Project Manager CV Example & Writing Tips (+ Template) (2023)

You are Agile, you can Scrum, you know 13 synonyms of the word ‘efficient’ and 9 for the word ‘optimization’. You deliver results, but time has come to deliver something for yourself.

You have found the project management job that you have been waiting for. Now all that’s needed is a project manager CV that won’t go into the backlog. With this guide, you will learn how to develop a CV version ready for deployment.

Create an effective CV in minutes. Choose a professional CV template and fill in every section of your CV in a flash using ready-made content and expert tips.

Create your CV now

Create your CV now

The LiveCareer online CV maker lets you build a professional CV fast and download it as a PDF or DOC.

Considering other positions? See CV examples for different jobs:

• Account Manager CV
• Administrator CV
• Business Analyst CV
• Data Analyst CV
• Electrician CV
• Restaurant Manager CV

Want to explore other options? See our selection of CV examples for other jobs.

Project manager CV example

That’s the completed product for project management CV. Let’s see the methodology. Here's how to write a CV for PMs.

1. Write a project manager CV personal statement

You’re a PMP. Efficient. Agile. Etc. Conciseness ought to be your forte. This is why you will surely ace your personal statement (also known as a personal profile), as long as you follow this simple formula for success.

You start your CV with a personal statement answering the following questions in one sentence each:

1. Who are you, and what’s your experience?
2. In what industry are you experienced in delivering?
3. What’s your most impressive/relevant achievement?
4. What’s your most unique achievement?
5. What are you hoping to be able to achieve in this job? (For the employer, not yourself).

This part is easiest written right at the very end (and that's why it is also known as a CV summary). Make sure you have metrics for your achievements, or are able to estimate your impact.

Project manager CV profile

Meticulous Project Manager with 10+ years of experience delivering on-time and on-budget in the IT and property industries. Proven track record of improving profitability of projects by at least 10% in both niches, by cost-reduction and process optimization. Documented ability to oversee 20+ projects at a time, up to £3m monthly revenue total. Track record of managing a monthly spending budget of £1.2m. Seeking to apply proven skills and strong principles in a more challenging role at OmniLabs.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

Create your CV now

2. Write your project manager CV job description

Here’s where you get to elaborate on the rapid-fire of reasons to hire you that you just fired off in the personal statement. First, answer one question: Are goals valid if they’re not measurable? Of course not.

Neither are achievements. In fact, for a PMP CV, no bullet point is really valid unless it’s measurable. Avoid wordiness in describing action, and instead devote the space to quantifying impact. This way you allow the employer to see exactly how you can slot into their machine.

You can use the PAR (Problem Action Result) formula to develop the bullet points in your work history section. List 5 to 9 for your most relevant position, under this heading:

[Job Title]

[Company Name, Location]

[Dates of Employment]

For older positions, limit the bullet points to only original information (that doesn’t appear under other positions). Make sure that every bullet point refers to a requirement of the position you’re applying for. Otherwise, it is a redundant bullet point.

Project manager CV work experience section

3. Map out your education

There are many different paths that lead into project management. Your education section is a mere formality in most cases, and real management experience matters far more. But there’s one, established way of recording them on your project manager CV. List your degrees in the following way:

[Degree Class][Degree Type][Degree Name](Year Graduated)

[University Name]

If you're writing a junior project manager CV, you can add some extra details in this section such as extracurricular activities or areas of excellence.

Project Manager CV education section

4. Make a list of your project manager skills

As you are being very concise and SMART-oriented with the bullet points on your project manager CV, you might be left with a list of several loose skills that don’t warrant a deeper elaboration, but would benefit you to be listed.

Alternately, you could use the skills section to reiterate the key points of your other CV sections. Either way, pick the ones that correspond to the requirements of the job advertisement (hard and soft skills). If for no other benefit than to trigger (in a good way) the Applicant Tracking System that might be churning your CV.

Project Manager CV skills

5. Add additional sections to your project manager CV

For extra sections, you could summarise your biggest projects in a Notable Projects section. You definitely need to list all your project management qualifications in a Certifications section. Languages are always beneficial, also.

If it’s not relevant to the role, leave it out. You are trying to paint the picture of the most complete candidate, not a complete picture of yourself.

Project manager CV additional sections

6. Write a project manager cover letter

A cover letter is a great chance to display the interest you have taken in the company that your project manager CV does not allow you to display. It lets you directly address their requirements with evidence of your performance in those domains.

More importantly however, it’s another way to grab attention. The cover letter formula is:

• 1st Paragraph (60-80 words)—List your years of experience, and the most important reason for why you are the best candidate.
• 2nd (Main) Paragraph (120-200 words)—Outline the 2-3 most significant reasons for your suitability for this role.
• 3rd Paragraph (40-60 words)—Show your genuine interest in the company and explain what you can do for them.
• Call to Action (Single Sentence)—Be confident and ask for an interview.

Write a short cover letter (between half a page and one full page in length).

7. Project manager CV format

Follow these CV formatting rules:

• For a neat CV layout, use clear headings for each section, and use white space between them to guide their eyes.
• Use a clear, easy-to-read CV font like Garamond, Noto or Arial.
• If not asked to send a *.doc, send your CV as a PDF.

How long should a CV be? Depends on your experience. If you're a junior, a one-page CV should be enough. If you have more experience, go for a two-page CV, but list only those details that are relevant to the position you're applying for.

Don't list references on your CV. Recruiters know they can expect them, so save space for more relevant information.

Use a creative CV template, but make sure it is ATS-friendly. Remember that your CV design should also match the design of your cover letter.

One last piece of CV advice: make sure to follow up after two weeks if you don’t hear back. Sometimes, things just need push.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

Create your CV now

Did we answer all your questions on how to write a project management CV? Got any job hunting tips and tricks you’d like to share? Did you find our project manager CV examples useful? Use the comments section below. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.