As an export manager, you might struggle with effectively showcasing your diverse international trade skills and experience on your resume. Our guide offers targeted advice to help you highlight your expertise in global markets, ensuring your resume impresses prospective employers.
- Incorporate export manager job advert keywords into key sections of your resume, such as the summary, header, and experience sections;
- Quantify your experience using achievements, certificates, and more in various export manager resume sections;
- Apply practical insights from real-life export manager resume examples to enhance your own profile;
- Choose the most effective export manager resume format to succeed in any evaluation process.
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How to style your export manager resume: layout and format
When creating your export manager resume, have you ever wondered how long it should be? Experts point out that it should be between one and two pages. Choose the longer format, if you happen to have over a decade of relevant experience. What is more, resume formats play a crucial role in presenting your experience. Use the:- Reverse-chronological resume format to highlight your experience;
- Functional skill-based resume format if you have less experience and want to focus on skills;
- Hybrid resume format to guide recruiters through both your experience and skills.
- Make sure your headline is simple and includes the job you're applying for or your current role, an abbreviation of a certificate you have, or even your professional area of interest;
- Always tailor your export manager resume to the role you're applying for by matching job requirements to your experience via different resume sections;
- Once you've created your resume, download it in PDF (unless otherwise specified). This is to ensure readability and that the layout remains fixed.
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Listing your relevant degrees or certificates on your export manager resume is a win-win situation. Not only does it hint at your technical capabilities in the industry, but an array of soft skills, like perseverance, adaptability, and motivation.
The five (plus) definite sections your resume for a export manager job should include are:
- Header with your headline, contact details, and/or a preview of your work
- Summary (or objective) to pinpoint how your success aligns with the role
- Experience with bullets of your most relevant achievements in the field
- Skills to integrate vital job requirements (both technical and personal)
- Your further dedication to the field, showcased via relevant higher education and/or certifications
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in international trade regulations and compliance
- Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with international clients and partners
- Experience in market analysis and strategy for entering and expanding in foreign markets
- Strong negotiation skills and experience with international contracts and logistics coordination
- Fluency in multiple languages and familiarity with cross-cultural business communications
The experience section or the essence of your professional export manager resume
Recruiters always have and always will appreciate well-written export manager resume experience sections.
The experience section is perhaps the most crucial element of your professional presentation, as it needs to answer job requirements while showcasing your technical expertise and personality.
Create your best resume experience section yet by:
- Selecting only relevant experience items to the role you're applying for;
- Always ensure you've listed a metric to quantify your success alongside each experience item;
- Create a narrative that showcases your export manager career succession: this goes to show the time and effort you've invested in the field to build your experience from the ground up;
- Within each experience bullet, consider a problem you've solved, the skills you've used, and the bigger impact this has made in the organization.
Take a look at how other real-life professionals have curated their experience with the export manager samples below:
- Led a team of 10 to streamline export processes for agricultural machinery, achieving a 25% reduction in shipping times and doubling customer satisfaction scores.
- Collaborated with customs agencies and logistics providers to ensure compliance with all export regulations, resulting in a 0% error rate on export documentation.
- Implemented a new CRM system to track international client interactions, which increased repeat business by 30% within the first year.
- Developed and maintained relationships with distributors in over 20 countries, leading to an expansion in the Asian market by 40%.
- Negotiated freight contracts that cut transportation costs by 20%, improving the company's competitive edge in international markets.
- Increased annual sales revenue by 15% through strategic market analysis and targeting emerging markets with a potential growth in consumption.
- Coordinated with production and supply chain teams to ensure efficient order fulfillment for international clients, leading to a 98% on-time delivery rate.
- Designed and executed a training program for a team of 20 on export compliance and best practices, which reduced non-compliance issues by 50%.
- Spearheaded the entry into three new European markets, resulting in a 22% increase in export volume.
- Implemented a data-driven decision-making process for export market prioritization, which contributed to a 35% increase in international sales.
- Orchestrated a shift to digital tracking for shipments, increasing transparency and reducing lost shipment incidents by 90%.
- Managed export transactions with a portfolio value exceeding $50 million annually, maintaining profitability despite fluctuating foreign exchange rates.
- Developed strong partnerships with freight forwarders to optimize shipping routes, leading to a 10% reduction in logistics costs.
- Initiated a corporate-wide sustainability initiative in export packaging, reducing material use by 15% and positively impacting the company's eco-friendly brand image.
- Played a pivotal role in penetrating the South American market, which now accounts for 25% of the company's export revenue.
- Successfully negotiated and secured a $30 million contract with a key partner in the Middle East, enhancing the company's international standing.
- Pioneered the use of advanced analytics in export strategy, leading to a 50% increase in market intelligence accuracy and better targeting.
- Launched a comprehensive risk management framework for export operations, significantly minimizing potential financial losses.
- Drove the implementation of an innovative cross-border e-commerce platform, which captured a 20% increase in sales from international online channels.
