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13 Leadership Experience Examples for Interviews

By Biron Clark

Published: November 20, 2023

You could hear this question in any interview… whether it’s an entry-level position or a Director job: “What are some of your leadership experiences?”

I’m going to give you the 3 steps to make sure you give a GREAT interview answer that stands out and makes them think “yes, this is the person we should hire!”

Then, we’ll look at 13 examples of leadership experience you can include on your resume or mention in interviews (including some you may not realize you have!)

Let’s get started…

Why Do Employers Ask About Your Prior Leadership Experience?

Employers will inquire about your prior leadership experience when you interview for a position as a supervisor or manager or when they anticipate that you’ll lead a team on specific projects. 

Even if you don’t have specific management experience in a prior role, you likely have experience leading a task to completion or organizing a project. Highlight your experience and the steps you took to manage your team successfully. Your example will give the interviewer a sense of what to expect if they hire you for the role.

What are Leadership Experience and Skills?

Leadership skills encompass several traits, including interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, strategic thinking, and negotiation. The right combination of leadership experience and skills allows managers to successfully motivate their teams and inspire them to work toward specific goals. Good leaders will also demonstrate accountability for their responsibilities and actions.

Watch: How to Answer “What Are Some of Your Leadership Experiences?”

How to answer “what are some of your leadership experiences”.

There are a couple of guidelines to keep in mind. You want to pick leadership examples that follow these 3 guidelines:

1. Choose an example that’s as relevant as possible

What does this mean? If you’re applying for a Customer Service Supervisor job, and you’ve had some leadership experience in other customer service roles , you should absolutely share that! That’s much more relevant than leadership on a sports team, in school, etc. So always go with what’s most relevant first!

2. Pick something that’s somewhat recent if you can

Recent experience beats older experience if everything else is equal. So when you share some of your leadership experiences, pick things that are recent whenever you have a choice.

3. And finally, choose an example that’s impressive overall

Along with thinking about which of your experiences are most relevant and recent, you need to think about how impressive something is overall. Leading a large number of people is impressive. Managing people directly is more impressive than just leading people on a quick project (especially if you’re interviewing for a job where you’ll be managing more people directly – this goes back to what’s relevant!) Leading a complex project is impressive. Handling multiple projects is impressive. You get the point. So also think about the scale of your past leadership, and the challenges involved, and try to share examples that are most challenging and have a “wow” factor.

Best Interview Answers for “What Are Some of Your Leadership Experiences?”

So to give the best answer possible, you want to combine the three points above, and then be specific. If you have previous work experience, use the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result. What was the situation you were in? Was it school, a recent job, or something else? How many people did you lead, and who were they? Next, what was the task? What did you need to accomplish or what problem did you face? After that, talk about the action you took and how you led. What were your options, which did you choose as a leader, and why?

And finally, conclude your leadership experiences by talking about the RESULT. That’s most important. How did things turn out? And what did you learn from it? How did you use this experience to improve and how will you use this knowledge to perform well in this job you’re interviewing for!

It’s Okay if You Don’t Have ‘Perfect’ Leadership Examples…

Maybe you just graduated from school, or you’re applying for your first job . You might not have work-related leadership experience. That’s okay. Just pick the most relevant leadership experiences that you can think of. Do the best you can with the example you prepare. Nobody’s perfect, and nobody has every single thing an employer wants in the interview, so you just need to prepare the best you can and give the best example you can when responding to the question. And if the STAR method isn’t working (I’ve seen people struggle to use it if your example of leadership experience is from sports, etc.), make it simpler and just focus on the situation, and what you learned from it. What was the goal, and how did you help accomplish it through leadership? And how did you improve and develop as a leader? Always show what you learned at the end! That’s one of the keys to answering this type of interview question. If you don’t have any formal leadership experience (like managing a team at work, or managing client projects), here are 13 examples of leadership experience to help you get ideas…

13 Leadership Experience Examples

1. leading a project or task in school.

This can be any level of school. Choose whatever you completed most recently. If you’re a college graduate, pick a project from the last one or two years of college. If you just graduated high school, choose something from your senior year.  Taking a lead role in a school project is a great example of leadership experience. If you delegated tasks, chose the overall strategy for the project, or anything like that, that’s leadership! Organizing a team presentation can also be considered leadership.

Example answer:

I was assigned to lead a team of three colleagues in my college marketing course. We had to develop a comprehensive digital marketing strategy for a hypothetical e-commerce company. I organized our group to work on different components of the plan, including our content, social media , and email strategy. We developed a 15-page report and earned an A+.

2. Organizing a study group

Maybe you didn’t lead projects in school, but you organized a study group after class. That’s still a great example of leadership and taking initiative. Any example of you taking initiative and doing something that wasn’t required, but helped you succeed, is a good leadership example.

A calculus course during college was extremely difficult, and I noticed several students were struggling with the assignments and tests. I organized a study group that met twice each week to discuss calculus concepts and work on our homework together. The group was highly beneficial; we all finished with As and Bs in the course. 

3. Spotting a problem at work and finding a solution

Maybe you spotted a potential problem in your most recent job and brought it to your boss’ attention, or better yet – fixed it yourself. This is a great leadership example. Any time you go above and beyond what your basic job requires and solve a problem or take the lead on something without being asked is great leadership.

In my previous job as a quality control engineer, I noticed that a part we manufactured often had a specific defect. I looked further into the issue and found that one of our machines didn’t have the proper calibrations, and this caused the defect. I alerted a manager and we fixed the machine. After that, we saw a 90% decrease in defects for that part.

4. Sports leadership experience

If you’ve played a lead role on any sports teams, this can certainly be used as a leadership example in job interviews.  So think back to your past, and whether you led any sports teams.

I was a cheerleader in high school, and we regularly competed against other teams in our city. I wanted our team to win before I graduated, so I designed a creative cheer that involved lots of stunts and dancing. We practiced hard, and our performance was rock solid at the competition. We won the event and took home several trophies.

5. Volunteer/non-profit leadership

If you’ve volunteered at a local foundation or non-profit and taken a leadership role – even in one task or for one day – you can mention this as leadership experience.  Some of the best leadership experience examples can be for one single day or one single moment; it doesn’t need to be something you did for years.

I volunteer at my local Animal Rescue and usually spend at least one or two days each month caring for the animals in the shelter. I wanted to see more animals go to good homes, so I contacted a pet store to organize adoptions for dogs and cats. We moved several animals to the store, and they were immediately adopted. 

6. Training/mentoring newer team members

You don’t need to have a Manager or Supervisor job title to play a lead role in a past job. If you were ever asked to help get a new team member up to speed, train them on the basics, or watch over them in their first few weeks, that’s a great example of leadership experience. This shows your past boss trusted you and knew they could rely on you. That’s one of the key things you want to try to do when sharing past leadership experiences – pick something that shows other people thought you were someone they could trust and rely on. In an interview, this will help convince the interviewer that they can also rely on you! That’ll help you get hired.

In my last role as an accountant , we expanded our department by ten new employees in six months. Most new workers were recent college graduates, so I became a mentor to help them adjust to the work environment. I introduced them to our accounting system and ensured they had the guidance to perform their tasks.

7. Managing clients/projects

Maybe you’ve never had people reporting directly to you, but you’ve managed projects or managed client accounts for your last company.  You can certainly mention that as one of your leadership examples in the interview.

In my last role as a sales director, I was in charge of several prolific clients who were a significant source of revenue for our company. I ensured that our services always met their needs and regularly checked in on them so we could immediately fix any issues they encountered. Every one of the clients I worked with renewed their contract with our company.

8. Direct reports

If you’ve ever had direct reports, this is the most powerful example you can give. If you hired people, did annual reviews, and had them report to you on a regular basis, this shows your employer trusted you at a very high level. While most people aren’t going to be able to give this as an example, if you can, you should!

In my last role as the human resources manager , I oversaw a team of six employees. I ensured they had all the resources needed to handle their responsibilities and was always there to guide them if questions arose. During my time, the company promoted two of my team members to supervisory positions, and they credited my mentorship as a significant reason for their success.

9. Leading a meeting or committee

This can be at school, at an after-school organization, any type of volunteer organization, a job, a club, etc. If you led a meeting or committee for even a short time period or one-time event, that’s still great leadership experience to put on a resume and then talk about in interviews if asked.  For example, if you were part of a club that needed to host an event, and they put you in charge of the committee responsible for finding a venue and calling different event halls to ask if they’re available – that’s something you led.

As the project manager for the compliance department, I led a weekly meeting with our legal, accounting, finance, and tax team members. Before the meeting, I organized all the topics to discuss and any current updates I had. I ensured that each session was smooth and productive and that every participant understood the responsibilities they needed to take care of in the next week.

10. Passion projects

Even if you took the lead on a project that wasn’t work-related and wasn’t for a non-profit, you can still share it as a leadership example.  Maybe you got three friends together to build an electric go-cart. This still shows the ability to manage and organize a highly-technical, time-consuming project. That’s a valuable trait for many jobs! So don’t be shy about sharing examples of leadership experience even if you weren’t paid for it, weren’t officially a “manager”, and weren’t doing it for an official organization or employer!

While in college, I decided to organize a group of people who enjoyed weekend hikes. I’m a regular hiker familiar with the nearby trails, so I led every trek, ensuring that everyone remained safe and enjoyed the time spent in nature. By the end of the first semester, over 100 students had joined the club. Even though it’s been a few years since my last college hike, we still keep in contact and share the hikes and nature adventures we embark on.

11. Conflict Resolution

Everyone experiences conflict at some point in their lives, both personally and professionally. However, not everyone can successfully resolve disputes. If you have a noteworthy example of conflict resolution, share it with the interviewer. For example, perhaps you stopped a disagreement between two colleagues and found a reasonable compromise that suited both parties.

In my last job as a pediatric nurse , I had a patient who broke their arm after falling during a baseball game. The family members were distraught, and the parents blamed one another for the accident. Their arguments upset the child, so I stepped in and asked them to calm down. I explained that it was an accident and there was no point in arguing. Instead, they should focus their energy on supporting their child. They stopped arguing and quickly understood that the cause of the tension came from worry. 

12. Family Responsibilities

If you have children, a spouse, or elderly parents you care for, you’ve likely encountered numerous scenarios when you needed to step in and take charge. For instance, maybe you noticed your child didn’t understand a schoolwork concept, so you helped them study for their test. If you have an aging parent, you might take a leadership role in their healthcare needs.

As the oldest child, I cared for my younger brother and sister since my parents both worked full-time. After I started driving, I took them to school and ensured they always got to their after-school activities. I was also responsible for making their school lunches and cooking dinner since my parents often didn’t get off work until 6 or 7 p.m..

13. Event Planning

Event planning is another area where leadership is crucial. Overseeing a significant event requires lots of planning, organization, and time management. If you’ve recently planned an event, such as a wedding or a networking activity, you could describe your work and how you ensured the event occurred without a hitch.

My best friend asked me to be her wedding planner. She knows how much I enjoy planning major events and expected I would do a great job catering to her tastes. I planned the entire wedding, including the after-party, for nearly 500 guests. The results were spectacular, and our friends and family still discuss it. Another friend is getting married next year, and she’s asked me to assist in the planning, too.

Full Example Answers for “What Are Your Leadership Experiences?”

