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Communication Skills on a Resume (Examples + Tips)

13 min read

Communication skills are something that almost every employer is looking for – and for good reason. Most jobs require some level of human interaction with coworkers, supervisors, subordinates, customers, or other stakeholders. Employers need employees with these abilities to ensure that their operations run smoothly and productively. It is thus vital to include communication skills on your resume if you want to ensure that you capture an employer’s attention during any job search.

In this post, we will explain why you need to include communication skills on your resume, examine the top five skills you need to highlight and 10 others that you may want to consider, and provide a communications skills resume template you can use to showcase your abilities.

Why should you include communication skills on your resume?

While hard skills will help show that you have the right qualifications for most jobs, soft skills are just as important for success. And when it comes to soft skills, few are as vital as the ability to communicate in a skillful way. By including communication skills on your resume, you demonstrate to employers that you can not only interact with customers, colleagues, and supervisors but also work as part of a cohesive and effective team.

How to include communication skills on a resume

Of course, you need to know how to include communication skills in a resume if you want to effectively convey these abilities to employers. To do that, you need to illustrate these skills in various sections of the resume rather than simply claim that you possess them. The following tips can help you ensure that your inclusion of these skills is as compelling as possible:

Don’t just list “excellent communication skills” in your skill section and assume that you’re done. You’ll need to include examples of how you used those abilities to solve problems, create value, or otherwise benefit your previous employers.

Make sure that your resume includes all the key qualifications you find in the job posting, using those exact terms. If a skill like team leadership is cited as a qualification, use that term in one of the achievement examples that you include in your resume.

Use real numbers to quantify the results your achievements provided for those prior employers. For example, instead of just writing that you used negotiation skills to close multiple deals for your last employer, show real value by quantifying those results: “Successfully negotiated and closed new client deals valued at more than $27 million.”

Communication skills resume template

If you’re wondering how all this might look in your resume, it may be helpful to see a simple template for including communication skills on your resume. Below, we’ve provided an easy-to-follow template that you can use to organize your own resume.

[Your name, phone number, email, LinkedIn URL]

[Headline, including desired job title]

[Summary statement. This should be 3-5 sentences highlighting your key skills and achievements to demonstrate value. Think of it as an elevator pitch that sells your qualifications to employers.]

[Core competencies section. This section should include both hard and soft skills. You can list any required communication skills here but be prepared to also highlight them in achievements in other sections of the resume.]

[Professional experience. This section should list your previous jobs in reverse order, beginning with your current or most recent position. Include the company name, job title, and employment dates for each position. Below each job, include several bullet point achievements – including those that relied on your communication skills.]

[Education. Your educational section needs to include the schools you attended, the years of attendance, course of study, degrees earned, and any relevant coursework. ]

Communication skills resume example

We’ve also put together a sample resume that highlights communication skills that you can use for inspiration or as a customizable guide for your own resume.

John Johnson

555-555-5555 • [email protected] • https://www.linkedin.com/in/JohnJohnson

Lead Corporate Negotiator with 10 Years of Fortune 500 Experience

Proven corporate negotiator and deal-closer with 10 years of success in closing multimillion-dollar client deals in the finance and manufacturing sectors. Organized, managed, and led a 20-person acquisition and merger team that created more than $500 million in value for our clients. Personally negotiated ABCD Corp. merger with EFG Inc, increasing company value by 23% while saving more than 1300 jobs.

Core competencies

Motivational speaking

Team building

Presentation

Copywriting

Computer proficiency

Data analysis

Media relations

Negotiation

Professional experience

ABCD Corp, 2015-2023

Chief Negotiator, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Division

Led teams responsible for identifying M&A prospects to further company growth plans

Oversaw creation of M&A outreach, negotiation, and closure plans

Negotiated deals worth more than $400 million, with 72% M&A success rate

 Alpha, Inc., 2009-2015

Lead strategist, M&A

Created merger and acquisition strategies that successfully led to more than 35 completed deals in a 6-year period

Developed negotiation presentation plans that were used to achieve a 62% success rate by negotiation teams

Created and managed negotiator training program that boosted overall closure success rate for M&A by 29%

  Education

Bachelor of Communications, GoodSpeak College, 2008

Coursework: Digital Communications, Media Relations, Public Relations, Persuasive Speaking, Negotiation Theory

Different communication skills to highlight on your resume

When you’re evaluating your own communication skills, it’s important to remember that they all fall into two main categories. Those two forms of communication include verbal and nonverbal communication. Let’s consider each to get a better idea of how they can help you in your career.

Verbal communication

Most people are intimately familiar with verbal communication, which involves the use of words to convey ideas and messages. Verbal communication can occur person-to-person, in a phone call, during a video conference, or through text, email, and other forms of writing. This type of communication is an effective way to deliver information, share new concepts, and solve problems.

Nonverbal communication

While verbal communication is important, many experts believe that seventy percent or more of all human communication occurs without words. This nonverbal communication includes subtle things like facial expressions, body language, posture, and the tone of your voice. Even something as simple as maintaining or avoiding eye contact can impart useful information to other people.

