are reinforced with examples
Soft skills, such as "organized" and "team management," can have various interpretations. This candidate supports their soft skills with explanations and instances. Rather than expecting recruiters to take your word for it, provide proof to substantiate your claims.
Adiminstrative General Manager
Factors making this resume effective:
- Demonstrates consistency and growth
- Features industry-specific technical skills
Certain technical skills can be valuable depending on the role you're applying for. If you're seeking an administrative general manager position and have experience with programs like Salesforce and other relevant software, be sure to highlight those skills.
