“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”- Dorthy, The Wizard of Oz
Imagine this; you’ve just gotten your Project Management Certification after all the juggling of office work and homework from a grueling Online Project Management course you had joined, and it seems to have been finally worth it. Only it turns out you’ve landed in a dystopian novel where the world has stopped because a deadly virus is destroying the only way humans know how to live. The year is 2024, and this setting is unfortunately very real for a lot of us.
Moreover, there is a crisis emerging, people are losing their jobs, and unemployment levels are hitting all-time highs. The companies recruiting at this time are looking for the best of the best and what worked pre-COVID in terms of a good resume may not ever work again. Let’s see how you can showcase your skills in the best way possible to get that job!
5 Effective Project Management Resumes
#1: Make it Look Good
Did you know that on average recruiters only spend 6 seconds on any particular resume? (TheLadders).
Resumes should not be taken lightly. Sending the same resume to different companies with the same job title might seem like a rookie move but it’s surprisingly very common.
To get started, you need to get the basic outline of your resume looking professional and easy to read. Seems simple enough, right? But many professionals still struggle with the basics; let’s make sure you’re ahead of the curve!
A professional resume should look like one, no? There are many paid and free templates and tools available online to get the outline of your resume/CV ready. The ones that are a Google search away are great when you have no prior editing or relevant artistic skills. Even MS Word provides good samples to get you started.
We’ve made it easy for you, listed below 5 websites where you can get templates to make your professional-looking Resume/CV!
- Novoresume – Free on registration, very intuitive editing
- Zety – Free and available as a Word template
- Myperfectresume– Free for 14 days (trial)
- CoolfreeCV – Input your information, and the CV will be built for you, and it’s free!
- Cavna – Very attractive and easily editable. It’s free!
There are templates available in Word, Google Docs, and PDF editable versions you can choose according to your preference! Remember, one of the Cardinal rules of Resume-making is making sure the resume is short and sweet. If you have a lot of job experience and your previous CVs turned out to be
#2: Resume/CV Summary
Recruiters will, at any time, only view a CV for an average of 6 seconds. In 2024, the post-pandemic world will have many people trying to find a job, so it is safe to say that those 6 seconds are more crucial than ever.
A summary of your skills and experiences in 3-4 sentences will push the recruiter to read the rest of your resume.
The best way to frame your summary would be to mention your profession, biggest achievements, and top 1-2 skills. Your resume must stand out from the crowd, this summary is the only way to achieve that in the eyes of some recruiters.
The only way to stand out would be to tailor the summary to the company’s needs. Make sure relevant research about the company is done before drafting a resume, relying only on the job description may not help at all. Many people end up talking about what they’re looking for in a job, how they are keen to learn, and describe their character as an employee (dedicated, detail-oriented, experienced professional). Don’t tread in those waters, stick to facts and keep it short.
#3: Use the Right Format
Depending on the level of experience you have, making sure you give some attention to the format of your resume/CV is a must. There are many ways you can structure your content, but the trick is to give the most amount of information possible to the recruiter in one go without overdoing it.
Rather than listing the most used formats, we’ve listed the ones that work the most in terms of preference by the recruiters. Based on experience level, there are 3 ways you can structure your content:
1. Inverse Chronology
If you have a lot of experience in the Project Management field which happens to span many years and even many projects then using this format, to very conveniently and neatly display them on paper would be in your best interest.
Writing your experience from the most recent to the first one would allow the recruiters to accurately gauge your level of growth and skill set and how you arrived there at first glance, this would focus on the experience you have, which has a greater appeal.
Don’t try to explain the skills gained during your projects, as this would make your resume very bulky and unattractive.
2. Straight-forward
If you have a couple of years of work experience and a Project Management Certification under your belt, or if your experience within the world of project management isn’t very extensive, a straightforward list of all the experiences you have regarding work would be best.
It’s not recommended to make it obvious that you have less experience, so the previous method may not be the best way to format your resume. This format would highlight the skills you have more than the experience, playing to your advantage. Make sure to structure the points well and not overdo it with useless technical jargon. Double-talk is tedious enough to listen to in person, reading it would be much worse. Recruiters are human too, so cut the unnecessary explanations and stick to facts in this format.
3. Combination Format
If you have a reasonable amount of experience and would not necessarily be considered a rookie in the Project Management world, this format would be of best use.
It incorporates both experience and skill set into the resume. Using some technical jargon would be fine but being able to see the line between a teaspoon and an unwanted fistful of jargon, would be counted as having 2024 vision, and much appreciated by the person reading the resume/CV. Be sure to note down both your experience and the skills gained in inverse chronological order.
#4: Do Your Research
Before you start listing your experience and skills till kingdom comes, make sure it’s relevant to the Project Management job you’re applying for. Tailoring the content to the company’s needs will never hurt and will always appeal to the recruiter. Depending on what role you’d be taking on if you joined the company, the language in your CV should change. Keeping in mind the usual responsibilities that come with a particular title always helps in setting the tone for future discussions.
If you’re a candidate who has a Bachelor’s in Project management or the equivalent, the usual PM job titles that can be associated with it would be Junior/Assistant- Project Manager, Project Scheduler, Project Coordinator, or Project Manager. The roles and responsibilities attached to these titles vary from industry to industry, but there are similarities too.
