project management skills on resume

How to list project management skills on your resume

When I brainstormed a list of project management skills to put on my resume (which over here in the UK we call a CV), it was a long list.

If you’re putting together an application for a job, you’ve probably found the same. How do you list the project management skills required without it turning into a giant list of buzzwords?

Here’s how.

How to include project management skills on your CV

Let’s just go with the fact that CV and resume are interchangeable terms for the purposes of this article.

On my CV, I have a section that covers skills. While I try to make it obvious in the job descriptions and project descriptions, it’s worth calling out what you can do by adding a ‘Skills’ heading.

Mine is called ‘Skills Profile’. Underneath, I list skills grouped together by:

• Interpersonal skills

Each of those headings has a list of bullet points underneath that give examples of how I have demonstrated those skills.

I don’t specifically call out project management skills on my resume here: it’s implied in the list of projects I have led in the work experience section underneath.

However, if you don’t have work-related projects , you can add project management skills as one of those headings. That’s the bullet point where you’d talk about your ability to do the technical parts of project management.

What skills to choose?

We aim for a CV to be a couple of pages. I’ve had to read resumes that were over 5 pages and frankly I lost the will to live. It’s too much, and too much detail. And there was a lot of jargon that meant nothing to me.

As you want to keep your application concise and to the point, you’ll need to be a little choosy about the project management skills that make it onto your resume.

The good news is that you don’t have to make that call yourself.

Use the job listing, job description, or personal profile to help you uncover what skills the hiring manager is looking for.

Many employers use sifting tools that look for keywords. They will program in keywords from the advert so those are definitely the ones to focus on.

Below, we’ll look at some examples of common project management skills for your resume.

Soft skills (a.k.a. Power skills)

Soft skills are actually the hard part of project management! But we call them ‘soft’ because they are difficult to quantify and are more to do with interpersonal activities and emotional intelligence.

There’s now a trend towards calling them ‘power skills’ (started, I believe, by PMI) because calling them ‘soft’ makes them seem easy. And you don’t have to work as a project manager for very long before you realize they are truly not easy.

Power skills include:

• Communication (written and verbal)
• Stakeholder engagement
• Conflict management
• Negotiation
• Influencing
• Team building
• Change management .

Ethics, diversity and inclusion and managing workplace stress all fall into this category as well.

Hard skills

Hard skills are technical project management skills: things you need to do to tick the box to prove you can lead a project. They aren’t necessarily ‘hard’ in the sense that they are difficult. They are ‘hard’ compared to ‘soft’, so if we’re moving to the power skills terminology, we should probably ditch hard skills as well.

On your resume, don’t describe them as ‘hard skills’, stick to terms like technical abilities, core competencies, technical skills, project management techniques or something similar.

This group of skills includes:

• Time management
• Resource management
• Project budget management
• Scope management
• Governance and project assurance
• Risk management
• Quality management
• Procurement, and supplier/contract management
• Issue management
• Configuration management.

Either list out the skills with an example that shows you can demonstrate each, or work these words and explanations into your job history section. As I said above, that’s what I do: the fact I can manage projects is woven all the way through my job history.

I don’t repeat that I do risk management for every project, and you don’t have to either. Think about showcasing one or two skills per job (or project) so overall your CV demonstrates that you can do them all. It would get boring to read about how you engaged stakeholders on every project — employers simply need to see a mention of it.

Tip: Check what project methodology your prospective employer uses. Then you can tailor your application to mention agile approaches, predictive or hybrid ways of working.

Describe your project management skills

It’s not enough to simply give a list. Anyone can copy a list of skills from any website or job description. You also need to give an example of what that skill looks like, for you, based on your personal experience.

Here’s a real example of one of the bullet points from my CV that falls into the interpersonal skills section.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills gained from speaking at conferences, delivering online and face-to-face training, and facilitating workshops in a professional setting.

You can see that I name the skill and then describe how I demonstrate it. That gives an employer something to ask about at an interview: “Tell me about a time when you have had to facilitate a workshop.”

It also helps employers understand the scale and scope of your skills. For example, have you run workshops for 5 people or 500? There is no correct answer, but providing some numbers and context helps recruiters understand what you are capable of.

You don’t want to write too much, but you do want to let hiring managers know that you can actually do the skill, and haven’t just copied and pasted it off a list on the internet.

Your next steps

The skills needed for project management jobs vary, so check out what is mentioned in the job posting and think hard about how you can evidence those. Then tailor your resume to highlight the skills that the employer feels are important.

Here are some things to do next.

• Make sure you understand the project management job description so you can check you are listing the most appropriate skills.
• Brainstorm your past experience and consider how to include your work projects in your resume.
• Take a look at the different project management job titles so you know what jobs to apply for.
• Invest some time in updating your resume with project management skills and experience so your application shines.

What skills are needed for project management?

Project management needs a mixture of technical and interpersonal skills including scheduling, team leadership, emotional intelligence, organizational ability, and communication.

Project manager, author, mentor

Elizabeth Harrin is a Fellow of the Association for Project Management in the UK. She holds degrees from the University of York and Roehampton University, and several project management certifications including APM PMQ. She first took her PRINCE2 Practitioner exam in 2004 and has worked extensively in project delivery for over 20 years. Elizabeth is also the founder of the Project Management Rebels community, a mentoring group for professionals. She's written several books for project managers including Managing Multiple Projects .

Project Manager Resume [2024] - Example & Full Guide

As a project manager, you’re the be-all and end-all of any project.

So, you’re great at setting goals, strategic planning, creating budgets, leading a team towards a common goal, keeping tabs on everyone and everything… 

Actually, is there anything you can’t do?

Well, if you’re here, chances are your weak point is writing a job-landing project manager resume .

And, yes—it may seem hard to transfer all of your work experience, skills, and professional achievements onto a single piece of paper. With the right guidance, however, it doesn’t have to be!

So, in this article, we will cover everything you need to know about writing an effective project manager resume, including:

Project Manager Resume Example

Step-by-step guide to write your project manager resume, 50 project manager skills to put on your resume.

Like the look of Jennifer’s IT Project Management resume? Create your own modern project management resume in minutes with these easy-to-complete resume templates and get started on your journey to earning the best PMP certification . 

Quite impressive, right?

These are the elements that make this project manager resume an example to follow:

• Reverse-chronological format. This resume format is the most popular around the world and effectively shows off the candidate’s work experience.
• Eye-catching resume summary. The project manager resume example above includes a brief and to-the-point resume summary that highlights the candidate’s skills and area of expertise.
• Contact information. The project manager resume example above includes all the necessary contact details, such as the candidate’s email address, location, phone number, and relevant social media handles.
• Achievement-focused work experience section. In this project manager resume example, the candidate doesn’t simply mention their responsibilities - they also include their work achievements to help them stand out from other candidates.
• Relevant education section. The candidate only includes their key education details, such as their Bachelor’s degree and a field-related minor.
• Use of bullet points. The candidate uses bullet points to organize and present the information which makes this project manager resume example look neat and structured.
• Well-organized skills section. This project manager resume example includes the candidate’s soft and hard skills that are relevant to the IT industry and project management.
• Effective use of additional sections. The candidate takes advantage of the extra space on their project manager resume by including relevant additional sections, such as their industry-related certifications and academic achievements to show off their professional background.

We've also got more resume examples that you might want to check out:

• Program Manager Resume
• Operations Manager Resume
• Business Development Manager Resume
• Human Resource (HR) Resume
• Office Manager Resume

Writing a project manager resume is no different than working on any other project - you definitely need to have a plan and know the exact steps you’re going to take.

Luckily, you don’t need to figure it out yourself!

We’ve covered each step of writing a powerful project manager resume for you, so let’s dive in:

#1. Pick the Right Format for Your Project Manager Resume

The reverse-chronological resume format is by far the best option for your project manager resume. 

As we’ve mentioned above, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular resume format worldwide. It’s also a recruiters’ favorite!

Here’s what it looks like:

This resume format gives the recruiter a clear picture of your professional background and work achievements by putting your project manager's work experience in the foreground.

Now that you’ve chosen a format for your project manager resume, let’s address the resume layout . 

These are the resume layout elements you should pay attention to:

• Font style . Your project manager resume has to be easily readable, so choose a professional font style that looks good on both PDF and paper.  
• Font size. Keep your font size at 11-12 pts for body text and 14-16 pts for section headings, so that your project manager resume is easy-to-read and fits into a single page.
• Bullet points. Whenever possible, use bullet points to present information and make your project manager resume easy-to-scan as well as well-organized.
• Resume length. Recruiters go through hundreds of resumes every day, so it’s best to fit your project manager resume in one page to make sure they actually read it.
• Resume file format. If not asked otherwise, always save your resume as a PDF file so that it looks the same no matter the device or OS the hiring manager uses. 

Use Our Tried & Tested Templates 

As a project manager, you’re great at time management.

So, you probably aren’t too excited about spending hours on pointless tasks… like formatting your project manager resume.

And especially so when you could be focusing on more important things instead, such as perfecting the contents of your project manager resume.

What if we told you there’s a quick and easy shortcut?

Instead of wasting your time on designing your resume, just pick one of our professional resume templates and dive straight into filling in the contents of your project manager resume!

Besides, our resume templates are far more visually appealing than basic text-editor resumes.

Check it out for yourself:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that you’ve dealt with formatting your project manager resume, you can start filling in the contents.

Let’s begin with the basics - simply add your contact information , including:

• Your first name and last name
• Your title 
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your location
• Relevant social media handles (optional)

Here’s an example of a contact information section that includes all of the above:

Lauren Anderson

Project Manager

012-345-6789

[email protected]  

Boston, Massachusetts

linkedin.com/in/laurenanderson29

This step is as easy as it looks - you just have to make sure to fill in the contact details correctly.

Otherwise, you may leave a bad impression which can hurt your application. 

After all, no company wants a project manager who’s sloppy and doesn’t pay enough attention to details.

#3. Write an Impactful Project Manager Resume Summary

The next step is writing an impressive project manager resume summary .

Your resume summary is meant to provide a quick overview (2-3 sentences) of your professional background to let the hiring manager see whether you’re a relevant candidate.

So, to make sure the recruiter doesn’t put your project manager resume aside after taking just a glance (and actually reading the whole thing), your resume summary has to be effective.

Here’s what a powerful resume summary includes:

• Your title and years of experience
• Your most relevant skills in project management
• Your top 1-2 professional achievements

And here’s an example of an impactful project manager resume summary:

• Strategic and detail-oriented Project Manager with 7+ years of experience. Outstanding organizational, time management, planning, and problem-solving skills. Met all project deadlines for 5 years straight and increased Company X’s market share by 12% through successful branding projects. 

#4. Make Your Project Manager Work Experience Stand Out

As a project manager, you have tons of work experience , so the next step is to list it effectively.

First things first - let’s get the formatting right.

Here’s how you should format the work experience section in your project manager resume:

• Follow the reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent (or current) position and go backward in time. 
• Add your job title. This is supposed to give the recruiter a clear idea of the role you had in the previous workplace.
• Include the company's name and location. You can also briefly describe the company if it’s not a well-known name.
• Add the date of employment. To show how long you worked at the company, use the mm/yyyy format.
• Write down your achievements and responsibilities. Stick to 5-6 bullet points for the most recent roles and 2-3 for older jobs.

Now, no doubt you want your project manager resume to make a lasting impression on the hiring manager and help you land the job. 

So, filling in just the basic work experience details isn’t nearly enough - you’ll end up with a project manager resume that’s similar to other candidates’ resumes.

If you want to make your project manager resume stand out, ask yourself - what exactly are hiring managers looking for?

Sure, it’s your years of experience, but the responsibilities you had in previous roles weigh in much less.

To recruiters, the most important part of your professional background is a proven track record of success . 

As such, the key to a job-winning project manager resume is this: 

Make your work experience section stand out by focusing on your achievements over your responsibilities whenever possible.

So, here’s what you can do to take your work experience section to the next level:

• Use action verbs to describe your achievements and responsibilities, e. g. spearheaded, managed, resolved, executed, etc.
• Only include relevant work experience, e. g. you already have relevant project management experience, so the recruiter won’t be impressed that you scooped ice cream in high school.
• Make your achievements quantifiable , e. g. ”Consistently delivered projects up to 12% below the budget” instead of “Consistently delivered projects under the budget”.

Here’s an example of what an impressive work experience section could look like:

IT Project Manager

08/2017 - 01/2022

• Led and coached a team of 16 IT specialists.
• Managed the Lean Training project for all 54 IT department employees.
• Consistently delivered projects up to 12% below the budget.
• Initiated and managed the project to replace all aging equipment, lowering monthly electricity costs by 23%.
• Introduced a project performance management system that increased project efficiency by 18% over the period of 3 years.

#5. List Your Education Right

Whether you have a degree in project management, business administration, or any other related field, what matters most is your work experience, so keep your education section brief. 

Simply list your education starting with your highest degree as such:

• Degree Name
• University, college, or other institution
• Location (optional)
• Years attended 

As a project manager, technically you aren’t required to have a degree (though this can make competing against candidates with a diploma much harder), so only include your high school education in your project manager resume if you don’t have higher education .

Here’s an example of the education section:

BSc in Project Management

Colorado State University Global

09/2012 - 06/2016

#6. List Your Project Manager Skills

The skills section shows the recruiters your professional abilities, so it’s one of the most important sections (alongside the work experience section) in your project manager resume.

Here are some tips on how to list your skills effectively:

• Tailor your skills section for project management. The point of the skills section is to prove to the hiring manager why you’re a great candidate for this position, in particular, so listing all of your skills is redundant.
• Include any of the skills you have that the company is looking for. Carefully read the job description and see whether the company has listed any specific skills - if you match them, make sure to include them in your project manager resume. 
• Research the most in-demand project management skills. The skills you need largely depend on the field (IT, marketing, retail, etc.), so research the project management field you’re specifically applying to and write down any of the industry-related skills that you have.
• Take a look at your achievements. Not sure which skills you have? Your achievements are proof of your skills, so go back to the work experience section and take a closer look. For example, if you consistently deliver projects before the deadline, you’re likely skilled at time management, planning, delegation, etc.
• List your soft skills and hard skills separately. This will make your project manager resume well-organized and easy to navigate.

Need some inspiration on which skills to include in your project manager resume?

Take a look at our list of the 50 most in-demand project management skills!

Soft Skills for a Project Manager

• Public Speaking
• Active Listening
• Communication Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Problem-solving
• Negotiation
• Conflict Resolution
• Analytical Thinking
• Adaptability
• Stress Management
• Time Management
• Collaboration
• Compromising
• Organizational Skills
• Emotional Intelligence
• Resourcefulness
• Decision-making
• Attention to Detail

25 Hard Skills for a Project Manager

• Business Strategy Knowledge
• Forecasting
• Project Management Methodologies
• Microsoft Office Proficiency
• Technical Documentation
• Project Management Software Proficiency
• Process Management
• Strategic Planning 
• Statistical Analysis
• Risk Evaluation 
• Risk Management
• Database Management
• Programming Languages
• Technical Writing
• Prioritization
• Evaluation of Project Performance Metrics
• Goal Setting
• Financial Management
• Contract Management
• Vendor Management

#7. Include Your Project Management Certificates

While some companies don’t require project managers to have a degree, many are looking for certified project managers.

Having a project manager certificate also means that you’ll get paid more - in fact, certified project managers earn up to 16% more compared to their uncertified colleagues. 

So, don’t let your certificates go to waste and include them in your project manager resume (in reverse-chronological order, of course, in case you have multiple certifications )!

