IT Project Manager Resume Examples & Writing Guide

IT project managers run the software development process in the company. They manage budgets, oversee teams, delegate tasks, and allocate resources to ensure successful project delivery. Yet, your success in the job market depends on how well you sell those skills in your resume.

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The demand for project managers is rising, meaning that the only thing that stands between you and a dream job is a well-written project manager resume. When applying for jobs, you need to articulate project management proficiency, great leadership skills, and a bunch of accomplishments that will wow the recruiter.

Sounds like a lot of work? Worry not - with our guide, it'll be like a walk in the park. Keep reading to find out:

  • three effective project manager resume examples
  • tips for writing a resume for a project management professional, and
  • must-have skills to add to your technical project manager resume.

Want an effective resume, but have no time to write it from scratch? Our experts can do it for you. At ITResumeService, we have written hundreds of project manager resumes. You'll work directly with a resume writer who will strategize the resume content, focus on achievements, and highlight the skills that employers value the most. Plus, we will adapt the resume for your target job to help you pass the ATS screening.

What are the responsibilities of the IT project manager?

IT project manager job title has many specializations. There are technical project managers who specialize in marketing, agile methodology, DevOps, engineering, and more. A typical project manager job description involves such duties:

  • Defining project scope and deliverables, and organizing schedules
  • Managing and directing the project team, and delegating tasks to them
  • Communicating with project stakeholders and reporting on the status
  • Tracking the progress and managing changes to meet key deliverables
  • Ensuring timely project delivery and evaluating its success.

A successful resume should highlight these project management skills plus show measurable outcomes of your work. Before you start writing, look at some good software project manager resume examples to learn how to structure your own.

Project manager resume example

Why this resume works

  • This IT project manager resume makes a good impression right from the onset. It has a neat design, and a proper structure, and all sections are easy to navigate. The resume uses a reverse chronological format that employers prefer.
  • This job-seeker emphasizes their key accomplishments in reducing document retrieval time, improving efficiency, and slashing resource costs. Note that they list measurable results for each job. They also emphasize one key accomplishment in bold so that it pops up (i.e. saving $500,000 in multiple projects).
  • The resume showcases a degree in Business Administration and a relevant PMP certification which is a must-have for many PM jobs. It also lists a range of technical skills such as Asana, Confluence, and RiskWatch.

Junior project management resume example

Why this resume works

  • This resume of a Junior IT project manager has a traditional layout that opens correctly with ATS systems. It has all the must-have sections, including the objective, professional experience, education, and skills.
  • In the Objective at the top, this candidate lists their leadership, analytical, and training skills, explaining how exactly they can contribute to the company. Using the objective is beneficial for entry-level candidates and trainees who don't have much management experience.
  • The Work Experience section shows the candidate's career growth from Project Associate to Junior Project Manager in a year and three months. Companies prefer candidates who showcase growth, as this is a sign that the person is ambitious and willing to develop professionally.
  • The resume also features a long list of skills, including Agile, analytical thinking, team training, and process improvements.

Project Management Executive resume example

Why this resume works

  • This resume of a Project Management Executive uses a hybrid format with a summary and a set of skills at the top and a detailed professional history. Such a format helps this project management professional showcase skills, achievements, and a proven track record of successful projects.
  • The resume has a Selected Accomplishments section that lists career milestones, such as leading the development of a $9M project and winning the industry award. Adding your achievements in one place is a great idea, as they become instantly visible to employers.
  • The Professional Experience section is concise despite the extensive experience of the candidate. They feature career highlights in improving business processes, empowering project managers, and reducing product development lifecycle. Such an approach brings more interviews than listing all your daily responsibilities.

What do these project manager resume samples have in common? All of them have a clear, easy-to-navigate structure that will surely catch the attention of the hiring manager. They incorporate industry keywords that help pass the ATS screening with a good score. And finally, they list work history concisely, focusing on the measurable results in the first place.

Now that you have reviewed project manager resume examples, it's time to start writing your own. Below, you'll find tips to help you write a resume like the examples above.

How to write a winning IT project manager resume?

To write a compelling PM resume, you need to showcase your experience in project planning, achieving business goals, and turning great ideas into completed projects. Below, you will find actionable tips for composing each section of your resume and creating a persuasive career story.

