Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your adeptness at contracts management alongside your negotiation and compliance skills is a significant challenge. By turning to our guide, you'll discover the strategies and examples necessary to construct a CV that highlights your expertise and captures the attention of prospective employers.
- Applying best practices from real-world examples to ensure your profile always meets recruiters' expectations;
- What to include in your work experience section, apart from your past roles and responsibilities?
- Why are both hard and soft skills important for your application?
- How do you need to format your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker Software (ATS) assessment?
If you're writing your CV for a niche contracts manager role, make sure to get some inspiration from professionals:
How complex should the format of your contracts manager CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your contracts manager CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a contracts manager CV
- Contract Management Experience to show relevant employment history and achievements.
- Negotiation and Communication Skills to demonstrate ability to handle discussions and contracts.
- Education and Certifications to highlight relevant academic background and professional qualifications.
- Risk Assessment and Mitigation to reflect ability to foresee and manage potential contract issues.
- Industry Knowledge and Expertise to showcase understanding of sector-specific contract requirements.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your understanding of legal terms and contract law by providing examples of past contract negotiations and resolutions you’ve successfully managed, as this demonstrates your ability to safeguard the interests of the organisation.
- Emphasise your organisational skills by detailing how you have effectively managed contract portfolios, ensuring all documents are up-to-date and compliant with regulations and company policies.
- Illustrate your excellent communication and interpersonal abilities with instances where you have collaborated with cross-functional teams to align contract terms with business objectives.
- Showcase your analytical skills through descriptions of how you’ve developed contracts, assessed risks, and provided mitigation strategies that protect the company and promote good vendor relationships.
- Demonstrate your leadership skills by mentioning any experience in supervising a contracts team, training new team members, or implementing processes that have improved the contracts management workflow within a company.
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Making a good first impression with your contracts manager CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for contracts manager:
- Contracts Manager | NEC3 & NEC4 Expert | RICS Accredited | 10+ Years in Infrastructure Development
- Senior Contracts Manager | International Procurement | MSc Construction Management | Chartered Professional | 15+ Years Experience
- Junior Contracts Manager | BSc Quantity Surveying | Focus on Commercial Property | CIARB Member | 3 Years Experience
- Associate Contracts Manager | Risk Mitigation and Compliance | LL.M. Construction Law | 5+ Years Industry Insight
- Principal Contracts Manager | Strategic Negotiator | MCIPS Certified | Complex Programme Delivery | 20 Years Expertise
- Lead Contracts Manager | Cost Control and Reduction Specialist | Dual Degree in Law & Management | 12 Years Achievements
Choosing your opening statement: a contracts manager CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a contracts manager job:
- With over a decade of expertise in complex contract negotiations and management, this resilient professional has consistently accelerated the revenue growth of multinational IT corporations through strategic contract oversight and risk mitigation, culminating in a recent success securing a £90m government contract.
- Energetic and detail-oriented, this seasoned professional boasts 15 years' experience in procurement and contracts management within the construction sector, having expertly steered multi-million-pound projects to completion on time and under budget, demonstrating a strong track record in supplier relationship management and cost reductions.
- Transferring a rich background in corporate law and compliance from the legal industry, this individual is eager to pivot their analytical and meticulous contract drafting skills towards enhancing the contractual frameworks of a dynamic sales-oriented environment, armed with a profound understanding of commercial legal principles garnered over 8 years.
- Adept at corporate communications with a 7-year tenure in public relations, this professional aims to transfer their negotiation and stakeholder engagement capabilities into contract management, fuelled by a passion for clear contractual language and a proven knack for crafting win-win situations in high-stakes dealings.
- Seeking to apply a fresh perspective and unwavering commitment to the field of contract management, this newly minted graduate from the University of London armed with an LLB and spirited ambition aims to champion risk assessment and hone their expertise in orchestrating solid contractual agreements in a growth-centric corporate setting.
- An ambitious individual keen on cultivating a specialized career in contracts management, intent on utilising their strong analytical and organizational skills developed during a BSc in Management from King's College, to foster robust contracts that underpin the strategic initiatives and sustainable growth of an esteemed enterprise.
