A resume is the first impression you make on a potential employer. Even though they are only one part of the overall job application, they offer a glimpse into your personal qualities. Your resume must be presented in a professional tone that reflects your qualifications and experience clearly and concisely. Additionally, it should be meticulously crafted, paying attention to every detail to ensure a polished and professional appearance.
A recruiter or human resources official will review multiple applications to shortlist qualified candidates. Then, they will assess if you are a suitable candidate. Generally, any recruiter will want to see how your qualifications can be leveraged to help the company. The work experience and accomplishments you were able to achieve also matter. Also, recruiters want to see that you have experience working in a diverse group of companies or departments. They also want to be confident that you have the talent, determination, and leadership to perform well in your job.
This article has covered all the essential topics to help you in the process of writing a resume for a general manager job position. This article will help you understand the following:
- The essential components of a resume
- Essential tips to make your resume effective
- Formatting guidelines
Essential Components of a Resume for a General Manager
The layout of a resume should be simple yet effective and organized chronologically. Format your resume to list your education, experience, accomplishments, skills, and everything else necessary to stand out from the rest of the applicants.
The following are the essential components of a resume:
Choose an appropriate format
There are three formats for resumes. Your career trajectory as a whole and the number of years you have worked in the field will determine the format you use. If you have many years of experience, use the chronological resume format and its expansive employment record section. If you have little professional experience, use the combination resume format, which focuses on your skills and employment history. Finally, if you have no professional experience, use the functional resume format, which focuses on your work-specific skills, training, and education.
Remember, the content should be arranged from newest to oldest using the chronological resume format. However, it is important to remember that your current employment experience should be at the top of the work experience segment.
A well-written resume should contain an attractive yet professional header. The header should indicate your name, contact information, and job title. Also, the format of the contact details should be consistent throughout your resume. Including these details will let the recruiter identify the applicant. You must make sure that the information provided here is accurate in case the recruiter contacts you.
EXAMPLE
Kingsley Johnstone
General Manager
334-889-7765
kingsleyjohnstone@email.com
Manhattan, NY
tip
It is not a general practice to include a photo in your resume, especially if you are applying for a managerial position.
Provide a personal profile statement
A personal profile statement allows you to showcase your skills and introduce yourself as an individual. The first thing the employer will notice about this section is its headline. This hook leads the employer to read more about you, so it should be catchy and exciting.
A personal profile statement can be written in two ways:
Summary statement
A summary statement is a short description of yourself that you can use to introduce yourself. In the summary statement of your resume, you can briefly highlight essential skills, qualifications, or experience that can convince the hiring manager to call you for an interview. The summary statement is more suitable for those with more than five years of general manager experience.
EXAMPLE
Impeccable interpersonal skills and a great team player. Proven six years of experience in retail and apparel sales and management roles. Dedication to retail and fashion has earned me several promotions within the company.
Objective statement
An objective statement is a short statement demonstrating that you are fit for the job. Most job applications require you to include an objective statement. This is where you will talk about your career ambitions, top applicable skills, and how you can help the company. This statement is more suitable for entry-level managers.
EXAMPLE
Skilled and passionate in retail and apparel sales. Dedication in these fields has enabled me to be promoted within my company, and I am eager to start working and add to the company’s growth.
tip
Keep this section concise. The summary and objective statements should not exceed three to four sentences. If it is too long, recruiters may skip straight to the experience or skill sections, denying you an excellent opportunity to show what value you bring.
Add a work experience section
The work experience section is the second most crucial part of your resume. Presenting your employment record to the employer will almost always ensure success in the job opening you have applied for. Therefore, writing a substantial, organized, and structured work experience section is the best way to showcase your work experience.
How to list work experience
In this section, you should include all the relevant information, like your job titles, functions, tasks, responsibilities, company name, dates of employment, etc. The main emphasis of this section should be on the duties and responsibilities you carried out during each role. When listing your work experience, first list your current or most recent position. Then go back and list the positions in reverse chronological order. If it is your first time, you can include all the jobs relevant to your present position.
EXAMPLE
Work experience
General Manager
KEMS Retail
6/6/2017 – present
- Managed the sales force to reach goal targets
- Maintained product inventory by managing the store’s cash flow by ensuring stock rotation daily
- Conducted staff training and organized meetings with management to discuss recent sales activity trends.
tip
Follow the formula, Effort + Implementation = Results. This means highlighting your efforts to implement effective strategies that produce the desired results to enable a company to reach its goals. This is a perfect way to explain your role in any company.
Give details about your education
The educational section of your resume is the most exciting part for an employer, as it allows the employer to see what you have studied or learned, what you have achieved as an individual, and where. List all the relevant qualifications, like degrees and diplomas, professional certifications, and coursework undertaken while studying.
How to list your educational background in this section
The education section of a general manager’s CV should be written clearly and concisely, highlighting the highest level of education attained and any relevant certifications or training programs. It should start with the highest degree first and include the name of the institution, location, and year of graduation. Relevant coursework and academic honors can also be included. The section should be brief and to the point, avoiding irrelevant information such as high school information or GPA.
EXAMPLE
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), XYZ Univ-ersity, Chicago, IL, 2010
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, ABC University, New York, NY, 2007
- Certified Manager (CM), Institute of Certified Professional Managers, 2015
Highlight your skills
The skills section of a general manager’s CV should highlight the candidate’s extensive management expertise and leadership capabilities. This section should showcase the candidate’s ability to organize and manage people, projects, and resources to achieve organizational goals. Key skills that should be included in this section are strategic planning, financial management, budgeting, resource allocation, team building, performance management, and effective communication.
Additionally, the candidate should highlight their ability to identify and analyze problems and provide creative solutions to address them. They should also have experience building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and partners. A successful general manager should be results-oriented and able to motivate their team to achieve success. Finally, the candidate should be adaptable, flexible, and able to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
Which soft and technical skills can be added?
