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Program Manager Resume Examples & Templates [+ Tips]
A program manager is the backbone of a company’s program productivity. Program manager’s duties entail articulating a programs’ strategy, enlisting team members, and setting numeric goals to achieve the long-term business objective for the corporate.
In comparison with a program manager, a project manager focuses on the operations and performances of different projects within a program. A project manager manages the budget, schedule, and resources to make sure projects are done on time and within budget.
Remember that the requirements of a program manager vary in different industries. That’s why an IT program manager resume should be different from an HR program manager resume or an education program manager resume. It’s significant to research the company and industry of the job before writing your resume.
Whether you are making a career change to program manager, or already a senior program manager seeking new job opportunities, take 5 minutes to read through the article, and learn everything about writing a program manager resume and cover letter!
You'll learn about:
How to make a great program manager resume?
To write a program manager resume that wows the recruiter, applicants should follow the 6 steps below.
Step 1: Understand the differences between a CV and a resume.
A program manager resume is different from a program manager CV.
- CV is the abbreviation of the Latin word “Curriculum Vitae,” and it means “course of life.” A program manager CV is a detailed document showing an applicant’s comprehensive background, including work experience, education background, research projects, and publications.
- In contrast, a program manager resume is shorter and more concise. It gives recruiters a brief overview of the candidate’s work background and achievements related to the job requirements.
Step 2: Choose the right resume format.
Read the 4 most used resume formats and choose the one that best fits your program manager resume.
- Chronological resume format
It lists the applicant’s work experience in reverse order. Most recruiters are fond of this format since it allows them to quickly scan through an applicant’s work history including previous job titles, responsibilities, and achievements.
This format is recommended to applicants with solid work experience.
- Functional resume format
It focuses on the applicant’s skills, strengths, and experience instead of work history to attract the attention of recruiters.
This format is recommended for entry-level program managers or job seekers having employment gaps.
- Hybrid/Combination resume format
It combines the strengths of chronological and functional resume formats. It lists down the skills and experience related to the job position one’s applying for in the first section, and shows the applicant’s work history in chronological order.
This format showcases both the candidate’s strengths and work experience for the opening job position.
- Targeted resume format
It refers to a customized format tailoring for specific opening positions. To write a targeted resume. you have to study the industry, company, and the opening position in advance to get a deep understanding of the job. Then, highlight your skills and experience that might be eye-catching for recruiters in the resume.
Even though a targeted resume requires extra time and effort for applicants to complete, it certainly increases your chance of standing out from competitors.
Step 3: Look up resume templates & resume examples online as references.
Chance favors the prepared mind. Before writing the resume, it is suggested to read some program manager resume examples to get the knack of resume writing. Cakeresume and Linkedin are popular platforms to search for program manager resume examples and templates.
Step 4: Tailor your resume for the job position.
Remember that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” program manager resume. Different recruiters value different skills and personalities based on the requirements of the opening position, and it’s easy for them to tell when an applicant sends a generic resume.
📝 Reminder: Research the industry, company, and description of the job position to tailor your program manager resume. Don’t sabotage any change to impress recruiters.
Step 5: Craft a cover letter.
A program manager cover letter is the first to come into recruiters’ sight when they receive application documents from an applicant. Hence, a cover letter is the key to create a good impression on the recruiters.
To write an eye-catching program manager cover letter, remember to briefly introduce yourself, explain your skills and experience that make you qualified for the job, and elaborate on how you could bring the best for the company.
Step 6: Proofread.
Proofreading prevents you from making embarrassing errors in the program manager resume. Give yourself at least one day to proofread your program manager resume before sending it out.
When proofreading the program manager resume, remember to check for common errors including spelling errors, grammatical errors, formatting errors, and layout errors. It is recommended to ask family members or friends to examine your program manager resume to avoid any mistakes.
Online resume builders like CakeResume, provide service in building a professional program manager CV/resume.
What to put on a resume for a program manager?
Read the 7 sections below to understand what makes a complete and impressive program manager resume.
1. Resume profile (personal information)
A program manager resume profile includes an applicant’s details like full name, Email address, address, and phone number. If you have personal websites or fan pages, don’t hesitate to put the links into your program manager resume. Seize every opportunity to attract the recruiters.
