Project Management Skills: Examples for Your Resume

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By Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRW, Career Advice Expert •Last Updated: June 26, 2024

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Whether you work in the corporate world, manage a small business or lead a non-profit organization, project management skills are essential for ensuring smooth operations and successful outcomes.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top project management skills that can help you become a more effective leader and achieve your goals with greater efficiency and success.

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What are project management skills?

Project management skills encompass a broad range of abilities and competencies essential for effectively planning, executing, monitoring and closing projects.

Here are a few basic project management skills for the workplace:

Leadership: Effective project managers lead by example, and project managers require leadership skills to inspire team members and motivate them to achieve project goals.
Problem-solving: Projects often encounter unexpected challenges, and project managers must have strong problem-solving skills to find creative solutions.
Organization: Being organized is crucial for managing timelines, so project managers need strong organizational skills to manage resources and tasks efficiently
Time management: Project managers must prioritize tasks, set deadlines and allocate resources effectively to ensure timely project completion.
Risk management: Anticipating and mitigating risks is essential to minimize project disruptions.
Team building: Building and managing a cohesive project team is crucial for success. Project managers should foster collaboration and resolve conflicts.

These are just some of the professional skills that project managers need to effectively plan and deliver successful projects. Explore more examples of skills for project management below.

Here is an example of how to list project management skills on a resume:

See the following pages for additional samples demonstrating how to list project management skills on your resume:

Examples of project management skills

Browse project management key skills that you can feature on your resume. We recommend using one of our professional resume templates to craft a resume in a matter of minutes.

Project management hard skills

Project scheduling: Proficiency in developing and managing project schedules using tools like Gantt charts or project management software.
Budgeting and cost management: Understanding of budgeting principles and cost estimation techniques to ensure projects stay within budget.
Quality management: Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control processes to ensure project deliverables meet predefined quality standards.
Resource management: Ability to allocate and manage project resources effectively, including human resources, equipment and materials.
Project management software: Proficiency in using project management software tools such as Microsoft Project, Asana, Trello or Jira to track project activities.
Procurement and contract management: Understanding of procurement processes, contract negotiation and vendor management to acquire necessary goods and services.
Earned value management (EVM): Knowledge of EVM techniques to measure project performance and progress based on earned value, planned value and actual cost.
Data analysis and reporting: Ability to collect, analyze and interpret project data to generate reports and make informed decisions to support project objectives.
Critical path method (CPM) and program evaluation and review technique (PERT): Understanding of CPM and PERT techniques for scheduling and managing projects.

Explore the top soft skills and hard skills that you can include on your resume to stand out from other applicants.

Project management soft skills

Communication: Proficiency in verbal and written communication to convey information clearly, listen actively and foster open communication among team members.
Empathy: Capacity to understand and empathize with team members' perspectives, needs and concerns, fostering a supportive and inclusive project environment.
Conflict resolution: Ability to identify and address conflicts within the project team or among stakeholders, facilitate constructive dialogue and find solutions.
Negotiation: Proficiency in negotiating with stakeholders, team members or vendors to resolve disputes, secure resources and reach agreements.
Adaptability: Flexibility and openness to adapt to changing project requirements, priorities and circumstances, and the ability to guide the team through transitions.
Decision making: Capacity to make timely and well-informed decisions based on available information, considering potential risks, impacts and stakeholder interests.
Delegation: Capability to delegate tasks effectively, empower team members and provide guidance and support while entrusting them with responsibilities.
Client management: Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with clients and manage client communications and expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
Feedback and coaching: Skill in providing constructive feedback and mentorship to team members to enhance their performance.

Project management technical skills

Methodologies: Familiarity with various project management methodologies such as Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, Kanban and Lean, and understanding when and how to apply them based on project requirements.
Processes: Knowledge of project management processes defined by standards such as the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) or PRINCE2.
Work breakdown structure (WBS): Skill in creating a hierarchical decomposition of project tasks and deliverables to facilitate planning, estimating and tracking project progress.
Gantt charts: Proficiency in creating and interpreting Gantt charts and strong cognitive skills to visualize project schedules, task dependencies, milestones and resource allocation.
Risk management tools: Familiarity with risk management tools and techniques such as risk registers, risk matrices, qualitative and quantitative risk analysis and risk response planning to identify, mitigate and monitor project risks.
Quality management tools: Familiarity with quality management tools and techniques such as quality checklists, flowcharts, Pareto charts and statistical sampling methods to ensure project deliverables meet predefined quality standards.
Document management systems: Proficiency in using document management systems or collaboration platforms to store, organize, version control and share project documentation, reports and communication.

We recommend exploring our library of 800+ resume examples to see real-world samples for different job titles, industries and career levels.