Soft skills are personality traits like social and emotional intelligence, which can be very important in the job market. In comparison, technical skills are the hard skills that need to be learned. Below are lists of soft and technical skills:
Soft skills
- Leadership and team management
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Time management and organizational skills
- Conflict resolution and negotiation skills
- Emotional intelligence and empathy
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Innovation and creativity
- Customer service and client relationship management.
Technical skills
- Project management software (e.g. Microsoft Project, Asana, Trello)
- Financial management tools (e.g. QuickBooks, SAP)
- Data analysis and reporting tools (e.g. Excel, Tableau)
- Customer relationship management (CRM) software (e.g. Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Human resources information systems (HRIS) and talent management software (e.g. Workday, SuccessFactors)
- Marketing automation software (e.g. Marketo, Pardot)
- Supply chain management and logistics software (e.g. SAP, Oracle)
- Business intelligence and analytics software (e.g. MicroStrategy, QlikView)
One of the first resume sections that hiring managers look at is the skills section, so always match your skills to the job description since it demonstrates what you are good at.
Create Additional Headings in Your Resume
When writing your resume, it is good to have a section where you can list those additional skills and experiences that you consider to be relevant to the job.
Below are some examples of additional headings:
Certifications
You might have received training and certifications during your work. You can list these under the “certifications” heading. The order in which you list your certifications is not essential.
Here is a sample list of certificates that you can mention in a general manager’s resume:
- Project Management Professional
- Salesforce Administrator
- CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model)
- AMA Business, Leadership, and Analytical Certifications
- Risk Management Professional Certificate
Achievements
If you have achievements or awards that you think would be relevant to an employer, you can list them in the additional headings section of your resume. This demonstrates that you are well-organized and achievement-oriented, which will help you get attention from potential employers. Quantify your achievements in terms of employees managed, annual profit earned (or increased), and percentage-based significant improvements.
EXAMPLE
Successfully implemented a cost-saving initiative that reduced operating expenses by 15% while maintaining or improving customer satisfaction levels for one year
Interests
- Hobbies or activities that can highlight relevant qualities or skills that would be beneficial to the role. For example, here are some interests that could be relevant:
- Leadership-related activities such as coaching a sports team, volunteering as a mentor, or organizing a charity event
- Networking events or industry-related conferences that demonstrate a commitment to staying current and engaged in your field
- Traveling or learning about other cultures can indicate adaptability, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity.
- Hobbies that involve problem-solving, such as playing chess or solving puzzles, can highlight your critical thinking skills.
- Creative pursuits such as writing, painting, or photography can indicate innovation and creativity.
- Team-oriented activities, such as team sports or participating in a community theater production, can showcase your ability to work collaboratively.
It is important to note that including an “Interests” section is optional, and it should only be included if it adds value to the CV. If there are no relevant hobbies or interests to highlight, it is perfectly fine to leave this section.
Languages
If you know a second language other than your native language and believe it is relevant to the position you are applying for, then it is advisable to include it as part of your skills section. Some human resource activities will require you to interact with a local community that speaks a different language than your company. Knowing that language, or being multilingual, can be extremely useful in this situation.
EXAMPLE
Fluent in English and Swahili, or
Full working proficiency in Japanese.
Free Templates: General Manager Resume
Some Essential Points to Remember
Below are some writing tips that you can use to make your resume more concise, practical, and professional:
Omit the use of personal pronouns
Personal pronouns should be avoided in a resume because a resume is a formal document that is meant to highlight the applicant’s qualifications and achievements clearly and concisely. Using personal pronouns such as “I,” “me,” or “my” can make the resume sound less professional and more subjective.
Moreover, a resume is a marketing tool that is intended to showcase the applicant’s strengths and accomplishments rather than their personal preferences or opinions. Using personal pronouns can distract from the focus on the applicant’s achievements and may make the resume appear less objective.
Include relevant keywords
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan and filter resumes, and these systems look for specific keywords to determine if a candidate is a good fit for the role.
Therefore, it is important to review the job description carefully and identify the relevant keywords that the employer is looking for. You can then incorporate these keywords into your CV, particularly in the skills and experience sections, to demonstrate that you have the required qualifications and experience.
Customize your resume for each job application
Customizing your resume for each job you are applying for is essential. Customize your CV to align with the requirements of each job application. This may involve adjusting the content, formatting, and order of sections to make your CV more relevant to the specific role.
Formatting Guidelines
Formatting is an important aspect of a CV as it can affect the readability and professionalism of the document. Here are some formatting guidelines for a CV:
Use a professional font
Use a professional and easy-to-read font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, with a font size between 10-12pt.
Organize the document
Organize the document into clear sections, such as contact information, professional summary, skills, experience, education, and interests.
Use bullet points
Use bullet points to break up long paragraphs and make the document easier to read.
Keep it concise
Limit the CV to 2 pages or less and avoid including irrelevant information.
Use white space effectively
Use white space effectively to make the document look organized and avoid clutter.
Use a consistent format
Use a consistent format throughout the document, such as bolding or underlining section headings or using the same bullet point style.
Save the document as a PDF
Save the document as a PDF to ensure that the formatting remains consistent across different devices and operating systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Remove any outdated or irrelevant experiences. Employers may also be confused if you use strange fonts, graphics, or colors in your resume. It is also best to avoid the “interests and hobbies” section unless you can demonstrate that your interests demonstrate an essential skill required for the job.
No. References are not mandatory. But if you do decide to include any, be sure to get your references’ approval before including their contact details.
No, personal information such as age, marital status, or religion should not be included in a general manager’s CV. The focus should be on professional qualifications and relevant experience
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