Here’s how to do it:

• Certification name
• Name of agency 
• Year of obtainment
• Location (if applicable)
• Date of expiration (if applicable)
• Expected date of obtainment (if applicable)

And here’s an example:

Certified Project Manager Professional (2019-2022)

Project Management Institute

#8. Make Use of Relevant Additional Sections

Do you still have some extra space on your project manager resume?

Take advantage of it!

Show off your project management experience by adding one or more of these additional sections:

• Associations and organizations you’re a part of, alongside your role in them.
• Publications , such as studies, interviews, and others.
• Conferences , whether they’re on project management or industry-related subjects.
• Awards , if any of them are related to project management.
• Languages are always a plus, but even more so if you’re applying to an international company.

And here’s an example of how to put these extra sections on your project manager resume:

Conferences

• BRIDGE 2021
• English - Native or Bilingual Proficiency
• Russian - Professional Working Proficiency

#9. Match Your Project Manager Resume With a Cover Letter

Now that you know how to write an effective project manager resume, there’s one more thing we need to address - how to write an impactful cover letter .

The point of a cover letter is to prove to the hiring manager that you’re the full package - a competent project manager and the perfect fit for the company.

So, your cover letter should be personalized for the position and include any important details that you haven’t mentioned on your project manager resume.

Here’s how to write a compelling cover letter (even if you aren’t confident in your writing skills!):

• Start your cover letter by putting your contact information in the header.
• Directly greet the recruiter and mention your top 1-2 achievements in the first paragraph.
• In the body of your cover letter, describe your professional background (work experience, skills, etc.) in detail, explain why you want to work for this particular company, and stress why you’d be a great asset to them.
• To end your cover letter , include a call to action.

Check out our guides on cover letter writing tips and cover letter mistakes to make sure your cover letter is top-notch. 

Here’s an example of a convincing project manager cover letter :

Want to show the hiring manager that you are thinking of every detail from A to Z? Match your cover letter to your project manager resume with our cover letter templates !

Key Takeaways

Congrats - now that you know the step-by-step plan of writing a project manager resume, you’re prepared to write a job-winning project manager resume for yourself! 

Before you start, let’s run over the main elements of writing an effective project manager resume:

• Use the reverse-chronological resume format to put your project manager work experience in the center of attention.
• Write an eye-catching resume summary to spike the recruiter’s interest in reading your project manager resume.
• To land the job, focus on your achievements over responsibilities when describing your work experience.
• Only add industry-related soft and hard skills to your project manager resume.
• Add extra sections, such as certificates, awards, associations, etc., to paint a full picture of your professional background.
• Convince the hiring manager you’re the perfect candidate by attaching a compelling cover letter to your project manager resume.

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• Resume Examples
• Best Project Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Best Project Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Our customers have been hired by:

You’re well-versed in PM methodologies, keep information flowing seamlessly, and can win stakeholders’ respect. Describing all that in a project management resume is a project that must be aced!

Read on because in this guide, you’ll see some great project manager resume examples and templates. And you’ll also learn exactly how to move your project manager resume writing task from “backlog” to “done".

This guide will show you:

• A professional project manager resume sample you can refine and make yours.
• An easy formula for writing a project management resume that will land you 10x more interviews.
• Tips to create a resume for a project manager better than any other PMP resume you’ve written in the past.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here .

Sample resume made with our builder— See more resume samples here .

Are you here just to write up project management skills on your resume? Switch to: Project Management Skills on a Resume (20+ Examples)

Also, check out our guides for:

• Agile Project Manager Resume
• Project Coordinator Resume
• Program Coordinator Resume
• Project Engineer Resume
• Operations Manager Resume
• Construction Project Manager Resume
• Production Supervisor Resume
• Scrum Master Resume
• IT Project Manager Resume
• Best Sample Resumes for 500+ Jobs

Project Manager Resume Sample

Anna R. Smith, PMP [email protected] 601-628-0535 linkedin.com/anna.r.smith12

Experienced PMP with a background in law and 7+ years experience growing revenue for a Massachusetts-based electronics firm. Seeking to leverage leadership expertise as project manager for Paylocity. Guest speaker at the Northeast Lean Conference in 2014.

• Work Experience

Project Manager Electronics Fab January 2007‒April 2014 Atheon MDC, Massachusetts

• Led electronics fab project management for Raytheon MDC’s 85 employees.
• Managed the highly successful Lean Training project for three years. Improved quality by 32%, cut lead times 21%, cut costs 48%.
• Managed the “Learn by Benchmarking” project. Created opportunities for 20 change-leaders to travel to other facilities. These employees then returned to share best practices with peers.

Junior Project Manager Hospital-Wide May 2008‒June 2014 Seton Hospital, Maine

• Implemented Lean Training project for all employees. Cut costs by 32% in six months.
• Oversaw the “Just in Time Restock” project.
• Cut stockroom waste by 65%. Created our popular supply room relocation project. Cut wasted foot traffic by 88% across all nursing staff.

2010–2013, MBA Colby College, Waterville, ME 2011–2014, M.A. in Law University of Georgia

Certificates

• May 2010 — PMP Project Management Institute
• Nov 2007 — CAPM Project Management Institute
• Proficient in Scrum & MS Office
• Project Scheduling
• Strategic Planning & Analysis
• Exceptional Verbal and Written Communication Skills
• Business Development
• Vendor Management

Awards and Accolades

• Guest speaker at the Northeast Lean Conference in 2014.
• Wrote an article on advanced organizational scheduling techniques for “Northeast PMP Weekly” magazine. Article was linked to by “Forbes” magazine.
• Organized the local parent-built playground in Scituate, Massachusetts.

Now, here’s the job-winning project manager resume formula:

1. Choose the Right Project Manager Resume Template

Project managers are responsible for turning grand ideas into deliverable projects, products, or features. In a word, they deliver value. The purpose of your project manager resume is to do just that: deliver your PMP value to the employer. In the very first iteration. 

Your starting point? Structure your resume the way it can show your biggest wins:

• Go for a respected style like the reverse-chronological resume format . This resume style zeroes in on who you are right now. Your skills, your strengths, and your experience.
• Add your contact information to a resume header .
• Divide your document into these resume parts :
• Header with contact info
• Summary Statement/Career Objective
• Additional Sections (Conferences, Extra Training, Volunteering, Certifications, Etc.)
• When designing your resume , make good use of white space, eye-friendly headings, and clear resume fonts  for an ATS friendly resume .
• How long should your resume be? If you have years of experience under your belt, go for a two-page resume . Otherwise, a one-page resume template should do the trick.
• And for one of the most important resume tips . Save your project management resume template as a PDF to keep the resume formatting intact . Word documents and other file formats can shred your formatting.

Remember: employers will look you up online, so make sure your online presence is perfect and optimize your LinkedIn summary & profile to boost your chances of landing a job.

Read more about resume formatting: Resume Formats: How to Pick the Ideal One

2. Add Experience to Your Project Management Resume

What is project management experience? Projects. So, for the best project manager resume you have to spotlight your most successful ones. HR managers will fish for your on-the-job expertise, because it’s crucial for a project manager. Maybe more than for any other kind of applicant. 

Follow these rules when putting work experience on your resume :

• Start by listing your newest job title .
• Add your company’s name and your start and finish dates.
• Focus on accomplishements over duties and responsibilities.
• Write six bullet points to showcase your achievements.

How do you write achievements on a project manager resume?

Project Manager Job Description for a Resume

A good resume layout will get your project management resume more eyeball time. But it’s how you put projects on a resume that gets you the job. Remember, no more responsible for project A or managed project B —instead use action/power words like supported, generated, created, and provided. Then briefly describe the scope you were accountable for, and add numbers and percentagesto show that results you achieved had measurable impact. 

How many years of experience should you list on a resume? See our guide: How Far Back Should a Resume Go: How Many Jobs or Years?

But what if you’re writing an entry-level resume ? The beauty of building a project manager resume experience description is, everyone has some experience managing projects. If you’ve set and met a work goal, managed a resource, led a team, or reshaped any process, you’re a (junior) project manager already.

So brainstorm all the projects you’ve managed or took part in in the past. Really dig into your memory to pinpoint previous successes. Check these project manager resume samples:

Entry-Level Project Manager Resume Example (Work Experience)

Again, everyone is a project manager if they think hard enough. The key action is to show that in an entry-level project manager resume experience section.  

Read more: What Does Relevant Experience Mean?

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a  professional resume template here for free .

When you’re done, our free resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

3. Highlight Education on Your Project Manager Resume

If you’re an experienced project manager, adding a degree to a resume is easy. Just limit yourself to listing your highest degree of education. But—if you’re a junior project manager, add a couple of bullet points to your education section to show off your skills. Choose from:

• Relevant coursework
• Dean’s list
• Latin honors
• Extracurricular activities
• Studying abroad
• GPA on a resume

See these project management resume examples:

Project Manager Resume Examples [Education]

Nice. You kept it short, but you showed PM skills. 

Read more:  How to List Minor and Major on a Resume

4. Put the Right Skills in Your Project Manager Resume

Good examples of project management skills vary depending on your primary field of expertise. For example, valuable skills for a technical project manager resume will differ from skills on a digital project manager resume.

Start with this list of skills for PM resumes:

Project Manager Skills Resume Examples

• Cost Control
• Risk Management
• Methodologies: Prince2, Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, CPM, CCPM, IPM, PRiSM, Kanban, Scrumban, Lean, XP
• Presentation Skills
• Analytical Skills
• MS Office Skills
• General management skills
• Business Case Writing
• Interpersonal Skills
• Teamwork Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Verbal and Written Communication
• Organizational Skills
• Active Listening Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Problem Solving Skills
• Time Management
• Critical Thinking
• Other core competencies

But—to create a truly agile project manager resume, never use a generic “skills list.” Always pick the PM skills you showcase straight from the job description. 

Here’s how to choose the best  project management skills for your resume:

• Make two lists of skills: one listing all your skills, and another one listing project manager skills from the job ad.
• Draw connections between both lists to find your resume keywords .
• Add those soft skills and hard skills to the skills section of your resume.
• Tweak your resume achievements to prove those PM-related skills.

Here’s what this section should look like in a sample construction project manager resume:

Project Management Resume Examples [Skills]

Why list both hard skills and soft skills? See our guide: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume

5. Add Extra Sections to Your Project Manager Resume

“Whoa, wait a second.” This is what the hiring manager will say when she sees your extra sections on a resume. The way for this to happen is to add in eye-catching strengths you may now not even know you have. These can include your professional achievements , conferences you spoke at, passions, industry awards or resume projects . 

Take the time to brainstorm these extra lures. Fifteen minutes spent typing ideas into a spreadsheet can turn up the gold nugget that will get you hired. You can choose from the following:

• Resume Licenses & Certifications

Regardless of whether you are a junior or a senior PM, certifications are another way to prove you know the difference between implementation and deployment . According to Wrike , 80% of high-performing projects are led by a certified project manager. So make sure to get certified and put one of these on your project manager resume template:

• Associate in Project Management
• BVOP Certified Project Manager
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Certified Project Director
• Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)
• Certified Project Manager (CPM)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
• Master Project Manager (MPM)
• PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner
• Professional in Project Management (PPM)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Resume Volunteer Work

Have you volunteered to build homes for the homeless or plan a charity event for animal shelters? Such activities scream “ I can manage a project .”

• Languages on a Resume

It is not a must-have to put on a PM resume, but if you want to work in an international environment, listing languages on a resume will definitely give you extra points.

• Conferences

Have you attended a  Global Scrum Gathering ? PM events and conferences show your engagement and prove you want to stay up to date.

See these technical project manager resume samples:

Senior Project Manager Resume Examples [Other Sections]

Polish off your application with extra information: What to Put on a Resume to Make it Perfect

6. Write a Project Manager Resume Summary or Resume Objective

Most hiring teams won’t read your project management resume. They’ll only scan the top of this document. So—put your most important content there. In a resume, that’s a resume profile called a resume objective or a resume summary.

Fresh graduates, career changers, and project managers hunting a new niche should use a project manager resume objective. Applicants with experience in their chosen field should pick a project manager resume summary.

Here’s how to write a resume summary  for a project manager :

• Write an adjective like experienced or dedicated.
• Add your title (project manager).
• Share your years of experience (4, 2+, 5).
• Tell your company-helping goal (cut lead times for Zinky Inc.).
• Include your best PM achievements.

See these career summary examples:

Project Manager Resume Summary Examples

The first of those project manager sample resumes shows you’ve actually done the work. The bad resume example , on the other hand, has serious bugs. Why? Lack of numbers and company names makes it as non-actionable as a blank user story.

Writing an entry-level project manager resume? Write a career objective , following the same rules as mentioned above. Only this time take project management achievements and transferable skills from your non-PM jobs. 

What is a strong resume objective for project manager?

Junior Digital Project Manager Resume Objective

Wow . Which candidate would you hire? The difference is obvious.

Get inspired with: Summary of Qualifications for a Resume and Resume Career Objectives for Any Job

7. Engineer a Project Manager Cover Letter to Seal the Deal

Maybe you’ve heard conflicting opinions on how important a cover letter is . Here’s the bottom line—most employers still expect a cover letter along with a creative project manager resume.

Our HR statistics report shows nearly 5 of 10 hiring teams ignore resumes with no letters attached.

For a project manager cover letter, keep it brief. Again, highlight your most impressive accomplishments and experience to make the hiring manager think, “ I’d better give this PMP resume a little extra time. ”

To write a successful project manager cover letter:

• First, get your cover letter formatting right.
• Next, in the opening paragraph of your cover letter , engage the reader.
• Use the middle paragraph to prove your understanding of the job duties.
• Finally, at the end of your cover letter , offer something the company needs.

Don’t forget to personalize your cover letter by adding the addressee’s name. You can also check out the business’ website and mention something about it that jumped out at you.

More tips: Project Manager Cover Letter Sample and Guide

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.  Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Cramming all the best parts of you into a professional project manager resume that delivers can be a real challenge. You can make the process work for you by adhering to a few important guidelines.

Here’s a recap of how to write a project manager resume:

• Choose a layout that makes scanning your resume easy.
• Focus on wins from your work history as a project manager.
• Match your project manager resume keywords to job description bullets.
• Find PM skills in the online job posting and sprinkle them across your resume parts.
• Include bonus resume sections to show off your PM certifications and awards.
• Proofread your project management resume and craft a personalized cover letter.

That’s it! Now, we’d love to hear from you: 

• What’s the most frustrating part about writing a project manager resume? 
• Do you feel you’re lacking all-important PM accomplishments or have problems choosing the right ones for your resume?
• Is it hard for you to find transferable skills for an assistant project manager resume?

Let’s chat below in the comments, and thanks for reading!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines . We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

• https://www.scrumalliance.org/events/search
• https://www.wrike.com/blog/complete-collection-project-management-statistics-2015/

Frequently Asked Questions about Project Manager Resume

What should a project manager put on a resume.

In addition to the required resume sections , such as resume profile, work experience, education, and skills, a perfect resume should include extra resume parts . And they are:

• awards and accomplishments
• certifications 
• additional training 
• attended conferences

With the Zety resume builder , you won’t have to worry about what to put and what else to leave out. The software will tell you precisely what recruiters want to find in your resume. Pick one of our resume templates and start building your resume .

How do you say you were a project manager on a resume?

Your resume summary and work experience sections will help you explain what you’ve been doing for the last couple of years. Forget about responsibilities, though. Focus on what you’ve accomplished throughout your project management career and build achievement statements around it. To do that, you’ll need power words ( supported, generated ), numbers ( $200,000, +40K ), and clear-cut goals.