- Spearheaded a multi-departmental collaboration to achieve ISO 9001 certification for our export department, securing a competitive advantage in quality assurance.
- Formulated and executed market entry strategies for four high-growth potential countries, each yielding an average increase of 18% in market share within two years.
- Managed a diverse team responsible for exporting consumer electronics, achieving a record-high customer retention rate of 95% due to exceptional service standards.
- Led the project for automation of export logistics, slashing process times by 40% and effectively managing a 25% increase in order volume without additional headcount.
- Successfully navigated complex trade agreements and tariff changes, maintaining export growth at an average of 10% year-over-year.
The following content includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top responsibilities present on the task lists for export manager professionals.
Top Responsibilities for Export Manager:
- Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate, or other subjects of sale.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
- Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
- Determine price schedules and discount rates.
- Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
- Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
- Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
- Direct, coordinate, and review sales and service accounting and record-keeping, as well as receiving and shipping.
- Direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Highlight the total value of goods you have successfully exported, demonstrating your ability to handle significant financial transactions.
- Specify the percentage increase in sales or market share you have achieved for different product lines to show growth contributions.
- Detail the number of countries you have exported to, illustrating your international market penetration skills.
- Mention the number of trade agreements you have negotiated and secured, showing your bargaining and strategic planning competencies.
- Include the percentage of cost reduction you’ve accomplished through optimizing export processes, displaying efficiency improvements.
- Enumerate any awards or recognitions received for export performance, which can quantify your excellence in the field.
- Indicate the size of teams you have led or coordinated, highlighting your leadership and collaborative abilities.
- Report on key metrics used to track export performance impacts, such as customer satisfaction scores or delivery time improvements.
Action verbs for your export manager resume
What if you don't have any experience?
There are two very common scenarios about candidates with less experience. They are either:
- Fresh out of college in search of a export manager role
- Transferring over from a completely different field
Both of these types of candidates still have a shot at landing their first job in the industry.
All they need to do about the experience section of their export manager resume is:
- Consider their strengths - would the outcomes of their previous roles or niche skill sets impress recruiters? Feature those towards the top of your resume
- Exclude any and all irrelevant experience items - remember that at the end of the day, you're telling a story that aims to align with the ideal candidate for the export manager job
- Win recruiters over with personality - perhaps your ambition, dreams, and diligence would make you the perfect fit for the export manager role. Dedicate resume space to detail your personality traits by showcasing how they've helped you succeed in past roles
- Tailor your experience to specific job requirements - ensure your export manager resume answers the advert in the best way possible.
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PRO TIP
Highlight any significant extracurricular activities that demonstrate valuable skills or leadership.
Export manager skills and achievements section: must-have hard and soft skills
A key principle for your export manager resume is to prominently feature your hard skills, or the technologies you excel in, within the skills section. Aim to list several hard skills that are in line with the job's requirements.
When it comes to soft skills, like interpersonal communication abilities and talents, they're trickier to quantify.
Claiming to be a good communicator is one thing, but how can you substantiate this claim?
Consider creating a dedicated "Strengths" or "Achievements" section. Here, you can describe how specific soft skills (such as leadership, negotiation, problem-solving) have led to concrete achievements.
Your export manager resume should reflect a balanced combination of both hard and soft skills, just as job requirements often do.
Top skills for your export manager resume:
Export Documentation Software
Customs Compliance Software
Freight Forwarding Systems
Supply Chain Management Tools
ERP Systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
Logistics Management Software
Market Research Tools
Data Analysis Software (e.g., Excel, Tableau)
International Trade Regulations Knowledge
Shipping and Transportation Management Systems
Negotiation Skills
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Cultural Awareness
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Team Collaboration
Adaptability
Customer Service Orientation
Decision-Making Skills
Next, you will find information on the top technologies for export manager professonals from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Top technologies for Export Manager’s resume:
- Oracle Eloqua
- Salesforce software
- Airtable
- Yardi software
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Oracle PeopleSoft
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If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your export manager resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.
Export manager-specific certifications and education for your resume
Place emphasis on your resume education section . It can suggest a plethora of skills and experiences that are apt for the role.
- Feature only higher-level qualifications, with details about the institution and tenure.
- If your degree is in progress, state your projected graduation date.
- Think about excluding degrees that don't fit the job's context.
- Elaborate on your education if it accentuates your accomplishments in a research-driven setting.
On the other hand, showcasing your unique and applicable industry know-how can be a literal walk in the park, even if you don't have a lot of work experience.
Include your accreditation in the certification and education sections as so:
- Important industry certificates should be listed towards the top of your resume in a separate section
- If your accreditation is really noteworthy, you could include it in the top one-third of your resume following your name or in the header, summary, or objective
- Potentially include details about your certificates or degrees (within the description) to show further alignment to the role with the skills you've attained
- The more recent your professional certificate is, the more prominence it should have within your certification sections. This shows recruiters you have recent knowledge and expertise
At the end of the day, both the education and certification sections hint at the initial and continuous progress you've made in the field.
