Without a stellar production manager resume you won't be able to apply your skills and talents to keep your entire workplace organized and operating smoothly. Luckily for you, we've prepared this comprehensive, yet easy-to-follow guide to make your resume writing as simple as can be.
So, dive in and discover all our best tips, inspiring examples, resume samples, and customizable templates that will lead you through the process step by step.
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Keep reading to learn how to:
- Choose a resume format that suits your experience level
- Write an attention-grabbing resume summary
- Include a variety of production management skills
- Describe your work experience using specific details
- List your production manager education correctly
- Access top resources for job-seeking production managers
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1. Choose a resume format that suits your experience level
Whenever you apply for a management-level position, you want to prioritize resume formats that focus on showing your relevant work experience.
The best format for achieving this is the reverse-chronological resume. This format places the primary focus of the document on employment history, making this section the largest and most central. To write a resume in this format, you must list your most recent job first and work chronologically backward from that point.
While this is the format you should aim to use for a production management position, some instances may require you to use an alternative format. Here are two additional resume formats to consider and examples of when to use them:
- The functional resume: Functional resumes focus on education, skills, and unpaid experience rather than formal work experience. This format generally works well for recent or soon-to-be college graduates who have extensive academic or unpaid experience but lack work experience.
- The hybrid resume: Hybrid resumes combine elements of both functional and reverse-chronological resumes, spreading the focus of the document out evenly between all sections. This format is well-suited for applicants who have professional experience in a different field and are switching career paths, or those who are returning from a gap or break in their career.
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2. Write an attention-grabbing production manager resume summary
A resume summary is a brief introductory statement that is placed at the beginning of the document.
In this summary, you should focus on describing your most important examples of experience, specializations, and accomplishments. Think of this summary like a narrative hook of a novel – it should grab the employer’s attention and compel them to read further.
To help better illustrate how to write an effective resume summary, here is an example of a weak summary followed by a correction and explanation:
Incorrect production manager resume summary example
Production Manager with many years of experience working in a fast-paced industrial environment. Skilled in implementing effective budget costs that decrease expenses significantly while maintaining high levels of product output.
Why is this incorrect? In this example, the applicant clearly has valuable information to share about their career history but fails to include specific details that make this information valuable to the employer. When including any facts about your experience or accomplishments, make sure to provide adequate context surrounding this information.
Corrected production manager resume summary example
Driven Production Manager with 5+ years of experience improving industrial production efficiency within the automobile industry. Specialized in consulting on and restructuring client production budgets, achieving a 40% decrease in overhead costs for most recent major car dealership client.
Why is this correct? In this corrected example, the applicant provides a quantifiable number of years to describe their experience, as well as offering exact information regarding the type of specialized expertise they have to offer. They end the summary on a strong note by detailing a key accomplishment achieved for their most recent client.
3. Include a variety of production management skills on your resume
In any management role, you'll need to show employers that you have a wide range of both technical and interpersonal skills that qualify you for the position.
Technical abilities – also called hard skills – are the learned abilities you gain through education and training. Soft skills refer to your people skills, such as your ability to communicate effectively with large teams. These can be both learned and inherent.
To help you brainstorm which competencies to include on your resume, here are 10 ideas of both technical and interpersonal skills that look great on a production manager’s resume:
The best production manager technical skills to put on your resume
- Creating production schedules
- Budget consultations
- Project requirement assessments
- Osha safety standards
- Knowledge of production processes
- Organizing production teams
- Placing orders for materials & supplies
- Planning & carrying out staff training
- Ensuring proper equipment maintenance
- Quality control standards
Effective soft skills for your production manager CV
- Negotiation
- Verbal & written communication
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Active listening
- Problem-solving
- Analytical thinking
- Confidence
- Organization
- Time management
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4. Describe your production management work experience using specific details
When describing your work experience on your resume, you should strive to include valuable information that goes beyond simply listing your responsibilities from previous positions.
For instance, if you have a major accomplishment such as cutting overhead costs for a specific employer or client, include specific numerical information and percentages to relay this to potential employers.