How do you write a career objective for a project manager?

• Start with an adjective describing yourself, like dedicated .
• Name 2–3 transferrable skills of a project manager that you have, such as communication and planning .
• State your goals aligned with the company’s strategy, for example, to execute the local digital marketing strategy .
• Mention the job title and company name.

What are the responsibilities of the project manager?

Project management job responsibilities are:

• Turn ideas into deliverables
• Assemble and lead project teams
• Set goals, oversee progress, define deadlines
• Gather and manage budget
• Ensure stakeholders satisfaction
• Evaluate effectiveness and efficiency

But remember! Job responsibilities mean nothing compared to achievements on a resume . Recruiters want to know what you bring to the table with your candidacy rather than read about the qualifications they listed themselves in the job description.

What skills should a project manager have?

• Communication
• Forecasting
• Problem Solving
• Budget Management
• Strategic Planning
• Team Management
• Organization
• Negotiation
• Adaptability
• Stress Management

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28 Project Manager Resume Examples for the Job in 2024

• Project Manager Resumes by Experience
• Project Manager Resumes by Role

Writing Your Project Manager Resume

According to the  Project Management Institute (PMI) , the demand for project managers is expected to grow a whopping 33 percent through 2027.

The need for project managers and the  increase in pay transparency laws  means it’s an excellent time to pursue a project management job.

But that’s easier said than done. 

Whether an entry-level or senior project manager, you must  build a resume  showcasing your ability to plan, manage budgets, produce reports, and ensure projects are on schedule.

We’ve handcrafted 28 project manager resume samples that  have helped candidates get jobs at great companies like Lyft and Atlassian.  Plus, our writing guide can help you navigate the  resume writing process  to help you land that first-round interview. You’ve got this!

Assistant Project Manager Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• A resume objective is for candidates with less than two years in the field. It demonstrates your eagerness for the role, your relevant skills, and your goals for the future. It’s a lot to ask in two to three sentences, so you’ll likely need to take a few whacks at it before you’ve cut it down to the proper size. We believe in you!
• Including relevant courses or awards is a great way to show hiring managers that you’ve learned the skills necessary for the job. Only include the courses or awards that are most relevant to increase your credibility immediately.

Entry-Level Project Manager Resume

• Our top tip? Make sure your  entry-level project manager resume  is easy to read.
• Make your body font size relatively big, include section headers, and leave white space (especially in the margins).
• Always customize your experience to match the  project manager job description  as much as you can. If you lack technical skills, highlight transferable skills like communication, collaboration, and time management.
• If you don’t have any experience relevant to project management, that’s okay, too. Employers know you’re just starting, so include any job experience you have, including projects, internships, or even volunteer work.

Associate Project Manager Resume

• Including a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), for example, on your associate project manager resume will immediately tell recruiters you know the principles and best practices required.

Project Management Intern Resume

• For instance, in project planning, you must’ve picked up on leadership, time management, and technical expertise—all transferrable to project management.

Junior Project Marketing Manager Resume

• Your cover letter and resume should form one cohesive whole without being complete copies of each other.
• The goal is to expand on your achievements in your cover letter while still covering most of the abilities mentioned in your resume. So, once you’ve finished building your resume, a free AI cover letter generator can make sure the two documents share similar keywords and achievements.
• If you have more experience in the field, you can consider getting a PCDM or becoming a PCM.
• If you’re newer to the role, try getting entry-level certifications like those offered by Hubspot or Google Ads.

Senior Project Manager Resume

• Employers expect more from senior employees, so they’ll pay extra attention to minor details like punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
• Always  check your resume  multiple times before you submit your application. We’d recommend having several friends look it over, too, just to make sure you didn’t miss anything.
• Always list your highest level of education, whether a college degree or a high school diploma.
• Unless you’re an entry-level candidate, don’t worry about adding your GPA, any awards, or relevant courses. Those are all secondary to work experience.

Senior DevOps Project Manager Resume

• Say, you’ve worked extensively as a product manager in finance and insurance. Including this info in your career objective makes you a notably more eligible prospect for another organization in a similar industry.

Implementation Project Manager Resume

• For instance, in his resume, Jacob leaps right into the work history section with his outstanding accomplishments as an implementation project manager at Cognizant. You’ve probably noticed he strategically sprinkles in powerful action words like “spearheaded” and “led,” painting the image of a team captain who gets the job done.

Salesforce Project Manager Resume

• For a compelling sales project manager resume that strikes the right chord, let the skills section be the spotlight for your expertise in programs or tools specific to the role. Worthy mentions include Salesforce Chatter, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce Agile Accelerator, Smartsheet, and Jira.

Real Estate Project Manager Resume

• In each work history section, add four bullet lists encapsulating your most impressive feats in the real estate industry, all tailored to the job ad and prospective employer’s needs. Optimizing asset management strategies and increasing portfolio by $3.2M makes for an excellent example of a customization level likely to blow away recruiters.

Software Project Manager Resume

• A software project manager resume with proof of operating below budgets and optimizing savings will be a favorite among hiring managers. Therefore, including achievements such as saving an estimated $51.2k annually would get you closer to winning the job.

Project Management Professional Resume

• Your soft and hard skills have a place here to set you apart from any other average project manager. Go on a full display mode to highlight your competencies in RiskWatch, Zapier, Harvest, and so on, and show how you’ve used them to optimize project budgets and timelines.

SAP Project Manager Resume

• Numbers matter most here so quantify all past project achievements, success rates, etc. Have a habit of submitting work before deadlines are even close? Mention it! Clearly state how many SAP projects you’ve delivered on time. Adding a project management certificate has also never harmed any candidate!

HR Project Manager Resume

• Make sure your HR project manager resume consists of tools like these in the skills section . Further, write down any instances of you helping a company retain or acquire the top talent for a position while lowering extra costs such as overtime wages.

Project Manager Scrum Master Resume

• Accordingly, align your entire project manager Scrum Master resume around the description and mention how you’ve tackled mishaps, boosted efficiency, and improved a team’s overall productivity. Throwing in a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certificate will greatly help if you’re still an intermediate in this field!

Digital Project Manager Resume

• Therefore, your digital project manager resume must embed metrics in every client satisfaction rating, early delivery time, cost reduction, and proper team management strategies.

Clinical Project Manager Resume

• In your clinical project manager resume, you should therefore highlight your project management metrics, including and not limited to cost reduction, timely completions, team collaborations, and resource prioritization to meet preset goals.

Risk Management Project Manager Resume

• You’ll likely need a master’s degree for this advanced role, and be sure to use your job experience bullet points to highlight specific and successful stories on your risk management project manager resume.

Agile Project Manager Resume

• Even if you lack direct work experience, you can emphasize other relevant achievements or projects that align with you’re desired role. For example, a candidate with experience in Scrum and finance will be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of an Agile project manager position at Goldman Sachs.

Healthcare Project Manager Resume

• If you don’t have adequate paid experience to add to your healthcare project manager resume , a globally recognized certificate like the Project Management Professional (PMP) can help prove you’re a leader and have the relevant expertise to be successful.

Creative Project Manager Resume

• For example, the responsibilities of a project manager at a magazine will share many similarities with that of a creative project manager at an advertising agency. Try to think of similar projects you can use to highlight your competency to come across as a well-rounded candidate.

Marketing Project Manager Resume

• Adding measurable results to your marketing project manager resume is a fantastic way to spotlight the magnitude of your achievements. It also showcases the potential you bring to your next employer.

Engineering Project Manager Resume

• For example, you can really boost your chances of being hired by including your knowledge in management tools like Trello and Confluence, not to mention expertise in engineering software like AutoCAD and ANSYS.

Technical Project Manager Resume

• In your skills section, use primarily hard skills like “SQL,” “Agile Development,” and “Google Analytics,” to show off your training. You can add a few soft skills, but most of the list should be learned, technical abilities that you can demonstrate if needed.
• LinkedIn and GitHub are excellent links to add since they show employers you’ve got the connections and the skills to succeed.

IT Project Manager Resume

• Stuck on how to alter your resume? Start by highlighting keywords and phrases in the  project manager job description . Then find a way to incorporate a few of those highlighted phrases in your work experience bullet points and skills.
• You can start by ensuring you have colored section headers in different fonts than your body text. Then play around with the layout, margins, and font size until you hit the sweet spot.

Integrated Project Manager Resume

• Consider using a  resume template  to make your resume aesthetically pleasing and easier to read. It also allows you to let your personality show; pick a template that speaks to you! 
• For project managers, try to include metrics relating to the number of projects you’ve managed or the number of teams you led. Any percentages relating to relevant KPIs are also a good idea, but if you’re just starting, don’t worry about it. That can come later!

Architectural Project Manager Resume

• Of course, don’t make your skills section a complete copy-paste of the employer’s requirements! Simply use it to tailor your skills section and add a few keywords from the job description in your work experience and skills section.
• As a rule of thumb, highlight six to eight up-to-date and in-demand skills in your  resume skills section .

Electrical Project Manager Resume

• Reverse-chronological is the best format for managers since it shows your career progression. Plus, it’s easier for employers (and ATS!) to scan at a glance. It’s a win-win!
• Start by nailing your technical abilities as an electrical engineer. We’d recommend making each work experience bullet point focused on a different skill (such as communicating with vendors, coordinating schedules, or maintaining equipment).
• Then add your project manager skills into the mix, again using each work experience bullet point to highlight one skill.

Related resume guides

• Account Manager
• Business Analyst
• Product Manager
• Construction Project Manager

Regarding the “skills” section, it can be tough to find the right balance between listing too many  skills on your resume  and including all areas of strength. It’s a push-and-pull for two reasons:

• You need to include enough relevant skills to get past automated filters companies use (called an ATS) that grade resumes based on keyword matching.
• The person reviewing your resume, either an HR professional or a project manager themselves, will be wary if you list more than 10 skills on your resume.

To strike the right balance, ask yourself if you’d be comfortable answering questions about a given skill in an interview.

For example, if you list “reporting” as one of your skills, you should be able to immediately answer the question “How do you know if a project is on track?” by pointing to specific metrics or reports on your resume or cover letter.

Another good litmus test to determine whether or not you should include a skill is if you can discuss using that skill in one of the projects you list on your resume. This accomplishes two things:

• Reinforces that you’re only including strong skills.
• Provides more context regarding how you deployed your skills in project management (making your resume and candidacy even better).

After all, what would be more convincing to you: a candidate listing a skill or discussing how they used it to achieve a specific outcome? When in doubt, put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes and ask yourself what they would like to see on a project manager resume.

So, what are some common skills you should include on your project manager resume? Look no further than our list!

Skills to include on your project manager resume:

Hard skills.

• Project Management Software (Jira, Trello)
• Microsoft Office/ Google suite (Excel/Google Sheets, PowerPoint/Slides)
• Project Management Frameworks and Methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, Kanban)
• Programming Languages and Frameworks (JavaScript, Node.js, Python, Django)
• Data Analysis
• CRM Experience (HubSpot, Salesforce)
• Digital Marketing

Soft skills

• Public Speaking and Communication
• Problem-solving
• Prioritization
• Conflict Resolution

If you’re in a more senior role and have many of these skills, you should focus on the skills mentioned in the job description.

Yes, customizing your resume like this means more work. However, it’s worth it—our data suggests that this practice alone increases your chance of getting an interview by 11 percent.

As a practical example, look at this sample project manager job description. Look at the underlined skills—they’re what you might want to include if you applied for this position. Try to match the language in the job description as best you can.

Sample project management job description and skills:

• Be accountable for the entire project lifecycle: develop scopes of work and associated project plans and own the day-to-day operations to ensure that projects remain on track and within budget
• Lead internal and external status meetings: capture notes, assign action items to team members and own all necessary follow-up
• Relay clear and specific expectations, timelines, priorities, challenges, and new developments in detail to key internal and external team members/parties
• Own daily project plan components, including task estimation, resource allocations, and new work requests
• Coordinate internal reviews and implementation-related quality assurance efforts
• Come from a place of perpetual learning, always seeking to improve and optimize processes, develop new ones, and participate in the overall growth of the department and agency
• Work with Jira, Smartsheet, or other project management tools
• Eliminate scope creep by ensuring that projects remain within parameters identified in the scope of work
• Communicate issues, bug reports, and change orders to leadership

Project manager resume summary or objective

Before we dive into the topic of resume objectives and summaries, let’s first set the stage with some definitions:

• Resume summary: A short summary of your work history and accomplishments as a project manager. Recommended for professionals with 10+ years of experience in the industry.
• Resume objective: A short statement expressing a few of your skills and what you’re looking for in your next project manager role. Recommended for entry-level candidates.

Although they might sound drastically different, they’re pretty similar in reality, so don’t get too hung up on specific definitions. The key is that you should only include a  resume objective  or summary if it adds real value to your resume.

Resume real estate is valuable since you’re limited to one page, so you can’t waste words. Hiring managers spend, on average, six seconds reviewing a given resume. Don’t divert attention from your work experience and skills if your objective or summary doesn’t provide anything of value.

Senior project managers should use a  resume summary  since it’s a high-level highlight reel showcasing your most significant accomplishments or goals in two to three sentences.

WRONG – generic resume summary

“Experienced project manager with a history of working across departments to achieve goals and positive outcomes on the projects I manage.”

RIGHT – specific project manager resume summary

“PMP certified project manager with 5+ years of experience owning all stages of the project lifecycle from inception through monitoring and closing to deliver projects that exceed expectations on time and under budget.”

The second resume summary works well because it leads with this PM’s certifications (we’ll touch on this more below) while also showcasing their experience delivering projects on time and within the allotted budget. The first example will take up space on the page.

On the other hand, an objective should be used by more junior project managers to talk about your skill set and what you’re looking for in your next role. It can also be used by PMs who are undergoing a career change or looking for something specific in their next role.

WRONG – vague resume objective

“I’m looking for an opportunity to work as a project manager at a growing organization where I can utilize my unique abilities to plan, scope, and deliver projects.”

RIGHT – resume objective tied to experience

“Project manager with experience building web apps as a software engineer and leading projects that have a meaningful impact on the company’s bottom line. I’m looking for a role where I can utilize my ability to communicate effectively with developers and executives alike.”

The second resume objective is a great way to call attention to the fact that this project manager has experience as both a software engineer and a project manager, which can manifest itself in more effective communication between those two groups.

Projects and work experience

When it comes time to talk about your work experience on your project manager resume, you must tell the story of the projects on which you worked. You’ll have more room to dive into this in your  project manager cover letter , so how do you keep it short and sweet in your resume? 

Rather than talking about one-off tasks you completed, focus on one to two of the biggest projects you led. The beauty of being a project manager is that the experience you should discuss is right in your job title.

Here are some questions you might want to answer about the projects you worked on when talking about them on your resume:

• What was the scope or goal of the project?
• How big was the budget, and what was the timeline? Was it a year-long project, or was it a short-term one?
• How large was the team involved, and with what departments did you collaborate?
• What kind of reporting or metrics did you use to determine success?
• Did you encounter any major roadblocks? How did you remove them?
• What kind of collaboration did you have with the executive team? Did you give a presentation upon project completion?
• You can and should use quantifiable metrics here!

Remember that you should also mention some of the skills listed in your official “skills” section. For example, did you use Trello to ensure the project was on time? Did you build reporting to measure project success?

Let’s describe a specific example of how all of this might work when describing your work experience as a project manager.

