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7 best time management skills on a resume (with examples)

10 min read · Updated on April 22, 2024

Show hiring managers you're the reliable professional they're seeking

Are you the sort of employee who feels in control, knowing that your deadlines will be met, your desk will be cleared at the end of the day, and your records are always up to date? Or are you the type to panic at the last minute, thriving under the pressure of getting things done but usually running late and leaving your colleagues wondering if your part of the project will ever be completed? 

Yes, we're talking about the importance of time management skills here. In this post, we'll look at why time management skills on your resume are important to employers and which are most in demand. We'll also share how to include time management skills on your own resume and provide some examples so that you can get it right. Let's dive in.

Why are time management skills important on a resume?

Employers want staff who can work efficiently and complete their tasks on time, every time. Whether you're applying for the sort of role that demands the ability to meet major project deadlines or the sort of role that requires you to stay on top of a busy workload, you need to show you're up to the job. That means showing off your time management skills on your resume, so that employers know from the start that you're a reliable employee who can keep up with the demands of the role. 

What are the best time management skills on a resume? 

If you think it's as easy as scribbling “time management” into a skills list on your resume, think again. Let's take a look at some of the most desirable examples of time management skills for your resume and examine how you can incorporate these professional skills  into your own job search document. 

1. Prioritization

Are you the kind of person who can't see the wood for the trees? If you have a to-do list as long as your arm, it's easy to get bogged down carrying out less-important tasks at the expense of the more critical ones. Rather than starting at the top of the list and working down, the employee with strong prioritization skills has the clarity to identify what needs to be done now and what can be saved for later.

2. Planning

Being able to plan ahead and schedule work is a valued and valuable skill. Rather than leaving everything to the last minute and rushing tasks in a panic, a planner breaks down tasks into manageable chunks and schedules in the time necessary to complete them to a high standard by the allocated deadline. Whether you're doing this for your personal workload or coordinating tasks across a whole team, this is a great skill to showcase on your resume. 

3. Delegation

Delegation may not seem like a time management skill, but it is! No-one can do everything. Being able to delegate to junior staff, or even to a peer with more expertise in a particular area, means that you can use your time more productively. When everyone can focus on their own contribution, things happen more efficiently and smoothly. 

4. Using technology

There is a vast amount of technology available these days to help us manage our time better. Whether you collaborate with colleagues on Slack, track the time you spend on tasks using Toggl, plan projects in Asana, or use one of the myriad other technologies available, it's worth calling out this tech on your resume. 

5. Meeting deadlines

This is one of the most critical time management skills for your resume. Employees that miss deadlines create work for their colleagues and let down customers. Whether your role depends on meeting regular deadlines, such as in project management , or you just need to submit your expense claims by a certain time each month, it's worth highlighting your ability to succeed here. 

Are you easily distracted? Or worse, does your distraction distract others from their work? If you can zoom in on your task and maintain concentration, that's a highly desirable skill. While everyone needs a break from time to time, employers are looking for someone who can maintain the focus needed to be productive. 

7. Organization

No list of time management skills would be complete without mentioning organization. Rather than trailing chaos in their wake, the organized employee brings together skills in planning, prioritization, and focus to stay in control of their workload and is recognized as a reliable member of the team. 

Where to put time management skills on your resume 

While you don't need to litter your resume with every time management skill we've listed, you'll want to prove that you're a reliable professional who stays in control by using some of the qualities we've mentioned. A scattering of these skills throughout your resume will help to build a positive image of you in the hiring manager's mind, so here's where you can use them:

In the Profile section

The profile is your elevator pitch, that should position you as a candidate of choice in the reader's eyes. That means it needs to show off your best, and most relevant, attributes for the role. If you're an experienced professional, well into your career, time management may not be one of your key selling points - you can mention it later in your resume instead. But for students and recent graduates, soft skills such as time management are likely to be the focus of their resume. In that case for you, feel free to mention one or more of the skills we've mentioned in your profile. 

In the Key Skills section 

The Key Skills (or Core Competencies) section is an obvious place to list some time management skills on your resume. It's wise to include the skills requested in the job posting in this section, so take a moment to scour the advert for keywords you can mirror. Make sure that any skills you list in this section are evidenced elsewhere on your resume. 

In your Professional Experience section 

Your work history is the ideal place to throw in your aptitude for time management, as you'll have the space and flexibility to add some detail. Remember the mantra: show, don't tell! That means proving that you have the skills you claim, by telling a story and quantifying the outcomes, rather than just saying, “Yep, I can do that.” We've got some examples of this below. 

Examples of time management skills on your resume 

Now you know which time management skills are great to include on your resume, and you know where to include them. But some examples would probably help, so that you can understand what's expected and how to include these skills naturally in your Professional Experience section. We aim to please! We've pulled together some time management skills examples for your resume, that you can adapt and use as inspiration. 

Examples of time management skills for students

Consistently handed in assignments ahead of deadlines, while balancing the competing demands of studies and a part-time job

Maintained a 100% record of punctuality and attendance

Examples of time management skills for a Project Manager resume

Took over a stalled project and achieved delivery by the original deadline, having re-planned timelines and re-energised the project team

Delivered a complex app development project 2 weeks ahead of schedule by delegating tasks fairly across the team and resolving problems collaboratively 

Examples of time management skills for an Administrator resume 

Developed a logical new filing system that enabled faster retrieval of client documents

Completed monthly reporting on time and with zero errors, due to a natural aptitude for focus and attention to detail 

Examples of time management tasks for an Event Manager resume

Prioritized tasks and set deadlines with suppliers to organize a successful team building event for 100+ delegates 

Built a delivery schedule for a major conference and monitored progress, with positive feedback received from senior executives and speakers

Examples of time management skills for a Content Writer resume

Collaborated with a remote team via Slack to ensure that all required content was produced in line with the monthly schedule

Consistently achieved handover deadlines by taking an organized approach and planning a demanding personal workload 

Examples of time management skills for a Warehouse Manager resume

Improved average despatch time by 35% by creating a more efficient floor layout 

Motivated staff to achieve KPI targets by providing one-to-one training on time management

Examples of time management skills for a Retail Assistant resume

Completed stock takes within the agreed timeframes by taking an organized and logical approach

Increased sales and revenue by prioritizing replenishment of high-margin, fast-selling products

How to explain time management skills in an interview

When it comes to an interview, the same mantra of “show, don't tell” applies. Use the STAR technique to tell the interviewer about a time when you used your time management skills to achieve a positive outcome for the team or the business. Remember the 7 examples of time management we've listed above to identify a particular scenario to discuss. You can find out more about the STAR technique in this post: How to use the STAR approach in a job interview .

How to improve your time management skills 

If you struggle with your time management, it's not the end of the world. There are things you can do to improve this vital soft skill so that you can showcase it proudly on your resume. 

Swallow the frog

This may be a revolting expression, but it boils down to tackling the most unpleasant task first. Once you've done that, you have the rest of the day to work productively on much easier tasks, without the prospect of a difficult or challenging issue hanging over your head to face later. 

Schedule 

One of the most helpful things you can do for your time management is to set a schedule – and stick to it. By prioritizing what needs to be done each day, allocating a reasonable amount of time to it, and checking back in regularly, you'll find yourself flying through your to-do list faster than ever.

Embrace technology 

There's a plethora of apps out there designed to help with time management, it's just a case of finding the one that works for you. A bit of time spent on research now could save you hours in the future. 

Take a break

It may seem counterintuitive, but stopping work can actually make you more productive. Scheduling regular short breaks means that you'll return to the task refreshed and with a clearer mind, meaning you'll finish the work sooner and to a higher standard than if you'd just plowed on through. 

Don't write a to-do list 

Rather than writing a to-do list, write a priority list instead. It will be shorter and more manageable, and crossing items off your priority list will leave you with a sense of accomplishment that will power you through some odd tasks on your nice-to-do-but-not-a-priority list. 

Save time when writing your resume

As we mentioned, delegation is a great time management skill for your resume. Did you know that you can delegate that task too? TopResume has a team of expert writers available to make sure you're putting your best foot forward when you start your job search. 

If you've been organized enough to complete the task yourself, why not send your resume for a free review to make sure you've ticked all the boxes? 

Recommended reading: 

• 10 Ways to Build Awesome Time Management Skills
• The 10 Secrets of Effective Team Management
• 11 Best Administrative Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

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How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

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The Best Way To Highlight Time Management Skills in a Resume

In today's competitive, fast-paced professional world, the spotlight isn't just on what you can do but how efficiently you can do it. Time management skills have become a golden ticket for job applicants looking to leave a lasting impression on hiring managers. 

Wondering how to weave time management skills into a resume? Let's navigate this together and look at some tips below.

3 key takeaways

• Defining the key time management skills you should add to your resume
• How to illustrate your time management skills based on your role
• How Teal’s AI Resume Builder can help you highlight your time management skills

What does time management mean on a resume?

Time management is a collection of resume soft skills that determine how effectively you can utilize your time. 

Employers want candidates with robust time management abilities because they bring efficiency and consistency to the team. Employees with good time management skills help companies meet deadlines and boost profits, so employers actively seek out these skills. 

Highlighting the important time management skills on your resume shows potential employers that you know how to manage your time wisely. It proves you tackle your most challenging tasks at times when you’re most productive and create (and adhere to) schedules that help you get everything done. 

Examples of time management skills for your resume

Time management skills are actually made up of several different abilities that collectively boost productivity and timeliness. Each of these components is a skill in itself that you can showcase on a resume or job application. 

Whether it’s your first resume or your hundredth, let’s explore some of the essential time management-related skills you’ll want on your resume.

Task prioritization

Our modern, digital world is full of distractions. Determining which tasks are critical and which ones can wait is a vital aspect of time management. This skill streamlines workflows, makes it easier to allocate resources, and even reduces stress levels. 

Goal setting

Setting tangible, achievable goals is essential for good time management. Goals act as motivators that guide us in our professional endeavors, helping us make the right decisions and achieve our objectives. 

Deadline management

This skill isn't just about beating the clock. It's about understanding task urgency, aligning resources, and ensuring deliverables don't lag along the way. Deadline management is an exercise in meticulousness and syncs closely with task prioritization.

Planning and scheduling

Envisioning tasks and carving out a roadmap is important for any professional goals, but it’s especially vital for teams who work on several projects at once. It ensures employees don’t feel overwhelmed or caught off guard by unexpected workloads.

Time blocking

Time blocking is like compartmentalizing your day into neat boxes. Each block is dedicated to a specific task or set of tasks. Knowing how long tasks will take and which ones have the highest priority will help make time blocking easier.

This practice also curbs the urge to start multitasking, ensuring each task receives your undivided attention.

Focus and concentration

A huge aspect of time management is being able to focus on a task without giving in to distractions. In an age of constant digital nudges, this can be an extremely difficult thing to do. But it's important because it ensures you’re giving your best effort on each task, which will lead to better outcomes in the long run. 

Organization

Organizational skills are the bedrock of time management. An organized workspace, digital space, and mindset reduce friction and bolster efficiency .

