Business Manager Resume Example

Business Managers oversee the business’s operations and its employees. They are responsible for identifying opportunities and goals for the company and enacting policies to meet those goals. They also evaluate the company’s performances while ensuring employee and business productivity. 

In this article, we’ll discuss

1. Which format is right for your resume
2. How to write a resume summary 
3. Describing your work experience
4. Listing your skills
5. Including your education 
6. Naming your certifications
7. Choosing the right template

Business Manager Sample Resume 

Business Manager, Mattel Inc. 

• Assessed and identified new opportunities for growth in current and prospective markets, pitching “plus-sized Barbie” to fit the body acceptance movement
• Established the company’s financial, marketing, and employee satisfaction goals and objectives, exceeding all three by 10% on average 
• Recruited and trained 14 new employees
• Performed employee evaluations for 10 individuals on a quarterly basis to determine areas of improvement
• Designed business strategies, including SWOT plans, to meet the company goals
• Ensured the company had sufficient resources such as personnel, material, and equipment to fully and promptly perform its goals
• Developed a comprehensive company budget and performed quarterly budget analyses
• Ensured all company activities adhered to legal guidelines and policies and deferred to in-house legal counsel when necessary 
• Assessed overall company performance in terms of financials, marketing, and selling 
• Supervised 25 employees across 5 departments
• Organized employee trainings to fit new company diversity and multicultural policies
• Resolved employee issues in a prompt and fair manner
• Ensured the work facility was safe, free of security issues and in compliance with all government regulations
• Worked diligently with outside vendors to maintain necessary business supplies in light of the COVID supply shortage
• Maintained a good working relationship with executives and other managers

Business Manager, Starbucks

• Designed and implemented procedures, including the “star rewards” program to improve customer retention by 12% and profitability by 25%
• Ensured the franchise was on track to meet its financial goals by conducting quarterly budget analyses
• Reported to other executives and to the owner directly
• Directed staff of 25
• Approved employee’s monthly schedules, keeping their preferences and time-off needs in mind
• Motivated workers through gift card incentives and positive feedback
• Developed and implemented monthly budgets, adjusting as needed in light of supply shortages and increased materials costs
• Prepared financial reports for owner and Starbucks executives
• Updated job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities like barista training, reading professional publications, and participating in professional organizations like “Coffee Connoisseurs” 
• Recommended 3 new beverages to company executives based on customer feedback  
• Trained another Business Manager for a sister franchise
• Oversaw the building’s expansion to include a drive-thru window
• Hired, trained, and evaluated 10 new employees
• Launched a social media campaign that increased customer engagement with the franchise’s Instagram and Twitter by 12% and 32%, respectively

1. Choose the Right Format for a Business Manager Resume

The first step to drafting your resume is deciding which resume format to use. This depends on your career experience and skillset. 

You have 3 main options for your resume:

1. Reverse-Chronological -- this is the most commonly used resume format. With this structure, place your most recent jobs first, followed by the next most recent job, and ending with your oldest position. 

Tip: only include jobs relevant to the position to which you’re applying, so leave out any former jobs that don’t fit. Do include jobs like Spa Manager, Business Development Manager, or Business Analyst. These all show that you can lead others and that you are familiar with the administrative and executive duties expected of a manager.   

2. Functional -- this format is best for people who have been out of the workforce for a while, perhaps because they had to care for children or an elderly parent. This format will have headers like “Projects” and “Executive Leadership” with their respective skills listed in bullet points below. At the very end of the resume, include a brief snapshot of your work experience.  

Tip: Read our advice on How to Explain Employment Gaps on a Resume. 

3. Hybrid / Combination -- this format is a mix of both Functional and Reverse-Chronological. It provides more detailed work experience descriptions that would typically be seen in the latter, while still offering a bulleted list of skills.  

Tip: When in doubt, choose the Reverse-Chronological resume format. For more details, check out our guide on How to Write Your Resume in Reverse-Chronological Order. 

