Best Project Manager Resume Examples For 2024 (Template & Guide)

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Project Manager Resume: Choose a Format

Writing your project management resume starts with choosing a great template and the best resume format to showcase your skills and experience in the best way possible. To stand out from other candidates, you will want to choose a resume format that highlights your best qualifications.

Here’s a breakdown of the three formats you can choose from when building your project manager resume.

Chronological Resumes for Project Managers

A chronological resume format is the go-to choice for most construction project managers. This format focuses on a detailed work history and relevant professional experience.

This format will allow you to list your previous project management positions and describe your responsibilities and achievements in each role. It is also the most common format for resumes and will be easily recognized by automated applicant tracking systems (ATS).

To showcase your project management experience, use bullet points under each job entry to mention completed projects, highlighting your contributions.

To make your resume content engaging to the reader, be sure to use strong action verbs and quantify your accomplishments with numbers and percentages.

For example, instead of saying you “managed the budget,” say, “Successfully managed the budget to reduce costs by 10%.”

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Functional Resumes for Project Managers

A functional resume format emphasizes skills and education and can be a good choice for someone who lacks relevant experience for the position.

For example, suppose you are transitioning from a different industry or have recently graduated and just entered the workforce. In that case, a functional resume can help you highlight your project management-related skills and achievements to demonstrate your ability to do the job.

However, it is important to know that a functional resume also has some drawbacks. Most employers value a detailed work history, and the format is not always compatible with automated applicant tracking systems.

Combination Resumes for Project Managers

A combination format resume combines elements from both chronological and functional formats. This format lets you emphasize your project management skills while also showcasing your work history.

This format is ideal for project managers with minimal work experience because it will highlight your skills and qualifications first, before delving into your work history, creating a balanced view of your ability to do the job.

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Choosing a Resume Format

Choosing the best format for your resume is an essential part of the resume-writing process. Each format has its benefits and drawbacks. If you are unsure which format is best for you, most experts recommend a chronological format.

A chronological format can work for you even if you lack experience related to project management. Simply use your work experience section to highlight skills that are also needed to manage a construction project. For example, if you have experience supervising employees, managing budgets, working in construction, or proposal writing, be sure to emphasize those skills in your work history.

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How to Write a Construction Project Manager Resume

Once you have chosen the right format for your project manager resume, you are ready to create an impactful resume that will grab the attention of hiring managers in the construction industry!

Next, you’ll create your resume outline by preparing content for five key sections of your resume and some possible additional sections to showcase your abilities. The five key sections of your resume are:

• • • • 1. Contact Information
        2. Professional Summary or Resume Objective
        3. Work History
        4. Skills
        5. Education

Each section is crucial to giving potential employers a complete picture of your qualifications and fit with the organization.

Contact Information

Start your resume strong by providing your contact information. Include your full name, phone number and email address. You can also add your LinkedIn profile if you like. Just be sure that your photo and work history are up to date. Your contact information may look like this:

John Smith
Austin, TX
j.smith@fakemail.com
555-555-5555
linkedin.com/in/john-smith

Place your contact information at the top of your resume, where it is easy to find and easy to read. Ensure your information is accurate and up-to-date and your email address is professional and fully functional.

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Summary or Objective

When looking at our resume examples and templates, you will notice most resumes include a brief 2-3 sentences under the contact information to introduce the candidate to the reader.

Use this section to grab the reader’s attention with a compelling summary or objective tailored for the construction project management job you are applying for.

You can choose to write either a resume summary or an objective statement to introduce yourself.

A resume summary provides a short overview of your most relevant experience and applicable skills. It’s a good choice if you have experience as a project manager.

Here’s an example of an effective resume summary for a project manager:

“Dynamic project manager with a proven track record in construction project delivery. Twelve years of experience coordinating complex builds and ensuring timely completion. Excellent record of ensuring safety and compliance on construction projects.”

However, a resume objective might work better if you are new to the job. An objective lets the reader know about your interest in the job, while highlighting any relevant skills or qualifications you have.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume objective for a project manager job:

“Dedicated project manager with a background in construction seeking an opportunity to apply strategic planning skills and oversee high-impact projects to deliver projects on time and under budget for a leading construction firm.”

Whether you choose a summary or an objective statement, remember to tailor it to the job you are applying for. Use keywords from the job description to help your resume pass initial screenings by applicant tracking systems and hiring managers.

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Work History

Next, you will create your work history section. This section will detail your recent and most relevant professional experience.

This section should be in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position and working backward.

Each job entry should include:

• • • • • Job title
        • Name of Employer
        • Location
        • Dates of Employment

Then, you will use two to three bullet points beneath each entry to describe your responsibilities, accomplishments, and ability to lead and manage construction projects effectively.

Tailor each bullet point to the job you are applying for by highlighting your most relevant experience and qualifications.

Use strong action verbs like coordinated, tracked, directed, accelerated, and executed to keep the reader’s attention and demonstrate your impact in each role.

Also, when possible, use numbers to validate your accomplishments.