Some ways to improve your organizational skills include:

• Using a planner, journal, or calendar to organize tasks
• Creating to-do lists based on priority and deadlines
• Breaking down bigger jobs into smaller, more manageable tasks
• Decluttering your physical or digital workspace regularly
• Delegating tasks when you can to free up timeframes and focus on your most important tasks
• Using your communication skills to clearly convey the amount of time you need for certain job duties 

Adaptability

The corporate world (or any professional environment) is often dynamic. Deadlines shift, priorities evolve, and tasks mutate. An adaptable professional uses their problem-solving and time management skills to recalibrate their strategies and meet deadlines or goals despite changes.

Where to include time management skills

You can highlight your time management skills in different ways throughout your resume. (And don’t forget to showcase them when speaking with hiring managers or recruiters or answering job interview questions.)

Professional resume summary

Professional summaries are sections that let you briefly touch on who you are as a professional. In this section, you can include information about your time management skills to signal your commitment to efficiency.

Use Teal’s AI Resume Builder to generate multiple versions of your professional summary and tailor each to a job description. 

Work experience achievements

Your professional “Work Experience” section should focus on your work history, and it’s also a great place to subtly weave in your time management skills alongside resume hard skills to showcase how you used them together to succeed. 

You can use Teal’s AI Resume Builder to generate impactful achievements, too. Tweak them as needed to showcase your time management skills with impact. 

A dedicated “Skills” section

If you choose to have a dedicated resume “Skills” section that includes more than just the recommended hard skills, you’ll want to be specific when highlighting time management skills. 

Break it down into particular skills, like “task prioritization” or “deadline management,” to clearly convey your abilities. (But remember, soft skills like time management are more effective when you showcase them alongside impact.) 

Your resume’s “Education” section isn’t an effective place to mention time management skills. But you can talk about your excellent time management skills and how they helped you further your education in your cover letter if you’re a recent graduate and it’s applicable to the role you’re applying for.

Examples of time management skills on a resume

Time management skills are essential in any role, but they’re not always used in the same ways. Learning what employers want, in terms of time management skills for specific roles you apply to, will better your chances of landing the job. 

Here are a few examples of how you can talk about time management skills on your resume outside of a dedicated resume “Skills” section based on the role you want.

Customer service representative

A customer service representative’s primary role is to assist customers and resolve issues to maintain customer satisfaction and build brand loyalty. Ensuring there is enough time to tackle all your duties requires good time management skills. 

Example for resume: "Managed 50+ daily customer queries, achieving a first-contact resolution rate of 95%, underscoring efficiency."

Marketing coordinator

A marketing coordinator is responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing strategies that promote a company's products or services. They coordinate various marketing activities, analyze market trends, and manage a team to execute campaigns effectively, so time management is very important.

Example for resume: "Orchestrated multiple simultaneous campaigns, consistently achieving on-time roll-outs and surpassing engagement KPIs by 15%."

Sales manager

A sales manager leads and guides a team of sales representatives, setting targets, providing coaching, and overseeing strategies to meet revenue goals and build client relationships. Time management is essential to foster those important relationships and meet sales goals.

Example for resume: "Seamlessly juggled client meetings, team mentorship, and sales targets, consistently overshooting quarterly objectives by 20%."

For more samples of how to incorporate skills, check out these sales manager resume examples .

Senior project manager

A senior project manager oversees complex projects from initiation to completion, coordinating resources, managing stakeholders, and ensuring successful delivery. All of these tasks require a lot of organization and time management acumen. 

Example for resume: "Helmed multifaceted projects, leveraging time management skills to ensure 100% on-time delivery across all quarters in 2022."

Administrative assistant

An administrative assistant provides clerical and organizational support to ensure the smooth functioning of an office or organization. They manage duties such as scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, and maintaining records, all of which require time management skills.

Example for resume: "Efficiently curated and managed daily schedules for a team of 10 senior executives, resulting in a 25% uptick in productivity and timely task execution."

Create a stronger resume with Teal

Showcasing your professional journey and highlighting all your essential, most important skills will help streamline your job search. But, effective time management skills are also vital for success in your new position. 

Luckily, Teal can help. With Teal, you’re not just creating a resume—you’re shining a spotlight on your skillset and showing hiring managers why you’re the right person for the job.

Put your time management skills to use: Sign up with Teal today to create a stellar resume in less time !

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i quantify my time management skills on my resume, should i list time management as a soft skill or demonstrate it through my experiences, can i include time management skills in the summary section of my resume.

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How to Demonstrate Time Management Skills on your Resume

Here are the top ways to show your Time Management skills on your resume. Find out relevant Time Management keywords and phrases and build your resume today.

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In This Guide:

What is time management?"?

Why is time management important on your resume / Why is time management wanted by recruiters on your resume?

What skills, activities, and accomplishments help you highlight your time management skills, time management skills: key takeaways for your resume.

What is time management?"?

Time management is the ability to use and plan your time at work effectively and productively. These are all the processes of planning and controlling the time spent on specific projects, tasks, and activities at the workplace to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.

Planning tasks and objectives within a defined timeframe and regulating the performance allows avoiding the intense rush against deadlines. If in a company key employees does not have the needed skills to manage their time this can badly affect performance and productivity of their work.

Time management is essential for businesses and organizations to prioritize all the work tasks and achieve their goals and objectives. Also, having good time management experience and skills are highly important and beneficial to reduce stress levels at the workplace.

Having the needed skills to manage your time is very valuable for the recruiters. For employers, this means that you can plan your tasks and responsibilities in such a manner that you can do your work efficiently and comply with the set deadlines.

Employees who have time management skills can achieve more tasks in less time. They also don't waste their time and more easily avoid frictions and problems at their workplace. By implementing good time management strategies, employees are less stressed and use their time more wisely.

Proper time management skills can help businesses to prioritize all the work tasks and achieve their goals faster. When companies manage their time better, they can take on new opportunities and sustainably grow their business. That’s why employers with time management skills are very valuable for recruiters.

Having the needed skill set to manage your time can help you improve in your career. Time management skills include certain skills that will help you plan and organize your time effectively. Here are some of the most important time management skills:

Goal-Setting allows you to set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals. When you understand your end goal, you can know which tasks should be prioritized and do it first.

Prioritization is important because it is necessary in order to complete the tasks that need to be done. It allows you to give your attention to the things in your agenda that are urgent so that you can later focus on lower priority tasks. Prioritizing helps you to do your tasks on time and compliance with the deadline.

Organization can help you to create structure and order in your work and boost your productivity. Maintaining strong organizational skills can reduce the chance of mistakes, miscommunication, and inefficiency.

Communication: The ability to communicate effectively with the people you work with allows you to liaise your tasks and goals clear and delegate some of them to focus on the urgent ones.

Planning is an essential part of time management. Developing proper planning skills is the first step toward better time management. A plan is a tool that helps you navigate your workday and define which task to finish first to complete your end goal on time.

How to demonstrate time management skills on your resume.

• Managed busy schedules of more than three corporate executives while performing general office administration duties.
• Handled both marketing and public relations programs and prepare newsletters and memos at the same time.
• Processed over 50 orders per day received in the online store and at the same time responded to customer inquiries.
• Maintain team's on-time schedules throughout 3 high-priority launches, completing all deliverables before deadlines.

Example 1: Demonstrate time management skills in the experience section

• • Implemented an innovative online system for booking and organizing meetings, which increased the efficiency of the office by 10%.
• • Manage and coordinate multiple meeting calendars concurrently and ensure schedules are followed on time.
• • Managed instruction, dispatching, and logistics project with suppliers resulting by 15% decrease in company expenses.
• • Provided frontline customer service support for company's employees.

Your resume must do so much more than list your experience and skills. It’s better to describe your time management skills with actual achievements.

The shown examples indicate that they are very dedicated to optimizing their work and their coworkers too.

They exhibit good knowledge of planning and organizing by creating a system for organizing meetings more efficiently.

The ability to manage and coordinate busy schedules shows their ability to prioritize. The examples inspire confidence in their time management skills.

Example 2: Demonstrate time management skills in the resume summary section

Your resume summary is your professional statement and the first opportunity to demonstrate your time management skill-set. With a few sentences, you can give a clear picture to the recruiters that you have and apply your time management skills in your professional life.

The provided example manifests the desirable qualities of a person with time management skills. They have experience in multitasking and managing time-sensitive situations. They are determined to achieve their goals, which suggests that they have planning and organizational skills to do that.

Example 3: Show your time management skills in your achievements sections

Use the achievement section on your resume to prove that you can deliver the desired results with your time management skills.

The Achievement section is the place to highlight your most proud accomplishments and give examples of your ability to manage your time at the workplace.

The provided examples exhibit the planning and organizational skills of a person who has the ability to manage their time and do their work efficiently.

• All businesses need employees with time management skills because they are reliable and responsible for their work.
• The desirable employees always have a good set of time management skills.
• The most valuable time management skills, which employers seek, are goal-setting, problem-solving, prioritization, planning, organizing, and communication skills.
• Demonstrate your time management skills-set all over your resume. Give a clear understanding to your future employers that you have and apply to your work time management skills, and you can do your duties on time.

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How to Add Time Management Skills to Your Resume [+Examples]

One of the most critical professional traits to have as a job seeker is time management skills.

Companies typically recruit individuals with these skills, as the ability to meet deadlines while still being efficient is highly valuable in any workplace.

While you might have excellent time management skills, you will not be able to actually demonstrate them during your interview, apart from arriving on time, which is a must anyway .

That is why it is critical to include them on your resume, and in this article, you will learn how to properly incorporate time management skills into your resume so that employers really take notice.

Let’s dive right in.

Key Takeaways

• Any abilities related to minimizing time spent on tasks and boosting productivity are referred to as time management skills. They are crucial since they contribute to your and the company’s success.
• Prioritization, timely communication, organization, delegation, scheduling, and meeting deadlines are six time management skills to add to your resume.
• These abilities might be included in your resume summary, employment experience, or skills section.
• Set goals, practice making decisions, and break down large activities into smaller portions if you want to enhance your time management skills.

What Are Time Management Skills & Why They’re Important?

Time management skills refer to all of the abilities that enable an individual to prioritize time spent on tasks regarded as more important. This type of prioritization yields better results in the end.

Other time management skills, other than prioritization, include planning, organization, and even clear communication with regards to time commitments, expectations, and so on.

If you have all or most of these skills, you will undoubtedly be more productive, more efficient at work, and have more time to enjoy your hobbies or other vital aspects of your life.

Having the opportunity to accomplish whatever you want every day, whether it’s work, relaxation, time spent with loved ones, or anything else, can only improve your levels of satisfaction and overall fulfillment. You will feel more in control of your life, which will translate to success in many other areas of your life.

6 Time Management Skills to Put on Your Resume

Now that you understand why time management skills in the workplace are so crucial, let’s look at some of the most significant time management skills you should include on your resume to increase your chances of getting hired.

#1. Prioritization

One of the most crucial time management skills to have is prioritization. If you have the capacity to prioritize your duties, you will be able to complete the most important ones first before tackling the others.

This way, you can be certain that you have everything under control and accomplish a high level of productivity, which can be very rewarding both professionally and personally .

To include prioritizing in your resume, highlight that you’ve employed it daily to effectively do your job in one of your past roles.

For example, if you worked as a human resources manager at WebFx, you could state in your experience description, “Effectively prioritized amongst numerous responsibilities on a daily basis to optimize the workflow and the team efforts at WebFx.”

#2. Timely Communication

Any workplace will emphasize the importance of timely communication among employees.