Now that you know what to include in your answer, let’s look at a few examples. I’ll give an example for a recent graduate without work experience, and then for somebody who has work experience already.

Example answer if you have no work experience:

I just finished my degree in Finance , and most of my classes during my final year involved teamwork. I try to step up as a leader whenever possible, because it allows me to develop skills in communication, delegation, and managing multiple tasks and deadlines. In a senior-level Accounting class, we were broken off into teams of four and had to complete a large project throughout the entire semester. My team ended up getting the highest grade in the class because I set a schedule early in the project and delegated tasks to people based on their strengths. I enjoy leading and delegating, and I hope to continue leading in my professional career now.

Example answer if you have work experience:

In my last job, I was responsible for supervising a team of five, including managing their schedules, training them and mentoring them. I enjoy leadership and am proud to say that two of these five people were promoted while I was mentoring them. In my job before that, I supervised a team of three designers on certain projects. I wasn’t their direct manager but they reported to me for the projects I led. So I have a mix of project management experience from that role and direct management experience from my most recent job. I enjoy both.

What To Do Next:

Now you need to come up with your own examples of leadership experience to share in the interview. Think about where you’ve led, what you’ve learned, and which story will be most relevant to the employer. Remember the first thing we discussed: Your example of leadership experience should be as relevant as possible, somewhat recent, and impressive overall. If that doesn’t sound familiar, go back to the first half of the article where this is mentioned. And whatever example of past leadership experience you choose to share, be ready to get specific and share real results. What was the outcome and what did you learn? Any time an interviewer is asking this, there’s a good chance they want to hire a strong leader. So you need to sound like you enjoy leading and are comfortable doing more of this in the future!

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30 Examples: How to List Leadership Skills on Your Resume

By Status.net Editorial Team on December 12, 2023 — 11 minutes to read

Leadership skills on your resume showcase your ability to manage teams, projects, and organizations effectively. These skills indicate that you can assume responsibility, guide others, and make informed decisions.

Here’s a quick breakdown of key leadership skills to include:

• Communication : You need to articulate your ideas clearly and listen effectively.
• Teamwork : Collaborate well with others and build strong team synergy.
• Problem-solving : Find solutions to issues and think critically to overcome challenges.
• Innovation : Show creativity and the willingness to try new approaches.
• Reliability : Demonstrate dependability in completing tasks and maintaining work ethic.
• Mentoring : Guide and support the development of peers or team members.

Highlight the skills that align closely with the roles and responsibilities of the position you’re applying for. This customization will help your resume resonate with potential employers.

Identifying Your Leadership Qualities

To effectively showcase your leadership skills on a resume, start by pinpointing what you bring to the table as a leader. This will help tailor your resume to highlight your unique strengths.

Self-Assessment

• Begin with some honest self-reflection.
• Consider your previous experiences where you took charge—whether formally or informally—and think about the skills that helped you succeed in those roles.
• Were you good at setting clear goals, or perhaps your strength lay in motivating a team? List down these instances and skills.
• Try categorizing them under relevant skill sets like communication, problem-solving, or team motivation.

Feedback from Peers and Mentors

• Next, reach out to colleagues and mentors who’ve seen you in action.
• Ask them to share their perspectives on your leadership abilities. This step not only gives you additional insights but also validation for the skills you’ve identified through self-assessment.
• Compact these insights into clear bullet points, such as “recognized by team for effective conflict resolution” or “commended by manager for strong project vision and execution”.

Showcasing Leadership Skills in Different Resume Sections

Professional summary.

Your professional summary is a teaser of your capabilities and accomplishments. Mention a standout leadership achievement or characteristic here. For example, if you spearheaded a project that exceeded targets, you could start with, “Dynamic team leader who successfully drove project X to completion, exceeding goals by 20%.”

Work Experience

In your work experience section, quantify leadership accomplishments with specific results. Under each relevant job title, describe how you guided teams or projects. Use bullet points like:

• Led a sales team to a record-breaking year, increasing revenue by 30%.
• Managed cross-departmental collaborations to streamline the product development process.

Your skills section should concisely list leadership qualities that match the job description. You can focus on skills such as:

• Critical thinking
• Team building
• Strategic planning
• Effective communication
• Decision making
• Conflict resolution
• Emotional intelligence
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Accountability
• Visionary thinking
• Influencing others
• Cultural intelligence
• Time management
• Performance management
• Change management

Categorize them as ‘Leadership Skills’ to make them easily identifiable.

Education and Certifications

Include any leadership roles you held during your education or mention relevant certifications. If you were a club president or coordinated a major event, it’s worth mentioning. For example:

• President of the Student Council, managing a team of five to organize school events.
• Certified Project Management Professional with expertise in agile leadership practices.

Quantifying Your Leadership Impact

When listing leadership skills on your resume, showcasing the tangible impact you’ve had in past roles can make a significant difference. Employers value candidates who can demonstrate their leadership skills with clear evidence of success.

Example Achievements:

Project management.

• Coordinated a team of 10 to deliver a web development project, resulting in a 30% increase in user engagement within three months.

Team Development

• Mentored five junior staff to advance into mid-level positions, enhancing team productivity by 20%.

Using Specific Metrics:

Revenue growth.

• Spearheaded a new market strategy that led to a revenue boost of $100K in the first quarter.

Cost Reduction

• Implemented operational efficiencies that cut supply costs by $50K annually.

Tailoring Leadership Skills to the Job Description

When crafting your resume, aligning your leadership skills with the specific requirements of the job description can make a significant impact. This customized approach shows employers that you’re not just a great leader, but the right leader for their team.

Researching Job Postings

Start by thoroughly reading job postings in your field, focusing especially on the responsibilities and qualifications sections. Here you’ll find keywords and phrases that companies use to describe their ideal candidate. Make a list of these terms, particularly those related to leadership.

Matching Skills to Employer Needs

Once you have your list, match your own experiences and skills with the needs of the employer. Did you spearhead a successful project? That’s a great opportunity to highlight your strategic planning abilities. Have you overseen a team? Mention your supervisory experience and how you’ve fostered team productivity and morale. Ensure each skill you list is presented in a way that’s directly applicable to the job you’re aiming for. Use bullet points for clarity:

• Strategic Planning : Organized a fundraiser that exceeded goals by 30%, illustrating strong strategic planning and execution abilities.
• Team Leadership : Led a team of 10 sales associates to a record-breaking quarter, demonstrating effective team motivation and leadership skills.
• Conflict Resolution : Resolved interdepartmental conflicts by mediating discussions, resulting in improved communication lines and a 15% increase in project efficiency.

Tailoring your leadership skills to the job description not only positions you as a qualified candidate but also demonstrates your attention to detail and your commitment to the role.

Writing Compelling Bullet Points

Crafting your bullet points with clear action verbs and specific outcomes will make your leadership skills shine on your resume.

Action Verbs

When you start your bullet points, kick off with a strong action verb that showcases your leadership skills. This approach brings energy and clarity to your experience. Check out these verbs to strengthen your resume:

• Coordinated
• Implemented
• Streamlined
• Facilitated
• Revolutionized
• Spearheaded
• Transformed

Concrete Outcomes

Highlight the results of your leadership using concrete numbers and outcomes. These specifics will paint a picture of your effectiveness. Here are examples showing how to do this:

• Boosted sales by 20% through strategic leadership of a cross-functional team
• Cut costs by 15% by streamlining in-house training processes
• Increased team productivity by 30% by implementing a new project management system
• Developed a new employee engagement program that reduced turnover by 25%
• Led a marketing campaign that generated a 40% increase in qualified leads
• Improved customer satisfaction scores by 35% as a result of a team restructuring initiative
• Enhanced operational efficiency by redesigning the workflow, saving the company 1000+ hours annually
• Closed deals with 3 major clients, resulting in a revenue increase of $1.5M
• Drove the company’s expansion into two new international markets within a year
• Oversaw a budget of $500,000 while cutting unforeseen expenses by 10%
• Guided a project team to deliver all projects within deadline, 95% of the time
• Achieved a record low employee turnover rate of 5% through improved morale and leadership engagement
• Raised $200,000 in funding for a community service project by leading fundraising efforts
• Completed a company-wide audit leading to a reduction in operational waste by 20%
• Accelerated the company’s growth by 200% in three years through strategic partnerships
• Revamped the onboarding process, resulting in a 50% decrease in new hire ramp-up time
• Delivered a cloud migration project that improved system uptime by 99.9%
• Successfully coached a team of junior managers to achieve their KPIs six months in advance
• Pioneered a new customer feedback system that improved product development cycles by 30%
• Secured a 98% client retention rate through effective team leadership and problem-solving strategies
• Launched a diversity initiative that increased minority representation in leadership roles by 40%
• Orchestrated a department merger without disruption in services or employee satisfaction
• Built a volunteer program that contributed over 500 hours of community service per year
• Engineered a supply chain logistics plan that saved the company $250,000 annually
• Cultivated a culture of innovation that resulted in filing 10 new patents
• Designed a comprehensive risk management strategy reducing liability exposure by 20%
• Consolidated multiple legacy systems into a singular platform, enhancing productivity by 15%
• Commanded a national conference with over 300 delegates, showcasing organizational leadership
• Initiated a quality control protocol that improved product quality by 22%
• Masterminded a program that positively impacted over 10,000 local residents

Leveraging Extracurricular and Volunteer Experience

When detailing your leadership skills in a resume, don’t overlook extracurricular and volunteer experiences. These activities are fertile ground for showcasing your leadership qualities, especially if your professional experience is limited.

Organize Your Points Start by listing leadership roles in clubs, sports teams, or community groups. Did you captain your soccer team or head a fundraising event? This shows commitment and the ability to manage a group towards a goal.

• Led practices and strategy sessions.
• Coordinated team logistics for traveling to matches.

Highlight Achievements Quantify your impact where you can. If you raised a notable amount of money for a cause or increased club membership, include these achievements. This demonstrates the tangible outcomes of your leadership.

• Increased club membership by 20% through targeted recruitment campaigns.
• Organized a charity run, raising $5,000 for local food banks.

Showcase Soft Skills Volunteer work often requires collaboration, problem-solving, and communication. Reflect on instances where you used these skills during your extracurricular activities.

• Coordinated with a team of 10 volunteers to optimize the adoption process.
• Fostered communication between the shelter staff and potential pet adopters.

Use Strong Verbs Employ action verbs to convey your role in leading the effort.

• Chaired the annual book fair, managing over 50 volunteers.

Highlighting extracurricular and volunteer work can fill in the gaps and project a well-rounded image of your leadership capabilities. Tailor these experiences to align with the job you’re applying for, reinforcing the relevance of your skills.

Fine-Tuning and Proofreading Your Resume

Before you hit send on your application, take a moment to double-check your resume. Ensuring every detail is accurate and polished reflects your strong attention to detail—a vital leadership trait.

Start with these steps:

• Spell-check : Use tools like spellcheck to catch any typos or misspellings. However, don’t rely solely on this; some mistakes can slip through.
• Grammar check : Programs like Grammarly are a second pair of eyes, but again, they aren’t foolproof. Read through each line to catch errors a computer might miss.
• Consistency : Review for uniformity in font size, type, and heading styles. Consistent formatting is key for a professional look.

Hand your resume to a trusted friend or mentor for feedback. They might spot errors you’ve overlooked and provide suggestions to enhance your leadership descriptions.

