Contract Administrator Resume: Sample & How to Write

We’ll show you the foundation (and the framing and rough electrical) of writing the best contract administrator resume the recruiter has ever seen.

So much hinges on your ability to carefully look through of dozens of contract clauses. Jobs, livelihoods, millions of dollars—you know the drill.

Needless to say, the company won’t hire someone unless they’re absolutely sure that person is as responsible as they come.

And that is exactly the vibe your contract administrator resume needs to give off.

This guide will show you:

• A contract administrator resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a contract administrator resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a contract administrator resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a contract administrator to get any job you want.

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Need a different guide? See these articles below:

• Supply Chain Manager Resume Examples
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• Construction Manager Resume Examples
• Construction Project Manager Resume Examples
• Supply Chain Analyst Resume Examples
• Consultant Resume Examples 
• Director of Operations Resume Examples
• Best Resume Examples for Every Job

Contract Administrator Resume Sample

Let’s show you how to write a contract administrator resume that gets jobs:

1. Format Your Contract Administrator Resume

A contract administrator will scrutinize every single sentence of a contract to ensure full compliance for all parties involved. Duties include preparing drafts, analyzing revisions, and resolving contractual disputes. And you need all of that to shine through on your contract administrator resume.

What happens if you don’t do that?

Contract voided.

Let’s show you how to a-void that kind of quick ending. The way there starts with outlining your resume before you start:

• Choose a good resume format. The reverse-chronological resume tops all other candidates.
• Pick a resume font that’s easy on the eyes. Really try to empathize with the recruiter—would you want to read 75 pages of a tender written in Comic Sans?
• Space out your resume sections with bits of white space for even more readability. Minimalist resume templates are king.
• If the layout of your resume goes over two pages, you may need to rethink it. Try sticking to one page—that’s the ideal resume length.

Pro Tip: Some offices allow for submitting resumes as PDF files. Use it to your advantage, as it prevents unwanted bugs and ensures your resume can be read properly.

2. Prepare a Contract Administrator Resume Summary or Resume Objective

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, especially in the career world. Nearly 30 thousand more administrative managers are expected to enter the workforce by 2030.

Recruiters won’t give your resume more than a few seconds of their attention, that’s why you can’t submit a contract’s worth of bland descriptions and expect it to work.

No, you have to get them hooked at first glance.

Write a resume profile to place in the top part of the page. It’s a short paragraph telling them you’re not some Jo Schmo, but rather a winner ready to bring home the bacon.

If you’ve gone over many contracts in your career, write a contract administrator resume summary. Use it to describe high points and best professional achievements. Utilize numbers to keep the attention on you.

On the other hand, without prior experience, you’ll want to write a resume objective instead. Focus more on your ambitions and your transferable skills from past gigs to demonstrate how you’d still be of value.

Pro Tip: For maximum effect, a resume introduction needs to give off the impression that you’re ready to work for the company’s benefit. If you sound too selfish and focus on what you want to get out of it, you might just get passed over.

3. Write about Your Contract Administrator Work History

You know that feeling you get when you gloss over a draft contract and it hits all the right notes, not a single edit to make? Like it’s almost too perfect to be real.

Aim for that same kind of experience with your resume work history section.

• List your last job first, then add 5 or 6 bullet points.
• Describe your duties and accomplishments, but only stick to the relevant stuff. They won’t care that you also prepared coffee.
• To get that perfect cozy feeling, tailor your application to their needs. They’ll quickly realize you’re exactly what they need, because—surprise, surprise— you took your time to research the relevant resume keywords and targeted the resume to fit the company’s profile.

Pro Tip: Remember that the recruiter is a picky and impatient beast, and he or she won’t stick around without incentive. That’s why putting numbers next to your achievements and using action words on your resume are your go-to tactics to keep them from falling asleep.

4. Make the Most out of Your Education Section

Contract administrators typically have to present some sort of degree, for example in contract management.

Notice how I said, “have to”.

Some people claim the resume education section isn’t necessary. These people are wrong.

It could, in fact, make all the difference.

If you’ve been working as a contract administrator for 5 or more years, you can limit yourself to the basics: the school name, year of graduation, and degree obtained.

In other cases, consider adding extras such as:

• A noteworthy GPA
• Scholarships you received
• Relevant coursework
• Extracurricular activities
• Honors on your degree

Pro Tip: Swap the placement of your work experience and education if you think the latter will make a better impression. Always aim for maximum effect.

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our ATS resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

5. Add the Right Skills onto Your Contract Administrator Resume

Here’s a sample list of soft skills and hard skills handy for every contract administrator:

Contract Administrator Resume Skills

• Negotiating Terms
• Preparing Purchase/Sale Contracts
• Reviewing & Updating Contracts
• Risk Analysis & Reduction
• Disposal of Unclaimed Property
• Proposal Planning
• Enforcing Regulatory & Legal Compliance
• Meeting Contractors
• Liaising
• Keeping Organized Records
• Tracking Correspondence
• Designing Contract Management Strategies
• Conflict Resolution
• Organizational Skills
• Time Management
• Communication Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Teamwork Skills

Putting all of these in one list, however, is equivalent to a contractor demanding hazard pay for painting 20 square feet of wall. Ridiculous.

Instead, open up the job ad and search it thoroughly for specific resume keywords. They will let you know what particular job skills you need to have to succeed in that position. These are the key to making your resume ATS-friendly and getting invited for an interview.

Pro Tip: Consider familiarizing yourself with the ins and outs of information management. This report states poor management information systems as one of the major concerns regarding contract closeouts.

6. Put More Sections on a Contract Administrator Resume

It doesn’t end there. A contract administrator resume needs to go the extra mile if you want to find success.

Why?

Because I can guarantee you, the recruiter has already seen hundreds—if not thousands—of applications.

If you don’t stand out, you’re just a wall of text. And walls of text don’t get hired.

Spice things up with a few extra resume sections, like these:

• Volunteer work
• Certifications and licenses
• Foreign languages
• Hobbies and interests

Read more: What Not to Put on a Resume 

7. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Contract Administrator Resume

Do you need to write a cover letter?

Yes, absolutely. 5/10 recruiters claim they want to see one if they’re to consider a candidate at all.

Here are a few pointers on how to write a cover letter, so you may get back to scribbling contract notes:

• To kick things off, choose the right format for your cover letter.
• Once done, know how to address a cover letter properly—directly to the recruiter, if possible. 
• The first paragraph of your cover letter should say you’re applying for a contract administrator position and mention how you found out about the vacancy.
• Then, say more about why you want to work there and why you’d make for a good addition.
• End the cover letter with a convincing call to action.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Got any further tips to share for fledgling contract administrators? Maybe you still need some help discussing aspects of your work history on your resume. We’re to help you, just drop us a line in the comments below.

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