Writing a great PM resume
1. Use a reverse chronological layout
2. Write a compelling career summary (or objective if no experience)
3. Include experience and accomplishments in project management
4. Focus on key skills and keywords
5. Emphasize education and certifications
6. Proofread before sending

This guide is useful for all tech project managers, including:

  • Project manager
  • Junior project manager
  • Creative project manager
  • Director of project management
  • Associate project manager
  • Digital project manager
  • Agile project managers
  • DevOps project manager

Use the right project manager resume layout

Resume formatting is vital for two reasons. Firstly, proper formatting will inevitably catch the eye of the hiring manager, encouraging them to read the document. Secondly, a well-formatted document communicates your ability to structure information, prioritize, and convey key information. All of these are attributes of a successful senior project manager.

Use a reverse chronological format for your IT project manager resume. Such a format emphasizes your career timeline. The recruiter will see progression in your job title, how long you were in each job, and what you accomplished. Thus, they can quickly see you as a potentially good fit.

Keep it to 1-2 pages. Keep the length down by including only the most recent and relevant experience. Unless you have decades of project management experience, make it one page. In most cases, one page is enough to prove your experience in implementing successful projects and leading cross functional teams. Senior project managers with 15+ years of expertise can use a two-page document.

Technical project manager resume sections

  • Name and contact info
  • Career summary/objective
  • Professional experience
  • Education and training
  • Certifications
  • Skills
  • Additional sections (conferences, volunteering, personal projects, language skills).

Write a compelling Career Summary

Most hiring managers won't read your resume from top to bottom. They will scan half of the first page to decide whether a resume deserves a closer review. Thus, adding the Summary section to your IT project manager resume can help capture their attention.

As an entry-level project manager or career switcher, you can use the Objective section. Write a brief paragraph describing your motivation for getting the job. Specify how your skills will benefit the employer and where you'd like to move in your career. Showcase your relevant qualifications, such as educational projects or a recent certification from the Project Management Institute.

Experienced project managers should use a Career Profile or Summary section. It briefly communicates your core skills and accomplishments. Write about your expertise in managing the project life cycle, implementing process improvements, and supervising cross-functional teams. Use numbers to highlight your impact on clients, project progress, and bottom-line results.

Writing the Summary section on a technical project manager resume

  • Your target job title
  • Years of experience
  • Key areas of specialization (implementing Agile methodology, managing software development, marketing, or enterprise-level projects)
  • 1-2 most impressive achievements
  • Your most relevant skills
  • How you can help the company if hired

Project management resume summary example

Results-driven IT Project Manager with 4+ years of experience leading complex projects ranging from system upgrades to software implementations. Completed 25+ projects, overseeing budgets of up to $550K and ensuring timely project completion while managing multiple projects simultaneously. Experienced in implementing Agile methodologies, resulting in a 24% increase in project delivery efficiency.

Senior IT project manager resume summary

Dynamic Project Management Intern aspiring to start a career as an IT Project Manager. Recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a solid foundation in project lifecycle and project management methodologies. Eager to apply theoretical knowledge to practical projects and apply analytical and leadership skills to contribute to successful project outcomes.

Add your project management experience

As a technical project manager, you should list your technical projects, show your fit for the target project management job, and highlight key accomplishments. Here's how to do this.

Add your job title, company name, and dates of employment. If your company is not commonly known, write one sentence describing it. This makes sense if the company works in a niche market or the company's values align with those of your target organization.

Prioritize achievements. Today, hiring managers are more interested in your achievements, not duties. Resume space is limited, so you need to make an impact quickly. Plus, showcasing the achievements in your IT project manager resume shows that you are able to achieve goals, exceed expectations, and deliver projects successfully.

Use a STAR approach. When listing projects you managed, use a Situation-Task-Action-Result (STAR) method. Here's how it works for your technical project manager resume:

  • describe the context of the situation
  • specify the task that you had to complete
  • mention the action you took to resolve the situation
  • show the positive outcome.

If you use this strategy, the employer will have the big picture of your actions and how you made an impact. It will help you showcase your technical project management expertise during the job interview as well.

Keep it brief. Keep each job description in your project manager resume to 4-6 bullets. If you had lots of responsibility in past roles, focus on those relevant to the job you have in mind. Do not overwhelm the hiring manager with details. Focus on project management successes that sell your professional skills best.

Let's look at the example.

IT Project Manager

ABC Tech Solutions, Anytown, California 09/2021 - 12/2023

  • Implemented the Agile methodology.
  • Managed teams and trained associate project managers.
  • Managed several IT projects at a time within budget.
  • Communicated with stakeholders.

What is wrong with this job description? First of all, it sounds vague - it does not say what exactly the candidate was doing in a technical project manager role. What projects did they oversee and what impact did they make?

Secondly, numbers are missing. Without figures and percentages, it is hard to evaluate their tech project management skills.

Now, let's look at the next example.

