7 Project Manager CV examples 2023 + Guide [Land a top job]

Landing the most exciting and high-paid project manager jobs, requires an attractive project manager CV.

Here you’ll find 7 real-life project manager CV examples, followed by an in-depth guide on how to write your own interview-winning CV.

No matter what your industry or experience-level, this guide will arm you with everything you need to impress recruiters and bag the project manager job you’ve always wanted.

 

Contents

 

 

Project manager CV example

 

 

   

Top tips for writing a project manager CV

• Head your CV with an eye-catching headline that outlines the types of projects you manage, including size, monetary value and industry – think of it as an “elevator pitch”
• Throughout the CV, highlight quantified results you have achieved on projects, such as saving time and money, or improving a process
• Keep our CV under 2 pages and break text up as much as possible to ensure a quick and easy reading experience for busy recruiters.

 

Construction project manager CV

 

   

Top tips for writing a construction project manager CV

• Ensure that your CV is divided up into clear logical sections with bold headings, so that hiring managers can navigate it easily
• In your CV profile and throughout your work experience, be sure to highlight the areas of construction that you specialise in (e.g. residential, commercial, electrical etc.) and demonstrate your expertise
• Describe how your input has helped employers to deliver important construction deliverables such as getting buildings completed on time and meeting health and safety regulations

 

 

ERP project manager CV

 

   

Top tips for writing an ERP project manager CV

• Keep your CV brief and use a simple format and structure – this will make it easy for ERP hiring managers to find the info they need
• Research your target roles thoroughly and ensure you highlight your most in-demand skills in the top quarter of your CV – this will make a big impact when recruiters open your CV
• Highlight important metrics that you have contributed to, such as cost savings for clients, process improvement and successful delivery

 

Graduate project manager CV

 

 

   

Top tips for writing a graduate project manager CV

• To compensate for you lack of experience, be sure to write detailed descriptions of any Uni work placements, projects or volunteer positions you have completed
• Decide on an industry you would like to enter, research it thoroughly and build your CV around your findings, to ensure you are including relevant info for your target employers
• Provide plenty of detail around core project management skills you learnt in your degree, such as planning, scheduling, organisation, and risk management

 

IT project manager CV

 

   

Top tips for writing an IT project manager CV

• Use your CV profile and core skills to provide a high-level overview of your IT expertise and the types of projects you deliver
• Focus your CV around the business benefits your IT projects and expertise deliver- e.g. A system implementation that saves your employer time and resources
• In your role descriptions, provide overview of your projects including metrics like size, monetary value and time scales

 

SAP project manager CV

 

   

Top tips for writing a SAP project manager CV

• Head your CV with an eye-catching profile that outline the types of SAP projects you manage, including size, monetary value and industry – try to capture recruiters’ attention in a few seconds
• Highlight quantified project results such as successful delivery metrics, user acceptance, process improvement and financial savings
• Break text up and use bullet points to provide an easy reading experience for busy recruiters and hiring managers

 

Technical project manager CV

 

How to write a project manager CV

Once you’ve checked out the above project manager CV examples for inspiration and guidance, it’s time to start writing your own interview-winning CV.

The following step-by-step will walk you through the process of researching, structuring and writing a CV that will get you noticed by recruiters and land you plenty of interviews with leading project management employers.

 

Guide overview

• Pick your project management niche
• Project manager skills
• Format & structure your CV
• CV profile
• Work experience 
• Qualifications
• Hobbies & interests

 

Pick your project management CV niche

For your CV to have maximum impact, you should give it a narrow focus to appeal solely to the employers you are trying to attract.

Too many candidates make the mistake of thinking that if they include a hugely broad range of skills in their CV, then they will attract everyone – this method is rarely successful.

If you make your CV too broad, you will not appear as an an expert in any particular field, which will weaken your CV’s effectiveness.

To give a non-work example of this: Say you were looking for really great steak for an evening meal and were presented with these two options:

 

• A steak house with only steaks on the menu

or

• A gastro-pub with a huge range of meals and 2 steaks on the menu

 

Which would you choose?

Probably the steak house because their offering focuses entirely on your main requirement. They do one thing and they do it well.

