IT Project Manager Resume Example & Writing Guide

This is an exciting time to work in the field of IT. As an IT project manager, you’re at the forefront of a rapidly changing industry that’s becoming exponentially important in everyday life. Although the rise of remote positions may have modified your workflow, you’re still an essential part in making sure employers have the services, programs and processing power to make their businesses function. 

Although IT manager jobs are plentiful, they can also be competitive. Employers want to know you have the years of experience and technical expertise to troubleshoot a variety of problems that may arise. As a manager, you’ll also need to be adept at organizing your team and hiring new employees when needed.

So how can you convey all these skills to a hiring manager who only has a limited amount of time to review your application? 

This IT project manager resume example, along with our adaptable IT project manager resume sample, is designed to help you highlight your strengths and stand out from the competition. 

Here’s what we’ll cover in the chapters to come:

• Your objectives when writing a IT manager resume in today’s industry
• The most important sections to convey your knowledge and accomplishments
• How to avoid getting filtered out by automated resume scanners
• The best format for an IT project manager resume.

What does an IT project manager do?

An IT project manager is responsible for the implementation of various projects related to a company’s information systems. In reality, that can mean many different jobs rolled into one. Here are just a few of an IT project manager’s duties:

• Evaluate current IT systems and plan for updates or replacements
• Draft budgets for proposed IT changes and advocate for them to higher-ups
• Manage the day-day activities of a team of IT professionals
• Determine long-term and short-term goals for the company’s IT needs
• Use company strategy and objectives to assist in decision making
• Communicate with vendors to secure needed programs or hardware

How to write an IT project manager resume

A job as an IT project manager is just as much about information technology as it is about management. Your resume should balance soft skills like communication with your knowledge of the software and programs you’ll be implementing in the company.

If you are planning to advance from a lower level IT position to a manager role, you’ll also need to be ready for a shift in your day-to-day duties. IT project managers are responsible for creating budgets, planning for upgrades, and advocating for their department to upper level execs. Your resume is the perfect place to highlight any experience you have with leadership or management to help show how you’re ready to take on a more challenging position.

A great IT project manager resume sample should contain certain elements a hiring manager is looking for. In the following chapters, we’ll discuss how to write each of these sections:

• A summary that makes you stand out and encourages a hiring manager to keep reading
• An employment history section that shows you are prepared for the position
• An education section with the right qualifications
• A skills section that summarizes your top abilities

Don’t forget that the hiring manager may not be an IT expert. While your resume should certainly convey a knowledge of the field, try not to weigh down your application with too much jargon or technical terms which could throw off someone who doesn’t understand their significance.

Job outlook for IT project management

The great news is that IT project managers are in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this field to grow by 10 percent over the coming decade – that’s much faster than average for other fields. Much of this increase is driven by the shift from traditional business operations to digitized systems. Companies will also need more cybersecurity professionals who can analyze security systems and make recommendations to improve them. 

IT project managers wear a lot of different hats. They are focused on products, services, people, budgets, and strategies all at once. Understanding changes in the field of project management, like working with remote teams or incorporating data-based approaches, will give you the best chance of creating a resume that meets a company’s needs.

IT project manager summary example: your pitch

The summary is one of the most important parts of an IT project manager resume example. Even though the job is a balance between hard and soft skills, the summary is one of the only places you’ll get to show off your professional personality.

The summary is the best place to make the case for yourself as the company’s next IT project manager. In 3-5 sentences, describe yourself, your most impressive accomplishments, and mention your most relevant skills for the position. If you already have a connection to the company or a very specific reason for applying, your summary is also the place to mention it.

Outsmarting the ATS

You may already be familiar with the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) incorporated into the majority of major online application portals, but that doesn’t mean your IT project manager resume is exempt. 

These algorithms scan your resume for keywords and rank them against the other candidates. Only the top-scoring candidates will be passed on to the hiring manager. While this process saves the HR team tons of time, it also means your meticulously-crafted resume can get filtered out before it’s even seen by human eyes. 

