General Manager Resume: Sample & Complete Guide [20+ Examples]

General Manager Resume Sample

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Check out other management-related resume guides:

• Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Store Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Office Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Assistant Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Sales Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Project Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Marketing Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Account Manager Resume Sample and Guide
• Property Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Product Manager Resume Sample and Guide
• Supervisor Resume Sample & Complete Guide
• Restaurant General Manager Resume Sample
• Customer Service Manager Resume Sample
• Hotel Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• HR Manager Resume Sample & Guide

Now here’s how to write a general manager resume:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your General Manager Resume

Whether it’s overseeing a small corner deli or supervising a large retail store, general managers keep things running smoothly when they have a good structure in place.

Same here on your GM resume—

The perfect resume format ensures everything is easy for the store owner or district manager to read.

Follow these formatting rules on your general manager resume template:

• In the resume heading, lay out your contact information first.
• Use legible headings to divide your resume into easy-to-parse sections.
• The chronological format is usually the right resume format to choose.
• Choose the best resume font, and take advantage of the white space.
• A PDF resume is ideal, unless the job ad specifically requests otherwise.

Pro Tip: As you’re applying to become a general manager, you likely don’t have a resume without experience. If for some reason you do, though, try starting off at a supervisor or assistant manager level, first, and working your way up.

2. Write a General Manager Resume Summary or Objective

Your resume profile is a resume objective or summary statement.

This 3- or 4-line heading introduction gives the employer a quick look at your management background, supervisory skills, work experience, and related goals.

However—

It has to grab their attention right from the beginning.

Which one to use?

Use the resume summary if you have more than 2 years of management experience. The summary sums up your skills and experience from past management jobs. To top it off, you’ll give a numbered accomplishment to prove your managerial abilities.

Use the resume objective if you have little to no experience as a manager. You’ll give your ambitious career goals as a future general manager, while still proving your competence with a quantifiable achievement.

Pro Tip: The heading statement goes at the top of your restaurant GM resume or assistant general manager resume, but you don’t have to write it first. Save it for the end to make it easier to write.

3. Create the Perfect General Manager Job Description for a Resume

Whether you’re a retail GM or a writing a hotel general manager resume, get the work history section right.

So—

Here’s how to ace the job description on general manager resumes:

• Begin with your most recent job entry, and go backwards from there.
• Place your professional job title at the top, followed by dates employed, the company’s name, and 5 or 6 bullet points outlining your management responsibilities.
• As you go further back, reduce the amount of management job description bullet points to include only the most relevant accomplishments.
• Start each line with a resume action word or power verb (e.g., spearheaded, implemented, etc.)
• Show off measurable achievements, rather than simply standard job duties.
• Target each resume to one specific job, not every manager job in the country.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have management experience, use the bullet points to promote some leadership responsibilities you had. Were you tasked with leading a project or training new employees? Though you didn’t have the title, that’s management material!

4. Make Your GM Resume Education Section Shine

Many prospective managers make a simple mistake—

They treat the resume education section as an afterthought.

Don’t make this error.

Follow these rules when doing your education resume section:

• Got 5+ years of mgmt experience? Go basic with only your degree, major, minors (if applicable), and college name.
• Newer to management? Include extras like relevant classes, Latin honors, etc.
• Completed university? Don’t add high school on your resume.
• Still studying? Include high school below.

Pro Tip: Relevant coursework for management jobs include business and management classes, of course. However, think bigger picture. Got a public speaking class or something in finance completed? They’ll love it.

5. Highlight Your General Manager Skills

You’re a leader, right?

Show them you got what it takes to be at the top with the right general manager resume skills section:

Sample General Manager Skills

• Communication Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Decision Making
• Critical Thinking
• Interpersonal Skills
• Works Well Under Pressure
• Time Management
• Problem Solving
• Leadership Skills
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Creative Thinking
• Accountability
• Management Skills
• Project Management Skills

Hold on a sec, though—

You can’t just copy-paste these skills and be done with it.

Do this instead:

• Jot down the job skills you have related to management, including both soft and hard skills.
• Bring out the general manager job ad you’re applying to.
• Highlight management skills and industry-related skills (e.g., those that pertain to hotels, restaurants, etc.). Those are the best resume keywords to choose.
• If one of your highlighted skills matches another on your list, add it to your GM resume!

Pro Tip: The soft skills you’ll need as a general manager are relevant for most leadership jobs (e.g., critical thinking, decision making). However, the hard skills will be those that your industry requires, such as reservation booking systems if you’re writing a hotel GM resume.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.

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6. Add Other Sections to Your General Manager Resume

You now have a solid resume for a job as a general manager.

However—

So does everyone else.

Stand out from the other general manager candidates with some extra resume sections.

Here are some great additions for a resume for GM jobs:

• certifications on a resume
• language skills
• memberships
• hobbies and interests
• volunteering on a resume
• projects
• resume awards
• licenses

7. Attach a Cover Letter to Your General Manager Resume

Thinking about skipping the cover letter?

Don’t.

Over 50% of employers say that a resume alone is insufficient.

So—

Whether writing restaurant general manager resumes or hotel manager resumes, don’t forget your cover letter.

Here’s how to write a general manager cover letter they’ll love:

• Get your cover letter format in order before beginning.
• Start the cover letter with a compelling introduction.
• Showcase management experience and industry-related abilities.
• Add quantifiable achievements to prove your leadership value.
• End the cover letter with a powerful closing statement and call to action.

We’ve also got some of the best cover letter tips to help you along. Check them out!

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to follow up on your work application. Sending a quick email or making a brief phone call might just be the thing that gets you hired.

Got any questions on how to write a GM resume? Need more general manager resume examples? Not sure how to talk about leadership skills, manager certifications, or supervisor achievements? Get at us in the comments below, and thanks for reading!