Account Manager Resume Example
Starting a career as an account manager gives you the chance to gain experience in managing client relationships and coordinating with teams. For a successful account manager application, you'll want to submit a professional resume that showcases your relevant skills. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for account manager applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other account manager applicants. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Read on to learn how to write a perfect account manager resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Main elements of an account manager resume
A successful account manager resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections.
If you have no work experience as an account manager or have just started in the industry, you could consider using a functional or skills-based format, which emphasizes your skills and education. 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 an account 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. By using this resume format you can focus on showing how your experience has helped you develop the required skills for the job. Review the job description to understand which key skills and experience to focus on.
For senior account manager applications, concentrate on your work experience and any accolades or achievements that prove your status as a highly experienced candidate. Use a reverse-chronological resume format with additional sections. Your senior resume will likely be more comprehensive than resumes for more junior roles. You can add extra details about your career, such as awards, publications presentations, professional memberships or certifications.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header
Your account manager 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 the email address you list in your header is professional-looking and doesn't contain any inappropriate content such as nicknames or unsuitable language. Opt for an email address based on your name or profession, or a combination of both. Finally, check your contact details before sending your resume, to ensure everything's up-to-date.
Addison Cooper
addison.cooper@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
852 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
linkedin․com/in/addison–cooper123
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. In addition, your objective should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for account manager roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description.
Alternatively, write a paragraph that concentrates on your career objectives and how this role fits with your wider ambitions and progression.
A good resume summary is short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description, with evidence to back it up. It will also help the reader to form their first impressions of you by providing an insight into your personality and unique qualities. See below for some great examples of what to include in your account manager resume summary.
Dynamic and results-driven Account Manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration and extensive experience as a Client Relationship Manager. Proven track record in managing client portfolios, enhancing customer satisfaction, and driving revenue growth. Adept at building strong client relationships, identifying business opportunities, and delivering tailored solutions to meet client needs. Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with a solid foundation in business administration principles
Account manager with some background in business and working with clients. Handled client accounts and tried to keep them happy while looking for ways to increase sales. Built relationships and looked for opportunities to offer solutions to clients. Communicated, negotiated, and solved problems, using basic business knowledge
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. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Work Experience
Your resume work experience section is the chance to show your relevant previous jobs and career achievements as an account 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.
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.
An effective resume work experience section is one that constantly echoes the skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you used your skills to positive effect in each job. Each bullet point should be carefully crafted to showcase a particular skill or achievement relevant to account manager jobs, with evidence to show the value you added. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Client Relationship Manager, January 2022 - Present
Summit Financial Solutions, San Diego
- Increased client retention rate by 25% through personalized engagement strategies and proactive communication
- Successfully managed a portfolio of 50 high-value clients, resulting in a 20% revenue growth year-over-year
- Led cross-functional teams to resolve client issues, achieving a 95% client satisfaction score
Client Relationship Manager, January 2022 - Present
Summit Financial Solutions, San Diego
- Improved client relationships through effective communication and collaboration
- Managed client accounts to enhance business outcomes
- Led team efforts to address client needs and concerns
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. 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 account manager roles.
If you're applying for account manager positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your financial report analysis or salesforce CRM expertise.
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. You can enhance this section by adding bullet points that show any outstanding grades, awards or achievements and any specialist subjects you studied. These details can make you stand out from other candidates.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), 2017 - 2020
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for account manager roles. Whether your skills include salesforce CRM expertise, time management or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Once more, review the job description and pick out any key account manager skills listed that match yours. Focus on these skills and any other key transferable skills that make you a strong candidate for the job.
Listing hard skills on your account manager resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in account manager roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. 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.
You'll make more impact with your resume hard skills list if you focus on technical skills that reflect your unique expertise and specialism, and that match the key requirements in the job description. See the graphic below for some tips on hard skills for an account manager resume.
- CRM software proficiency
- Salesforce CRM expertise
- Financial report analysis
Showcasing your best soft skills
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. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for an account manager resume.
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Time management
Certifications and Training
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as an account manager. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
Read on to see some relevant example certifications for an account manager resume:
- PMP Certification, 2022
- CMA Certification, 2022
- Salesforce Certification, 2022
Optional Sections
If you need to provide further evidence of your suitability for the job, optional sections can be useful for an account manager resume. 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. Consider listing hobbies and interests to help your resume stand out, or to provide the employer with some insight into your personality and wider interests. They're perfect for candidates who might lack genuine work experience as an account manager. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Volunteering
This section can be valuable for an account manager resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
References aren't a standard account manager resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References will be available upon request.
Best action words for your account manager resume
Using strong action words to make your resume resonate with the employer. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Manage
- Coordinate
- Negotiate
- Develop
- Implement
- Analyze
- Optimize
- Communicate
- Resolve
- Strategize
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 an account manager resume
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your account manager resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
852 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
•
addison.cooper@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/addison–cooper123
Dynamic and results-driven Account Manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Client Relationship Manager. Proven track record of managing client portfolios, driving customer satisfaction, and contributing to revenue growth. Adept at building and maintaining strong client relationships, identifying business opportunities, and delivering tailored solutions to meet client needs. Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
Client Relationship Manager
2020
-2022
Nexus Client Solutions (Santa Ana)
- Increased client retention by 25% through personalized engagement strategies and proactive issue resolution
- Managed a portfolio of 50+ high-net-worth clients, achieving a 30% growth in account value within one year
- Implemented a CRM system that improved client communication efficiency, reducing response time by 40%
Crm software proficiency
Salesforce CRM expertise
Financial report analysis
Communication skills
Problem-solving aptitude
Time management
PMP Certification
CMA Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for account manager resumes
- Adapt your resume for every job application for maximum impact. Review the job description to understand the specific requirements for the role.
- Order your work experience in a reverse-chronological timeline, starting with your most recent position.
- Quantify your successes by providing figures and other evidence that shows how your skills have made a difference to your employer.
- Include key skills throughout your resume that reflect the job description, and include a dedicated skills section.
- Use a professional resume format with clear headings, a defined structure and consistent marginsfor optimum readability.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms that can make your account manager resume more difficult to read.
- Don't list irrelevant work experience as it will likely do nothing for your chances of success.
- Don't use an email address with offensive, funny or casual connotations. Instead, create a professional email address based on your name.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
- Don't add any hobbies or interests unless they directly showcase a skill or experience that's relevant to the job.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. If you follow a few simple tips when writing your account manager resume, you'll give yourself a better chance of ranking highly in the ATS screening and progressing to the next stage.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- 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.
- Add keywords throughout your resume that help ATS software match your application to the job description. A higher match means your application is more likely to proceed to be reviewed by human eyes.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions about an account manager resume
Now that you know how to write a professional account manager 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.
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 account 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.
Even if you have little or no relevant work experience, it's still possible to write an account manager resume that makes a strong impression on employers. Select a resume format that emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience, such as a functional format. Make the most of additional sections such as hobbies and interests, volunteer work, certifications and internships. These can help you showcase skills that you've developed outside traditional work settings.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for account 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 concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Aspiring Junior Account Manager
- Experienced Client Relationship Specialist
- Senior Account Management Professional
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 entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Key takeaways for your account manager resume
An effective resume is a concise, professional summary of your relevant skills and career achievements, showcased through a chronology of your career history. Select a resume format that suits your experience levels and the job you're applying for, and make sure you tailor your resume for each application.
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/