For example:

Supervised day-to-day operations of a 20-person team to promote productivity and efficient use of resources to deliver 100% of projects on time and under budget.

Quantifiable experience helps provide a unique context to your qualifications that employers can use to accurately assess your capabilities. When you quantify your experience, you have a better chance of standing out.

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Skills

Next, highlight your abilities in a dedicated skills resume section. Again, tailor this section to align with the demands of the construction industry and the requirements listed in the job description.

Your skills section should include both hard skills and soft skills to show you are a well-rounded professional. To give you some ideas, we have compiled a list of the top skills for a construction project manager resume here for you!

Top 5 Hard Skills for Construction Project Manager Resumes

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Budget Management: Project managers must allocate resources judiciously, monitor expenditures, prevent cost overruns, identify cost-saving opportunities and deliver projects within budgetary constraints.
            2. Blueprint Reading: Interpreting and analyzing construction blueprints is a critical technical skill for accurate project execution, facilitating effective communication with the team and avoiding costly errors during construction
            3. Budgeting and Cost Control: Essential for financial viability, budgeting and cost control skills empower project managers to make informed decisions, prevent overruns, and maximize project profitability.
            4. Construction Planning: Construction planning skills are crucial for strategic project execution, enabling project managers to anticipate challenges, allocate resources effectively, and maintain project schedules. This can incorporate important computer skills in construction project management.
            5. Risk Management: In the dynamic construction environment, effective risk management is vital to minimizing project disruptions, maintaining safety, and safeguarding project success.

Top 5 Soft Skills for Construction Project Manager Resumes

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Leadership: Leadership skills are the backbone of successful project management, fostering a motivated team, resolving conflicts, and driving projects to successful completion.
            2. Communication: Effective communication is vital for project coordination, ensuring everyone involved is well-informed, aligned, and capable of executing their roles efficiently.
            3. Problem-Solving: Given the complexity of construction projects, problem-solving skills empower project managers to overcome obstacles, maintain project momentum, and deliver successful outcomes.
            4. Time Management: Time management skills are critical for keeping construction projects on track, avoiding delays, and meeting client expectations regarding project completion.
            5. Teamwork and Collaboration: Construction projects rely on seamless collaboration. Working well with others ensures harmonious working relationships, enhances productivity, and contributes to overall project success.

Your skills section can be formatted in a variety of ways, depending on the space available and your resume template design. Your skills section may look something like this:

Skills:

• • • • • OSHA Compliance
        • Risk Management
        • Interpreting Blueprints
        • Construction Planning
        • Budgeting & Cost Control
        • Communication
        • AutoCAD
        • Subcontractor Management

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Education

In the education section of your project manager resume, you will list details on your degree, the name of the institution, and the location.

You don’t need to include your graduation year unless you are still in school. Including a graduation year can lead to assumptions about your age or experience level in the application process.

Your education section may look something like this:

Education:

Bachelor of Science: Project Management
University of Texas, Austin, TX

Additional Sections

If you have enough space on your resume, you can include some optional sections like:

• • • • • Certifications
        • Professional Memberships
        • Awards and Honors
        • Publications
        • Languages

These sections are an opportunity to showcase your unique qualifications for the position.

For example, speaking multiple languages can be very helpful in the construction industry, and many industry-specific certifications and professional associations can help make your project manager resume stand out from the competition.

Just remember to focus on information that is relevant to the position you are applying to!

Top Certifications For Project Managers

You can elevate your project manager resume by including relevant certifications. Earning and maintaining professional certifications demonstrates your commitment to excellence in construction project management.

It will also validate your expertise to potential employers looking for certified professionals in the construction industry.

Some common certifications for construction project managers are:

• • • • • PMP (Project Management Professional): Becoming a certified project management professional will demonstrate your dedication to the job and validate your knowledge, experience, and skills to complete projects successfully.
        • CCM (Certified Construction Manager): This certification shows hiring managers that you are qualified to manage costs and safely deliver construction projects on time.
        • OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration): Consider taking an OSHA construction safety class to demonstrate your knowledge of maintaining safety on construction sites.

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8 Tips For Writing A Project Manager Resume

Showcase Construction Project Highlights: Highlight successful construction projects, emphasizing your role, responsibilities, and positive outcomes.

Tailor Your Resume: Tailor your resume to each job you apply for by showcasing construction-specific skills like blueprint reading, budgeting, and risk management.

Quantify Achievements: Use metrics to quantify the impact of your construction projects and demonstrate your contributions to previous employers.

Use Keywords from the Job Description: Integrate construction-related keywords from job descriptions to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Demonstrate Construction Leadership: Emphasize your leadership in construction project management, showcasing successful team management and project delivery.

Highlight Construction Planning Expertise: Showcase your construction planning proficiency, emphasizing your project scheduling and coordination role.

Incorporate Construction Management Tools and Software: Highlight your proficiency in construction management tools, project scheduling software, and other relevant technologies.

Proofread Carefully: Demonstrate your attention to detail by checking your resume carefully for typos and grammatical errors. Even a small mistake can make a poor first impression.