Timely communication ensures that everyone is up to date on everything, including work obligations and deadlines. When every employee is on the same page, the operation runs smoothly, and less time is spent resolving misunderstandings.

Timely communication should be highlighted, perhaps in the summary portion of the resume. In that case, you could say something like, “My top three skills that I am bringing to the table are timely communication, critical thinking, and creativity.”

#3. Organization

Any activity utilized to keep the company running smoothly is referred to as “organization.” This skill is related to arranging meetings and events, managing teams and tasks, organizing your workspace or everyday activities, and so on.

Organization is an important ability to have since a disorganized individual will foster chaos in the workplace and, in most situations, will be unable to complete the work efficiently, causing the company unnecessary damage.

If the position you are applying for requires you to execute organizational activities, make sure to include that skill on your resume. More specifically, use action verbs such as organized, managed, and so on.

Assume you worked as a project manager at Dove; you could say something like, “Coordinating all project-related duties was my principal role as a project manager at Dove.”

#4. Delegation

Delegation is an important ability to have, especially for individuals in positions of authority. The ability to allocate duties correctly can make or break a company’s workflow and staff efficiency.

That is why it is critical to understand employees’ skills and shortcomings so that jobs can be distributed effectively. Productivity and time efficiency will improve as a result.

If delegation wasn’t a component of any of your past experiences, you can mention it as one of your soft skills in your resume’s skills section.

#5. Scheduling

Scheduling is an essential skill for any employee, but especially for those in assistant jobs.

Assistants are often needed to schedule meetings, phone calls, and other events for their supervisors. Even if you don’t work as an assistant, you may find yourself in a scenario where you need to assist a coworker with scheduling. Or perhaps you’re working on a project that requires you to schedule events and so on.

In any case, knowing how to do it will reduce the amount of time you have to spend on it and allow you to devote that time to other duties for greater efficiency.

You can also incorporate scheduling as a soft skill . It’s not commonly included in resumes, but it’s a valuable time management skill to have, and it can’t hurt to list it there.

#6. Meeting Deadlines

Every employer is seeking an employee who can meet all deadlines. Meeting deadlines is critical, as the company and all of its partnerships, collaborations, and overall success depend on it.

So be sure to highlight this skill on your resume. One method is to tie it to one of your previous roles, making it clear that this is an integral part of your work ethic.

For example, if you worked as a writer at People Magazine, you could say something like, “As a writer at People Magazine, my aim was to produce quality texts while strictly meeting all deadlines.”

How to Add Time Management Skills to Your Resume

To include your time management skills on your resume, consider the following sections:

• Summary. You might include some of your most valuable time management skills in your resume summary, along with your past accomplishments and current objectives.
• Work experience. You might leverage your previous work experience to highlight your time management abilities. Utilize action verbs in your description to highlight these skills, and match them with positions that emphasize these skills.
• Skills. If you are unable to organically incorporate your time management skills into any of the aforementioned parts, you can always include a distinct section in your resume to list your soft and hard skills.

How to Improve Time Management Skills

Here are some pointers to help you improve your organization and time management skills:

• Establish objectives. Setting objectives is an excellent way to improve your time management skills. Whether at work or not, if you know what your goals are and what you want to accomplish that day, you will be able to develop a time-efficient plan and stick to it for optimal productivity.
• Practice making decisions. Making decisions is not always simple. They tend to take up more of your time than they should if you are indecisive. Therefore, put your decision-making skills to the test. The more you practice making judgments, the easier it will be to make them quickly.
• Divide the tasks. Looking at large tasks and initiatives can be rather daunting. You may even become discouraged because you believe they are too difficult to handle. So, divide them into small, manageable chunks. That way, you can get started without wasting time worrying about not being able to complete them.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve read this article, you should be more familiar with some of the most important time management skill examples, as well as how to include them on your resume!

It is critical to emphasize such skills because they are exactly what employers are seeking and will help you stand out from the crowd.

But, as these are skills you are likely to have used and developed in your previous employment, be sure to incorporate them naturally. Good luck!

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7+ Time Management Skills To Add To Your Resume

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“It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”

– Steve Jobs

It’s hard to argue with the legendary Steve Jobs’ claim above.

Every activity, from the most mundane task to the grandest undertaking, requires a certain amount of time to perform. But in today’s fast-paced society, time has become a resource that many feel they are in short supply of — especially at work.

With frequent meeting schedules, heavy workloads, and countless emails coming in, it’s easy to fall behind or off track. That’s where time management skills come into play — and they can have a powerful effect on your professional life.

In this article, we’ll cover why (and how) you should be incorporating time management skills into your career or your job search.

• If you want, you can jump right into the sections of your interest: The Importance Of Time Management Examples Of Time Management Skills Highlighting Time Management Skills On Your Resume How To Describe Time Management Skills During An Interview How To Improve Your Time Management Skills To Succeed At Work Productivity & Resume Tips Continued Let’s not waste another second!

The Importance Of Time Management

In the age of multitasking, time management has become an essential skill set to stay organized, efficient, productive, and effective.

When it comes to our careers, time is a precious commodity that should be managed in the most effective way possible. This means setting priorities, organizing our time, and focusing on the most important tasks at hand.

Several benefits come with honing your time management skills, both in your professional and personal life.

Here are some of the immediate, concrete benefits that can be reaped with savvy time management:

☑️ You’ll Be More Focused

When you manage your time well, you’ll always know which task/project to direct your attention toward at any given moment. Your mind won’t be scattered by all the other things on your to-do list.

☑️ You’ll Work More Efficiently

With the increased focus/clarity described above, you’ll be able to power through action items without getting distracted. Time management can help you get more done in less time, freeing up your schedule for other tasks or leisure activities. Who doesn't want to be more productive?!!

☑️ You’ll Stay Organized And On Track

One of the greatest benefits of time management is that it can help you stay organized and on track. When you’re properly organized, you’re able to keep appointments, hit deadlines, and maintain tight turnaround times. Successful time management involves proactive planning and systematic scheduling. This is important in both your professional and personal life.

☑️ You’ll Feel Less Stressed

When you’re juggling many things at once, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Honing your time management skills will help bring structure to the chaos, which in turn can help put your mind at ease. By keeping your workflow organized and avoiding procrastination, you can minimize the amount of stress in your life. Time management skills can help you proactively avoid stressful situations (or mitigate their effects). When you have a plan and you’re organized, it can help reduce stress and anxiety.

☑️ Your Work/Life Balance Will Improve

By learning to better manage your time, you can achieve a better work/life balance and avoid burnout. To make the most of our time, we need to be good at managing it. Time management skills can help us be more focused, work more efficiently, stay organized and on track, feel less stressed, and ultimately a better balance between your career and home life.

☑️ You'll Have A Greater Sense Of Control

When you’re in control of your time, you have a greater sense of control over your life. This can lead to increased confidence and a better overall outlook. Time management skills give you the power to take control of your life and shape it the way you want.

In short, time management skills are essential for anyone who wants to be successful in their career. And

Now that we’ve explored the benefits, let’s take a look at some specific skills that fall under the umbrella of “time management.”

Examples Of Time Management Skills

Time management is not a singular activity. Rather, it’s a collection of habits and processes that fit together as a cohesive whole.

These are the 7 most important time management skills to master:

1. Prioritization

In order to allocate your time appropriately, you need to assess the relative importance of each action item on your list. Doing so will help you establish a ‘task hierarchy,’ which can then guide your activity scheduling.

2. Decision-Making

Sometimes, it’s very clear which of your tasks are high-priority and need to take precedence. But often, your action items may appear to carry similar levels of importance. In such cases, you’ll need to be decisive — otherwise, you’ll lose time deliberating.

3. Scheduling

A clearly-defined schedule is the cornerstone of successful time management. Fortunately, technology has equipped us with a wide array of apps and software to aid our scheduling and appointment setting efforts.

4. Problem-Solving

If you’re a busy person, you’ve definitely encountered this problem before: schedule conflicts. Overlapping tasks and appointments can pose a significant challenge — and you’ll need to combine prioritization, decision-making, and strategic thinking to resolve the issue.

5. Organization

Keeping things organized helps you streamline almost every activity. This goes beyond keeping a tidy desk, though. It also means organizing your digital files and folders, documenting processes and procedures, and maintaining an up-to-date calendar.

6. Goal Setting

Setting goals helps you find purpose in your work. And I don’t mean grand, bigger-than-life purposes (although, if you do find your work fulfills a purpose like such, awesome!), but tangible milestones that will help you reach a certain result.

For example, it’s one thing to be a Social Media Manager that shows up every day. It’s another thing to be a Social Media Manager aiming to grow their Instagram follower base to 50K in 6 months. Setting a goal means you’ll have to set an actionable plan to get there. And actionable plans consist of everyday to-do lists. And to-do lists make your work easier and more productive.

7. Communication

Nothing can be more time-consuming than going back and forth with a piece of information – sometimes even risking having to re-do work, which is super counterproductive! Clear and effective communication is a crucial time management skill. This includes not only thoroughness but also using the right channels and tools. For example, using project management tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion can help teams communicate effectively and save time.

So far, we’ve covered what time management entails and why it’s important. Now, let’s review how you should communicate this valuable skill on your resume…

Highlighting Time Management Skills On Your Resume

As you’ve probably gathered from above, time management is a crucial soft skill in the workplace — and employers recognize this.

So, if having time management skills is one of your strengths, you should certainly strive to showcase that on your resume.

Here’s a general rule of thumb to help guide you: when it comes to writing your resume , it’s always better to show not tell.

In other words, you should aim to describe real-world examples of scenarios in which you applied your skills and strengths.

To illustrate this, let’s consider the two hypothetical resume examples below:

Time Management Example  #1 (Weak) -Excellent time management. -Highly organized with strict adherence to deadlines. -Proficient multitasker, working well under pressure.

Time Management Example #2 (Strong) -Developed an improved workflow which cut turnaround times by 20%. -Kept team on-schedule through 3 high-priority product launches, successfully completing all deliverables before the target deadlines.

Notice how the second example references specific, concrete accomplishments (as opposed to the generic self-promotion in the first example) through measurable results.

To help you take it up a notch, I’ve created ResyBullet.io , a free resume bullet analyzer that helps you write crazy-effective resume bullets that grab recruiters' attention.

Simply copy and paste your resume bullet below to begin your analysis and ResyBullet will not only scan and score it but show you exactly how you can improve it:

Free Resume Bullet Analyzer

Learn to write crazy effective resume bullets that grab attention, illustrate value, and actually get results., copy and paste your resume bullet to begin analysis:.

If you are struggling to find measurable results to add to your resume, check out our article “ Resume Metrics: 5 Wayts To Add Measurable Results In Your Resume (With Examples!) “

This concept of ‘Show Not Tell’ is not limited to your resume — it’s also applicable to job interviews, which leads us to our next section…

How To Describe Time Management Skills During An Interview

Continuing on the notion above, an interview is a great opportunity to dig in and get even more specific than a one-page resume allows.

Following the ‘Show Not Tell’ principle, you should be utilizing the interview to bring up stories from your work history that clearly demonstrate your strengths (e.g. time management skills).

For example, if there was a critical moment when you exhibited time management skills in your last role, you can use that story as tangible proof of your abilities.

Often, interviewers will ask situational questions (i.e. “tell me about a time when…”), which is a perfect opportunity to dive into a compelling story.

