Program Manager Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

A program manager works to find solutions to any problem a business faces.

They can manage all aspects of a project, from overseeing a team of employees, managing budgets, and presenting information to stakeholders.

In today’s competitive job market, prospective program managers often need help to create a resume that effectively communicates their skills and experience, leading to missed opportunities.

This article provides a solution by analyzing five top program manager resume examples and explaining why they work.

By following these examples, program managers can create effective resumes that showcase their strengths and give them a competitive edge in the job market.

Program Manager Resume Examples

The program manager field has many different roles, so you must ensure your resume matches the specific job description.

Entry-Level Program Manager Resume Example

Applying for an entry-level program manager position is a way to get your foot in the door.

You might have relevant education, which you’ll want to spotlight on your resume.

You could also write a resume objective that tells the hiring manager you’re a recent graduate starting in the workforce.

Entry-level positions are also for people changing careers.

Since program managers handle so many tasks, you can use your previous work experience to highlight your skills and show the hiring manager how you’ll benefit the organization in your new role as a program manager.

Work Experience 1: Assistant Program Manager at a Nonprofit

• Assist stakeholder research in boosting corporate funding potential
• Create master schedules from critical action items to keep the team on track
• Deliver all programs to surpass key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Streamline HR software that eliminated lost time spent clocking in
• Automate a filing process that previously required ten hours of manual work weekly

Work Experience 2: Business Operations Intern at City Bank

• Analyzed previous company performance to track efficiency
• Created presentations for program managers
• Cross-checked analytics from three distinct departments
• Performed SQL queries for future reports
• Monitored inventory purchasing to find areas to cut back

Project Experience

• Organized a recycling program for the State University chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi
• Oversaw a monthly business networking event at State Community College

Skills

• Detail-oriented
• Strong communication skills
• Teamwork
• Strategic planning
• Event coordination

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, State University
• Associate of Applied Business, State Community College

Certifications

• Program Management Institute’s Program Management Professional Certification (PgMP)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant focuses on projects, education, and intern experience to showcase their ability to work as a program manager in different industries.

While a bachelor’s degree helps more to start a strong career path, including an associate’s degree in a related field shows that this applicant is serious about education.

That trait is even more apparent because they’re a recent graduate with professional certifications, which will help them in their new role.

Continuing to learn in your chosen field and earning certificates can upskill your resume, regardless of your work experience.

Having intern experience can help because it shows the applicant’s willingness to learn in a new role.

Even as an assistant, they took orders and ensured their tasks would help people more senior, which benefits the company overall.

This concise resume clearly presents the applicant as a reliable potential employee ready to learn and grow.

Mid-Level Program Manager Resume Example

When applying to mid-level program manager roles, you want to walk the thin line between highlighting your previous experience and showing that you’re willing to learn and grow with a new company.

You want to show your knowledge without coming across as overqualified for the mid-level position.

Paying careful attention to the job description will help you customize your resume.

Some mid-level program managers only work with people on their level throughout the company.

Others still report to more senior employees. Some oversee the entry-level employees to free up the senior managers.

Use the job description to your advantage here.

Work Experience 1: Youth Program Manager at Social Work Facility

• Create and present suicide prevention programs at local high schools and colleges
• Led sensitivity training for local educators that resulted in a 60% improvement in their confidence in handling delicate issues
• Spearheaded an ad campaign concept to raise public awareness of the facility’s crisis helpline, resulting in 500,000 more calls annually
• Recruited ten new social worker team leaders over two years, growing the facility’s outreach potential by 45%
• Developed three new training courses to roll out to the public over one year

Work Experience 2: Program Manager at Mental Hospital

• Trained 12 new administrative professionals to analyze the social work tracking software
• Facilitated a monthly training to empower patients recovering from alcohol addiction
• Oversaw the department inventory and worked with vendors to lower costs by 25%
• Mentored two entry-level social workers for one year each
• Brought new therapeutic activities, like animal-assisted therapy, to the hospital on a rolling schedule

Project Experience

• Started a volunteer program at the hospital to empower patients positively
• Developed a training manual based on experience training administrative professionals at Mental Hospital

Skills

• Budgeting and financial cuts
• Highly motivated and coachable
• Risk management
• Strategic planning
• Team building

Education

• Master’s of Social Work, City University
• Bachelor of Science in Social Work, City University

Certifications

• Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC)
• Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-ACYFSW)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant showcases their social work experience and education but frames it to show their leadership and ability to serve as a program manager.

