With enough account management experience to up your job search game, you understand that an entry-level CV won’t cut it any more, even with some content updates. At this pivotal career juncture, you need a senior account manager CV that does justice to your finesse in keeping bosses and clients equally happy.
Look no further for helpful tips and tools. Resume.io’s job search resources include a growing number of occupation-specific CV examples and writing guides. This guide, paired with an adaptable senior account manager CV example, is geared to professionals like yourself who are ready to seize a next-level opportunity. Topics we’ll cover:
- What does a senior account manager do?
- How to write a senior account manager CV — structure, format, and other basics
- Hitting the mark in each CV section — header, summary, employment history, skills, and education
- CV layout and design pro tips.
What does a senior account manager do?
Account managers are the face and voice of sought-after products and services spanning myriad deliverables and industries. Their in-depth knowledge is essential from both out-front and behind-the-scenes perspectives, from policy details, contract fine print, and budget constraints to market trends and competitive strategies.
At the intersection of employer and client needs, account managers deftly straddle the dual roles of keeping both sides happy on a two-way mutual interest highway. At every turn, there are satisfaction management hurdles to navigate — getting things done right and on time, the first time, to meet or exceed customer expectations.
With the need to ensure bosses and clients are not just heard, but understood, the bar could not be set any higher for communication effectiveness … that is, unless you’re a senior account manager. Then there’s another layer of responsibility in representing your employer while nurturing client relationships.
How to write a senior account manager CV
Whether you’re reworking an existing CV or back to the drawing board creating a new one, there’s no need to fear blank screen syndrome. The basic framework for your CV is a given — it’s the same for all CVs. Seeing it in black and white can make the writing task seem less daunting because you’ve got an orderly step-by-step plan.
This is the structure of essential CV sections that hiring managers expect to see at first glance:
- CV header
- CV summary
- Employment history
- CV skills section
- Education section
As we take a closer look at what content belongs in each part of your CV, keep in mind that it should all add up to no more than a single page. Embracing a few general guidelines, every time you create a new version of your CV will help you determine not only what to include, but also what to leave out.
- Customise to optimise: Embrace the uniqueness of each senior account manager role you pursue. Let your CV reflect this understanding by catering to the specific hiring requirements and type of client accounts involved. A personalised touch that resonates with your prospective employer's needs is not just a good idea; consider it mandatory. Resist the temptation to reuse a generic document for multiple job applications. You can pretty much expect the same outcome as not sending a CV at all.
- Insights through research: Achieving a winning edge hinges on thorough research, starting with the posted job advert. Scrutinise it upfront to understand the job prerequisites and revisit it while writing your CV content. Beyond the ad listing specs, delve deeper into the hiring organisation's DNA. Analyse its online presence, peruse business publications, blogs, and social media platforms like LinkedIn.
- Leverage keywords: Your research should unveil essential keywords that belong in your CV. They help ensure your application won’t be rejected applicant tracking systems (ATS) that many employers use to sieve through online applications.
Need more inspiration? Curious about how other CVs look? Exploring Resume.io’s collection of CV examples and writing guides can give you some great ideas. Maybe start with these ones:
- Account manager CV example
- Customer service CV example
- Customer service manager CV example
- Sales CV sample
- Sales assistant CV sample
- Sales manager CV example
- Retail CV example
- Retail manager CV sample
- Marketing CV example
- Marketing manager CV example
- Business analyst CV sample
- Product manager CV example
Choosing the best CV format for a senior account manager
Recruiters care most about your employment history as a measure of qualifying you for the senior account manager role being filled. That’s why the traditional chronological CV format is recommended if your career trajectory tells a story of growth and development in progressive employee positions. This format gives hiring managers a clear overview of your relevant professional experience over time. It’s listed under dated employer headings in reverse order from your current or most recent job back to the earliest. Typically, this places your most relevant and advanced level of work experience ahead of the rest.
There are instances when it makes sense to emphasise transferable skills rather than workplaces. The functional resume format is useful for that purpose, typically when someone is new to the workforce, making a career change, or otherwise lacks directly relevant work experience. It can also be suitable for those working independently in consulting or freelance project roles. The hybrid (combination) resume format offers a way to highlight both your skills and employment history, with less emphasis on the latter.
CV header
Make a masterful and memorable first impression with a striking CV header. Besides setting your job application apart from the rest as a visual signature, it unifies your CV and cover letter if you apply matching header designs to both.
The header’s most important purpose is to draw attention to your identifying information, ensuring it gets noticed first and is easy to retrieve later when recruiters contact you for an interview. The header should display your name, occupation/job title, phone, email and geographic location. Be sure also to include your LinkedIn profile URL and any other professionally relevant social media links.
