In this article, we’ll give you guidance on things to include in a resume, along with an excellent example to use for ideas on how to customize your resume. Some of the things a safety manager does include conducting risk assessments, enforcing policies, investigating accidents, ensuring legal compliance, providing training, and driving safe practices in the workplace.
This is a good example of a safety manager resume because it contains content needed to convey the qualifications and experience companies seek for the role. It starts with the job title and two key areas of work experience or industries.
Next, is the summary section that gives a brief overview of your experience level, skills, and traits. Focus on a few of your best skills and biggest accomplishments. The summary is what grabs readers’ attention and makes them want to keep reading.
The professional experience section is where you put your money where your mouth is. Your descriptions need to be short, but impactful. Don’t waste space on listing out simple job duties. Each job needs to impress your potential employer, so focus on significant things you did at each one. It’s okay to have a short sentence or two explaining your key responsibilities, but don’t go into great detail. The most effective way to show your accomplishments for each role is in a bulleted list that follows the job description.
The last section is your education. Include your college degree if you have one. You can also include any job-related training or certifications you have in a separate section.
Hiring managers read many resumes every day. When the competition is tough, they may only spend a few seconds looking at a resume before discarding it. That’s why it’s critical that your safety management resume gets their attention right away and keeps it.
The first thing to think about is your formatting. Your resume has to stand out, but not because you are using a bunch of fancy fonts, multiple colors, tables, or other document formatting gizmos. All these things can make it difficult to read and draw attention away from the content. Stick with a simple format that includes a single, standard font. There are many good examples of resume formats, such as the one we’ve provided.
Content is king, so make sure the content in your resume is relevant to the position. Examine the job listing closely for any keywords and phrases. Use applicable words just as they are in the job listing to ensure an applicant tracking system (ATS) will recognize them. This will improve your ATS score, which is usually the first thing that will review your resume.
Make sure you show how you utilized your job skills when writing your professional experience section. Use examples with numbers, so the reader can see the tangible positive impact you had on the business. This is your chance to impress a hiring manager; make the most of it!
When you’re in the safety business, your skill set needs to be broad. One of the biggest challenges in writing a resume is to keep it brief. We recommend tailoring your resume to each job you pursue. Look for the skills listed in the job description, and add the ones that match up with your skill set to your resume.
Examples of some outstanding skills for a safety manager resume are:
Audits
Collaboration
Communication
Corrective action
Customer service
Leadership
Operations management
Problem-solving
Project management
Risk management
Summary example
Seasoned, process-oriented health and safety manager offering 13+ years’ experience as a leader and subject-matter expert (SME) in occupational health & safety. History of formulating and executing comprehensive safety programs to ensure organization-wide adherence with reporting requirements and regulations. Trusted leader, with a capacity for building, leading, and coaching top-flight teams dedicated to organizational health and safety. Excel at facilitating inspections of multiple facilities and reporting on safety violations with a focus on mitigating risk and preventing injury.
Employment history example
Safety Manager at Home Depot, Honolulu, HI
2020 - Present
Directed all aspects of safety operations, including planning, coordination, and execution of a comprehensive safety program to govern incident investigations, crisis management, and regular safety training for store leaders and associates. Closely monitored daily operations to identify concerning behaviors and program gaps that presented safety risks; developed strategies for addressing areas of noncompliance to reduce injury and minimize risk exposure. Generated reports following incidents to identify lessons learned and create actions plans to prevent reoccurrence.
Reduced OSHA-related incidents by 15% following the launch of a new and improved OSHA training program.
Consistently achieved monthly and annual safety metrics through rigorous participation in the Safety Observation Program; observed staff to identify and capitalize on real-time training opportunities.
Selected to oversee Enterprise Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) programs and initiatives across the entire territory.
Worked closely with locations falling short of safety metrics as well as those with a high rate of safety incidents; initiated highly effective performance improvement plans to bring stores into compliance.
Safety Manager at Sound Transit, Aberdeen, WA
2012 - 2019
Developed and implemented comprehensive strategies to enhance safety and risk awareness companywide. Allocated and managed department budget; tracked expenses and generated reports. Represented the Safety Department internally and externally; closely collaborated with colleagues on numerous cross-functional safety projects.
Championed in-depth evaluations of standard operating procedures to identify opportunities for improving the protection of personnel safety, health, and well-being.
Played an instrumental role in the development of new policies and procedures designed to effectively execute Sound Transit’s Safety Management System with an emphasis on operational safety assurance.
Cultivated and nurtured productive partnerships with key contacts, including labor representatives, state and federal agencies, elected officials, and contractors.
Education example
Master of Science in Health Sciences with emphasis in Public Health at Trident University International
Skills example
Team Building & Leadership
Risk Assessment / Mitigation
Facilities Safety Design
Emergency Response Management
Incident & Accident Investigation
Food Protection / Inspection
Public Health Management
Emergency Response