Finally, print out your resume: sometimes, physical copies reveal mistakes that aren’t as obvious on-screen. Scan each section carefully, checking for proper alignment and spacing, and be certain that all of your leadership skills shine with precise, clear language.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

• Not specific enough: Rather than claiming you have “excellent leadership skills,” illustrate this with concrete examples. Showcase situations where you guided a team towards a goal. For instance, “Led a team of six in developing a new marketing strategy, resulting in a 20% increase in sales.”
• Overloading your resume with clichés: Terms like “outside-the-box thinker” and “team player” are vague and overused. Reveal how you breathe life into these phrases. Instead of “team player,” you might say, “Collaborated with cross-functional departments to streamline project processes, enhancing productivity by 15%.”
• Ambiguity about your role in a team achievement: Clarify your contributions to a team success. Instead of “Contributed to a project that won an industry award,” detail your specific actions: “Designed the key product features for an award-winning mobile app.”
• Avoid listing leadership qualities without context. Your skills should tie back to actual results or improvements made. Also, resist the urge to embellish achievements, as this can lead to a lack of credibility if questioned during an interview.
• Using too much jargon or technical language can make your leadership skills unclear to the reader. Explain your accomplishments in straightforward terms that anyone can understand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of leadership skills to put on a resume.

Consider adding skills such as conflict resolution, team building, strategic planning, and effective communication. You might also highlight your ability to delegate, your decision-making prowess, and your knack for inspiring others.

How can I describe my team leadership experience in a resume?

When you describe your team leadership experience, start with a strong action verb followed by the scope of your responsibilities and the impact made. For instance, “Led a team of 12 in completing a cross-departmental project ahead of schedule, increasing efficiency by 15%.”

What kind of leadership achievements should I highlight on my resume?

Showcase achievements where you’ve had a measurable impact. This could be project completions under budget, improvements in team performance metrics, or successful launches of new initiatives. Quantifying these with percentages or dollar figures makes your contribution more tangible.

How would I write a resume headline if I’m applying for a leadership position?

Think of your headline as your professional tagline. If targeting a leadership role, a powerful headline could be “Innovative Team Leader with Proven Record of Elevating Operational Success” or “Visionary Manager with 10+ Years of Experience in Team Growth and Strategic Planning.”

What’s a good way to illustrate leadership skills during an interview?

During an interview, use specific stories that demonstrate your leadership skills. Discuss challenges you’ve faced, how you addressed them, the actions you took, and the results that followed. This method paints a clear picture of your leadership style and effectiveness.

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How To Show Leadership Skills on Your Resume - According to a Hiring Manager

If you’re applying for most mid- to senior- level roles, you’ll need evidence of leadership skills on your resume. Here are some recruiter-backed tips on how to demonstrate them effectively.

2 years ago   •   10 min read

If you’re applying for a senior-level role or one that involves managing others, hiring managers will be looking for evidence of leadership skills. That part’s pretty straightforward — what’s less straightforward is communicating those skills on your resume.

Unlike hard skills like programming or foreign language proficiency , leadership is a soft skill, which means you can’t simply list it in your skill section and move on. So, how do you demonstrate leadership on your resume?

Quick guide to showing leadership skills on your resume

Here's our quick-start guide to listing leadership skills on a resume:

• Look at the job description you're applying for to get a sense of what specific leadership skills you need.
• Start each bullet point accomplishment with a strong action verb .
• Explain a task or project and what your role was.
• Include metrics to show the impact of what you accomplished.
• Highlight positions of leadership in your resume title and summary.
• Get personalized feedback on any potential areas of improvement before you hit "submit" by running your resume throguh our Resume Scanner .

Here’s a good example of how to show soft skills like leadership on a resume:

What recruiters really want when they ask for leadership skills

Showing leadership is more than just saying that you once managed a team (though that’s a great place to start). When recruiters ask for good leadership skills, they’re really asking for a range of soft skills, such as:

• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Managing employees
• Team building
• Communication
• Conflict resolution
• Risk taking

The best way to know exactly what leadership skills a recruiter is looking for is to check the job description. For each role mentioned in the job ad, tailor your resume to include a bullet point that demonstrates that particular skill.

For example, if the job description mentions "motivation,” you could show this by saying that you "spearheaded an employee engagement program, resulting in a 10% decrease in annual employee turnover." If the job description mentions "setting goals,” you could say you "conducted yearly performance reviews and established goals, increasing efficiency by 10%."

How to show leadership skills on your resume

Once you’ve determined what skills the job is asking for, here’s how to describe your leadership skills on your resume.

Start with a strong action verb

Always start your statements with a strong action verb. Verbs like “ led , launched, directed, and spearheaded” all paint a picture of a proactive leader, which is what you’re aiming for. Need help brainstorming? Our action verbs database has more examples you can use to boost your resume.

Be specific

If you’re applying for a leadership role, focus on accomplishments that show how you’ve demonstrated leadership skills in previous positions. Increasing revenue, coordinating stakeholders, managing a team, and acquiring new talent are all things that employers will want their senior-level staff to do, which makes them perfect additions to a resume. The more specific you can be, the better. For example:

Bad: Increased productivity.‌‌‌‌

Okay: Increased productivity by discovering and sharing new techniques.‌‌‌‌

Excellent: Increased productivity by 20% by becoming a subject matter expert on a new automated tracking tool and sharing it with the team.

Use bullet points

Always use bullet points to describe your experience. This makes your resume easier to skim and less cluttered. Your bullet points should focus on high-level outcomes rather than individual responsibilities and be relevant to the role you’re applying for.

Quantify your skills

Quantifying skills simply means turning your experience into a measurable statement that reflects the positive impact of your work. Think of it as backing up your claims with hard facts and impressive statistics. Here’s how to quantify your leadership skills:

• Identify a key achievement : Reflect on your previous roles and choose an impressive accomplishment, project, or task that involved leadership. Did you lead a project, increase efficiency, or improve team morale?
• Describe the scope of the project : How many people were under your leadership? What was the budget of the projects? These figures provide a scale to your leadership role.
• Show the positive result : Look for concrete metrics that demonstrate the impact of your leadership. Did your strategies increase sales, reduce costs, or improve customer satisfaction? Use percentages or financial figures to illustrate these achievements.

For example, rather than saying , “Led a team,” say that you “Led a team of 12, achieving a 30% increase in productivity over six months.”

Let's take a look at another example of how to quantify leadership skills:

Find out if your resume shows leadership

Once you’ve finished, upload your resume to the tool below. It’ll rate you on core competencies — including leadership skills — and give you instant feedback on how to optimize your resume to land the job you want.

Where to show leadership skills on your resume

You can showcase your leadership skills in various sections of your resume, including your work experience, resume summary, and resume header.

In your work experience section

Your work experience section is the most common and most crucial area to showcase your leadership skills. Each past role should detail specific accomplishments through bullet points, using quantifiable outcomes to demonstrate the positive impact of your leadership.

Here is an example of a resume showcasing leadership skills under work experience:

In your resume summary

Including a resume summary is optional, but can be a good idea if you're trying to highlight a specific skill, like leadership. A resume summary should go above your work experience and be limited to 3-5 lines. Be sure to include any key skills and standout accomplishments, including specifics about the size and context of previous teams you've led.

In your resume header

If you want your leadership skills to be the prominent focus of your resume, include them in your resume header. Using a professional title that reflects your experience, such as 'Strategic Team Leader,’ or ‘Project Leader’, indicates to the reader that leadership is a key component of your experience and skills.

How to show leadership skills outside of a professional setting

Leadership isn't only confined to traditional job roles. If you don’t have much paid experience with leadership, don’t worry; you can demonstrate leadership through various activities, including volunteer work, personal projects, freelance or contract work, and virtual or remote settings.

Volunteer and community work

Volunteer and community work can be a great way to showcase leadership. Focus on organization skills, emphasizing event planning, team coordination, communication, and public speaking. Quantify your experience with statistics, such as the number of people involved, the amount of money raised, and the scale of the project.

For example:

Led a team of 20 volunteers in a city-wide clean-up, collecting over 1,000 pounds of litter.

Personal Projects

Personal projects are excellent for demonstrating self-motivation and creativity, both of which are key leadership traits. Describe the project's scope, your role in its development, and any significant outcomes. If your project led to notable results, like receiving an award or recognition, highlight it.

Independently developed and managed a comprehensive digital art portfolio, showcasing a collection of over 50 original artworks.

Freelance and Contract Work

In freelance and contract work, leadership is often demonstrated through effective client management and the ability to multitask across various projects. Discus skills such as managing client expectations, meeting tight deadlines, and resolving conflicts to show leadership, adaptability, and organizational skills.

Managed a diverse client base, successfully delivering over 30 web development projects within budget and deadlines over two years.

Virtual and Remote Work

Leadership in virtual and remote work settings is becoming increasingly crucial in today's work environment. Highlight experiences where you've successfully managed or coordinated remote teams, focussing on effective communication, timely project completion, and achieving set goals. Emphasize the results, such as improved team performance, successful project outcomes, or innovative remote collaboration, to showcase your effectiveness as a virtual leader.

Led a remote team of 15 members across five countries in executing a major marketing campaign for an international product launch.

What not to do: Avoiding common mistakes

Don't use leadership buzzwords.

Buzzwords are overused words and phrases, like “creative thinker” or “good team player,” that take up space on your resume without saying anything about your actual skills or experience. Instead, replace buzzwords with accomplishments that demonstrate skills in action.

Don't list soft skills as skills

Soft skills like leadership, communication, and time management don’t belong in your skills section. You need to show a recruiter proof of these skills through quantified experience rather than simply listing them as skills. Your resume skills section should be reserved for hard skills , such as technical expertise, digital tools, languages, and programming skills.

Don't repeat yourself

If your eyes are starting to glaze over after the fifth time you've started a sentence with "Led ..." the hiring manager is likely skipping over it, too. Avoid repetition by using appropriate synonyms for the specific skills you're trying to convey. For example:

If you spearheaded a project: Initiated, Established, Pioneered, Launched, Organized

If you managed employees: Supervised, Ran, Directed, Headed, Delegated

If you led coaching or training: Mentored , Trained, Coached, Guided, Motivated

Don’t forget Keywords

Including the right keywords is crucial for a high-performing resume - Not only to show a recruiter why your experience is relevant but to get your resume past ATS . While leadership is an important thing to showcase, “Leadership” itself is not a keyword. Keywords tend to be hard skills and qualifications, while soft skills are evaluated by a recruiter rather than ATS.

Use the job description to find relevant keywords to include in your resume, or use a keyword finder to generate a list of must-include words. If you need help finding hard skills and keywords relevant to the leadership role you’re applying for, use the tool below to find competitive keywords for your industry.

Don't exaggerate your leadership experience

It’s important not to overstate your experience when trying to show leadership. Over-exaggerating your skills can harm your professional reputation and lead to unrealistic expectations once you start the job.

Use specific examples and quantifiable achievements to represent your leadership experience honestly; for example, if you led a small team on a project, don't imply that you were overseeing an entire department.

If your leadership opportunities have been limited, focus on potential and growth rather than exaggerating past roles. Highlighting real instances where you showed leadership qualities, even in smaller tasks or projects, can be more impactful than overstated claims.

Examples of leadership skills on a resume

Here are some leadership skills examples for your resume, whether you’re just starting out in a leadership role or applying for an executive-level position.

