Managing Director Resume Example & Writing Guide

Managing directors can hold a variety of upper-level management jobs, depending on the company, the industry and the location, and in some cases they are the chief executive officers (CEOs). So how did they get these senior jobs and corner offices? Hint: It probably all started with an outstanding managing director resume.

In this writing guide we’ll explore the ins and outs of writing a resume for a senior management position, addressing the following:

• What does a managing director do?
• How to write a managing director resume
• The five components of a successful resume
• Choosing the best resume format

What does a managing director do?

A managing director oversees a company’s daily operations, directing all its resources to implement a strategic plan for growth. 

The word “CEO” (chief executive officer) is a U.S. innovation, but it describes a position that has often been called “managing director” elsewhere. At any company, managing directors are among the top brass, but their job duties and rank in the hierarchy will vary depending on the company.

How to write a managing director resume

Your managing director resume should convey the experience and professionalism that qualifies you for a senior position at the company you’re targeting. And it should be customized for each potential employer, so avoid sending the same copy-paste resume to all. 

A resume should generally be one page only, though two pages is considered acceptable for those with a lot of experience to cover. The resume should include these elements:

• Header
• Summary/profile
• Employment history
• Education
• Skills

The header is an attractively designed section at the top of the page that includes your name, address, phone number and email. See our managing director sample resume for more ideas on creating your own stand-out header.

Choosing the best resume format for a managing director

You don’t get to a management position without previous experience, so the reverse chronological structure is the way to go when it comes to choosing the best resume format for a managing director. This format focuses on the employment history section where you can add your relevant past positions and your duties and achievements in each of them.

While other resume formats exist, they are better suited for career-starters and those with highly-specialized technical experience. The reverse chronological format is your best choice since it is preferred by hiring managers and the automated resume scanners built into most online application portals.

Resume summary example

Your resume summary, also known as a profile, is a space below your header where you have free rein to describe yourself, your passions and your qualifications for this job in your own (carefully chosen words). Below you’ll find the summary from our managing director resume sample.

Employment history sample

As an applicant for a top management job, you surely have an extensive employment history to talk about. Bear in mind that you don’t have to list every position you’ve ever held, but you do need to cite work experience going back some 10 years or so, in which you list all the jobs you’ve held that are relevant to the one you’re seeking. Use bullets to highlight what you did at each job, as show in our resume sample below:

Managing director resume education example

In the education section, use reverse chronological order to list the degrees you’ve obtained, where you received them and when. Any honors, outstanding grades or special distinctions can also be mentioned here, as well as any certifications you hold in your field. If you have a postsecondary degree, it’s usually not considered necessary to list your high school. See our resume example section below:

CV skills example

Every CV (which is what a resume is called outside the U.S. and Canada) should have a list of skills that employers are looking for. Usually these are a mix of soft skills (people skills like communication and management) and hard skills (technical capabilities needed to do a job, like mastery of industry software). Here’s is the skills section from our adaptable resume sample:

Resume layout and design

A managing director resume with a poor layout and design is like a professional who shows up to the big presentation in sweatpants – the content within might be unchanged, but the speaker is no longer credible. 

Give yourself every chance of being taken seriously by putting in some effort into your layout and design. Make sure to keep a balance of white space to text and to use consistent font styles and sizes throughout the document. While a splash of color may be appropriate depending on the company tone, it’s best to err on the side of caution and opt for a neutral color palette.

Key takeaways

1. Try to hold your resume to one page, but even if you need two pages, make every word count.
2. Avoid sending a one-size-fits-all resume to all employers. Customize your CV for each one.
3. Make your resume look as good as it reads by using a professional designed resume template.

Now get busy shopping for suits. We’ll see you in the boardroom!