As a team manager, articulating your diverse leadership experiences and collaborative achievements on a concise resume can be challenging. Our guide offers clear strategies and examples to help you effectively consolidate and highlight your managerial skills, ensuring your resume stands out to potential employers.
- Find different team manager resume examples to serve as inspiration to your professional presentation.
- How to use the summary or objective to highlight your career achievements.
- How to create the experience section to tell your story.
- Must have certificates and what to include in the education section of your resume.
If the team manager resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:
- Functional Manager Resume Example
- Assistant Director Resume Example
- Assistant General Manager Resume Example
- Regional Director Resume Example
- Deputy Director Resume Example
- Director of Finance Resume Example
- Department Manager Resume Example
- Department Head Resume Example
- Executive Manager Resume Example
- Senior Director Resume Example
Optimize your team manager resume format to pass the recruiters' assessment
You may be wondering just how much time you need to spend on designing your team manager resume.
What recruiters are looking for is systematised content that is clear and coherent. Thus, your team manager resume needs to answer requirements and why you're the best candidate for the role from the get-go.
Often, a clear layout consists of:
- Sorting your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your most recent and relevant roles. This is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals;
- Writing your contact information (e.g. personal phone number and email address) and your portfolio or LinkedIn link in your team manager resume header. If you're wondering to include a photo or not, always make sure that it's appropriate for the country you're applying in;
- Use the basic, most important team manager resume sections - your experience, education, summary, etc. Use your resume's real estate wisely to tell a compelling, professional story and match job description's keywords;
- Don't go overboard with the length of your resume. One page is absolutely fine if you happen to have under a decade of relevant experience.
Are you still wondering if you should submit your team manager resume in PDF or Word format ? The PDF has a few more advantages, as it doesn't change the format and the text can't be altered upon application.
Format matters most when your team manager resume is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS).
The ATS parses resumes, looking for specific keywords, skills or experience that match the job description.
P.S. We recently did a study on how the ATS works and were able to demystify three of the biggest misconceptions about how it assesses candidate resumes.
To pass the ATS evaluation, select any of the serif or sans-serif fonts. Popular choices that would help your team manager resume stand out include Raleway, Exo 2, Montserrat, etc.
Most traditionalists go for Arial or Times New Roman, but it's often the case that many candidates choose these fonts, and you'd thus lose points on the uniqueness front.
Targeting Canada? – Keep in mind their resume layout may differ from others.
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PRO TIP
Highlight any significant extracurricular activities that demonstrate valuable skills or leadership.
Recruiters' preferred team manager resume sections:
- A header with relevant contact information and headline, listing your current job title
- A resume summary or objective pinpointing what is most impressive about your expertise (that aligns with the role)
- An experience section highlighting the specifics of your responsibilities and achievements
- A skills sidebar to intertwine job advert keywords with your unique talents
- An education and certifications sections to serve as further accreditation to your professional experience
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven leadership and team management skills with a track record of successfully managing projects and motivating team members.
- Strong communication and interpersonal abilities to facilitate team discussions and present reports to stakeholders.
- Experience with performance management, including setting goals, providing feedback, and conducting evaluations.
- Capability to handle conflict resolution and make decisive management decisions that benefit team dynamics and project outcomes.
- Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and resource management to ensure team efficiency and project success.
Experts' advice on writing your team manager resume experience
While the excitement and motivation for writing your team manager resume was present in the first hour (or so), you now find yourself staring at the blank page.
The resume experience section is the one that allows you to make a memorable impression by matching job requirement with your past jobs and accomplishments.
To help you write this resume section, here are four mistakes you need to avoid:
- Listing every job you have had so far, including the irrelevant ones. Before that, consider each of your past roles based on relevancy to the role. It may be the case that the job you had 15 years ago may have taught you invaluable skills that are appropriate for the role;
- Including irrelevant work experience items. Those are past jobs that aren't linked with the role you're applying for (or so they seem). Consider how your past jobs will serve your professional presentation: will they be filling in a gap in your work history, or just taking up space?
- Focusing on responsibilities instead of accomplishments. Your team manager resume shouldn't just be telling recruiters what you did in the past - as it's most often the case that candidates have had similar responsibilities. But, rather, the experience section should showcase the success you've attained in each past role, thanks to your unique skill set;
- Consider listing just your professional experience. Any role you've had in the past - e.g. volunteering, internships, etc. - can make it into your team manager resume experience section. Make sure to include it alongside numbers and results.
Two more things you need to remember about your resume experience section.
The first are keywords. Or those specific job requirements that are crucial for the role . Ensure you've integrated them across your experience section to get sorted closer to the ideal candidate profile by the Applicant Tracker System (ATS).
The second are action verbs. Each of your experience bullets should start with a strong action verb, followed by your specific skill and your on the job achievements. Follow this formula to hint to recruiters what your unique value as a professional is.