Top 5 communication skills employers look for

Before you start listing communication skills in your resume, it can be helpful to ensure that you have a better idea of the type of abilities today’s employers are looking for. In the following sections of this post, we will examine some of those key communication skills, beginning with the top five communication skills that most employers always appreciate.

Emotional intelligence is more important than ever before. As the workplace grows ever more complex, employers need to know that each member of their team is cognizant of their colleagues’ emotions and points of view. This is especially true in environments where collaboration and workplace harmony are essential for success.

It is one thing to be able to communicate an idea. It is often quite another to do with the type of clarity that most people need if they are to fully understand your message. Whether you are giving directions or taking them, it is important to be able to do so in a direct and clear way. For example, if you not only provide instructions but offer an example that effectively illustrates those directions, you’re more likely to be understood by others.

Honesty and integrity in your communications are the most important keys to gaining others’ trust. Every employer wants to build a team made up of people who say what they mean and follow through on their word. Honest employees can be relied upon to be both responsible and accountable for their actions, transparent in their actions, and authentic in all their dealings.

Team building is a powerful skill that demonstrates an ability to communicate with others, collaborate as part of a group, and even motivate colleagues to reach new heights of success. Good team builders are adept at things like delegation, inspirational messaging, and problem-solving. This skill is one that is often associated with managers – but make no mistake: employers appreciate seeing it on the resume of any job candidate.

Active listening

Active listening is a skill prized by many employees because those who possess this ability can do more than just hear messages from others. They are also adept at understanding the true meaning of any message because they actively engage in conversations and know how to use questions and reflective listening to ensure clarity.

10 other communication skills to highlight in a resume

Of course, those five critical skills are just a small subset of the full range of abilities you can cite to demonstrate your communication skills. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 10 other communication-related skills that you can include in your resume to illustrate your ability to articulate information to others.

1.      Presentation

Are you experienced in giving presentations ? If so, then turn that skill into an accomplishment in your work experience section. For example:

Supplied superior customer service training and presentations to external and internal stakeholders, reducing training time and costs by 10% over 2 years.

2.     Negotiation

Negotiation skills will benefit you in many different industries including sales, business development, and law. Showing that you successfully negotiated a deal will display your great communication skills. Here is an example of how that might be conveyed in a resume:

Experienced in delivering high-quality work products in a variety of subject matter areas, building effective case strategies, and negotiating high-value, multimillion-dollar contracts for corporate clients.

3.     Coordinating human resources

It is impossible to manage or coordinate other people’s activities without effective communication skills. If you’ve ever managed people at any level of an organization, you can illustrate this ability in your resume through a well-constructed example of a quantifiable achievement.

Managed a team of 26 customer service employees, decreasing staff turnover by 20% with improved morale, and increasing customer satisfaction and retention by 15%.

4.     Written communication

Written communication is a vital skill for writers, marketers, office staff, and many other workers. While your whole resume serves as a testament to your writing ability, you can give more weight to your writing skills by mentioning how they've helped you succeed professionally. For example:

Created headlines, edited copy, and designed graphics and pages for both print and digital platforms.

5.     Conflict resolution

Whenever humans interact, there is always the potential for interpersonal conflict. If you’re adept at resolving these types of issues, you should demonstrate that by citing examples of your conflict resolution skills in your resume.

Regularly called upon to defuse conflicts within the team to reduce distraction and ensure that our combined attention remained 100% focused on our collective mission objective.

6.     Collaboration

As we mentioned earlier in the post, teamwork is essential in many different types of jobs. If your talents include the ability to collaborate effectively with others, then you should make sure that your resume includes that skill. Pick one or more jobs where you relied on this ability for success and include a bullet point example of how it benefited the company.

In collaboration with my team and other departments, successfully reorganized our sales process to increase lead generation by 22%, improve sales conversions by 18%, and increase profits by 19%.

7.     Persuasion

The ability to persuade others can be a vital communication skill that can help you supercharge your career. It is also one of those skills that most employers will prize, especially if you can demonstrate how your persuasiveness can add value to their bottom line. One way to illustrate that persuasive ability is to highlight instances where you’ve been able to persuade others in ways that benefited your employers. For example:

Led acquisition advance team tasked with persuading target company leaders to consider selling their enterprises. Utilized persuasive techniques to achieve more than 19% success rate on first attempts, 52% success rate on second contact.

8.     Open-mindedness

One of the most important communication skills these days involves the ability to maintain an open mind. Are you someone who values other people’s perspectives and ideas? Do you enjoy brainstorming with others to come up with new and creative solutions to problems? If so, then that open-minded approach to new information and points of view is a strength that you should share on your resume.

Led diverse team in collaborative effort to brainstorm new ideas and solutions for needed technological system changes, resulting in implementation of new systems that improved company logistical efficiency by 33%.

9.     Motivational speaking

Your ability to inspire others by using your voice to motivate them to new heights of success can also be an attractive communication skill for many employers. After all, motivational skills are essential for any management or leadership position. If you’ve ever been in any situation where you needed to motivate your colleagues to achieve a goal, be sure to include that as one of your achievements.

As team leader, incorporated daily stand-up meetings to motivate and focus team members, which helped increase productivity by 28% in just 6 months.