The same mindset is true of recruiters and hiring managers when they are looking to find a candidate. They will often have a very specific brief and they will want to hire somebody who matches it as closely as possible.

 

 

As a project manager, you may have worked across many different types of projects and multiple industries, so focusing your CV can sometimes be tricky – but try to give it as narrow focus as possible and remember that it’s OK to have multiple CVs that are targeted to different areas if need be.

Becoming a specialist in this way, is often the best route to landing the highest paying jobs.

For project managers, there are 2 levels of CV focus:

 

Specialism

This is the actual type of projects that you lead which could be anything from IT infrastructure or construction, to business change or client onboarding.

 

Industry

If you’ve worked predominantly or exclusively within one industry then it would be wise to add this as a second level of focus to your CV – although it’s not compulsory as many project managers work cross-industry.

This way you can give yourself a dedicated focus and even a professional title to build your CV around.

For example

• Investment banking systems implementation programme manager
• Pharma HR transformation project manager
• Retail digital marketing project manager
• Business change management consultant
• Consulting PMO manager

Once you’ve decided upon a focus for your CV, you can start doing your research.

 

 

Do some solid research

You wouldn’t start a project without fully understanding your client or stakeholders’ needs as it would likely lead to a disaster.

And you shouldn’t start writing your CV without understanding your target employers’ requirements for the same reason.

Many project managers write their CV based on what skills and experience they think are important. But this is a big mistake that will set you up to fail.

Before you start writing your CV, you need to know exactly what your target employers want from a candidate, so that you can fill your CV with compelling content and reduce or omit the less relevant details.

There are a number of ways to do this:

 

Hit the job boards

One of the easiest ways to find out which of your skills are most in demand is to browse through lots of relevant job adverts and make a list of the most frequently appearing requirements.

This will also give you an idea of the terminology expected by recruiters and which aspects of your work may not be so interesting to them.

 

Browse LinkedIn

A global people search for project managers on LinkedIn returns over 7 million results, so you should be able to find some inspiration there.

If you’re already on LinkedIn, (which you really should be as a project manager) then you will probably already have a solid network of project manager profiles to scan through. Focus on individuals who work in the types of role you want to work in and take note of the skills they include and how their profile is written.

If you’re not already on LinkedIn, then sign up and start connecting with colleagues.

 

Pick up the phone

It may seem a bit old fashioned, but speaking to recruiters is an excellent way to get a feel for which skills are in demand in the market.

So if you’ve got some recruitment contacts from previous job searches, give them a call, tell them you are on the market and ask what’s out there.

You might get some cold responses but if you can have a good chat with just one or two good recruiters, that’s all you need to get some insider knowledge on current market demands – and it’s also a great way to get yourself back on a few radars and build relationships.

 

 

Once you’ve done a decent amount of research, you will know exactly what skills and knowledge your target employers are looking for. Now you can start writing your project management CV with a huge head start over most other candidates on the market.

The infographic below shows some skills that are important for most project managers and should work as a good starting point – although your individual situation will have its own unique skills required.

 

Project manager skills

Project management requires a broad range of technical and interpersonal skills to deliver projects successfully.

Share this Image On Your Site

 

 

How to format and structure your Project manager CV

In this section, I will run through how to structure and format your CV to create a professional outlook and ensure your CV is easy to read.

I will not go into much detail on each section here, but just provide an overview of each one – the detail will come in the profile, roles and education chapters.

 

Overall format and structure

The main point to bear in mind when writing your CV is that it is the very first impression you will make on a potential employer, so it needs to look slick. It’s like your marketing material for your services or your shop window, so any mistakes or flaws in presentation will hurt your chances of landing interviews.

Secondly, recruiters and hiring managers are usually very short on time, so your formatting and structure must allow them to read your CV with ease and speed whilst highlighting the most important aspects.

This diagram gives a high level explanation of how to structure your CV.

Quick tip: To get a head start on creating your own interview-winning CV, use one of our professional CV templates.

 

 

CV length

I advise you to make your CV around 2 pages long but that is not a set-in-stone rule – it’s just a guideline to help you hold readers’ attention. Your CV will not be automatically rejected if you stray on to the third page a little.

Project managers (especially in the contract market) can often have long and varied career histories so sometimes it’s impossible to squeeze it all on to 2 pages. Try not to go onto the 4th though as it’s unlikely employers will want to read that far.

 

CV formatting

Simplicity is key when formatting your CV – there’s no need to complicate it. Just use a clean simple font and break the text up as much as possible to ensure the CV is easily read and navigated.

 

 

Writing your CV profile

Your CV profile is a short introductory paragraph that summarises your experience and the benefits of hiring you.

Sitting at the very top of your CV, the profile plays a very important role. It needs to grab readers’ attention and ensure they read the rest of your CV. If your profile doesn’t contain the information that relevant recruiters want to see, they may just shut your CV straight down and move onto the next one in their inbox.

You need to make your CV profile count.

The idea is to give readers a well-rounded summary of what you do and the benefits of employing you as a project manager. It needs to be short, sharp and punchy – delivering just enough information to entice the reader in and instantly make them think you could be the right candidate for the job.

As a project manager, your profile should ideally include some of the following details:

• Type of projects or programmes you lead
• Industries worked in
• Size and scale of projects (typical budgets, users affected, locations etc.)
• Impact of your projects
• Methodologies & tools
• Technology knowledge
• Specialisms within project management e.g. planning, leading workshops etc.

 

Here is an example of a typical project manager profile – try and keep yours around the same length and keep it very high level.

 

Do not write your reasons for applying to roles in your CV profile – save them for your cover letter.

See also: Project manager cover letter guide

 

Core skills

A core skills section is a very simple but effective section you can add to the bottom of your profile.

It’s essentially a bullet pointed list of attributes which ideally should relate directly to the requirements that your employers are looking for. Some good things to include would be methodologies, technical skills and specialisms.

Here is an example from a candidate applying for a digital project management role:

 

 

The effect is that each point jumps out of the page at the reader and shows them that you are a good fit for the role, just from glancing at your CV. This helps you to create that big instant impression that you need to get a response from your job applications.

You can also quickly switch these points around when applying for different roles in order to tailor your CV without spending too much time on each application.

 

Project manager CV work experience

Your role descriptions give you a great opportunity to showcase your skills and more importantly, describe the impact you make.

As a project manager, your CV needs to show employers the change that you have driven, and how you did it.

 

Role structures

How you structure each role will depend on which of the following 2 categories it falls into

i) Multi-project roles: Managing a number of successive projects over a long period of time (usually permanent roles)

ii) Single project roles: Manging a single project for the duration of entire the role (usually contract roles)

 

i) Structuring Multi-project roles

If you’ve managed several projects across the duration of one role, then you should head the role up with an outline that describes who you work for, where you sit within the organisation, the type of projects you are responsible for and how your ongoing work benefits your employer.

Then use bullet points to detail your activities, showing both input and output where possible.

 

 

See our professional CV templates

Then add a Key Projects and Achievements section to demonstrate the projects you have delivered during your role. Be selective about the projects you choose to include because adding too many projects may waste space and adding projects that are irrelevant to the jobs you are applying to will not be of any value.

If you are running short on space, only include the most relevant and impressive projects.

 

 

ii) Structuring Single project roles

If the role involved the delivery of just one project from start to finish (such as a contract role) then head the description up with an outline that describes the employer and high level overview of the project you were responsible for.

 

 

Then detail your responsibilities in short sharp bullet points and try to demonstrate the impact of your actions where possible.

Round the role off by including some major achievements made on the project.

See our best CV templates for more examples of role structures.

 

Role content

The content of role descriptions will obviously vary depending on each candidate and role, but broadly speaking you need to show how your own personal actions have driven the project forward. Be careful not to talk about the overall movements of the project without making it clear what your contributions were.

So daily/weekly tasks such as planning, reporting, leading workshops etc. need to be described in a way that shows how you interact with colleagues and stakeholders whilst driving the project towards completion.

Quick tip: If you struggle to write professionally, or English isn’t your first language, I would recommend using our partner’s CV builder- It highlights your mistakes and provides suggestions for corrections.

