Auction House Manager Resume Example & Writing Guide

You’re an auction house manager contemplating your next career move. You’re in the right place to get started creating an auction house manager resume that offers the top bid. Because your job requires you to oversee all aspects and operations of an Auction House, you must organize your resume well and be able to demonstrate to hiring managers all the skills necessary to be a great manager. 

You’re ready to pursue your next position and are looking to create a resume that will bring the gavel down on your next full-time job. Resume.io’s resume maker, free resume templates, and this guide will help you create a standout resume that:

• Summarizes your impressive career in your resume profile
• Uses your employment history to create a story of growth
• Highlights your highest level skills
• Looks as good as it sounds via solid and elegant formatting.

Keep reading for detailed descriptions of each section and how to optimize them.

What does an auction house manager do?

Auction house managers oversee all the operations and employees within an auction house. Those duties include meeting with sellers to discuss the format and terms for the auction as well as the timeline. Once an auction is held, auction house managers document all bids and sales.

Managers also delegate tasks to the auction house team and are responsible for the finances and marketing of the auction house.

How to write an auction house manager resume

Before beginning the process of writing an auction house manager resume, you need to know its components. Your CV should contain the following sections:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Choosing the best resume format for an auction house manager 

Barring specific circumstances, an auction house manager resume should follow the reverse chronological order format in which you list your most recent position and work your way back. If you’re new to the field or have a long and varied work history, you may take a look at the hybrid or alternate formats we suggest.

The functional resume format works best for professionals with highly technical or niche skills. This may fit you if you have very specialized and deep knowledge in appraising niche items, because it reserves the most space for your skills instead of your work experience.

In most cases, however, we recommend you stick with reverse chronological order.

Resume summary example

The summary (also known as a profile) of your auction house manager resume is your chance to inject some creativity into your resume. You have 3-5 sentences to describe your greatest achievements, management style, and professional personality. Here you should highlight your biggest success. 

You will go into more detail in your employment history section (and you can add more into your cover letter, which should complement your resume), but here you should be telling recruiters why you are the best person for the job. That means not just telling what you have done, but what you will be able to do in the job for which they are hiring. 

Mention one or two highlights of your work experience, focusing on the skills in which you excel. If you are already in a manager job, discuss the value you have brought to your current position. If you are looking to move up to a management position, show that you have already performed some of the tasks named in the job listing.

You may want to complete this section last, as it should sum up the information you present in the rest of your resume.

If you want more inspiration for your summary section after reading the resume sample below,  see our related retail resume examples, such as the retail manager resume sample, art gallery manager resume example, or antique dealer resume sample.

Employment history sample

We like to think of this as the story of your career, not a listing of your previous and current job. As such, you should be thinking in terms of upward mobility when you create the employment history section of your auction house manager resume. 

Perhaps you started out as an auctioneer, auction coordinator, or as a customer relations clerk in an auction house. Your task is to show how you have learned and grown through your years of experience.

Each bullet point under each job title should present a different skill. You need to clearly demonstrate a candidate’s ability to manage operations and employees in an auction house, but you must also be knowledgeable about different types of art, and also be able to research things they are unfamiliar with. 

Resume Education Example

Most employees at auction houses have at least bachelor’s degrees in art history or fine arts. In the education section of your auction house resume, you will simply list any degrees you have earned. 

Having a degree in a second language is also desirable. Many auction house managers also have master’s degrees in some area of art. You may also have taken classes, or minored, in accounting or another business topic that will help you in your career as a manager. 

This section should  also list all certifications and classes that are relevant to auction-house work. Any honors or distinctions should be noted here as well. If you hold a degree higher than a bachelor’s degree, you may leave out your high school. 

Auction house manager CV skills example

The skill section of your auction house manager CV is a top-level overview of your abilities. Create a “master list” of all the skills you use in your jobs and choose carefully the ones you will list based on each position for which you apply. 

Do this by analyzing each job listing and using the exact keywords and phrases your prospective employer lists. Why the exact phrases? Because most companies use an Applicant Tracking System that ranks your resume based on an algorithm that includes mention of those terms. In addition, every job is unique, so your resume should reflect that.

This section should include a mix of all the different skills necessary to be an auction house manager. You must remain informed and educated about various types of art. If you have a niche expertise, list that here. When an object or piece of art is foreign to the auction house manager, you must research the object to successfully classify it. Auction house managers work to build positive relationships and partnerships with people, and to satisfy clientele. You must remain incredibly organized as your job involves a great deal of documentation. Social media skills may also be of value since part of your job may be marketing auction items. 

You may be responsible for establishing the reserves, document bids and sales, and process sales; delegating to your team; and overseeing all auction house operations. Those varied tasks require strong organizational skills, communication, research, and writing skills. Curate a list that includes a mix of all these different abilities.

Resume layout and design

Your resume should reflect your creative nature, but remember that it is a professional resume, so it must also be neat and legible. Try one of the resume templates in our Creative category to give you some flare while staying within resume design guidelines.

Here are some tips for design and formatting:

• Use no more than two fonts – preferably one serif and one sans serif.
• Make sure your contact information, job titles, and section headings are easy to find.
• You may choose to use a portrait since you will be representing the auction house, but get a professional photographer to take the picture.
• Have another set of eyes proofread before you send in that job application.

Key takeaways for an auction house manager resume

1. Auction house managers need a keen artistic eye as well as excellent management abilities.
2. The summary section of a resume gives you a few sentences to sell yourself and offer a glimpse of your professional style.
3. Pay careful attention to the layout and design of your auction house manager resume to maintain a professional image.
4. Use the online resume builder so you can focus on content instead of formatting.