Professional experience example for a project manager

IT Project Manager

ABC Tech Solutions, Anytown, California 09/2021 - 12/2023

  • Oversaw the implementation of Agile methodology in the organization, reducing project costs by 18% and improving project delivery time by 25%.
  • Led cross-functional teams to implement the ERP system upgrade, resulting in increased operational efficiency by 12%.
  • Managed concurrent IT projects throughout the software development life cycle, ensuring the successful completion of project milestones and adherence to timelines and budgets.
  • Coordinated with key stakeholders to define project requirements and deliverables to ensure successful outcomes. Aligned project plants so that they serve long-term organizational goals.

Here, it is clear what kind of tasks this project management professional worked on, what results they achieved, and what they specialized in.

What if you don't have the experience yet?

If you are a student or graduate with no project management experience, make the unpaid experience count. Focus on your academic activities. List your coursework or even thesis if it's relevant. Add academic achievements - companies like hiring ambitious, successful students. Mention internships or unpaid projects you contributed to, focusing on your ability to coordinate the work of others and achieve the goals set.

As a career switcher, you may add irrelevant experience focusing on skills you learned from it. If you supervised others or worked in tech as a developer or software tester, explain how this experience has prepared you to succeed as a PM.

Struggling to list experience on your IT project manager resume? Our experts can prepare an achievement-driven, concise resume that sells your best strengths. We will emphasize your technical project management skills, achievements, and certifications, customizing the resume content for your target job. Make the step towards your dream career today!

Key project management skills and keywords

Project managers need to show a track record of experience in managing teams, delivering projects according to the schedule, allocating resources, and driving profitability. Yet, it also helps to list specific skills separately so that the employer doesn't overlook them. Here are the must-have skills and keywords for you to consider.

Top 7 IT project manager skills to include

Top 7 Project Manager Resume Skills
1. Project management methodologies
2. Software knowledge (CRM systems, Asana, Jira, Basecamp, etc.)
3. Data analysis
4. Cost control
5. Verbal & written communication
6. Problem-solving
7. Adaptability

Knowledge of project management methodologies

Successful project management requires knowledge of popular methodologies (such as Waterfall, Agile, PMI, and more). Plus, project managers must decide which method works best for each particular project. For example, Waterfall and PMI methods involve a lot of planning, whereas Agile is more focused on the adaptive approach and early delivery.

Software proficiency

Add proficiency in the must-have software to your technical project manager resume. Examples of software to include are CRM systems, MS Office Suite, and project management software such as Asana, Jira, and Basecamp. Project management software allows managers to manage resources, tasks, and deadlines, as well as collaborate with teams and keep documentation in one place.

If you know programming languages, data analysis tools and other software, be sure to mention that too.

Data analysis

Project managers should showcase analytical skills. As a PM, you need to quantify project outcomes, analyze budgets, expenses, and resources, and calculate the ROI. Plus, you need to monitor the project to meet the key milestones and ensure that everything goes as planned. You may specify the software you use for data analysis or show how your analytical skills helped the project succeed.

Cost control

Cost control stands for the ability to review budgets, manage costs, and reconcile expenses throughout the project to avoid cost overruns. Show how you optimized resources and managed costs for previous projects, built relationships with vendors to keep the prices low, and else. If you managed to keep the project within the scope or implemented cost-saving initiatives, mention that on your resume.

Effective communication

As a PM, you need to communicate extensively with clients, senior managers, cross-functional teams, vendors, and more. Communicating the ideas quickly and in an easy-to-understand way helps you achieve project goals. You need to show the ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with individuals and groups.

Add such skills as verbal and written communication, active listening, conflict resolution, and negotiation to your resume. These skills will show your ability to work effectively with others, resolve difficult situations, and avoid misunderstandings in the project team.

Problem-solving

Problem-solving stands for the ability to find creative solutions to any arising problems. It involves identifying the problem, working out solutions, evaluating options, and then implementing the best one.

To succeed in managing projects, you need to resolve problems proactively and be flexible in reviewing your plans. Examples of problem-solving are prioritizing resources, managing task priority, and renegotiating agreements with vendors.

Adaptability

Navigating the change and responding to it is a must as we work in an ever-changing environment. For a PM, adaptability includes learning new processes and tools, changing priorities, and responding to changes in the organization. It also means that you can make corrections throughout the project if necessary, be flexible about project plans, and ensure that it stays on time and within budget.

Acing the power of resume keywords

Did you know that nearly 99% of Fortune 500 companies now use applicant tracking systems? They weed out irrelevant resumes. Adding keywords is a must to get your resume seen by a human recruiter.

