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Want a successful eye-catching resume?
Then you must include the skills the employer is looking for in a project manager.
And we know the skills.
If you include the following 11 skills in your resume, there is a high chance that at least half of those skills are what the employer is looking for.
Do I sound so confident? Because I know it works.
I am a project manager, so I know the struggle of applying for a job, but I have also been a recruiter, so I know what dictates a good project manager resume.
So let’s jump to those skills:
For a project manager’s resume to be successful, it must include 3 types of skills:
- Software Skills: The must-know project management software.
- Technical Skills: These are the budgeting, problem-solving and scheduling skills you need to know to be a successful project manager.
- Soft Skills: The skills you must have to run projects efficiently.
Employers want someone who can run things independently. A successful project management resume must show intellect, experience and efficiency. The following skills will give you just that:
The Top 2 Project Manager Software
There are plenty of project management software and programs. Almost every company has its own database and systems that all its employees must follow.
But the fundamentals of project management never change. Even if it is not mentioned in the job description, employers expect you to know and use the following two software:
1- MS Excel
Excel is the tool for everything, and project managers love this tool. It can help you manage a project, track expenses, and keep a list of the workers and materials on the projects, etc. There are just endless ways to utilise MS Excel as a project manager.
Even if it is not mentioned in the job description, it is assumed that you know Excel, so make sure it is in your resume.
| Type | Spreadsheet |
| Made By | Microsoft |
2- MS Project
Yes, another Microsoft tool used heavily by project managers to track project tasks.
MS Projects is useful for major projects because it can highlight the critical tasks for the project and how some tasks depend on others.
| Type | Project management software |
| Made By | Microsoft |
Top 5 Project Manager Technical Skills
As a project manager, you always think in terms of cost, time and quality. How much time do you need to achieve the quality intended using the most cost-effective solution?
If you know this, you can run a project effectively.
The following are the top 5 skills you must have in your resume to showcase that you know how to run a project:
1- Budgeting & Forecasting
You can not be a successful project manager without being able to budget for a task or project you want to complete and predict the likelihood of achieving a goal on a project based on past and present data.
This is often an exercise of cost and time, which is why project managers are critical.
2- Task Scheduling & Project Timeline
A project manager in any industry or niche must understand how long a task or an operation takes to complete so you can determine how long the project will take and then work out your budget based on the project timeline and schedule.
3- Attention to detail
Attention to detail is the ability to spot issues and mistakes before the start of the project and devise a solution to prevent those issues. The project manager’s work is very detailed, and mistakes can sometimes go unnoticed. To be a successful project manager, you must have a keen sense of attention to spot those mistakes.
4- Problem-solving skills
Problem-solving is the issues spotted during project management or live projects and finding a quick solution to prevent project delay. A project manager must be knowledgeable in the industry and the type of projects they manage to solve problems as quickly as possible.
5- Multitasking Skills
Multitasking is the ability to do multiple things on the same day, not necessarily doing multiple things at once. It does not matter what type of projects you manage. You must be able to organise your tasks and to be able to complete your duties efficiently.
Do not know how? Then read: Why You Cannot Multitask? Take a Multitasking Test, Then Optimise Your Life.
More On Project Management Technical Skills …
If you feel that this is an area of weakness as you do not have enough experience, you can also check our 5 Essential Techniques To Manage Project Schedules & Budget. This can give you a more in-depth explanation of how to showcase your skills.
The 4 Project Manager Soft Skills
Project managers’ time is valuable. Therefore, they must deeply understand what is considered critical and what is not.
There are 7 Effective Ways To Prioritise Tasks As a Project Manager & Be Efficient. We have digested those skills to the top 4 soft skills that you should have in your resume:
1- Communication Skills
On average, project managers communicate with many people, from supervisors to stakeholders to other project managers. Being a successful project manager is having the ability to communicate both solutions and problems effectively.
2- Leadership Skills
Project managers are leaders and must take charge and responsibility for every task. Taking leadership of your work is something that all project managers must have.
3- Teamwork Skills
If you can not communicate effectively and work in teams, you cannon be a successful project manager. A project manager by him/herself can achieve nothing. It is only through teamwork that projects are started and completed.
4- Negotiation Skills
You must be able to negotiate your solutions. Clients do not necessarily understand how things work because they are not project managers, so you must be able to negotiate cost, time and how the project will be completed.
What If You Do Not Have Enough Experience?
Do not worry; experience comes with time; the above skills are easy to learn, which is why you must have them in your resume.
Still not convinced? Then check:
