Why this resume works
- Quantifies accomplishments: By integrating measurable accomplishments such as a 15% sales increase and cost optimization, the applicant’s resume effectively showcases their impact and value.
- Uses action-oriented language: Using action verbs like “increased,” “optimized,” and “led” in job descriptions conveys initiative and effectiveness.
- Showcases career progression: The transition from business development manager to general manager within four years illustrates significant career growth and rising responsibilities.
More General Manager Resume Examples
See our general manager resume examples to learn how to showcase your leadership abilities, strategic planning skills, and operational expertise. These business operations resume samples will help you craft a resume that highlights your management strengths effectively.
Entry-Level General Manager
Why this resume works
- Effective use of keywords: Strategically integrating keywords like “strategic planning” and “cost optimization” aids in navigating applicant tracking systems (ATS) and standing out to hiring managers.
- Shows digital literacy: Highlighting computer skills through roles demanding financial analysis and project management indicates the applicant’s digital readiness for tech-driven business environments.
- Centers on academic background: The education section spotlights academic excellence with an MBA from Texas A&M University, emphasizing a solid foundation important for career progression.
Mid-Level General Manager
Why this resume works
- Points to measurable outcomes: By showcasing a consistent increase in revenue and significant cost savings, the applicant effectively conveys their ability to achieve impactful results in various managerial roles.
- Demonstrates language abilities: Language skills in Spanish, French, and German indicate the applicant’s ability to support international collaboration and foster cross-cultural communication.
- Displays technical expertise: Certified as a general manager and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, the applicant brings strong technical expertise important for optimizing business operations.
Experienced General Manager
Why this resume works
- Focuses on work history: By organizing their career path in a chronological format, the applicant effectively showcases many years of consistent growth and leadership in business roles.
- Showcases impressive accomplishments: The applicant highlights impressive accomplishments, such as boosting revenue by 25% annually, showcasing high-level strategic impact and senior management capabilities.
- Lists relevant certifications: Listing certifications like Certified Business Manager and Project Management Professional on the resume emphasizes the applicant’s dedication to expertise and continuous learning.
Related Resume Guides
Advice for Writing Your General Manager Resume
Discover our advice on how to write a resume for a general manager position and learn how to highlight your leadership skills, business acumen, and ability to drive success in any organization.
Highlight your most relevant skills
When applying for a general manager position, listing relevant skills is important because it shows employers you have what it takes to lead and manage effectively. A well-crafted skills section on your resume can make you stand out by highlighting both technical and interpersonal skills.
Technical skills might include budget management or strategic planning, while interpersonal skills could be leadership or communication. Balancing these skills helps show that you’re not only good at managing tasks but also great at working with people.
Integrating key skills into your work experience section can make an even stronger impact. For instance, if you mention “team leadership” as a skill, back it up with an example of when you successfully led a team project in your previous job. This approach gives employers concrete evidence of how you’ve used your skills in real-life situations.
For a general manager role, selecting a resume format that highlights leadership experience, financial acumen, and team management skills can make you stand out.
Showcase your accomplishments
When organizing your work experience as a general manager, list your jobs in reverse chronological order. This means starting with your most recent position and working backward. For each job, include the job title, employer name, location, and dates of employment. This format makes it easy for hiring managers to see your career progression at a glance.
To make your resume stand out, focus on quantifying your accomplishments rather than just listing duties. Instead of saying you “managed a team,” show how you made an impact by stating, “led a team of 10 to increase sales by 20% in one year.”
Use numbers like percentages or dollar figures to highlight achievements such as time savings or cost reductions. These details help tell the story of your success and skills.
Use action words to describe what you’ve achieved as a general manager. Words like “increased,” “improved,” or “reduced” draw attention to your achievements and show that you get results. Quantified accomplishments allow potential employers to quickly gauge the value you brought to previous roles, helping them see how you could benefit their organization, too.
5 general manager work history bullet points
- Led a team of 50 staff members, increasing overall productivity by 25% through strategic goal setting and performance management.
- Implemented cost-saving initiatives that reduced operational expenses by 15%, contributing to a $200K annual savings.
- Developed and executed a customer service improvement plan, boosting client satisfaction scores by 20% over one year.
- Streamlined supply chain operations, decreasing delivery times by 30% and improving inventory turnover rates.
- Oversaw the launch of a new product line, achieving a revenue growth of $500K within the first quarter.
Opt for a simple resume template featuring clear sections and readable fonts. Keep it simple with minimal colors and designs to let employers easily spot your skills and experience.
Write a strong professional summary
A professional summary on a resume serves as an introduction to hiring managers, offering a snapshot of your career. It’s where readers decide between including a summary or an resume objective. For seasoned professionals like a general manager, a summary is often the best choice as it highlights experience, skills, and achievements.
A professional summary is typically 3-4 sentences that showcase your work history, key skills, and notable accomplishments. It’s ideal for experienced applicants who want to clearly convey their professional identity and the value they can bring to a company. For those with extensive backgrounds, like general managers, it emphasizes what you’ve done and how you’ve made an impact.