They studied in a specific niche, but their experience in budgeting, recruitment and training shows a bigger picture of how they can improve the new company.

The focus on youth services also positions this applicant as someone comfortable overseeing teams of all ages and skill levels because they have the patience to work with younger, at-risk people.

They take the initiative to train others and create lasting documentation of the training, which shows they’re invested in helping the organization continue to grow positively.

Senior Program Manager Resume Example

A senior program manager has plenty of work experience in the industry—typically ten or more years.

They know how to do the work and possess the necessary skills and education.

At this point, it comes down to highlighting the most critical aspects of your resume.

You want to show off your accomplishments without including so much that your career spans multiple pages.

Though you’ll want to include plenty of relevant work experience, you should also specify why you are seeking a new role.

You can mention this in a cover letter if the job description asks for one, or add a short and sweet resume objective at the top of your document.

Your reasons range from wanting to change niches or seeking an organization you can stay with until retirement.

Work Experience 1: Senior Program Manager at a Computer Company

• Streamlined core company systems to increase talent attraction and improve employee retention by 80%
• Integrated an external technology software program to increase sales by $1M annually
• Improved sales tracking by simplifying the input process, saving 150 employees an average of one hour of data tracking a day
• Collaborated with the development team to align the technical vision with the company’s performance needs
• Developed an HR tracking solution that increased human resource efficiency by 20%

Work Experience 2: Program Manager at Big Company

• Built a vendor tracking database to analyze the inflation rate over five years and seek new vendors to keep costs low
• Contributed to the design of the mobile app to streamline shopping for consumers, resulting in a 75% increase in profits after one year of implementation
• Analyzed customer usage and reviews to create a presentation for stakeholders and increase financial backing by $2M
• Oversaw team leaders from five departments, ensuring everyone was working toward the company’s goals and delivering objectives on time with 100% accuracy
• Spearheaded an e-newsletter that generated 2,000 new leads just three months after implementation

Skills

• Agile methodologies
• Project coordination
• Strategic planning
• Risk management
• Data visualization

Education

• Master’s of Business Administration, City University
• Bachelor of Computer Science, City University

Certifications

• Program Management Professional (PgMP)
• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
• Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because it establishes the applicant as an expert.

They have years of experience as a program manager in two large corporations and highlight the work they accomplished at each.

They also mention leadership roles, which are crucial at this career stage.

The education also presents the applicant as well-rounded while remaining wholly focused on the program management field.

They continued to upskill throughout their career by seeking multiple professional certifications.

The certification in Agile is fundamental, as it builds confidence that the applicant will stay up-to-date with software and digital trends.

This resume is also strong because it creates a solid foundation for the applicant, showing they accomplished much at one job and even more at their latest position.

Despite so many years in the profession, they’re clearly looking for a new role where they can continue to grow.

A resume objective or cover letter mentioning that will ensure this resume gets a callback.

Technical Program Manager Resume Example

A technical program manager works with software to keep a business on track.

Your resume should highlight relevant computer science experience, including work history and education.

If you’ve worked with one specific program, taking it from idea to execution, you should highlight that in your bullet points.

Add concrete data to back up each claim, since that type of research is natural for technical program managers.

You should include specific facts and figures whenever possible because metrics stand out to hiring personnel.

Pull keywords from the job description and ensure you mention them in your resume to increase your chances of getting an interview.