Here is an example of a work experience entry from a production manager resume
Berg Security Systems, Buffalo, NY
Production Manager
June 2018 to March 2021
- Implemented the Small Ideas program that involved 200+ warehouse employees and 15 consultants to make small changes for cutting overhead costs. Averaged a 25% decrease in operational expenditures year-over-year from 2019 to 2021.
- Assessed quality control standards on a bi-monthly basis, resulting in a decrease in production errors from 15% in 2018 to less than 3% in 2021.
- Collaborated with executive product design teams to create an improved security system product, resulting in the sale of over 100K units one month after the product’s release in late 2020.
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5. List your production manager education correctly
To become a production manager, a formal degree is recommended but not always necessary to earn this type of position. If you don't have a formal degree, such as bachelor’s or associate’s, you'll need to supplement this with an adequate amount of experience within the industry, as well as relevant certifications.
No matter which educational route you've taken, make sure to always include your highest level of education, the institution you attended, your date of graduation or completion, and any relevant certifications you hold.
Here is an example of a well-crafted education section on a production manager resume
Education
Caldwell Community College, Hudson, NC
A.A. in Production Management
Graduated: 2018
6. Top resources for job-seeking production managers
But a compelling production manager resume isn't the only ingredient you need to secure the job of your dreams. Navigating the sea of endless job opportunities isn't simple either! But knowing where to look can save you significant amount of time and effort:
- Job boards for production managers: First, we recommend focusing on websites that cater to your profession specifically. For example, JobsInManufacturing, iHireManufacturing, or Manufacturing Career Network.
- General job search platforms: Then , you should check platforms like Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, SimplyHired, and Indeed. Granted you'll probably need some extra time to sift through all the results.
- Networking: No matter the profession, nothing beats networking when it comes to effectiveness. So, if you're not well-connected yet, you should focus on making your LinkedIn profile as appealing as can be. Make connections with fellow industry experts or potential employers.
- Professional associations: Organizations like Manufacturing Management Association (MMA), the European Operations Management Association (EurOMA), The Manufacturing Institute (MI) are excellent sources of job listings, training programs, networking opportunities, and so much more.
- Specialized publications: Also, consider following media like “IndustryWeek,” “Manufacturing.net,” and “The Manufacturer.” Because knowledge of the latest industry news, trends, and developments can give you a serious leg up during any stage of the hiring process.
- Continuous learning: Finally, to increase your adaptability and employability, seek out new professional challenges outside the workplace. For instance, you can enroll in a course offered by online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or edX.
Undoubtedly, job hunting is full of twists and turns, rejections, and uncertainties. However, it's also a time of growth and discovery, where each setback brings valuable lessons and opportunities for improvement. Stay resilient, keep learning from each experience, and remember that every step forward brings you closer to finding the right opportunity!
Production Manager Resume FAQ
First of all, you need to review the job posting carefully and identify keywords and phrases related to the production management field, such as "lean manufacturing," "supply chain management," or "quality control." Then, you just incorporate these keywords naturally throughout your resume, especially in the skills section and work experience bullet points. This step helps your resume pass the applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Honestly, that depends on what the job posting you're responding to says. If it asks you to include references directly on your resume, do as instructed. But if not, create a separate document with a list of professional references who can speak to your qualifications and work ethic. Be ready to produce this document whenever asked by the recruiters.
Yes, you absolutely should! Using action verbs can make your resume more dynamic and engaging. We're talking about your work experience section here. Start your bullet points with strong action verbs such as "implemented," "optimized," "managed," or "led" to convey your accomplishments and responsibilities effectively.
While both one-column and two-column formats can be effective, a one-column format is generally recommended if you're submitting your job application via ATS. This format allows your information to flow smoothly and makes it easier for the software to scan your resume quickly. However, a two-column format may be more visually appealing for the human eye.
Yes, you should! Quantifying achievements adds credibility and impact to your words. You can use numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to quantify the results of your actions and demonstrate your effectiveness as a production manager. Whenever possible, include specific metrics to showcase your contributions to production efficiency, cost savings, quality improvements, and other key areas.
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