Business Resume—Professional CV Template & Writing Tips

The world of business can be fiercely competitive—Every advantage you can gain is precious.

So why shoot yourself in the foot with a bad resume? Or even a good resume? Because unless your business resume is the best, you lose—And there are no prizes for second place.

In this guide:

• A business resume template better than most.
• Creating the perfect job descriptions for business resumes.
• How to write a resume for business jobs that stands out.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing an interview.

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Need a more specific business resume? Thinking of getting an MBA or branching out? Check out our guides:

• Accounting Manager Resume Samples
• Banking Resume Samples
• Business Analyst Resume Samples
• Business Development Resume Samples
• Business Owner Resume Samples
• Data Analyst Resume Samples
• Entrepreneur Resume Samples
• Product Manager Resume Samples
• Account Manager Resume Samples
• Consultant Resume Samples
• Management Resume Samples
• Project Coordinator Resume Samples
• Assistant Manager Resume Samples
• CEO Resume Samples
• Executive Resume Samples
• Operations Manager Resume Samples
• Retail Manager Resume Samples
• Program Manager Resume Samples
• MBA Application Resume Samples
• Resume Samples for All Jobs

Business Resume Template You Can Copy and Use

Now here’s how to write a resume for business professionals they’ll go for:

1. Use an Appropriate Business Resume Format

Appearances and expectations matter—we judge books by their covers all the time. Recruiters won’t get to the substance of your business resume if it doesn’t look the part.

With so many applications to sort through, the process of elimination begins as soon as your resume hits their inbox. Choose a resume format that’ll put you ahead of the pack. Here’s how to create a professional business resume template:

Business Resume Format

• Use the reverse-chronological resume format—it’s currently the most common resume style and recruiters are familiar with it.
• Choose a professional-looking resume font like a Noto or Arial in 11–12 pt.
• Leave the margins of your resume at one inch and use white space to your advantage.
• Default to a one-page resume. Go to a two-page summary only if you have a couple of decades of experience behind you. 
• Include at least a resume header (heading), summary or objective, and work experience, education, and skills sections.
• Best business resume templates for Word are ATS-scannable, so pick a template which doesn’t have many visual elements or infographics. If you don’t like MS Office, you can try Google Docs resume templates, too.

Of course, by default, you should save your resume in PDF. But, always double check that something else isn’t required instead.

Expert Hint: If you’re writing a resume with no experience, change the outline of your resume a bit. As education may be your biggest asset, put it above the work experience section.

2. Write an Attention-Grabbing Business Resume Objective or Summary

Elevator pitches, executive summaries, sales pitches—The business world is full of attempts to grab people’s interest and condense information. For your business resume, it’s a resume profile.

Got some relevant work experience? Go with a career summary statement. It’ll help you capitalize on that experience.

Use:

1. One adjective (dynamic, reliable, dedicated)
2. Job title (Business Developer, Business Administrator, etc.)
3. Years of experience (3+, 5+)
4. How you intend to help (reduce operating costs, maximize ROI)
5. Two or three of your most impressive achievements (boosted efficiency by over 15%, increased retention rates by 17%)

These business resume examples show how:

Business Resume Summary

Dynamic business development manager with 6+ years of experience in business development and business administration. Seeking to leverage proven negotiation and cost-cutting skills in developing Basil Group’s business. At Riverlight, reduced HR costs by 17% and identified eight significant new business opportunities worth a combined $1.3 million per year.

Business-minded business development manager with 6 years of experience. Seeking to spread wings and take flight with a suitably woke company. At Riverlight, reduced HR costs and identified new business opportunities by taking the initiative.

The first example stays on-message with concrete facts backed up by hard numbers. It’s also focused on what the candidate can do for their employer. The second example is tone deaf and expects the employer to care what the candidate wants.

But what if you don’t have enough work experience to write a business resume summary? Write a career objective statement and shift the focus to achievements from relevant non-business jobs as well as your studies:

Business Resume Objective

Reliable business studies graduate with a major in business administration. Seeking to apply proven negotiation and reporting skills in working as a financial analyst for Basil Group. Helped ABD Holdings improve buying efficiency by over 10% while reducing risk exposure by 23% as part of a final-year project.

Accomplished business graduate with no real-world experience, but eager to learn and to sore. Looking for a company with plenty of advancement opportunities and good benefits package.