Use industry keywords in your resume when describing your job duties and accomplishments. Consider adding dedicated Skills to help hiring managers quickly identify your proficiencies. Most of those skills will count as keywords and help you get a higher score from the ATS software.

Here are the best keywords for your IT project manager resume:

  • IT management
  • Project planning
  • Business administration
  • Project lifecycle
  • Budget management
  • Risk management
  • Time management
  • Financial analysis
  • Resource allocation
  • CISM
  • Stakeholder management
  • Project timelines
  • Agile/Waterfall
  • Scope management
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Change control
  • Data analysis
  • Team building
  • Deployment management
  • Client communication

Do not do keyword stuffing (it means copying and pasting lots of keywords to your resume to trick the software). Hiring managers know these tricks, and it will get your resume tossed even if you are qualified.

How to decide what skills to add?

Don't list every skill you have. If you make a master list of your project management skills, chances are that you'll have 20, 30, or even 40 items. Yet, don't put all of them on your resume at once, as it will look cluttered.

Include skills depending on what employers want and your role. For example, beginning project managers can focus on their technical skills and soft skills, whereas a senior project manager should focus on the ability to supervise teams, train, develop the strategy, and deliver bottom-line financial results.

Read the job description carefully. In 2024, your resume should be tailored for the target job. This involves tailoring the Skills section, too. Review the job posting and understand what qualifications and skills the employer requires in the first place. If your target job requires technical skills and process improvements, focus on these skills over others.

Expand on each skill. To decide what project management skills to add, ask yourself how would you expand on these skills during the interview. In other words, before adding "cost reduction" as a skill, think about projects where you reduced costs, the steps you've taken, and what results you've achieved.

The same principle works for soft skills, such as communication. If you cannot give examples of how you effectively communicated in the workplace and how it helped increase project outcomes, it's best to keep this skill out.

Emphasize relevant education

A solid educational background gives you credibility. Moreover, some employers have minimum educational requirements for project manager jobs (such as a BA degree or a certification from the Project Management Institute).

List relevant education

List your degree, university name, and graduation year. If you have more than a Bachelor's degree, put the most advanced degree first.

Experienced professionals put education after the experience, and graduates can place it at the top of the document. As a recent graduate, you can also add the following details:

  • relevant coursework
  • your thesis
  • academic achievements (such as the Dean's List)
  • awards and university projects.

Certifications to add to your project manager resume

Software project manager certifications show your commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Moreover, professional certifications improve your employability and help you negotiate a higher salary.

The most popular certification is PMP from the Project Management Institute. Yet, other certifications can give you a competitive edge, too. Here are more PM certifications to add to your resume:

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
  • Master Project Manager (MPM)
  • CompTIA Project+
  • PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

Review and proofread

Sending an IT project manager resume with mistakes will make a poor impression. The employer will see it as a lack of attention to detail or poor written communication skills. So, be sure to polish the document before it hits the hiring manager's table.

Here are a few strategies for proofreading your technical project manager resume:

  • Put it away. After writing the resume, take a break before editing it. Thus, you will be distracted from the resume's content and focus on minor errors. With a fresh perspective, you'll spot more mistakes.
  • Read it aloud. Focus on how each word and sentence sounds. It will help you catch awkward phrases, incomplete sentences, and vague statements, and correct them before they spoil the first impression about you.
  • Use a spell checker. Run a spell check in MS Word or use online tools such as Grammarly. They will help you spot spelling, punctuation, and other minor issues. Yet, after the automatic check, you'll still need to review it manually.
  • Check the formatting. Make sure that spacing, indents, and margins are consistent in your document. See if all sections are formatted neatly and the font is easy on the eye.
  • Seek feedback. Ask a trusted friend, a colleague, or an HR manager you know to review your resume. The other person can notice the mistakes you have overlooked. What's more important, they can give you suggestions and tips to improve the resume content and structure to make it more effective.

Want to get your resume checked for free? Use our FREE resume review service. Send us your technical project manager resume and a target job posting. Our writer will evaluate your resume content, structure, and writing style and show you the mistakes and areas for improvement. Your personal data is protected, and it does not oblige you to place an order.

