Best tips for listing management skills on a CV

When writing a CV and cover letter for a managerial position, it is important that your skills are robust enough to help you stand out from the other applicants. Rather than laundry-listing a wide range of skills and competencies, focus on your strongest soft skills. CV templates, such as those available via CVHelp, can help you get the right format to really show off top management skills such as these:

• Leadership
• Professional development
• Conflict resolution
• Time management
• Coaching
• Workflow management
• Problem-solving
• Office management
• Strategic thinking
• Project management skills
• Emotional intelligence
• General administrative skills
• Decision-making
• Conceptual skills
• Effective communication skills
• Interpersonal skills

These are just some of the effective management skills that can be included on a CV. Always review the job description to see if there are any other management-related skills that will be important to include them on your CV. 

When you want to display your management skills to best effect on your CV, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First and foremost, focus on the skills that are most applicable to the role you are applying for. Just as the best managers adapt their management styles to suit their team members, the best CV is one that has been adapted to suit the job it is intended to secure. Second, in addition to listing your best hard and soft skills in the skills section of your CV, you should also back them up in the work history section through examples of your prime responsibilities and achievements. You should also take the following steps to display your skills effectively:

• Use active language

Passive language is one of the easiest ways to kill an otherwise great CV. When you use a phrase like, “Was responsible for,”you put distance between you and your role and miss an opportunity to show off your skills. Instead, try phrases like “Achieved,” “Developed,” or “Managed.” Active language shows that you take ownership of your role.

• Provide examples

Tie your work section to your skills section by giving brief examples of your work in a way that displays managerial skills. For example, if you managed a team in a call center, you might say, “I developed a card system that allowed call handlers to flag me for problem-solving while in a tough call. Over the next two months, formal complaints dropped by 20%.”

• Be specific

When discussing your skills, try to avoid generalities. Don’t just say “interpersonal skills” or “good communication skills.” Instead say “conflict resolution skills” or “motivational speaking skills.” Better yet, give work examples of how you’ve used these skills.

Your CV presents an opportunity to display good communication skills, so do your best to be clear and honest about the skills you have. Showing self-awareness is as important as showing confidence.

If you are invited to a job interview, you are likely to be asked about your managerial skills in some way. This may be in the form of a behavioral question, such as, “Tell me about a time when you managed a difficult situation?” If you are asked a question like this, you should be able to give an example that backs up your skills. When asked a question like this, you should give a specific answer using the STAR method, which breaks down as Situation – Task – Action – Result. 

You can also prove your management skills in your CV by listing any relevant certifications and awards you have earned. These can be proven academic awards like a BA in business management, for example, or even company training programs or awards for performance received from previous employers. When paired with the right professional references, these kinds of qualifications and awards can help prove that you have the right managerial skills.