Inventory Manager Resume Sample, Job Description & Writing Guide for 2024
As an inventory manager, you spend hours doing inventory on food, clothing, or other merchandise. Likely, the last thing you want to do is inventory your job skills. However, to create the perfect inventory control manager resume, you’ll have to do just that.
If the idea of creating your perfect resume is daunting, you’re not alone. This guide was developed to give you examples of an inventory manager resume and walk you through every step of creating your own.
The inventory resume description below is perfect whether you’ve been in the field for years or only months. Once you follow this guide, you’ll be ready to apply for your dream position with a curated resume for an inventory manager.
Inventory manager resume writing guide: Where to start?
The first step to landing the perfect inventory management job is to curate the perfect inventory manager resume. Many people think that a single resume works for every job they apply for. While it will send the information to employers, a generic resume won’t make you stand out.
Your inventory resume should be adapted to meet the specific job you’re applying for. If this seems like an intimidating task, don’t fret. This section will help break down how to create a job-specific stock manager resume every time.
Master inventory management resume
To get a job-specific resume, you need to first start broad and create your master inventory management resume. If you have a resume that already includes all of your inventory resume skills, experience, and relevant information, then you’re a step ahead. If not, that’s okay - that’s what this section is for.
Before you apply for another inventory position, take the time to develop an all-encompassing list of your inventory-related skills, work experience, certifications, or any other professional information that may go on a resume. This will take some time, but trust us, it’s worth it.
Creating this master resume will give you a single document to refer to every time you apply for a job. You’ll no longer be wasting time trying to remember all of the details for the previous positions you’ve held. The time spent doing this will save you a lot of time during the job application process.
Your master managed inventory resume is for your eyes only. This means that it doesn’t need to follow any particular formatting guidelines or be a certain length. In fact, if you have a lot of experience in the field, your master resume may be pretty lengthy.
The only requirement for this document is that it’s organized in a way that’s easy for you to go back and reference or pull information from during your job search. As long as the organization makes sense to you, your master resume is perfect.
Once you have your master resume put together, remember to go back and update it from time to time. Any time you change jobs or develop new industry-related skills, add the information to your master resume. Doing so will ensure that the document stays up-to-date.
Job-specific managed inventory resume
You have your master inventory manager resume; now it’s time to apply for jobs. The best resume you can send with your application is one curated to meet the desired skillset and experience that the hiring team is looking for.
To accomplish this, you need to refer to the inventory manager job description for your resume building. The job description will highlight the skillset and daily duties that the position requires. This not only gives you a good idea of whether you’re qualified for the position but also what information to include in your resume.
Once you’ve read the job description and made note of the important information, compare that description to your master inventory resume. Pull information from your master resume that showcases your proficiency in the specific skills the hiring manager is looking for. This approach will highlight your most relevant experience, making you stand out among other applicants.
When you create your job-specific resume, it will need to follow a professional format. The rest of this guide will work you through the formatting of each section of your resume as well as the resume’s formatting as a whole.
Inventory management resume example
Review the above inventory management resume sample. Notice that the personal profile, work experience, and skills all tie in together to create a full picture of the applicant’s experience. Remember to keep all of the information relevant to the job being applied for. This will make it easier to keep your resume to one page as you apply for more senior positions.
What to include in a resume for inventory manager? Writing tips and examples
You’ve picked a position to apply for, and now you need to tailor your resume to meet its requirements. There are certain sections of a resume that essentially every employer will be looking for. The following part of this guide will walk you through these key components of your inventory manager resume: personal profile, skills, work experience, education, and certifications.
How to write a personal profile on an inventory manager resume?
The personal profile in your resume is kind of like an inventory manager resume description. It’s a quick paragraph at the top of your resume that highlights the most important pieces of your resume. It’s meant to catch the hiring director’s attention and make them want to know more about you and your professional experience.
A personal profile is also known as a resume summary for an inventory control manager. It summarizes your best accomplishments in the field. When possible, include data and numbers to back up the claims made in your personal profile. Data is vital in inventory management, so use that fact to your advantage.