10.  Giving and receiving feedback

Employers also want to know that you’re capable of receiving feedback, and even providing it depending on your role. Are you someone who always wants to hear constructive criticism or even negative feedback? That desire to be accountable so that you can continue to improve is something that employers will be eager to know about you. They’ll also appreciate your ability to offer constructive advice to other members of your team.

This is one of those skills that you may want to highlight in your summary statement if you’re focused on receiving criticism. For example:

Dedicated team leader who seeks out constructive feedback to fuel consistent growth and improvement in performance metrics.

On the other hand, if you’re usually the one providing the feedback, you may want to mention that in one of your work history achievements.

Provided monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reviews for team members, as well as more frequent feedback designed to prevent performance issues before they became serious problems.

Your communication skills on a resume can make all the difference

Knowing which communication skills to put on a resume could help determine the type of impression you make on any prospective employer. That’s why it’s so important to understand which skills employers are looking for and make sure that your skills align with those needs. 

So, take the time to assess your key communication skills and pay careful attention to the qualifications cited in any job posting. If you can ensure that those cited skills align well with the communication skills on your resume, you can increase your chances of landing an interview.

Want to ensure that you have the right communication skills on your resume? Head on over to get your free resume review from our team of experts to learn whether your resume has what it takes to help you achieve your job search goals.

Recommended reading:

The Best 10 Skills to Put on Your Resume

Top 15 Skills Employers Are Hiring For in 2023

Interpersonal Skills Can Give You the Competitive Career Advantage You Need

Ken Chase, Freelance Writer

During Ken's two decades as a freelance writer, he has covered everything from banking and fintech to business management and the entertainment industry. His true passion, however, has always been focused on helping others achieve their career goals with timely job search and interview advice or the occasional resume consultation. When he's not working, Ken can usually be found adventuring with family and friends or playing fetch with his demanding German Shepherd. Read more resume advice from Ken on  ZipJob’s blog .

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Functional Resume Example and Writing Tips

• Functional vs. Traditional Resume

Other Types of Resumes

When to use a functional resume, what to include in a functional resume.

• Functional Resume Example

Review More Resume Examples

Depending on your work history, you may want to consider using a functional resume. A  functional resume  focuses on the skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for a position.  

Unlike a traditional resume, the functional resume does not highlight your chronological work history. Instead, it focuses on the skills you have developed that fit the requirements of the job for which you are applying. 

Functional resumes are ideal for people who have gaps in their employment histories or are new to a particular industry.

Functional Resume vs. Traditional Resume

A traditional resume, also known as a  chronological resume , emphasizes your work history. It includes a list of your work experiences. For each job you have held, you include the dates you worked, the job title, and the company. Most traditional resumes list work experience in reverse chronological order (with your current experience first).  

You should use a chronological resume when you have an extensive work history that is related to the job you are applying for. It is a good way to quickly show that you have related experience.

Functional and traditional resumes are not the only  resume types  to choose from. For example, if you want to both highlight your skills and include your chronological work history, consider a  combination resume .  

If you are in a creative field (such as graphic design), consider using a nontraditional resume. This kind of resume allows you to include visuals, such as graphs and infographics. This way, you can show off your design skills within the resume.

Functional resumes are ideal for people who do not have lots of work experience related to the job they are applying for. If you are switching careers, are new to the field, or have gaps in your employment, consider using a functional resume.

If you frequently change jobs, you might also consider a functional resume. This will help you avoid highlighting the fact that you have not stayed at one job for very long.

A functional resume isn't organized by position, so you'll need another organizational structure. Typically, functional resumes are organized by categories based on your skills or qualifications. Look at the job description for cues about what to emphasize here. 

A  functional resume  does not emphasize your chronological work history. Instead, it highlights your skills and abilities:

• Typically, your skills are organized by theme (for example, “Customer Service” and “Verbal Communication”).
• Under each theme, you provide specific examples of projects, tasks, and assignments you have completed that show you have those skills.

That being said, it is still a good idea to include a brief work history section in a functional resume.

Consider including a short, chronological work history section at the end of your resume.

If you have gaps in your employment or have frequently changed jobs, you can leave out your employment dates.

Functional Resume Example & Template

Read below for an example of a functional resume. This example includes a resume summary statement , which is a great way to quickly demonstrate your skills and abilities. It also includes a concise list of experience and a detailed list of skills.

While this resume includes a work history section (labeled “Employment History”), it provides only brief details about the jobs held. It also includes this information near the bottom of the resume, to avoid highlighting it.

Download the functional resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Functional Resume (Text Version)

John A. Doe 999 Main Street Ann Arbor, MI 99999 (123) 555-1234 johndoe@email.com

CAREER OBJECTIVE

Experienced and versatile professional with strong urban planning as well as people, management, and research skills seeks a position in urban planning and environmental impact analysis with a major city or Fortune 500 company.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

• Background managing direct transportation planning and programs
•  Adept at managing urban planning programs and people
• Able to anticipate and project organizational change
• Background as administrator of office operations

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Skilled in Government Guidelines
• Quality Control
• Urban Planning
• Environmental Impact Mitigation and Research
• Geology/Hydrology
• Site Evaluations
• Computer Software Tools
• Scientific and Business Grant Writing 

Administrative : Lead coordinator for the daily processing of thousands of checks for payment and the mailing of confidential reports, meeting strict deadlines, and avoiding late fees.