The key to nailing your interview responses is preparation. If you’re preparing for an interview, be sure to review The 7 Core Interview Questions.

How To Improve Your Time Management Skills To Succeed At Work

In this article, we've emphasized the importance of time management skills and how you should be highlighting those skills on your resume (and in interviews).

But what if you feel that you're lacking in the ‘time management department'? Don’t worry — like any skill, prudent time management can be developed with diligence and effort.

Here are 4 proactive tips to help you improve your time management skills:

Tip #1. Identify the times of day you feel most productive. Maybe you’re an early bird, maybe you’re a night owl — or maybe you get a burst of energy around noon. Try to build your schedule so that your most difficult tasks align with the times you tend to feel most alert.

Tip #2. When you create a schedule or deadline, commit to it. Being flexible is often a good thing. But, when it comes to time management, some rigidity is necessary. If you’re constantly rearranging your schedule or shifting deadlines, this will undermine the effectiveness of the whole process.

Tip #3. Know your most common distractions (and avoid them). We all get distracted — it’s part of being human. But we often have certain ‘lures’ that are particularly enticing . Do you check Instagram every 20 minutes? Use an app blocker when working on an important task. Love to snack? Set a timer and forbid yourself from eating until the time is up. Removing little distractions like this will save tons of time while keeping you focused.

Tip #4: Use the Pomodoro Technique to accomplish tasks on your to-do list. This tried-and-true method, originally pioneered by Francesco Cirillo, has been adopted by individuals around the globe to increase their productivity and improve their time management skills. See below for details on how to use the Pomodoro Technique.

How To Use The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique can be applied in any situation that requires mental focus and a task to be completed. All you need is a timer and some self-discipline! Here’s how it’s done:

• Designate a task you want to complete.
• Set a timer to 25 minutes.
• Wholeheartedly commit to focusing on that task (with zero distractions or interruptions) for the 25-minute period.
• When the timer runs out, take a quick break and jot down a check-mark on a piece of paper.
• For the first three check-marks, allow yourself a 3-5 minute break.
• For every fourth check-mark, allow yourself a 15-30 minute break.
• Repeat until the task is finished!

Pomodoro Variations To Consider

The standard version of the Pomodoro Technique calls for 25-minute work intervals. For the average human attention span, this is a relatively ideal ratio of concentration-to-break time. However, it’s not a rigid rule — and you may find one of the following variations more suitable:

• 60 or 90-Minute Intervals. If you have a naturally strong attention span, you may be comfortable working longer than 25 minutes without a break. If so, that’s great! Try 60-minute intervals to start and 90 minutes if you’re a concentration champ!
• Flow-State Intervals. To determine a custom interval that fits you best, track the amount of time you focus on a task when you feel ‘in-the-zone.’ Then, use that timeframe as your Pomodoro Interval. To adjust the breaks accordingly, apply a 1-5 ratio for short breaks and 1-1 for long breaks.

Productivity & Resume Tips Continued

For busy professionals, optimal time management is no small feat. But, by utilizing the tips above, you'll be better-positioned for more efficient, productive workdays — which will ultimately facilitate greater success in both the short-term and the long-term!

Continuing on that note, for more productivity tips, be sure to check my articles on How To Stay Motivated At Work And Improve Productivity and How To Create a 30-60-90 Day Plan That Will Keep You Motived!

And, lastly, for more resume insights, don’t miss my complete guide on How To Write A Job-Winning Resume and What We Learned From Analyzing 125,000+ Resumes !

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Austin Belcak

Austin is the founder of Cultivated Culture where he helps people land jobs without connections, without traditional experience, and without applying online. His strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, & Fast Company and has helped people just like you land jobs at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Twitter, & more.

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Excellent Time Management Skills? Here’s How To Put Them on a Resume

Find out how to say you have good time management on a resume in a practical way that’s sure to impress hiring managers.

2 years ago   •   5 min read

“Time is money.”

When it comes to business, that old saying still rings true. That’s why time management is such an important — and marketable — skill to include on your resume.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should come right out and say it. Soft skills won’t help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and buzzwords alone are unlikely to impress a hiring manager. Instead, you need to prove it — and this guide will show you how.

How to say you have good time management on a resume

First, here’s a quick step by step guide:

• Read the job posting to find out what time management skills are essential to the role.
• Think about how you’ve demonstrated time management skills in the past — these are the accomplishments you’ll focus on.
• Aim to match each bullet point on your resume to a key skill or responsibility listed in the job description .
• Start each bullet point with a strong action verb .
• Use metrics to quantify your accomplishments  (see below for an example).
• Upload your resume and job description to our free Targeted Resume tool to instantly check if your resume contains all the right skills and keywords.

Here’s an example of what your bullet points should look like once you’re done:

How to highlight time management on your resume

In your work experience.

The best place for soft skills on your resume is in your work experience section . Choosing accomplishments that highlight your time management skills is key to showing how you’ve used those skills in a professional setting and underlining what benefits they could bring to the company.

Find out if your resume shows time management skills

When it comes to listing time management skills in your resume, just like any other soft skill, you can’t just say you have excellent time management skills, you need to show how you’ve used these skills in your previous roles. I’d recommend uploading your resume to the tool below — it’ll scan it and tell you if you’ve chosen the right accomplishments that highlight your excellent time management skills and other soft skills such as communication and problem-solving skills.

In your skills section

While the phrase “time management” doesn’t belong on your resume, you can list related hard skills in your skills section . Choose skills like scheduling, project management, and organizational software that relate to time management.

If you’re not sure what skills to add to your skills section, use the tool below to search for the job you’re applying to and it’ll give you a list of skills relevant to the job as well as hard skills relating to time management.

Through your actions

Your resume and cover letter aren’t the only things recruiters consider when making hiring decisions. There’s no point in claiming to have excellent time management skills on your resume if you don’t respond to emails, forget about a scheduled phone screen, or show up late for an interview — so make sure your actions speak louder than words.

Essential time management skills for resumes

The best place to look for key time management skills is in the job description itself, but here’s a short list of useful skills to get you started:

• Organization skills
• Multitasking
• Prioritization
• Punctuality
• Setting goals
• Strategic planning
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Project management
• Record keeping
• Attention to detail
• Maintaining focus

Remember that, like “time management,” these are all buzzwords that, on their own, don’t add much value to a resume . The solution? Use synonyms for these common time management phrases. Let's dive into them.

Time management phrases to use on a resume

Stuck trying to think of the perfect action verb to start your bullet points? Having trouble thinking of other ways to say you’re good at time management? Try these more impressive synonyms:

• Ahead of schedule
• Accelerated
• Met all deadlines
• Within [x] days or weeks
• Increased efficiency
• Designed a new system
• Saved [x] hours of labor
• Completed [project] on time and within budget
• Streamlined
• Cut lead times

Let's look at how some of these action verbs are used in action!

Examples of time management on a resume

Ready to get started? Here are some examples of resume-ready bullet points that highlight time management skills.

• Supported Senior Vice President, managers and supervisors meeting deadlines, managed customer visits, and organized employee recognition events which improved administrative efficiency by 15%.
• Designed and implemented a process to streamline employee timesheets using Google Forms, eliminating the need for manual handwritten timesheets and resulted in a 10 hour per week time saving.
• Created knowledge base of 80 internal resources, improving employee onboarding and reducing time spent per project on administrative tasks by 40%.
• Streamlined assembly line process, leading to a 60% increase in worker efficiency.
• Implemented GoToMeeting and DocuSign to be more strategic, saving up to 20 hours of work per month.
• Managed 10 Key and Direct Buy Accounts as well as 24 other independent accounts totaling over $7 million in sales yearly.
• Processed all accounts payable and receivable invoices and ensured 100% of approved invoices were paid in full and on time while maximizing cash flow.
• Directed and coordinated administrative services to include office, clerical , and support services, mail distribution, telecommunications to 100+ employees.
• Maintained attendance and scheduled vacation days for 40 salaried employees using Excel.
• Streamlined the process of checking calculations and business transactions for accuracy saving 15+ hours per week and reducing error rate by 25%.
• Responsible for the coordination of all travel-related issues for a 300+ member crew. Maintained a $1M travel budget.
• Created invoices and automated collection reminders for those invoices resulting in a 20% decrease in overdue invoice volume.
• Reduced the manual work required for month-end close by 10 hours through process improvement.
• Managed and coached SCRUM team using Agile Methodology of 2 weeks spring cycles to deliver software on time and within budget.
• Increased productivity by 20% through becoming a subject matter expert of a new automated tracking tool and sharing it with the team.

For more personalized suggestions, why not use our free resume checker ? Get an instant score based on key criteria hiring managers are looking for and actionable steps to improve your resume.

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Time Management Skills for Resume [10+ Examples]

Time management skills are critical to place on a resume.

Communicating with a hiring manager that you take this seriously is very important.

Excellent time management means that you will be able to perform your work within provided deadlines, which is very important for employers.

Focusing on managing your time correctly does not only mean that you will be able to finish your work in a time-efficient manner.

It also means that you will have time left over for other things, such as further learning opportunities.

Time management lowers your stress levels as well. If you are forever running to meet deadlines, there is an excellent chance that you won’t be able to perform as well as is expected of you.

Putting in time management skills in a resume is essential so that a hiring manager can gauge how well you will be able to handle the work assigned to you.

There are many different types of time management skills that you can place on your resume.

But not all of them will relate to the work that you intend to perform. Picking out ones that best suit your situation is what you need to do here.

Some examples of general time management skills are listed below. You can take out and use the ones that best suit you.

Sample Time Management Skills for Resume

• Demonstrated expertise in efficiently setting goals, aimed at ensuring that projects reach fruition promptly.

• Proven ability to prioritize work activities, ensuring that all work modules are completed within assigned timelines.

• Deep familiarity with creating and implementing schedules, identifying the available time, and timely delegate tasks to other people.

• Effectively able to make lists in a prioritized manner, breaking larges tasks into small steps, to ensure completion of each work in a time-efficient way.

• Well-versed in using priority systems to assist in deciding which task to undertake, and how much time should be spent on it.

• Solid track record of effectively self-motivating, and motivating staff members to perform work activities according to provided schedules.

• Competent in focusing on the task in question, ensuring that no other tasks compete for attention.

• Effective decision-making skills, aimed at ensuring that all project modules and tasks are performed within provided deadlines.

• Qualified to efficiently plan work activities, to be able to foresee all tasks which will be required to complete a project.

• Skilled in properly communicating with others, targeted at achieving more than when working solo.

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Time Management Skills to Highlight on Your Resume in 2024

Time management skills are crucial in any workplace as they enable an individual to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and be more productive. Not surprisingly, recruiters and employers consider these skills as a vital trait when hiring new staff; hence, including them on your resume can significantly increase your chances of landing a job.

The incorporation of time management skills on your resume has several benefits. First, it is an opportunity to demonstrate to the recruiter or employer that you have a unique set of skills that other candidates may not have. Second, it highlights your ability to handle tasks effectively and efficiently, which is a desirable trait in any workplace. Finally, it can differentiate you from the competition, make you stand out and increase your chances of receiving an interview invitation.

What are time management skills?

Time management skills refer to a set of practices, tools, and techniques that individuals use to manage their time effectively to accomplish tasks and goals. These skills may include setting priorities, planning and scheduling, goal setting, delegation, and overcoming procrastination. Effective time management skills enable individuals to maximize their productivity and achieve their targets within a given time frame.