How to improve your project management skills

Developing project management skills requires a combination of learning, practice and refinement over time.

Here’s how to learn project management skills and steps you can take to improve them throughout your career journey:

Education and training: Invest time in learning about project management methodologies, tools and best practices. You can take courses, attend workshops and earn certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional) or PRINCE2.
Practical application: Apply what you learn by managing real projects. Start with smaller projects and gradually take on larger ones as you gain confidence and experience. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; they're valuable learning opportunities.
Develop leadership skills: Develop leadership skills to motivate and inspire your project team. Provide clear direction, support and guidance to help team members perform at their best.
Adapt to changes: Be flexible and adaptable in your approach to project management. Projects rarely go exactly as planned, so be prepared to adjust your strategies and plans as needed to address unexpected challenges or changes.
Utilize technology: Take advantage of project management tools and software to streamline processes, track progress and collaborate more effectively with your team.

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How to highlight project management skills on your resume

Project management is a high-income skill that is highly sought after by employers. Highlighting your project management skills effectively on your resume can help you stand out from the competition. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Create a skills section: Dedicate a resume skills section near the top of your resume and include your project management skills. This section should be easily noticeable and can include bullet points or a concise list of your key skills.
Use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords related to project management throughout your resume. Including keywords from the job description can help your resume get past applicant tracking systems.
Quantify your achievements: Whenever possible, quantify your project management achievements with specific metrics or numbers. For example, mention how you improved project efficiency by a certain percentage.
Provide examples: In your resume work history section, include specific examples of projects you've managed and your contributions to their success. Describe your role, the project objectives, the challenges you faced and the outcomes you achieved.

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Common tools used for project management

Effective project management skills require an understanding of common tools used to facilitate project planning, execution and monitoring.

Here are a few examples of project management tools and technologies:

Project management software: Platforms like Microsoft Project, Asana, Trello, Jira, Basecamp and Monday.com.
Collaboration tools: Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams and Zoom enable real-time communication, file sharing and collaboration among project team members.
Time tracking software: Applications such as Toggl, Harvest and Clockify allow project team members to track the time spent on various tasks and activities.
Issue tracking tools: Platforms like Jira, Bugzilla and GitHub Issues help manage and track software bugs, defects and issues throughout the project lifecycle.
Resource management software: Software such as ResourceGuru, Float and Mavenlink helps project managers allocate and manage resources.
Financial management software: Tools like QuickBooks, FreshBooks and Xero help track project budgets, expenses and financial transactions.

These tools and technologies can streamline project workflows, improve collaboration, enhance communication and increase overall project efficiency and effectiveness.

Best project management certifications

The best project management certifications often depend on factors such as your career goals, industry and level of experience.

Here are some widely recognized project management certifications:

Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments)
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
Certified Project Manager (CPM)
Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)
Certified Project Management Professional (CPMP)

Explore our resume format guide to see examples of how you can include certifications on your resume.

Key takeaways

Project management skills are essential for successfully planning, executing and completing projects within scope, budget and schedule constraints.
Key project management skills include communication, leadership, time management, stakeholder management, risk management and adaptability.
Project managers should continuously seek opportunities to enhance their project management skills through education, training and practical experience.
Project management tools and technologies can streamline project workflows, improve collaboration and enhance overall project efficiency and effectiveness.

FAQ

What skills are needed for project management?

Project managers need strong verbal and written communication skills to facilitate discussions and resolve conflicts among team members and stakeholders.

Leadership skills are crucial for motivating and inspiring project teams, providing direction and guidance, making tough decisions and driving project success.

Project managers must also be skilled at managing their own and other’s time, prioritizing tasks, setting deadlines and ensuring that projects stay on schedule.

Depending on the nature of the project, project managers may need technical skills related to the specific industry or field, such as software development, construction or engineering.

What are the most important project management skills?

While all project management skills are important, some are particularly critical for ensuring project success. Here are a few essential project management skills:

Communication
Leadership
Time management
Stakeholder management
Problem-solving
Risk management
Adaptability
Negotiation
Critical thinking

Continuously developing these key skills allows project managers to effectively lead their teams, manage projects successfully and deliver value to their organizations.

What makes a good project manager?

A good project manager possesses a unique blend of leadership and organizational skills that enable them to effectively plan and deliver projects on time and within budget.

Effective communication is a cornerstone of their success. They convey information clearly, listen actively to stakeholders and team members and address conflicts and challenges.

Their problem-solving skills enable them to identify issues, analyze root causes develop creative solutions to overcome obstacles and keep projects on track.

An effective project manager can inspire confidence and trust among their team members and stakeholders, ultimately delivering successful outcomes for their organization.

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Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRW

Career Advice Expert

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Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.

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