Problem Solving : Designed a waste-management program involving Recycle Ann Arbor and a major book company, intended for the efficient handling of tons of paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass, achieving net savings of $20,000 per building annually and reducing company disposal obligations.

Management:  Oversaw operations of an expanding research lab, providing expertise, commitment, and quality control during a time of significant transition.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Senior Process Engineer, September 2018-Present Zezee Corp., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Process Engineer: Technical Support, September 2014-September 2018 Zezee Corp., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Technical Professional , September 2012-September 2014 City of the Stars, Mich.

Master of Business Administration (2017); GPA 3.9 Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, Okla. (Online Program)

Bachelor of Science (Emphasis: Ecosystem/Environmental Business) May 2014 Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Mich.

Review more professionally written resume examples for jobs, internships, gigs, volunteering, and other positions.

CareerOneStop. " Select the Best Format ." Accessed March 11, 2020.

CareerOneStop. " Resume Styles ." Accessed March 10, 2020.

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Functional resume list of skill sets.

Skills cover a range of knowledge and talents, stemming from natural abilities or developed through experience, training or education. Employers seek candidates with specific skills and work experience. Job seekers with weak work histories or a desire to change careers often use a functional resume to spotlight skills. Both experience and skills are included on a functional resume, but skills relevant to the job are listed before work history. Skill sets are numerous, so it's important to narrow your list to those that align best with job requirements.

Computer and Technology

When a job requires computer skills, examples of skill sets that might be required include knowledge of software programs such as the Microsoft Suite or specific operating systems and hardware. For technology, examples to include on the functional range from developing technical manuals to preparing technical specifications for equipment. Technical skills may also include abilities to operate or repair automated or mechanical equipment.

Management and Leadership Skill Sets

In-demand skills that employers often seek involve managing and leading others. Examples of the type of skills to list on a functional resume include the ability to motivate and influence others, the ability to train, teach and develop others and the ability to coach and mentor team members. Other skills indicative of leadership potential include the ability to measure and monitor job performance, manage and resolve conflict and interact with a diverse group of people across all levels.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Job announcements often list effective communication and interpersonal skill sets as requirements. Communication skills refer to the ability to convey information in a clear and understandable manner, the ability to engage with different people and personalities and the ability to listen and comprehend what others are saying. Interpersonal skills refer to the ability to get along and interact with others in a positive, respectful manner. Both skill sets are universal and valuable enough to include on a functional resume.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

The ability to analyze situations and apply critical thinking to gain insight and draw valid conclusions is another skill set to include on functional resumes. This type of critical thinking is a valuable and much sought after skill in job candidates. If you can effectively evaluate a problem, synthesize information and make objective judgments, listing critical thinking on your functional resume is a plus.

Decision Making Capabilities

In addition to critical thinking, knowing how and when to make a decision is also a sought after skill in the job market. Making an informed decision in a timely manner is a skill that requires the ability to evaluate all possible options and choose the best possible approach in terms of functionality and feasibility.

Language Skills

Some employers give preference to those with multiple language abilities, especially when global operations are involved. List language skills on a functional resume if you are proficient in more than one language. For example, if you are fluent in Spanish, French or Chinese, be sure to include language skills when applicable to the job or if you gain an advantage for possessing them.

Related Articles

How to describe self-management skills on a resume →.

How to Describe Levels of Proficiency on a Resume →

How to Write a Language Level on Your Resume →

What is the Best Definition of Transferable Skills? →

List of Skills to Put on Resume for Clerical Work →

How to Write a Perfect Resume →

• Teachers College Columbia University Office of Career Services: Functional Resume Writing Guide
• Missouri Business Development Program: Skill/Functional Resume Example
• Georgia State Department of Labor Career Centers: Identifying Your Skills
• FlexJobs: 5 Skills to List on Your Resume

Deb Dupree has been an active writer throughout her career in the corporate world and in public service since 1982. She has written numerous corporate and educational documents including project reports, procedures and employee training programs. She has a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee.

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Learning Objectives

• Describe the differences among functional, reverse chronological, combination, targeted, and scannable résumés.
• Discuss what features are required in each type of résumé.
• Prepare a one-page résumé.

A résumé is a document that summarizes your education, skills, talents, employment history, and experiences in a clear and concise format for potential employers. The résumé serves three distinct purposes that define its format, design, and presentation:

• To represent your professional information in writing
• To demonstrate the relationship between your professional information and the problem or challenge the potential employer hopes to solve or address, often represented in the form of a job description or duties
• To get you an interview by clearly demonstrating you meet the minimum qualifications and have the professional background help the organization meet its goals

An online profile page is similar to a résumé in that it represents you, your background and qualifications, and adds participation to the publication. People network, link, and connect in new ways via online profiles or professional sites like LinkedIn. In many ways, your online profile is an online version of your résumé with connections and friends on public display. Your MySpace and Facebook pages are also often accessible to the public, so never post anything you wouldn’t want your employer (current or future) to read, see, or hear. This chapter covers a traditional résumé, as well as the more popular scannable features, but the elements and tips could equally apply to your online profile.

