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How to Write a Subject Matter Expert Resume

Your subject matter expert resume’s format is as important as how you write your resume. This sample resume demonstrates the best resume layout hacks to follow: 1-inch margins, bullet points and clear resume headings for each of the following sections.

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  • Professional header and contact info

    • Include your name, contact information and a professional email address.
  • Compelling summary statement

    • A brief resume summary or objective highlighting two or three research]-relevant skills, experience or accomplishments.
  • Highlight your skills

    • Create a dedicated section to showcase hard and soft skills specific to administrative work, like analytical thinking, problem-solving and research.
  • Emphasize your work history

    • List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Include job titles, company names, dates of employment and key responsibilities and achievements for each role in a bullet list.
  • Supporting education section

    • Detail your educational background, mentioning any relevant degrees, diplomas or certifications obtained.
  • Additional sections

    • You can add resume sections for licenses, certifications, industry memberships or unions, awards, volunteer experience or spoken languages.

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How to Write a Subject Matter Expert Resume Summary

The resume summary is your first opportunity to pitch your knowledge and experience. As an administrative subject matter expert, this section should briefly showcase your topic expertise and highlight your unique value proposition. Follow these steps to craft an impactful resume summary:

Highlight your expertise

Begin with a clear statement of your expertise in administrative functions. Use keywords that align with the job description and your field of expertise.

Showcase achievements

Briefly mention your most significant accomplishments, quantifying them whenever possible. Highlight how your knowledge positively impacted organizations or projects.

Tailor to the job

Customize your summary for each job application. Identify crucial requirements in the job description and emphasize how your skills directly align with them.

Concise language

Keep the summary brief, aiming for 2-3 sentences. Avoid corporate jargon in favor of easily understandable language.

Personal touch

Infuse an indication of your personality and enthusiasm for the role. Personalization can help humanize your application and make a lasting impression.

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Good subject matter expert resume example

“Experienced administrative professional with over a decade of expertise in streamlining operations, enhancing efficiency, and optimizing processes. Proven track record of implementing cost-saving measures that resulted in a 25% reduction in overhead costs. Adept at cross-functional collaboration and delivering exceptional project outcomes within strict deadlines. Excited to leverage skills in process improvement and team leadership to drive success at my previous post.”

This job seeker effectively highlights their experience, quantifiable achievements and skills relevant to the administrative subject matter expert role. It concisely communicates the candidate’s value proposition and enthusiasm for contributing to the potential employer.

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Poor subject matter expert resume example

“Experienced administrative professional seeking a challenging role as a subject matter expert. Skilled in various administrative tasks. Looking to contribute my expertise to a dynamic team.”

This example needs more specific achievements, quantifiable results, and a tailored approach to the job description. It is too vague and fails to capture the candidate’s unique strengths or how they could add value to the organization.

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PRO TIP:

Use the resume summary if you have over three years of experience as a subject matter expert. However, if you’re highly knowledgeable about topics and wish to change into this career, use a resume objective to highlight your skills and reframe your lack of experience.

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How to Add Your Subject Matter Expert Work History

Your work history section is the lengthiest and most detailed part of your resume, proving your practical experience and accomplishments as an administrative subject matter expert. Writing this section demonstrates your ability to apply your expertise in real-world scenarios. Follow these guidelines to create a compelling work history:

Use reverse-chronological order

List your work experiences chronologically, starting with your most recent role. Include the company name, job title, location and employment dates.

Quantify achievements

Accompany each job entry with quantifiable achievements. Use metrics to illustrate how your expertise positively impacted the organization, such as cost savings, process improvements or efficiency gains.

Highlight subject matter expertise

Emphasize tasks, projects, and responsibilities that showcase your subject matter proficiency. Describe how your expertise contributed to successful outcomes.

Action-oriented language

Begin bullet points with strong action verbs to demonstrate your active role in driving projects forward. Use concise and clear language to convey your accomplishments.

Show collaboration

Highlight instances where you collaborated with cross-functional teams, led projects, or guided colleagues based on your subject matter knowledge.

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Good subject matter expert resume sample

Subject Matter Expert | Beryl Research Institute
New York, NY | May 2017 – Present

  • Spearheaded the implementation of a new document management system, reducing retrieval time by 40% and increasing team productivity.
  • Led a training initiative for departmental staff on advanced software tools, resulting in a 20% increase in data accuracy.
  • Advised executives on process improvements, contributing to a 15% reduction in operational costs within the first year.

This example demonstrates the candidate’s expertise through specific projects and quantifiable achievements. It showcases their impact on efficiency and accuracy and highlights their ability to provide strategic guidance.

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Poor subject matter expert resume sample

Administrative Subject Matter Expert | Beryl Research Institute
New York, NY | 2010 – 2015

  • Managed administrative tasks and provided subject matter expertise.
  • Collaborated with teams on projects.
  • Helped improve processes.

This example must be more specific and provide concrete details about the job seeker’s responsibilities or contributions. It doesn’t highlight any quantifiable achievements or demonstrate how their subject matter expertise led to successful outcomes. This job seeker could improve their entry by specifying their subject matter, number of quarterly projects or research speed.

