IT Project Manager Resume: Overview
As an IT project manager, your primary responsibility is to oversee technology-based projects from inception to completion. You ensure all project goals are met on time and stakeholders are satisfied with the results. IT project managers work in a variety of industries and settings, including:
- Large corporations
- Technology startups
- Government agencies
- Healthcare organizations
- Financial institutions
Key skills for IT project managers include leadership, communication, problem-solving abilities, technical knowledge and experience in project management software. These qualifications help IT project managers efficiently lead teams and navigate challenges.
Need an outstanding resume to land your next IT project manager job? Explore our resume examples, professional templates and Resume Builder to create a winning IT project manager resume.
IT Project Manager Resume: Choose a Format
Choosing a resume format is the first step in creating a resume for an IT project manager role. The right format will showcase your strengths, depending on your work history, experience level and career goals.
IT project managers have three options when deciding on the right format: chronological, functional and combination resumes. Each format works a little differently, so let’s take a closer look!
Chronological resumes for IT project managers
A chronological resume format lists your IT project manager work experience in reverse chronological order. This format is ideal if you have a solid work history and want to highlight your career growth within the IT field. Providing a clear timeline of your job roles helps hiring managers easily see how your experience has developed over time. Chronological resumes are familiar to most employers and highly compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) used to screen resumes.
However, if you have employment gaps or are new to the industry, this format may not be the best choice because it emphasizes work history.
Functional resumes for IT project managers
The functional resume format focuses on your skills instead of your work history. It’s an excellent choice for someone with gaps in employment or transitioning into the IT project manager role from another career. This format can emphasize your technical skills, leadership abilities and project management competencies without tying those skills to a job title or timeline.
However, one downside is that employers might view this format skeptically because it doesn’t provide specific job experience. Functional resumes are also incompatible with most ATS, which might hurt your chances of getting your resume into the hands of a hiring manager.
Combination resumes for IT project managers
A combination resume format blends aspects of a chronological and functional resume. It lets you highlight your most relevant skills first, followed by a detailed work history. This format works well for IT project managers with relevant experience and a broad range of technical abilities. By balancing both skills and job history, it provides a comprehensive overview of your qualifications.
Choosing a resume format
When choosing a format, the chronological resume is often the safest option. This format lets you demonstrate your career progression, making it easy for employers to assess your qualifications and see how your skills have developed. Chronological resumes are also ATS-friendly, which can help your resume get through the initial screening process.
Even if you don’t have direct experience as an IT project manager, you can customize a chronological resume to highlight relevant skills and experiences from other roles. For example, suppose you’ve managed teams, overseen projects or handled budgets in any capacity. In that case, you can emphasize those responsibilities to show that you have the leadership and organizational skills needed for IT project management.
In addition to relevant experience, focus on technical proficiencies that align with the IT project manager role, like familiarity with project management software like Jira or knowledge of Agile methodologies. Customizing your resume this way allows you to draw connections between your past roles and the skills required for IT project management, even if your previous titles weren’t directly related to the position.
How to Write an IT Project Manager Resume
Writing an IT project manager resume is straightforward once you have chosen a template and format. This step-by-step resume-writing guide will help you make the most of each section.
First, create a resume outline that includes the following elements:
- Contact information
- Resume Summary or Objective
- Work History
- Skills
- Education
When you have covered these essential elements of an IT project manager resume, you can also consider some additional sections that will showcase your unique skills and qualifications.
Contact information
Start with the basics! Provide your name and contact information so potential employers can easily contact you. Include your full name, location, phone number, email and LinkedIn profile.
Here’s how this section might look on your IT project manager resume:
Karen Michaels
Austin, TX
(555) 555-5555
kmichaels@email.com
linkedin.com/in/karenmichaels
Attention to detail is crucial in IT, so check for typos or errors. Use a professional email address, and keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date to make a good impression on hiring managers.
Summary or objective
Your IT project manager resume should start with a resume summary or an objective statement. This section provides a brief introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and entices them to read more.
