Top 6 skills to showcase in your project manager CV

There are a number of hard and soft skills that project managers need to successfully plan, manage and deliver projects. A successful project manager must have excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills. These skills help project managers communicate effectively with all stakeholders and team members, including senior management, subordinates and clients. You should be able to demonstrate these skills effectively on your CV.
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Excellent interpersonal skills

Strong interpersonal skills are a vital component of any project manager's CV success. These include communication, empathy, teamwork, and a positive attitude.
For example, being able to communicate effectively with your team is important because it helps them understand the project's goals and ensures everyone has a clear understanding of what's expected from them. It also allows people to discuss possible solutions and weigh the pros and cons of each one. See the next section for more information.
Another important interpersonal skill is adaptability. This is particularly valuable for people who work in fast-paced environments and are able to take a flexible approach to their roles. It allows them to accept change as part of their job and not feel restricted by rigid rules or procedures.
If you're looking to get ahead in your career, it's important to highlight these qualities on your project manager CV. It's especially important if you are applying for a leadership role, as employers often look for candidates with these traits to help them manage their teams.

Excellent communication skills

As mentioned above, communication skills are among the most sought-after soft skills in today's competitive job market. They allow managers to communicate their roles and goals without disrupting team morale or causing frustration among employees.
One of the best ways to improve your communication skills is to practice. Listen to others, take notes on how they explain ideas, information or instructions, and identify areas where you can improve.
Another way to enhance your communication skills is by making your messages as concise as possible. This will ensure that people understand what you are trying to say and reduce the chance of misunderstandings.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to show your excellent communication skills on your project manager CV. These include highlighting specific examples of how you used communication skills to achieve positive outcomes and mentioning metrics related to those successes.

Excellent organisational skills

The ability to stay organised is essential for project manager. It helps you stay on top of deadlines, keep track of multiple tasks at a time, and prioritise urgent work over unimportant work.
Organisational skills are also useful for boosting productivity, as well as managing time and space more effectively. They also make it easier to find documents and information when you need it, since the documents have already been sorted correctly beforehand.
Hiring managers look for organisational skills in job applicants because they save the company money and resources by avoiding duplicated work. They can also help a team stay on task and communicate clearly.
If you are a candidate with strong organisational skills, be sure to include them in your CV and in interviews. This will help you stand out from other candidates.
The most effective way to showcase your organisational skills in your project manager CV is by using examples and numbers to back up your claims. For example, you could say that you increased customer satisfaction by a specific percentage in your previous role or you helped your previous employer save money by streamlining its inventory process. This will show that you are a strong organisational candidate who can meet deadlines and complete tasks quickly and efficiently.

Excellent time management skills

Managing time effectively is an important professional skill that can help you complete work on time and prioritise projects. Moreover, it can help you communicate your progress to supervisors and co-workers.
Fortunately, excellent time management skills are not difficult to develop, but they can make a significant impact on your project manager's CV. These skills include the ability to plan, organise and manage tasks as well as a positive attitude toward time management.
Another aspect of good time management is self-reflection and evaluation. When you’re aware of how you’re spending your time, it’s easier to see how much of your day is spent on non-essential tasks that aren’t worth your attention.
Likewise, effective time management helps project managers avoid multitasking and create a schedule that allows them to take breaks throughout the day. This can improve mental and physical health and reduce stress.

Excellent negotiation skills

One of the most important skills to showcase on your project manager CV is excellent negotiation skills. Negotiation is the process of determining an agreement that will satisfy both parties' needs and objectives. It is often the basis for a successful business deal, and it’s essential to develop your negotiating skills early on in your career.
The key aspect of negotiating is being able to listen actively. Skilled negotiators know how to read body language and verbal communication to identify areas for compromise.
They are also able to frame their discussion around specific points that will keep things simple and focused. This can be especially helpful when dealing with difficult situations that may not have a clear solution.
Aside from negotiating with co-workers, negotiation is also vital when dealing with clients, vendors, or other stakeholder. These individuals need to be able to trust you and understand your position in order for them to feel comfortable with your work.

Excellent leadership skills

Excellent leadership skills are an essential ingredient to a successful career as a project manager. They are necessary to develop long-term organisational strategies, motivate and inspire teams, align business goals with personal objectives, and more.
Leadership involves a wide range of skills, including communication, empathy, and assertiveness. These traits enable leaders to interact with their employees and colleagues in a way that makes them feel respected and valued.
Leaders need to be able to communicate their ideas and expectations clearly, concisely, and tactfully. They must also be able to listen attentively and respond appropriately while avoiding any harsh or sarcastic language.
Developing these skills requires time and practice, but they are not impossible to learn. You can build your leadership skills by taking advantage of training opportunities and attending seminars that focus on leadership.

Project Manager CV - The Author
Author: Arno Markus BA, MSc., CPRW, CEO, and Founder of iCareerSolutions is a Multi-Award-Winning Certified Professional Resume Writer, a powerful LinkedIn Profile Writer, and Personal Brand & Job Search Strategist with global experience. Arno has done recruitment consulting in Helsinki, Amsterdam, and Toronto. He also worked in Nuclear Power for the Federal Government prior to switching to empowering professionals to achieve ambitious career goals full-time.  Arno is an expert at dissecting job descriptions and marketing his clients to ensure they get where they want to be in their career.
He is consistently ranked among the Top Résumé & LinkedIn Profile Writers in North America. 16X Résumé Writing Awards including 2020 Best IT Résumé and Nominated for 2020 Best Executive Résumé.
Keywords: Project management, Tips, CV, Application

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