Software Release Manager Resume Guide
Software release managers are responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordinating software releases. They work with development teams to ensure that new versions of software are released on time and meet quality standards. In addition, they may also be responsible for managing customer feedback and providing support to customers during the rollout of new software releases.
You excel at managing software releases, but your resume isn’t getting the attention it deserves. To stand out from the competition, follow the tips in this guide to help you write a release manager resume that will get noticed.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Software Release Manager Resume Sample
Haskell Jakubowski
Software Release Manager
[email protected]
891-261-6116
linkedin.com/in/haskell-jakubowski
Summary
Seasoned software release manager with 5+ years of experience in the industry. At ABC, managed software releases for 3 major products and 12 websites. Defined processes that increased developer productivity by 20% while reducing time to market by 35%. Experienced in agile methodology and tooling such as Jira and Confluence. Seeking to join XYZ as a software release manager to help streamline their product development pipeline.
Experience
Software Release Manager, Employer A
Spokane, Jan 2018 – Present
- Revised release process to increase efficiency by 30% and decrease errors by 45%.
- Prepared and distributed release notes for each software update, ensuring that all stakeholders were aware of changes made.
- Mentored junior team members on best practices for releasing software updates, resulting in a more cohesive team with fewer errors.
- Diligently tracked all software releases and rollbacks, quickly identifying and resolving any issues that arose.
- Automated release process for select software updates, freeing up time for other tasks.
Software Release Manager, Employer B
Buffalo, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Effectively managed software releases for a team of 12 developers, QA analysts and release engineers.
- Utilized Jira and Confluence to track release progress and issues, ensuring that all stakeholders were kept up-to-date on the latest status.
- Participated in daily stand-up meetings with the development team to identify potential risks/blockers and help mitigate them in a timely manner.
- Tracked code changes using Git/GitHub and created detailed release notes for every new version that went out.
- Implemented best practices for software releases (such as creating/using branches, tagging versions etc. ) which resulted in fewer production issues post-release.
Skills
- Release Management
- Configuration Management
- Change Management
- Process Improvement
- Risk Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Communication
- Problem Solving
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Certified Software Release Manager
International Consortium for Agile Software Development
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
Your resume summary is like a movie trailer – it should provide the employer with essential information about you and, if written correctly, compel them to read on. As a software release manager, you could mention your experience leading teams of engineers, the successful rollouts you have overseen, and how you excel at communicating with all stakeholders.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Skilled software release manager with 5+ years of experience in overseeing the development, testing, and implementation of software releases. At ABC Company, managed 18 software release cycles with 0% downtime. Defined and implemented reusability practices which saved $100K per year. Experienced in working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure timely and successful software releases according to schedule.
Driven software release manager with 4+ years of experience in the industry. Experienced in leading and managing software development projects from start to finish. In previous roles increased customer satisfaction ratings by 27% due to successful implementation of new processes and procedures. At ABC, looking forward to streamlining the software development process and increasing customer satisfaction ratings even further.
Hard-working and detail-oriented software release manager with 5+ years of experience in the IT industry. Skilled at overseeing all aspects of a software release cycle, from initial planning to final implementation and post-release assessment. Proven track record of successful releases with minimal impact on business operations. Seeking to leverage strong organizational skills to streamline the release process at ABC Tech.
Professional software release manager with 5 years of experience in the industry. Track record of successful releases for multiple products across various platforms. Experienced in managing software development teams and coordinating with different departments to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality software products. At XYZ, managed a team of 8 developers and attained a 98% on-time product release rate.
Diligent and results-oriented software release manager with 7+ years of experience in the IT industry. Seeking to leverage extensive knowledge of software development and release processes to streamline operations at ABC. At XYZ, managed 12 global software releases annually with up to 50 cross-functional stakeholders per release. Achieved 97% on-time delivery for all releases during tenure.
Passionate software release manager with 3+ years of experience in the industry. Managed software releases for 5 major products at XYZ and increased release velocity by 30%. At ABC, led a team of 7 engineers and helped streamline the company’s software development process. Experienced in agile methodology and skilled at working with cross-functional teams.
Committed software release manager with 5+ years of experience in the industry. At XYZ, gained valuable experience working with JIRA, Confluence, and Bitbucket. Skilled at communicating between development and operations teams to ensure timely and accurate releases. Recognized as an expert in software release management by upper management.
Dependable software release manager with 3+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams and managing the software development life cycle. Proven ability to drive process improvements that result in increased efficiency and quality. At ABC, contributed to a 50% reduction in production defects by streamlining the team’s workflows.
2. Experience / Employment
For the experience section, you will want to provide details on your employment history. This should be written in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role at the top.
When describing what you did in each role, use bullet points. This allows for quick and easy digestion of the information by the reader. When writing out the bullet points, be sure to include specifics on what you did as well as any quantifiable results achieved.
For example, instead of saying “Managed software releases,” you could say “Successfully managed 20+ software releases per year, coordinating efforts between development, QA, and operations teams.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Managed
- Coordinated
- Scheduled
- Released
- Monitored
- Tracked
- Analyzed
- Reported
- Resolved
- Escalated
- Communicated
- Implemented
- Improved
- Streamlined
- Automated
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Demonstrated
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Introduced new software release management process that resulted in a 50% reduction in time spent on managing releases.
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of an automated testing regime that saved $100,000 per year in QA costs.
- Facilitated communication between the Development, QA and Operations teams, ensuring that all stakeholders were kept up-to-date with the latest release information.
- Accurately predicted potential problems and delays during the software release cycle, resulting in a smoother overall process.
- Expedited the sign-off process for new releases by streamlining communication between different departments and cutting down on unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Actively managed software releases for large-scale enterprise applications, coordinating with development, QA and operations teams to ensure smooth and successful deployments.