The first example ticks all the boxes and includes achievements in spite of a lack of paid work history. The second example is from the same candidate, but you can hardly tell.

Expert Hint: Write your qualifications summary—whether summary or objective—last. It’s much easier to do a good job when you have your job descriptions and skills sections done.

3. Create the Best Business Resume Job Descriptions and Skills Section

Self-confidence and a can-do attitude are often prized in business. And that can become a real problem when you risk being lost in a sea of candidates confident they can do it all.

The solution? Use your resume job description section to show your confidence is justified. Here’s how to write a business resume job description:

1. Re-read the job ad.
2. Be on the lookout for any skills and duties mentioned there (it’s called targeting a resume).
3. Think back to times you wowed employers by applying those skills in similar contexts.
4. Write resume bullet points that describe those situations, with numbers.

These professional business resume examples show how:

Business Resume Job Description

Business Development Manager

Riverlight

March 2017–present

• Conducted 30+ in-person interviews with key customers to identify eight new business opportunities worth a combined $1.3M p.a.
• Reduced HR costs by 17% by outsourcing three administrative functions.
• Reorganized marketing expenses to extend reach by over 10% at no extra cost to the company.
• Negotiated payment structure with foreign production facility, cutting labor costs in half over 3 years.

Business Development Manager

Riverlight

2017–present

• Conducted in-person interviews with key customers to identify new business opportunities.
• Reduced HR costs by outsourcing some administrative functions.
• Reorganized marketing expenses to extend reach.
• Negotiated payment structure with foreign production facility.

The second example makes great use of resume “action verbs”, but it just isn’t concrete enough, and part of that is a lack of numbers backing up its claims.

Writing an entry-level resume without much experience? Draw on relevant achievements from non-business jobs.

There’s one more thing: You’ll need skills to put on your resume. And the key to writing up skills for a business resume is to be selective. Stick to what the job ad requires and only include what you can back up with evidence at an interview.

Skills for a Business Resume

Hard Skills

• Negotiation
• Scheduling
• Training
• Product development
• Customer acquisition
• Financial planning
• Logistics
• Budgeting
• Policy implementation
• Project management
• Computer skills

Soft Skills

• Problem solving
• Time management
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Social media
• Relationship building
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership

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4. Turn Your Education Section into an Asset

Education isn’t always everything in the world of business. But failing to fully leverage what you’ve got is never a winning move.

List degrees (with majors), schools, and years attended. Then, give yourself an edge over the competition: Add bullet points that show your business acumen. This business resume example shows how:

Business Resume Example—Education Section

MBA, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, NY

2013–2015

• Pursued a passion for risk analysis coursework.
• Launched a small, online business with three classmates.

Not exactly filling reams with business experience? Leverage your resume education section even further by including projects, coursework, and accomplishments that show you’ve got what it takes to be the next Gordon Gekko.

Expert Hint: Make sure you write an ATS-friendly resume by using the same phrases as the job ad. If it asks for “Master’s” degree, don’t abbreviate your degree. Use “Master of Science” or “Master of Arts” instead.

5. Load Your Business Resume With Added Sections

You don’t get ahead by doing the bare minimum. A resume profile, work history, job descriptions, and skills section are the bare minimum—

Go above and beyond by adding one or two extra sections:

• Foreign Languages
• Classes Taken
• Awards
• Hobbies, Activities, and Interests
• Volunteering on a Resume
• Certifications on a Resume
• Professional References

These two business resume examples show yes vs no:

Business Resume Examples—Extra Sections

Additional Activities

• Member, American Business Management Association
• President of Stern MBA Alumni Association, 2015–2019

Languages

• French: Intermediate
• Italian: Communicative

Additional Activities

• American Business Management Association
• Long-term Business Insider subscriber

Languages

• French
• Italian

Not so different, yet only one can get through—And it won’t be the second one. The first one wins by being specific and relevant.

You're almost there. You just need to write a cover letter. The only excuse for not including a cover letter is having been explicitly asked not to do so.

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Key Points

For a business resume that gets results:

• Use the business resume template given earlier. It’s built for success.
• Include business achievementsin your resume profile, work history, and education sections to show what you’re made of.
• Choose the right skills to put in your business resume. The job ad will tell you what those are.
• Write a business cover letter. Use it to billboard your suitability and passion for the job.

Need clarification on anything mentioned here? Stuck writing your business resume? Leave a comment down below and we’ll get back to you.

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