Project Coordinator Resume Example
A career as a project coordinator typically involves coordinating project activities and facilitating team communication. A professional resume for project coordinator applications will showcase your relevant skills and career achievements, to help you stand out from the crowd. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for project coordinator applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
The aim of this article is to equip you with all the knowledge required to create a resume that positions you to succeed in your project coordinator applications. 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 the tips Jobseeker careers experts recommend as the best for your project coordinator resume.
Main elements of a project coordinator resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your project coordinator resume, while there are also a few optional sections.
A functional or skills-based resume format might be best for applications where you have little or no relevant project coordinator experience. This layout prioritizes your skills and education sections above your work experience. 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're already working as a project coordinator, concentrate on proving your credentials with your work achievements. Use a reverse-chronological resume format to place work experience prominently in your resume. 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.
If you're applying for senior project coordinator positions, you'll want to list career achievements and successes that emphasize your senior status. Use a reverse-chronological format and add extra sections to show key career highlights. Expect your senior resume to be slightly longer than resumes for more junior roles. This is because you 'll want to add details of professional memberships, awards, publications, presentations and other achievements expected of senior professionals.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Resume Header
Your project coordinator resume header should contain your name and contact details. These include your email address and phone number. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can also add that, to give employers the chance to learn more about your skills and experience. It's not necessary to include a photo or any other personal information. Make your resume header clear, concise and as brief and compact as possible. Consider different layouts that spread the information horizontally across the page rather than using a different line for each piece of information.
Make sure your email address appears as professional as possible, and doesn't include anything like nicknames, inappropriate language or personal information. If it does, set up a new email account with an address based on your name or initials, and use that for your job applications. Always double-check your contact details are up-to-date before sending your resume.
Jack Lee
jack.lee@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
linkedin․com/in/jack–lee123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for project coordinator roles.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why project coordinator roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for project coordinator roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a project coordinator resume summary in the graphic below.
Good example:
Results-driven Project Coordinator with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Project Management and extensive experience as a Project Manager. Demonstrated expertise in orchestrating project activities, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring project deliverables are met on time and within budget. Adept at optimizing project workflows, mitigating risks, and fostering strong stakeholder relationships to achieve organizational objectives. Proven ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and deliver high-quality results in fast-paced environments
Bad example:
Project coordinator with some background in business and managing projects. Worked in roles where I helped organize tasks and worked with different teams. Tried to keep projects on schedule and within budget. Have experience in improving how projects run and dealing with any issues that come up. Focused on building good relationships with people involved in projects and handling multiple tasks at once in busy settings
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Employment History
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of a project coordinator. Include any relevant jobs you've held in reverse-chronological order. Start with your current or most recent roles and work back through previous roles. For each job, list your title, the name of the company, its location and the dates you worked there.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements so the hiring manager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet 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. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Good example:
Project Manager, January 2022 - Present
Synergy Solutions Group, Omaha
- Successfully led a $5M project, delivering on time and under budget, improving process efficiency by 25%
- Managed cross-functional teams of up to 50 members, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate
- Implemented Agile methodologies, reducing project cycle time by 30%, and increasing team productivity by 40%
Bad example:
Project Manager, January 2022 - Present
Synergy Solutions Group, Omaha
- Led projects to completion, ensuring team collaboration and meeting objectives
- Managed diverse teams, fostering effective communication and teamwork
- Implemented new strategies to enhance project outcomes and efficiency
The example above can give you some idea of what not to include in your resume work experience section. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Education
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for project coordinator roles.
Typically, working as a project coordinator requires a university or college degree, which you'll need to list on your resume. If you're working in this sector, it's usually a good idea to highlight your Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree or other relevant qualifications. Focus on qualifications that showcase your project management software or data analysis tools.
For each entry in this section, add the name and level of your qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Project Management, 2017 - 2020
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Skills
Adding a list of your key skills provides a quick reference for the reader of what you can bring to a project coordinator role. Skills such as project management software or time management skills are particularly useful for project coordinator jobs. 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 project coordinator.
How to list hard skills on your project coordinator resume
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a project coordinator. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in a project coordinator resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a project coordinator resume, see below.
- Project management software
- Data analysis tools
- MS Office Suite
Soft skills on your project coordinator resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a project coordinator job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. 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 project coordinator resume.