- Escalated and resolved critical issues in a timely manner, preventing major outages or customer impact.
- Coordinated cross-functional release activities and improved communication between teams, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient release process.
- Reduced the number of production defects by 30% through better testing and quality control measures during the release cycle.
- Presented monthly reports on release status to senior management, highlighting risks & opportunities for improvement.
- Assessed risk and impact of every software release, making sure that potential risks were mitigated before release.
- Represented the company in cross-functional meetings with other departments (such as QA, Development, Customer Support) to ensure that everyone was on the same page regarding upcoming releases.
- Streamlined the software release process by implementing new tools and automating repetitive tasks; this resulted in a 30% reduction in time spent on each release.
- Reorganized the software release team to better align with the company’s organizational structure; this led to improved communication and coordination between teams.
- Competently managed all aspects of software releases, from planning to execution to post-release analysis; successfully completed over 100 releases during my tenure.
- Consistently achieved software release targets by optimizing team productivity and efficiency through the use of innovative tools and processes.
- Optimized software releases by structuring them into manageable phases, thereby reducing risks and ensuring timely completion of project milestones.
- Advised development teams on best practices for software release management, resulting in improved quality and fewer delays in the release process.
- Demonstrated excellent leadership skills in managing software releases, inspiring team members to work together towards common goals.
- Successfully completed over 50 software releases with minimal disruptions, demonstrating a high level of competence in this area.
- Developed release management process for new software which improved efficiency by 25%.
- Improved software release schedule accuracy by 10% and reduced number of late releases by 15%.
- Managed software releases for 5 major products, coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery.
- Resolved 85% of all release issues and provided root cause analysis for senior management.
- Thoroughly tested all aspects of each release prior to deployment to avoid customer-facing issues.
- Reported on the progress of software development projects to upper management, ensuring that deadlines were met and quality standards were maintained.
- Compiled weekly reports on defects, documenting root causes and outlining corrective actions taken; helped reduce defect rate by 15%.
- Proficiently used Jira for project tracking and release management purposes; coordinated with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth releases.
- Analyzed customer feedback to identify areas of improvement in the software; implemented new features and functionality based on findings.
- Monitored server activity during software releases, troubleshooting any issues that arose and taking preventative measures to avoid outages in the future.
- Scheduled software releases and coordinated with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
- Achieved 98% on-time release rate for all software products under my management.
- Communicated release plans and timelines to stakeholders across the organization, keeping them updated on progress and risks.
- Meticulously tracked and monitored all aspects of the software release process, from development to testing to deployment.
- Formulated best practices for software releases based on industry standards and organizational needs, leading to more efficient and effective future releases.
3. Skills
Job skills will differ from employer to employer. However, for a software release manager position, you might want to include skills such as experience with various types of software development tools, ability to work in fast-paced environment, knowledge of release processes and good project management skills.
When specifying your skills, it is important to keep the job posting in mind. This is because many employers now use applicant tracking systems (computer programs that scan resumes for certain keywords), which means that if your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, it may not get through to a human.
Once you have listed your skills here, you can further elaborate on them in other sections of your resume – such as the summary or experience section.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Change Management
- Communication
- Configuration Management
- Problem Solving
- Process Improvement
- Release Management
- Risk Management
- Stakeholder Management
4. Education
Adding an education section to your resume is not always necessary, it depends on how much work experience you have. If you just graduated and don’t have any relevant work experience yet, mention your education below your resume objective. However, if you’ve been working in the field for a while and have plenty of work experience to show off, feel free to leave out the education section altogether.
If you do choose to include an education section, list courses that are relevant to the software release manager job you’re applying for. For example, “Courses included Introduction to Software Engineering, Fundamentals of Project Management, and Advanced Topics in Software Development.”
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are not always required in the software release management field, but they can certainly help you stand out from other candidates. If you have any industry-specific certifications, such as from the Project Management Institute (PMI), include them in this section of your resume.
Doing so will show potential employers that you are serious about your career and have kept your skills and knowledge up-to-date.
Certified Software Release Manager
International Consortium for Agile Software Development
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Haskell Jakubowski, this would be Haskell-Jakubowski-resume.pdf or Haskell-Jakubowski-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Including a cover letter with your job application is a great way to demonstrate your interest in the role and highlight why you would be the perfect candidate. Although they are not always required, cover letters can give you the opportunity to explain any qualifications or experience that may not be immediately apparent on your resume.
When writing a cover letter, make sure to keep it three to four paragraphs long and focus on why you’re the best person for the job. Additionally, try to personalize each letter as much as possible by including details about what you like about the company and how excited you are to join their team.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Francis
As a software release manager with 5+ years of experience overseeing the development, testing, and implementation of new software releases, I am confident I will be an asset to your organization. In my previous role at [company name], I was responsible for managing a team of 15 software developers and testers who worked on releasing new features for our company’s flagship product.
I have a proven track record of successfully coordinating the efforts of multiple teams in order to meet deadlines and achieve objectives. In my most recent role, I coordinated the efforts of our development team, QA team, operations team, and customer support team in order to release a new version of our software on time and within budget. This required excellent communication skills as well as the ability to resolve conflicts quickly and efficiently.
I am also experienced in leading sprint planning sessions and daily stand-ups in order to ensure that everyone is aware of their tasks and dependencies. In addition, I have created several process improvements which have resulted in increased efficiency and productivity within the software release process.
I believe that my skills and experience make me uniquely qualified for this position, and I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your organization’s success. Thank you for your time & consideration; please do not hesitate to contact me at [phone number] or [email address].
Sincerely,
Haskell