Contract Manager Resume Example
Starting a career as a contract manager gives you the chance to gain experience in negotiating contract terms and managing vendor relationships. For a successful contract manager application, you'll want to submit a professional resume that showcases your relevant skills. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your contract manager applications.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating a contract manager resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. You'll find valuable tips on writing a resume that best showcases your unique skills and achievements. There is also extensive guidance on how to structure your resume to match the job description, and to reflect your experience levels to impress HR specialists and employers. Read on to learn how to write a perfect contract manager resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a contract manager resume
Most resumes contain similar key sections, with a contract manager resume being no different.
For junior and entry-level contract manager positions, you may be short on work experience to include in your resume. Select a resume layout that emphasizes your skills and qualifications, such as a functional format. Focus the content of your resume on your soft and transferable skills, and any hard or technical skills you've learned from your studies or career to date. You can also mention any relevant internships, training courses or voluntary roles you've taken on.
If you have some experience as a contract manager, use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format and focus on showing how you've used the skills required for the job in your career to date. Your resume should focus on your career achievements, and the role you've played in successful projects and activities for your employers. Consult the job description for guidance on what to showcase, and provide evidence to support your claims.
As a highly experienced candidate, you'll want your contract manager resume to showcase your depth of relevant work experience, as well as other achievements. Use a reverse-chronological format and add additional sections to prove you're a strong candidate. Senior resumes are often longer than resumes for junior roles. This is because you may choose to include extra sections, such as awards, professional memberships, publications, conferences or certifications on your resume.
How you choose to present your resume is up to you. There are plenty of options for a professional resume layout and format, but every application should include the following:
Header and Personal Information
Your contract manager resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Louis Nelson
louis.nelson@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
0001 Cemetery Lane, New York, NY
linkedin․com/in/louis–nelson123
Resume Summary
Following your resume header, write a resume summary to introduce yourself and showcase some of your key skills and achievements. Alternative names for this section are 'resume objective' and 'personal profile'. While a resume summary focuses on your career experience, a resume objective covers your ambitions and career plans. In addition, your objective should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for contract manager roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why contract manager roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for contract manager roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. See below for some great examples of what to include in your contract manager resume summary.
Good example:
Results-driven Contract Manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Contract Management Specialist. Proven track record in negotiating, drafting, and managing contracts to ensure compliance and mitigate risks. Adept at fostering strong relationships with stakeholders and implementing effective contract management processes to support organizational objectives
Bad example:
Contract manager with some background in business and handling contracts. Worked on agreements and tried to make sure everything goes smoothly. Have been involved in talking to different people and setting up processes to help the organization
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Work History
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a contract manager. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Add some bullet points under each job entry, explaining your achievements in the role, so the reader can see how you contributed towards success for the company. Provide evidence of your impact and make sure each point addresses a requirement listed in the job description.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Good example:
Contract Management Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Horizon Contract Solutions, Glendale
- Successfully negotiated and executed over 150 contracts annually, resulting in a 15% cost reduction and improved vendor relationships
- Implemented a contract lifecycle management system, increasing contract compliance by 25% and reducing processing time by 30%
- Led cross-functional team to resolve contract disputes, saving $2 million in potential litigation costs and enhancing client satisfaction
Bad example:
Contract Management Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Horizon Contract Solutions, Glendale
- Managed various contracts to enhance company operations and vendor partnerships
- Improved contract processes for better efficiency and compliance
- Collaborated with teams to address and resolve contract issues
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. Poor examples of resume work experience sections tend to be vague and fail to quantify your achievements and the impact you've made in your career to date. They may also focus on responsibilities above relevant skills and how you've used them.
Education
In your education section, include details of your most relevant contract manager qualifications and educational achievements.
Opportunities as a contract manager and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your financial acumen or contract law knowledge.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. You can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
Membership or leadership of any societies, clubs or causes while studying can also make a positive impression on hiring managers. Consider adding these to your education section for more insight into how you used your time as a student.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), 2017 - 2020
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C
Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for contract manager roles. Whether your skills include risk management expertise, attention to detail or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Again, refer to the job description and make sure you include skills that the employer has listed as essential or desirable for employment as a contract manager.
How to list hard skills on your contract manager resume
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a contract manager. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in contract manager roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. It's best to aim for four or five key hard skills that match the job description. These can really showcase your suitability for the job.
For an effective resume hard skills section, focus on the technical skills that are most essential in the job description, and that match your specific expertise. Some examples of the best hard skills for a contract manager resume are listed below.
- Contract law knowledge
- Risk management expertise
- Negotiation and mediation
Listing soft skills on your contract manager resume
Your soft skills are the core qualities and personal characteristics that make you a good employee. They tend to apply to multiple professions and jobs, though the soft skills you'll require may change as you move from junior to senior positions. Indeed, as the nature of work changes, soft skills are growing in importance, so make sure you include them in your resume. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
A good soft skills section would include skills that match the job description, and also reflect your key strengths and qualities. See the graphic below for an indication of what to include in a strong soft skills section for a contract manager resume.