WRONG – non-specific work experience

Feedzai August 2016 – May 2018, New York NY Project Manager

• Managed several projects in collaboration with the executive team from inception through to closing
• Regularly removed roadblocks to ensure projects were delivered on time
• Presented the results of each project in a clear and efficient manner
• Worked collaboratively with the engineering, product, marketing, and customer success teams

RIGHT – work experience detailing a specific project

• Led the development of content prediction engine, which grew to $1.5M in annual revenue
• Analyzed the scope of the project based on competitive analysis, interviews with customers, and customer feature requests
• Set deadlines for incremental goals, allocated budget, and worked across software, marketing, and executive teams to ensure all teams were properly resourced
• Communicated progress and roadblocks to stakeholders, including executive management, and made proactive recommendations to remove roadblocks leading to the on-time and on-budget delivery of the project

Specialization and industry experience

Since project managers are in such high demand, they can work in various industries and have a wide range of specializations.

So, if you’re looking for a more specialized PM role, you must highlight your experience in that specialization on your resume. If you’re looking for an I.T. project manager or technical project manager role, you should focus on your experience shepherding projects related to software.

Conversely, if you’re applying for a construction project manager role, your field experience will be more valuable. Focus your resume on the position you’re applying for, and pay particular attention to the  project manager job description .

Education and certifications

No matter what you went to school for, you should include your highest level of education on your resume. If you’re an entry-level project manager, you should include relevant classes you took in school that will convince the hiring manager you’ll make for an effective PM.

When you’re a senior PM, you should avoid listing relevant classes because you want the focus of your resume to be your work experience. Since you want to keep it to one page, you can’t afford to use that space for classes.

No matter where you are on the career ladder, certifications can help your candidacy as a project manager.

Top program manager certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
• Professional Scrum Master (PSM)
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
• Kanban Management Professional (KMP)

If you have one of these certifications, you should include it in your education section and your resume objective or summary, should you include one.

Finalizing your project manager resume

Don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of “great.” Building a project manager resume can be daunting, but the hardest part is getting started. Don’t worry about perfection just yet; instead, focus on making your resume great. No one-size-fits-all “perfect” resume exists because each person has different experiences and skills. Just do the best you can!

If you need a launching point, feel free to use our  free resume templates  or choose a  Google Docs resume template . Or you can try a  resume outline  to give you a relatively blank slate to build on. Add on to include your experience, skills, education, and contact information until it’s complete. Then, and only then, do you need to worry about the details (in which case, go back and reread this guide to make sure you’re hitting all the right notes). 

Feel free to edit any of the resumes above in our resume builder or download the project manager resumes as PDFs. Then as you write, follow the rules in this guide. You’ll be well on your way toward landing your next (or first) role as a project manager!

Here’s a quick summary of our  resume tips :

• Only include skills you’d be comfortable being interviewed on in your resume. Include these keywords both in your skills section and in your work experience bullet points.
• Make sure your resume objective or resume summary adds value to your candidacy. Avoid vague or generic statements.
• When discussing your work experience, highlight the details of one to two major projects you worked on instead of focusing on one-off tasks you completed.
• Be sure to include your highest level of education and any certifications you have in your resume objective or summary.

And that’s it! We wish you the best of luck in whatever role you hope to land!

• English (UK)
• Resume Examples

Project Manager Resume Example & Project Management Skills

The best project management jobs require a project manager resume that exceeds KPIs. Use our project management resume example to write a new, effortless job application.

Your old resume came to the end of its lifecycle? To reach new career milestones, you need a new project management resume. One that tells stakeholders that you live and breathe Agile and dream in sprints and know flowcharts and workflows backward and forward.

You’re in the right place—this article will show you how to write a project manager resume that delivers.

In this guide:

• Project manager resume examples that get the best jobs out there.
• How to ace your project management skills on a resume.
• How to write a resume for a project manager that gets the interview.
• Expert advice and examples to improve your project management resume.

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Would you like to see other examples of resumes for management jobs? Check the guides below:

• Account Manager Resume Example
• Business Manager Resume Example
• Construction Project Manager Resume Example
• General Manager Resume Example
• HR Coordinator Resume Example
• HR Manager Resume Example
• IT Project Manager Resume Example
• Marketing Manager Resume Example
• Program Manager Resume Example
• Project Coordinator Resume Example
• Social Media Manager Resume Example

Project Manager Resume Example

Oaklynn Wilson

Project Manager

(987) 654-3210

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/oaklynn.wilson

Diligent PMP-certified project manager with 5+ years of experience delivering museum projects to successful completion. Eager to contribute to the expansion of the Maine State Historical Center by establishing project milestones and collaborating closely with museum stakeholders. Coordinated a $1.5-million project within deadlines and with adherence to the budget in 2019–2020.

Work Experience

Tall Pines Mansion, Brunswick, ME

January 2017–Present

Key responsibilities:

• Cutting project costs by $70,000 by outsourcing the museum website development to an overseas company.
• Developing and leading several cross-functional teams, selecting project team members, and hiring freelancers when necessary to adhere to deadlines.
• Collaborating with the museum director and managers to establish project budgets, prepare contracts, and negotiate with local contractors.

Key achievement:

• Delivered a $1.5-million permanent exhibition project involving cooperation between museum curators, researchers, and contractors within 18 months.

Junior Project Manager

Maine Historical Society, Brunswick, ME

January 2015–December 2016 

• Assisted the exhibits project manager in coordinating museum projects involving collaboration between museum staff and external consultants.
• Created project workflows, including setting targets, milestones, deadlines, and project outcomes, as well as required project documentation.
• Communicated regular project updates to all stakeholders and museum leadership using Asana software.
• Coordinated a $24,000 marketing project within deadlines while cutting costs by 12%.

Exhibit Assistant

Androscoggin River Museum, Brunswick, ME

July 2013–December 2014

• Assisted in planning, researching, and developing new permanent and temporary displays.
• Conducted short-term research projects and contributed to writing museum catalogs, brochures, and online content about historical objects.
• Led recruitment and training for a team of 16 volunteer guides to prepare them for welcoming and assisting museum visitors.

Bachelor of Arts in History

Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME

September 2009–May 2013

Extracurricular activities:

• Editor of the Bowdoin College Student’s Magazine in 2011–2013
• Elected president of Brunswick Heritage Club in 2010–2012
• Project scheduling
• Strategic planning
• Budget management
• Scrum and Agile methodologies
• Written and verbal communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Asana, JIRA, Microsoft Office
• English—Native
• French—Advanced
• Spanish—Intermediate

Certification

• December 2016, Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute
• November 2014, Museum Management Certificate, University of Maine

Associations

Member of the Maine Historical Society since January 2014

• Co-authored the official Maine Tourist Guidebook in 2020 and 2021.
• Guest speaker at the Modern Heritage Management conference in November 2019.

A project manager is in charge of a particular project from start to finish. And a project manager resume must highlight their best qualities, such as organization skills, time management, leadership skills, and relevant experience focused on coordinating various projects.

Continue reading to learn how to write a project manager resume just like the one above:

1. Choose the Best Project Manager Resume Format

Before you can start writing your project management resume, you should focus on the planning phase. And that requires deciding on the resume format you want to follow. While most candidates pick the reverse-chronological resume , you can also go for the functional resume or the chrono-functional format —it all depends on your career progression and preferences.

If you’ve already chosen the style of the resume , it’s time to think of the aesthetics. Yes—the resume layout matters. Just like the most insightful project flowchart may fail if it’s visually chaotic, recruiters might discard your project manager resume if it doesn’t bring out the appeal. 

Here’s what you should do:

• Make a resume outline using the resume sections you want to include in your application.
• Select the best resume fonts , such as Helvetica or Calibri, and set the font size to 11–12 pts.
• Maintain the balance between text and white space with 1-inch resume margins on all sides .
• Arrange the contents using headings and bulleted lists.
• Keep the length of your resume limited to one page. (Go for a two-page resume only if you have extensive work experience.)

You can also save time on formatting the document by using free resume templates —they come in a variety of styles, ranging from modern resume templates to more simple resume templates .

Remember to save your project management resume in a PDF or Doc file format, as most companies prefer these.

2. Write a Project Manager Resume Summary or Objective

Some individuals go the extra mile to make their resumes unique. Think of Lukas Yla, who brought his resume to marketing agencies cleverly secreted in donut delivery boxes. While some ideas are ingenious, you don’t need extreme levels of creativity to get noticed. In fact, a well-written resume profile should do the work just fine!

Before you get to it, consider your level of experience. Here’s why:

• If you’re experienced, you should write a resume summary focusing on your achievements with specifics about what you can bring to the table at the new company.
• If you’re an entry-level candidate, you should opt for a resume objective , highlight your knowledge and skills, and mention how the company can benefit from them.

Here’s the job-winning formula for your resume profile:

• Start with a strong character trait or mention professional certifications.
• Follow with your job title and years of experience.
• Add optional information about the industry or your specialty.
• Specify the goal you want to achieve at the company you’re applying to.
• Recall significant accomplishments from previous jobs.
• Use resume keywords to grab the reader’s attention.

Now, check the examples below:

Resume Summary for a Project Manager: Example

This candidate ticks all the boxes. They started with a strong adjective describing their personality, followed by certification, job title, and achievements. They also specified how they could assist the new workplace. Impressive? Definitely.

Accomplished project manager with a background in humanities. Skilled in Agile, Scrum, and business process improvement. Worked for five years as a project manager in the cultural sector.

The example above isn’t terrible, but it’s not great, either. It doesn’t include any specifics about the candidate’s experience or goals.

If you’re writing an entry-level project management resume, use a resume objective instead of a summary. Check the examples below for clarification:

Resume Objective—Project Manager

Detail-oriented junior project manager with a background in museum studies. Experienced in planning and developing exhibitions. Eager to support the head curator’s work by creating detailed project plans and communicating updates to museum leadership.

The truth is, strictly speaking, this candidate doesn’t have project management experience yet. But that doesn’t mean they’re green behind the ears, and this resume objective shows it. They use their relevant experience from previous jobs to show they can help the new workplace succeed.

Motivated junior project manager hoping to gain experience in coordinating cultural projects. Eager to deeper understand the local heritage by working for Portland Historical Museum.

This candidate might not be as trustworthy to hiring managers as the previous one. Why? Because they want to know how the business will benefit from your work, not what the candidate wants to gain from it.

Expert Hint: Before working on your project manager resume profile, complete the rest of your resume. Once other sections are done, you can use the information from them to create your resume summary or objective.

3. Create a Project Management Resume Job Description

A good project manager resume needs more than just a job description—a simple list of your duties won’t be enough to impress hiring managers. What it actually needs is a relevant work experience section that proves you’ve got all the skills needed for the job. 

Follow these steps to create a strong project manager work experience section:

• List the relevant positions starting with the most recent one. Add your job title, company name, location, and work period.
• For each position, mention 3–4 key responsibilities. Start each sentence with a power word to show you know how to take the initiative.
• Turn them into achievements using numbers to quantify your results. They will quickly grab the recruiter’s attention.
• Add a key career achievement for each position to highlight your best wins.

Check the example below:

Project Manager Resume—Examples of Work Experience

See how each sentence starts with a resume action word ? And the numbers that prove the candidate knows what they’re saying? The hiring managers will notice those things, too.

Green Pastures Heritage Center, Providence, RI

February 2016–July 2022

• Responsible for the museum expansion project.
• Monitored contractor selection process to find opportunities to cut costs.
• Handled documentation related to exhibition redesign, including contracts, necessary permits, and workflow updates.

This candidate could be an expert, but the problem is that their resume doesn’t show it.

So, what about candidates who don’t have years of experience up their sleeves? An entry-level project manager resume also needs to be convincing. 

Suppose you’re applying for junior or assistant PM positions. In that case, you can back yourself up with examples of project management skills you gained elsewhere, like during internships, at part-time jobs, while volunteering, freelancing, or by working on personal projects. A resume without work experience can still be impressive.

See the example below:

Project Manager—Entry-Level Resume Example

While this candidate’s job title isn’t related to project management, they gained transferable skills such as project planning, conducting research, and coordinating a team. All these abilities will come in handy when applying for entry-level project management positions.

Talking about skills for a resume … It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the work experience section isn’t the only place where you can highlight your project management skills. You should also list them in the skill section.

But which project management skills matter the most? A study shows that successful project managers are good at making informed decisions based on facts, have good social skills, and prefer a long-term view. Below, you can find project management skills you can add to your resume to reflect those qualities:

Project Manager Skills in a Resume

• Leadership skills
• Management skills
• Microsoft Office
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Critical thinking skills
• Risk management
• Creative thinking
• Technical skills
• Organizational skills
• Collaboration

But hey—don’t just copy and paste the list above on your resume. Select the most relevant skills for the job you’re applying for.

Here’s how to do it:

• Make a list of your hard skills, soft skills, and computer skills .
• Scan the job advertisement to highlight the required skills.
• Compare the job requirements with your abilities.
• Create a curated skill section that is 100% relevant to the job.

The key to a successful job application is being selective about what you include in a resume !

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now .

4. Make an Education Section That Counts

Project managers come from many backgrounds. While some professionals have a background in business administration or even a master’s degree in project management, many completed education in a different field. That might be an advantage when looking for a new job. That’s why it’s vital to list your education on a resume correctly.

To add your education to a resume:

• Mention your highest qualification first, along with the name of the school or organization and the years of study.
• Add your GPA and academic achievements, such as honors or scholarships.
• Mention extracurricular activities or relevant coursework .

Education on a Resume: Project Manager (Example)

Describing your time at college this way shows that you’ve done more than just pass exams.

5. Pick Other Resume Sections

Your resume project is nearing completion, but some elements are still left to handle. So far, your project manager resume might feel a little basic. Luckily, you can spice it up by adding extra resume sections that show additional qualifications.

Choose from the following resume sections:

• Certifications: Such as the prestigious PMP certification or Scrum project management certificate .
• Memberships and associations: You might list project manager associations, such as IPMA or PMI , and organizations related closely to the industry you specialize in.
• Language proficiency: while English is the language of international business , listing other languages on a resume can be beneficial if you want to work in an overseas company.
• Volunteer work : Many charitable organizations need project managers to coordinate outreach activities, fundraising events, and charity programs in the US and abroad.
• Interests and hobbies : Do you work on personal projects in your free time? Feel free to add them to your resume for an additional boost.

Have a look at the example of extra resume sections below:

Project Manager Resume Template: Additional Sections

This candidate clearly knows how to use their free time to improve their qualifications and build business relationships.

Expert Hint: Even the best resume can’t guarantee an interview. But a cover letter can significantly improve your chances. Once you finish polishing your project management resume, focus on writing a cover letter that highlights your best qualities.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

Here are a handful of tips for your project manager resume:

• Use the project manager resume template up top. It presses all the right buttons to get employers on your side.
• Write bullet points in your resume to show measured accomplishments. Make them fit the job like a unified process.
• Don’t waste an inch on a project management resume. Even your education section should show project manager achievements.
• Write a project manager cover letter. It’s the proposal that gets your project manager resume a careful read.

Got questions on how to write a great resume for project manager jobs? Not sure how to show project management skills on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Roma Kończak is a career expert and a Certified Professional Résumé Writer with a background in education and humanities. She’s passionate about personal development and helping others advance in their careers. She writes guides that simplify complex HR terminology based on thorough research and factual information.

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Project Manager Skills: Boss Up Your Resume With These 7 Key Skills (+Resume Example)

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated November 22, 2023 8 min read

Are you interested in taking on the role of a project manager? Whether you've been formally trained for the job or you've just been recently promoted, having the right project manager skills in your resume makes all the difference . 

As a project leader, having expertise in your field is great but not enough. 