Entry-level: If you’re just starting out in leadership

Not all leadership skills involve managing others. Promotions demonstrate your commitment and ability to add value to the company, which all hiring managers are looking for.

Promoted within 12 months due to strong performance and organizational impact (one year ahead of schedule).

If you’ve never led your own team, you can still show leadership skills and your ability to manage others through accomplishments like coaching, mentoring, and leading individual projects.

Coached 3 summer interns and submitted final performance evaluations.

Show that you can do the day-to-day work of management by detailing the number of people in the teams you’ve led or the size of the company. This is true even if you’ve only led small teams to date — if you’re applying for a job leading a much larger team or facility, you can address that in your cover letter.

Hired and trained team of six employees with two direct reports; promoted 6 months ahead of schedule

Mid-Level: If you have some leadership experience

The ability to take initiative is an important aspect of leadership. You can highlight this even without direct leadership experience by describing a time you spearheaded a new development and what the results were.

Drove redevelopment of internal tracking systems in use by 125 employees, resulting in 20+ new features, reduction of 20% in save/load time and 15% operation time

Good leaders are also effective communicators. This is another soft skill that doesn’t belong on a list, but you can demonstrate it by mentioning what you did in terms of outreach, management, or external partnerships, and what benefit it had to the company.

Managed business development opportunities that resulted in a 45% increase in partnerships.

Recruiters are looking for leaders who understand their business and are able to help it grow. Emphasize this skill by including accomplishments related to business development, strategy, and analysis.

Developed strategic insights across 5 product teams, including revenue, marketing and operations departments.

Senior-level: If you’re applying for high-level leadership positions

The best thing you can do to demonstrate your leadership experience is to be specific. What exactly did you do? What aspects of running the business were you in charge of? What was the scope of your work? The more detailed your metrics are, the more impressive your accomplishments will be.

Directed agency fundraising revenue generation, daily program business operations, community outreach membership recruitment, and human resources in 30 suburbs in the city for organizations with assets of $8M.

If you’re applying for a high-level position, you need high-level accomplishments. Launching an office shows that you can lead new developments while the increase in revenue emphasizes that you can do it effectively.

Launched Miami office with lead Director and recruited and managed new team of 10 employees; grew office revenue by 200% in first nine months (representing 20% of company revenue).

Another crucial aspect of high-level leadership is the ability to drive the company forward. Developing new strategic goals in addition to achieving existing ones shows your ability to be proactive, not just reactive.

Worked with CEO and 5 development team members to plan strategic goals to grow as a global company in the next 3 years.

How to show both leadership skills and teamwork on your resume

Demonstrating a balance of leadership and teamwork on your resume is essential, as it shows you’re capable of leading while also being an active team member.

Highlight examples where you led projects or initiatives, emphasizing your role in guiding and inspiring team members. Showcase times when you contributed as a part of a team, supported team goals, helped resolve conflicts, or played a key role in achieving a group objective.

Spearheaded a marketing campaign, leading a team of 5, which resulted in a 20% increase in sales.

As Project Lead, directed a team of 6 in the comprehensive redesign of a major e-commerce website, enhancing user experience and functionality.

How to show the progression in leadership skills

Showing the progression of your leadership skills is key to demonstrating adaptability and growth on your resume. Start by highlighting early leadership experiences, showing how your skills have developed from initial roles to more complex responsibilities.

For example, you might begin with examples of leading small projects or teams and progress to managing more significant initiatives. Emphasize how you adapted to different challenges and learned new strategies over time. This could include transitioning from a hands-on leadership style to a more strategic role, or learning to lead remote teams effectively.

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How To Showcase Leadership Skills On Your Resume (With Examples)

• Most Common Skills
• What Are Soft Skills?
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• Leadership Skills On A Resume
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Find a Job You Really Want In

When brainstorming a list of skills that you have, you likely will think of hard skills at first. That is, skills that you have mastered to some degree through classes or on-the-job experience. Examples of hard skills include computer programming languages, foreign languages, technology skills, and other certifications.

Soft skills , on the other hand, are the intangible qualities and interpersonal abilities you possess that make you a great person to work with.

Here we’ll be discussing one soft skill in particular: leadership. We’ll cover what leadership skills are, what words to use in your skills section to highlight your leadership ability, and show you examples of different methods of including leadership skills on your resume.

Key Takeaways:

Leadership skills include team-building, conflict resolution, decision-making, and more.

Leadership can come in many different forms – if you’ve ever worked on a team with other people, you probably had to use some leadership skills even if you were not the formal “ leader .”

When listing leadership skills on your resume , be sure to demonstrate the skills you’ve had experience using by giving specific examples of times you faced problems and had to solve them.

The Best Leadership Skills for a Resume

Examples of leadership skills on a resume, final thoughts.

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Leadership skills are skills that show your capacity to lead a group to achieve a goal. Leadership styles and skills show a lot about a potential job candidate — how they can interact in a team setting, how they can communicate with others, and how they can reflect upon the project and provide constructive feedback.

Most importantly, however, a job candidate with good leadership skills is more likely to finish tasks and work well with fellow team members than those who do not possess leadership qualities .

Typically when people think of “leaders,” they often create an image in their mind about a strong-willed, enthusiastic, and incredibly charismatic person who can make a crowd follow them without a second thought. They think a good leader is the epitome of the “extrovert ideal.”

Don’t worry — leadership isn’t all about being able to stand up and transform a room. It’s also about being able to listen to the advice and ideas of others, give constructive criticism and be able to receive it, as well as being able to delegate the tasks to people with the best ability to complete them.

Here are the nuts and bolts to leadership skills on a resume:

Do not lie about leadership skills. Think of skills that you have demonstrated in your work/school experience and list those.

List skills that answer how you communicate with others, how you interact with groups of people, and any skills that point towards your leadership style .

List these skills in the skills section or the accomplishments section of your resume.

When looking for new employees, recruiters are looking for a well-rounded person who has the hard skills needed for the job, as well as the soft skills to be able to work seamlessly and effectively as part of the team.

While you may want to list “leadership skills” as a skill in the skills section, it isn’t the best idea to do so because saying you are a leader doesn’t show them how you are a leader.

When thinking of leadership skills, think of times when you worked in a group setting. What worked well and what didn’t? Leadership can be many things, but often, it is about how someone can effectively navigate interpersonal communication among a group to utilize the strengths of each member to achieve the goal.

To do so, a leader often possesses these main qualities that can be used on a resume.

Communication. Communication shows your ability to speak effectively with others. What many people miss about communication, is that communication isn’t all about you talking. Active listening is a crucial part of communication that is an incredibly important leadership skill to have.

With great communication skills , you can build trust, express care, and clarify issues as they arise. Knowing how, when, and how often to communicate with team members requires finesse, and great leaders know how to deliver, thoughtful, impactful, and concise information to all relevant parties.

Decision-making. This leadership skill shows your ability to make executive order on a project when asked to make a decision. It involves weighing the pros and cons and coming up with a compromise that best suits the goal and the team.

The buck stops somewhere, and while collaboration is key to a successful business, so is decisive action. Being a leader means being accountable for your final decisions and being comfortable being the person who makes those calls. Even if you’ve worked independently, showcasing your decision-making skills can help enliven the picture of you as a leader.

Conflict resolution. Not all teams work perfectly and sometimes a team is faced with a setback that is outside of their control. But when that happens, how do you deal with it? If you are able to handle stress and resolve it quickly, conflict resolution would be a great leadership skill to mention.

Often, you’ll be asked to mediate decisions or challenges between team members or even across departments. It’s essential that you’re viewed as an impartial arbiter who makes choices based on logic, not favoritism. Portraying yourself as a resolver of disputes implies great leadership skills and potential.

Teamwork/Team-building. Being a leader is also being a fellow team member. Some attributes that make good team members are dependability, integrity , and decisiveness.

Some leaders are more democratic than others, but every leader needs to take into account the strengths and weaknesses of those she manages. Team-building exercises and organic collaborative situations allow you to determine the best use for each team member.

Organization. As a leader, you’re expected to have a high-level, big-picture view of situations. That requires particularly good organizational skills . To manage a team, you need to know what everyone is up to and how progress is ticking along.

Being able to communicate, make decisions, and solve problems all rely on your ability to have a clear vision. And for that, you’ll need to stay organized.

Delegation. Leaders can’t do everything on their own. They need to know how projects can be done both efficiently and effectively by delegating tasks to team members with the appropriate backgrounds.

If you’ve ever assigned tasks, that’s a real-world leadership skill that employers love to see.

Time management. A key part of organization is time management. Your team counts on you to keep an eye on the grand scheme of things and ensure that projects finish on time.

To that end, you need to anticipate problems and be proactive about solving them. A good leader builds enough time into their day to deal with the unexpected as it arises, while leaving enough time to manage all the rest of their daily tasks.

Problem-solving. Some leaders like to be super hands-on while others prefer to step back and trust their team to figure out solutions. Regardless of your style, you’re going to be called on as a problem-solver , and probably quite often.

The ability to think through a problem logically and arrive at the optimal solution is a goal for every member of your team, but a leader has to be the one to make the final decision.

Flexibility. Those who panic at the first sign of an unexpected hurdle are not cut out to be leaders. Projects rarely go off without a hitch, and a leader needs to remain cool and collected when things go awry.

Leaders also have to work with a diverse team, and that often means adjusting your leadership style or motivation strategies depending on the individual you’re dealing with.

Ability to teach and mentor. Not all leaders have to instruct their subordinates, but it’s a useful skill to have nonetheless. It goes hand in hand with communication, but requires additional patience and a capability for simplification.

Effective feedback. People count on leaders to update them on the quality of their work and your expectations of them. When someone does a great job, a good leader recognizes that and tells that person, specifically, why they’re happy with the process and/or results.

On the flip side, leaders also need to provide constructive criticism to team members who are underperforming. You don’t want to make people feel bad about themselves — you just want to provide actionable steps toward improvement.

These skills compose the core values of leadership, but leadership is a fluid concept. There are many different types of leaders and if the more common leadership skills above don’t apply to you, there are many others to consider.

Listing leadership skills is most often done in a bullet-point form on a resume under the skills section of the resume. Like so:

Skills Mentoring and training Project management Negotiation Team-building

Or, if you’re doing a functional resume or choosing to provide more detail on each skill, you could do something like:

Skills Leadership: Managed teams of up to 30 employees and contractors by delegating tasks, tracking KPIs, and executing high-level goals of the company Training: Led a weekly technology workshop that introduced teams to new software and processes — saw a 14% increase in task completion after rollout

However, anyone can list these skills on a resume. What will really make you stand out as a candidate and showcase your skills in a more realistic light is by emphasizing the use of these skills when describing your roles and outcomes for each job experience.

For example:

Work Experience Resident Head Advisor | Raleigh College | June 2020-Present Managed fifteen resident junior advisors by delegating resident life tasks Led crisis intervention teams and effectively resolved resident conflict Mentored students by supporting, listening and offering feedback during counseling sessions

Or even in a volunteering situation:

Volunteer Experience Fundraising Coordinator | Kitten Mittens | April 2016-August 2018 Coordinated a team of volunteer fundraisers to raise $15,000+ each quarter Presented results at semi-annual meetings to the board of directors Led workshops on handling stray cat situations with both volunteer groups and the local community

You may feel that you cannot sum up a leadership skill in one word and that’s perfectly fine. Many skills are best described in a few words and can be used under the skills or achievement sections of your resume.