Having good time management skills is essential in any workplace, and including them on your resume is a no brainer. Hiring managers look for self-driven individuals who can manage their time effectively and are goal-oriented, making time management skills highly desirable on any job application.

Understanding Time Management

As a professional, having a strong grasp of time management skills is essential for success. In this section, we will cover the basics of time management, including its definition, benefits, and key elements for effective management.

A. Definition of Time Management

Time management refers to the processes and techniques used to allocate time effectively for completing tasks and achieving goals. It involves prioritizing tasks, scheduling time effectively, and avoiding distractions that can hinder productivity. Effective time management ensures that tasks are completed efficiently and within the set deadlines.

B. Benefits of Efficient Time Management

Efficient time management is essential for success in any job. It helps professionals maintain their productivity, meet deadlines, and reduce stress levels. Professionals who can manage their time effectively are perceived as organized, efficient, and dependable. By prioritizing tasks, professionals can ensure that they are working on the most important tasks first, which leads to better results and improved productivity.

C. Elements of Effective Time Management

Effective time management consists of several key elements that are essential for successful task completion. The following elements are crucial for effective time management:

1. Goal Setting

Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Sensitive) goals is essential for effective time management. SMART goals provide clarity and direction, making it easier to prioritize tasks and allocate time.

2. Prioritization

Professionals need to prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. Prioritization helps professionals allocate their time and energy where it matters most, allowing them to focus on the most critical tasks first.

3. Scheduling and Time Blocking

Scheduling and time blocking help ensure that professionals are allocating their time effectively. Scheduling allows professionals to plan their time in advance, while time blocking helps them stay focused on specific tasks for a set amount of time.

4. Delegation and Automation

Delegation and automation are powerful tools that can save professionals a lot of time. Delegating tasks to others can free up time for more important tasks, while automation can streamline repetitive tasks, reducing the time and effort required.

5. Accountability

Accountability is crucial for effective time management. Professionals need to hold themselves accountable for completing tasks on time and meeting deadlines. Accountability also includes evaluating performance and making necessary adjustments to improve time management skills.

By mastering these key elements of time management, professionals can improve their productivity, reduce stress levels, and achieve better results in their work. As such, showcasing your time management skills on your resume can make you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

Types of Time Management Skills

Effective time management is crucial in enhancing productivity and achieving goals within the shortest time possible. Therefore, any job seeker should prioritize highlighting their time management skills on their resume to demonstrate their ability to meet deadlines and accomplish tasks efficiently. Here are the different types of time management skills applicants should emphasize:

A. Task Planning and Prioritization

Task planning and prioritization involves identifying the most crucial activities to work on first and breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable portions. Effective planning helps in reducing stress levels and improving productivity. Job seekers should highlight their ability to plan tasks according to importance and deadlines on their resume.

B. Goal Setting and Project Management

Goal setting is the process of identifying and setting objectives, including relevant timelines and action plans. It is essential for job seekers to highlight their ability to develop goals and action strategies geared towards delivering the desired outcomes. Additionally, project management skills entail developing and implementing plans and strategies that help to deliver specific objectives within deadlines.

C. Delegation

Delegating tasks can enhance productivity by freeing up time for critical activities. An expert in delegation is skilled in assigning tasks to the right people while ensuring that their skills and experience match the requirements of the job. Applicants should put emphasis on their delegation skills and how they have contributed to the success of previous projects.

D. Avoidance of Procrastination

Procrastination is a time thief that affects productivity and inhibits progress. As a result, it’s essential to emphasize on the ability to overcome procrastination and focus on completing tasks. Job seekers must provide details on how they have managed to avoid procrastination and deliver projects on time in their previous roles.

E. Time Audit and Tracking

Time audit and tracking involves the application of tools to monitor and manage time spent on specific activities. It helps job seekers to identify areas that need improvement and enhance productivity. Highlighting time audit and tracking skills on your resume demonstrates your ability to evaluate your performance and focus on essential tasks.

Effective time management is a critical skill that every employer desires in their staff. Job seekers can stand out in their job search by showcasing their expertise in different types of time management skills. This enables employers to understand their efficiency and productivity in previous positions, boosting their chances of landing their dream job.

Developing Time Management Skills

Effective time management skills are highly valued by employers, making them an essential component of any resume. As you look to bolster your resume with this sought-after skill set, consider the following tips to improve your ability to manage your time effectively:

A. Self-awareness and Identifying Time Wasters

Creating a self-awareness of your time-wasting activities is critical to efficient time management. Identifying these time-wasters helps to focus on activities that align with your goals, thus aiding in time management. Time-wasting activities may include social media, gaming, excessive TV watching, aimlessly browsing the internet, and other non-essential activities. It is recommended that you create a list of activities that impede productivity and limit their time.

B. Strategies to Balance Professional and Personal Life

Balancing your professional and personal life is crucial to managing your time effectively, as one can easily upset the other. Setting realistic and achievable goals are recommended for both professional and personal activities, making it easier to prioritize and manage your time accordingly. Tools such as scheduling and prioritizing activities, delegating tasks, and analyzing your performance will help to balance these aspects of your life.

C. Techniques to Improve Focus and Productivity

Improving your focus and productivity is essential to managing your time effectively. Techniques such as prioritizing workloads, organizing your workspace, breaking your work into smaller tasks, and taking regular breaks can significantly improve your productivity. It is important to remember to take short breaks throughout the day, as this will help to maintain focus and maximize productivity.

D. Tips to Manage Distractions and Interruptions

Managing distractions and interruptions is a critical aspect of effective time management. To reduce these disruptions, it is important to identify their cause and eliminate them. Techniques such as disconnecting from technology, taking steps to limit interruptions, and creating an effective work environment can all help to minimize distractions.

Your ability to manage your time effectively is a highly valued skill that can set you apart in the job market. By following the above tips, you can increase your productivity, minimize distractions, and better balance your personal and professional life, making you an ideal candidate.

Incorporating Time Management Skills into Your Resume

One of the key ways to stand out in a competitive job market is to emphasize your time management skills on your resume. Here are some tips and tricks for effectively showcasing these skills to potential employers:

A. Tailoring your resume to highlight your time management skills

When crafting your resume, consider which skills are most important to the job you’re applying for. If time management is a crucial aspect of the position, be sure to highlight your relevant skills and experience. Use keywords and phrases that speak to your ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and work efficiently.

It’s also important to give concrete examples of how you’ve used your time management skills in past jobs or projects. Don’t just list your skills, but explain how you’ve applied them in real-world situations. This can help potential employers understand the value you can bring to their organization.

B. Examples of strong time management skills phrases

Here are some examples of strong phrases you can use on your resume to highlight your time management skills:

• “Effectively prioritized tasks to meet strict deadlines”
• “Managed multiple projects simultaneously, completing all on time and under budget”
• “Streamlined processes to improve efficiency and reduce project timelines”
• “Created and maintained detailed schedules to ensure timely completion of deliverables”

C. Dos and Don’ts for including time management skills on your resume

• Focus on specific examples of how you’ve applied your time management skills
• Use keywords and phrases that are relevant to the job you’re applying for
• Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible (e.g. “Completed project ahead of deadline by 3 days”)

Don’ts:

• Don’t simply list your time management skills without providing context or examples
• Avoid vague or generic phrases like “good time management” or “organized”
• Don’t exaggerate or lie about your experience with time management

By following these tips and effectively showcasing your time management skills on your resume, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job. Remember to be honest and specific, and demonstrate how your skills can benefit the organization you’re applying to.

How Employers Recognize Strong Time Management Skills

Time management is an essential skill that employers seek in potential employees. It is a vital aspect of productivity, as it helps people prioritize work and meet deadlines. According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), time management ranks among the top five soft skills employers look for in candidates.

Here are some ways employers recognize strong time management skills:

A. Common interview questions to ask when assessing time management skills

Employers typically ask questions to understand how candidates handle their workload and prioritize tasks. The following are some common interview questions to assess a candidate’s time management skills:

• How do you manage your time on a typical workday?
• Can you describe a time when you had conflicting priorities and how you handled it?
• How do you prioritize your to-do list?
• Can you walk me through your process for meeting deadlines?

Employers may also ask behavioral questions that focus on specific situations to understand a candidate’s time management skills better.

B. Tips on how to demonstrate strong time management skills

Demonstrating strong time management skills can help you stand out from other candidates. Here are some tips on how to showcase your time management skills in your job applications and interviews:

• Use action-oriented verbs: Use action-oriented verbs to highlight your time management skills in your resume and cover letter. For example, instead of saying “I helped manage a project,” say “I led a team that delivered the project on time and within budget.”
• Provide examples: Provide examples of how you have managed your workload effectively and met deadlines in your resume and during job interviews.
• Use time-tracking tools: If you have used time-tracking tools, mention them in your resume and cover letter. Showing that you use technology to manage your time effectively can impress potential employers.
• Demonstrate your organization skills: Being organized is key to effective time management. Mention your organizational skills in your resume and cover letter and demonstrate them in your interview by bringing a well-organized portfolio or being prepared with a detailed plan.

C. Examples of job descriptions highlighting time management skills

Here are some job descriptions that highlight time management skills:

• Project Manager: The candidate should have a proven track record of successfully managing multiple projects simultaneously and delivering them on time.
• Sales Representative: The candidate should be able to manage their territory effectively, prioritize sales activities, and meet or exceed sales goals consistently.
• Administrative Assistant: The candidate should be able to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively, meet deadlines, and work independently.

Demonstrating strong time management skills can help you stand out in your job search. By using action-oriented verbs, providing examples, highlighting time-tracking tools, and demonstrating organizational skills, you can showcase your ability to manage your workload effectively.

How to Improve Time Management Skills

Time management is a crucial skill to have, especially in today’s fast-paced work environment. If you’re someone who struggles with managing your time effectively, don’t worry! There are several resources available to help you hone your time management skills.

A. Resources for honing time management skills

Books – There are several books available on time management that can help you understand different techniques and tips to manage your time efficiently. Some popular books you can read include “Getting Things Done” by David Allen, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, and “Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy.

Short courses – You can also enroll in short courses that are designed to help you improve your time management skills. These courses typically cover topics such as prioritizing tasks, goal setting, and eliminating distractions. Some popular courses available include “Time Management Fundamentals” on LinkedIn Learning and “Time Management Mastery” on Udemy.

Workshops – Attending workshops focused on time management can also be helpful. These workshops are usually conducted by trainers who provide hands-on training, tips, and techniques for effective time management.

B. Online courses and certifications

Online courses and certifications are available for busy professionals who want to improve their time management skills. These courses are usually self-paced, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Some popular online time management courses include “Time Management Essentials” on Coursera, “Productivity and Time Management for the Overwhelmed” on Skillshare, and “The Time Management Bootcamp” on LinkedIn Learning.

Certifications, such as the Certified Time Management Professional (CTMP) offered by the International Association of Professions Career College, can also be valuable for individuals looking to enhance their time management skills.

C. Time management apps and tools

Using different time management apps and tools, you can easily manage your time, increase productivity, and stay organized. Some popular time management tools include:

Trello – A project management tool that helps you organize your projects, prioritize tasks, and communicate effectively with your team.

RescueTime – A productivity app that tracks your time and provides you with detailed reports on how much time you spend on different apps and websites.