You also need to have specific soft skills to be able to keep everyone else on your team on the same page throughout a project. 

Leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence are just some of the essential skills any project manager should have. 

In this article, we'll explore the top hard and soft skills that you need in your resume to score a job as a project manager.

Plus, we'll show you an example of a project manager resume written by a certified professional resume writer that you can use as your first draft.

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

Why you should invest in gaining new skills as a project manager

Top project manager skills to put on a resume, 1. problem-solving skills, 2. tech savviness, 3. project management methodologies (pmms), 4. effective communication, 5. negotiation, 6. leadership, 7. project-specific hard (technical) skills, project manager resume example.

First things first. Why are your skills so important?

As IBM executive Alex Kaplan puts it, skills are the currency of the future . 

It's easy to see why — your skillset is like a valuable commodity. The more skills and knowledge you have, the more attractive you'll be to potential employers. In a way, it really is an investment.

That's why expanding your knowledge and skills is always worth exploring. 

Furthermore, since the start of the pandemic, there's been a shift in the skills employers look for on resumes . 

According to a 2021 McKinsey research , more than half of companies now prioritize advanced cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, decision-making, and quantitative skills. 

And, since 2019, project management skills have been particularly in demand.

Just take a look at the infographics below.

Hence, it's no surprise that project managers are looking to upskill themselves. They need to demonstrate a wide array of social, cognitive, and technical project manager skills to stay ahead of the competition. 

So, you should do that, too.

A resume of a modern project manager should display a full range of skills that employers look for nowadays. 

We'll explore the top 7 project manager skills that are in demand, why they're essential, and how to demonstrate them on your resume. 

Hint: Things have changed in the past few years, and so have the requirements for project managers. What worked in 2010 is no longer enough. 

Projects often encounter obstacles, delays, and unexpected challenges. 

That's why project managers must have the ability to quickly spot and resolve any issues that arise to ensure projects get done on time and within budget. 

Problem-solving skills allow you to identify the root cause of an issue, come up with solutions quickly, and move forward with the project.

In addition to that, you should be able to communicate effectively and explain your decisions and solutions to the team. Ideally, all while keeping everyone on the team happy. 

Here are 3 examples of how to demonstrate problem-solving skills on your resume:

• Came up with the idea of a cross-departmental team brainstorming session to find solutions to complex company-level problems.
• Developed management strategies to resolve employee disputes, resulting in a more cohesive work environment.
• Researched potential solutions to an intricate technical issue, identified the root cause, and devised a permanent fix.

It's predicted that AI will take over 80% of project management tasks by 2030 , according to Gartner, a technological research and consulting firm. 

But don't panic — this doesn't mean that you're going to be replaced. 

Instead, AI will help you by automating mundane tasks, such as data collection, tracking, and reporting. This will give you more time to focus on tasks that AI still can't do. 

Hence, project managers need to be tech-savvy and learn to work with AI rather than against it.

As a project manager , you'll need to know what tools are out there, how to use them to your and your teams' advantage, and teach your team members to work with them effectively, too.

Here are 3 examples of how to show you're tech-savvy on your resume:

• Applied AI tools to create streamlined task management systems to improve team productivity.
• Implemented computer vision technology to quickly analyze visual data for quicker decision-making processes.
• Deployed automated chatbots to provide 24/7 support for team members and stakeholders.

First, what's a project management methodology exactly?

Project management methodologies (PMMs) are frameworks for organizing, planning, and executing projects. There are many different types, including Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and Six Sigma — and the one you choose depends on the project's size, scope, industry, and objectives.

Project management methodologies (PMMs)

Waterfall.  Waterfall PMM follows a linear approach, where a project phase can’t begin until the previous one is completed.

Agile.  It’s characterized by iterative development, adaptability, continuous improvement, and collaboration between cross-functional teams.

Scrum.  Helps self-organizing teams work on more complex projects. It consists of a series of quick daily tasks, short daily meetings, and a leader keeping everyone in check.

Kanban.  It emphasizes visualizing the workflow of a project by using boards and other visuals to show the project’s current status and the stage of each phase (e.g. in-progress, completed, to-do lists).

As a skilled project manager, you should have at least a basic understanding of these methodologies and, ideally, also experience with implementing one or two of them in the past. 

Including them on your resume will make you go from a rookie to a professional mentor to your team.

Here are 3 examples of how to showcase on your resume that you implemented PMMs: 

• Developed a new project management system using Agile methodology to reduce project timelines by 25%. 
• Utilized Scrum framework to lead teams of up to 10 members to complete projects on time and within budget.
• Implemented Kanban techniques to streamline workflows and maximize efficiency.

Can you imagine trying to get a project done without effective communication?

Without it, team members would have no idea of their roles or the project's objectives, and stakeholders and clients would have no clue about the progress of the project.

So, how to demonstrate effective communication on your resume?

First, you can talk about your ability to assess the team dynamics and “tailoring” your communication style to different individuals depending on their position or age . 

How to tailor your communication style depending on someone's position or age?

Position: For example, speaking in more detail to team members, summarizing with stakeholders, and being positive and clear with clients. 

Age: When working with Gen Z , you’ll want to keep in mind that they prefer transparent communication. Millennials, on the other hand, tend to respond better to a more upbeat, diplomatic style of communication.

Second, as the modern workplace is increasingly relying on remote work and async communication , you can't rely solely on communicating via in-person meetings and emails. 

You should show on your resume that you can use various online communication tools and software. 

These are some of the tools that you can mention in your resume skills section:

• Instant messaging: Slack, MS Teams chat
• Online meetings: Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet
• File sharing: OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive
• Project (task) management: Asana, Monday.com, ClickUp 

Other popular project management software include Trello , PlanRadar , Hive , and Microsoft Planner .

Of course, you don't need to list every single online tool or project management software. Most have similar UX, so familiarity with a few will be enough. 

Tip: If there are any specific online tools mentioned in the job ad, include them in your resume.

Project managers negotiate with stakeholders in all stages of a project. In a sense, they’re the middlemen between customers, clients, team members, senior management, and other partners. 

Negotiation begins when you’re just starting on a project. First, you need to set the project scope and goals . When defining goals and tasks, you need to reach a consensus with multiple stakeholders. 

To set realistic timelines, for example, you may need to bargain with the team, senior management, or the client. It can involve negotiating with your team and optimizing processes to save time and money .

Or vice versa, you may also need to ask for a budget expansion from the sponsors.

And ultimately, in any project that involves multiple stakeholders, there’s also a strong chance of conflict. 

Being a good negotiator comes in very handy in those situations. 

Let's look at examples of how to display negotiation skills on your resume as a project manager :

• Negotiated favorable financial terms with vendors, delivering savings of up to 25% on materials and services.
• Achieved a 35% reduction in operational costs through successful negotiation strategies.
• Secured a $2.5M discount for a multi-year contract renewal, saving the company 30% on the total agreement.

A key part of being a successful project manager is having strong leadership skills. 

A project manager should be able to motivate and guide their team in order to reach project goals. Leadership is also about understanding the limitations of a team and ensuring that tasks are properly allocated, taking into account the individual capabilities of each team member. 

This often means taking a situational approach to leadership, understanding the different needs of your team, and varying the leadership styles accordingly. 

For example, some members may welcome a coaching approach, whereas others thrive under democratic or affiliative leadership.

Let's look at examples of how to display leadership skills on your project manager resume :

• Directed a team of 10 engineers in the development of a new software product, meeting all deadlines and surpassing customer expectations.
• Led the successful training and onboarding of new team members, ensuring adherence to established processes and standards.
• Led a cross-functional team of 15 members in the development of a new product line, which resulted in the launch of a successful product in the market.

Apart from a variety of soft skills and general leadership skills, you should also have specific technical knowledge in project management.

This way, you understand all stages of a project, can weigh in on all aspects of it, and help your team members.

What sort of hard skills you'll need will depend on your industry and the particular company, but here are some examples:

• Programming : Knowledge of programming languages, such as Python, C++, or Java comes in handy in web development, software engineering, and other IT industries. 
• Data analysis and visualization : Data analysis is used in many different sectors, including business, logistics, pharma, and finance. Consider learning software like Excel, R, Tableau, or Python.
• Marketing: In marketing, you can demonstrate knowledge of social media marketing , inbound marketing, UX & UI trends, CRM and CMS, and tools like Google Analytics, SEO tools , and WordPress.
• Design: Project managers in the fields of graphic and UI/UX design should have a basic knowledge of tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, Sketch, InVision, and also  UX design tools .

And here's how to showcase hard skills on your project manager resume :

• Utilizing SEO and keyword research to optimize content for search engine visibility. 
• Proficient in creating clickable prototypes with InVision.
• Utilized R to develop statistical models and generate insights from data sets.

Finally, to help you tie everything we talked about together, here's a project manager resume example.

This resume was crafted by a certified professional resume writer specifically for the role of a Project Leader.

Project Leader Resume Example

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

There are several things that make this project manager resume example noteworthy:

• A strong and effective resume summary is right at the top;
• The work experience bullet points include great examples of how Tizian used his problem-solving and negotiation skills (e.g. “Identified and resolved any problems and worked on the reduction of unnecessary expenses.” );
• Skills section is thematically divided into three blocks: language , computer, and soft skills;
• It includes relevant hard skills for a project manager role;
• Emphasis on important soft skills (communication, analytical, leadership, etc.).

Creating a project manager resume?

Let AI manage the writing for you.

Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

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How to List Project Management Skills on a Resume: Best Skills and Examples

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What are project management skills?

Best project management skills.

• How to highlight project management skills on a resume
• How to highlight project management skills on a cover letter

Project management skills are a requirement for any individual wishing to fill a project management role within an organization. Knowing how to effectively highlight your project management skills on your resume may improve your chances of getting noticed by employers and increase the likelihood of landing a job interview for a project management position. In this article, you can learn more about project management skills along with some tips for listing the best project management skills on your resume.

Project management skills are skills that are considered necessary to effectively manage projects within the workplace and refer to any abilities that support the role of a project manager. These skills are relevant to almost every industry and can be applied in various project management-related roles. Most project management skills are soft skills that help a project manager succeed in planning, overseeing and executing projects within an organization.

Project managers must know how to not only manage various projects within the workplace but also deal with any issues or challenges as well as keep everyone on the project team on task. These professionals may develop programs, launch products, construct worksites and various other tasks that require a number of skills to successfully complete.

Related:  10 Best Skills to Include on a Resume

There are several different types of project management skills that you can hone to become a better project manager. The more you practice these skills, the more likely you are to succeed in a project management position. 

The following are a few of the most important project management skills:

The ability to lead a team and keep each member motivated and engaged is vital to the success of any project’s successful progression. Good leaders are able to coach and supervise employees, resolve potential conflicts and keep everyone on track to ensure delivery of excellent quality work. As a project manager, you will need to be proficient in running team meetings and setting the agenda, conducting performance reviews, assigning promotions and incentives as well as additional duties related to your team as necessary.

Read more:  Leadership Skills: Definitions and Examples

The skill of management has many components. To begin, management skills relate to the various ways you successfully manage team members, resources, clients and/or stakeholders. This skill set also includes the ability to set goals and evaluate the performance of your team and provide suggestions for improvement when needed.

Project managers are ultimately responsible for making sure the project stays within budget. They must develop a detailed budget for all aspects of the project and constantly make sure that those funds are being utilized as planned.

The ability to schedule effectively is a core project management skill. Without proper, responsive scheduling, project deadlines cannot be met. Employers need to know that you can and will deliver projects on time and keep costs where they should be. 

Organization and planning

There are many aspects to the skill of successful planning. Organization is key to a project being completed on time and meeting or exceeding expectations. Activities must be arranged and the project manager must remain on top of all the details of various systems and processes. When conveying your organization and planning skills on your resume, you should demonstrate that you have an effective time management system and provide examples of how your planning has led to successful project completion. 

How to highlight project management skills on a resume

The following are tips that you can use when highlighting your project management skills on your resume:

1. First, decide where you will highlight your project management skills

You can highlight your project management skills in a number of ways on your resume. You can include these skills in the resume objective or summary, in your skills section, in the descriptions of your employment history or in all three areas. 

Example:  ‘Experienced project manager with six years of experience managing teams in a number of industries. Excellent leadership, management and budgeting skills that have enabled the successful completion of multiple projects.’ 

2. Second, use project management skills when indicating work duties

When referencing your project management skills in your employment history, you could describe your accomplishments and incorporate the project management skills that helped you for each, rather than simply listing out the job duties.

Example:  ‘Developed a new management program that saved $5,000 in monthly operation costs and enabled project teams to successfully meet all deadlines.’

3. Lastly, be as specific as possible

When describing your project management skills on your resume, be as specific as possible and show results when possible with numbers or percentages. You can also use a skills section to highlight additional project management skills that were not mentioned in other areas on your resume but that are important for a particular position.

How to highlight project management skills on a cover letter

The following are tips to keep in mind when highlighting your project management skills in a cover letter:

1. First, choose one or two skills to highlight

When including project management skills on your cover letter, try to select one or two primary skills that have been listed as requirements in the job description. The skills you list on your cover letter should be specific to each job position that you are applying for.

2. Next, be specific and use a real-life example

Include specific examples that demonstrate how your project management skills have made you a successful project manager.

Example:  ‘During my previous job position at XYZ Company, I managed a number of the organization’s projects including the development of a new software system. For this project, I developed a management system that enabled team members to update their progress in real-time for constant motivation and recognition. As a result, we completed the project a week early and saved $5,000 on the overall project costs.’

In this example, the project management skills of leadership and management have been clearly highlighted through a real-life example. This allows employers to get a clear idea of how you have successfully produced results within a project manager position as well as demonstrates your skills in context.

3. Lastly, use keywords from the job posting

When writing about your project management skills on your cover letter, be sure to include several keywords that have been listed as the job qualifications for the position you are applying for. This will show the employer that you not only have the skills needed but that you were paying attention when reading about the job.

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The 25 project management skills you need to succeed

Anyone who oversees projects is a project manager, but to become a more thoughtful manager (with a higher impact), you need to develop the right project management skills. Learn what skills are necessary to become a successful project manager and how to build them.

If you’re interested in honing and developing your project management skills, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll cover 25 key skills you need to succeed as a project manager or project administrator , and how you can develop those skills over time.

What are project management skills (and why do they matter?)

Project management skills are the attributes you develop to become a more experienced project manager. Building a project management skill set includes learning technical and hard skills, such as portfolio management and project scoping, and soft skills (for example, adaptability).In honing these skills, you’re preparing yourself to more effectively perform in your role. 

Project management is the practice of organizing and executing work efficiently—and helping your team do the same. For a while, project managers had to be trained and certified in complicated project management technology. Traditional project management tools were hard to set up and required constant maintenance, which is where the position “project manager” comes from.

Modern project management tools

Modern project management evolved from traditional project management in two distinct ways. As companies and teams democratized their project management processes, they needed more team members and team leads who were able to manage a process from conception to completion. In order to support those team leads, project management software has also evolved, from complex mechanisms to flexible and easy-to-use tools.

Today, any team member may be called upon to run a project and become the de-facto project manager—which is why modern project management tools are built to be flexible enough for anyone to use on any project, so you’re able to jump in and hit the ground running. 

These tools, like Asana , make it easy to track, manage, and organize work—without the learning curve associated with traditional tools. With today's project management tools , you can easily implement project management best practices and bring a new level of clarity and visibility to your project team. 

