Management skills are essential in today’s job market, no matter your industry. Whether you’re leading a team or managing projects, these abilities show employers that you can handle responsibility and get things done.
Including examples of quantifiable management achievements will further boost your chances by showing exactly how you’ve made an impact.
In this article, we’ll go over:
- Management skills vs. leadership skills
- Why management skills are important
- Top management skills to include on your resume
- How to include management skills on your resume
Once you better understand what management skills are and how to include them on your resume, try our online AI resume builder for free and get personalized suggestions to include the most relevant leadership keywords with our skills generator.
What Are Management Skills?
Working in management means you face unique challenges, and you’ll need the right skills.
Management skills are needed to direct and lead your team correctly.
These skills could also apply to managing assets such as finances and other resources. It’s a broad range of skills, but essentially, it entails taking on lead responsibility.
Have a look at a couple of examples of management skills, both in and outside the workplace.
Managing people carrying out a specific task:
- Anna led a team of programmers to debug software before launch.
Managing a team of people outside the work environment:
- Harold organized a fundraiser by assigning roles, coordinating logistics, and managing volunteers to guarantee a successful event.
While they are very different types of management, you’ll notice that both people are leading/managing others, which, in some cases, is interchangeable with resources such as finances.
The difference between management and leadership skills
While management skills focus on organizing resources, overseeing tasks, and ensuring projects are completed efficiently, leadership skills on your resume are more about inspiring and motivating people to achieve their best.
Managers typically concentrate on processes, deadlines, and budgets, whereas leaders focus on vision, influence, and fostering a positive team culture.
For example, a manager might ensure a project is delivered on time by coordinating tasks, while a leader motivates the team to stay engaged and committed to the project’s success.
Both sets of skills are essential for effective team management but serve different purposes in driving organizational success.
The Importance of Management Skills
What makes management skills any different from other skills?
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💡 Our expert says
AI continues to transform the labor market, reshaping the skills companies prioritize when sourcing talent. Employers are increasingly seeking candidates with strong interpersonal and management abilities to thrive in the evolving AI landscape.
As an applicant, your resume must showcase these skills if you want to stand out and secure an interview.
Management skills and abilities show that you would handle responsibility better than the average person.
Think about it. When you’re given an assignment to delegate tasks to a group of people, the responsibility of completing that task is solely on you.
It requires much more creative thought, time management, and stress management. The truth is that not everyone is up for that kind of responsibility.
Having these skills on your resume will give insight that shows you’re self-sufficient and responsible.
Example
Let’s say you’re a hiring manager looking to fill a junior software engineer position. These are your two candidates and their standout skills:
- Joey: Project management, Team leadership, and Communication
- Edward: Self-motivated, Quick-learner, and Computer skills
If you’re doing your job right, then you’ll hire Joey. He has good management skills. Broken down more, Joey has more skills that make it easier to train for a leadership position.
Edward doesn’t appear to be as self-sufficient, and it would take him longer to be trained for a management position.
He’s missing the top skills needed to be a leader, such as project management, communication, empathy, and more.
Key Management Skills To Include on a Resume
When you’re starting out in your career, adding the right management skills to your resume can significantly boost your chances of standing out.
Whether you’re aiming for leadership roles or team-based positions, showcasing these abilities will highlight your potential to employers and increase your chances of landing an interview.
Here are some of the best management skills you should consider including on your resume.
1. Leadership & team management
Leadership is more than just delegating tasks—it’s motivating and coaching teams to achieve their best. Employers want to see that you can inspire others and create a positive work environment.
Including strong leadership skills on your resume will demonstrate that you can manage people effectively, whether in-person or remotely. What’s more, according to Gallup’s 2024 State of the Workplace, empowering managers leads to a more engaged and productive workforce.
Along with leadership, managing a team correctly will be key to getting the most out of your staff. You’ll need to show that you can resolve conflicts, delegate tasks, and manage your resources efficiently.
2. Project management
Being able to organize resources, manage time, and keep projects on track is one of the most important management skills you can showcase on your resume
Project management skills are highly valued across industries, as they show you can handle complex tasks and meet deadlines.
If you are an entry-level candidate who has led any group projects or organized events during your studies, these are great examples of management skills to include on your resume.
3. Strategic planning
Employers appreciate candidates who can think ahead and set clear goals. Strategic planning involves setting long-term business objectives and figuring out how to achieve them.
Including this skill on your resume shows that you’re not just focused on the day-to-day but also on the bigger picture.
This is one of the key management skills for job applications, especially if you’re applying for roles that require decision-making or problem-solving.
4. Communication & negotiation
According to recruiters, communication was listed as the top soft skill needed over the next five years in LinkedIn’s ‘Future of Recruiting’ 2024 report.
Effective communication is at the heart of good management. Whether you’re dealing with stakeholders, negotiating deals, or simply keeping your team informed, being able to communicate clearly is crucial.
Highlighting communication and negotiation skills on your resume shows that you can manage relationships and resolve conflicts—a must-have in any leadership or management role.
5. Budgeting & financial oversight
Employers want candidates who understand how to allocate resources efficiently and make financially sound decisions. Including quantifiable management achievements related to budgeting will make your resume even stronger.
Managing budgets is often part of a manager’s responsibilities, even in entry-level leadership roles. If you’ve had experience handling finances—whether through internships, part-time jobs, or school projects—this is a great skill to feature.
By highlighting these top skills for managers, you’ll show employers that you’re ready to take on responsibility and lead effectively, whether you’ve been a manager in the past or are going for your first senior role.