Work Experience 1: Technical Program Manager at Science Software

• Updated company software to increase annual recurring revenue (ARR) from $7M to $18M
• Worked with seven teams across the company to build software specific to their processes
• Decreased software update time from ten hours to five, done outside of working hours
• Implemented software modification process that increased efficiency by 25%
• Managed a team of three project managers, each overseeing a distinct program

Work Experience 2: Technical Program Manager at Health Software

• Managed five different programs that brought in over $15M ARR
• Budgeted $3M annually to oversee the company’s entire software engineering department
• Ensured on-time delivery of 100% of projects, meeting or exceeding all contractual goals
• Aligned programming with the company’s strategic vision, streamlining the workflow to save each employee 15 hours of work monthly
• Oversaw four finance teams across different departments

Project Experience

• Managed a team of three interns each semester at Health Software

Skills

• Leadership
• Task management
• Consulting
• Budgeting
• System engineering

Education

• Master’s in Data Science, State University
• Bachelor of Computer Science, State University

Certifications

• CompTIA Project+ 
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant highlights their software-related experience, giving specific data about how they used their skills to improve the company’s bottom line.

Every bullet point provides detailed information about how they managed people or a program to make a positive change in the business’s workflow or spending.

The applicant lists leadership as their first skill essential in a systems engineering role.

This employee must manage stress while overseeing programs and people, so leadership is key.

In addition to putting it as the first skill, the applicant highlights examples, such as supervising specific teams and interns, so the hiring manager sees their potential.

Each bullet point uses an action verb to show the employer that the applicant engages with the work.

It’s also an effective way to draw attention to related keywords, especially if you pull some from the job listing.

The hiring manager will look for these terms and appreciate knowing you have related experience to the role they need to fill.

Marketing Program Manager Resume Example

A marketing program manager has experience creating and overseeing ad campaigns, tracking data, and analyzing the results to see what they should continue or change.

They’re familiar with print ads, digital ads, and automated marketing.

They also oversee teams of designers and software coders who help implement each campaign.

This job also requires budgeting approval, staff management, and expert knowledge of digital trends.

There are many ways to show this information on your resume, from detailed bullet points in your work history section to special projects you’ve completed as a volunteer or personal passion.

Work Experience 1: Marketing Program Manager at Big Company

• Oversaw a team of 15 leaders across all departments, including senior management
• Aligned marketing plans with product releases that led to 85% of existing customers upgrading to the newest product within three months of release
• Helped revitalize the branding with a new marketing campaign, employing digital ads for the first time in the company’s 20-year history
• Designed email newsletter ads that resulted in a 45% increase in revenue
• Produced a quarterly print magazine and digitized the content for the website

Work Experience 2: Marketing Coordinator at eCommerce Site

• Managed online digital marketing campaigns with automated ads on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest
• Created ads for social media outlets and wrote guest posts for blogs to network
• Developed a giveaway campaign that saw a 65% increase in new customer accounts
• Entirely redesigned the eCommerce website to streamline the cart actions and integrate automated reminders to finish the checkout process
• Designed a campaign using Google Ads, which increased annual revenue by 30%

Project Experience

• Design SEO-focused websites for local elementary school fundraisers as a side project
• Teach monthly Google Ads courses at the local library

Skills

• Market research
• Product development
• Social media marketing
• Google Ads
• Strategic planning

Education

• Master’s of Business Administration, City University
• Bachelor of Science in Marketing, City University

Certifications

• Google Ads Measurement Certification
• Fundamentals of Digital Marketing from Google Digital Garage
• HubSpot Marketing Software Course

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because the applicant uses details to paint a complete picture of their experience and knowledge.

They have two relevant degrees to provide a solid foundation, then build on that with professional certifications that help them stay on trend.

They mention actionable terms from these certifications in the skills section to reinforce these abilities.

Each job description has plenty of information about how the marketer worked to improve ad campaigns and business reputation online.

The details about redesigning a website and starting digital ad campaigns for a previously-resistant company show their communication and leadership skills and commitment to marketing.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include on a Program Manager Resume

Using the correct language in your program manager’s resume can make the difference between your resume getting past the applicant tracking system or the hiring manager’s desk.

Use terms related to the field and show your experience or education whenever possible.

Listing specific skills will show how you’re suitable for the job. Include hard and soft skills.

Always use action words that convey more meaning than bland words that don’t express personality.

