How to write a business administrator CV (with a template)

Updated 23 January 2023

Businesses of different sizes and scopes rely on professionals with extensive knowledge in business administration to optimise processes, achieve strategic goals and increase revenue. When searching for business administration specialists, recruiters look for role-specific skills, relevant experience and knowledge. Knowing how to write a business administrator CV can help you fully reflect your key qualifications and secure a job in this field. In this article, we define a business administration CV, explain how to write one and provide a template and an example you can use for guidance.

What is a business administrator CV?

A business administrator CV is a professional document explaining your qualifications for a business administrator position. The document is extremely useful and popular in job searches because it's a quick and easy way for recruiters to get to know you as a candidate. A well-prepared business administration CV markets you as a strong candidate and persuades companies to hire you. It focuses on listing relevant business experience, such as previous jobs in a company where you contributed your organisational and management skills to a business.

How to write a business administrator CV

CVs usually consist of five key elements regardless of your specialisation. These include contact details, a professional summary, employment history, a skills section and education information. You may also provide relevant certifications or showcase your portfolio. For example, business consultants and project managers frequently rely on their portfolios when searching for job opportunities. As business administrators may work in a broad range of fields and hold positions at various management levels, you may benefit from taking some preparatory steps. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating an effective business administration CV.

1. Gather information

Business administration involves a wide variety of specialisations, and requirements may differ from one job to another. You may consider roles such as market research analyst, project manager, business consultant, human resources manager, financial analyst, operations director, data analyst, accountant and sales manager. You can conduct preliminary research to gather information about these positions. If you haven't decided which field to specialise in, use job descriptions to determine which profession utilises your strongest skills.

If you already have a specific area of expertise and are searching for an opportunity to advance your career, review open positions to obtain information about potential employers. It may help to identify the advantages and challenges of different jobs to make an informed decision when sending an application. In addition, you can use this information to enhance your CV by including relevant details. Use job descriptions to analyse requirements and keywords so you can reflect them in your application.

2. Include your contact details

As sending an application is the first part of the recruitment process, provide your contact information in your CV. This way, hiring managers can reach you if they have any questions or decide to invite you for an interview. You can help them find this section by creating a header and placing your details at the top of the document. Include your full name, phone number, email address and location. You can also provide a link to your portfolio if you have one.

3. Write a professional summary

A professional summary is a brief description of your professional strengths. This section is usually two to three sentences long. You may mention your relevant skills, experience, education, achievements or professional goals. As experience plays a significant role in business administration, consider highlighting how many years of experience you have. If you have a limited employment history, focus on your relevant education.

4. List your employment history

As business administrators often hold upper-level positions, most employers require several years of experience. You may add relevant employment in entry-level positions in this section. Consider mentioning key responsibilities to demonstrate how your work history prepared you for this job. You may benefit from listing duties that your potential employer gives in the job description. Include your job title, employment dates and the employer's name and location. Use bullet points to describe your duties and achievements clearly and concisely.

5. Add relevant skills

Use the skills section to demonstrate your strongest business administration skills. Consider adjusting this section to reflect the requirements of the specific job you're applying for. Include both soft and hard skills to express your abilities fully. You can significantly increase your chances of getting the job by mentioning skills most employers list on job postings. Even though they may differ depending on your specialisation, some universal business administration skills exist. Here's a list of skills that recruiters search for:

communication
negotiation
critical thinking
problem-solving
presentation
financial knowledge
human resources management
leadership
technology
organisation
delegation
budgeting

6. Describe your education

The education part of your CV lists your relevant qualifications in finance, human resources management, accounting or business administration. Provide the educational institution's name, the degree you earned and the date you graduated. If applicable, mention honours or recognition that you achieved while a student. Consider including any influential coursework that contributed to your success as a business administrator, such as a helpful business course. Even though these positions usually require at least a master's degree, you may use undergraduate and college information if you have extensive experience.

7. Proofread your CV

Once you finish creating your CV, you can proofread it for correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting. This ensures style consistency, which makes your document look professional. Consider double-checking information and contact details to ensure accuracy. You may also ask a friend or family member to proofread your CV to get a second opinion. This can enhance your CV's appearance and demonstrate your attention to detail and written communication skills.

Business administrator CV template

Use this template for guidance when writing your CV:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Education
[Degree] | [Name of School or University]

Business administrator CV example

Here's an example CV you can use for inspiration:

John Smith, MSc in Business Administration 02078 812345 | john.smith@email.com | London

Professional Summary
Goal-oriented director of operations with 17 years of experience in developing business strategies and optimising processes. Proficient manager with extensive knowledge of automation techniques and digital management tools.

Experience

Director of Operations | June 2010–Current
Light Wings | London

develop and implement effective operational policies to improve performance and ensure legal compliance
analyse company revenue to determine and adjust budgets
manage human resources and devise staff evaluation criteria
create comprehensive job descriptions for new positions
negotiate with business partners and suppliers to ensure collaboration

Sales Manager | May 2005–May 2010
Global Travel | London

oversaw local and regional sales, campaigns and promotions
evaluated the sales team's performance and made data-informed decisions to direct it
prepared comprehensive reports and negotiated with key stakeholders

Skills
Excellent leadership and time management skills | Superb negotiation skills | Proficient in data analysis | Extensive knowledge of industry regulations| Proven ability to evaluate business performance

Education
MSc in Business Administration, University of Business and Management
BSc in Business Administration, University of Yorkshire

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