Where & How To List Management Skills on a Resume
Knowing where and how to emphasize your management skills for a resume can make all the difference in catching the attention of hiring managers.
Here’s how to effectively present your best management skills in key sections of your resume.
Professional summary
Your professional summary is the first thing employers see when reviewing your resume, so it’s a great place to briefly mention your top management skills. This section should be a concise snapshot of your abilities and what you bring to the table.
Focus on highlighting important management skills that align with the job you’re applying for, such as leadership skills or project management skills.
Summary
Recent graduate with leadership experience managing teams of up to 10 members and successfully completing 5+ projects on schedule and within budget. Skilled in allocating resources efficiently, improving workflow efficiency by 20%. Passionate about team development and project execution that meets organizational goals.
Experience section
The experience section is where you can really present your quantifiable management achievements.
Use actionable language and data to demonstrate the impact you’ve made in previous roles or internships.
Experience
- Produced a 25% increase in quarterly revenue by optimizing workflow processes and improving client communication strategies while leading a team of 10 interns.
This kind of example not only features your leadership skills but also shows how you’ve made a measurable difference—exactly what hiring managers are looking for.
Skills section
The skills section is ideal for listing specific management skills as keywords that can help your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
These systems allow recruiters to scan resumes for relevant terms, so including targeted keywords like “strategic planning,” “budgeting,” or “team leadership” is crucial.
Make sure the skills you list are relevant to the job description and reflect your actual experience.
Skills
- Project Management
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Budgeting & Financial Oversight
- Effective Communication & Negotiation
Adding these resume skills for managers will ensure that both ATS systems and hiring managers see the keywords that describe your qualifications.
By using our AI resume builder, you can add the management words and phrases that best fit the job description and capture a hiring manager’s attention.
Once it’s ready, you can have it reviewed by an expert for any final improvements before applying.
Additional sections
If you have certifications, awards, or relevant projects that demonstrate specific management capabilities, include them in an additional section.
This is especially useful if you don’t have extensive work experience but have completed courses or projects that showcase your management skills.
Certifications like PMP (Project Management Professional) or awards from leadership programs can add significant value to your application.
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification, November 2024
Awards
- Leadership Excellence Award, University Business Club, October 2023
Projects
- Raised $15,000 for local charities by coordinating 50 volunteers and overseeing event logistics while managing a campus-wide fundraising initiative.
Including these details helps provide concrete evidence of your abilities and adds depth to your resume beyond just listing examples of management skills.
Expert Tips for Writing a Management-Focused Resume
When it comes to creating a standout resume, it’s important to go beyond just listing your abilities. You need to demonstrate how your skills have made a tangible impact and show you’re evolving with the latest trends in management.
Here are some expert tips to help you write a resume that sets you apart.
1. Use quantifiable data to feature management impact
One of the most effective ways to emphasize your management skills is by using quantifiable data.
Employers want to see the results you’ve achieved, not just the responsibilities you’ve held. Metrics like revenue growth, team productivity, project completion rates, and cost savings are all great ways to show how your management has made a difference.
By including quantifiable management achievements, you give hiring managers concrete evidence of your impact.
Experience
- Increased customer satisfaction by 30% by leading a team of 15 in six months through improved service protocols and team training.
In this example, the candidate uses specific metrics—team size and percentage increase in customer satisfaction—to demonstrate their leadership and problem-solving abilities.
2. Show how your management style is evolving with technology
Effective managers need to be tech-savvy. Whether you’re managing remote teams or using software tools like Asana, Trello, Slack, or CRMs, featuring digital management skills is crucial.
Employers are looking for candidates who can use digital tools for managers to streamline processes and make data-driven decisions.
Additionally, understanding analytics, interpreting reports, and even incorporating AI skills into decision-making are becoming essential tech skills for modern managers.
If you’ve managed remote teams or used project management tools, make sure to include these experiences on your resume. Highlighting your ability to adapt to new technologies will set you apart as a forward-thinking leader.
Experience
- Achieved a 98% on-time project completion rate while reducing operational costs by 15% while managing a remote team of 10 using Slack and Trello.
This example demonstrates remote management skills and how technology was used effectively to deliver results—key for modern managers navigating today’s digital landscape.
3. Tailor management skills for different industries
For example, in tech, you might focus on project management skills and agile methodologies. In healthcare, leadership might center around patient care coordination. While in finance, budgeting and compliance are critical.
Tailoring your skills based on the industry you’re applying to will make your application more relevant and appealing.
Examples
- Tech: Led an agile development team that delivered five software updates within six months using Jira for sprint planning.
- Healthcare: Improved patient care response times by 20% through better scheduling while managing a team of ## nurses across 2 departments.
- Finance: Reduced overhead costs by 10% through strategic vendor negotiations while overseeing departmental budgets totaling $2M annually.
By adapting your management skills for different industries, you will show employers that you’re capable and knowledgeable about the specific challenges and opportunities within their field.
Key Takeaways
Writing a management-focused resume is about demonstrating real impact and adapting to modern trends.
Remember these key points when you start writing your resume:
- Use quantifiable data: Highlight your quantifiable management achievements with metrics like revenue growth, project completion rates, or cost savings.
- Leverage technology: Show that your management style is evolving with tools like Asana, Trello, or Slack.
- Tailor your skills to the industry: Adapt your management skills for different industries by focusing on what’s most relevant.
By weaving these top skills for managers throughout your resume, you’ll show employers that you’re ready for leadership roles and equipped to thrive in any industry. Go ahead—show them what you’ve got!
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