When it comes to writing a CV as a Project Manager, there are many points that you need to include to make your CV stand out against those who are also applying.
Make sure that you are still adding in the fundamentals that any good CV should have, such as adding a personal profile, listing your career history from most recent down to least, and clearly formatting your CV.
However, in this article we will be discussing how to write a CV specifically for a Project Manager within the engineering sector so you can ensure that your CV is really tailored to your experience, and help increase your chances of getting an interview with the company you want.
Project Information
The most important part we recommend you include is what projects you have worked on, and what value they were. For example, was it a multi-billion pound project you worked on, or was it more smaller scale? You should also include what aspect of the project you managed, especially if it’s a high scale project where you are only responsible for a section of it. Ensure to use metrics to measure the successes you had on that project too.
Don’t stop there though, also include the fine details of the project. For example, if it was a refurbishment, or a brand-new build. It’s also important to add in dates, such as the time you worked on a specific project, or whether it was at the beginning, end or the whole duration. If you have completed multiple projects over a time period, ensure to list these clearly on your CV with the dates.
Listing project information helps the Hiring Manager to distinguish where your core competencies and strengths lie, and if your experience will be suitable for the project they are working on.
Highlighting your Project Manager background
Some Hiring Managers require specific experience, and need to know what type of background you have or the tasks you’re responsible for. An example of this would be if you come from an engineering background, or maybe it was site work you did before. Did you start off as a Section Engineer and then work your way up to Project Manager level? Or did you become a Project Manager via a different route? Clearly listing your experience will help the Hiring Manager to distinguish what background you have and what project you might be best placed on.
What’s your team set up?
Most Project Managers will have managed a team at some point in their career. However, have you managed a large team, or a smaller one whilst being a Project Manager? Be really specific and number how many people you have managed or who reported into you directly. You should also include the job titles of those who reported into you, so it gives the Hiring Manager a better idea of what levels of seniority you’ve managed. This can also include subcontractor management. We also say that numbers on a CV is a powerful tool, and this is the perfect opportunity to put them into your CV alongside project values.
Stakeholder management
When writing your CV as a Project Manager, make sure to include which stakeholders you’ve had involvement with. Whether that be with the commercial, operational or health and safety teams. This will help the Hiring Manager who is reading your CV know what areas of stakeholder management you are familiar with. It’s crucial to include an example of good stakeholder management and how your involvement had a positive impact which then contributed towards the successful completion of a project.
Team management and client liaison are two key skills within project management, so if you can list examples within each of your employment tenures this will help set you apart from other candidates who are applying for the job.
Looking for a new Project Manager job?
We have been working with Project Managers for over 18 years’ across our rail, civil engineering, construction, power, and telecoms divisions and have a variety of live project manager jobs both on a freelance and permanent basis. Click the link below to find out what positions we are currently recruiting for.
Looking for more advice on CV writing?
We have written various articles to help you with CV writing and maximising your chances of securing an interview with potential employers.
Interested in what sectors we can support your Project Manager job search?
At Navartis, our Recruitment Consultants specialise in recruitment across the global Technology sector, Energy sector and the Infrastructure and Built Environment, which includes the Construction, Civil Engineering, Rail, Power and Telecoms sectors.
