Being a program manager in tech involves many things. You need leadership, strategic thinking, and specific skills for the industry.

What do recruiters want to see in resumes in 2025?

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The tech industry now wants program managers with cross-functional leadership experience. Just having technical skills isn’t enough anymore.

Focus on leadership and strategic thinking.

Note: In 2025, AI tools are used more in hiring. Program managers should think about how AI can help in their work and mention any experience with AI-driven project management tools.

Key Parts of a Program Manager Resume

Here’s how to organize your resume:

  • Contact Information: Begin with clear and current contact info

  • Skills: Highlight skills like leadership, planning, and tech know-how. Show these skills through your work examples, not just as a list.

  • Experience: Use numbers to show success and match it to the job description. Recruiters want to see your impact, not just what you did.

  • Education: List your relevant education and certifications.

A good program manager resume helps you get through the first interview stage.

Leadership Experience

Being a leader is key in program management. Employers look for people who can take charge and show initiative.

Julie Winkle Giulioni describes leadership as a deep love - love for learning, the organization, and the people you guide.

Show how you lead teams from different areas, mentor others, and solve conflicts. These roles need you to inspire and guide teams to reach big goals.

Did you guide a team through a tough project? Were you in charge of mentoring younger team members or solving disputes? These examples show your leadership skills.

Use numbers to show your leadership successes. Maybe you led a team that boosted productivity by 30% or managed a project that stayed under budget. These numbers give clear proof of your leadership impact.

Project Management Skills

Program managers need strong project management skills.

Point out skills like project planning, communication, risk management, scheduling, and prioritization.

About 75% of tech companies use agile practices. So, knowing agile methods is often expected.

Highlight your experience with Agile or Scrum, and use examples of successful projects. Include any process improvements and show how you manage budgets and timelines.

Strategic Thinking Skills

Your program manager resume should show how you think strategically and solve tricky problems.

Strategic thinking means setting long-term goals, spotting challenges before they happen, and making plans to reach your goals. As a program manager, you need to see the big picture and make sure projects match the company’s goals.

Did you find a market gap and start a new product? Or maybe you made processes better and saved money?

Resume expert Anish Majumdar says it’s important to connect skills with achievements: "You must tie down transferable skills with accomplishments, or else it’ll just feel like fluff."

Use numbers to show how your strategic choices made things better. Did your strategies boost revenue, cut costs, or make customers happier?

These examples show how you think strategically.

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Examples

Following these examples helps you create a resume that stands out:

Program Manager Resume

Program Manager Resume

Evolved from Software Engineer to Program Manager with strengths in agile practices, data-driven projects, and banking app development

 

Program Manager Resume

Program Manager Resume

Program Manager with a background in UX design, excels in platform upgrades, multilingual platforms, design-thinking, usability testing

 

Program Manager Resume

Program Manager Resume

Program Manager in cloud data solutions. Key skills: predictive analytics, compliance, executive influence

 

FAQ

Making a program manager resume can bring up a lot of questions. Here are answers to some common ones:

  • What skills should be on a program manager resume? Include skills like leadership, strategic thinking, project management, and communication

  • How can I show my achievements as a program manager? Use numbers like percentage improvements, cost savings, or time reductions. These figures clearly show your impact.

  • What certifications are good for program managers in tech? Certifications like PMP, Agile Certified Practitioner, and Scrum Master are well-respected.

  • How long should a program manager resume be? Keep it 1-2 pages, focusing on the most important experiences and achievements. A short, strong resume is better.

  • Should I add a cover letter with my program manager resume? Yes, a good cover letter can go with your resume. It gives more context and shows your excitement for the job.

  • What common mistakes should I avoid on a program manager resume? Common mistakes are too much jargon, lack of achievements, or not tailoring your resume to the job.

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