Landing a Director of Operations job requires years of relevant work experience and a range of well-developed skills, all of which need to be communicated (and demonstrated) in a 1- to 2-page document.
That’s no easy feat, but don’t worry – MentorCruise is here to help. We’re going to walk you through the process of structuring and creating a Director of Operations resume that communicates your understanding of the role and makes employers take notice.
So, if you're looking for a bit of career advice, read on!
Important elements of a resume
Contact section
Companies need to have a way to contact you in case they like your resume and wish to offer you a job interview. Your contact information should include both your phone number and your email, so companies have alternative ways to reach you. Make sure any emails and phone numbers you include are active and easily accessible.
Your contact information should appear near the top of your resume, so it’s easy for companies to find.
Relevant job, internship, or volunteer experience
Relevant experience is one of the most important sections of your resume — it should take up the bulk of your word count.
Job postings usually state what kind of experience they’re looking for, so make sure you cover the specific areas they mention. For example, if a job posting requires a minimum amount of work experience in a certain field, you need to clearly show that you meet or exceed the requirement.
Your experience doesn’t have to be directly related to the role — a successful career pivot is great as long as you link past experience to the role you’re currently applying for. Experience doesn’t just refer to paid experience, either — it can include any internships or volunteer work you think will help demonstrate relevant skills.
Skills
Every resume should include a skills section, which simply lists your relevant skills. It's important to prioritize the skills listed on the job posting — place those skills at the top of your list, so they're clearly visible when someone scans your resume.
Your skills section should include a mix of hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills typically refer to technical skills, like software expertise or project management. Soft skills are personal qualities or interpersonal skills, like motivation or conflict management.
Examples of Operations of Director skills:
Communication
Organization
Leadership
Risk management
Financial analysis
Problem-solving
Project management
Director of Operations resume template example
Your Name
Director of Operations
Contact
Address
Phone Number
Professional Summary
Ready to offer exceptional leadership and planning abilities to take on a new role in [insert work environment] setting. Demonstrates expertise in cultivating and managing exceptional teams that meet and exceed demanding targets. Well-versed in [insert industry] standards and market trends.
Skills
Performance Analysis
Inventory Management
Strategic Planning and Execution
Relationship Building
Budget Development
Problem-Solving
Work History
Director of Operations, Employer
January 2022 - February 2023
Monitored budget and utilized operational resources.
Defined, implemented, and revised operational policies and guidelines.
Oversaw day-to-day production activities per business objectives.
Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
Project Manager, Employer
March 2020 - December 2021
Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
Met project deadlines without sacrificing build quality or workplace safety.
Managed projects from procurement to commission.
Developed and initiated projects, managed costs, and monitored performance.
Account Manager, Employer
January 2017 - November 2019
Built and strengthened long-lasting client relationships based on accurate price quotes and customer-centric terms.
Addressed problems with accounting, billing, and service delivery to maintain and enhance client satisfaction.
Educated clients on new products or services to increase customer engagement with the brand.
Set clear sales goals to identify activities and behaviors to advance the sales process and close deals.
Education
School Name, Degree, and Subject Name
September 2012 - June 2016
Accomplishments
Collaborated with a team of [number] in the development of [project name].
Documented and resolved [issue] which led to [results].
Certifications
[area of expertise] License - [timeframe]
Certified [job title], [company name] - [timeframe]
Resume for Director of Operations formatting example
Below is an example of how you can format your resume into a neat and concise document.
Tips for creating an outstanding resume
Now it’s time for you to create your own resume. Here are some best practices and tips to make your resume stand out:
Master the details
Making your resume visually appealing is a must — that means making sure it’s neatly organized and easy to read. Hiring managers have to go through loads of resumes, so first impressions really do matter. It’s important to choose a nice, simple font to use and be consistent with your formatting.
Some great options include:
Arial
Times New Roman
Calibri
You should also have clear headings and pick appropriate text sizes. Don’t use too many sizes throughout your resume, and make sure you limit colors to 1-3 non-clashing tones.
Put the best stuff “above the fold”
Make sure to place the most important information in the top third of your resume — this will ensure the hiring manager sees that information first. You want to impress them as soon as they open your resume if you want to stand out from the other applicants. Good first impressions also encourage hiring managers to keep reading your resume, instead of dismissing you immediately.
What counts as important information varies from resume to resume, but it generally includes:
Your most relevant experience
Key skills for the role
Your professional summary
Your most impressive achievements
Look for keywords in the job posting
Analyze the job posting and look for specific skills and experiences the company is looking for in applicants. You can usually find this information in the description and requirements section.
You can find these job postings on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. Here's an example of a job posting for an open Director of Operations position:
From the job posting above, you can get an idea of the skills and experience needed for this role. For example, they state ‘managing a budget’ as one of the job responsibilities. This means that budget management is a skill they’re looking for.
Skills
Other skills mentioned in the job posting include:
Strong communication
Time management
Multitasking
Organizational skills
Traits or Interests
You can also include traits or interests they mention in your professional summary:
Positive attitude
Thrive in a fast-paced environment
Genuine love for children
Requirements
You should pay attention to any experience or degrees that are required. It’s important to highlight these requirements in your resume to avoid being passed over by default.
In the example above, they require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education/Child Development or a related field or management experience in a licensed childcare center/preschool.
List your past work accomplishments (not just your responsibilities) using some form of measures
List any work accomplishments you think will demonstrate your capabilities — make sure they’re results-driven. Hiring managers want to know what you’ve achieved, not just your work responsibilities. You can place this in your experience section to highlight how successful you were in your past roles, or add them to your ‘accomplishments’ section.
For example, you can state how you increased sales or reduced inventory costs.
Use the STAR method to adapt your resume
Using the STAR method is a great way to make the points in your resume more concrete.
The system is built around an acronym:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Using STAR allows you to showcase how you solved problems in your past roles.
Here’s an example of a point written with the STAR method: Supervised and collaborated with 5 management teams in promoting new product releases, resulting in a 20% sales increase.
In case the individual elements weren't clear, here's a quick breakdown:
Situation: New products are released.
Task: Promote new products.
Action: Supervised and collaborated with 5 management teams.
Result: 20% increase in sales.
Use the CAR or PAR methods
Alternatively, you can use the CAR or PAR method, which is essentially the same as the STAR method but shorter.
CAR: Challenge, Action, Result.
PAR: Problem, Action, Result.
Both methods choose to discard the ‘situation’ aspect of STAR since the situation is usually implied within the challenge or problem. However, you should choose whichever method makes the most sense to you.
Tailor your resume to the company and job posting
Every job posting will require different skills, experiences, and qualities. Therefore, it's essential to customize your resume to fit the specific job you're applying for. That means emphasizing specific skills and qualities that match the job requirements.
Companies can easily tell if a resume is tailored for them based on the contents of the professional summary, skills section, and work experience section. Customizing your resume for a specific company demonstrates the effort and attention you put into your job search, which can make a positive impression on employers.
Conclusion
Creating an outstanding resume for the Director of Operations position is no easy task, especially since it is a high-level position that requires a lot of experience and skill. You need to be able to effectively describe your expertise on paper, while also making yourself stand out from the competition.
There are many templates and pieces of resume advice available online, but it's best to receive guidance from real professionals. MentorCruise offers personalized career advice from industry experts, so you can get the help you need to succeed.
Book a CV feedback session today to start creating the perfect resume.