2. Resume headline
A program manager resume headline means a brief line summarizing the whole resume. It should be placed at the top of your resume, and you could use strong or numeric words to make a great impression on the employer.
IT Program Manager Resume Headline Examples:
- A data-driven and goal-oriented program manager with more than 3 years of experience in IT field
- An experienced program manager excels at developing a constructive relationship with business partners and launching high-quality IT programs.
3. Resume summary
A program manager resume summary is a brief statement summarizing an applicant’s strongest skills, achievements, or valuable experiences.
Program Manager Profile Summary Examples:
- Passionate education program manager with extensive experience in partner relationship management at ABC Inc.,established and maintained relationships with 7 business partners in 5 months.
- Data-driven marketing program manager with 6+ years of experience. Launched 30+ training programs and was responsible for budgeting, marketing, staffing, and content managing in the education field.
4. Resume objective
A program manager resume objective is generally 2-3 sentences telling an applicant’s goals and ambitions for the future career. It should be specific and relevant to the opening position.
Marketing Program Manager Resume Objective Examples:
- Organized and detail-oriented Marketing Program Manager aims to create branding, positioning, and marketing plans for overseas brands.
- Excels at working in a cross-functional team. Aim to utilize program management and problem-solving to bring the best to XYZ Inc.
5. Skills
A program manager skills resume section is a list showcasing the hard and soft skills of an applicant.
If you don’t have extensive work experience, and you’re writing an entry-level program manager resume, you could focus on highlighting your soft skills including leadership, conflict resolution, and communication to prove that you are a good leader to bring members together.
Also, you could list down different skills based on the industry and company you’re interested in. If you have yet figured out what program management skills to put on your resume, here are some program manager skills examples listed below for your reference.
“Skills” Section Example for a Non-Profit Program Manager Resume:
- Hard Skills:
- Partner Relationship Management
- Program Management
- Marketing Strategies
- Market Research
- Fundraising
- Soft Skills:
- Interpersonal Skills
- Time Management
- Leadership
- Problem-Solving
- Detail-Oriented
👍 Tip: If you’re writing a Google, Amazon, or Microsoft program manager resume, it might be better to list down hard skills like programming and cloud computing that are relevant to the cloud services industry.
6. Work experience
A program manager resume work experience section is a greatly important part. Write down your work experience including company names, job positions, responsibilities, achievements, start date, and end date.
Engineering Program Manager Resume Work Experience Examples:
- ABC Company | Senior Technical Program Manager
2021.05-2022.08
Led 12 core team members in developing the 1st and 2nd generation system for the ABC company’s DEF Program.
- DFG Company | IT Program Manage
1999.01-1999.12
Managed 13 projects , mapped out information technology strategies, and implemented disaster recovery procedures, resulted in $500K growth in revenue.
7. Education
A program manager resume education section shows an applicant’s educational background, including the college degree, majors, and the year of graduation. Some applicants would add GPA and minors in the resume as well, if they’re considered to be a plus in the program manager resume.
💡 Tip: For applicants who don’t have a college degree, you could list down online courses you’ve taken in your “educational background” section.
8. Additional information
A program manager resume additional information includes but is not limited to awards, references, certifications, projects, hobbies, or interests.
Hobbies and interests are not strongly suggested unless they are relevant to the position you’re applying for. For instance, if you’re writing an education program manager resume, you could list down “tutoring” to show your passion for education.
Tips for writing the best program manager resume
Read 6 useful resume writing tips below to get the knack of writing the best program manager resume.
#Tip 1: Customize the program manager resume for the job.
A customized program manager resume helps you stand out from others and shows recruiters how well-prepared you are for this job.
To customize the resume, you should have a clear understanding of the program manager job description.
💡 Research the job, company, and the industry first to finish your program manager resume.
#Tip 2: Use Keywords in your program manager resume.
Use keywords from the job description in the program manager resume to persuade the recruiter that you are qualified for the job.
Some most commonly used keywords in the program manager resume include “leadership,” “program management,” “budgeting,” “interpersonal skills” and so on.
🔍 Simply type in “program manager job description resume” or “program manager responsibilities resume” in Google Search to find inspiration.
#Tip 3: Quantify results in your program manager resume.