Main Parts of a Résumé

Regardless of the format, employers have expectations for your résumé. They expect it to be clear, accurate, and up to date (Bennett, S. A., 2005). This document represents you in your absence, and you want it to do the best job possible. You don’t want to be represented by spelling or grammatical errors, as they may raise questions about your education and attention to detail. Someone reading your résumé with errors will only wonder what kind of work you might produce that will poorly reflect on their company. There is going to be enough competition that you don’t want to provide an easy excuse to toss your résumé at the start of the process. Do your best work the first time.

Résumés have several basic elements that employers look for, including your contact information, objective or goal, education and work experience, and so on. Each résumé format may organize the information in distinct ways based on the overall design strategy, but all information should be clear, concise, and accurate (Simons, W., and Curtis, R., 2004).

Contact Information

This section is often located at the top of the document. The first element of the contact information is your name. You should use your full, legal name even if you go by your middle name or use a nickname. There will plenty of time later to clarify what you prefer to be called, but all your application documents, including those that relate to payroll, your social security number, drug screenings, background checks, fingerprint records, transcripts, certificates or degrees, should feature your legal name. Other necessary information includes your address, phone number(s), and e-mail address. If you maintain two addresses (e.g., a campus and a residential address), make it clear where you can be contacted by indicating the primary address. For business purposes, do not use an unprofessional e-mail address like [email protected] or [email protected]. Create a new e-mail account if needed with an address suitable for professional use.

Figure 9.7 Sample Contact Information

This is one part of your résumé that is relatively simple to customize for an individual application. Your objective should reflect the audience’s need to quickly understand how you will help the organization achieve its goals.

Figure 9.8 Sample Objective

You need to list your education in reverse chronological order, with your most recent degree first. List the school, degree, and grade point average (GPA). If there is a difference between the GPA in your major courses and your overall GPA, you may want to list them separately to demonstrate your success in your chosen field. You may also want to highlight relevant coursework that directly relate to the position.

Figure 9.9 Sample Education Field

Work Experience

List in reverse chronological order your employment history, including the positions, companies, locations, dates, duties and skills demonstrated or acquired. You may choose to use active, descriptive sentences or bullet lists, but be consistent. Emphasize responsibilities that involved budgets, teamwork, supervision, and customer service when applying for positions in business and industry, but don’t let emphasis become exaggeration. This document represents you in your absence, and if information is false, at a minimum you could lose your job.

Figure 9.10 Sample Work Experience

Table 9.5 Types of Résumés

You may choose to include references at the end of your résumé, though “references upon request” is common. You may also be tempted to extend your résumé to more than one page, but don’t exceed that limit unless the additional page will feature specific, relevant information that represents several years of work that directly relates to the position. The person reading your résumé may be sifting through many applicants and will not spend time reading extra pages. Use the one-page format to put your best foot forward, remembering that you may never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Maximize Scannable Résumé Content

Use key words.

Just as there are common search terms, and common words in relation to each position, job description, or description of duties, your scannable résumé needs to mirror these common terms. Use of nonstandard terms may not stand out, and your indication of “managed employees” may not get the same attention as the word “supervision” or “management.”

Follow Directions

If a job description uses specific terms, refers to computer programs, skills, or previous experience, make sure you incorporate that language in your scannable résumé. You know that when given a class assignment, you are expected to follow directions; similarly, the employer is looking for specific skills and experience. By mirroring the employer’s language and submitting your application documents in accord with their instructions, you convey a spirit of cooperation and an understanding of how to follow instructions.

Insert a Key Word Section

Consider a brief section that lists common words associated with the position as a skills summary: customer service, business communication, sales, or terms and acronyms common to the business or industry.

Make It Easy to Read

You need to make sure your résumé is easy to read by a computer, including a character recognition program. That means no italics, underlining, shading, boxes, or lines. Choose a sans serif (without serif, or decorative end) font like Arial or Tahoma that won’t be misread. Simple, clear fonts that demonstrate no points at which letters may appear to overlap will increase the probability of the computer getting it right the first time. In order for the computer to do this, you have to consider your audience—a computer program that will not be able to interpret your unusual font or odd word choice. A font size of eleven or twelve is easier to read for most people, and while the computer doesn’t care about font size, the smaller your font, the more likely the computer is to make the error of combining adjacent letters.

Printing, Packaging and Delivery

Use a laser printer to get crisp letter formation. Inkjet printers can have some “bleed” between characters that may make them overlap, and therefore be misunderstood. Folds can make it hard to scan your document. E-mail your résumé as an attachment if possible, but if a paper version is required, don’t fold it. Use a clean, white piece of paper with black ink; colors will only confuse the computer. Deliver the document in a nine-by-twelve-inch envelope, stiffened with a sheet of cardstock (heavy paper or cardboard) to help prevent damage to the document.

Figure 9.11 Sample Format for Chronological Résumé

Figure 9.12 Sample Format for Functional Résumé

Figure 9.13 Sample Format for Scannable Résumé

Key Takeaway

A résumé will represent your skills, education, and experience in your absence. Businesses increasingly scan résumés into searchable databases.