To write a great personal profile, include the following:
- The number of years of experience you have in the field
- Your top two or three inventory management skills
- Explain one or two of your key accomplishments
- Offer to provide your expertise to help the company reach a specific goal
Again, you want to choose the information in your personal profile based on the job description that’s been posted. This will keep it relevant and more likely to impress the employer. Most of your resume can utilize bulleted lists, but your personal profile should be written in short but complete sentences.
If you’re not sure what you should include in your resume summary, you can write it after you complete the rest of your resume. This will let you choose from the information on the page, allowing you to more easily summarize the whole document.
Skills to list on an inventory manager resume
The skills you include in your inventory manager resume should be based on the job you’re applying for. You want to only include the skills that the employer is looking for, even if you have an extensive list of skills. You don’t want to overwhelm the hiring manager with an overly lengthy list.
Your skills should be incorporated throughout your resume, but including a list of them is also a great idea. This allows you to tie everything together nicely and gives the employer a quick section to look at. Plus, it can help make your resume compliant with resume software.
Many employers are using applicant tracking systems, which scan resumes for specific keywords and kick out ones that don’t have what the employer is looking for. Again, this is why the job-specific resume is so helpful. You don’t want your resume to never be seen by the hiring team just because you didn’t include the key skills they’re looking for.
When choosing the skills to include, remember to include your inventory skills, management skills, and soft skills. This will give an employer a well-rounded image of the expertise you bring to the table. It will show that you’re proficient in all areas of the job.
Compare the job description with your master resume list of skills and choose the skills that are in both. If you end up with a really lengthy list of skills, try to narrow it down to 10 or less to keep the resume concise.
Every inventory management position will be looking for different things. However, here’s a list of some common skills that you may be including in your resume:
- Microsoft Dynamics
- SAP ERP
- Oodo
- Zoho Inventory
- Analytical skills
- Leadership
- Lean supply chain management
- Communication
- Multitasking
- Problem-solving
How to write work experience on an inventory manager resume?
Most people will say that the work experience section of your resume is the most important part. Because of this, you want to make sure it’s done correctly and highlights the right skills and accomplishments. Your previous experience is what shows employers that you have a professional history of inventorying.
When creating your work history section, you will want to order your jobs in reverse chronological order. This means that you will put your most recent position at the top of the list and work your way back in time.
Each position you include should have the following information provided:
- Your most recent job title at the company
- The name of the company
- The city and state the company is in
- The dates of employment (month and year)
Then, include a few bullet points that highlight the key accomplishments you made while there. You don’t want to simply tell them what your duties were. Instead, show them how you improved the workplace. This is a great opportunity to provide data and numbers to show your accomplishments.
Again, you want to tailor this section to the open position. Include achievements that will translate to what you will be responsible for at the new company. Be specific with your achievements, too. Don’t include vague statements about what you did. Show them how you made your previous company better in the inventory management role.
How do you list education on an inventory manager resume?
The education section of your inventory manager resume is also important. This typically goes below your work experience section as it’s seen as supporting information instead of main details.
Your education section will be listed in reverse chronological order as well. Start with your most recent degree awarded and work your way back. If you have a college degree, you don’t need to include your high school diploma on your resume.
Each education entry should include the following:
- The name of the degree you achieved
- The name of the school
- The years you attended or the year you graduated
If you’ve recently graduated, you can include your GPA if it was 3.5 or higher. This is completely optional, though.
As with every other section, only include relevant education information. You have every right to be proud of your culinary degree, but it doesn’t relate to the inventory management field. It’s best to leave that degree off of your resume entirely.
How do you list courses and certificates on an inventory manager resume?
A certification section on your inventory manager resume is a more optional section, but it can be the difference that makes you stand out. If you have earned a certification or taken extra courses that relate to inventory management, include them in your resume. Typically, you’ll put this section below the education section of your resume.
If you’ve earned an Excel certification, CPIM, or other certifications that can benefit you in an inventory management role, include the basic information about them. You’ll need to include the certification’s name, the organization that awarded it to you, and the year you earned it.
Unless mentioned in the job description, certifications are optional information to include. However, in a competitive field, every advantage matters, so extra knowledge like this could be what lands you a job.
