Moving into management your CV for a first leadership role
Going for your first team leader or manager job? You have probably led more than your job title says. Here is how to show it on your CV and talk about it at interview.
Before you start
The hardest part of a first management application is that your CV is full of doing the work, and the new job is about getting work done through other people. The good news is that most people have already led in small ways: training a new starter, covering for a manager, running a project or fixing a process.
This guide shows how to find that evidence, write it up in a way hiring managers recognise and answer the questions every new manager is asked. The example wording is about a made-up person, so swap in your own examples.
How to handle it on your CV
Step by step, from the layout to the last line. Take what fits your own story.
Want a clean layout to start from? See our professional CV templates.
Collect your leadership evidence
List every time you have led, formally or not: training or buddying new starters, covering for your manager, running a shift or a rota, leading a project or a change, handling escalated complaints, or being the person others come to for help. This is your raw material.
Write about results through other people
For each example, say what the team achieved because of what you did. "Trained four new starters, who all passed probation" says more than "Responsible for training". Use numbers you can stand behind, such as team size, people trained or time saved.
Aim the profile at the role you want
Name the leadership job in your profile, then give your strongest proof that you are ready, such as the team you have led or covered. Keep it to three or four lines.
Lead each recent job with leadership
Put your leadership bullet points first under your current role, and keep the hands-on detail shorter. If you have an informal title, such as shift lead or senior adviser, use it accurately.
Add training that shows you are preparing
A short management course, coaching training or a leadership qualification shows you are taking the step seriously. List it with the year, and say what you have put into practice.
Use the words in the advert
Management adverts often ask for coaching, performance management, delegation, planning and working with stakeholders. Use the same words where they are true for you, so recruiters and applicant tracking systems can see the match.
Example wording to adapt
An example about a made-up person, to show the shape and the tone. Swap in your own facts, dates and words.
Senior customer adviser with five years in a busy contact centre, ready for a first team leader role. This year I covered for my team leader on 40 shifts, ran the weekly team huddle and trained eight new starters, all of whom passed probation. I like helping people improve, and I stay calm when the queue is long.
- Covered the team leader role for a team of 11 during holidays and sickness, including rotas, absence calls and daily huddles
- Trained and buddied eight new advisers through their first month; all passed probation
- Led a small project to rewrite our refund scripts, which cut transfers to the complaints team
I have not had the title yet, but I have done much of the job: covering for my team leader, training new starters and leading our refund project. I would now like to do it every day, with the support your team leader programme offers.
What to say at interview
Interviews for a first management role test how you would handle people, not just tasks. Use real examples where you can, and be honest that you are still learning.
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How would you manage people who used to be your peers?
Show you have thought about it: a fair reset, clear expectations and the same standards for everyone.
An example to adapt
I would talk to each person one to one in my first week, be honest that our working relationship has changed and ask what they need from me. Then I would be consistent: the same standards and the same support for everyone, friends included.
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Tell us about a time you dealt with someone not pulling their weight.
Use the STAR shape: the situation, how you found the cause, how you set expectations and what changed.
An example to adapt
When I was covering for my manager, one colleague kept missing the start of shift. I had a private chat, found out his bus times had changed and agreed a later start with our manager. His timekeeping was fine after that, and he thanked me for asking rather than assuming.
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How do you decide what to delegate?
Show that you match tasks to people’s skills and development, keep track and stay accountable.
An example to adapt
I keep the things only I should do, like rotas and difficult conversations, and hand on tasks that help someone grow, with a clear deadline and a check-in. If it goes wrong, it is still my responsibility.
Preparing for a particular job? See our interview questions by job.
What to leave out
- Claiming a title you did not have. Describe what you did instead.
- Bullet points that are all about your own tasks, with nothing about the team.
- Phrases such as "natural leader" with no example behind them.
- Criticising your current manager to show you would do it better.
Read next
Moving into management: your questions
How do I get a management job with no management experience?
Show the leadership you have done without the title, such as covering, training, projects and rotas, and the results it brought. Talk to your current employer about stepping up too: internal candidates who have already covered the role are often well placed.
Should I get a management qualification first?
It is not usually required for a first team leader role, but a short course can help, especially if the advert mentions one. Experience of leading, even informally, matters more to most employers.
What is the difference between a team leader and a manager?
It varies by employer. A team leader usually runs a team day to day while still doing some of the work, and a manager is more often responsible for people, budgets and planning. Read the advert closely and use its words in your CV.
Which CV layout suits a management application?
A clean, professional layout that puts your profile and recent leadership results at the top. Our professional CV templates are a good place to start.
Keep going
- Professional CV templatesFree designs that keep your story clear, with no watermark.
- Cover lettersExample letters by job: a good place to explain your situation in a sentence or two.
- Free CV checkerA CV Score out of 100 and the fixes to make first, in about 30 seconds.
Other CV guides: Returning to work After redundancy Over 50 No degree Leaving the armed forces
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