Business Continuity Manager Resume Example
Working as a business continuity manager can provide a rewarding career, involving developing BCP strategies and conducting risk assessments. If you want to stand out with your business continuity manager applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll highlight tips and examples for creating a business continuity manager resume that makes a winning impression on recruiters and hiring managers.
This complete guide to a business continuity manager resume will equip you with the tools you need to compete in your 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. Continue reading to find expert tips and advice from Jobseeker that will help you with your business continuity manager resume.
Main elements of a business continuity manager resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your business continuity manager resume, while there are also a few optional sections.
If you have no work experience as a business continuity 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're already working as a business continuity manager, concentrate on proving your credentials with your work achievements. Use a reverse-chronological resume format to place work experience prominently in your resume. 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 business continuity 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. It's likely that your senior resume will be longer than a standard resume of one-to-two pages. This is because you'll be listing additional achievements beyond your work experience, such as awards, publications and professional memberships.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Header and Personal Information
The resume header is the place to add your name and contact details, along with your LinkedIn URL if you have a profile, so employers can find more information about your career journey and skills. You don't typically need to add a photo, or any other personal information to this section. 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.
Logan Campbell
logan.campbell@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights, CA
linkedin․com/in/logan–campbell123
Resume Summary
In your resume summary, write a short paragraph that highlights two or three of your key achievements and skills for business continuity manager roles. You could also call this section 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. A resume summary covers your career experience to date, while a resume objective focuses more on your ambitions for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
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. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a business continuity manager resume summary in the graphic below.
Highly skilled Business Continuity Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and extensive experience as a Business Continuity and Resilience Manager. Proven expertise in developing, implementing, and managing comprehensive business continuity and resilience strategies to safeguard organizational operations. Adept at risk assessment, crisis management, and ensuring operational resilience in dynamic environments. Strong leadership and project management skills with a track record of maintaining business functionalities during disruptions and enhancing overall organizational preparedness
Business professional with a background in business administration and experience in planning and managing strategies. Worked on making sure things run smoothly and handling unexpected situations. Good at looking at risks and dealing with crises. Have led teams and managed projects to keep things going during tough times and tried to make the organization ready for challenges
Conversely, a bad resume summary might be too generic, lacking focus on the specifics of the job description. It will also fail to provide any useful insights on what makes you a unique candidate. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your business continuity manager resume summary
Work History
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your business continuity manager skills. For each entry, list the job title, the name of the employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Add each job in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role.
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.
Business Continuity and Resilience Manager, January 2022 - Present
Resilience Solutions Inc, Memphis
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive business continuity plan, reducing downtime by 40% during critical incidents
- Led a cross-functional team to achieve ISO 22301 certification, enhancing organizational resilience and stakeholder confidence
- Conducted over 50 successful disaster recovery drills, ensuring 100% compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements
Business Continuity and Resilience Manager, January 2022 - Present
Resilience Solutions Inc, Memphis
- Improved company processes and procedures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
- Worked with various teams to achieve company goals
- Conducted numerous training sessions to improve staff skills
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 business continuity manager roles.
If you're applying for business continuity manager positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your IT disaster recovery or BCP development expertise.
List every relevant qualification, including the name and level of the course, the name of the school, college or university, its location and your graduation date. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
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 Science in Business Administration, 2017 - 2020
Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to business continuity manager positions. Consider adding IT disaster recovery, problem-solving abilities or any other necessary skills for the job. 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 business continuity manager.
How to include hard skills on your business continuity 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, these skills are essential for a business continuity manager resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. 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.
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 business continuity manager resume, see below.
- Risk assessment analysis
- BCP development expertise
- IT disaster recovery
Adding soft skills to your business continuity manager resume
In your list of soft skills, add any personal strengths, qualities or transferable skills that make you a good fit for the job. Soft skills are often less specific to different industries, but that doesn't make them any less important. 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.
A strong soft skills section should play to your strengths, listing skills that reflect your personal qualities while also reflecting the skills listed in the job description. For some examples of good soft skills for a business continuity manager resume, see below.
- Problem-solving abilities
- Crisis management expertise
- Effective communication skills
Licenses and Certifications
Under this section, list any relevant certifications or licenses that are relevant to business continuity manager jobs. 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 business continuity manager resume:
- CBCP Certification, 2022
- MBCI Certification, 2022
- ISO 22301 Certification, 2022
Optional Resume Sections
There are several additional sections you could add to a business continuity manager resume, to improve your chances of success. Take a look at the sections below and add any that help you show how and why you're right for the job.
Personal Hobbies and 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.
Voluntary Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for business continuity manager roles. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard business continuity manager resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. 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 action words for your business continuity manager resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Choose from the list of words below to increase the impact of your work experience section.
- Analyze
- Coordinate
- Implement
- Develop
- Manage
- Evaluate
- Monitor
- Facilitate
- Communicate
- Document
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.
Sample business continuity manager resume
The business continuity manager resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights, CA
•
logan.campbell@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/logan–campbell123
Dynamic and results-driven Business Continuity Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and extensive experience as a Business Resilience Manager. Proven expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive business continuity plans, risk assessments, and crisis management strategies to safeguard organizational operations. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, conducting impact analyses, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a commitment to maintaining business resilience and minimizing disruptions.
Business Resilience Manager
2020
-2022
Fortis Solutions Ltd (Los Angeles)
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive business continuity plan, reducing downtime by 40% during critical incidents
- Led cross-functional teams in risk assessment, identifying and mitigating 30 high-impact threats to operational stability
- Established a crisis communication protocol, enhancing response efficiency and stakeholder confidence during emergencies
Risk assessment analysis
BCP development expertise
IT disaster recovery
Problem-solving abilities
Crisis management expertise
Effective communication skills
CBCP Certification
MBCI Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a business continuity manager resume
- Adapt your resume for every job application for maximum impact. Review the job description to understand the specific requirements for the role.
- Use strong action words to demonstrate the impact you've made in each business continuity manager role (e.g. 'develop', 'manage', 'evaluate').
- Aim for a brief, concise business continuity manager resume. One page is ideal for junior roles, while two pages are more suitable for senior positions.
- Read your resume carefully before sending it, to avoid errors that could prove costly to your chances.
- Showcase your key business continuity manager qualities with a strong resume summary or objective to catch the attention of the reader.
- Don't mention hobbies or interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role, that you haven't included elsewhere.
- Don't fill your resume with industry jargon or business-speak that could alienate the reader.
- Don't use passive language - avoid phrases like 'I was tasked with' and use strong action verbs instead.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
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. When writing your business continuity manager resume, a few simple tips can help you pass the ATS stage with a higher-ranking resume, giving you a better chance of success with your applications.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your 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.
- 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.
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 a business continuity manager resume
After writing your business continuity manager resume, you'll want to write an accompanying cover letter that helps your application stand out.
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 business continuity 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.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your business continuity manager resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Select a resume format that emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience, such as a functional format. 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.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your business continuity manager application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
Below you can see a resume headline example:
- Junior Business Continuity Manager
- Expert in Ensuring Operational Resilience
- Senior Business Continuity Manager
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for 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. 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.
Key points for your business continuity 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. Choose a resume structure that makes the most of your relevant experience, whether through work or other activities, and be sure to tailor your resume to match the job description.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
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/