How to use your project management skills

Project management tools do the heavy lifting when it comes to reducing silos, increasing visibility, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration. As the project manager, you can use these tools to give your team the insight they need to get their best work done. While you don’t need to learn complicated skills or tools in order to become a successful project manager , there are hard, soft, and technical skills you can develop in order to improve your management and collaboration skills.

Some of these skills might not apply to you—while others might be things you’re already seasoned in. Like everything in the five phases of project management , approach this list with flexibility and work on the skills that are most relevant to you.

10 soft skills for project managers

Soft skills are what we call “non-technical skills,” or skills that can help you improve your quality of work—without a specific tool or technical requirement. These are also called “people skills” or “interpersonal skills” because they often help you work with and relate to others in your workspace. These 10 skills are the most important soft skills for project management:

1. Collaboration

Collaboration is the cornerstone of all project management skills. In project management, collaboration helps you get work done quickly and more efficiently. When you can coordinate across teams, you gain valuable insights into your project that you might not find within your team. If more minds are involved in the work, projects are inherently more creative and well developed.

To improve your collaboration skills, practice having conversations. Use techniques like active listening , where you stay engaged and focused when others are speaking to you. It sounds simple, but learning how to have open communication, reduce boundaries, and co-create are critical for a collaborative team.

2. Teamwork

Everyone on your team has something to bring to the table, and your team is more effective working together than they would be alone. Teamwork ensures that everyone feels welcome, valued, and they are supported to contribute.

If you’re working to boost your teamwork skills, dig deeper into team brainstorms , 1:1 conversations, and ask for feedback from your team—how can you be a better team member? Notice if there’s someone who hasn’t spoken up in a while, and be supportive when another team member has a new idea.

3. Communication

Miscommunications are common when you’re working with a group of people. Learning how to communicate well and avoid these will make projects run more smoothly and be more enjoyable. 

To develop your communication skills, practice being open and honest with your coworkers. This requires a lot of trust between you and your team members. To build this trust, encourage your team members to bring any thoughts into a discussion—even if you disagree with them.

4. Time management

Time management and organization skills go hand in hand. As you become better at organizing your tasks, you’ll also have a clearer sense of everything that’s on your plate and how long your upcoming tasks are going to take.

Still, it can be hard to buckle down and prioritize your work. To improve your time management skills and reduce procrastination, try prioritizing tasks. When you’re clear on which tasks are higher priority, you can tackle them first, to make sure nothing gets left behind or falls through the cracks.

5. Leadership

Even if you don’t think of yourself as a leader or have a role in team management, when you’re managing a project, your project team is looking to you for leadership, guidance, and support. 

To develop your leadership skills, practice approaching situations with empathy and understanding. Good leaders bring everyone together and make them feel supported to foster teamwork and collaboration.

6. Organization

For a lot of project managers, organization is the most intimidating soft skill. You might think organization is either something you “have” or “don’t have.” But, like every other project management skill in this article, you can develop your organizational skills and become a Marie Kondo in your own right.

The best way to become a better organizer is to create (and maintain) a central source of truth for your work and your team’s work. We’re often disorganized because work is disconnected—in fact, the average employee switches between 10 tools per day . Instead of splitting your time between 10 tools, try using a digital organization tool to act as that one central source of truth for your team.

7. Problem solving

Problem solving skills are collaborative, iterative skills that help you approach a problem and, ultimately, solve it. Developing problem solving skills isn’t about always having the “right” answer to every problem—rather, people with great problem solving skills practice approaching problems from new perspectives and methodically working towards a solution.

To become a better problem solver, use data-driven decision-making frameworks or routine analyses. For example, if you need to solve for how to boost sales by 10% over your competition, you can run a competitive analysis to determine where you currently stand in the market. Then, use that information to solve the problem of lower sales. In this case, you could develop a new marketing strategy coordinated with the sales team.

8. Critical thinking

Critical thinking, like problem solving, doesn’t have a “solution.” You can’t “win” at critical thinking, but you can practice approaching problems logically instead of making decisions based on your emotions. Good critical thinkers practice analyzing information in front of them and forming their own conclusions based on the facts—the way Sherlock Holmes solves a mystery.

To practice critical thinking, always take a step back and ask yourself: how did I come to this conclusion? Could there be another answer? Am I being swayed by something other than factual information? Emotional decisions aren’t necessarily bad—in fact, some of the best decisions are those we’re passionate about. But critical thinking is a helpful way to make sure you’re approaching a situation from the right perspective.

9. Adaptability

At some point, whether it’s this project or the next one, aspects of your project plan will change. Maybe your deadline or priorities shifts, and you need to adapt your workflow accordingly. Great project managers are able to pivot and adapt to new situations to continue steering their project team in the right direction.

Becoming more adaptable is all about understanding when and how to shift gears. To do this, you need to understand yourself. Developing other soft skills, such as self-awareness and mindfulness, can help you be more in touch with and manage your emotions, which are often in flux during times of change.

10. Conflict resolution

Inevitably, conflict will arise during the projects you manage. It could be that a stakeholder wants to change the project scope. Or maybe you missed your budget or deadline. Conflict resolution is about addressing both sides of the conflict so everyone feels heard and supported. If there are harmed parties, take the time to listen to them and try to find a solution that works for everyone. Even when that can’t happen, approaching the conversation with patience and empathy can help defuse a potentially frustrating situation and lead to a better result.

7 hard skills for project managers

Unlike soft skills, hard skills are quantifiable abilities. While the soft skills mentioned above are applicable for many work skills, these seven hard skills are relevant specifically to project management. Developing these will help you become a more well rounded and efficient project manager.

1. Project planning

At its core, a  project plan  (sometimes called a project charter) is a blueprint of the key elements your project needs to succeed. Typically a project plan will include seven things:

Goals and  project objectives

Success metrics

Stakeholders  and  roles

Scope  and  budget

Milestones ,  deliverables , and  project dependencies

Timeline  and  schedule

Communication plan

Some of these things, like your goals or your milestones, might already be defined in your project roadmap or brief. But your project plan is where all of these project elements come together to create a cohesive picture of your upcoming work.

A lot of planning goes into the beginning of the year for what our vision is and where we will be by the end of that particular year. Once that is done, we summarize it in a project so it's visible to everyone... Having that visual representation in Asana makes it easier to move things around.”

2. Project scoping

Project scope is the size, goals, and limitations (i.e., deadlines and resources) for your project. Your project scope will define what you can achieve within a certain timeframe and budget. Setting and defining your project scope is important in order to prevent scope creep , which is when your project deliverables outgrow your original project scope.

In order to improve your project scoping skills, practice setting project scope early and often. Once you’ve set your project scope, share it with stakeholders and surface it frequently, so everyone is on the same page about the project’s aims and limitations. Use it as a point of reference, so you know when to say no to new asks.

We have been able to reduce the number of products that we’ve oversold and the number of times we have to contact the customer to push a ship date out.”

3. Writing a project brief

Your project brief outlines your general project objectives and how you plan to get there. This can serve as a helpful North Star to guide planning sessions.

The most important thing to remember about your project brief is that it’s a living document. As you develop your project plan and get input from stakeholders, you can adapt and update your project brief. In general, your project brief should contain a link to your project roadmap if you created one, a list of your project stakeholders and their responsibilities  (sometimes called a RACI chart), other relevant documentation or files, and any other high-level information your team might need.

Having executive oversight and insight into projects is key so we can quickly get up to speed on what is happening at any point.”

4. Hosting a project kickoff meeting

A kickoff meeting is an opportunity to align with your project stakeholders. This is your chance to clarify your project goals and scope, and share any documents you’ve already put together like your project roadmap, project brief, or supplemental documentation like a bill of materials for a marketing campaign or a creative brief for a design team.

To host a successful kickoff meeting, plan to share the documentation you have put together with project stakeholders. Then, host a brainstorming or Q&A session to align on any additional variables, like budget,  resources , or final deliverables.

5. Project roadmapping

A project roadmap is a high-level overview of your project’s key deliverables and timeline. Project roadmaps are helpful for complex initiatives with a lot of stakeholders because they help the entire project team get on the same page before the project even starts.

Traditionally, project roadmaps are created in Gantt chart-like software , in order to display a general schedule of your project as a horizontal bar chart. To create a project roadmap, use a tool like Timeline in Asana to create a rough timeline of your project, adding key milestones or important dependencies.

6. Mapping your project timeline

Your project timeline is the order and duration of events during your project lifecycle. Knowing your project timeline helps your team track project success and deliver the right assets on time.

In order to build a great project timeline, make sure you clarify the start and end dates of your project, as well as any key milestones. As you continue building out individual tasks and deliverables, set dependencies between tasks, and clarify the start and end date of each piece of work.

7. Task management

Once your project is officially underway, task management refers to how well you manage your and your team’s time. The best project managers have visibility into what their team is working on in real-time, so they can help their team effectively prioritize and execute work.

But you don’t have to magically know everything that’s happening in your project—instead, use task management software.  Task management software  is more than a to-do list—it’s a way to get a holistic view of all of the work happening in your project. With effective task management, you can empower your team to work more productively, efficiently, and effectively.

With Asana, we can see project progress and blockers, plus feedback and action items, all in one place. We're now able to complete work more efficiently and effectively, which has become even more critical while working from home. We’d be lost without it!”

8 technical skills all project managers need

Soft skills: check. Hard skills: got it. The only thing you have left to master are technical skills!

Technical skills refer to your knowledge of specific tools and softwares within project management. These tools aren’t hard to learn—as we mentioned before, modern project management is built to be flexible and easy to use. These eight skills are aspects of project management roles you should become familiar with, so you know when and how to leverage them.

1. Project management software skills

Project management software  has come a long way from legacy tools that were difficult to use and required a project management professional to implement. But like any tool, even easy-to-use ones, the software you choose takes time to learn and truly master. Make sure the tool you select has a written  guide  and  helpful videos  to teach you the ins and outs of how to use it.

2. Gantt charts

Gantt charts are a way to visualize your project as a horizontal bar chart, where each bar represents a piece of work and the length of each bar represents the amount of time that work will take.

Project milestones

Dependencies

Real-time project progress

Start and end dates

Traditional Gantt chart technology can be tricky to use and limited in scope, which is why, at Asana, we took the best of Gantt chart technology and created  Timeline , a Gantt-chart like tool that helps you see how all of the pieces fit together.

Launching an album has so many moving parts, and Asana helps us track every detail, who’s responsible for it, and when it needs to be completed.”

3. Kanban boards

Another popular type of visual project management is the  Kanban board . Each column in a Kanban board represents a stage of work, like  New ,  In progress , or  Done . Individual work is represented by cards, which move through the columns until they’re completed.

Kanban boards tools  are a popular visual project management tool for lean project management teams, particularly product, engineering, and software development teams. They’re an Agile methodology , designed to be adaptable and flexible to adjust to development needs in real-time.

4. Agile management

Agile management is a lean project management methodology that’s particularly popular with product, engineering, and software development teams. Agile operates on a system of continuous improvement and incremental evolution, and it encompasses several lean methodologies, like lean portfolio management ,  Scrum , and  Kanban .

In order to manage an Agile team, it's the project manager’s job to coordinate between team members and stay flexible. This can mean changing the project schedule, aligning with teams working on a different project, or just staying in touch with effective communication.

5. Workload management

If you’ve managed projects before, you know how hard it is to gain clarity on who is working on what—but it doesn’t have to be.  Workload management  helps you measure your team’s bandwidth and make sure they aren’t over- or under-worked. It’s an interactive process that doesn’t have a beginning or end state—rather, an effective project manager will continuously monitor their team’s workload to ensure no one is burning out.

There are two steps to using workload management software . First, start by figuring out your team’s capacity, competencies, and current workload. From there, allocate resources based on individual workload, or rebalance workloads as needed.

6. Cost management

In project management, cost management is considering how each task impacts your budget at every stage of the project. Cost management is a key part of project leadership, and an important element of whether or not your project is a success. Staying within budget is as important as hitting your project due date, and cost management can help you get there.

To manage cost effectively, good project managers define their costs and budget at the beginning of a project. Make sure project stakeholders and team members all understand the budget. Then, during the project, keep cost and budget in mind. Check in on your spending several times during the project to make sure you aren’t overshooting your budget. Once the project is completed, tally predicted cost vs. actual cost to determine how effective your cost management strategies were. This can also help you benchmark for future projects.

7. Project portfolio management

With project portfolio management (PMM), you can get a bird’s-eye view of your team’s work across multiple projects. Unlike traditional project management, PMM involves working on multiple projects or large-scale initiatives simultaneously. Project portfolio management tools help you get a holistic view of all of your team’s work in real-time, so you can connect strategy to execution.

Portfolios are also a key Asana feature for our team. It is a great tool for our executive team so they can see our big pieces of work all in a single place with the status, progress and ownership. Our CEO visits our portfolio daily and adds comments. He loves to be able to see what's going on in a snapshot.”

8. Change management

If you’ve ever rolled out a big organizational change, you’ve likely practiced change management, even if you didn’t know it. Change management is the process of introducing organizational change—like new processes or tools—over a set period of time to make them easier to adapt to.

At Asana, we use the Asana Way of Change, a six step process developed by our Customer Success team that incorporates proven change management strategies. To learn more,  read our guide to change management .

The standard of our creative team, for a while, was just to react to work. But we’ll never do the best work we possibly can without a clear process.”

How to build your project management skills

Twenty five skills might feel like a lot, but remember that you don’t need to master every skill in this list. Some, like Agile, are only relevant for specific teams. Others, like organization, become virtually effortless with a little focus and great tools .

Keep in mind that developing your project management skills takes practice. Challenge yourself to focus on one or two new skills for each project—whether that’s trying out a new  visual form of project management  like Kanban, drafting your first ever project plan, or leaning into time-management.

There are also classes you can take to develop hard and soft project management skills. Though you no longer need certifications in order to be considered a project manager, the  Project Management Institute  (PMI) offers courses, learning events, and their famous  Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) , which was the first project management guide ever published.

Finally, once you’ve  selected a project management tool , you can also take their classes to learn technical project management skills. At Asana, we’ve developed the  Asana Academy  and  How to Asana  series to help new project managers learn new soft, hard, and technical skills.

Build your project management toolkit

If you manage a project, you’re a project manager—and you likely already have some key project management skills. The most important thing is to be intentional, listen to your team, and collaborate with your team members. The rest will follow.

Project management doesn’t need to be complex. Asana was designed specifically to keep project manager’s organized, with tools, automations, and customizations built for collaborating and coordinating everything from a simple brainstorming session to a full-fledged product launch. 

Related resources

How to choose project management software for your team

7 steps to complete a social media audit (with template)

3 visual project management layouts (and how to use them)

Grant management: A nonprofit’s guide

Resume Worded   |  Resume Skills

Skill profile, project manager, improve your resume's success rate by using these project manager skills and keywords ..

• Hard Skills and Keywords for your Project Manager Resume
• ATS Scan : Compare Your Resume To These Skills
• Sample Resume Templates
• How To Add Skills
• Soft Skills for Project Manager Roles
• Project Manager More Resume Templates

Resume Skills and Keywords from Related Jobs

Browse skills from similar jobs, frequently asked questions.

• 3. Effective Action Verbs for your Resume

Get a Free Resume Review

Looking for keywords for a specific job search for your job title here., © 2024 resume worded. all rights reserved., project manager resume keywords and skills (hard skills).

Here are the keywords and skills that appear most frequently on recent Project Manager job postings. In other words, these are the most sought after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. Go to Sample Templates ↓ below to see how to include them on your resume. Remember that every job is different. Instead of including all keywords on your resume, identify those that are most relevant to the job you're applying to. Use the free Targeted Resume tool to help with this.