Pomodoro timers – Apps like Focus@Will and Focus Booster use the Pomodoro technique, which divides your work into 25-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks in between.

With these resources, improving your time management skills has never been easier. Investing in your productivity and efficiency will not only make you a better employee but also set you up for success in your personal and professional life. Make sure to highlight your excellent time management skills on your resume to stand out to potential employers.

Mistakes to Avoid When Managing Time

Effective time management is crucial for productivity and success, yet many people struggle to manage their time effectively. In this section, we’ll discuss the most common time management mistakes, the negative effects of poor time management, and provide practical tips to avoid these common mistakes.

A. Most common time management mistakes

• Not prioritizing tasks: Failing to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency often leads to inefficient use of time.
• Procrastination: Constantly delaying tasks can lead to stress, anxiety, and missed deadlines.
• Multitasking: Attempting to do multiple tasks simultaneously can actually decrease efficiency and lead to errors.
• Lack of planning: Failing to plan tasks and allocate time leads to disorganization and wasted time.
• Overcommitment: Taking on too many tasks, meetings, or projects can lead to burnout and poor time management.

B. Negative effects of poor time management

Poor time management can have a variety of negative effects, including:

• Increased stress and anxiety
• Missed deadlines and poor productivity
• Decreased quality of work
• Strained relationships with colleagues and clients
• Burnout and lack of work-life balance

C. Tips to avoid common time management mistakes

• Prioritize tasks: Determine which tasks are most important and urgent, and focus on those first.
• Create a schedule: Plan out your day or week, allocating time to specific tasks and projects.
• Avoid procrastination: Set realistic deadlines and break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.
• Eliminate distractions: Turn off notifications, close unnecessary tabs or apps, and work in a quiet environment to minimize distractions.
• Learn to say no: Don’t overcommit yourself – only take on tasks or projects that align with your priorities and goals.
• Take breaks: Take short breaks to recharge and avoid burnout.
• Review and adjust: Regularly evaluate your time management strategies and make adjustments as needed.

Effective time management is an essential skill for productivity and success. By avoiding common mistakes and implementing practical strategies, you can improve your time management skills and achieve your goals. Highlighting these skills on your resume can demonstrate to potential employers your ability to manage your time effectively and be a valuable asset to their team.

How to Measure Time Management Skills

Time management skills are highly valued by employers and are often included as key competencies on job descriptions. As a job seeker, it is important to showcase your time management abilities on your resume, but how do you measure and track your success in this area? In this section, we cover three ways to measure time management skills.

A. Self-assessment of time management skills

The first step to measuring your time management skills is to conduct a self-assessment. A self-assessment helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses in time management and provides insights into areas you need to improve. To conduct a self-assessment, you can use a time management skills checklist, which includes components such as planning, prioritization, delegation, and goal setting.

When conducting a self-assessment, it is important to be honest with yourself and evaluate your skills objectively. This will help you identify areas that require more attention and create a plan for improvement.

B. Time management performance indicators

Once you have completed a self-assessment, it is important to identify time management performance indicators that you can track and measure. These indicators may include the number of tasks completed within a set period, the ability to meet deadlines, or the successful execution of projects within a given timeframe.

Performance indicators help you track your progress and provide tangible evidence of your time management abilities. To effectively measure your performance indicators, you should set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. This will enable you to track your progress and make necessary adjustments to improve your time management skills.

C. Tips on how to track and measure success

To track and measure your success in time management, you can use various tools and techniques. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Use a time-tracking app or tool to log your activities and identify areas where you spend the most time
• Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals for completing tasks and projects
• Use a project management tool to manage deadlines and track progress on projects
• Review your performance indicators regularly to ensure you are making progress towards your goals
• Seek feedback from colleagues, supervisors, or mentors to get an outside perspective on your time management skills and identify areas for improvement

Measuring and tracking your time management skills is crucial to highlight them on your resume. By conducting a self-assessment, identifying performance indicators, and using various tools and techniques to track and measure success, you can improve your time management skills and demonstrate your value to potential employers.

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How to Add Time Management Skills to Your Resume – With Examples

In many workplaces, things are hectic and spare time is unheard of. That is what makes time management an  in-demand transferable skill . It is useful in every position and in every field, from entry-level positions to the C-suite.

How can you demonstrate time management skills on a  resume ? Below, we will examine what time management skills are, how you can develop them, and how to write time management skills on a resume. We will also share an example of a resume that demonstrates time management skills effectively.

Resume Time Management Skills – What Are They?

Time management skills have been defined as “the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively, especially at work.” Put another way, these skills are “the process of organizing and planning your activities (time) in a way that it maximizes performance, efficiency, and productivity.”

Good time management skills are demonstrated by the results they produce. For example, if you can manage your time well, you will be able to meet deadlines, stay organized, prioritize tasks, and get your work done effectively. This will remain true even if your schedule or workload abruptly changes.

Interestingly, time management is important in one’s personal life as well. In order to maintain a healthy work/life balance, an employee should be able to finish workplace tasks without excessive overtime or “taking work home” so that work does not encroach on personal time. This also helps keep stress to a minimum. On the flip side of this, time must be well managed in one’s personal life so that necessary tasks can be completed while not at work. Time management also plays a role in getting adequate sleep.

Are you wondering how to list time management skills on a resume? Keep reading to discover our best tips.

How to Develop Time Management Skills

In order to demonstrate time management skills on your resume, you first need to cultivate good time management skills. Why not try a few of the following exercises that can help you strengthen your time management skills?

• Keep a calendar of important events and deadlines.
• Get plenty of sleep, striving to go to bed and wake at the same time each day.
• Prioritize your tasks for the day, week, and month. Concentrate on getting the most important tasks done first.
• Make it a habit to be punctual and meet all deadlines.
• Evaluate your activities, looking for time-wasters. You can do this in both your work life and personal life.
• Try the  Pomodoro technique  – set a timer for 25 minutes, and don’t allow yourself to be distracted from your task. Then, take a 5-minute break. Repeat.
• Evaluate your schedule to determine whether it is realistic. If you find you are trying to cram too much into a period of time, make adjustments.

How to Describe Time Management Skills on Resume

If you want to know how to word time management skills on your resume, consider this: you  can  list time management as a skill in your  Skills section  or Skills Summary. But you don’t have to. You can also demonstrate time management skills in other ways.

In fact,  showing  your time management skills is preferable to merely talking about them. Below, we’ll show you how to do just that.

Time Management Skills Resume Phrases

How you describe your time management skills will depend on your line of work and the duties involved. For example, if you are a manager, time management might involve  scheduling  others – actually creating their work schedules.

Other jobs may not include this task, but you may have to meet your own deadlines, delegate tasks, manage projects, etc.

Below, we’ll consider some keywords and phrases that can indicate you know how to manage your time well – without ever typing the phrase “time management.”

Scheduling skills may be more closely related to time management than any other discrete skillset. Scheduling can involve your own time and that of others. How so?

When you have a number of daily tasks to perform or long-term projects to complete, personal scheduling is important. You may find it helpful to make lists of necessary tasks, putting the most important or most urgent at the top. You may also decide to delegate certain tasks to others.

Scheduling also involves managing others’ time. This is especially the case if you are a manager or supervisor charged with creating rotating weekly schedules for employees. You must be a good communicator, striving to understand the unique needs and situations of each employee. You must juggle employee considerations and the demands of the project or workload.

Use the following keywords related to scheduling:

• Remained on schedule
• Created weekly employee schedules
• Prioritized tasks
• Managing appointments
• Record keeping

Setting Goals

Whether they are personal goals like receiving a raise or a promotion, or task-oriented goals like finishing your report on time, achieving goals requires good time management. After all, time must be set aside for the steps needed to reach any given goal.

Goals also aid you in finding a sense of direction. When you work toward a goal, you are less likely to be distracted by less important tasks.

So, if you want to demonstrate your time management by setting goals, you might include the following phrases on your resume:

• Goal-oriented
• Setting and achieving goals
• Meeting deadlines
• Long-term project

Prioritizing Tasks

As already mentioned, prioritizing tasks is an important part of time management. Why? You may not have time to complete every task on your to-do list. You must therefore rank them in order of importance or urgency. In this way, you can accomplish the most in the limited time you have.

Related to this is the ability to break down tasks into their constituent parts. This will allow you to allocate your time more effectively – you will be able to do each task in the order needed, rather than wasting time. Breaking down tasks into smaller parts also helps you to determine how much time each task will take.

You can use the following terms to demonstrate these skills on your resume:

• Analyzed priorities
• Prioritized/prioritizing
• Delegated assignments
• Order of completion
• Objective hierarchy
• Time-sensitive
• Decision-making
• Break down tasks

Meeting Deadlines

Deadlines are a crucial aspect of good time management. Deadlines help you to prioritize time-sensitive tasks, as described above.

Accountability is an important quality related to meeting your deadlines. If you are good at scheduling but don’t hold yourself (or your employees) to that deadline, your time management plan falls apart.

When we discussed prioritization, we mentioned breaking tasks down into smaller parts. This plays a role in meeting deadlines as well. You can set “mini-deadlines” commonly called benchmarks. These benchmarks note that certain parts of a larger project have been completed.

You can use the following terms to describe these skills:

• Setting deadlines
• Coming in under deadline

There is a maxim that says “no man is an island.” This is true of time management – in most business situations, you cannot complete all the necessary tasks on your own. You need to delegate or assign some tasks to other competent workers.

Good delegation involves several parts. First, you must know your employees or coworkers well enough to understand who has the skills needed to complete the task. This requires good communication and interpersonal skills.

Next, you must be able to communicate the details of the task, including the deadlines, to the individual.

Another aspect of delegation is knowing your own limitations. For example, you might be really good at computer coding but not so good at graphic design. So, if the project involves creating a website for a client, you should delegate the graphic design tasks to someone with the needed skills.

This can rely on a personal quality – humility. You might need to cultivate modesty and a humble attitude in order to admit that you are not the best at everything.

Sometimes, delegation means outsourcing a task to a business-to-business service provider or a freelancer. Again, you will need to communicate clearly the parameters of the assignment as well as the deadline and benchmarks along the way.

• Outsourcing
• Assigning tasks

Having the ability to focus is an important part of time management. You may think that being able to multitask would be the best way to get things done and stay on schedule, but this is not always the case. If you can focus your energy and attention on one project at a time, efficiency increases.

Good time managers also master the ability to shift their focus rapidly. Sometimes, something unexpected comes up and must be handled immediately. If you can give it 100 percent of your attention and get it done, you can get back to your prioritized projects that much faster.

Having focus also reduces stress, especially in hectic work environments. Rather than wasting time by worrying over many what-ifs, you can look for and implement solutions to one problem at a time.

• Detail-oriented
• Problem-solver
• Strategic thinking

Other Time Management Skills

There are a number of other skills related to time management. Specifically, these skills help you and your employees avoid wasting time by improving efficiency.

These miscellaneous skills include:

• Assessment and evaluation
• Documentation
• Effective teamwork
• Office management and maintenance
• Organization and filing
• Resource management
• Self-awareness
• Stock inventory
• Strategic planning
• Stress management and coping

Think about it – if you use a good paperwork filing system or inventory your stock, you won’t waste time trying to find these items later. If you manage your resources well, you won’t run out of supplies in the middle of a project, causing a delay. And if you work effectively as a team, you won’t encounter problems like duplicating effort.