Still with us? In the next section, we will show you how industry-leading professionals have avoided the four most common mistakes, while integrating keywords and action verbs in their experience section.
- Led a cross-functional team of 25 to deliver a flagship software product, meeting all milestones and contributing to a 20% increase in annual revenue.
- Implemented Agile methodologies to streamline project delivery, reducing time to market by 30% for new product features.
- Cultivated a culture of continuous learning that improved team productivity by 40%, directly impacting customer satisfaction ratings.
- Drove a team of 10 sales specialists to exceed quarterly sales targets by 15%, through strategic planning and hands-on coaching.
- Developed a comprehensive training program that decreased onboarding time by 25% while increasing salesforce effectiveness.
- Orchestrated the launch of a new CRM system, enhancing team efficiency and improving lead conversion rates by 10%.
- Guided a technical support team of 30 to consistently achieve first-contact resolution rates above 90%, ranking highest in the company's support centers.
- Established key performance indicators that reduced average call handling time by 35%, significantly improving customer service levels.
- Led the adoption of a new knowledge base system that resulted in 50% fewer escalations and enhanced team autonomy in problem-solving.
- Managed project timelines and budgets for a construction team of 50, ensuring that all initiatives were completed 10% under budget and within the allocated schedules.
- Negotiated with suppliers to procure materials at a 20% cost reduction, significantly increasing project profitability margins.
- Instituted quality control procedures that reduced rework by 30%, thereby increasing client satisfaction and repeat business opportunities.
- Oversaw and motivated a customer service team of 40, achieving a 95% positive customer feedback score due to exceptional service standards.
- Implemented an employee recognition program that reduced annual turnover by 15% and improved team morale.
- Collaborated with product development teams to communicate customer insights, aiding in the design of customer-focused product improvements.
- Directed a marketing team of 15 in executing a multi-channel campaign that grew market share by 7% in a highly competitive industry.
- Conducted data-driven analysis to identify market trends, adjusting campaigns to maximize ROI and resulting in a 25% improvement in conversion rates.
- Spearheaded a rebranding initiative that heightened brand visibility and was instrumental in securing key partnerships with notable influencers.
- Fostered a high-performance culture within an IT team of 50, which played a pivotal role in executing enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives.
- Launched a mentorship program to nurture talent internally leading to 5 team members being promoted to senior roles within 2 years.
- Masterminded the deployment of a cloud infrastructure that enhanced system reliability by 99.9%, drastically reducing downtime.
- Lead a diverse team of engineers in developing innovative solutions for renewable energy projects, culminating in a 15% increase in energy efficiency.
- Pioneered research initiatives that transformed product development cycles, shortening them from 18 months to 12 months.
- Established and maintained successful partnerships with key industry players, bolstering our market position and expanding our technology portfolio.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the number of team members you have successfully led and managed to showcase your leadership scale.
- List the percentage increase in team productivity or efficiency under your management to demonstrate improvement capabilities.
- State specific revenue or sales targets achieved by your team to highlight your contribution to business growth.
- Mention the amount of budget you have managed to illustrate financial responsibility and trust.
- Quantify the reduction in employee turnover or absenteeism rates achieved to show your positive impact on team morale.
- Detail the number of projects delivered on time and budget to emphasize your project management skills.
- Present the number of training sessions or workshops conducted to reflect your commitment to team development.
- Report measurable improvements in customer satisfaction scores due to your management strategies to underline customer focus.
Action verbs for your team manager resume
No experience, no problem: writing your team manager resume
You're quite set on the team manager role of your dreams and think your application may add further value to your potential employers. Yet, you have no work experience . Here's how you can curate your resume to substitute your lack of experience:
- Don't list every single role you've had so far, but focus on ones that would align with the job you're applying for
- Include any valid experience in the field - whether it's at research or intern level
- Highlight the soft skills you'd bring about - those personality traits that have an added value to your application
- Focus on your education and certifications, if they make sense for the role.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
How to showcase hard skills and soft skills on your resume
Reading between the lines of your dream job, you find recruiters are looking for candidates who have specific software or hardware knowledge, and personal skills.
Any technology you're adept at shows your hard skills. This particular skill set answers initial job requirements, hinting at how much time your potential employers would have to invest in training you. Showcase you have the relevant technical background in your communicate, solve problems, and adapt to new environments. Basically, your interpersonal communication skills that show recruiters if you'd fit into the team and company culture. You could use the achievements section to tie in your greatest wins with relevant soft skills.
It's also a good idea to add some of your hard and soft skills across different resume sections (e.g. summary/objective, experience, etc.) to match the job requirements and pass the initial screening process. Remember to always check your skill spelling and ensure that you've copy-pasted the name of the desired skills from the job advert as is.