Once you’ve decided the information you want to include in your resume, it’s time to format it. If this overwhelms you, use the CVMaker resume-building tool. Simply input your information, choose one of the many templates, and you’ll have a resume that’s ready to be downloaded and sent with your job application - no formatting required.
Key takeaways on describing inventory management on resume
Your inventory manager resume is the key to getting a job interview and being hired for your dream position. It’s crucial to send a resume that focuses on the skillset needed for the particular job you’re applying for.
Using your master resume and the job description can help you choose what information to include. This approach will help your resume make it past any resume-checking software an employer uses and will also highlight the right skills and experience to impress the employer.
It’s time for a quick recap. When putting your resume together, follow these key tips:
- Write a personal profile that highlights your most impressive achievements as an inventory manager.
- Provide a curated list of your skills that is perfectly in line with the job description.
- List your work experience in reverse chronological order and explain a few key achievements you had in each position.
- Include your relevant schooling information in reverse chronological order
- If you have any relevant certifications, include them in your resume to give it an extra boost.
Next Steps?
Are you still overwhelmed with the idea of inventorying your skills to create a resume? If so, utilize the CVMaker resume writing service. Send your work history to a team of expert resume writers, and in just four days, they’ll send you a professional resume that’s ready to send out. Plus, you can edit it as needed and get free revisions.
This option will take away all the stress of resume building so you can focus on inventory instead.
FAQs
How do you create an inventory manager resume with little to no management experience?
If you’ve been working in inventory for a while and you’re ready for your first inventory management position, your resume will look similar to the above guide with just a few simple changes.
In your personal profile, you should include your inventory manager resume objectives instead of a resume summary. This will tell the hiring manager what you plan to accomplish in a management position, how you plan to do it, and why being hired for the open position is best for you and the company.
Your work experience won’t have any management experience so you’ll want to focus your achievement and skills on the inventory side of skills. It’s also a good idea to focus on any soft skills you have that translate into management, such as communication and team building. If you’ve had the chance to take temporary leadership roles in the past, include those in your accomplishments.
Finally, if you have relevant education experience, you should go into more depth about its relevance. When you include a degree, add some bullet points about relevant coursework, extracurriculars, and academic achievements. This will show that you have educational experience to make up for a lack of professional experience.
How do you say you did inventory on a resume?
It may seem obvious, but many people wonder how to say you did inventory on a resume. It’s not enough to simply state that on a skill list. You want to include relevant data and numbers that show how your inventory work bettered the company you were working for.
It’s also best to include action verbs in your explanations. Don’t use words like responsible for or tasked with. Instead, make your experience impressive with words like achieved, managed, introduced, and improved.
This approach is much better than vaguely explaining that you did inventory at a previous job.
Do you need a cover letter for your inventory manager resume?
When applying for a management position, it’s even more important to do all you can to show you’re the best applicant. Writing a cover letter is a great way to do just that. Plus, studies show that almost half of hiring managers won’t even look at a resume without one.
So how do you write the perfect cover letter? Your best approach is choosing a template that matches your resume, following a professional format (laid out in the template), and including the following elements:
- Start with a strong opening. You want to grab the employer’s attention. Consider highlighting your most impressive achievement to do this.
- Include a couple of past accomplishments that highlight the proper skillset.
- Show off your personality and writing skills in a professional way - this letter gives the employer a glimpse into who you are.
- Explain why you want the particular job you’re applying for.
- Conclude with a call to action or an offer - this raises your chances of getting contacted.
- Keep it short - your cover letter should be under a page
What is the right resume format for an inventory manager?
The format for your inventory manager resume should be professional and easy to read. There is some room for personal touches with your resume, but keep them simple and not distracting.
Choose one or two accent colors so that the document isn’t too overwhelming. When you choose your font, pick one that’s easy to read and opt for size 10 or 12.
Try to fit all of your information on a single page. It’s rarely recommended to go over a page with your resume. The only exceptions are if you’re applying for a senior management position or if you have a lengthy relevant work experience.
Finally, send your resume as a PDF when possible. PDFs open the same way across platforms, allowing for a similar reading experience for everyone. Plus, it will provide a sleek, professional document to the hiring manager.
If you’re overwhelmed by formatting, use the CVMaker resume-building tool, and it will take care of it for you.