Really, it is quite amazing how pervasive this necessary skill proves to be!

Time Management Skills Resume Examples

Are you still seeking inspiration on how to show time management skills on a resume? Consider the following examples.

As you do, pay attention to how the applicant provides concrete examples of time management skills rather than simply listing them. Our applicant is applying for a managerial position at a grocery store. Time management skills were specifically listed in the job description.

Corey Smith 555.555.5555 [email protected] 123 Anywhere Street, Anywhere, NY

• Time management
• Organization
• Supervisory Skills

Work Experience

Shift manager Captain D’s Restaurant Anywhere, NY 2012 to 2022

• Created rotating weekly schedules, taking into account employee requests and known periods of increased sales
• Oversaw the preparation of 52 different menu items; reorganized preparation and storage areas, decreasing order up time by 45 seconds per order (an improvement of 15 percent)
• Fielded customer complaints with the goal of 100 percent customer satisfaction; increased average Google review stars from 3.5 to 4.5 in six months

Cashier Olde Time Grocery Store Somewhere, NY 2005 to 2011

• Used a point of sale (POS) system and acted as a point of contact for customer service
• Trained new employees to use POS and handle customer complaints
• Received commendation for punctuality and reliability
• Opened and/or closed the store each day

High School Diploma 2005 Anywhere High School Anywhere, NY

Did you notice the time management-related skills that Corey highlighted? He used terms like “schedulings,” “order up time,” and “punctuality.” He also cited specific examples of these skills in action. For instance, his efforts helped decrease the time it took to complete orders and deliver them to the customer.

Key Takeaways

• Time management is an important skill in every industry, as well as in your personal life.
• You can improve your time management skills by keeping a calendar and setting (and sticking to!) a schedule of activities.
• Time management involves a varied subset of skills, including scheduling, setting goals, prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines, delegation, and focus.
• On your resume, you should show examples of time management in action, rather than just listing it as a skill.

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What can time management skills help a person to do?

Although underrated, time management skills can help you get a lot of things done in an efficient and organized way.

If you have good time management skills, not only can you approach tasks with a clear head but it will also help you maintain a good work-life balance, which is crucial for maintaining a sense of job satisfaction.

With proper time management, you can work smarter, save yourself from unnecessary hassle, and facilitate your overall career growth.

And while good time management skills are just a bonus for some job profiles, it is indispensable for other positions.

Thus, the importance of highlighting time management skills on your resume to increase your chances of getting shortlisted.

Read on to learn more about time management skills and other related questions like the following:

• What are time management skills?
• Why is it important to develop time management skills?
• How to describe time management skills on a resume?
• What are some examples of time management skills for resumes?
• What are some common time management skills interview questions?

Time Management Skills Definition

Time management skills are nontechnical skills that facilitate productivity and efficiency, thereby, helping you make the most of your time.

It is the art of managing and segregating tasks in an organized manner that helps you divide adequate time between tasks and achieve desired goals without stress.

When executed correctly, time management skills can help you get more work done in less time, even under tight deadlines and pressure.

Time management skills are, in fact, a combination of different skills like organization, goal setting, communication, delegation, planning, and flexibility.

Also Read: What skills should you put on your resume in 2022?

Importance of Time Management Skills for Resume

The importance of time management skills stems from the fact that it facilitates productivity and streamlines work.

Employers want to hire candidates who can efficiently manage their tasks and adhere to deadlines without causing burnout.

• Although time management skills are an asset for any job role, it is crucial for positions like managers, chief executive officers, teachers, dentists, lawyers, etc.

Think of time management skills as a means to support your career growth.

When you consistently deliver quality work before deadlines, you will make a great impression on your bosses and open up better opportunities for yourself.

And when you showcase these qualities on your resume, rest assured, your chances of getting hired will double up.

Also Read: What are the top employablitiy skills that you must have in 2022?

How to Write Time Management Skills on a Resume?

Simply listing time management skills in your resume won’t do you any good.

To ensure that the recruiters take note of your time management skills and get impressed, you must describe instances wherein you’ve exemplified or leveraged these skills.

Given below are some tips that will help you showcase time management skills effectively on your resume:

Analyze the Job Description

The job description provided in the listing can give you useful insights into the type of work that you’ll need to execute by leveraging time management skills.

Accordingly, you can describe those experiences in your resume that are aligned with the requirements.

For instance, if the job description includes scheduling events and delegating tasks, you must showcase time management skills in your resume by describing your experience in handling similar duties.

Exemplify It in the Professional Experience Section

• The professional experience section in your resume is the best place to showcase your time management skills.

However, you must ensure that you don’t write in bulky paragraphs and provide unnecessary details.

Instead, frame bullet points using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to write crisp and impactful sentences.

Given below are some time management skills examples for your resume’s professional experience section:

• Streamlined product development process and strategies to meet deadlines for 6+ projects every week to reduce product cycle time by 10%.
• Maintained on-time schedules for 4 new high-priority launches to complete all deliverables before deadlines.
• Organized schedules and travel plans for 3+ corporate executives whilst performing general administration duties.
• Planned and executed a new system of internal communication for 5+ office assistants to save an average of 5 work hours in a week.
• Optimized an online appointment booking system to increase office efficiency by 10% and cut manual errors.
• Methodized processes for a team of 5+ marketing representatives to counter bottlenecks and cut offline marketing costs by 20%.

Highlight Your Time Management Skills on Your Resume Summary or Objective

Even if the recruiters don’t go word by word through your resume, they are likely to read your resume summary or objective.

Therefore, highlighting your time management skills in your resume summary is a great idea.

For your reference, here are some examples of how you can do the same:

“3+ years experienced office assistant adept at prioritizing tasks and scheduling office appointments while executing administrative duties to maintain effective time management.”

“Assistant manager with 4+ years of proven track record of managing 7+ product development professionals and ensuring on-schedule product launches to facilitate hassle-free workflow.”

“5+ years experienced manager with an impeccable track record of strategizing and executing processes to automate employee timesheets to reduce manual work and optimize work hours.”

List Them in Your Resume Skills Section

As long as you back up your time management skills with examples, you can list them under the skills section of your resume as well.

Doing so will also help your resume rank high in the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) that recruiters use to select the most qualified candidates.

• Pick keywords from the job description provided in the listing and use the same words to list your time management skills on your resume.

Listed below are some examples of time management skills for resumes:

Also Read: How to effectively list soft skills on resumes in 2022?

Time Management Skills Interview Questions

To assess your time management skills on a deeper level, recruiters often ask questions related to it during interviews.

And if you don’t prepare your answers before the interview, chances are, you might fumble or provide unsatisfactory answers.

Given below are some of the common time management skills interview questions that you can practice:

• Tell me about a time your workload was very heavy
• How do you prioritize tasks?
• How do you limit distractions at work?
• How do you manage deadlines?
• What does time management mean to you?
• Do you think you have good time management skills?
• Describe a time when you managed a heavy workload and adhered to deadlines.
• How do you balance work and personal life?
• How do you plan your work when you have multiple conflicting tasks?
• If you are expected to report to several managers, how would you prioritize your duties?

Also Read: What are the most common interview questions for jobs in 2022?

Key Points from the Blog

• Time management skills are nontechnical skills that facilitate productivity, and efficiency, thereby, helping you make the most of your time.
• Highlight your time management skills in your resume summary or objective in a few lines.
• “How do you prioritize tasks?” “How do you limit distractions at work?” and “How do you manage deadlines?” are some of the common time management skills interview questions.

If you need expert guidance to help you list your time management skills on your resume, visit Hiration’s Career Activator Platform with 24x7 chat support. You can also send us your queries to [email protected] .

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7 Time Management Skills You Should Include on Your Resume

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“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot ” -Michael Altshuler

Time is money, and every employer has a bottom line to watch — which is why they want to hire people with good time management skills. These skills are always in high demand because they’re essential for keeping workflows moving smoothly and efficiently. 

In this article, we’ll talk about 7 time management skills you should add to your resume to help you stand out to potential employers. 

Jobscan has reviewed over a million resumes. We know exactly what resume skills hiring managers are searching for. And we’ve put all that knowledge into our resume builder , an easy-to-use tool that will help you get more job interviews.

Table of Contents

What are time management skills, 7 important time management skills for your resume, how to improve your time management skills at work.

Time management skills help you make the most efficient use of your time. These are usually considered to be soft skills , which are the personal attributes and social skills that we need to interact with other people. Soft skills include things like communication , teamwork, and problem-solving.

According to a LinkedIn study , 89 percent of employers say that when a hire does not work out, it’s often due to a lack of soft skills. This is why more and more recruiters are prioritizing soft skills when hiring.

Soft skills like time management are especially valuable because they are transferable . This means they can be applied to any job, across all industries and positions. 

When you’re adding skills to your resume , remember that you should always try to show, not tell. In other words, don’t just list your skills, but try to back them up with real-life time management skills examples showing when you applied them.

Here are the seven time management skills that employers love to see the most.

1. Setting priorities

“ Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least .”    ―Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Setting priorities is perhaps the most essential time management skill of all. If you don’t know which task has the highest priority, it’s very difficult to make effective use of your time. 

When you show potential employers that you know how to prioritize tasks, it tells them that you can think about the big picture and understand what is most important for the company’s success.

Remember, when writing your resume , don’t tell readers that you’re “good at prioritizing.” Instead, show them. You could say, for example:

“As a supervisor, I was responsible for managing a team of customer service representatives. We were constantly bombarded with requests from customers, and it was my job to prioritize those requests to keep our team on track. I learned how to quickly assess what was most important and delegate accordingly.”

Here are 3 ways to showcase your ability to prioritize on your resume:

• As seen in the example above, use action verbs such as manage , prioritize , or assess to paint a clear picture and keep readers engaged. 
• Use numbers to show the results you achieved. For example, “By prioritizing the most important customers, I helped my team increase the ROI of outbound sales by 25 percent.”
• Emphasize efficiency – show potential employers that, despite having many responsibilities, you can still meet deadlines and deliver great results.

2. Setting goals

“ If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else .”  -Yogi Berra

Setting clear goals makes it easier to determine how to best use your time so you can achieve those goals. They also help you stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed.

If you are a social media manager, for example, you set goals by creating a schedule for posting content. This helps you plan your time so you can focus on the most important tasks.

If you are a project manager , you set goals by choosing a target completion date for a project. Then you can work backwards and create a schedule or plan that will ensure the project finishes on time.

Setting goals makes it easier to track your progress and see how far you’ve come. It also allows you to make adjustments if necessary. 

Here are 3 ways to highlight goal setting skills on your resume:

• Be specific – don’t just say your goal was to “grow sales this year.” Instead say you set a goal to “increase sales by 10 percent over each quarter throughout the year.”
• Share an educational goal, such as learning a new tool or completing a course. For example, “My goal was to learn to code, which I did by taking an online coding course.” 
• Show how you set goals that are measurable and achievable . Maybe you set a goal to increase web traffic to your company’s website by 20 percent over the course of 6 months – and you successfully reached that goal. 

3. Planning

“ Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now .” ― Alan Lakein

Yes, prioritizing and setting goals are important skills. But you also need to be able to put those ideas into motion – this is where planning comes in. 

Examples of planning include creating a timeline, developing a strategy, or allocating resources. 

