Skills to Put on a Resume for a General Manager

As a general manager, your resume is your ticket to landing your dream job. It’s your chance to showcase your qualifications and convince potential employers that you’re the perfect fit for their organization. To make a lasting impression, it is essential to highlight the right skills on your resume. In this article, we will delve into the skills that can make your resume stand out in the competitive field of general management.

What are general manager skills to put on a resume?

• Leadership – General managers are expected to lead teams and inspire employees. Highlight your ability to motivate, mentor, and guide your staff towards achieving organizational goals.
• Strategic planning – Emphasize your knack for developing long-term strategies and executing them effectively. Employers value GMs who can steer the company in the right direction.
• Financial management – Showcase your financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost control. Your ability to maximize profitability is a critical asset.
• Operations management – Detail your experience in overseeing day-to-day operations. Discuss your success in optimizing processes and improving efficiency.
• Problem-solving – Illustrate your aptitude for identifying and resolving complex issues. Provide examples of how your problem-solving skills have positively impacted previous employers.
• Communication – Effective communication is essential. Highlight your proficiency in conveying ideas, whether through presentations, written reports, or interpersonal interactions.
• Customer focus – Emphasize your commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences. Discuss strategies you’ve employed to enhance customer satisfaction.
• Adaptability – In a dynamic business environment, adaptability is key. Mention instances where you successfully adapted to change and drove positive outcomes.
• Team building – Discuss your ability to build high-performing teams. Include examples of how you have recruited, trained, and developed top talent.
• Decision-making – GMs make critical decisions daily. Share examples of significant decisions you’ve made that led to organizational success.

Examples of general manager skills to put on a resume

• Leadership: Led a cross-functional team of 50+ employees, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity and a 15% boost in employee morale.
• Strategic planning: Developed and executed a 3-year strategic plan, resulting in a 30% revenue growth and a stronger market presence.
• Financial management: Managed a $5 million budget, consistently meeting or exceeding financial targets while reducing operational costs by 10%.
• Operations management: Streamlined workflow processes, reducing production cycle times by 20% and enhancing product delivery efficiency.
• Problem-solving: Successfully resolved a major supply chain disruption, minimizing downtime and saving the company $1.5 million in potential losses.
• Communication: Implemented regular communication channels, reducing miscommunication by 25% and improving team collaboration.
• Customer focus: Implemented a customer feedback program that increased customer satisfaction scores by 15% within six months.
• Adaptability: Pivoted business strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling remote work and maintaining productivity levels.
• Team building: Recruited and trained a high-performing sales team, leading to a 40% increase in sales revenue within one year.
• Decision-making: Made critical decisions on product development, resulting in the launch of a successful product line that generated $2 million in revenue.

How to improve general manager skills to put on a resume

• Executive education: Consider enrolling in executive education programs that offer specialized training in leadership, strategic planning, and financial management. Here are a few executive education programs to consider. 
  • Chicago Booth Accelerated Development Program (ADP) – The Chicago Booth ADP is a rigorous learning journey across 8 modules spread over 9 months and gives you access to the latest management thinking and tools. It is taught by an award-winning faculty at the Chicago Booth School of Business and accomplished senior business leaders. It creates an amazing opportunity to build a strong personal brand and competitively position yourself and your organization. ADP actively engages you in a collaborative learning environment with accomplished peer group in Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, and Chicago.
  • UCLA Post Graduate Program in Management for Executives (UCLA PGPX) – It is a comprehensive general management program offered by UCLA Anderson School of Management, one of the top global business schools. One of the first programs of its kind in India and South Asia, this one-year program is focused on applied learning of advanced management concepts for senior executives and business owners. Its part-time, modular format provides great flexibility for busy professionals, while the UCLA faculty and industry leaders ensure that the program covers all aspects of best-in-class management education expected from a highly respected and globally renowned institution.
  • UCLA Accelerated Management Program (UCLA AMP) – It is an extensive general management program for working professionals offered by UCLA Anderson School of Management, one of the top global business schools. The one-year program is focused on covering management essentials for managers and executives who are looking to grow in their careers by improving management skills to drive outstanding results in their current organizations while enhancing their professional profile for prospective employers.

• Networking: Connect with industry peers and mentors to gain insights and learn from their experiences.
• Continuous learning: Stay updated with the latest industry trends and management practices through books, online courses, and workshops.

How to highlight general manager skills on your resume

• Use action words: Begin bullet points with strong action verbs like “led,” “implemented,” “managed,” and “optimized.”
• Quantify achievements: Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments with specific numbers or percentages to demonstrate the impact of your skills.
• Tailor your resume: Customize your resume for each job application by aligning your skills with the specific requirements of the role.
• Professional summary: Include a professional summary at the beginning of your resume that highlights your key skills and qualifications.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your resume is your gateway to securing a general manager position. By showcasing the right skills and providing compelling examples of your achievements, you can increase your chances of standing out to potential employers in the competitive world of general management.