How to meet job requirements with your contracts manager CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Managed a portfolio of over 50 contracts worth £100 million, ensuring all agreements adhered to company policies and legal requirements.
- Negotiated contract terms and conditions with suppliers and partners, successfully reducing costs by 15% on average per annum.
- Led a team of 8 contract specialists, providing training and development to improve departmental efficiency and accuracy.
- Implemented a new contract management system that increased document retrieval times by 30% and improved audit compliance.
- Collaborated with legal, finance, and procurement departments to streamline contract processes, reducing average contract turnaround time by 20%.
- Reviewed and updated standard contract templates in line with changing regulations, mitigating risk and ensuring ongoing compliance.
- Resolved contractual disputes through effective negotiation strategies, preserving relationships while upholding firm's interests.
- Conducted regular risk assessments on contractual obligations, identifying potential issues and proposing mitigation strategies to senior management.
- Authored detailed reports on contract performance metrics, providing insights that influenced strategic decision-making at the executive level.
- Headed the negotiation of complex contracts with suppliers, achieving a 10% reduction in costs while ensuring compliance with UK legislation.
- Implemented a new contract management system, leading to a 20% increase in process efficiency and reduction in administrative errors.
- Managed a team of 5 contract specialists, overseeing the contract lifecycle for over 300 contracts annually with multinational entities.
- Devised a strategic approach for contract renewals, maintaining relationships with key partners, which resulted in a 95% retention rate.
- Led a cross-departmental team to deliver a complex £30m defence contract, which improved the company's market position.
- Collaborated with legal teams to mitigate risks, introducing a compliance tracking system that reduced legal disputes by 40%.
- Introduced a vendor performance evaluation process, enhancing partnerships and driving a 15% improvement in service quality.
- Negotiated multi-year contracts with key suppliers, securing stable pricing and supply that supported business continuity plans.
- Drafted and reviewed over 200 commercial agreements, providing expert advice to reduce costs and protect organizational interests.
- Successfully managed contract portfolios for high-value construction projects, keeping budgets within a 5% variance of projected costs.
- Liaised with public sector clients to secure tenders worth over £50m, significantly contributing to company growth.
- Implemented staff training on contract law principles, resulting in a 30% decrease in non-compliance issues.
- Managed successful contract negotiations for IT services, helping the company transition to cloud-based solutions within budget constraints.
- Developed a risk management strategy for contract liabilities, avoiding potential losses of up to £2m.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration to ensure contractual obligations were met, directly contributing to a 25% increase in project delivery efficiency.
- Coordinated with international vendors to streamline equipment procurement, supporting the expansion of operations into new markets.
- Championed the adoption of sustainable procurement practices in contracting, aligning with company CSR goals and reducing environmental impact.
- Oversaw the contractual aspects of large mergers and acquisitions, ensuring seamless integration of processes and systems.
- Orchestrated the turnaround of a failing contract framework, salvaging client relationships and securing future business ventures.
- Drove a company-wide initiative to improve contract profitability, harnessing data analytics to pinpoint and act on cost-saving opportunities.
- Provided authoritative guidance for complex international contracts, leading to successful market entries in three new countries.
- Facilitated the overhaul of legacy contract processes, integrating new technologies that cut processing time by 35%.
- Conducted rigorous contract assessments that identified and rectified non-performing areas, boosting service delivery by 20%.
- Driven by a commitment to excellence, steered the contracting team through a period of regulatory change, ensuring 100% compliance with new industry standards.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your contracts manager CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your contracts manager CV:
Contract negotiation
Contract law
Risk management
Procurement
Project management
Compliance monitoring
Financial analysis
Strategic planning
Vendor management
Legal documentation
Communication
Attention to detail
Negotiation
Problem-solving
Leadership
Organisational skills
Decision-making
Teamwork
Adaptability
Stress management
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Further professional qualifications for your contracts manager CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your contracts manager CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional contracts manager CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