A resume summary briefly outlines your experience, skills and qualifications. Use it if you have worked in IT for some time and want to showcase your accomplishments and real-world experience.
For example, a resume summary for an IT project manager resume might say:
Results-driven IT project manager with over eight years of experience managing large-scale software development projects. Skilled in Agile methodology, team leadership and resource management. Successfully led projects with budgets exceeding $1 million — consistently delivering on time and under budget.
An objective statement is better suited for someone with less relevant job experience or seeking a career shift. It should emphasize what you want to achieve in IT project management and your passion for the job.
For example, an objective statement for an IT project manager resume might say:
Detail-oriented professional with strong organizational skills seeking an IT project manager role to apply project management experience in delivering technology solutions. Eager to lead teams, manage resources and drive project success in a dynamic environment.
Regardless of your option, tailor your introduction to each job application. Incorporating relevant keywords from the job posting helps your resume get noticed by ATS and hiring managers.
Work history
The work history section of your IT project manager resume showcases your relevant experience. List your previous jobs chronologically, starting with your most recent role and working backward. Include your job title, company name, location, and employment dates.
Then, beneath each job entry, use bullet points to highlight your key responsibilities and achievements. Begin each bullet with a strong action verb like “led,” “managed,” or “implemented” to showcase how you took the initiative and contributed to the organization’s success.
Quantify your accomplishments with numbers wherever possible to help employers understand your impact in each role. For example, instead of saying you “managed a team,” you could say, “led a cross-functional team of 10 to deliver a software implementation project ahead of schedule.” Focus on results — like completing projects under budget or reducing project timelines — to show that you’re not just doing the job but excelling at it.
Here’s an example of a job entry on an IT project manager’s resume:
IT Project Manager
ABC Tech Solutions, Dallas, TX
January 2018 – Present
- Managed a $2 million budget and completed projects 10% under cost and ahead of schedule.
- Implemented Agile project management processes, improving team efficiency by 20%.
- Communicated regularly with stakeholders to ensure alignment on project goals and timelines.
Skills
A dedicated skills section allows hiring managers to assess your abilities quickly. A well-rounded IT project manager’s resume should include a mix of hard and soft skills. Hard skills demonstrate your technical knowledge and ability to manage the logistics of a project, while soft skills highlight your leadership and communication abilities.
You’ll want to highlight your technical skills, such as proficiency in project management tools and methodologies and budget management. However, soft skills like communication and collaboration will demonstrate your ability to work well with others and lead a team.
To help you get started, here are the top hard and soft skills for an IT project manager:
Top 5 hard skills for IT project manager resumes
- Agile project management: Highlighting your expertise in Agile frameworks shows you can lead teams through iterative processes, keeping projects adaptable and efficient.
- Budget management: Including budget management as a skill demonstrates your ability to allocate resources effectively while keeping projects within financial constraints.
- Project management software (e.g., Jira, Microsoft Project): Proficiency in project management software is essential for organizing tasks, tracking progress, and collaborating with teams.
- Risk management: Demonstrating your ability to identify, assess and mitigate risks ensures employers that you can prevent delays or project failures, making you a reliable candidate for high-stakes projects.
- Data analysis: Showcasing your data analysis skills demonstrates that you can interpret project metrics, assess risks and track performance to ensure project success.
Top 5 soft skills for IT project manager resumes
- Leadership: As an IT project manager, your leadership skills are crucial for motivating and guiding teams toward success.
- Communication: Including communication as a skill shows that you can effectively relay project goals, updates and challenges, ensuring everyone is aligned.
- Problem-solving: Problem-solving skills indicate that you can think independently and develop strategies to keep the project on track.
- Time management: Highlighting your ability to manage time effectively shows employers that you can prioritize tasks and ensure projects stay on schedule.
- Adaptability: Including adaptability as a soft skill shows that you can adjust to new developments without losing focus on project goals.