• Find a job announcement with specific duties that represents a job that you will be prepared for upon graduation. Choose a type of résumé and prepare your résumé to submit to the employer as a class assignment. Your instructor may also request a scannable version of your résumé.
• Conduct an online search for a functional or chronological résumé. Please post and share with your classmates.
• Conduct an online search for job advertisements that detail positions you would be interested in, and note the key job duties and position requirements. Please post one example and share with your classmates.
• When is a second page of your résumé justified? Explain.
• Conduct an online search for resources to help you prepare your own résumé. Please post one link and a brief review of the Web site, noting what features you found useful and at least one recommendation for improvement.

Bennett, S. A. (2005). The elements of résumé style: Essential rules and eye-opening advice for writing résumés and cover letters that work . AMACOM.

Simons, W., & Curtis, R. (2004). The Résumé.com guide to writing unbeatable résumés . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Business Communication for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

• • Directed a team in the integration and configuration of SAP S/4HANA Finance, enhancing financial reporting for global operations, impacting over 10,000 users.
• • Spearheaded the development and deployment of a custom SAP Fiori application, improving transaction efficiency by 30%.
• • Collaborated across departments to design comprehensive test plans, automating 50% of previously manual testing processes.
• • Implemented financial solutions that ensured SOX compliance and secured sensitive financial data across multiple modules.
• • Managed a cross-functional project that connected SAP HR and Finance systems, reducing payroll processing time by 25%.
• • Provided expert guidance on the use of ABAP objects and HANA SQL which led to a 20% reduction in report generation times.
• • Led the financial model redesign for a major healthcare provider, achieving 15% increase in cost savings.
• • Developed and implemented SAP MM and PS modules resulting in a more streamlined procurement process.
• • Liaison between technical and finance departments, translating complex requirements into actionable tasks.
• • Managed rollout of SAP security updates in alignment with evolving authorization needs, affecting over 5,000 users.
• • Facilitated the integration of non-SAP applications via API development, enhancing data harmonization and interoperability.
• • Developed a customized financial reporting tool within SAP, increasing report accuracy by 20%.
• • Collaborated on the migration of financial systems to HANA database, streamlining data processing times by 40%.
• • Assisted with ABAP development projects, enhancing system functionality and user experience.
• • Supported global finance requirements by ensuring compliance with internal controls and SOX regulations.

5 Functional Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Ensure your functional manager resume demonstrates a solid track record of departmental leadership. Highlight your experience in streamlining processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs. In your functional manager resume, also include specific examples of successful projects you've led. Showcase your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve organizational objectives.

All resume examples in this guide

Traditional

Resume Guide

Resume Format Tips

Resume Experience

Skills on Resume

Education & Certifications

Resume Summary Tips

Additional Resume Sections

Key Takeaways

As a functional manager, strategically presenting a diverse range of cross-departmental skills and achievements on your resume can be a complex challenge. Our expert guide offers structured advice and tailored examples that will help you effectively highlight your multifaceted expertise to stand out to prospective employers.

• Apply best practices from professional resumes to spotlight your application;
• Quantify your professional experience with achievements, career highlights, projects, and more;
• Write an eye-catching functional manager resume top one-third with your header, summary/objective, and skills section;
• Fill in the gaps of your experience with extracurricular, education, and more vital resume sections.

We've selected, especially for you, some of our most relevant functional manager resume guides. Getting you from thinking about your next career move to landing your dream job.

• Associate Director Resume Example
• Assistant General Manager Resume Example
• Team Manager Resume Example
• Account Director Resume Example
• Executive Manager Resume Example
• Senior Director Resume Example
• Program Director Resume Example
• Assistant Branch Manager Resume Example
• Assistant Director Resume Example
• Department Manager Resume Example

Formatting the layout of your functional manager resume: design, length, and more

• If you have plenty of experience, you'd like to showcase, invest in the reverse-chronological resume format . This format focuses on your latest experience items and skills you've learned during your relevant (and recent) jobs.
• Don't go over the two-page limit, when creating your professional functional manager resume. Curate within it mainly experience and skills that are relevant to the job.
• Make sure your functional manager resume header includes all of your valid contact information. You could also opt to display your professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile.
• Submit or send out your functional manager resume as a PDF, so you won't lose its layout and design.

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If the certificate you've obtained is especially vital for the industry or company, include it as part of your name within the resume headline.

Essential sections that should make up your functional manager resume include:

• The header - with your contact details (e.g. email and telephone number), link to your portfolio, and headline
• The summary (or objective) - to spotlight the peaks of your professional career, so far
• The experience section - with up to six bullets per role to detail specific outcomes
• The skills list - to provide a healthy mix between your personal and professional talents
• The education and certification - showing your most relevant degrees and certificates to the functional manager role

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to effectively manage and develop a team
• Expertise in the specific function the manager will oversee (e.g., finance, marketing, human resources, operations, etc.)
• Proven track record of successful project management and delivery
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills tailored to functional goals
• Experience with budget management and optimization for the functional area

Writing your functional manager resume experience

Within the body of your functional manager resume is perhaps one of the most important sections - the resume experience one. Here are five quick tips on how to curate your functional manager professional experience:

• Include your expertise that aligns to the job requirements;
• Always ensure that you qualify your achievements by including a skill, what you did, and the results your responsibility led to;
• When writing each experience bullet, ensure you're using active language;
• If you can include a personal skill you've grown, thanks to your experience, this would help you stand out;
• Be specific about your professional experience - it's not enough that you can "communicate", but rather what's your communication track record?

