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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.

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

In today’s fast-paced work environments, you are expected to wear multiple hats and juggle a variety of priorities. In fact, the ability to manage time effectively can make or break your success. 

Time management has become an in-demand transferable skill . The ability to stay organized and consistently meet deadlines makes you stand out as a reliable and efficient professional from entry-level positions to the C-suite.

But how do you demonstrate time management skills on a resume in a way that’s compelling and impactful? Below, we will examine the following points: 

• What time management skills are
• How you can develop these skills,
• How to strategically highlight time management skills on your resume 

We will also share an example of a resume that demonstrates time management skills effectively.

Let’s begin!

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 maximizes performance, efficiency, and productivity.”

Good time management skills are demonstrated by the results they produce and the impact on others .

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 on time and with less stress. This will remain true even if your schedule or workload abruptly changes.

💡Top Insight

Joseph Ferrari, a prominent professor of psychology, suggests that 20% of adults in the United States are habitual procrastinators .

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

Before you highlight this skill when writing your resume , you need to make sure that it’s a skill you possess.  If you’re ready to begin strengthening your time management skills, try a few of the following exercises:

• 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 based on your immediate, short-term, and long-term goals. These tasks can be prioritized for the day, week, and month. Concentrate on getting the most important tasks done first.

 If you have trouble prioritizing, have your supervisor or a trusted colleague provide input on current priorities and goals.

• Make it a habit to be punctual and meet all deadlines. This habit will help build a positive reputation in and outside of the workplace. 
• Identify and eliminate time wasters . You can do this in both your work life and personal life.

💡 Our expert’s advice

Conduct a time audit! Spend a week journaling your daily activities to get a better idea of where you are spending most of your time.

• 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 a Resume

There are a variety of ways to present your time management skills on your resume.

In your skills, summary, and experience section , you can list traits that demonstrate your ability to manage your time effectively at work.

To take your resume up a notch (and make a strong impression), you want to demonstrate how you’ve used time management in your career. 

In fact, the best approach is to use quantifiable achievements and specific examples to demonstrate how you’ve managed time efficiently in the past.

We’ll show you how to include these, but remember  that our  AI resume builder  can also provide you with personalized suggestions when you create yours.

1. 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 using the phrase “time management.”

2. Scheduling

Scheduling is the foundation of time management. It’s about organizing tasks, people, and resources to meet deadlines and goals. 

This skill is indispensable whether you have a number of daily tasks to perform or long-term projects to complete.  

You may find it helpful to make lists of necessary tasks, putting the most important or most urgent at the top . You might decide to delegate certain tasks to others. Find what style works best for you and work on refining and improving it over time. 

As mentioned earlier, scheduling can also involve 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, listener, and delegator 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

For example:

• Designed and maintained weekly project schedules ensuring all milestones were met ahead of deadlines. 
• Created efficient employee schedules, reducing staffing conflicts and improved operational efficiency 30%. 
• Prioritized and delegated tasks to ensure timely completion of high-priority initiatives.

When possible, include metrics in your achievements for a bigger impact!

3. 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

For instance:

• Set and surpassed quarterly sales goals by 20%.
• Established project goals and timelines to ensure completion of all deliverables to 10+ clients. 
• Improved project completion rates 30% by implementing a task-tracking system.

4. Prioritizing tasks

Prioritization is key when time is limited. Why? You may not have time to complete every task on your to-do list. 

By focusing on what’s most important, you can work more efficiently and produce high-quality results. 

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
• Reduced project turnaround 20% by analyzing and prioritizing tasks based on business needs. 
• Improved team productivity 25% by implementing internal prioritization system.

5. Meeting deadlines

Deadlines are a crucial aspect of good time management. Your ability to meet them consistently demonstrates excellent time management skills, even under pressure.

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
• Increased client satisfaction rate to 98% by consistently delivering projects on or ahead of deadlines. 
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously.
• Awarded Premier Agent of the Year award for holding long-standing record for zero missed deadlines.

6. Delegation

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.

You can use the following terms to describe these skills:

• Outsourcing
• Assigning tasks
• Saved company 2.5K manpower hours annually by outsourcing administrative tasks to external vendors. 
• Improved productivity 35% by assigning tasks based on team member’s specialty and área of expertise.

Work environments are filled with distractions. Focusing is an important part of time management. You may think that multitasking 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.

You can use the following terms to describe these skills :

• Detail-oriented
• Problem-solver
• Strategic thinking
• Reduced project completion times 40% by minimizing distractions and optimizing workflows. 
• Maintained 100%  client satisfaction rate by shifting focus quickly to address urgent client needs with minimal downtime.

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 Example

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 2020 – 2024

• Improved operational efficiency 20% by creating rotating weekly employee schedules while balancing personal requests and business needs. 
• Reorganized kitchen workflows, reducing meal prep times 15%, resulting in faster customer service. 
• Increased Google review rating from 3.5 to 4.5 stars within 6 months by implementing customer satisfaction strategies and time management techniques.

Cashier Olde Time Grocery Store Somewhere, NY 2015 – 2020

• Managed over 200 daily customer transactions accurately and efficiently, while delivery high levels of customer service. 
• Improved team productivity 15% by training new hires on best practices in time management. 
• Received commendation for punctuality and reliability over 5 years

High School Diploma Anywhere High School Anywhere, NY

Did you notice the time management-related skills that Corey highlighted? He used terms like “productivity,” “best practices,” and “efficiency.”

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 isn’t just a skill- it’s your competitive advantage. 
• 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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• 7 best time management skills...

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)

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

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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