For a Business Manager, hiring managers want to glance at your resume and get a sense of the following:

• The years you’ve worked in the business industry 
• The kind of businesses you’ve worked for
• Your accomplishments and successes
• Your ability to lead and create reachable goals for the company 

The best format for a Business Manager is the Reverse-Chronological resume format. This is because it shows the trajectory of your career -- how you’ve grown professionally and expanded your work experience and knowledge base. Check out our advice on How to Show Your Job Promotions on a Resume for more details. 

 2. Write a Strong Business Manager Resume Summary

Did you know that, on average, only 10% of job applications result in interview invites?

While this is certainly an optional section, including a resume summary is one of the best ways to land an interview

But first --- what is a resume summary?

A resume summary is one or two sentences at the top of your paper that summarizes your entire resume. It’s the punch line that gets the resume reviewer wanting to know more.

For a Business Manager career, include the following points in your summary

• The amount of time you’ve worked as a Business Manager
• Any outstanding accomplishments or awards (if you have many then include 1-2)
• An adjective or two conveying your personality, such as “organized,” “driven” or “passionate” 

Here is an example of a bad resume summary: 

Business Manager with experience improving business profitability and client retention.   

This is a bad resume summary because it is incredibly vague. How did you improve profitability and client retention, and by how much? And this summary gives no indication of who you are as a person. 

Here is an example of a good resume summary: 

13+ years of managerial experience in the food and beverage and toy industries. Proven to increase profitability by 25% through implementation of rewards programs and keen detailed budget analyses. Passionate about employees and customers alike, implementing diversity trainings for the former and spearheading engaging social media campaigns for the latter.  

This is a good resume summary because it quantifies your accomplishments (more on that later) and details all you’ve done. 

For more information, checkout our guide on How to Write a Killer Resume Summary. Or, browse our Resume Summary Examples. 

3. Describe Your Work Experience as a Business Manager

The next step to drafting your resume is to list your work experience. This includes the name of your position (See: The Right Way to List Job Titles on a Resume), the name of the location at which you worked, and the length of time in which you worked. 

Your work experience should include the following:

• Company name
• Job title
• Years worked
• Location
• Job description

Be sure to use strong action verbs in each of your bullet points. Here are a few to get you started:

• Accomplished
• Analyzed
• Authorized 
• Budgeted 
• Created
• Developed
• Directed
• Documented 
• Ensured
• Established 
• Evaluated
• Implemented 
• Managed
• Motivated
• Negotiated 
• Oversaw
• Performed
• Prepared
• Prioritized 
• Processed
• Recruited
• Reported
• Scheduled 
• Supervised

Furthermore, write your resume experience in a way that anyone in your industry will understand. Don't use company-specific language.

For example, let’s say you worked at a place that called “cash flow” something like “the moolah.”  Not everyone is going to know what “moolah” means, so it’s best to stick with the common name of “cash flow” otherwise a hiring manager may not know what you’re talking about, and if the manager is confused, they’re more likely to throw out your resume and move onto the next.  

You should also quantify your resume whenever possible. This means adding a number -- such as a dollar amount or percentage -- to your accomplishments. Quantifying your resume gives the hiring manager a more concrete idea of your workplace performance. For example, say that you “supervised 14 employees,” “improved customer retention by 20% by implementing a new rewards system,” or “saved the business $30,000 by switching to a new, more streamlined POS software.”   

Tip: One way to quantify your resume is by listing your accomplishments and awards. These can be awards or accomplishments earned in your workplace (“Employee of the Year”) or given to you by your industry or a related organization. 

For more information on how to format your work experience, check out our guide on How to Describe Work Experience. 

Don’t have any work experience? We have a guide for Writing a Resume with No Work Experience!

4. List Your Skills

Skills show the hiring manager what you can do for the company -- without taking up too much space in the “work experience” part of your resume.

There are two types of skills -- soft and hard. “Soft” skills are those that are not quantifiable and are more indicative of your personality. Examples include leadership, problem-solving, and communication. In contrast, “hard” skills are those that are learned through formal education. Examples include computer technology, programming or foreign languages, and certifications.  

Business Managers need to have a solid set of both soft and hard skills. The soft skills will help you work with people, namely your employees and investors, while hard skills will help you manage the business and navigate the industry with its heavy competition.  