Top skills for your team manager resume:
Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
Data Analysis Tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau)
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems
Communication Platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
Performance Management Systems
Time Management Tools
Budgeting Software
Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS)
Collaboration Tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Office)
Workflow Automation Tools
Leadership
Effective Communication
Conflict Resolution
Team Building
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Decision Making
Empathy
Time Management
Motivation
PRO TIP
If you failed to obtain one of the certificates, as listed in the requirements, but decide to include it on your resume, make sure to include a note somewhere that you have the "relevant training, but are planning to re-take the exams". Support this statement with the actual date you're planning to be re-examined. Always be honest on your resume.
Certifications and education: in-demand sections for your team manager resume
Your academic background in the form of certifications on your resume and your higher degree education is important to your application.
The certifications and education sections pinpoint a variety of hard and soft skills you possess, as well as your dedication to the industry.
Add relevant certificates to your team manager resume by:
- Add special achievements or recognitions you've received during your education or certification, only if they're really noteworthy and/or applicable to the role
- Be concise - don't list every and any certificate you've obtained through your career, but instead, select the ones that would be most impressive to the role
- Include the name of the certificate or degree, institution, graduation dates, and certificate license numbers (if possible)
- Organize your education in reverse chronological format, starting with the latest degree you have that's most applicable for the role
Think of the education and certification sections as the further credibility your team manager resume needs to pinpoint your success.
Now, if you're stuck on these resume sections, we've curated a list of the most popular technical certificates across the industry.
Have a look, below:
The top 5 certifications for your team manager resume:
- Project Management Professional (PMP) - Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) - Scrum Alliance
- Certified Manager (CM) - Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM)
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) - U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) - HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
PRO TIP
If you failed to obtain one of the certificates, as listed in the requirements, but decide to include it on your resume, make sure to include a note somewhere that you have the "relevant training, but are planning to re-take the exams". Support this statement with the actual date you're planning to be re-examined. Always be honest on your resume.
Recommended reads:
Team manager resume summaries or objectives: real-world samples for best industry practices
Grasp recruiters' attention from the get-go of your application with a professional team manager resume summary or objective.
It's wise to select the:
- Resume objective , if you don't happen to have much experience alignment and would like to more prominently feature your dreams and personality.
- Resume summary , if you'd like to have a more standard approach to your application and feature up to five career highlights to help you stand out.
Writing your resume summary or objective should be tailored to each role you apply for.
Think about what would impress the recruiters and go from there.
But, if you need further help with this introductory section, check out some real-world samples in the next part of this guide:
Resume summaries for a team manager job
- Seasoned Sales team manager with a robust 12-year track record of surpassing sales goals by fostering high-performance cultures within diverse industries. Proficient in CRM software, adept at strategic planning, and has achieved a 40% increase in annual sales revenue for a Fortune 500 company.
- Dynamic Software Development Team Lead with 8 years of experience, specializing in Agile and Scrum methodologies, leading cross-functional teams of up to 30 developers. Notable accomplishment includes successfully delivering a major software rollout that enhanced customer satisfaction by 25%.
- As a former Health Care Administrator now transitioning into a team management role, I bring deep insights from a 10-year tenure managing efficient, patient-centered operations, adept at data analytics tools, and I am driven to enhance team productivity and achieve operational excellence.
- With a strong foundation in marketing strategy from my 7 years as a Digital Marketing Executive, I am excited to leverage my expertise in SEO and social media campaigns to drive successful team outcomes and contribute to the success of a forward-thinking sales department.
- Enthusiastic recent business graduate intent on leveraging academic expertise in leadership and project management to foster a collaborative and efficient team environment. Brimming with fresh ideas, I am eager to apply critical thinking and problem-solving to support organizational goals.
- Organized and proactive individual seeking to embolden a career in team management, building upon a foundation in customer service and a Bachelor's degree in Management. Committed to learning quickly, contributing innovative solutions, and facilitating team success through effective communication and organizational skills.
Miscellaneous team manager resume sections for a more personalized approach
Your team manager resume can reflect even more upon your personality and best qualities - that is if you decide on including a couple of additional resume sections to support your application.
Some of the best-accepted industry-wide choices include the:
- Resume projects - getting into the outcomes of your most important work, so far;
- Languages on your resume - detailing your proficiency level;
- Special recognitions - dedicated to your most prominent industry awards;
- Hobbies and interests - defining how you spend your free time.
Key takeaways
- All aspects of your resume should be selected to support your bid for being the perfect candidate for the role;
- Be intentional about listing your skill set to be balanced with both technical and people capabilities, while aligning with the job;
- Include any experience items that are relevant to the role and ensure you feature the outcomes of your responsibilities;
- Use the summary or objective as a screenshot of your best experience highlights;
- Curate various resume sections to showcase personal, transferable skills.
