
How to Write a Resume According to Science in 2023
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
You can herd lions and get cross-functional teams to make things happen. But the hiring executive won’t know that ‘til you prove it. This program manager resume sample does that.
You’re up against it.
A program manager who hasn’t done the exact job the company needs will not get hired.
Why?
Program managers make $88K a year on average.
If the company hires wrong, it’ll cost them $26K to $38K.
But don’t worry—
With the right skills and keywords in your program manager resume, you’ll fit the job like a Jira project.
In this guide:
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Jennifer Satriano
Program Manager
Personal Info
Phone: 202-547-4264
E-mail: jenniferzsatriano@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/jenniferzsatriano
twitter.com/jenniferzsatriano
Summary
Productive Program Manager and PgMP with 6+ years of experience. Seeking to slash costs and raise quality at Young-Bunvalds Inc. At Exanential Global, led 15 cross-functional teams in global firm with $20B in revenue. Ensured 95% of projects were on-time and 98% were under budget.
Certifications
Experience
IT Program Manager
Exanential Global, Inc.
2015–2019
IT Project Manager
Aamodt-Bilz Manufacturing
2013–2015
IT Specialist
Aamodt-Bilz Manufacturing
2012–2013
Education
PgMP - Project Management Institute, 2013
BS Computer Science, Towson University
2008–2012
Conferences
Additional Activities
Hard Skills: Agile, Scrum, business process improvement, program scheduling, training, vendor management
Soft Skills: Leadership, analytical thinking, interpersonal skills, communication
Here’s how to write a program manager resume:
How can you get hired?
Answer: show you meet acceptance criteria at a glance.
The format of your resume is critical.
Use the reverse-chronological format so the hiring team can’t miss your relevant achievements.
Expert Hint: The average bad hire costs 30% of employee salary. To overcome company fears, craft the most professional-looking program manager resume you can.
You can convince them.
That is—
You could. If you had ten minutes.
You don’t.
You have about 7 seconds before they ditch you for the next applicant.
That’s why a resume for program manager jobs needs a resume summary or resume objective.
That’s a quick paragraph that makes them care.
Add:
Make it easy by writing it last.
These technical program manager resume examples outline the plan:
Interesting.
Both samples reference leadership and program scheduling. But—
One adds $20B, 15 teams, 95% on-time, and other telling metrics.
Do the same thing with an entry-level resume for program managers.
See this entry-level program manager resume sample:
This is key.
The second of those entry-level program manager assistant resume examples lists upgrading and developing.
The first shows proof.
Expert Hint: Program managers have a massive salary range from $57K–$127K. To hit the high end, your IT program manager resume must show you match the opening.
75% of resumes never reach a human.
To get past the hiring software, your resume for program manager jobs needs keywords.
But—
Use them the right way. Then when you do get to a person, you’ll turn heads.
In other words, target your resume.
To write a program manager job description for resumes:
Follow the first of these senior program manager resume samples:
Pretend the job ad wants these program management skills: program scheduling, developing custom software, employee training.
Experience
IT Program Manager
Exanential Global, Inc.
2015–2019
Wow.
The first of those IT program manager resume examples adds keywords like schedule, develop, and train.
But it also uses 15, $20B, 95%, and other numbers to show size.
Now—
What about an entry-level resume?
Pretend the job ad wants these program manager skills: leadership, upgrading workstations, developing custom ERP systems.
If you’re entry-level, you’ve never been a program manager. But—
You’ve used the skills:
IT Project Manager
Aamodt-Bilz Manufacturing
2013–2015
That first sample shows you’ve done what they need.
Want to see it fail? Just take out the key skills and numbers.
What program manager skills work best? Use this list:
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
Supervising Programs | Interpersonal Skills |
Training | Communication |
Recruiting | Collaboration |
Program Scheduling | Problem Solving |
Agile & Scrum | Leadership |
Vendor Management | Empathy |
Project Management | Time Management |
Business Process Improvement | Analytical Thinking |
IT and Technical Skills | Critical Thinking |
Leading Cross-Functional Teams | Organization |
Expert Hint: You may need to show Gantt chart skills in your program manager resume. If the job ad mentions them, a quick Gantt training course can help.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
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Most program managers need at least a bachelor’s degree.
But your education resume section can’t be a dummy activity.
Add details to get the right attention.
This technical program manager resume sample shows how:
Education
Project Management Institute, 2013
BS Computer Science, Towson University
2008–2012
If the job ad wants skills in Agile, program scheduling, and IT, you’re in.
Go the extra mile.
To get hired, show you’re different in a good way.
Add a couple of these “extra” sections:
This sample resume for a non profit program manager earns the value:
Certifications
Conferences
Additional Activities
Additional Activities
One more thing—
Put key certifications like PgMP up top.
Expert Hint: Learn how to write a cover letter. Your resume for program manager jobs will get more TLC. Why? Most hiring executives do read those letters. Almost half require them.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Haven't written a cover letter yet? See these related guides:
Here’s how to write a program manager resume:
Got questions on how to write great resumes for program manager jobs? Not sure how to put program manager on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
You can stop searching—this is the ultimate collection of best resume tips that can help you succeed in 2023. These resume writing tips will help to impress hiring managers.
It's time to find your first job. Worry not, this guide will show you how to nail an entry-level or beginner resume and wow the hiring manager.