Operations Manager Resume Skills and Keywords

What skills should I put on an operations manager resume?

The top skills to put on an operations manager resume are Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint), along with administration and management, management of personnel resources, and production and processing. Employers also look for dependability, integrity and achievement orientation, which are best shown through results in your bullet points rather than listed.

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Administration and Management knowledge
• Management of Personnel Resources
• Production and Processing knowledge
• Dependability
• Integrity
• Achievement Orientation

What software should operations managers know?

Operations manager job postings most often ask for Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint). Many operations managers also use CRM, business intelligence and ERP software; which products matter depends on the employer, so list the specific products a posting names and you have used.

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Office

What hard skills do employers want in operations managers?

Operations managers need administration and management, management of personnel resources, production and processing, and economics and accounting far more than most workers. Name these in your resume summary and prove each one with a bullet that shows you using it.

• Administration and Management · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Management of Personnel Resources · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Production and Processing · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Economics and Accounting · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Personnel and Human Resources · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Persuasion · Needed more than in most jobs
  Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Compared with the average rating across all jobs in Department of Labor data.

What soft skills do operations managers need?

The most important soft skills for operations managers are dependability, integrity and achievement orientation, followed by self-control and adaptability. Show them through results in your bullet points rather than listing them as single words.

1. Dependability: A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
2. Integrity: A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
3. Achievement Orientation: A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, set high work-related standards, and exert high effort toward meeting those goals and standards.
4. Self-Control: A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in response to criticism or difficult situations at work.
5. Adaptability: A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas at work.

What keywords should an operations manager resume include?

An operations manager resume should include the exact tool names, skills and job title from the posting. For operations managers, common keywords include Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint), Business Manager and Center Manager. Applicant tracking systems and recruiters scan for these words, so use them wherever they truthfully describe your experience.

How do I write operations manager resume bullet points?

Start each operations manager bullet point with a past-tense verb and a core task, such as “Prepared staff work schedules and assigned specific duties,” then end it with a measurable result: what changed, by how much, and for whom. These starters come from the job’s most important tasks.

What are other job titles for an operations manager?

Other job titles for an operations manager include Business Manager, Center Manager, Department Manager, District Manager and General Manager (GM). Government job data groups them as “General and Operations Managers.” Search for these titles too, and use the posting’s exact title on your resume when it fits your experience.

• Business Manager
• Center Manager
• Department Manager
• District Manager
• General Manager (GM)
• Operations Director
• Operations General Manager (Operations GM)
• Plant Superintendent
• Store Manager
• Area Manager
• Boards and Commissions Director
• Business Coordinator
• Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
• Corporate Manager
• Department Store General Manager (Dept Store GM)
• Department Store Manager (Dept Store Manager)
• District Commercial Superintendent
• District Plant Superintendent
• District Traffic Chief
• District Wire Chief

What education do operations managers need?

Most operations managers need a bachelor's degree to get hired, plus 5 years or more of experience in a related job. On your resume, list coursework or certifications in administration and management, production and processing, and economics and accounting. In a federal survey, 29% of operations managers said the job requires a high school diploma and 27% a bachelor's degree.

How much do operations managers make?

Operations managers earn a median salary of $105,770 a year, according to May 2025 federal wage data. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $50,090, and the highest-paid 10% earn more than $253,390. Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all jobs, with about 285,000 openings a year.

What other jobs can operations managers do?

Operations managers’ skills carry over best to jobs as chief executives, administrative services managers and industrial production managers, which use the most similar skills and day-to-day work.