Luckily, just by tailoring your resume to the exact position you’re applying for, you’ve likely already included several important keywords. Make sure to read the job description thoroughly and take note of any skills or duties that are emphasized or repeated. Incorporate them into the appropriate sections of your resume using the exact language of the job description to increase your chances of making it to the hiring manager’s desk.

Here’s an adaptable summary from our IT project manager resume example:

Employment history example: learning through experience

The hiring manager scanning your IT project manager resume will be on the lookout for a strong employment history section. Your previous experiences are what proves you have the leadership experience for this management position. Or, if you’re hoping to advance from a lower level position, this section shows a hiring manager what relevant skills you’ve picked up along the way. 

Virtually all IT project manager resumes should follow the reverse chronological resume format. Start with your most recent position and work backwards until you’ve listed all relevant experiences of the past 10 years. Under each heading, create lists of up to five bullet points. Your bullet points are prime resume real estate where you can convey your accomplishments, duties and skills, choosing the most relevant examples based on the job posting.

Check out the employment history section from our IT project manager resume sample below.

Education example: a head start

The education section on an IT project manager resume doesn’t need to be long-winded but it should contain key pieces of information. Most IT project managers possess at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology. If that’s the case, you can leave off your high school education. If you’re within five years of college graduation, you may still choose to keep your GPA on your resume, as long as it is a 3.0 or above.

Here’s the education section from our IT project manager resume example:

Certifications

Any relevant training in software, cybersecurity, or IT can be added to a special certifications section with the name of the degree and date completed. If you only have one or two items, you could also roll this information into your education or skills section.

Skills example section: the relevant traits

While many of your duties and more nuanced skills can be rolled into the previous section, your skills section is the place to cut to the point. The bullet point nature of this section means it’s great for hard skills like computer programs and software. You should also use it for key soft skills mentioned in the job description, for example, leadership or team management.

Here’s an example of a skills section from our IT project manager resume sample:

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Choosing the correct resume format for an IT project manager 

The choice of the best CV format for a project manager depends on whether you have a rich employment history or robust skill list as your primary focus. Since most project managers are professionals oriented at helping companies solve organizational challenges, you will likely focus more on past employment. This means your logical choice of resume format will be the reverse chronological resume, meaning the work experience section will take up the bulk of your resume and define your resume format. Programmers and other tech specialists may focus more on skills, which may lead them to the functional resume format, but your greatest achievements will likely be in helping companies manage projects.

Furthermore, your resume format and resume design can quickly make or break your IT project manager resume’s success. An attractive visual presentation shows that you’re invested in the position and have a strong sense of professionalism. On the other hand, a disorganized resume format with spelling errors and no clear theme can give the impression your experience is hardly worth reading.

The resume format and design for an IT project manager resume doesn’t need to be complicated but it should be organized. Use common section headings like “Education” and “Skills” along with a good balance of white space to text. Clean lines can help draw the reader’s eye down the page or separate the different sections. Once again, refer to our resume example for IT project managers to get a good idea of the most common resume format for the role.

If you don’t have time to create a resume from scratch, a template might be what you need. These expertly-designed layouts allow you to plug in your personal information and move around the sections as you see fit. Check out resume templates collection for dozens of ideas.

Key takeaways

1. IT project manager jobs are plentiful but still competitive – maximize your chances of success with a great resume that shows off your strengths.
2. By tailoring your resume to each position, you can both increase your appeal to the hiring manager while also giving yourself better odds of passing the ATS.
3. The summary is the one place you’ll get to show off your professional personality. Use this section to make the best case for yourself.
4. HR managers will be especially interested in your previous IT experience. Make sure your bullet points show both the necessary hard and soft skills to move into a management role.
5. Your professional appearance counts for more than you might realize. Create a resume format or use our resume examples as a basis for your structure and formatting.