Keep the basics in mind

If you've followed all the steps above, you're almost done! Next, it's time to give your resume a few finishing touches to ensure effective content and smooth presentation of your experience:

  • Cut off the irrelevant facts. Keep irrelevant jobs only if you are an entry level project manager with limited experience. In all other cases, remove customer service jobs you had at the beginning of your career and non-technical jobs. Delete skills you no longer use, and proficiency with outdated software (such as Windows 2000). It will make your resume more focused.
  • Use strong action verbs. Start each bullet with an action verb. Use the present tense for jobs and projects you currently have, and the past tense for old ones. Do not use managed, led, and worked with all over the resume. Replace them with stronger language, such as oversaw, directed, implemented, streamlined, supervised, and achieved.
  • Use no more than 3 colors. With a little color, you will make the resume more appealing to recruiters. Plus, if you know the color psychology, you can improve the first impression by choosing colors that resonate with the job opening. But use color carefully if you are not a designer by trade. Stick to no more than three colors including black, and use it only to highlight the key details.
  • Keep the content professional. Do not include your age, marital status, ethnicity, and religious beliefs on a resume. These details are considered unprofessional and often lead to rejecting your resume. Save your photo for a LinkedIn profile. Avoid including salary expectations and the reasons why you were fired from the previous company.

Writing a cover letter for a tech project manager

According to the popular statistics, 60% of companies expect a cover letter with your resume. A cover letter shows that you are motivated enough and interested in the role, and are not just mass-mailing. Plus, you can use the letter to share the details of important projects or tell how you share the company's values. Yet, don't turn your IT project manager cover letter into an essay. Keep it concise and up to the point. Here's how to organize your letter.

Use the right salutation

If possible, address the hiring manager by name. Do a quick LinkedIn research to find out who is responsible for hiring, or browse the company website. If you still cannot locate the name, start your letter with "Dear Hiring Manager".

Be concise

A cover letter isn't the place to write the story of your life. Write a few paragraphs, focusing on relevant experience as an IT project manager. If you don't have relevant experience yet, focus on what you can contribute to the company and how you can help.

Keep it to 3-5 paragraphs depending on the level of job. Get straight to the point and show who you are. Hiring managers don't read lengthy letters and will probably skip yours if it's too long.

Use the appropriate tone

Using the right tone of voice is a sure way to show your cultural fit and your personality. Upon reading your letter, the attentive recruiter can see if you are right for the job. If you want to fit it, you need to sound like the company's employees and show that you share their communication style.

How to do this? Go to the company's website and social media. Pay attention to the language they use, the values they talk about, and their goals. Some companies sound friendly and enthusiastic, while others use professional jargon and complex language. Mimic this style in your letter.

Write what you can do for the company

Instead of writing how many great accomplishments you've had, suggest a solution or two to the company's challenges. If you know what the company expects from a PM, explain them how you would act if hired to meet the company's goals. Or, tell how you have successfully resolved similar problems in the past. Companies hire IT managers to get things done, so prove your ability to do this.

Tailor your letter content

Just like your resume, the cover letter needs tailoring. Choose your most relevant projects and write about them, matching the responsibilities to what the job posting asks for. Explain what you have achieved while addressing similar challenges in the past. Be sure to use a few keywords, too - it will help increase your ATS score.

Don't reiterate your resume

Repeating your resume content in a letter is a common mistake. Don't do this. Instead, choose a few highlights from your career and expand on them. Say, you can write about that project when vendors let you down and you had to negotiate with new ones to deliver the project timely. Or, share how you managed to improve performance of developers through training. Add figures to make your statements more trustworthy.

Send your letter as a DOCX or PDF file

These are the most popular file formats that open on all computers and smartphones. Follow the employer's guidelines about the file type.

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Boost your skills as a project manager

As an entry-level project manager, you can boost your skills and enhance your resume by taking courses and obtaining relevant certifications. Here are a few online courses for you to consider.

Project Management: The Basics for Success by Coursera

This course for aspiring PMs is focused on communication with cross functional teams. At the beginning, the course teaches how to launch the project, and the last chapter is focused on effective interaction with other team members on the technical project. You will learn how to get together a good team, supervise people, and deliver the project successfully.

Project Management Principles and Practices by Coursera

This demanding course has four blocks. You will learn how to evaluate the scope of the project, create the plan, and timeline, calculate project budgets, and manage risks. This course gives you comprehensive project management training that can help you start your career as a PM or increase your income.

Project Management Certificate by Google

This online program is focused on IT project management. Students learn the essentials of project management through real examples and cases from the industry. The information is divided into four blocks including the project initiation, estimating time and budget, planning and monitoring, and successful completion and implementation of the project.

Introduction to Agile Development and Scrum by IBM

This course is for junior project managers. In it, you will learn the core principles of Scrum and Agile which are necessary for most PM positions in IT. You will adopt the five practices of Agile, learn how to write good user stories, work with the product backlog, and use metrics to evaluate performance. The course offers lectures, tests and practical problems for a broader understanding of the subject.

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