Wondering how other professionals in the industry are presenting their job-winning functional manager resumes? Check out how these functional manager professionals put some of our best practices into action:

• Led a cross-functional team of 15 to streamline operational processes, increasing efficiency by 20% over two years.
• Managed a budget of $5M, ensuring optimal allocation of resources across projects, contributing to a 15% reduction in operational costs.
• Implemented a new CRM system that improved customer satisfaction scores by 25% through enhanced tracking and management of customer interactions.
• Orchestrated the merger of two departmental functions which resulted in a unified strategy and a 10% increase in team productivity.
• Developed and executed a new training program that resulted in a 30% improvement in team skill sets over 18 months.
• Negotiated with external vendors to secure more cost-effective contracts, saving the company $200,000 annually.
• Drove the digital transformation of departmental operations, enhancing data-driven decision-making which led to a 35% increase in overall productivity.
• Managed and oversaw the implementation of a new ERP system across 4 international offices, ensuring seamless integration with existing processes.
• Championed a sustainability initiative that reduced the company's carbon footprint by 40% within the manager's purview.
• Oversee a functional team of 50+ to deliver IT solutions that have contributed to a 50% reduction in system downtime for the company.
• Spearhead the development and release of three major software updates, enhancing the user experience for over 1M customers worldwide.
• Cultivate partnerships with technology providers to keep pace with industry advancements and ensure the company's competitive edge.
• Led a product development team through the successful launch of a new finance software, which captured a 20% market share in its first year.
• Implemented agile project management techniques that reduced project delivery times by 30% while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Conducted comprehensive market analysis to align product features with customer needs, directly influencing a 50% improvement in customer retention.
• Transformed the supply chain process by integrating a just-in-time system, reducing inventory costs by $1.5M annually.
• Collaborated with sales and marketing teams to align production schedules with market demand, boosting sales by 20% YoY.
• Reduced lead times by 25% through the implementation of lean manufacturing principles, improving customer satisfaction and retention.
• Coordinated with R&D teams to oversee the rollout of a new software platform, which increased department revenue by 40% within one year.
• Pioneered the use of data analytics to measure project performance, leading to a 15% improvement in on-time delivery rates.
• Managed cross-departmental teams in the development of a patent-pending technology, significantly increasing the company's intellectual property portfolio.
• Oversaw a multi-cultural team of 25 in expanding the company's services into 5 new international markets, increasing global revenue by 18%.
• Developed and enforced best practice standards for project management that improved client delivery satisfaction rates by over 35%.
• Initiated and led a quarterly leadership training program for mid-level managers that enhanced leadership skills company-wide.

Quantifying impact on your resume

• Include the size of the team you managed, specifying the number of direct reports to demonstrate leadership scale.
• List the percentage reduction in employee turnover achieved under your leadership to show your impact on employee retention.
• Specify the amount of budget you were responsible for managing to illustrate financial acumen.
• Detail the percentage increase in productivity you facilitated to highlight your efficiency improvements.
• Quantify the revenue growth your team contributed to, indicating your role in driving sales or profitability.
• Present the number of projects completed on time and within budget to exhibit project management skills.
• Measure the improvements in customer satisfaction scores due to your managerial efforts to show client-oriented results.
• Indicate the amount of cost savings generated through process optimizations to reflect your fiscal responsibility.

Action verbs for your functional manager resume

How to shift the focus from your functional manager resume experience section to your professional profile

If you're at the start of your career journey or transitioning industries, you might be concerned about the lack of professional experience while crafting your functional manager resume.

How can you effectively present your functional manager resume experience section under these circumstances?

Rather than a traditional, extensive experience section, demonstrate your expertise through:

• Emphasizing your education. Your academic background might impress recruiters, especially if it includes recent, industry-relevant knowledge;
• Creating a compelling objective statement. The first few sentences of your resume should map out your motivations and career aspirations, offering insight into your goals;
• Highlighting your transferable skills. For example, if you've honed communication skills through volunteering, illustrate on your functional manager resume how these can benefit a potential employer;
• Detailing your technical background in certifications and skills sections. As a recent graduate, your technological foundations might be particularly attractive to employers looking to develop these skills further.

It's important to remember that employers sometimes prefer candidates with less experience but who are a better cultural fit for their organization.

Recommended reads:

• How to List GPA on Your Resume
• How to Put Cum Laude on Your Resume

Listing your relevant degrees or certificates on your functional manager resume is a win-win situation. Not only does it hint at your technical capabilities in the industry, but an array of soft skills, like perseverance, adaptability, and motivation.

Featuring your hard skills and soft skills on your functional manager resume

The skills section of your functional manager resume needs to your various capabilities that align with the job requirements. List hard skills (or technical skills) to showcase to potential employers that you're perfectly apt at dealing with technological innovations and niche software. Meanwhile, your soft skills need to detail how you'd thrive within your new, potential environment with personal skills (e.g. resilience, negotiation, organization, etc.) Your functional manager resume skills section needs to include both types of skills to promote how you're both technical and cultural fit. Here's how to create your bespoke functional manager skills section to help you stand out:

• Focus on skill requirements that are listed toward the top of the job advert.
• Include niche skills that you've worked hard to obtain.
• Select specific soft skills that match the company (or the department) culture.
• Cover some of the basic job requirements by including important skills for the functional manager role - ones you haven't been able to list through the rest of your resume.