Here’s an example of how your skills section might look on an IT project manager’s resume:
Skills
- Agile Project Management
- Budget Management
- Jira, Microsoft Project
- Risk Management
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-Solving
- Time Management
Education
Your educational background is essential for an IT project manager resume. Employers expect candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology or project management.
When listing your education, format it with the degree first, followed by the school and location. Including a graduation date is unnecessary because doing so can introduce age bias into the hiring process.
Here’s how to format the Education section of your IT project manager resume:
Education
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
You can also include relevant coursework or academic achievements in this section to showcase your qualifications. However, you may want to create a separately labeled section to draw attention to anything that differentiates you from other applicants.
Additional sections
Adding additional sections to your resume can give you an edge by showcasing more of your abilities and experience. These sections allow you to highlight any unique qualifications that set you apart from other candidates.
Here are some optional sections to consider:
- Certifications
- Languages
- Volunteer Experience
- Awards or Honors
- Special Projects
Top certifications for IT project managers
Certifications demonstrate that you’ve gone the extra mile to develop expertise in project management methodologies, tools and best practices.
- Project Management Professional (PMP): One of the most recognized certifications, PMP shows that you have experience managing complex projects and can apply best practices.
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM): This certification proves you can manage Scrum teams in an Agile environment.
- Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP): This certification is crucial for IT project managers who regularly use Agile frameworks.
- ITIL Foundation Certification: This certification demonstrates your ability to align IT services with the business’s needs and follow IT service management best practices.
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): This certification validates your understanding of information security practices for IT security-related projects
10 Tips for Writing an IT Project Manager Resume
- Tailor your resume to each job: Customizing your resume for each IT project manager role you apply to is essential. Carefully read the job description and identify keywords and phrases that describe the skills and experiences the employer seeks. Then, make sure those keywords appear naturally in your resume.
- Use action verbs: When listing your past job duties, start each bullet point with a strong action verb like “achieved,” “executed,” or “improved.” Action verbs help your accomplishments sound more dynamic and impactful. For example, instead of saying “responsible for managing a team,” you can say, “led a team of 15 developers in successfully implementing a new software system.” This phrasing immediately makes your contribution stand out and shows ownership of your work.
- Highlight project management tools: IT project managers rely on various tools to track progress, manage tasks and communicate with teams. Include any project management software you’ve used, like Jira, Trello or Microsoft Project. If you have certifications in these tools, that’s even better. Listing the tools you’re familiar with shows employers that you have the technical knowledge to oversee projects effectively. You might say, “Proficient in Jira for tracking project timelines and managing team workflows,” to demonstrate your competency.
- Quantify your achievements: Numbers help potential employers understand the scale of your previous successes. Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, quantify your achievements to give them more weight. For example, you could mention the size of the teams you’ve led, the budgets you’ve managed or how much you improved efficiency. Instead of saying “managed project timelines,” say “managed a $1 million project and delivered it 15% under budget.” Numbers make your accomplishments more concrete and impressive.
- Include certifications: Certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional) or Agile certifications add credibility to your resume. These credentials show you’ve gone beyond experience and mastered formal project management principles. Place your certifications in a dedicated section so they’re easy to find.
- Showcase leadership skills: One of the critical responsibilities of an IT project manager is leading teams, so make sure to highlight your leadership abilities. Talk about how you’ve managed, motivated or guided your teams toward project completion. Employers want to see you can inspire others and keep projects on track. For instance, you might write, “Led a cross-functional team of 20 in developing and deploying enterprise-level software, improving team productivity by 25%.”
- Emphasize communication skills: IT project managers are the bridge between technical teams and stakeholders, so strong communication skills are vital. In your resume, mention how you’ve successfully communicated project updates, risks or changes with clients and teams. For example, you could say, “Regularly communicate with stakeholders to align project goals and expectations, leading to a 95% client satisfaction rate.” This shows you are a technical expert and a skilled communicator.