Some common phrases include the ability to teach and mentor , relationship-building, problem-solving, positioning team members, and conflict resolution.

Describing leadership skills may seem daunting at first, but there are many different types of leadership .

If you aren’t the type to stand at the front of the room presenting and delegating tasks, don’t think that you have no leadership qualities. In fact, many good leaders are those who work in small groups and moderate discussion.

So if you are looking for different types of phrases or keywords to use to describe leadership skills on a resume, read back through the choices outlined above. Maybe some will surprise you and you’ll find you have more leadership skills than you thought.

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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45 Key Leadership Skills for a Resume (All Industries)

Show that you are an effective leader on your resume. Find top leadership qualities and synonyms and how to include them on your resume (with examples).

What are leadership skills and why do you need to include them on your resume?

The answer to this question is simple. You need to show your potential employers that you can manage a team and get results.

Companies like Amazon are very serious about leadership skills.

They won’t hire you if you don’t have leadership capabilities.

This is true even if you are applying to non-leadership positions!

In this article, we will explain the 9 most important leadership skills for your resume.

We will also share 45 leadership skill synonyms that you can sprinkle into your resume.

Let’s define leadership and get a deeper look into the nature and reality of leadership itself.

What Are Leadership Skills?

Leadership skills are the abilities that allow you to direct, supervise, and guide a group of people to achieve goals in unison. It’s not only being able to give direction to subordinates. It’s being able to inspire your team members to achieve the objectives of the organization.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.

Leadership traits are essential for management, executive, and supervisory roles. But most positions required them in some form.

Leadership ability is also essential for rapid and desirable career growth.

For quick reference, here are 45 leadership skills and adjectives for a resume. Pick the skills that best describe your abilities.

Don’t use too many leadership adjectives throughout your resume. This will increase each one’s impact!

Where To Include Leadership Skills on Your Resume

Above is a list of the top leadership skills.

Now it’s time to get them added to your resume.

To include the best leadership traits on your resume:

• Analyze the job posting. Determine the most important leadership skills for the position you are applying for.
• Compare those skills with the ones you have.
• Weave these skills into various sections of your resume.

Here is a sample resume with leadership skills used throughout the resume:

We’ll walk you through each section of your resume and how to include the skills that make you a great leader.

Leadership Skills in Your Resume Title

Take your resume to the next level by adding leadership skills to your resume title.

Your resume title should tell the hiring manager what role you are applying for, but you can do more than that.

Including leadership skills here will set you apart from your competition.

You can add 3 – 5 skills to your title such as:

• Sales Leadership
• Team Development & Coaching
• Executive Leadership
• Turnaround Strategy

Remember to check the job description to know which skills to include in your title.

Leadership Qualities in Your Resume Summary

Your resume summary section is a great place to showcase your leadership skills.

Back up the skills you mention with a few great examples from your career.

Here’s a sample resume summary for a retail manager:

Highly accomplished Senior Retail Manager with extensive experience directing operations across multiple retail locations towards growth and profitability. Developed career track record of success in support growth results at leading retailers. Skilled in team engagement, human resource management, and training and development. Described by superiors as a winning goal-achiever in the face of obstacles.

The sample summary includes leadership traits (in bold).

Leadership Traits in Your Skills Section

The skills section of your resume is important. It will show the hiring manager that you have the necessary skills for the job you are applying for.

List your skills front and center on your resume.

Don’t leave this section off of your resume or place it at the bottom of the second page.

You can name this section with various titles like:

• Core Competencies
• Area of Expertise

Here you will list 10-15 of your best and most relevant skills for the job you are applying for. Include both hard (or technical skills) and soft skills like those listed above.

Leadership Skills in Your Work Experience

Add leadership skills to the professional experience section of your resume.

Always try to highlight your skills with examples, results, and numbers.

Here are some sample statements that include leadership skills:

Developed and managed a team of 10 call center employees, providing ongoing coaching , mentoring and feedback to ensure optimal performance.

Implemented an improved culture focused on growth and leadership development, which significantly reduced turnover and resulted in extremely high employee retention rate of 92%.

Built, developed and managed a staff of 7 sales professionals, providing coaching and mentoring to support their personal growth and achievement of challenging quotas.

The samples use numbers to quantify leadership skills (in bold). They also show what actions led to the accomplishments.

Check out our 20+ resume samples to see different formatting options for your resume.

Leadership Traits to Add to Your Resume

Now we will discuss each individual leadership trait and provide some synonyms to use on your resume.

1. Communication

Communication is the heart of effective leadership.

It doesn’t matter how skilled you are at your work and how much passion you have for it. If you do not know how to transfer your knowledge and passion to others, you can’t be a good leader.

Many other leadership skills are useless without effective communication skills.

Include the following on your resume to show that you have communication skills:

• Active listening
• Articulation
• Non-verbal communication
• Public speaking

Include examples of using your communication skills to get work done effectively.

2. Creativity

We often think that creativity isn’t learned, it’s inherent.

But that is far from the truth. You can develop your creativity through experience and practice.

And, creativity is very much required for effective leadership.

These words on your resume will show that you are creative:

• Imaginative

It is a good idea to avoid the use of the word “creative” itself due to its being overused. Instead of directly stating it, you need to show how you were creative or use the words above.

3. Dependability

A leader that is not dependable is not a leader at all.

What makes a good leader is that people know that they can rely on you and jump into action with a simple request.

That’s the magic of dependability in a leadership role. Your team must know they can count on you to tackle any issues that may come up.

These words will help you to express your dependability on your resume:

• Credibility
• Reliability
• Responsible
• Trustworthy

Don’t forget to show how dependable you were to everyone in your previous role.

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching,” according to C.S. Lewis.

Being ethical is an essential leadership skill. If the leader does not do what is right in every situation, how can the followers?

An ethical person will keep their commitments, take responsibility, and respect their employees.

You can show your ethical characteristics with the following words on your resume: 

Include the words above to show that you are a leader and an employee that can be trusted.

5. Motivation

The ability to motivate others is essential for effective leadership.

Motivation and productivity go hand in hand. A motivated team is a productive team.

And, the leader must keep their team motivated to achieve their goals.

The following words will help you to explain your ability to motivate others: 

• Encouraging
• Stimulating
• Influential

Include some succinct stories of your motivational skills at play and how it helped your colleagues and team members.

6. Optimism

A positive outlook is sometimes all you need to get through a tough assignment.

Optimism in a leader is a godsend. We all love to work with someone who always sees and brings out the best in us, instead of being doubtful.

Positivity as a leader will also make your leadership experience a fulfilling one.

The following words will help you to represent your positive attitude on the resume:

• Enthusiastic

Remember that positivity is not about blindly being optimistic for every solution, it’s about finding the best logical solution and keeping unfaltering faith in your discernment.

7. People Management

To be a great leader, it takes technical knowledge as well as the ability to manage people.

Keeping people aligned with your vision is the art of a true leader.

A significant part of corporate leadership is people management.

These are the words to use on your resume to show your people management skills.

• Constructive feedback
• Conflict resolution
• Team building

Include any training you have in HR management.

8. Project Management

Leading a project involves coordinating a lot of moving parts. It takes many skills to be an effective project manager.

From planning to allocating resources to monitoring progress, this skill covers it all.

Add these words to your resume to convey your project management skills:

• Agile/Scrum
• Lean thinking
• Organization
• Risk management

Be sure to quantify your projects on your resume by including your results. Include any PM certifications you have in the education section of your resume.

9. Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking is the ability to take complex problems and determine logical solutions.

Strategic thinking requires clarity of thought and a deeper understanding of the situation.

It is an essential leadership trait.

The following words show your strategic thinking capabilities:

• Problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Visionary thinking

Showcase tasks you have accomplished by strategic thinking and what the results were.

Key Takeaways

What we have learned about leadership skills and how to include them on your resume is quite simple:

• Leadership qualities are sought-after skills in today’s job market.
• You must show quantifiable leadership skills on your resume. It is the first contact with a potential employer.
• Leadership traits are indispensable for management, executive, and supervisory roles. They are also essential for teamwork and career growth.
• Read the job announcement to determine the leadership skills required for the job.
• Include your leadership skills in various sections of your resume with quantifiable examples.

Keep these guidelines in mind to create a resume that moves you into your next leadership role.

Or contact a professional resume writing service to do it for you.

Find My Profession ‘s team of experts can help job seekers craft a resume that effectively showcases their leadership abilities and stands out from the competition. Contact us today!

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Strong Leadership Skills: Resume Guide, Example Usage, and Skill Set for 2024

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

Is your resume ATS-friendly?

Drop your resume here or upload a file to find out if the skills in your resume are readable by an ATS.

How is showing you’re a good team leader useful for your job hunt?

What skills and qualities help you highlight your team leadership skills, leadership skills: key takeaways for your resume.

Having strong leadership skills means being able to lead, influence, and guide others, be they colleagues, friends, or even strangers.

What’s more, great leaders are natural problem-solvers. Think of someone between your favorite superhero and your best friend.

But putting ‘leadership skills’ in the skills section of your resume is surely not something we advise you to do. It does not mean anything and might make you sound shallow.

Instead, prove that you’re an active listener, a strong decision-maker, and an empathetic problem-solver.

Being a team leader has little to do with your job title. “Leader” is not just a formal title but also essential roles in each team.

Let’s consider scenario #1 - you may either be applying for an operational, a specialist, an expert job or your future job title might not explicitly say “leader”, “manager”, or “chief operations officer”. Besides that, having leadership skills would still be extremely attractive displayed on your resume. Exerting a certain set of leadership skills could be beneficial for your career and for your growth. It could be very useful in building good relationships and group dynamics within the team you’re working with. In addition, it could also be beneficial in putting you out there in the eyes of your managers when it’s time for promotion.

On the other hand, if you’re after a people managing position, then you already know the importance of leadership skills for your work success, growth, and satisfaction. Forming an effective team is an art on its own and its components are motivation, support, understanding, and focus - on the tasks, on the people both as a team, and as individuals.

The question then is, if team leadership consists of so many integral parts, how to best describe and showcase your experience on your resume? Let’s dive in.

Read this: 300+ Must-Have Skills for Your Resume

Similar to most soft skills, the best way to prove you have a certain skillset is to disintegrate it into its constituent parts and then provide examples for each of them. In this way, you are not only specific and detailed, but also show your definition and understanding of the skill.

You can usually tell someone is a good leader by exerting the following:

• Communication and listening -- good communication skills are the platforms upon which we all build our lives, both professional and personal. Being able to listen actively, ask nonjudgmental questions, seek to understand, and speak with empathy are key if you want to be viewed as a true leader.
• Mediation and problem-solving -- being in the position of the team leader, you often need to juggle different people’s interests. Being able to balance between various points of view and not take sides but rather try to listen and proactively offer solutions, are qualities that help build confidence and in your skills and persona, and a sense of openness in your team members.
• Consistency, discipline, and vision -- consistency leads to trust which then leads to open sharing and being able to move forward and progress. Discipline is the fuel on the path of that progress and success. Vision is the goal at the end of the path, but also the reason for stepping on the road in the first place. Good leaders combine all of that
• Empathy, active listening & support: problems arise all the time. Recruiters know this, and that’s why they don’t want you to ignore them or magically make them disappear. Knowing how to deal with them through being an empathetic and supportive listener is a whole other story though. In fact, these skills can actually decrease the number of problems over time.
• Creativity & strategic thinking: it might sound as if creativity is the opposite of strategic thinking, but the truth is – they are intrinsically linked. Adapting ideas from different contexts to build improved and innovative strategies is essentially what every leader should know how to do.
• Flexibility & organization: being organized and setting good examples for others is crucial, but welcoming setbacks and delays with a high level of flexibility is even more important. The combination of these two skills will show employers that you’re a strong leader who is able to handle all types of situations.

