Time Management Skills for Your Resume

Time management skills resume example

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What are time management skills?

Time management skills are the abilities and habits that help you organize your responsibilities and time according to their urgency. These skills can have a direct impact on your job performance, company goals and personal life. Being a job seeker with excellent time management skills makes you an attractive candidate to any employer.

Time management skills include techniques and strategies for improving workflow, maximizing productivity and managing tasks. They also include the ability to automate or eliminate time-wasting activities and factor in the unexpected. 

Examples of time management skills

Time management hard skills

Hard skills are gained through education and experience. These time management hard skills are learned through seminars, courses, training or working in any given role. 

• Scheduling
• Time tracking
• Meeting management
• Project planning
• Calendar management
• Data analysis and reporting
• Auditing

Time management soft skills

Soft skills are a combination of social, people and communication skills that tell an employer how you work. Time management soft skills relate to those attributes that help you meet deadlines and maximize productivity. 

• Prioritization
• Delegation
• Decision-making
• Self-discipline
• Stress management
• Goal setting
• Adaptability

Time management interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills connect you to coworkers, superiors and the community you serve. These skills are key to ensuring effective time management for everyone. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Active listening
• Cultural competence
• Networking
• Conflict resolution
• Negotiation 
• Teamwork

Time management technical skills

Technical skills refer to your ability to use software, hardware and applications that aid your time management skills.

• Time-tracking applications like Clockify, Rescue Time, Harvest
• Project management software like Jira, Trello and Asana
• Automation tools, like Zapier and IFTTT
• Document management systems like Google Drive and Dropbox
• Scheduling tools like Outlook and Google Calendar
• Digital planners and journals
• Effective AI prompts for time management

How to improve your time management skills

Here are practical tips to help you improve your time management skills and achieve greater efficiency in your daily tasks:

• Plan ahead: Create a daily schedule or to-do list to organize your tasks and allocate specific time slots for each activity.
• Eliminate distractions: Identify and minimize sources of distraction to maintain focus and increase productivity.
• Set clear goals: Create a time frame and define your short- and long-term goals. Understanding what needs to be accomplished defines this entire exercise. 
• Use technology: Utilize apps and tools like calendars, task managers and project management software to streamline your workflow.
• Build a schedule: Create a timeline with deadlines to work on your projects and set time to regroup and reassess. Revisit the schedule often to adjust and reevaluate. 
• Create manageable steps: Divide your task into smaller “chunks,” even if it seems obvious or straightforward. This can also help you determine what needs automation or delegation. 
• Take breaks: Incorporate regular breaks to rest and recharge, improving overall efficiency and preventing burnout.

How to highlight time management skills on your resume

Highlighting time management skills on your resume will help demonstrate your ability to handle tasks efficiently and effectively. Here are some places to showcase these skills:

• In your resume summary: As your introduction, your resume summary must include your strongest skill and an accomplishment.

For example:

• In your skills section: Among your 6 to 12 listed skills, include technical tools and hard skills that help you manage your time well. 
• In your work history section: Your work history bullet points tell an employer how you’ve successfully used your skills at various jobs. Add numbers to quantify your achievements.

For example:

• In additional resume sections: If you’ve completed a certification or other professional development that advances your time management skills, include this in your resume.

Remember to always pair your resume with a professional cover letter, which will allow you to expand on your time management skills. 

Common tools for time management skills 

From pen and paper and add-ons for your web browser to smartphone applications and AI, time management tools are everywhere. Start simple to build habits and learn more about the areas you need to improve. 

These tools can help you get started:

• Calendar
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Digital journals
• To-do lists
  • Any.do
  • To.dolist
  • TodoCloud
• Task management
  • Asana
  • Trello
  • Microsoft Planner
• Project management
  • Kanban
  • Trello 
  • Monday.com
• Note-taking
  • Evernote
  • Zoho Notebook
  • Notion
  • Google Keep
• Artificial intelligence
  • Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa
  • AI scheduling assistants like Clockwise and Reclaim AI

Best time management certifications

Consider getting certifications that prove your knowledge and experience in this useful skill. These are some certifications recognized as effective and valuable across industries: 

• Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) by PMI
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) by the Scrum Alliance 
• Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) by the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO)
• Getting Things Done (GTD) Certification by the David Allen Academy
• Six Sigma Certification

You can also find certification from a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), like Udemy, Coursera or LinkedIn Learning. When choosing a course, consider the instructor credentials, industry recognition and accreditation, and confirm it offers a certification once completed. 

Key takeaways

• Time management skills are essential for workplace and personal success. 
• Time management skills include hard skills, like task management and project planning, and soft skills, like delegation and self-discipline. 
• Interpersonal skills, such as communication and conflict resolution, and technical skills, such as using applications, browser add-ons and software, are also crucial for effective time management.
• Assess your time management skills before creating an improvement plan. 
• Set goals, prioritize, create a schedule and seek support to improve your time management skills. 
• Use quantifiable achievements to highlight your time management skills on your resume.