• Project Management
• Project Planning
• Change Management
• Engineering
• Microsoft Access
• Project Coordination
•  Find out what your resume's missing
• Construction
• Project Managers
• Strategic Planning
• Business Strategy
• Product Development
• Contract Management
• Agile Project Management
• Project Engineering
• Microsoft Project
• Software Project Management
• Social Media

Resume Skills: Process Management

• Lean methodologies
• Process improvement
• Quality control
• Cost reduction
• Waterfall methodology
• Risk Management
• Quality Assurance
• Stakeholder Management
• Meeting Facilitation
•  Match your resume to these skills

Resume Skills: Techniques

Resume skills: project management tools.

• ProjectLibre
• Office 365 (Teams, Planner, SharePoint)
• Zoho Projects

Resume Skills: Technical

• MS Office Suite
• Google Suite
• Microsoft Azure
• Microsoft Office Suite

Resume Skills: Software

• Ticketing Systems
• Google Workspace

Resume Skills: Verticals

• Digital Marketing

Resume Skills: Data Analysis & Reporting

• Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables)
• Google Sheets
• SAP BusinessObjects
• Crystal Reports

Resume Skills: Agile & Scrum

• Agile methodology
• Scrum framework
• Sprint planning
• Story Mapping
• Retrospectives
• Continuous improvement

Resume Skills: Languages

• English (Fluent)

Resume Skills: Systems & Protocols

Resume skills: technologies, resume skills: methodologies, resume skills: programming, resume skills: operating systems, resume skills: other tech tools, resume skills: business tools.

  Where on my resume do I add these buzzwords? Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or projects. Alternatively, you can also include a Skills section where you can list your technical skills in order of your proficiency. Only include these technical skills or keywords into your resume if you actually have experience with them.

   Does your resume contain all the right skills? Paste in your resume in the AI Resume Scan ↓ section below and get an instant score.

Compare Your Resume To These Project Manager Skills (ATS Scan)

Paste your resume below and our AI will identify which keywords are missing from your resume from the list above (and what you need to include). Including the right keywords will help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems (i.e. resume screeners) which may scan your resume for keywords to see if you're a match for the job.

Sample Project Manager Resume Examples: How To Include These Skills

Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or skills section , like we've shown in the examples below. use the examples below as inspiration..

  Where on my resume do I add these buzzwords? Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences , education or projects. Only include these technical skills or keywords into your resume if you actually have experience with them.

How do I add skills to a Project Manager resume?

Go through the Project Manager posting you're applying to, and identify hard skills the company is looking for. For example, skills like Engineering, Management and Project Planning are possible skills. These are skills you should try to include on your resume.

Add other common skills from your industry - such as Project Coordination, Project Management and Construction - into your resume if they're relevant.

Incorporate skills - like Project Managers, Business Strategy and Sales - into your work experience too. This shows hiring managers that you have practical experience with these tools, techniques and skills.

Hiring managers often want to see evidence of leadership and management on a Project Manager resume, so try to include any examples of where you led a project or managed other people.

Leading and delivering projects to completion are critical skill sets when it comes to Project Manager roles.

Try to add the exact job title, Project Manager, somewhere into your resume to get past resume screeners. See the infographic for how to do this.

Word Cloud for Project Manager Skills & Keywords

The following word cloud highlights the most popular keywords that appear on Project Manager job descriptions. The bigger the word, the more frequently it shows up on employer's job postings. If you have experience with these keywords, include them on your resume.

Project Manager Soft Skills

Here are common soft skills that appear on Project Manager job postings. Unlike hard skills, which refer to tools, software or techniques, soft skills focus on character traits and interpersonal skills. Instead of listing these phrases on your resume, try to show them through your bullet points like in the examples below.

• Team Leadership
• Team Building
• Public Speaking
• Working with Investors

Tip: Do not list these words or phrases on your resume, and instead focus on the hard skills we described above.

We also found variations and further specializations to your job title. Browse through the related job titles to find additional keywords that you can include into your resume.

• Content Management
• Content Development
• Content Strategy
• Publications
• Copywriting
• Web Content Writing
• Copy Editing
• Newsletters
• Content Marketing
• Digital Media
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Advertising
• Social Media Marketing
• Marketing Strategy
• Adobe Photoshop
• Art Direction
• Brand Development
• Creative Strategy
• Print Production
• Adobe InDesign
• Creative Services
• Print Production Management
• Adobe Illustrator
• Marketing Project Management
• Graphic Design
• Creative Briefs
• Office Administration
• Administrative Assistance
• Construction Management
• Administration
• Event Planning
• Accounts Payable
• Human Resources (HR)
• Customer Service
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Project Portfolio Management
• Requirements Analysis
• Integration
• IT Management
• Project Management Office (PMO)
• Vendor Management
• IT Project & Program Management
• Business Analysis
• Agile Methodologies
• IT Strategy
• Program Management
• Business Process
• Information Technology
• Business Process Improvement
• Software Development
• Clinical Trials
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Clinical Research
• Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Protocol Development
• Electronic Data Capture (EDC)
• Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS)
• Clinical Monitoring
• Clinical Development
• Regulatory Affairs
• Life Sciences
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
• Data Management
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Public Health
• Data Collection
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• Internal Communications
• Online Marketing
• Strategic Communications
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Community Management
• Direct Marketing
• Architectural Design
• Architecture
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• Architectural Drawings
• Architectural Project Management
• Design Research
• Sustainable Design
• AutoCAD Architecture
• Space Planning
• Building Information Modeling (BIM)
• Residential Design
• Interior Design
• Green Building
• Electrical Wiring
• Value Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Contractors
• Project Estimation
• Electrical Design
• Contract Negotiation
• Change Orders
• Subcontracting
• Electrical Controls
• Design-Build
• Power Distribution
• Pre-construction
• Project Implementation
• Project Delivery
• IT Service Management
• Requirements Engineering
• Telecommunications
• Mobile Devices
• Agile & Waterfall Methodologies
• Product Management
• Requirements Gathering
• Cross-functional Team Leadership
• Google Analytics
• Email Marketing
• Event Management
• Product Marketing
• Public Relations
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Brand Management
• Service Delivery Management
• Service Delivery
• Outsourcing
• Managed Services
• Service-Level Agreements (SLA)
• IT Outsourcing
• IT Operations
• Cloud Computing
• ITIL Certified
• Incident Management
• Process Management
• Logistics Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
• Warehouse Operations
• Operations Management
• Transportation
• Transportation Management
• Warehouse Management Systems
• Military Operations
• U.S. Department of Defense
• Inventory Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Lean Manufacturing
• Lean Management
• Supply Chain Optimization
• Procurement
• International Logistics
• SAP Products
• Process Scheduler
• Sales Management
• Renewable Energy
• Account Management
• Data Analysis
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• Scientific Writing
• Research Ethics
• Grant Writing
• Literature Reviews
• Quantitative Research
• Report Writing
• Presentations
• Civil Engineering
• Research and Development (R&D)
• Medical Devices
• Manufacturing
• Materials Science
• Design of Experiments (DOE)
• Simulations
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Client Relations
• Business Development
• Online Advertising
• Business-to-Business (B2B)
• Digital Strategy
• Business Planning
• Construction Project Management
• Cost Management
• Quantity Surveying
• Cost Control
• Construction Site Management
• Construction Safety
• Project Control
• Construction Estimating
• Infrastructure
• Virtualization
• Windows Server
• Data Center
• Active Directory
• Disaster Recovery
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• CRO Management
• Clinical Operations
• Clinical Data Management
• Drug Development
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• Therapeutic Areas
• Regulatory Submissions
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• Commissioning
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• Environmental Science
• Remediation
• Groundwater
• Environmental Permitting
• Water Resource Management
• Environmental Management Systems
• Hazardous Waste Management
• Water Quality
• Environmental Remediation
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
• Sustainability
• Groundwater Remediation
• Environmental Policy
• Engineering Management
• Systems Engineering
• Signaling System 7 (SS7)
• Wireless Technologies
• SAP Implementation
• SAP PM Module
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
• SAP Project Management
• SAP Materials Management (SAP MM)
• SAP Netweaver
• SAP Sales & Distribution
• Business Intelligence (BI)
• Materials Management
• Business Transformation
• Performance Management
• Business Process Mapping
• Health Insurance
• International Sales
• People Management
• Copy Protection
• Enterprise Software
• Customer Experience
• Internet Protocol (IP)
• Employee Relations
• Employee Engagement
• HR Policies
• Talent Management
• Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
• Succession Planning
• HR Project Management
• Personnel Management
• HR Transformation
• HR Consulting
• Organizational Development
• HR Operations
• HR Strategy
• Workforce Planning
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• Employee Benefits Design
• Interviewing
• Benefits Administration
• New Hire Orientations
• Software Implementation
• Salesforce.com
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Software Documentation
• Financial Services
• Diversity Recruitment
• Financial Analysis
• Commercial Mortgages
• Financial Reporting
• U.S. VA Loans
• Corporate Finance
• Forecasting
• Cash Management
• Internal Controls
• Financial Modeling
• Technical Recruiting
• Commercial Real Estate
• Managerial Finance
• Financial Accounting
• Management Accounting
• Financial Planning
• Embedded Software
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• Unified Modeling Language (UML)
• .NET Framework
• Embedded Systems
• Information Systems
• Information Assurance
• Training Delivery
• Instructional Design
• Training & Development
• Employee Training
• Leadership Development
• Supply Chain Operations
• Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
• Strategic Sourcing
• Enterprise Architecture
• Data Warehousing
• Solution Architecture
• Quality Management
• Test Planning
• Test Automation
• Test Strategy
• HP Quality Center
• Test Management
• Regression Testing
• Quality System
• Quality Control
• Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)
• Oracle Database
• Change Project Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Project Governance
• Facility Management (FM)
• Facilities Project Management
• Facilities Operations
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
• Corporate Communications
• Media Relations
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Press Releases
• Production Management
• Direct Mail
• Video Production
• User Experience (UX)
• Web Project Management
• Content Management Systems (CMS)
• Digital Project Management
• Digital Transformation
• Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
• Localization
• Website Localization
• Internationalization
• Translation
• Linguistics
• Localization Testing
• Language Services
• Terminology
• Proofreading
• Intercultural Communication
• Corporate Events
• Sponsorship
• Live Events
• Budget Management
• Event Production
• Relationship Building
• Entertainment
• Troubleshooting

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Upload your resume and we'll spot the issues in it before an actual project manager recruiter sees it. for free., project manager resume templates.

Here are examples of proven resumes in related jobs and industries, approved by experienced hiring managers. Use them as inspiration when you're writing your own resume. You can even download and edit the resume template in Google Docs.

Resume Example Entry Level Project Manager

An effective Description of the templates...

Download this resume template

At first, it might seem intimidating to apply for project manager jobs with little to no prior experience in this line of work. But if you have a strong academic history and the skills to succeed as a project manager, you can break into this field. Use your resume to highlight projects you worked on in school, extracurricular activities, and any other experiences where you had to use skills such as problem solving and organization.

Tips on why this template works

   education and academic background.

On an entry-level resume, leading with your educational history can put your strengths in the forefront - especially if you excelled in school. If you had a high GPA or academic honors, it’s great to mention those here, as well as any coursework or projects you did that could be relevant for project management.

   Volunteering and internships

Even if you don’t have an extensive work history, you’ve likely done internships, community service, and other projects that show who you are and where your strengths lie. Extracurricular activities can also tell recruiters that you’re driven, ambitious, and actively involved in your community.

Resume Example Senior Project Manager

As a senior project manager, you won’t only be managing projects; you’ll likely also be managing other members of your team. To get this kind of job, you’ll need to show that you have leadership capabilities along with the experience and expertise of a senior-level professional. Your work history should highlight any management or leadership roles you’ve held in the past, in addition to any previous achievements managing projects.

   Emphasis on work experience

If you’ve been working in project management for many years, you’ll have a lot of work history to show for it. Leading with this section places the emphasis on your experience and all that you’ve learned from it.

   Promotions at previous jobs

Being promoted shows that you achieved a high level of excellence and that you’ve been regarded as a top performer with past employers. This resume includes an example of a promotion, which demonstrates leadership and professional growth.

Resume Example Technical Project Manager

Technical project management jobs often require you to have a background in IT, engineering, or another tech-related field. If you’re pursuing one of these positions, you’ll want to use your resume to highlight your technical expertise as well as your project management experience. This resume template will show you how to do just that.

   Tailored to the specific position

This resume effectively showcases prior work history with examples of both project management and technical experience. A work history like this one clearly demonstrates that you have the right blend of skills to succeed in a technical project manager role.

   Detailed bullet points with measurable results

As much as possible, when talking about your accomplishments, you should mention the specific results that you achieved through your actions. This resume template is filled with quantifiable results (e.g. increased ROI and reduced onboarding time for new hires) that show the impact you had at your previous workplace.

Resume Example Marketing Project Manager

Marketing project managers collaborate closely with the marketing department of a business. If you’re seeking a job as a marketing project manager, use a resume similar to this template to highlight your skills and experience in fields such as marketing, journalism, or communication.

   Great action verbs in bullet points

Describing your accomplishments with strong verbs like “led”, “coached” and “designed” shows that you have taken an active role in your success - something any potential employer will be glad to see.

   Use of skills, education, and projects sections

In this resume template, the skills and education sections complement the work experience. Mentioning personal projects and achievements outside of work can also help you come across as a well-rounded individual.

Resume Example IT Project Coordinator

An IT project coordinator helps manage and plan technical projects. This position is more specialized than a typical project coordinator role, and it generally requires you to have some technical experience or education. On your resume, make sure to highlight your knowledge of computer systems as well as any relevant softwares you know how to use.

   Showcases relevant work experience in IT

If you want to get hired as an IT project coordinator, focus your resume on technical positions you’ve held (as well as roles where you’ve worked with IT departments). Pointing out past experience in jobs such as a computer administrator or systems analyst may help give you an edge over your competition.

   Hard PM and coordinator skills displayed in skills section

Your hard technical skills can be crucial to your success as an IT project coordinator. If you’re proficient with softwares such as NetSuite ERP, and Oracle Hyperion, list these competencies in a skills section to demonstrate your technical expertise.

Resume Example Construction Project Coordinator

Construction project coordinators handle logistics and planning for construction projects. For this role, in addition to the organizational and communication skills needed for project coordination, you should have at least a basic understanding of building processes, standards, and codes. You may also need to manage teams of workers, so leadership experience is also a huge plus.

   Resume shows a strong background in construction

Because this project coordinator role requires specialized construction knowledge, your resume should emphasize your construction-related work history. Having experience as a foreman, electrician, or inspector is especially valuable because it shows recruiters that you have a solid understanding of construction projects.

   Past promotions demonstrate leadership and management potential

YAs a construction project coordinator, you’ll work closely with construction teams to ensure that projects get completed. You need to be an effective leader -- and what better way to demonstrate leadership on your resume than highlighting your past promotions? When you’ve advanced to greater levels of responsibility at prior jobs, hiring managers can clearly see that you are a strong performer with the ability to lead by example.

What hard skills should you include on a Project Manager resume?

On top Project Manager resumes, skills like Project Management, Project Planning, Management, Change Management, Engineering, Microsoft Access, Project Coordination and Construction appear most often. Depending on the exact role you're applying to, skills like Business Strategy, Project Managers, Software Project Management, Sales and Project Engineering can also be effective keywords to include on your resume.

How do resume skills compare between a Content Project Manager and a Creative Project Manager?

Popular skills we often see on resumes for Content Project Manager positions include:

In comparison, skills we see on Creative Project Manager resumes include:

What are good resume skills to include for different Project Manager roles and job titles?