How to demonstrate team leadership skills on your resume

• Think of instances when you took the initiative and united the team around an idea of yours that lead to success
• Describe a time when you helped resolve a team conflict or deescalate a situation
• Give examples of innovative ideas or approaches that took your team efforts to the next level
• Mention situations when you were able to listen actively, motivate, and provide support to your team members
• Explain the relation between consistency, discipline, and trust by providing an example of your experience
• Talk about a difficult situation that you were able to overcome by exerting original thinking and mediation
• Mention times when plans have changed drastically, but you’ve handled the situation well
• Talk about some team issues you have helped resolve or avoid
• Demonstrate how responsible you are when it comes to organizing your time and meeting tight deadlines
• Share how your ability to be an empathetic listener has helped your team in the past
• Point out the link between your creativity and your ability to keep your eye on the prize

Saying things such as “I’m a good leader who has managed a team of 4 people” sounds impressive, but managing people does not directly imply how and why that makes you a good leader.

To make this statement believable and persuasive, you need to go into detail and support it with examples.

Try to dig deeper by pondering the following questions:

• What exactly did you achieve when you managed this team?
• Did you take any specific classes or receive any certifications or coaching on being a leader?
• What did your team members say about working with you?
• What did you learn from that experience?
• Have you ever led a successful project?
• When was the last time you had to resolve a work-related issue and how did you do it?
• How do you deal with unsupportive or unengaged team members?

To help you describe your own experience, here are some real life examples from other Enhancv users’ resumes.

Get inspired to craft and enhance your own resume.

Example 1: Show team leadership skills in your experience

Job Situation: Product manager applying for the role of Director of Product Management

• • Managed multiple product lines, all the way from the idea stage through their delivery for teams developing software for hospitals and clinics
• • Promoted products to both internal and external customers increasing penetration of customer base to 85%
• • Worked in collaboration with clients and stakeholders with a budget of $2M
• • Developed and managed goals, objectives, procedures and work standards minding all applicable local and foreign regulations
• • Served as a mediator between stakeholders and different teams involved, making sure all interests are taken into consideration

Do you notice what will tip the scales in this candidate's favor? That's right - achievements, instead of a responsibilities list.

They quoted their measurable results, such as "increasing penetration of customer base to 85%".

This example implies their agility, focus, and consistency.

By developing and managing goals, objectives and procedures, this Product Managers shows good vision and discipline - other important leadership skills.

They also were able to collaborate with different stakeholders and take into consideration their collective interests - a good example of mediation and problem-solving. The use of active verbs in the description such as “promoted” and “developed” shows proactiveness and focus.

We can see here that even though leadership skills are not explicitly stated in the experience section, they are well represented and implied.

Let's see another example.

• • Monitored progress and set deadlines for as many as 50% of our projects
• • Was appointed first POC for new colleagues who had difficulties settling in
• • Explained our suggestions to clients and worked to find a middle ground with them
• • Developed a mentorship program that linked junior PMs with senior PMs and resulted in 58% more motivation for all colleagues

The snippet of this senior project manager resume proves their leadership skills in two ways.

Firstly, the fact that they begin each bullet with an action verb shows they’re willing to take the initiative.

Secondly, they have highlighted their ability to work with people quite well. Even in challenging contexts, such as finding a middle ground with unhappy clients and increasing the levels of motivation for both junior and senior colleagues by 58%.

Highlighting the fact that they have been responsible for monitoring progress and setting deadlines, on the other hand, proves their strong organizational skills.

Tired of boring design ideas for your resume? Check out our modern resume builder!

Example 2: resume summary

Job Situation: Software developer with 4 years of experience applying for the role of Technical Team Lead

In those 3 short sentences, we get the idea that this Software Engineer has an affinity for tech and teamwork. They speak of collaboration, valuing teamwork, and approaching both tech and communication challenges with a people-first motto.

This summary definitely states the intention of the IT professional to move from a more tech to a more people position like a Team Lead.

Let's dive into another example.

The resume summary is a great place to showcase your leadership skills in a couple of sentences.

This Digital Marketing Manager’s resume summary proves that they have strong collaboration and organizational skills, as well as high levels of flexibility and creativity. Thus, it proves their leadership skills without making them sound boastful.

What’s more, they also add the keyword ‘leader’ which gives them bonus points, especially when it comes to passing ATS checks.

Still not sure what to include in your resume summary? Check out this guide!

Example 3: Key achievements

Job Situation: Finance Manager outlines his achievements

A great way to combine both your experience and your strengths is to use the Achievements section. In this example we can see that this Financial Manager is proactive, team-oriented, social, collaborative, and proactive - all good team leadership qualities that cannot be missed by an experienced recruiter’s eye.

Let's look into another example.

In case there’s something you’re extremely proud of and want to highlight, use the Achievements (also called Most Proud Of) section.

This resume snippet proves the applicant’s leadership skills by emphasizing their ability to lead teams to success and manage conflicts easily. They also share their leadership award, which proves that they’re a likable and valuable individual.

Looking for more reasons to add an ‘Achievements’ section? Read this article!

Example 4: Demonstrate your leadership skills through other sections of your resume

Job Situation: Graphic Designer describes his volunteering experience

• • Taught 60+ kids from 3 different classes, ages 12-16 how to work with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Job Situation: HR Specialist describes her extracurricular activities and additional courses

Look at the examples above. They prove that you don’t need to be an executive or even a manager to have leadership skills.

In fact, enrolling in different courses on the topic shows you’re passionate about becoming a great leader and improving day by day. The same goes for volunteering roles .

So think about mentioning something besides your work experience. Maybe you were in charge of some school event? Or maybe you enrolled in a course about empathy and communication?

In short, you can add any kind of extracurricular activity that requires high levels of emotional intelligence , teamwork , organization, and flexibility.

• Demonstrate devotion: talk about projects where you had to leave personal preferences aside and focus on common goals and benefits
• Prove you’re a team player: share more about the times you had to lead teams and mention how you’ve earned success
• Keep it to the point: use action verbs and choose the words you go for carefully; you’ll have plenty of time to elaborate on your strengths during the interview
• Use all parts of your resume: try to showcase your leadership skills in as many sections as possible (but be careful and don’t go over the top)

Looking for more tips on crafting a job-winning resume? Check out this guide!

About this report:

Data reflects analysis made on over 1M resume profiles and examples over the last 2 years from Enhancv.com.

While those skills are most commonly met on resumes, you should only use them as inspiration and customize your resume for the given job.

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8 Leadership Skills to Include on Your Resume

A typical corporate job posting receives about 250 resumes Glassdoor reports . So how can you stand out from a sea of applicants? If you want to move into a management or executive position, adding leadership skills to your resume is a good way to get noticed. 

This article offers a definitive list of eight leadership skills examples for your resume. 

1. Analytical Decision Making

Employers ranked analytical/quantitative skills high in the Job Outlook 2019 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Nearly 72% said they look for this characteristic among potential employees. Analytical decision makers use facts from a variety of sources to inform their choices. To appeal to employers, highlight job roles and workplace wins that required research and analysis.  

2. Communication

Communication is one of many important leadership skills examples for your resume. Effective communication is essential to present a company’s mission, vision, and goals to employees. Written communication skills were the top ranked attribute in NACE’s survey; 82% of employers value these skills. Verbal communication skills weren’t far behind; 67% of employers ranked verbal communication skills. Convey your communication expertise in your resume by highlighting written and verbal projects you contributed to—such as corporate reports, case studies, newsletters, training materials, meetings, and public speaking events.

3. Delegation

Leaders know when to delegate work to their team members. There are many ways to successfully delegate . Demonstrate your delegation skills on your resume by describing how you managed a team or project. Provide specific examples of how you delegated responsibilities, established expectations, tracked progress, and provided feedback.

4. Teamwork

Of the leadership skills examples to include on a resume, teamwork should definitely be highlighted. Leaders must be able to tackle complex problems and engage their teams in decision making. In other words, today’s leaders must be great team players. According to NACE’s Job Outlook Survey 2019, almost 79% of employers value teamwork, making it a desirable leadership skill to include on your resume. Use your resume—and job interview —to stress your ability to work with others and passion for accomplishing team goals. 

5. Adaptability

In the Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics’ 2018 article, “ Future Trends in Leadership Development Practices and the Crucial Leadership Skills ,” adaptability was ranked high in the list of crisis management leadership skills. Leaders don’t just need to adapt well during times of crisis, however; they also must adapt well to everyday changes. Great leaders respond to changing needs and pivot the direction of a team or organization when necessary. Demonstrate your adaptability on your resume by describing when you had to shift directions in response to a change of plans or an unplanned event.

6. Creative Problem-Solving

Obstacles arise, even in well-planned projects. How do you problem solve? Do you look for ways to turn problems into opportunities, lead brainstorming sessions to find solutions, or use the “ five why’s ” technique to uncover the root of the problem? The point is, there are many ways around a problem, and employers value creative problem-solving. This is a great leadership skill for a resume. Use your resume to demonstrate how you’ve creatively removed an obstacle to aid a project’s success.

7. Trustworthiness

Good leaders can be trusted to meet deadlines, better their employees, and be role models for their teams. According to an Indeed.com article, “ Q&A: What Makes a Good Professional Role Model? ,” accountability, hard work, positivity, persistence, integrity, and respect are traits of workplace role models. Rather than state that you are trustworthy, demonstrate your trustworthiness by incorporating some of these traits into your resume.

8. Tech Savviness

Technology is part of nearly every job, and leaders are expected to leverage it for growth, innovation, and efficiency. Show the full breadth of this leadership skill on your resume by listing your experience with industry-specific technologies, whether that’s computer languages, coding, or project management systems. If you’ve used technology to streamline or improve a process, mention this as well.

Expand Your Leadership Skills With a Leadership and Management Certificate

While this isn’t an exhaustive list of leadership skills examples, including these leadership skills on your resume could help you get noticed by your ideal employer. If you’re looking to grow your leadership skills, explore Wharton Online’s Leadership and Management Certificate Program . In this flexible program, students learn how to apply the latest management concepts from Wharton’s world-class faculty. The world is expanding, and your leadership skills should do the same. Request information today .

Download our eBook: Women in Leadership

Women represent more of the workforce than they used to, but they’re still underrepresented in management. Download our free eBook, “Women in Leadership: The Data-Driven Guide to Leadership Skills for Women,” for a detailed look at what obstacles exist for women pursuing leadership roles and how to overcome them.

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8 Key Leadership Skills to Include on Your CV

Posted by CV Nation on Dec 14, 2019

The complete guide to the most important leadership skills for your CV, which includes leadership CV examples and advice on how to show leadership skills on your CV.