- Communication and negotiation
- Problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail
Certifications and Training
In this section, include any contract manager certifications, training or licenses you hold that are relevant to the job. You could list accreditations for certain professional roles or licenses for certain activities that help to make you a strong candidate. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for a contract manager resume:
- PMP Certification, 2022
- CFCM Credential, 2022
- CPCM Certification, 2022
Resume tip:
Optional Information
As well as the main sections of a contract manager resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Take a look at the sections below and add any that help you show how and why you're right for the job.
Personal Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world contract manager experience. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Volunteer Work
If you're lacking relevant contract manager work experience, volunteer work can help to show you still have the relevant skills. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard contract manager resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
References can be provided upon request.
Best strong verbs for your a contract manager resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Manage
- Negotiate
- Draft
- Review
- Analyze
- Execute
- Coordinate
- Monitor
- Resolve
- Implement
For help creating an eye-catching resume design to catch the attention of hiring managers, see Jobseeker's professional resume layouts. You can also use our clear, effective cover letter templates to complete your application.
Example resume for contract manager applications
The contract manager resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
0001 Cemetery Lane, New York, NY
•
louis.nelson@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/louis–nelson123
Results-driven contract manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Contract Management Specialist. Proven track record in negotiating, drafting, and managing a wide range of contracts, ensuring compliance and mitigating risks. Adept at fostering strong stakeholder relationships and streamlining contract processes to achieve organizational goals. Highly skilled in contract lifecycle management, risk assessment, and conflict resolution
Contract Management Specialist
2020
-2022
Covenant Contracts Ltd (Saint Paul)
- Negotiated and secured $2M in annual savings through strategic supplier contracts and cost-effective procurement practices
- Streamlined contract approval process, reducing cycle time by 40% and improving compliance with organizational policies and regulations
- Managed a portfolio of 200+ contracts, ensuring adherence to terms and mitigating risks through proactive monitoring and renegotiation
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
2017
-2020
University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI)
Contract law knowledge
Risk management expertise
Negotiation and mediation
Communication and negotiation
Problem-solving abilities
Attention to detail
PMP Certification
CFCM Credential
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for contract manager resumes
Simple tips for creating a winning resume
- Reference your key qualifications and educational achievements, including grades if these help you stand out from other candidates.
- Make your contract manager resume short and to-the-point. A length of one page is ideal for junior roles, while two is acceptable for senior applications.
- Make a strong first impression with a concise, impactful contract manager resume summary that showcases your key qualities.
- Choose a resume format that's clear, professional and makes your resume as readable as possible. Pay particular attention to the font, line spacing, heading and margins to make your document as easy-to-read as possible for employers.
- Adapt your resume for every job application for maximum impact. Review the job description to understand the specific requirements for the role.
Keep away from these common resume mistakes
- Don't use passive language because it can switch off the reader. Adapt phrases like 'the work was completed' to 'I completed the work'.
- Don't use an email address that contains unprofessional content, and if necessary create a new, more professional email address.
- Don't include hobbies unless they help you prove a skill or experience that's necessary for the job.
- Don't use overly decorative formatting and layouts that can detract from the content and make your contract manager resume harder for scanning by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
Tips on creating an ATS-optimized resume
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are one of the key ways recruiters and employers manage the hiring process. The systems can screen candidates by scanning and ranking resumes based on each candidate's likely suitability for the vacancy. There are several things you can do when writing your contract manager resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Use a traditional resume layout, such as a reverse-chronological or functional format. This will mean your resume includes all the necessary sections, in the expected order.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Use clear headings that break your resume up into readable, scannable sections that match the standard content employers expect from a resume.
- Adopt a clean, unfussy design that gives your content enough white space to breathe. Use professional, readable fonts and subtle use of color and other design elements.
- Keep your resume as concise as possible, to make it easier to read, and for ATS software to scan.
If you need help creating a professional resume, take a look at our expert career articles and variety of resume examples created by careers experts.
Frequently Asked Questions for a contract manager resume
Now that you know how to write a professional contract manager resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the contract manager role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
Jobseeker's HR-approved cover letter templates can help you produce a cover letter that really catches the eye of employers.
Writing a contract manager resume with no experience needn't be a daunting task. There are still plenty of ways to impress hiring managers with your resume. Opt for a skill-based resume format instead of a traditional layout. This places your skills and education in a more prominent position on your resume. Optional sections at the end of your resume can play a stronger role if you're lacking relevant work experience. Use certifications and training, hobbies and interests, volunteer roles and internships to show you've got the necessary skills for the job.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for contract manager jobs. A well-constructed resume headline can help your resume rank highly with ATS screening tools by referencing some of the key information from the job description. Write a short, snappy heading for your resume including the job title and a reference to your experience, your track record or one or two of your key skills.
See an example resume headline below:
- Junior Contract Management Professional
- Skilled Contract Management Professional
- Senior Contract Management Professional
The resume format that gives you the best chances of success depends on your experience levels, as well as the type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Takeaways for a winning contract manager resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Jobseeker has a wealth of resume tools, including resume templates and examples, to help you create a winning job application. Sign up today to get started. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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