Project managers are an essential part of any successful business operation. While the role can vary widely from company to company, you can be sure that coordination and cooperation will be at the heart of everything you do. If you’re ready to take the leap into this exciting field, you’ll need a great entry level project management resume.
Luckily, Resume.io is here to help. With 300+ resume examples and writing guides, Resume.io is an expert resource for job seekers in all fields and at all stages of their careers! This resume guide, along with the corresponding resume example will cover the following topics:
An entry level project manager assists with the procurement, organization, management, and conclusion of various projects and tasks relating to the business operation. While specific responsibilities will vary depending on the industry and company, some of the main duties of entry level project managers may include:
While the need for project managers overall is expected to grow at about average pace, certain fields will experience increased demand for these positions. In particular, IT systems, construction, manufacturing, and healthcare should see an increased number of project management positions in the coming years.
*Source: BLS
The very first step in writing your entry level project management resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:
One common thread throughout various types of project management positions is the need for organization and attention to detail. Your resume is not only the place to give examples of these skills in action in your previous work, but also an opportunity to show these skills through clean writing and a strong layout. By following the structure above, you’ll be able to include all the elements hiring managers are looking for and communicate your professionalism and seriousness about the position.
Before starting to write, make sure to carefully read the job description and take note of any areas where your current experience closely overlaps with the needs of the role. You should also look for any specialized skills or duties that seem particularly important to the employer and address these needs throughout your resume.
We recommend the reverse chronological format as the best choice for entry level project management resumes. This structure focuses on the employment history section and gets its name from the fact that previous positions are listed from most recent (or current) to oldest, going back about 10 years or as many relevant roles as you have to show.
This is considered the “standard” format and the one that most hiring managers expect to see. While other formats exist, they are best suited for students or more independent workers. Project managers, even those applying for entry level positions, should focus on developing a great employment history section to increase their chances of landing the job.
The resume header is the section found at the top of the page that contains your name and job title along with basic contact information like phone number, email address, and a LinkedIn profile if you have it. For candidates applying in North America, a full street address is not necessary on your resume, nor is a professional headshot. You can find more inspiration for creating a great resume header on our project management resume sample.
The resume summary section is the first 3-5 sentences at the top of the page that introduce you as a candidate and share a glimpse of your strongest skills and most impressive experiences. The goal of the summary is to pique the hiring manager’s interest and encourage them to continue reading the rest of your resume. You can see how this is done on our adaptable entry level project management resume example below.
Efficient and well-organized Project Manager with hands-on experience contributing to project planning, scheduling and coordination. Strong grasp of project lifecycles and agile methodologies through academic projects and internships.
For more help creating a professional, effective summary, check out our related resume samples including our:
The employment history section will take up the bulk of your resume and will likely have the biggest impact on the hiring manager’s decision to contact you for an interview. Therefore, it is important to craft each entry with care. Start by listing your job title, the company name, dates worked, and location. Under each entry, add 4-5 bullet points that concisely describe your duties, skills used, and accomplishments in the role. See our adaptable resume sample below for more insight.
Project Management Intern at IntePros, New York, NY
June 2021 - August 2021
Administrative Assistant at Colombia University, New York, NY
September 2020 - May 2021
Project managers are privy to a lot of data and information about the scope and success of any given project. Make sure to include some of the most convincing numbers on your resume to show that you can successfully handle larger responsibilities and the impact you can have on the competition of a project.
There is more to the CV skills section that may first meet the eye. While this bullet point list of skills is important to the hiring manager, it is also a tool that can help ensure your resume passes the automated resume scanners in use at most large companies. Make sure to include skills from the job description in this section and keep a balance of hard skills (like software and budgeting) to soft skills (communication, coordination, etc.). Always list a skill using the employer’s exact language from the job description, as this is often what is used to program the resume scanning algorithm. See our adaptable resume example below.
Most entry level project management jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Therefore it is important to include this information in an education section to show that you meet the basic requirements for the job. List past degrees in reverse chronological order with the most one first. You should include the degree name, school name, location, and dates attended. As an entry-level candidate, your education may be your most important experience to date, so you may include one or two bullet points that expand on any achievements or leadership positions you held while in school. See our education resume sample for project managers below.
Bachelor of Business Administration, Baruch College, New York, NY
August 2018 - May 2022
The layout and design of your resume show that you are serious about the project manager position and are able to craft a professional and attractive document. General rules to follow include using consistent font sizing and styles throughout your resume and sticking with a neutral color scheme or just one professional color. You should also keep a balance between white space and text to avoid visual fatigue for the reader. An expertly designed resume template can make it easy to achieve a perfectly formatted document.