Here a few ideas of skills to include on your resume:

Relevant Soft Skills

• Writing
• Communication
• Leadership
• Mentoring
• Decision-Making Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Creativity 
• Time Management 

Relevant Hard Skills

• Knowledge of the latest business policies and regulations
• Analytical Thinking 
• Business Insight
• Performance management
• Project Management
• Coaching
• Business Knowledge
• Technical Leadership
• Technical Management
• D2C E-Commerce Solution
• Omnichannel Processes
• Customer Acquisition
• Social Media Branding
• Rapport Building

Tip: When completing this section on your resume, review the employers’ job requirements. Try to incorporate some of the language they use. For example, let’s say the job description states they need someone who can “conduct office meetings and come up with proactive strategies to improve productivity and employee morale.” Include some of these keywords by listing skills like “Leadership,” and “Communication.” 

If you want a more complete list of skills, read our guide on 100+ Key Skills for a Resume in 2021 with Examples for any Job.

5. Include an Education Section 

Business Managers need a Bachelor’s in business administration, business management, or another applicable major. Some positions may require that prospective managers have their MBA. Additionally, you will need 3-5 years of experience before you can be considered for this role. 

When writing your education section, be sure to include:

• The name of the school — e.g. “The University of Nebraska”
• The location of the school
• Your degree (associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree)
• Graduation year 
• Major field or department of study 
• Minor field or department of study (if applicable and relevant)
• GPA (If you're a student or graduates who held lower GPAs, this bit of information may be good to omit unless specifically requested by the employer)

Still uncertain on what to include in this section? Review our guide on How to List Education on Your Resume in 2021. 

6. Mention Certifications Relevant to the Job

Certifications show employers that you’re expanding on your skills and diversifying your experiences. Not only are you more knowledgeable, but you’re also more employable. 

You can either get business certifications directly through your university or through online programs. 

Certification programs include:

• Google eCommerce Analytics
• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
• Certified Business Process Associate, Professional, or Leader (CBPA)
• Association of International Product Marketing and Management Brand Manager (AIPMM)  
• American Management Association Certificate in Analytical Skills

For more information on certifications, check out our guide on How to Include Certifications on Your Resume the Right Way.

7. Pick the Right Template

Now it’s time for the fun part -- picking the aesthetics of your resume! 

Here at EasyResume, we offer several different templates. 

• Academic: these resumes are professionally structured with minimal aesthetics in order to provide a clear and concise glimpse of your experiences. This is best for current students or those looking to pursue a career in an academic field as a researcher or teacher. 
• Creative: these resumes are bold and colorful with eye-catching fonts to help you stand out from the crowd. This is best for those in creative fields like marketing and art. 
• Elegant: these resumes are contemporary and stylish in a way that highlights you and your experiences. This is best for those in fields that prefer austerity, such as the healthcare and finance industries. 
• Modern: these resumes have sleek designs that are fresh and bold with tasteful fonts and clean lines. This is best for individuals applying to startups or to companies with a young audience or product.
• Professional: these resumes have a clean, crisp look that incorporates only one or two accent colors. The focus is solely on the text, pulling the recruiter into your experiences and accomplishments. This is best for individuals applying to straight-laced companies that mandate a suit-and-tie dress code.  

Your resume template should reflect the job to which you’re applying. For a Business Manager career, try a Professional or Modern format, as these will showcase your abilities and skills in an aesthetic yet polished way. 

If you want to create your own template, read how with our Step-by-Step Guide on How to Create a Resume Template in Microsoft Word. 

8. Takeaways

We’ve done it! Almost. 

Now it’s time to get down to business -- actually creating the resume. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

• Research the job description to locate keywords
• Use a Reverse-Chronological resume layout
• Write your resume summary, including the amount of time you’ve worked in the industry, an adjective or two conveying your personality, and any outstanding awards or accomplishments 
• Include your education and relevant certifications
• Write your experience section in a way that any outsider could understand. Talk more about the how and why of your responsibilities. Quantify your results.
• Pick a resume template that fits the position to which you’re applying.

Start from our resume example to save time.

Good luck with the interview that is sure to come your way!