On the other hand, resume objectives focus on career goals and are best for entry-level individuals, career changers, or those with employment gaps. They contrast with summaries by highlighting “what I aim to contribute” rather than “what I’ve accomplished.”
Next, we’ll provide examples of both summaries and objectives tailored for various industries and experience levels to guide you in crafting your own. See our library of resume examples for additional inspiration.
General manager resume summary examples
Entry-level
Recent business administration graduate with a focus on management and organizational leadership, complemented by internships in operations analysis and team coordination. Certified in Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and skilled in project planning, resource allocation, and performance tracking. Eager to contribute to team success and drive operational efficiency.
Mid-career
Results-driven general manager with 7+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the retail and hospitality industries. Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, vendor negotiations, and optimizing workflows to improve productivity. Successfully spearheaded initiatives that increased revenue by 15% year-over-year while maintaining high employee engagement scores.
Experienced
Strategic general manager with over 15 years of experience driving profitability through operational excellence across the manufacturing and logistics sectors. Proven track record in scaling businesses, implementing cost-saving measures that led to multimillion-dollar savings, and mentoring emerging leaders. Recognized for fostering innovation, improving customer satisfaction metrics by 25%, and delivering sustained growth.
General manager resume objective examples
Entry-level
Ambitious business management graduate looking to start a career as a general manager. Eager to apply academic knowledge in strategic planning and team leadership to foster efficient operations and drive organizational success.
Career changer
Dynamic marketing professional transitioning into a general manager role, with extensive experience in project management and team coordination. Committed to leveraging communication skills and leadership abilities to optimize business processes and achieve company objectives.
Recent MBA graduate
Proactive recent MBA graduate seeking a general manager position to use strong analytical skills and financial acumen. Passionate about contributing innovative ideas to improve operational efficiency and support the growth of a forward-thinking organization.
Want to make your resume stand out? Use our Resume Builder to easily create a professional-looking resume that highlights your skills and experience.
Match your resume to the job description
Tailoring your resume to job descriptions is important because it helps you stand out to employers and pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS). ATS software scans resumes for specific keywords and phrases from job postings. If your resume doesn’t have these keywords, it might not be seen by hiring managers, even if you’re a great fit for the job.
An ATS-friendly resume includes keywords and phrases that match the skills needed for the job. By using these words, you increase your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers. Your resume should show that you have the skills they are looking for in a general manager.
To find the right keywords, look at the job posting carefully. Check for skills, qualifications, and duties mentioned often. For example, if a posting repeatedly mentions “team leadership,” “strategic planning,” or “budget management,” make sure to use those exact phrases in your resume.
Incorporate these terms naturally into your content. Instead of just listing duties, describe what you did using similar language. For example, change “Led team meetings” to “Facilitated weekly team meetings to improve communication and efficiency.”
Customize your resume to help you get past ATS filters and show employers why you’re a good match for their needs. This increases your chances of landing an interview and moving forward in the hiring process.
Find and fix over 30 common resume mistakes with our ATS Resume Checker. Get quick tips to boost your resume score and make it stand out to hiring managers.
FAQ
Do I need to include a cover letter with my general manager resume?
Yes, including a cover letter with your general manager resume can give you an edge over other candidates. It’s a chance to highlight your leadership accomplishments, explain how your skills align with the company’s goals, and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role.
For example, if the organization has specific challenges like scaling operations or improving team performance, you can address how your experience aligns with solving those issues.
A strong cover letter also allows you to showcase soft skills like communication and strategic thinking—qualities essential for a general manager role. You can use our Cover Letter Generator for personalized content suggestions to simplify the process.
Check out various cover letter examples to see how others have successfully tied their expertise in managing teams, driving growth, or streamlining processes to company values or objectives.
How long should a general manager’s resume be?
For a general manager, a two-page resume is often suitable to capture the full scope of your experience and leadership achievements.
Highlight key accomplishments, strategic planning skills, and team management expertise to demonstrate how you’ve driven growth or improved operations in previous roles.
While two pages are acceptable, cut unnecessary details. Tailor your content to match the specific job you’re applying for, focusing on recent wins and relevant industry experience.
Check our guide on how long a resume should be, or if you need a one-page resume for more insights tailored to different career stages.
How do you write a general manager resume with no experience?
Crafting a general manager resume when you have no direct experience can be tough, but you can still emphasize transferable skills and relevant accomplishments from past roles. Here are a few tips on how to write a resume with no experience:
- Emphasize leadership abilities: Highlight any leadership roles you’ve taken, whether in school, volunteer work, or previous jobs. Include examples where you successfully led projects or teams.
- Showcase problem-solving skills: Provide examples of situations where you identified problems and implemented solutions. These are important for a general manager role.
- Highlight customer service experience: If you’ve worked in roles involving customer interaction, emphasize your ability to build relationships and resolve issues effectively.
- Demonstrate organizational skills: Showcase your ability to manage multiple priorities and keep operations running smoothly in past positions.
Tailor your resume by using action verbs like “led,” “managed,” or “coordinated” to convey your potential as a general manager. Consider adding a summary statement at the top that aligns your existing skills with the responsibilities of a general manager.
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General Manager
Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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