Junior/Assistant Project Manager
Their primary objectives are fulfilled by being able to communicate with the teams set up, guiding them, and using Project Management skills to coordinate a project successfully. Identifying client needs accurately, and having dedicated action plans that cater to these needs, keeping in mind budget constraints is also a part of the role they have to play.
Most common responsibilities of a Junior/Assistant Project Manager:
- Facilitating collaboration among team members during the planning stage of any upcoming project
- Staying organized and mindful of project documents helps actively track project progress.
- Being able to recognize and evaluate challenges in a project and utilizing resources to overcome it
- Keeping tabs on Project spending and report on the Project Budget
- Helping to keep seamless communication between clients, employees, and vendors
- Reporting to the Project Manager on the progress of the report
Most basic skills of a Junior/ Assistant Project Manager:
- Communication: Not only is being able to converse essential but the latter half of communication- listening, is an even more vital skill that is much needed to be able to read and understand clients, vendors, and even team members.
- Organization: They are responsible for organizing the people who will be working on the teams, the planning for the project itself, and the budget. They need organizational skills as all these things come with strict deadlines.
- Budgeting: They usually oversee the client’s spending. They need to be able to plan and evaluate on the go and not miss any critical steps. They help the team to reach the financial requirements of the project.
- Problem-solving: Being able to gauge client needs and communicating with the team members has its own set of problems and figuring out the path of least resistance is a skill that is much needed.
Project Scheduler
The Project Scheduler is, for the majority of the time, responsible for designing, periodically revising, and coordinating project schedules. If your job title is of a project scheduler, then there are a few important skills and responsibilities you should pay special attention to when drafting your CV.
- Scheduling Skills: It’s probably apparent this particular skill, but recruiters focus on the reasoning more than anything. Make sure to write how you can set up a realistic schedule and stick to it also you can manage resources to keep the schedule on track and finally, see to the completion of the project.
- Budgeting Skills: Showing awareness of the importance of this skill is vital. Understanding how budgets ultimately fund and control projects is crucial for effective project management. If you have relevant experience utilizing this skill, it’s best to note it here.
- Strategy: If you can build compelling strategies, it would show that you have a mix of skills already such as foresight, the ability to analyze, and an innovative streak.
- Negotiation Skills: This job will need you to negotiate for resources, budget, and many other unavoidable issues that will invariably pop up during the project’s life.
- Communication: All understand its vital role, especially the Project Management Certificate holders, but few excel at it.
If you have a Master’s or the equivalent in Project Management, then the job roles and responsibilities will vary. Some common Job roles and their skills are noted below. A recruiter will appreciate these listed responsibilities and abilities.
Project Manager /Senior Project Manager
A Project Manager’s role in a team is that of a person who plans, procures the resources needed, and executes the project while Senior Project Managers lead teams that deliver projects spanning across business units. When writing the skills/responsibilities, make sure you give heavy emphasis on some of the more essential skills of a project manager as these skills are relevant in any industry, and are vital.
- Communication: You should be able to convey messages to clients, vendors, and team members as it is crucial for a project. To have a ready plan of action for achieving vision and goals, it’s essential to actively share them among stakeholders.
- Leadership: This skill is critical for project managers. Team members must actively motivate and encourage each other during rough project patches, acknowledging their humanity and collective responsibility.
- Organization: For the Project to be running as per schedule, the inner processes should run smoothly and in line with the goals set up by the team. A project manager should ensure this smoothness never loses its shine.
- Team Management: The skill of rallying the team and directing their efforts towards a common goal during tight deadlines is highly sought after.
- Risk Management: Mastering risk mitigation strategies is crucial as issues inevitably arise in any project throughout its lifecycle. Knowing which tool to use to reduce risks and analyze potential risks, especially in 2024 will become a much sought-after skill.
- Policy Knowledge: knowing the health, safety, environmental, and business best practices policy will help the Project Manager to ensure the smooth sailing of their project.
#5: Read other People’s Resume/CVs
It might seem like an unscrupulous thing to do, but these are tough times, and you need to know your competition to beat them. These are sights available where you can see all available resumes according to your job title. We have noted some down for you:
- Indeed.com – you can search job profiles skill-wise and make a note of all essential keywords they use to attract attention to their resume/CV.
- LiveCareer.com- Although this might feature resumes from America, it’s the right place to start or find a relevant sample CV.
- LinkedIn- searching for people who are actively also looking for a job might lead you to profiles that have their CVs attached.
This may seem a little sneaky, but it goes a long way when you’re trying to see what people are focusing on and you can understand the need of the hour from valid resumes well especially if you’ve been off the job market for a long time or if you’ve just joined. Make sure you add your two cents and display your resume on such platforms to attract active recruiters. Remember to include all keywords when entering into a digital resume.
“You know what they say, brother – luck is where opportunity meets preparation.” -Eddie Murphy, Rudy
If you manage to incorporate each tip mentioned here into your CV, the chances of a recruiter noticing you will surely increase. A nicely formatted and structured CV never goes unnoticed. Best of luck!