Get inspired with our functional manager sample skill list to list some of the most prominent hard and soft skills across the field.

Top skills for your functional manager resume:

Strategic Planning

Budget Management

Project Management

Process Improvement

Performance Metrics

Technical Expertise

Regulatory Compliance

Resource Allocation

Data Analysis

Quality Assurance

Communication

Problem-Solving

Decision Making

Collaboration

Adaptability

Time Management

Conflict Resolution

Team Motivation

Critical Thinking

Mention specific courses or projects that are pertinent to the job you're applying for.

How to include your education and certifications on your resume

We're taking you back to your college days with this part of our guide, but including your relevant higher education is quite important for your resume.

Your degree shows recruiters your dedication to the industry, your recent and relevant know-how, and some form of experience in the field.

Your functional manager resume education should:

• Include your applicable degrees, college (-s) you've graduated from, as well as start and end dates of your higher education;
• Skip your high school diploma. If you still haven't graduated with your degree, list that your higher education is ongoing ;
• Feature any postgraduate diplomas in your resume header or summary - this is the perfect space to spotlight your relevant MBA degree ;
• Showcase any relevant coursework , if you happen to have less professional experience and think this would support your case in being the best candidate for the role.

As far as your job-specific certificates are concerned - choose up to several of the most recent ones that match the job profile, and include them in a dedicated section.

We've saved you some time by selecting the most prominent industry certificates below.

The top 5 certifications for your functional manager resume:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) - Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Certified Manager (CM) - Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) - Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certification (SSGB) - American Society for Quality (ASQ)
• ScrumMaster Certification (CSM) - Scrum Alliance

Always remember that your functional manager certifications can be quantified across different resume sections, like your experience, summary, or objective. For example, you could include concise details within the expertise bullets of how the specific certificate has improved your on-the-job performance.

• How to List Continuing Education on Your Resume
• When Should You Include Your High School on Your Resume?

Functional Manager resume summaries or objectives: real-world samples for best industry practices

Grasp recruiters' attention from the get-go of your application with a professional Functional Manager resume summary or objective.

It's wise to select the:

• Resume objective , if you don't happen to have much experience alignment and would like to more prominently feature your dreams and personality.
• Resume summary , if you'd like to have a more standard approach to your application and feature up to five career highlights to help you stand out.

Writing your resume summary or objective should be tailored to each role you apply for.

Think about what would impress the recruiters and go from there.

But, if you need further help with this introductory section, check out some real-world samples in the next part of this guide:

Resume summaries for a functional manager job

• Accomplished IT Manager with over 15 years of success in leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex software solutions. Expert in Agile methodologies and cloud-based infrastructures; recognized for implementing a company-wide digital transformation that resulted in a 30% increase in operational efficiency.
• Seasoned Marketing Manager with a decade of experience driving brand growth in the competitive FMCG sector. Mastery of market analytics and consumer behaviour insights; triumphantly launched three new product lines that captured the top market share within their first year.
• Former financial analyst transitioning to Supply Chain Management, bringing a robust analytical skillset, a six-year track record of optimizing multimillion-dollar portfolios, and a keen understanding of market trends to streamline logistics processes and enhance inventory control protocols.
• Experienced educator eager to pivot into Human Resources Management, leveraging 8 years of team leadership, conflict resolution, and curriculum development to enhance employee engagement and performance monitoring in a dynamic corporate environment.
• Seeking to utilize a solid foundation in business administration and unwavering enthusiasm for technology to contribute to a thriving management team. Eager to apply analytical skills, dedication to continuous improvement, and a freshperspective to drive operational excellence and employee development.
• A passionate and dedicated individual with a strong academic background in engineering, excited to embark on a career in Project Management. Intent on bringing a methodical approach, a keen eye for detail, and a commitment to fostering collaborative team environments to initiating and guiding high-impact projects.

Beyond your functional manager resume basics - extra sections

Ensure your functional manager resume stands out from the crowd by spicing it up with a couple of supplementary sections that showcase your:

• Prizes - as a special nod to what matters most in the field;
• Projects - ones that would really further support your application;
• Hobbies - include only if you think they'd further your chances at landing the role with personality
• Community impact - to hint at the causes you care about.

Key takeaways

Securing your ideal job starts with crafting a compelling functional manager resume. It should not only highlight your professional strengths but also reflect your personality. Key aspects to remember include:

• Choose a clear, easily editable format, allowing more time to focus on the content of your resume;
• Emphasize experience relevant to the job, focusing on your impact on the team;
• Opt for a resume summary if you have extensive professional experience, and a resume objective if you're just starting out;
• Include technical skills in the skills section and interpersonal skills in the achievements section;
• Recognize the importance of various resume sections (e.g., My Time, Projects) in showcasing both your professional abilities and personal traits.

Looking to build your own Functional Manager resume?

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