Putting this skill on your resume is fairly easy if you were in a leadership or project management position. All you have to do is think about a time when you helped put a new process in place or developed a product.

But even if you didn’t lead such efforts, you can still try to think of times where you had to plan events, meetings, or anything else where you had to take charge and make sure everything ran smoothly.

Planning is a valuable skill in any job, so don’t be afraid to showcase it even if you don’t have the word “manager” in your title.

Here are 3 tips for displaying your planning abilities on your resume:

• Try to use action verbs that emphasize your planning skills, such as coordinated , organized , and scheduled .
• Include any relevant certifications or training in project management.
• Highlight successes you achieved that were the result of good planning on your part.

4. Delegating

“The inability to delegate is one of the biggest problems I see with managers at all levels .”    – Eli Broad

Delegating is the process of assigning responsibility for a task or project to another person or group. When delegating, it is vital to ensure that the people you delegate to have the necessary skills and expertise to complete the task.

Delegating is an important time management skill for two reasons:

• It shows you are capable of managing others effectively.
• It allows you to free up your own time so that you can focus on other tasks.

Add delegating to your resume by highlighting the successes you achieved by assigning tasks to others. Also explain how this benefited your company or organization. 

Tips for featuring your delegating skills on your resume include: 

• Create a more powerful impact by using action verbs like managed , directed , supervised , or assigned .
• Include any experience you have managing a team. This shows that you are able to lead others and get the best out of them.
• Use numbers – instead of saying, “I supervised a team,” say, “I supervised a team of 8 people.”

5. Using technology

“ Technology is best when it brings people together .” – Matt Mullenweg

In today’s world, any discussion of time management skills must include using technology. Technology can save time by improving communication, streamlining processes, and freeing up employees for other tasks. 

This means that it’s critical to show prospective employers that you are comfortable with using technology to save time and increase productivity.

Your resume should always include your experiences with specific time management software or tools.

Examples of this technology include project management software, marketing automation platforms, data analytics software, e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, CRM software, and more.

Here are 3 ways to feature your tech know-how on your resume:

• Whenever possible, show how you used a tool to achieve a specific result. For example, “I used Smartsheet software to reduce workflow by 10 percent.”
• List certifications, special training, and other credentials.
• If tech knowledge seems like a make-or-break for a potential employer, include a simple list of relevant tools you know how to use.

6. Documenting and training

“ An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly is the ultimate competitive advantage .” -Jack Welch

It’s vitally important for businesses to document, or create a written record of, their processes. These documents can then guide current employees or train new ones. Documenting can save a lot of time and frustration down the road.

Examples of documents include manuals, video tutorials, online courses, flowcharts, training webinars, and more. 

Here are 3 strategies for showing off your documenting and training skills on your resume:

• Be detailed about any training experience you have. For example, say, “I trained all new machinists on equipment safety and production work.”
• Focus on the measurable results you achieved. An example would be, “As an office manager, I created materials to train new employees on company policies and procedures, which resulted in making the onboarding process 32 percent more efficient.”
• List any certifications, special training, or other classroom credentials you may have.

7. Decision making

“ Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision .”    ― Peter F. Drucker

You might be asking, “ How is decision-making a time management skill?” The answer is that quick and efficient decisions save time that would otherwise be wasted on deliberating over options.

On your resume, try to highlight specific decisions you made that resulted in a positive outcome and explain why they were successful. 

In addition, good decisions always involve problem solving, or the ability to quickly see what needs fixing. So, as a bonus, feel free to add problem solving skills to your resume as well!

Here are some more tips for making your decision-making skills stand out on your resume:

• Show how you utilized data and analytics to inform your decisions.
• Highlight the impact your decisions had on the company’s bottom line. For example, “As a financial analyst, I decided to switch the company over to QuickBooks, which saved 20 percent on accounting costs.”
• If applicable, mention that you made your decisions in a fast-paced or high-pressure environment. This shows that you work well under pressure.

There are a few key things you can do to improve your time management skills while you’re at your job.

• Set priorities and stick to them.
• Make a to-do list and use it as a guide for your daily activities.
• Delegate tasks when possible.
• Stay organized and keep your workspace clean.
• Avoid procrastination at all costs!
• Practice time management techniques regularly .

Following these tips will not only help you become more efficient and productive in the workplace, but they’ll provide you with important soft skills you can add to your resume.

And to create the best resume you possibly can, use Jobscan’s resume builder . 

This tool will dramatically increase the searchability of your resume so that recruiters and hiring managers are more likely to find it – resulting in more job interviews and job opportunities.

Related articles…

10 Interpersonal Skills You Need On Your Resume

The Top 10 Communication Skills To Include On Your Resume

Leadership Skills You Need to Include On Your Resume That Employers Actually Look For

Robert Henderson, CPRW, is a career advice writer and a resume expert at Jobscan.

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Time Management Skills to Add to Your Resume – With examples

Time is your most valuable resource. That’s why it’s so important to let employers know how you handle it.  Looking for how to say you have good time management skills on resume? You landed on the right page to save some time.

Work life can be hectic, and showing you know how to manage your time lets potential employers know that you can work effectively , prioritize tasks, and stay organized, no matter what your schedule or project list looks like.

Time management is an essential skill for any employee —for both in the office and daily life—but it can be difficult to display it effectively on your resume.  So if you are asking yourself, how do I to write or show my time management skills on my resume , you landed on the right page.

In this ResumeGiants article, you will see a few ways you can showcase your time management at work and tell employers why you would be a strong asset to their team.

This ResumeGiants article includes:

Time Management Definition

Time management skills are exactly how they sound. They’re the process of organizing and planning your activities (time) in a way that it maximizes performance, efficiency, and productivity.

These skills are crucial for both everyday life and in a work environment. 

Work life can move fast. Being able to manage your time effectively can help you stay on top of that pile of tasks you have to complete without missing deadlines or rushing through your work. It shows employers you can:

• Stay on track
• Remain organized
• Use your time (and their money) wisely
• Manage stress and keep calm in busy situations
• Complete projects on time

That’s why so many employers want to see time management skills on applicant resumes. 

Time Management Skill Tips for Your Resume

No matter which industry you work in, time management skills are essential to manage your workload. 

However, not every job uses the same skills . For example, scheduling (a type of time management) is likely more important for an administrative assistant than someone who works on an assembly line. 

Here are a few examples of time management skills to add to your resume:

1. Setting Goals

The term “goals” can mean many things. A goal could be a long-term personal objective like a promotion, or it can be a short-term project like finishing the stack of paperwork that appeared on your desk. 

Understanding your goals, no matter how small they may seem, is an important part of time management. 

When you know what needs to be done—or even what you want to get done—you give yourself a sense of direction . You’re less likely to waste time on menial tasks, like checking your social media, when there are goals you want to achieve. 

Goal setting is especially important for jobs that include long-term projects, like implementing procedures. It shows potential employers that you can focus on a project to completion.

2. Scheduling

Scheduling skills are almost the definition of time management. The ability to maintain a detailed schedule will obviously help you stay on track and manage your time wisely .

Luckily, technology has made scheduling skills much easier to grasp. You can use apps and software to manage your calendar and send alerts to help you manage your time. 

Scheduling is important for jobs that require you to jump between or organize various tasks, like a manager or administrative assistant. 

3. Prioritizing Tasks

Scheduling is only the first step of the equation.  Prioritization skills are as important, being able to deliver tasks on time.

Once you know what needs to be done, you need to determine the order of completion . Some tasks are more important or time-sensitive than others. That’s where prioritization comes in.

Prioritizing skills is the ability to create a clear objective hierarchy . 

Some tasks are more important than others and need to be completed first. You might have three projects on your schedule for the day, but if something else comes up, which ones can you push? 

Understanding how to prioritize helps you manage your time wisely and shows potential employers that you can make important task-related decisions.

The ability to prioritize tasks is important for any job that requires you to juggle multiple tasks . It’s especially essential for management positions where unexpected tasks might pop up, forcing you to change your schedule at a moment’s notice.

4. Breaking Down Tasks

Just knowing what you need to do isn’t good enough to maximize efficiency. 

If you’re really a good time manager, you’ll be able to break down tasks into smaller portions to allocate your time even more effectively.

For example, a large task like installing kitchen cabinets can be broken down into several steps: 

• Measuring the space – 15 minutes
• Removing the existing cabinets – 30-45 minutes
• Covering the countertops – 15 minutes
• Installation – 2 hours
• Cleanup – 30 minutes

By breaking down large projects into smaller tasks, you can more easily stay on track and better estimate how long the project will take. 

The ability to break down tasks is important for jobs that require the completion of large or long-term projects.

5. Setting Deadlines (and Sticking to Them)

Deadlines are an important part of time management for accountability . They’re the end date or time to complete a task. 

You can be the best scheduler in the world, but if you don’t hold yourself accountable to that schedule, what does it matter? 

The ability to set and stick to deadlines is especially important for project-based jobs, like graphic designers, web developers, and copywriters, though it can benefit just about any job that requires completion of multiple tasks. 

6. Delegating and Outsourcing

A big part of time management is knowing what tasks are worth your while and which ones are best done by someone with different skills. 

For example, you might be great at fixing cars but not so good at organizing your finances. 

Instead of taking time away from doing what you do best to struggle your way through bookkeeping tasks, outsourcing to an accountant who can do the same tasks more efficiently shows stronger time management skills.

Delegating and outsourcing are important time management skills for managerial jobs or positions that require work with diverse teams. 

The ability to multitask might seem like a strength you’d want to put on a resume , but it’s not always a plus. How can you put 100% into a single task if you’re working on several projects simultaneously?

Strong time managers focus on one project at a time . 

When you can put all your energy into one task at a time, you can complete each project more efficiently and with fewer errors. 

Coupled with scheduling and prioritizing, focus is a powerful time management skill that many employers love to see on a resume.

Focus is an important time management skill for just about any job, but it’s especially important for positions that require the completion of multiple projects at once. It shows you can stick to the project at hand and finish it quickly and efficiently without needing to go back and correct mistakes. 

Effective Time Management Skills on Your Resume

Time management is an essential skill that all employers want to see, but it’s not always easy to showcase on a resume. 

If you want to know how to improve time management skills on your resume, it’s much better to show than to tell.

Rather than put a generic statement like, “great at time management” into a free resume maker and call it a day, provide concrete examples of when you’ve used your time management skills and how they impacted your work.

For example, instead of simply listing “highly organized” (which is very weak), include specifics like “Created a more efficient workflow which decreased turnaround times by 15%.” 

This shows employers that you can (and have) used your organization skills to implement real change, and provides actual statistics to make the point sink in.

The more specific you can be to show your effective time management skills , the better

It’s always better to show instead of tell. That way, potential employers don’t have to just take your word for it. You can prove it! 

Time Management Skills Are an Important Part of Any Resume

It doesn’t matter which job you want to apply to, time management skills are something that any employer will want to see on a resume. 

It shows that you know how to effectively use your time at work to complete tasks in an efficient and productive way and tells potential employers that if they hire you, they’ll get the most bang for their buck!

Once you think about which time management skills you want to showcase on your resume, hop over to ResumeGiants’ free online resume builder easily organize your experience on a document that’s sure to impress. 

We have dozens of resume formats , templates, and examples available to help you build a winning resume to snag the job of your dreams.