Highlight your contract management experience

Hiring managers want to see that you have hands-on experience managing contracts. Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, provide specific examples of contracts you've worked on and the impact you made:

• Managed a portfolio of 50+ contracts worth over $10M, ensuring all deliverables were met on time and within budget
• Negotiated and finalized 20 new contracts with key suppliers, resulting in 15% cost savings for the company

Quantifying your experience with numbers helps demonstrate the scope and impact of your work. Avoid vague statements that don't provide any real insight into your abilities, such as:

• Responsible for managing contracts
• Worked with suppliers to negotiate contracts

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   Showcase your knowledge of contract law and regulations

Contract administrators need to have a solid understanding of contract law and relevant regulations. Highlight any education, certifications, or training you have in this area:

• Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM) with 5+ years of experience ensuring compliance with FAR, DFARS, and UCC regulations
• Completed advanced training in contract law and negotiations from the National Contract Management Association

If you don't have formal certifications, you can still demonstrate your knowledge by mentioning specific regulations or laws you've worked with. Avoid simply stating you have 'knowledge of contract law' without any supporting details.

   Emphasize your communication and negotiation skills

Contract administrators often serve as the key point of contact between their organization and external parties. Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential. Provide examples of how you've used these skills to achieve positive outcomes:

• Led contract negotiations with key vendors, resulting in a 20% reduction in costs and more favorable payment terms
• Resolved disputes with underperforming suppliers, working collaboratively to get projects back on track while enforcing contract terms

Avoid simply claiming you have 'excellent communication skills' without any evidence to support it. Instead, let your accomplishments speak to your abilities.

   Tailor your resume to the specific job

Every company and contract administrator role can be a bit different. Carefully review the job posting and tailor your resume to highlight the specific skills and experience they're looking for. For example:

• If the job emphasizes vendor management, focus on your experience managing relationships with suppliers
• If it calls for expertise in a specific area like government contracting, make sure to showcase any relevant experience and certifications you have

Tailoring your resume shows the hiring manager that you've taken the time to understand their needs and have the right qualifications for the role. Generic resumes that aren't customized are much less likely to catch their attention.

   Use industry-specific keywords

Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for relevant keywords before a human ever sees them. To increase your chances of making it past this initial screening, make sure to include important industry keywords in your resume:

• Contract lifecycle management, contract negotiation, vendor management, risk mitigation, compliance monitoring

Use the job description as a guide for which specific terms to include. For example, if it mentions 'Service Level Agreements', make sure to include that exact phrase. However, avoid simply stuffing your resume full of keywords. Only include terms that genuinely apply to your skills and experience.

   Highlight your achievements with action verbs

When describing your experience, use strong action verbs to highlight your contributions and make your resume more engaging. For example:

• Spearheaded the implementation of a new contract management system, reducing contract processing time by 50%
• Negotiated a major contract renewal with a key client, securing $5M in revenue for the company

Action verbs like 'spearheaded', 'negotiated', 'secured', and 'reduced' help paint a picture of you as someone who takes initiative and drives results. They're more powerful than passive phrases like:

• Responsible for implementing a new system
• Worked on renewing a major contract

A strong resume should showcase your value and the impact you've made in your previous roles. By following these tips and tailoring your resume to the specific needs of the job, you'll be well on your way to catching the attention of hiring managers and landing your next contract administrator role.