 

The importance of numbers

Metrics are very valuable in project management so they should feature heavily in your CV.

Throughout your CV and especially in your role descriptions, numbers are an extremely helpful tool for demonstrating how much impact you have made.

When a recruiter or hiring manager reads your CV, providing them with some solid facts and figures allows them to quantify your value and benchmark you against other candidates.

For example, you may want to include stats like:

 

• Size of budget managed
• Number of people/teams led
• Costs saved
• Revenue generated
• Number of locations (e.g. global rollout for 10 offices)
• Number of people affected by project
• Time saved

 

Businesses are very interested in these types of figures and including them shows employers exactly what sort of return on investment they can expect from employing you.

 

Education and qualifications

Generally speaking your education should be listed at the bottom of your CV (especially if you are an experienced candidate) – however, you should mention important qualifications at the top of your CV, in your profile and core skills section to ensure they are noticed.

So, what are the most important qualifications for a project manager’s CV?

 

 

Project manager qualifications

Certifications play an important role in your project management CV, and provide an excellent method of proving your competence to would-be employers.

As somebody who has recruited extensively within project management myself, I’ll walk you through the qualifications that really carry clout in the industry, and will help you to land better roles.

 

Prince2

Prince2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is the most widely recognised and sought-after project management certification in the UK, Europe and Australia.

Prince2 provides a high-level framework for project delivery using a structured approach with defined plans and stages.

Not only does it look great on your CV, it will also help you to become a better project manager.

 

So, what are the benefits of obtaining a Prince2 certification?

• Boost your CV – Prince2 is the most widely used project framework globally, so employers are always keen to hire project staff who have an in-depth understanding of it.

• Transition into new roles quickly – Prince2 provides a robust framework to help you deliver projects across all industries, so you can hit the ground running in any new role.

• There are no prerequisites – Unlike some other PM certifications, you don’t need to have any prior qualifications or experience to start an entry-level Prince2 training course

 

Prince2 Foundation or Prince2 Practitioner?

Prince2 offer 2 levels of certification – Foundation and Practitioner

Broadly speaking, Foundation is the entry-level qualification, and practitioner is the more advanced training.

This table gives an overview of the differences between the two.

 

 

You must hold Prince2 Foundation before you are able to enrol on Practitioner training.

 

Do you need Prince2?

In my opinion, Prince2 certification is vital for a project manager’s CV, because employers love to see it, and recruiters are trained to look for it.

If you don’t have Prince2, and you’re competing for roles with candidates of similar experience who do have the certification – you’re putting yourself at a big disadvantage.

Simply put; having Prince2 on your CV will open more doors for you and allow you to earn more money.

 

 

How to obtain Prince2 qualifications

Becoming Prince2 certified requires a short period of training, followed by an exam which you must pass.

Prince2 courses can be taken via numerous training providers and learning can be done through online materials, online lessons, or even classroom sessions.

The exams can also be carried out online or in classrooms.

Most people can complete the training within a matter of weeks – but it will of course depend on your other commitments.

 

Other project management qualifications

Whilst Prince2 is the largely considered to be the most essential qualification for project managers cross-industry in the UK, Europe and Australia – there are some other globally recognised accreditations to consider.

 

PMP (Project Management Professional) – More widely recognised outside of Europe and considered by some to be a step up from Prince2 – PMP certifies your ability as a project manager as opposed to teaching you a framework like Prince2. You must have several thousand hours of project experience and some formal qualifications before you can enrol on a PMP course.

Agile – Used predominantly within the software industry, The Agile framework is designed to manage projects that deliver development of products or services.

 

 

Interest and hobbies

I’ve personally never seen a candidate’s interests and hobbies have any affect (positive or negative) on their application for a project manager role, so it’s entirely up to you as to whether you include them or not.

If you do choose to include them, keep it brief and focus on constructive or impressive achievements such as organising charity fund raisers or running marathons.

 

Hopefully, this guide and example CV has given you a good idea of how to write you own project management CV that will allow you to quickly communicate your value to recruiters.

Once you’ve perfected your CV, work tirelessly to market yourself and ensure you land the best offer you can achieve.

You can also check out our business analyst CV example.