CV summary example
Your CV summary — sometimes called the profile or personal statement — should give employers a glimpse into your potential as a champion of mutually beneficial client relationships. Above all, convey how your commitment as senior account manager will brighten the hiring organisation’s future. Address your “why” by aligning its vision with your own aspirations. What makes you gravitate to this role? Where do your proven talents fit into the employer’s unwritten success story?
Make every word count in this tightly knit synopsis, where you’re allowed just a small amount of space to make a big impact. The details will come later … but won’t ever be seen if your readers aren’t wowed upfront here first. Recruiters are unfailingly busy and pressed for time. Unless the value proposition in your CV summary is a star-striker, you’ve lost them.
Below is a senior account manager CV summary example you can customise.
Dedicated, goal-oriented senior account manager with a proven track record of exceeding sales targets and maintaining high levels customer satisfaction. Expertise in identifying opportunities and delivering strategic solutions to increase account penetration. Persuasive communicator, able to advise customers on solutions and up-sell/cross-sell products.
Employment history sample
Impressing employers enough to read this far into your CV is huge! Now you must reward their attention while optimising the best shot you have at proving your unique worth. It means the content in your CV’s make-or-break employment history section must be selectively curated.
Look at the posted job specs again. Then ask yourself: of all my proudest achievement gems, which ones will reflect my most brilliant facets in this employer’s magnifying glass? On this basis, craft a handful of descriptive bullet points to place below your previous job role headings. Each should start with an action verb that’s tied to a positive outcome, illustrating not just what you did, but how well you did it.
Bypass generic job description duties and corporate jargon. Instead, spotlight specific initiatives taken and their impact. Focus on those that will make your next boss’s head turn: namely, improvements in client satisfaction, loyalty, retention, referrals, and resolutions. Whenever possible, substantiate these achievements with quantifiable data.
The following senior account manager employment history sample can be modified to suit your situation.
Senior Account Manager, Monarch Beauty, London
January 2016 - Present
- Manage a portfolio of key accounts, cultivate relationships with stakeholders, and ensure complete satisfaction.
- Closely monitor account performance against goals and identify opportunities to increase revenue year-on-year.
- Mentor and train junior account managers on company policies, best practices, and products/services.
Account Manager, Ballard Computing, London
September 2012 - December 2015
- Created and implemented account plans to increase penetration and expand service offerings.
- Increased revenue by 10% by uncovering customer needs and communicating benefits of products and services.
- Collaborated closely with cross-functional colleagues to maintain customer satisfaction and consistently meet SLAs.
CV skills example
Your proven proficiencies as an exceptional senior account manager candidate add up to a diverse mix of hard skills and soft skills. That’s what all hiring managers look for on anyone’s CV skills list, regardless of the position or profession. But of course, limited space means you must be fiercely selective in checking the top hiring priority boxes.
These tips can help you cherry-pick the skills that belong on your senior account manager CV.
- Those that the employer values most take top priority. Check back again with the ad post and make sure your CV list covers all the skills stipulated there.
- Name skills verbatim using ATS-busting keywords if possible.
- Think of game-changing skills that could set you apart from other contenders — again looking through the employer’s lens.
Check out our senior account manager CV sample for the skills section below.
- Account Management
- Communication and Presentation
- Renewal Negotiations
- Training & Mentoring
- Customer Relationship Management
- Customer Retention & Loyalty
- Team Leadership
- Salesforce CRM
Account Manager CV education example
Some senior account manager roles may have formal education requirements, while other employers might accept a relevant blend of experience and skills.
Whatever your learning path, trace it here in reverse chronological order from highest to lowest level, starting with college degrees and/or graduation from other postsecondary institutions. You should also include any other relevant training you’ve completed, on the job or on your own, including internships. Be sure to mention certifications and professional association memberships, especially with continued learning activities.
The education section from our senior account manager CV example below illustrates.
Bachelor of Business Management, University of London, London
September 2008 - June 2012
CV layout and design
The most visually engaging CV documents are a marriage of legibility and esthetics. Follow these reader-friendly priorities for a clean and polished appearance:
- An orderly, uncluttered layout features clearly labelled sections connected logically and balanced by ample white space.
- Use no more than two compatible font styles, one for body text and the other for headings.
- Use graphics and colour strategically and sparingly, only to offset never detract.
Don't fret if document design isn't your forte. Rely on Resume.io for a swift, hassle-free way to achieve high-quality results. Start by choosing a field-tested CV template from our extensive design collection. Then the easy-to-use CV builder tool makes it a snap to drop in your own replacement text.
Key takeaways for a senior account manager CV
- A resonant CV for this senior role adopts the perspective of both the employer and clients, reflecting your research-based insights.
- Custom-tailor your CV to the unique requirements of each job application, using our adaptable senior account manager CV example for guidance and inspiration.
- Incorporate ATS-friendly keywords where possible, as well as metrics to quantify your most impressive achievements as skills in action.
- Using an expert-designed layout template ensures your CV looks the part of the professional you are.