For example, you did ‘budgeting,’’ which sounds boring and mindless.

While it might have been, writing it on your resume as “managed a six-figure budget” gives more information and sounds more engaging and dynamic.

Common Skills for Program Manager Resumes

• Budgeting
• Business Integration
• Computer skills
• Conflict management
• Customer relationship maintenance
• Database design
• Event coordination
• Leadership
• Logistics
• Microsoft 365 Suite
• Organization
• Problem-solving
• Process mapping
• Risk management
• ROI analysis
• Strategic planning
• System engineering
• Team building
• Time management
• Vendor management

Common Action Verbs for Program Manager Resumes

• Adapt
• Analyze
• Budget
• Coordinate
• Evaluate
• Identify
• Improve
• Lead
• Manage
• Optimize
• Oversee
• Plan
• Strategize
• Supervise

Tips for Writing a Better Program Manager Resume

A well-crafted program manager resume is crucial in today’s competitive job market.

While including examples of quality resumes and action verbs highlighting relevant skills is essential, there are additional strategies to ensure your resume stands out and earns you an interview.

To improve your program manager resume, consider these expert tips to help you effectively showcase your skills, achievements, and experience to potential employers.

Format Properly

Using the proper format makes your resume look clean and easy to read. It’s also crucial to ensure your document passes the applicant tracking system, which can reject resumes before they ever reach the hiring manager’s desk.

Add keywords from the job listing and industry-specific terms in your bullet points to pass this step.

Include your contact information at the top of the document.

List your work history in reverse chronological order, so the hiring manager will see your most recent roles as soon as they look at your resume.

If your resume exceeds two pages, consider cutting some of your older roles, unrelated skills, or outdated professional accreditations.

Include a Resume Objective or Summary

Did you know that your resume summary can make all the difference in getting noticed by hiring managers?

Well-crafted sentences highlighting your skills and past successes can immediately showcase your potential and set you apart from other candidates.

This is especially true for senior positions, where competition can be fierce.

While including a resume objective or summary is not required, it can give hiring managers valuable insight into who you are and what you’re looking for in a job.

A well-written objective can explain why you’re the ideal candidate for the position, highlighting your unique qualities and strengths.

This is especially useful for entry-level job seekers or those looking to switch careers.

Adding a resume objective or summary can help bridge gaps between your work history and the job requirements.

By providing context for your skills and experience, you can show how you’re a perfect fit for the job, even if your work history may align differently with the position.

So, take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your potential and grab the attention of hiring managers with a compelling resume summary or objective.

It could be the key to landing your dream job.

Customize Your Resume for Each Job

This tip might sound like a job, but will pay off in the long run.

You can add keywords from the job description to your resume, ensuring it will catch the hiring manager’s eye.

You can also change some of the bullet points in your work history to better align with the company’s wants.

While a general resume may garner an interview, it’s not worth the risk.

When you find a job listing that interests you, pull up your resume and start tweaking it to include answers to everything the company seeks in the description.

Proofread the Final Document

Everyone makes mistakes, but you don’t want your first impression with a potential employer to include typos and grammatical errors.

It only takes a few minutes to proofread your final document, so make time for it.

You might see a mistake you should have caught while typing. If you have a trustworthy friend, ask them to give it a look, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve seen five quality examples of program manager resumes.

If you need more information before applying for jobs, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

If you have experience as a program manager, consider making your job search even broader with these similar roles.

You can also check out the resume examples to see how to improve your program manager resume even more.

• Project Manager Resume: A project manager keeps businesses running smoothly, which requires strong attention to detail. Highlight this skill in your polished resume.
• Manager Resume: People looking to climb the corporate ladder or continue their leadership positions will want to craft a strong manager resume for a new role.
• Operations Manager Resume: An operations manager oversees many aspects of a business, so showcasing your skills in your resume will help you stand out.

Wrapping Up

By following the tips and guidelines presented in these program manager resume examples, you can effectively showcase your skills and experience to secure a job interview.

Remember to share this article with anyone looking to improve their program manager resume.

We welcome your comments and insights on your application experiences in the comments section.