And, honestly - that's important for any company.
Below, discover some of the most recent and popular export manager certificates to make your resume even more prominent in the applicant pool:
The top 5 certifications for your export manager resume:
- Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) - Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)
- Certified Export Specialist (CES) - National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA)
- Global Business Professional (CGBP) - NASBITE International
- Export Compliance Professional (ECoP) - Export Compliance Training Institute (ECTI)
- International Trade Specialist (ITS) - eBSI Export Academy
The content below includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top associations for export manager professionals.
Top US associations for a Export Manager professional
- SMEI
- Association for Talent Development
- Association of Sales and Marketing Companies
- Gift Sales Manager Association
- News Media Alliance
PRO TIP
List your educational qualifications and certifications in reverse chronological order.
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Should you write a resume summary or an objective?
No need to research social media or ask ChatGPT to find out if the summary or objective is right for your export manager resume.
- Experienced candidates always tend to go for resume summaries. The summary is a three to five sentence long paragraph that narrates your career highlights and aligns your experience to the role. In it you can add your top skills and career achievements that are most impressive.
- Junior professionals or those making a career change, should write a resume objective. These shouldn't be longer than five sentences and should detail your career goals . Basically, how you see yourself growing in the current position and how would your experience or skill set could help out your potential employers.
Think of both the resume summary and objective as your opportunity to put your best foot forward - from the get go - answering job requirements with skills.
Use the below real-world export manager professional statements as inspiration for writing your resume summary or objective.
Resume summaries for a export manager job
- Seasoned export manager with 12 years' robust experience orchestrating international trade operations for Fortune 500 companies. Excel at negotiating contracts, streamlining shipping procedures, and mitigating compliance risks. Pivotal in expanding the Asian market sector, resulting in a 40% increase in regional sales over two years.
- Accomplished professional with 8 years of comprehensive management experience, ready to transition into export logistics. Proven track record in leading teams to achieve operational efficiency across various sectors, seeking to apply strategic planning and problem-solving skills to enhance an international trade department's performance.
- With 15 years in pharmaceutical sales and a keen understanding of global market trends, I am eager to pivot towards export management. My adeptness in client relationship building and data analytics positions me to bring valuable insights and a fresh perspective to navigating international trade complexities.
- Diligent former entrepreneur, adept at managing product lifecycle from conception to market, shifting focus towards export management. Strong foundation in market research, relationship building, and strategic planning, aiming to leverage these skills in effectively handling export operations and compliance.
- Eager to embark on a career as an export manager with no direct experience, yet armed with a Master's degree in International Business and a passion for global commerce. Committed to learning the intricacies of export regulations and supply chain logistics to contribute to the successful movement of goods worldwide.
- As a graduate with a B.A. in Global Studies and internship experience at a renowned logistics firm, I am keen to apply my analytical skills and multicultural understanding to excel as a beginning export manager. Driven to handle complex trade agreements and build effective distribution networks on an international scale.
Average salary info by state in the US for Export Manager professionals
Local salary info for Export Manager.” Source: My Next Move, National Center for O*NET Development. Accessed 10/15/2024
| State | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|
| US National Average | $135,160 |
| California (CA) | $131,740 |
| Texas (TX) | $127,560 |
| Florida (FL) | $128,810 |
| New York (NY) | $214,010 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $130,600 |
| Illinois (IL) | $135,680 |
| Ohio (OH) | $134,440 |
| Georgia (GA) | $141,720 |
| North Carolina (NC) | $125,270 |
| Michigan (MI) | $141,620 |
Taking your export manager resume to the next level with these four additional resume sections
Your export manager resume can feature a variety of skills (both hard and soft) in diverse sections. Choose those that align best with the job requirements and reflect your suitability for the company culture.
Consider these four additional resume sections recommended by our experts:
- Languages - State any languages you are proficient in and your level of proficiency. This demonstrates your commitment to communication and potential for international growth.
- Projects - Highlight up to three significant projects you've completed outside of work, showcasing skill development. Include a link to your project portfolio in the export manager resume header, if applicable.
- My Time - How you allocate your time outside work can indicate your organizational skills and cultural fit within the company.
- Volunteering - Detail causes you're passionate about, roles you've held, and achievements in volunteering. Such experiences likely have honed a range of soft skills crucial for your dream job.
Key takeaways
At the end of our guide, we'd like to remind you to:
- Invest in a simple, modern resume design that is ATS friendly and keeps your experience organized and legible;
- Avoid just listing your responsibilities in your experience section, but rather focus on quantifiable achievements;
- Always select resume sections that are relevant to the role and can answer job requirements. Sometimes your volunteering experience could bring more value than irrelevant work experience;
- Balance your technical background with your personality traits across various sections of your resume to hint at how much time employers would have to invest in training you and if your profile would be a good cultural fit to the organization;
- Include your academic background (in the form of your relevant higher education degrees and certifications) to show recruiters that you have the technical basics of the industry covered.