Leadership is one of the most important skills to showcase on your CV or resume. Effective leaders improve efficiency, customer satisfaction and overall business performance.

But how do you show that you’re a good leader on your CV or resume?

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to articulate your leadership skills on your CV or resume. We’ll also tell you which leadership skills are the most important, as well as which words to use to ensure you come across as a leader that get things done.

In this guide, we use Sir Alex Ferguson as a case study, referring to his leadership skills and his comments about leadership.

View our guide on 10 key leadership skills and how to develop them.

Leadership Skills

Hiring managers and recruiters look out for leadership skills on CVs and resumes. These skills, which are all part of leadership, are the most important leadership skills to show on your CV or resume.

1. Communication

You can’t be a great leader if you’re not an effective communicator. Strong communication enables organisations to achieve goals and operate more efficiently.

The importance of strong communication was emphasised by Sir Alex Ferguson: ‘At Harvard, one of the students asked me a question: what would you have liked to have known 30 years ago that you know now. It was definitely communication.’

He continued: ‘The other aspect of communication is recognition of staff, recognising the people who work for you. Always say good morning, get to know them. The groundsman, the girls in the laundry, the girls in the tearoom, administration.’

Communicating effectively with the wider team at Manchester United, not just his players, clearly played a crucial role in his success.

Good communication doesn’t necessarily involve complex board-level negotiations. Sir Alex Ferguson also once stated that the two most powerful words he could use a leader were "well done". This simple statement that he communicated to his players on a regular basis helped to maintain high standards during his 26-year tenure at Manchester United.

2. Organisation

Leading an organisation or team involves juggling multiple tasks or business areas simultaneously. As such, leaders must be highly adept organisers.

Organisation consists of time management, prioritisation, planning and attention-to-detail. When writing your CV or resume, draw attention to your successes that have come about as a result of these skills.

Here is an example of a candidate’s achievement that showcases her organisation skills:

"Implemented new software, which enabled better time management and streamlined the reporting process".

3. Problem Solving

All leaders encounter problems. Even Sir Alex Ferguson was no stranger to problems.

Finding oneself up against problems comes with the territory for leaders. What separates good leaders and great leaders is how they respond to problems. Effective problem-solving requires analytical acumen, creativity, adaptability and communication.

When writing about problems that you have solved on your CV or resume, the best approach is to follow our formula: result, action taken, problem.

Let’s break this down: start by describing the result of your action, followed by the action you took. Then outline the problem.

Here is an example:

"Cut high numbers of non-compliance by introducing workshops for staff members after identifying that 34% of staff members were not complying with regulations".

4. Coaching & Mentoring

A key aspect of leadership is coaching and mentoring – an ability to get the best out of staff and develop new starters.

The skills that make up coaching and mentoring include motivational qualities, team building, adaptability and organisation.

How can you show coaching and mentoring skills on your CV or resume?

Take a look at the CV example in this guide. Notice how, in the example CV, Sir Alex Ferguson draws attention to the talented team members that he trained and nurtured. Of course, you may not have coached famous superstars, but touch on the personnel that you did coach and you will stand out as a candidate who is experienced at coaching and mentoring.

“Coached and mentored the next generation of leaders within the organisation, many of whom were educated to PhD level”.

5. Delegation

Good delegation skills ensure that those involved in projects know what is expected of them. It also improves efficiency and enables projects to run more smoothly.

Delegation is much more complex than giving orders. It’s about identifying what you want to achieve from tasks and allocating tasks in line with team member’s strengths and weaknesses.

To be successful at delegation, leaders must possess proficiency in planning, organisation and scheduling.

6. Relationship Building

Building and maintaining strong relationships is one of the most important aspects of leadership. Leaders are judged on the results that team members deliver. As such, leader’s relationships with team members have a big impact on how they perform.

Some of the most effective methods of building relationships include:

- Actively listening to staff

- Praising staff members when appropriate

- Understanding colleague’s emotions

- Developing a culture of togetherness

- Telling staff what is expected of them

As mentioned earlier in this guide, Sir Alex Ferguson touched on his commitment to connecting with all members of Manchester United, from Board members to the kitchen staff. This created a sense of family, which was key to Sir Alex’s success.

7. Motivation

Motivation is arguably the most important leadership skill. It enables colleagues to achieve their goals, which can translate into achieving organisation goals. Unmotivated workforces will be inefficient and they will fail to meet expectations.

Understanding team members on an individual basis is one of the keys to motivation. As an example, some staff members react very negatively to heavy criticism; others use it as a means to improve their performance.

How can you show your motivation skills on your CV or resume?

One of the most effective ways of showing your motivation skills on your CV or resume is highlighting steps you have taken to motivate staff.

"Developed team bonding sessions to promote team building and get to know staff members".

8. Adaptability

Adaptability is an innate human skill that we have had to rely on over time. While humans have mastered adaptability collectively, leaders must demonstrate adaptability in the business world. This enables them to explore alternative strategies and experiment with new ideas. In the long term, they must be able to adapt to changing environments in their sphere.

For example, the leadership techniques employed by Sir Alex Ferguson when he took the reins at Manchester United in 1986 were different to the leaderships techniques he employed in his latter years at the club. This is because the landscape had changed.

One of the keys to Sir Alex’s success was his ability to continuously adapt. Whether it be overcoming the loss of key players or adapting to changing football landscapes, Sir Alex Ferguson always found a way to come out on top.

How can you show adaptability on your CV or resume?

The best way to showcase your adaptability on your CV or resume is to highlight times that you altered your strategy in order to ensure success.

Results, Results, Results

The most effective leaders are the ones that deliver results. Of course, leaders use different leadership styles , but the end goal is always results.

Results are what separate good leaders and great leaders.

With this in mind, the best and easiest way to demonstrate your leadership skills on your CV or resume is to showcase your results and accomplishments that came about as a result of your leadership .

"Positioned the company as a global leader in the sale of wool socks by executing robust sales strategies and overhauling internal processes."

The above example articulates the individual’s leadership skills by showing results . When writing your own CV or resume, show how you have delivered results in order to ensure you come across as a great leader.

Leadership CV Example

This example CV shows what Sir Alex Ferguson’s CV might look like.

Note that Sir Alex doesn’t directly say ‘I have excellent leadership skills’. He doesn’t need to state this. Instead, he simply shows the successes that came about as a result of his leadership.

This is the approach you should take when writing your own CV or resume.

One glance at Sir Alex Ferguson’s CV is enough to see that he is an exceptional leader. As mentioned previously, results are the most effective ways of demonstrating leadership. When results are highlighted in this way, you don’t even need to mention the word leadership.

Further Tips To Ensure Your CV or Resume Screams "Leader"

Quantify your achievements.

A great way to ensure your leadership skills shine is quantifying achievements with numbers, data and statistics. By quantifying your results, you will provide hiring managers and recruiters with tangible evidence of your successes. You will also provide more insight into your achievements.

Here is an example of a quantified leadership achievement:

"Cut staff absences by 43% by implementing an employee satisfaction programme".

Notice in this example how the use of numbers makes the accomplishment stand out. Use the same approach when writing about your own achievements.

Show, Don't Tell

When conveying your leadership skills on your CV or resume, it’s vital to follow this simple formula: show, don’t tell.

What does this mean?

‘Show, don’t tell’ is as simple as it sounds. If you show your accomplishments by providing specific examples, rather than telling the reader about them, you will make a much stronger impression and your leadership skills will shine.

Here is an example of an achievement that uses the ‘tell’ approach:

"I was successful at increasing efficiency".

Here is an example of an achievement that uses the ‘show’ approach:

"I Increased efficiency by 18% by eliminating redundant processes and developing workshops for staff members".

Notice that stark difference between these two achievements. The second achievement shows how the candidate was successful , while the first one simply provides a vague statement that may or may not be considered as true.

Take a look at the CV example in this guide. Notice that the CV doesn’t state that Sir Alex Ferguson is a good leader. It doesn’t need to. Instead, it shows his results. His results prove his leadership qualities beyond any doubt. Stating that he is a good leader would be redundant.

When it comes to writing about your achievements that are related to leadership, ensure to show how you achieved success. This way, you’ll come across as a strong leader who gets results.

When writing about your duties and accomplishments, your choice of verb is very important. Powerful verbs can make you come across a good leader. These include:

Verbs Associated with Effective Leadership

Spearheaded

Transitioned

Verbs Associated with People Management

Verbs associated with business acumen.

Implemented

Conceptualised

More Leadership CV Examples

Are some leadership skills inherent? Are leaders born or made? View our guide on the topic to learn more.

We hope you found this leadership guide helpful. For further advice on CV writing, check out our in-depth guide on how to write a CV . Or view our 27 CV templates , which you can get now.

If you would like to equip yourself with a powerful CV, consider using our Premium CV service .

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How to List Leadership Skills on a Resume | Best Skills and Examples

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What are leadership skills?

Examples of leadership skills, how to improve leadership skills, how to list leadership skills on your resume.

Listing your leadership skills on your resume can increase your perceived value to a prospective employer, making you a more appealing candidate for the job. This is especially important if you are applying for a managerial or executive role. Even if you are seeking an entry-level position, you can showcase your leadership skills to let the hiring manager know that you can assume an important role in the future. This article will discuss how you can properly list leadership skills on your resume to stand out from other job applicants.

Leadership skills refer to abilities and strengths that enable you to oversee processes, direct initiatives and guide your team members toward specific goals. Since a leadership position involves a wide array of tasks, you will need to have multiple skills to become an effective leader, such as making sound decisions, allocating resources and motivating your staff. Although they are considered soft skills, you can learn leadership skills through lessons, practice and experience.

The leadership skills you need may vary depending on the employer and job position. However, certain leadership skills are generally considered more important. 

The following is a suggested list of the top leadership skills to include on your resume:

Communication skills

Communication skills are essential because they enable you to clearly convey your vision, objectives and strategies to your staff. As a leader, you have to know how to address your team, explain the requirements of a project and provide details of the tasks that need to be done. With good communication skills, you will also be able to know the strengths and weaknesses of your team members and delegate tasks to the right people.

Examples of communication skills:

• Active listening
• Verbal communication
• Nonverbal communication
• Assertiveness
• Friendliness

Organizational skills

If you are a leader in a company, you often have to handle several different tasks at the same time, such as instructing your team members, monitoring your projects and solving problems. Multitasking can easily result in confusion and errors, which can jeopardize the progress of your project. If you have the ability to organize your tasks, you will be able to create an efficient work process and stay focused on your goals, even if you face unexpected situations.

Examples of organizational skills:

• Goal-setting and deadline-setting
• Schedule creation
• Project management
• Team management
• Multitasking
• Event coordination
• Strategy implementation
• Problem-solving

Motivational skills

Many factors can cause your team members to feel discouraged and lose focus on their responsibilities, from workplace conflict to personal problems. To be an effective leader, you have to know how to motivate them to maintain a high level of productivity and keep working toward your goals. Inspire your team members to follow your vision, make them feel valued, and help them achieve personal and professional growth.

Examples of motivational skills:

• Motivational strategy creation
• Appropriate delegation
• Positive communication and feedback
• Performance recognition
• Relationship building
• Reward program implementation

Decision-making skills

As a leader, you constantly have to make important decisions that can have an impact on the success of your team or company. You have to be able to choose the right actions and the most effective solutions, sometimes within a very short time. If you are a competent decision-maker, you can help your company create effective strategies, minimize risks, solve problems and manage projects successfully.