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How to Write a Subject Matter Expert Education Section

Your education section should highlight relevant educational achievements and any specialized training that enhances your expertise as an organizational subject matter expert. The following examples can help you decide what information to include and how to format your qualifications.

1Include relevant degrees

List your degrees chronologically, starting with the most recent. Include the institution’s name, degree earned, central or focus area and graduation date.

Education formatting example:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA), New York University | New York, NY | Business Management | Graduated: May 2019
  • Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, Barnard College | New York, NY | Graduated: June 2015

2Certifications and training

Include any certificates, workshops or training programs pertinent to your expertise. These show your commitment to continuous learning and skill development.

Certification formatting example:

Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute | Awarded: April 2020

3Professional development

If you’ve attended conferences, seminars or relevant industry events, mention them if they contributed to your expertise.

Development formatting example:

Advanced Data Analytics Workshop, Institute of Data Science | Completed: August 2018

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PRO TIP:

Including these educational and training achievements shows your commitment to professional development and adds credibility to your administrative subject matter expert status.

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15 Skills For Your Subject Matter Expert Resume

The skills section of your resume is an opportunity to highlight your proficiency and competencies as an administrative subject matter expert. This section should encompass a range of skills, including soft skills, hard skills and technical skills. Follow these guidelines to create a comprehensive skills section:

soft skills

Soft skills

  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Collaboration
  • Attention to detail
  • Leadership
hard skills

Hard skills

  • Data analysis
  • Project management
  • Documentation
  • Time management
  • Process optimization
technical-skills

Technical skills

  • Software proficiency
  • Database management
  • Data entry
  • Financial software
  • Document management systems
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PRO TIP:

By including a diverse range of skills in your resume, you highlight your expertise and demonstrate your readiness to handle the multifaceted responsibilities of an administrative subject matter expert.

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20 Subject Matter Expert Action Verbs

With online job boards making applying easier, most job openings see hundreds of applicants. It can be easy for your resume to get lost in a sea of professional language — choosing the right action verbs can help elevate your subject matter expert resume. These power words can help convey your expertise and accomplishments.

  • Analyze
  • Collaborate
  • Communicate
  • Coordinate
  • Create
  • Delegate
  • Develop
  • Evaluate
  • Facilitate
  • Implement
  • Lead
  • Manage
  • Optimize
  • Oversee
  • Plan
  • Problem-solve
  • Streamline
  • Support
  • Train
  • Utilize

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Additional Resume Sections

Consider adding the following sections to your subject matter expert resume based on your specific circumstances and to enhance your qualifications:

  • Certifications: Include a separate section to showcase relevant credentials, such as an Amazon AWS Certification Subject Matter Expert (SME) or a Global Skill Development Council (GSDC) Certification.
  • Professional Development: Use a professional development section featuring workshops, seminars or subject matter expert programs to replace or supplement your education section.
  • Awards and Achievements: If you have received recognition or awards for your performance, productivity, or safety record, include a section to showcase these accomplishments.
  • Volunteer Experience: Replace your work history section with a volunteer section if you have less than three years of experience. Use this space to demonstrate relevant skills or attributes, such as communication, continuous learning or analytical thinking.
  • Language Proficiency: Since employers can include a diverse range of employees, advertise your fluency in other languages as a workplace boon!
  • Memberships: Let hiring managers know about your membership to industry-specific organizations or unions.

Use a Cover Letter to Express Yourself

A resume is a concise overview of your skills and experience — a cover letter expands on this foundation. Add a cover letter to share one or two examples of how you excelled in similar roles or how your skills match a company’s needs. Use this sample as a guide or visit our helpful resources to boost your application.

Subject Matter Expert Resume FAQ

What is the ideal structure for an administrative subject matter expert resume?

We cover the ideal layout for a resume here, but you can begin your subject matter expert resume with your professional contact information. Follow up with a summary highlighting expertise, work history, education, skills, and certifications. Tailor each section to showcase your subject matter proficiency and relevant achievements.

How do I tailor my resume to a specific job posting?

You can tailor your resume to a specific job posting by scanning the advertisement for repeated or highlighted requested skills or responsibilities. Showcase relevant accomplishments that match the role's requirements — prioritizing this information can help you score well on applicant tracking systems (ATS) and reach human recruiters.

Should I include all my certifications in the resume skills section?

Do not include all of your certifications under your skills section. Tailor your skills and education section only to include relevant certifications related to the role and emphasize your subject matter expertise. Prioritize those that align with the job's requirements and highlight your qualifications.

Is it necessary to quantify achievements in the work history section?

Yes, quantifying achievements adds impact. Use metrics to showcase the tangible results of your expertise. For instance, mention cost savings, percentage improvements or project completion times.

How can I effectively demonstrate soft skills in my resume?

Incorporate soft skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving through your accomplishments. Highlight instances where your expertise led to successful teamwork, improved processes or effective communication outcomes.