Instead of simply saying what skills you’re good at, try using numbers like rankings and percentages to showcase your achievements in the program manager resume.
For instance, if you’re writing a senior program manager resume, and you want to show your leadership experience, you could write “Led and trained 7 project managers and 41 departmental colleagues in areas of program management.”
#Tip 4: Choose an ATS-friendly resume format.
ATS refers to a system used by big companies to identify and parse unqualified resumes for open positions. It’s important to create an ATS-friendly program manager resume to get through the system.
📍 To write an ATS-friendly program manager resume, one should avoid images or charts that may be unreadable for the system. On top of that, a complex resume format may confuse the system. Remember to create a program manager resume in a neat and clean format.
#Tip 5: Adopt resume action words (verbs).
Action words are commonly-used in program manager resumes to highlight work experience and accomplishments. Select professional words like “organized” and “launched.”
🚫 Avoid overusing the generic and same action words like “did” and “made” in your program manager resume.
#Tip 6: Tailor the program manager resumes for different fields.
All industries and companies have different expectations for their program manager applicants. Hence, avoid a “one-size-fits-all” resume because it looks vague and insincere. Try to put industry experience and know-how in your program manager resume to showcase your understanding and preparation for this position.
💡 If you’re writing an operations program manager resume, it should focus on the field of operation. On the other hand, if you are preparing for a marketing program manager resume, you should show your knowledge in market analysis and marketing strategies.
How to write a cover letter for a program manager?
A well-designed program manager cover letter distinguishes you from other candidates. Read the 5 important parts below to write a competitive program manager cover letter.
1. Contact details
It involves an applicant’s full name, mobile number, and Email address.
If you have personal pages or websites like CakeResume and Medium, put the links in your program manager cover letter to catch the recruiter’s eye!
2. Introduction
It is placed in the first part of your program manager cover letter, and it includes greeting and telling recruiters the job position you’re applying for.
If you don’t know the name of recruiters, you could write “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern” in the greeting sentence.
3. Motivation (Intention to apply)
This part is to show your intention of applying for the job. It’s a great chance to show your know-how and understanding of the industry, company, and position in the program manager cover letter to amaze the recruiters.
4. Qualification
This part is to show why you are qualified for the job. You should write down work history including company name, job position, job duties, and performances. If you have limited work experience, you could introduce your projects or rewards to show your qualification.
📝 Remember to elaborate on how your past experiences make you qualified for the job and how you could bring the best to the company.
5. Closing
Remember 3 things while writing the closing part of a program manager cover letter.
- Thank the recruiter for reading your cover letter.
- Tell the recruiter if you have attached documents including resume and portfolio to the email message.
- Remember to send the program manager cover letter in a PDF file to preserve the formatting.
💡 Pro Tips:
- Remember to elaborate on how your past experiences make you qualified for the job and how you could bring the best to the company.
- Proofread your program manager cover letter before sending it out to avoid embarrassing or silly mistakes!
Program Manager Resume Sample
Nana Mi
Passionate and Goal-Oriented Marketing Program Manager
[email protected]
Phone: (123)-456-789
Address: New York City, NY, 00926
Professional Summary
With more than 3 years of experience in program management. Led a cross-functional team of 15 members to raise 15% of total sales lead in 8 months for ABC company.
Work Experience
KKCake Inc. | NYC
Marketing Program Manager
J11/2021 - 02/2023
- Led a cross-functional team of 9 members to plan and implement marketing strategies, increasing 30% of the website’s organic web traffic in 2 months.
-
Established and managed customer relationships.
AaBb Inc. | NYC
Marketing Project Cooperator
04/2022-11/2022
- Scheduled and led more than 50 meetings for 3 departments.
- Oversaw and reported project developments to PM using spreadsheet reports.
- Assisted PM in managing 7 IT projects and all projects were done on time and under budget.
Education
2017 - 2021, Bachelor of Science: Business Administration
Mars ABCD Graduates College, NYC
- Related Courses: Marketing, Business Administration
- GPA: 3.9/4
Skills
Hard skills
- Market Research
- Marketing Proposal
- Partner Relationship
- Program Management
Soft skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Time Management
Software
- Microsoft Office
- Photoshop
- Trello
--- Originally written by Naomi Lin ---
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