- Time management skills
- Effective communication
- Problem-solving abilities
Certifications and Training
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional project coordinator certifications, licenses or qualifications. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a project coordinator resume:
- PMP Certification, 2022
- CAPM Certification, 2022
- PRINCE2 Foundation, 2022
Optional Sections
There are several additional sections you could add to a project coordinator resume, to improve your chances of success. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Personal Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. 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
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your project coordinator resume. 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
References aren't a standard project coordinator resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Be sure to prepare your referees in advance, so they've agreed to provide a reference and are ready to be contacted.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best words to use in a project coordinator resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Coordinate
- Manage
- Organize
- Facilitate
- Oversee
- Implement
- Schedule
- Communicate
- Monitor
- Execute
Jobseeker's clean, attractive resume formats can help your applications make a strong impression on employers. Check them out for help designing a winning resume, and see our cover letter templates to help win over recruiters and hiring managers.
Example of a project coordinator resume
The project coordinator resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
•
jack.lee@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/jack–lee123
Results-driven Project Coordinator with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Project Manager. Skilled in overseeing project timelines, coordinating team efforts, and ensuring successful project completion. Adept at managing resources, budgets, and stakeholder communication to achieve organizational goals efficiently. Proven track record of delivering projects on time and within scope.
Project Manager
2020
-2022
Synergy Solutions Inc (North Las Vegas)
- Led a cross-functional team to deliver a $2M project on time and 15% under budget, enhancing operational efficiency
- Implemented Agile methodologies, reducing project cycle time by 30% and improving team productivity and collaboration
- Successfully managed a portfolio of 10 concurrent projects, achieving a 95% client satisfaction rate and exceeding KPIs
Project management software
Data analysis tools
MS Office Suite
Time management skills
Effective communication
Problem-solving abilities
PMP Certification
CAPM Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a project coordinator resume
Simple tips for creating a winning resume
- Quantify your career achievements by including evidence of your impact throughout your resume.
- Adapt your resume depending on the job you're applying for. Take a look at the job description and make sure you reference all the required key skills and experience.
- Order your work experience in a reverse-chronological timeline, starting with your most recent position.
- Proofread your resume before sending it, to avoid any unnecessary mistakes that may harm your chances.
- Make your project coordinator resume short and to-the-point. A length of one page is ideal for junior roles, while two is acceptable for senior applications.
Steer clear of these common resume writing errors
- Don't use an email address with offensive, funny or casual connotations. Instead, create a professional email address based on your name.
- Don't clutter your project coordinator resume with too much information. Keep everything focused on showcasing your relevant skills and achievements.
- Don't lie or exaggerate any information on your project coordinator resume, as this can cause you problems further down the line.
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
Making an ATS-friendly 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. If you follow a few simple tips when writing your project coordinator resume, you'll give yourself a better chance of ranking highly in the ATS screening and progressing to the next stage.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS systems to scan.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- Include clear headings that make it easy to identify each section of your resume. This will help any ATS software navigate your resume during the scanning process.
- Use design elements that help make your resume more readable. These might include white space, clear, professional fonts and subtle color accents to help certain elements stand out.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
FAQs for a project coordinator resume
Now that you know how to write a professional project coordinator resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
In some situations, a full, professional cover letter may not be necessary. Check the job advert and decide whether to write a formal cover letter, or if a brief email is more suitable.
A traditional cover letter should follow formal letter-writing conventions and structure, including a header, the recipient's address and professional greetings and sign-offs. For the main body of the letter, open with a short paragraph introducing yourself and explaining your reasons for applying for the project coordinator role. Follow that with an explanation of your skills and experience and how they're relevant to the position. Close by expressing your gratitude and enthusiasm, and leaving a call to action that encourages the employer to open a dialogue with you.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your project coordinator resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. 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 strong resume headline can give the reader an immediate idea of your suitability for project coordinator jobs. Resume headlines are also a powerful way of increasing your resume's chances of passing the ATS stage. They reference the job title and some of the keywords that match the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Junior Project Coordinator Specialist
- Efficient Project Coordination Specialist
- Senior Project Coordination Specialist
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Takeaways for a winning project coordinator resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
HR-approved resume templates and other tools by Jobseeker are the easiest way to create a winning job application. Sign up and follow the simple instructions to complete a resume that stands out from the crowd. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
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/