- Mention relevant technical skills: As an IT project manager, you’ll be expected to understand technical concepts and communicate effectively with IT teams. List any technical skills related to project management, such as knowledge of software development processes, database management or programming languages. If you’ve used specific technologies mentioned in the job posting, include them in your resume. This shows employers you have the technical and managerial expertise to handle the role.
- Use a clean format: A well-organized resume is easier for hiring managers to read and helps your key qualifications stand out. Format your resume with clear section headings and consistent font sizes. Use bullet points to break up text and keep your work history concise. Avoid overloading the resume with too much information — focus on the most relevant details. A simple, clean format will make it easier for employers to see your qualifications at a glance and will be more ATS-friendly.
- Proofread thoroughly: Even a small typo can leave a bad impression, so make sure your resume is error-free. Take the time to carefully proofread your resume before sending it out. You can also use tools like spell-checkers or ask a friend to review it. Double-check dates, job titles and contact information to ensure everything is correct. A polished, error-free resume demonstrates attention to detail — a crucial trait for IT project managers.
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Using keywords from the job description will help your resume stand out to ATS and hiring managers.
A chronological resume can be customized to work well regardless of your experience level.
Highlighting a mix of hard and soft skills creates a comprehensive picture of your technical and interpersonal abilities.
Quantifying your achievements by mentioning project budgets, team sizes, and improvements in efficiency to show your impact in previous jobs.
Certifications like PMP or ScrumMaster can demonstrate your expertise in IT project management.
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FAQ
The most important skills for an IT project manager fall into two categories: technical (hard) and interpersonal (soft) skills. On the technical side, employers are looking for proficiency in project management methodologies like Agile, experience with risk management, and a strong understanding of tools like Jira or Microsoft Project. These skills help you plan, execute, and monitor projects efficiently.
However, don’t underestimate the importance of soft skills like leadership, communication, and collaboration. As an IT project manager, you must lead teams, communicate with stakeholders, and collaborate across departments to keep projects running smoothly. A successful IT project manager can balance the technical demands of the role and the interpersonal dynamics of leading a team.
Quantifying your achievements is one of the best ways to make your resume stand out. Instead of just listing your responsibilities, use numbers to show the impact of your work. For example, you could mention how you “led a team of 15 engineers” or “reduced project costs by 10%.”
These numbers help employers understand the scale of your work and the results you delivered. If you completed a project ahead of schedule, mention that too — for instance, “delivered a project four weeks ahead of schedule.” The key is to provide concrete examples that show how your leadership and skills had a measurable impact.
If you don’t have direct IT project management experience, don’t worry! You can still create a strong resume by focusing on transferable skills from other roles. For example, if you’ve managed teams, budgets, or projects in any capacity, you can highlight those valuable experiences.
Even if your previous roles weren’t specifically IT-related, skills like leadership, communication, problem-solving, and budgeting are all essential for an IT project manager. Also, if you’ve used project management software or methodologies like Agile or Scrum in your previous roles, mention those. The key is to show that you have the skills and mindset to manage IT projects, even if your previous experience comes from a different field.
Your IT project manager resume should be concise and to the point, typically one to two pages long. It’s vital to provide enough detail to showcase your experience without overwhelming the reader with too much information.
Focus on the most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that align with the job you’re applying for. If you’ve had a long career, it’s OK to briefly summarize older roles and highlight the more recent positions where you’ve gained direct experience. The goal is to present a clear, focused, and easy-to-read resume while conveying your expertise.
Use keywords directly from the job description to make your IT project manager resume ATS-friendly. Applicant tracking systems scan resumes for specific terms related to skills, experience, and certifications. For example, if the job listing mentions “Agile project management” or “Jira,” use those phrases naturally in your resume.
Additionally, avoid overly creative formats that might confuse the ATS — stick to a clean, simple layout with standard fonts and clear section headings. Bullet points are also helpful for making your resume easier to scan. Lastly, save your resume as a Word document or a plain PDF, as some ATS systems may not process more complex file types correctly.