Depending on the specific role you apply to, you may need to emphasize different skill sets. Here are a few examples:

• Business Project Manager : Business Process Improvement, Stakeholder Management, Change Management, Project Delivery and Project Management
• Construction Project Manager : Construction Management, Construction, Contract Management, Construction Project Management and Project Estimation
• Software Project Manager : Software Project Management, Agile Methodologies, Agile Project Management, Scrum and Software Development
• Supply Chain Project Manager : Supply Chain Management, Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Logistics Management and Six Sigma
• Creative Project Manager : Art Direction, Adobe Creative Suite, Digital Marketing, Brand Development and Creative Strategy

What soft skills are common in Project Manager roles?

Examples of Project Manager soft skills include Time Management, Teamwork, Communication, Leadership and Team Leadership.

Target your Resume to a Job Description

While the keywords above are a good indication of what skills you need on your resume, you should try to find additional keywords that are specific to the job. To do this, use the free Targeted Resume tool. It analyzes the job you are applying to and finds the most important keywords you need on your resume. It is personalized to your resume, and is the best way to ensure your resume will pass the automated resume filters. Start targeting your resume

Most resumes get auto-rejected because of small, simple errors. These errors are easy to miss but can be costly in your job search. If you want to make sure your resume is error-free, upload it to Score My Resume for a free resume review. You'll get a score so you know where your resume stands, as well as actionable feedback to improve it. Get a free resume review

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Management Skills: 50+ Examples for Your Resume

Whether you’re trying to climb that career ladder or feel more confident in your current role, management skills will help you improve your overall performance.

by Don Sjoerdsma, CPRW | Career Advice Expert

Published on: May 02, 2024

Table of contents

What are management skills?

Top 10 management skills [+ 50 examples], listing manager skills on your resume, how to improve management skills, more skills resources, management skills — key takeaways.

Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey might seem like distant stars in the galaxy of leadership, but the truth is, their journey started with a solid foundation in management skills.

Whether or not you aim to reach such heights — there’s nothing wrong with shooting for the stars! — mastering these skills is your first step up the ladder of success.

Being a manager isn’t easy — only one in five (18%) of those currently in management roles have a high level of aptitude for managing others.

But management skills are important for everyone, regardless of your broader career goals.

Our guide provides a complete overview, featuring:

• A working definition of management skills.
• Great examples of management skills.
• How to add these skills to your resume.
• Advice for improving this skill set.
• Extra resources for other skill sets.

Are you refreshing your resume? Consider using a resume builder . These tools are excellent for quickly assembling your resume and they offer numerous examples of management skills that you can effortlessly incorporate with just a click.

Management skills are the abilities that enable you to organize, guide and direct a team toward achieving specific goals .

Why are management skills so important? Even if you have no ambitions to become a manager, you’d benefit from understanding this skill set and using it in your everyday life. The thing is, management skills speak to your competence in several different ways, from improving team efficiency to resolving conflicts and making strategic decisions.

They’re also relevant in a range of industries, including health care , information technology and retail . You could argue every job includes at least one management skill .

Management skills can be interpersonal skills like leadership, communication and motivation, or they can be hard skills like project management, financial planning and resource allocation. Truly, management skills run the gamut.

Next, we’ll go through many, many more examples that fit the bill.

Management encompasses a broad range of skill sets. It may be useful to break down these skills into distinct categories to give you a better idea of what counts as a management skill.

We’ll show you the top 10 types of management skills, and include a handful of examples of each one. Onward and upward!

• Project management

Project management is a role in and of itself, but it’s also a broader skill set that’s helpful in a wide variety of roles. Here are a few project management skills a manager should have:

• Task delegation
• Scheduling and timeline management
• Resource allocation
• Risk assessment
• Quality control

Communication

Effective communication is the backbone of successful management. It ensures clarity, prevents misunderstandings and builds strong team dynamics. Here are key communication skills every manager needs:

• Active listening
• Clear and concise writing
• Persuasive speaking
• Nonverbal communication cues
• Presentation skills

Data analysis

In 2024, most professionals have to be familiar with data, but managers most of all need to harness data to drive decisions and strategy effectively. Here are essential data analysis skills for managers:

• Statistical analysis
• Data visualization
• Predictive analytics
• Data-driven decision-making
• Understanding data privacy standards

This one might seem obvious, but it’s not as common as it should be. Managers — good managers — are also good leaders. It’s a pillar of the role. The examples below will help you understand how this shows up in day-to-day work.

• Inspiring and motivating others
• Ethical judgment and integrity
• Conflict resolution
• Empowerment and delegation
• Visionary thinking
• Strategic planning

Strategic planning is crucial for long-term success, helping align the organization’s broader objectives with daily operations. Here are strategic planning skills vital for managers:

• Goal setting
• Scenario planning
• SWOT analysis
• Resource forecasting
• Market trend evaluation

Change management

Navigating change effectively is a critical skill in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. Managers need to manage transitions smoothly and keep teams focused. Essential change management skills include:

• Communication of change
• Stakeholder engagement
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Training and development
• Monitoring and evaluation of change implementation

In our digital age, managers must stay abreast of technological advancements that can optimize workflows and enhance team productivity. Key technology skills for managers are:

• Software proficiency (CRM, ERP, project management tools)
• Remote collaboration technologies
• Cybersecurity basics
• Data management systems
• Technological troubleshooting

Compliance and regulations

Managers must ensure that their teams adhere to industry laws and regulations to avoid legal pitfalls. Here are vital compliance skills:

• Knowledge of legal standards
• Regulatory research
• Compliance reporting
• Implementing compliance protocols
• Training staff on regulations

Financial management

Strong financial acumen allows managers to make informed fiscal decisions, manage budgets and understand the financial implications of business strategies. Critical financial management skills include:

• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial reporting
• Cost management
• Financial analysis
• Revenue generation strategies

Team building

Team building is a skill that any all-star manager will have in her toolbelt, essential for fostering a collaborative and motivated workplace. Here are some team-building skills every manager should cultivate:

• Team motivation
• Performance management
• Creating inclusive team environments
• Recognition and rewards systems

Skills are more powerful when you put them to good use, and your resume is the perfect platform.

Here, we’ll run down the simple, three-step way to add managerial skills to your resume.

Look at the job listing closely

It all begins with the job post. Every time you apply for a job, you should follow these instructions.

Read the job post to identify the management skills. Copy the job post into a separate document and bold all of the relevant skills.

Here’s what that looks like on an actual job description (management skills are in bold ):

• Responsible for team leadership , resource allocation and project management to meet company goals.
• Utilize strategic planning skills to develop departmental strategies.
• Enhance team productivity through effective communication and motivational techniques .

This will help you customize your resume for each position. It’s also critical for bypassing the applicant tracking systems (ATS) companies use to block out certain applicants. They program specific keywords a resume must have or it’ll end up in the digital trash bin. By looking at the job ad for these keywords and adding them to your resume, you put yourself in the position to sail past the ATS.

Okay, now it’s time to add these skills to your resume.

Include at least one skills section

Let’s integrate the skills above into a resume skills section .

Here’s an example:

• Team leadership
• SEO and SEM techniques
• Data Analysis and interpretation
• CRM software proficiency

You can have multiple skills sections, especially if you are changing industries or are early in your career. Functional resume formats are great when you want to highlight skills above work experience because they allow you to focus on your strengths right at the top of your resume.

Bullet points are a great addition to a skills section, making it easier for hiring managers to read and quickly understand your capabilities.

Add skills throughout the rest of your resume

Skills should flow through your resume like a river, seamlessly integrating into each section.

For example, at the top of your resume, you should have a professional summary or resume objective , which are both excellent places to insert a couple of your top skills. In the largest section, your work history , you have ample opportunity to highlight how you’ve used the skills you found in the job ad, such as managing teams in a high-stakes environment or leading strategic initiatives that have successfully driven growth.

Next, let’s walk through how you can improve this skill set.

Feel like your management skills need a boost? You’re not alone. Even the greatest managers are always learning, always growing and looking for opportunities to build on what they know.

Here are some tried and true techniques for developing this skill set:

• Enroll in online courses. Although nothing beats on-the-job experience, you can hone the skills needed to lead effectively and efficiently by taking online courses.
• Attend workshops and seminars. Local business schools often host workshops that can help develop your management capabilities. These are also great networking opportunities.
• Read management books . Most of the best managers actively read about management techniques. Whether subscribing to the Harvard Business Review or picking up classics like “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, continuous learning can significantly impact your management style and effectiveness.
• Seek mentorship. Sometimes the best way to learn is from the people around you who’ve already been through the ringer. Finding a mentor within your organization or industry can provide personalized guidance and insights that are invaluable for your development as a manager.
• Implement feedback systems. Regular feedback from your team can provide insights into your management style and areas for improvement. Tools like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms can facilitate anonymous feedback surveys.

As we come to a close, I’ll share a few additional resources to help you build your skills, and send you off with the key takeaways based on this guide.

Management skills aren’t the only skill you’ll want to sharpen like a finely honed blade. Check out our other skills guides:

• Hard skills vs soft skills
• Transferable skills
• 21st century skills
• Time management skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Creative thinking skills
• Organizational skills
• Excel skills
• Adaptability skills
• Employability skills

Management skills are varied

Managing a team requires proficiency in various skill sets, such as budgeting, project management, change management, data analysis and more.

Continuous learning is key

Engaging in ongoing education through online courses, workshops and reading can significantly improve your management skills.

Develop soft skills

While technical skills are important, soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence and leadership are essential for effective management.

People skills are critical for managers

Constructive feedback from your team can help you identify and refine your management style, and mentors can keep you on the right track.

Embrace technology

Stay updated with the latest technological tools that can aid in effective management, such as project management software and data analysis tools.

Was this information helpful? Let us know!

Don Sjoerdsma, CPRW

Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Read more articles by Don Sjoerdsma, CPRW

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11 Key Project Management Skills

You'll want to have a basic understanding of project management principles to be a good project manager, but workplace skills are just as important. Learn what the key project management skills are and how you can achieve them.

Experts predict that by 2027, almost all work will be project-based. A Project Management Institute (PMI) report found that there will be a demand for 25 million project management professionals globally by 2030. That translates to roughly 2.3 million new project management positions a year [ 2 ]. 

Project management skills enable you to effectively interact with people, solve problems, and put your organizational talents to use. Project management requires a combination of technical and workplace skills to coordinate both projects and teams. Here are 11 technical and workplace skills you’ll want to have as a project manager .

Technical project management skills

1. project management approaches and methodologies.

Project management methodologies are the specific rules and procedures that determine how a project is managed. Different methodologies are suitable for different situations. Familiarity with the fundamental differences can help you pick the best one for a project. Although some companies might want you to stick with one approach, knowing about other methods may provide a better context for what you’re doing and why. 

Some common approaches to project management include Waterfall, a traditional, sequential approach, and Agile, which prioritizes adaptability. Within these approaches, there are several methodologies. For example, Scrum is the most commonly used Agile methodology. Others include Lean, Kanban, and XP (Extreme Programming).

2. Project initiation

The start of a project—when much of the project gets planned—is often critical to its success. And though it might sound simple, you have to think about many moving pieces in the initial phase of a project. Initiating a project includes setting achievable and specific goals, picking a team, determining resources, and holding a kickoff meeting. 

3. Budgeting

Many projects will have budget constraints. Knowing where costs might pile up and how to prioritize tasks and delegate resources is essential for ensuring a project remains within the budget.

If you’re working on a large project or for a large company, you might not be the primary person responsible for managing the budget. But it’s still good to know what elements can add to a budget, how to decrease costs, and when to increase them.

4. Risk management

No project comes without potential risks. As a project manager, you’ll want to be able to identify when and how unexpected events that could derail your project might happen, how to decrease the chances of them happening, and how to respond if they do. How much of a time buffer should you add to unpredictable projects or tasks? If something goes awry, how would you adjust your scope or resources? Having an eye for potential risks and how to mitigate them can ensure smoother project delivery.

5. Project management tools and software

Technology has made sharing findings, schedules, and communications across teams and stakeholders convenient. As a project manager, you’ll often need to know how to use collaboration and communication software and take the lead in managing them.

Some tools you might use include:

Collaboration tools like Google Sheets, Google Drive, and Dropbox

Work management tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, and Smartsheet

Scheduling tools like digital calendars and Gantt charts

Communication tools like email, chat, and video conferencing software

6. Industry knowledge

Project management professionals can work in many fields, including IT, health care, and construction. Sometimes, hiring managers will prefer candidates who have academic or professional experience in that particular area. If you’re looking to switch careers to become a project manager, it can be worth looking for opportunities within an industry you have knowledge in.

Workplace skills

7. communication.

Communication is a crucial skill for project management professionals to have. In fact, insufficient communication often gets cited as a reason why projects miss deadlines, go over budget, or otherwise get derailed.

Good communication doesn’t just mean being able to speak well in front of people—though that’s important too. Project managers should know whom to communicate with, when, and how often. This might mean setting up expectations at the beginning of a project about how often communications will happen.

8. Organization

Organization is crucial for project managers. Coordinating timelines, meetings, and efforts with different teams, contractors, or even other companies means having the discipline to stay on top of communications and tasks. 

9. Flexibility

Even with a perfectly planned project, problems arise. Missed deadlines can occur, bad weather can derail construction, and people get sick or change jobs. If you’re a person who can deal with unexpected changes, your job as a project manager will go more smoothly.

10. Leadership

Leadership can help make all the disparate parts of a project team come together and work as a unit to get things done. Leadership includes influencing decisions without being overtly authoritative, motivating team members, and balancing the needs of your team with the needs of the project.

11. People skills

Your role as a project manager is to complete projects successfully. And while sometimes that means staying organized and communicating with the right people, it can also mean motivating your team, fostering a culture of collaboration and openness, and resolving potential conflicts. Understanding that different people have different work styles, motivations, strengths, and growth areas will allow for more effective teams and more successful projects.

Rachel, a project manager at Google, switched careers from bartending to project management—her people skills were what helped her make the switch. Listen to her story below.

How to build project management skills

Sometimes, there’s no better teacher than hands-on experience. You can build project management skills by taking on more managerial tasks in your workplace. You can also look for volunteer opportunities in your community that will allow you to help plan and execute projects.

You might already have project management skills: If you’ve helped to organize any new initiatives professionally or personally, you probably already have some project management skills, even if you didn’t call it that at the time. Be sure to highlight these experiences when you apply for project management jobs.

How to include project management skills in your resume

As you put together your resume, highlight your project management skills by describing the scale of your project, the size of your team, and the positive results of your efforts. For example, you might say: “Led a team of four developers to redesign a payment platform with a budget of C$2M to complete the project on time.”

You can also emphasize project management skills by including them in your resume’s “skills” section. If you haven’t led a project before, list your experiences where you had a hand in planning or implementing a new effort. 

Start advancing your project management skills today

Taking online courses can be a great way to build project management skills that are in demand. Consider one of Coursera's top-rated courses:

For an introductory course, start with the University of Virginia's Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management course. This program takes about nine hours to complete and covers how to initiate a project, manage risks, sequence tasks, monitor progress, and more.

To practice the basics of the Agile methodology, take Atlassian University's Agile With Atlassian Jira course. Inside, you'll learn how to configure the Jira software, create Agile boards, and keep up with project changes. This course is free and takes about twelve hours to complete.

Explore project management more broadly in the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate . In this program, you'll learn the job-ready essentials of project management, like change management, communicating with stakeholders, documenting project developments, and more in about six months.

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