Examples of decision-making skills include:

• Data analysis
• Critical thinking
• Brainstorming
• Forecasting
• Strategizing
• Ability to think under pressure

Conflict resolution skills

Workplace conflict can lead to an unpleasant work environment that can have a negative impact on productivity and morale. If you are in a leadership position, you should be able to help conflicting team members reach a fair resolution and show respect toward each other. Conflict resolution skills can result in an amicable, cohesive team that is committed to achieving company goals.

Examples of conflict resolution skills:

• Analytical thinking
• Communication
• Negotiating
• Trust-building

To become a good leader, you have to constantly invest time and effort to improve your existing leadership skills and learn new ones. 

Follow these tips to build better leadership skills:

1. First, learn from successful leaders

Many successful leaders provide tips on how to become great leaders through books, interviews, workshops and courses. You can learn real-life lessons and proven leadership philosophies from these leaders and adapt them to suit your own career.

2. Second, think beyond your job description

If you are currently employed, you should try to go beyond your job description. Leaders have to do more than their regular work duties. Ask your manager for more responsibilities, especially those that allow you to assume a leadership role.

3. Third, practice leadership skills in your free time

Find as many opportunities as you can to practice your leadership skills. You can start a new website or join a local club or charity organization. This is a great way to learn or improve specific leadership skills.

By properly listing your leadership skills on your resume, you can present yourself as an ideal candidate for the job and distinguish yourself from other applicants. 

Here are a few useful tips for highlighting your leadership skills on your resume:

1. First, include leadership skills mentioned in the job description 

Your potential employer may include a list of required leadership skills in the job description. Mention those skills in your resume to show that you have the specific skills needed to perform the job.

2. Then, quantify the impact of your leadership

By including measurable results along with your leadership skills, you can show the hiring manager the extent of your leadership abilities. This will allow them to have a clearer idea of your potential value to the company.

3. Last, use powerful verbs

Powerful verbs can help you capture the hiring manager’s attention and make a stronger impact. Examples of powerful verbs include ‘spearheaded,’ ‘empowered,’ ‘motivated,’ ‘launched,’ ‘engaged,’ ‘pioneered’ and ‘created.’

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Manager, Leadership Development Resume Samples

The guide to resume tailoring.

Guide the recruiter to the conclusion that you are the best candidate for the manager, leadership development job. It’s actually very simple. Tailor your resume by picking relevant responsibilities from the examples below and then add your accomplishments. This way, you can position yourself in the best way to get hired.

Craft your perfect resume by picking job responsibilities written by professional recruiters

Pick from the thousands of curated job responsibilities used by the leading companies, tailor your resume & cover letter with wording that best fits for each job you apply.

Create a Resume in Minutes with Professional Resume Templates

• Define and promote the leadership development programs to be delivered and supported across a network of internally developed partnerships
• Manage the identification, development and implementation of specific technical professional development programs and initiatives
• Knowledge and abilities in the principles and practices of organizational development, change management, and process improvement methodologies
• Managethe identification, development and implementation of specific technicalprofessional development programs and initiatives
• Manage multiple, complex projects, including developing timelines, milestones, responsibilities and stakeholder relationships
• Partnerwith the administrator(LMS) to assist with managing the learning anddevelopment system, including content administration and systemfunctionality
• Partner with the administrator(LMS) to assist with managing the learning and development system, including content administration and system functionality
• Provide feedback, coaching, and recognition aimed at strengthening team capabilities
• Play a key role in setting the agenda and informing the annual work plan for HCC meetings
• Oversee maintenance and management of department communication vehicles including Leadership Scotiabank Live sites and Diligent Boards
• Ensure communications align with the global Leadership Strategy / Bank Strategy and reflect consistent messaging and style across various initiatives
• Foster a positive work environment, driving empowerment and engagement to motivate and develop team performance
• Maintain a network of subject matter experts to sustain leadership as a competitive advantage
• Advise on strategy / project management / communications approach for multiple complex, simultaneous, interconnected Leadership Strategy initiatives aimed at developing high-potential employees
• Have a relentless focus on the big picture of business impact
• Excel at partnering with the business, listening to and meeting stakeholders where they are
• Are passionate about leadership and talent development
• Can facilitate any workshop with any audience with agility and executive presence
• Love working and collaborating globally
• Can iterate to achieve both quality and speed
• Lead the creation, implementation and management of customized, global leadership development curricula and programs
• Process and detail-oriented; passionate about quality and continuous improvement; strong project management skills
• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative and team-oriented environment
• Proficiency in MS Office Software including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
• Able to see the big picture and work on strategy while being hands on with the day to day function
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and creative problem-solving abilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills including influencing and relationship-building across functions
• Strong written and verbal communications skills

15 Manager, Leadership Development resume templates

Read our complete resume writing guides

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• Program Development/Management
• Executive Facilitation
• Bachelors Degree in Human Resources, Learning Development or related field
• 5 Years Leadership development experience including the ability to interact with and guide Director level and above
• Proven experience in eff ectively influencing Senior Leaders
• Previous coaching experience
• Proven facilitation skills beyond training delivery
• Demonstrated expertise of leadership level instructional design and information delivery techniques
• Highly creative and out of the box thinking

Manager, Leadership Development Resume Examples & Samples

• People leader to almost 60 grads and 40 interns, providing support and guidance
• Manage all recruitment activities for new grad and intern programs on campus to hire top talent
• Drive awareness and participation in the program across all the Bell teams including Bell Residential, Bell Mobility, Bell Media and Customer Operations teams
• Create and present program updates to key stakeholders at regular intervals
• Build and foster strong lasting networks across the business, with program candidates and Career Centres
• Manage program logistics and activities to ensure that each candidate is well supported and engaged
• Proactively generate new opportunities and drive new program initiatives to contribute in building a continuous line-up of high quality leaders
• Act as prime contact to new interns and grads, providing guidance, coaching and support
• Conduct reporting and analytics as required
• Passion for people and development
• *** This is a temporary role for 12 months

Senior Manager Leadership Development Resume Examples & Samples

• Develop, gain support for, and communicate a compelling Leadership Development strategy in alignment with business and HR strategies to enhance the attraction and retention of strong leadership talent
• Work closely with the VP of Talent Management to shape, test & implement the company strategies for leadership development to address key organizational needs and efforts required for continued global
• Develop and manage innovative programs to build capability and retain key talent across the company (i.e. Leadership Academy). Ensure that the organization is developing or acquiring the skills required for future success around the globe
• Define the approach for building organization alignment, momentum and accountability, leading to measurable progress
• Partner effectively with HR Leadership Team, peer groups and HR resources in each division to ensure that competitive programs are in place, and/or developed and aligned with the business objectives
• Lead the approach for positioning, communicating and embedding the leadership agenda across the organization, including rationale, philosophy, approach and roles and responsibilities
• Lead the design, development and integration of all end-to-end talent management processes and leadership development practices and programs globally
• Lead the execution of the Executive Development Review and Succession Planning process
• Lead the design, development and integration of targeted approaches for leader development and engagement, and other organizational effectiveness interventions in alignment with organizational needs
• Work with/influence the Senior Leadership Team on direction, sponsorship and ownership, and ensures Human Resources community preparedness for leading, facilitating and supporting all talent and leader development efforts
• Provide effective classroom instruction and facilitation for leadership curriculum via classroom or virtual delivery
• Ability to partner with global colleagues to align priorities and activities
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in human resources positions of increasing responsibility and extensive experience leading and developing people
• Instructional Design experience a plus
• Experience and knowledge of the Human Resources function, with proficiency in organizational development or learning and development
• Strong analytical capabilities with experience in mining, organizing and interpreting human capital and organizational data and information for the purpose of decision support to the function and the enterprise
• Demonstrated ability to manage large scale projects, work effectively in an environment of constant change and ambiguity, detail orientation, strong analytical skills
• Demonstrated ability to conduct analysis of issues and identification of problems and solutions in a variety of situations
• Strong interpersonal/communication skills and the ability to work effectively with and influence all levels of the organization, a wide range of constituencies, and a diverse community
• Track record of delivering learning solutions in a large and complex environment
• Experience in or with, complex organizations where high levels of influence are required to execute change
• A broad background in the fundamentals of building capability Demonstrated Executive presence
• Excellent facilitation skills both in-classroom and virtual
• Ability to connect with cross-business audiences to make the content relevant
• Own self-development and stays current with professional and industry best practices
• Bachelor’s Degree required (Master’s Degree a plus)
• Must be mobile and able to relocate to any work location in the future (2-3 yrs.)
• Less than 10% travel required
• 5 - 7 Years
• A bachelor’s degree is required, a master’s degree is preferred
• Must possess 5 or more years experience in leading training, leadership development or a similar human resource function
• Must possess the ability to travel 25-50% of the time
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience in development of staff or leadership development tools and resources is required
• Strong writing, editing and formatting skills are required
• Strong interpersonal, verbal/written communication and presentation skills are required
• Strong analytical, project management skills, and problem solving skills are required
• Must possess the ability to engage multiple stakeholders in design and feedback processes
• Must possess the ability to adapt to changing environment and circumstances, and to guide others in support of change management
• Proven ability to establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with individuals across a broad range of groups
• Organizational and time management skills are required
• Commitment to character development values of caring, honest, respect and responsibility
• Define and develop leadership competency and career development tools, resources and trainings
• Develop self-directed learner tools and processes, including a system to allow staff to identify career goals, required competencies, gaps, and potential training to close the gaps
• Continued development and implementation of the YMCA Leadership Competency Model (with LD Managers)
• Develop and implement measurement tools and processes
• Design and conduct workshops and presentations to groups of staff and volunteers
• Guide and coach representatives from Ys responsible for the implementation of the Leadership Competency Model and tools
• Develop and implement ongoing communication and implementation strategies
• Partner with the Senior Manager of Leadership Development to support the ongoing implementation and communication of the Leadership Certification
• Develop and execute a content plan for your designated Exchange site to further knowledge sharing in line with knowledge management governance policies
• Develop and execute a community engagement plan that encourages members to visit and engage with your online community in line with knowledge management governance policies
• 8 years of experience in HR, talent/leadership development, career coaching, or a related field; Consulting experience preferred
• Bachelor’s Degree required or advanced degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Organizational Development, Human Resources, Business or equivalent experience
• Must demonstrate strategic thinking as well as a willingness to lead initiatives through implementation
• Excellent communication skills including ability to persuasively deliver presentations to senior executives
• Ability to build strong relationships across cross-functional teams
• Ability to translate data into compelling insights that resonate with business leaders
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills including an ability to engage with senior leaders with confidence and poise
• Proven experience leading a large-scale, enterprise-wide change and implementation efforts
• “Team first” orientation. Consistently puts the interests of the broader team ahead of their own personal agenda
• Able to learn and excel in a complex and ambiguous environment
• Adaptability and flexibility. Willing to work on a variety of projects and perform in multiple roles
• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 10 years of experience within corporate learning and development organization or other applicable HR/Business experience leading leadership development training initiatives
• 4 years of experience as a People/Project Manager
• Demonstrated experience executing enterprise learning initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to implement high impact management and professional development initiatives for a global organization
• Expertise leading teams in the design, development and delivery of classroom, e-learning, and blended learning training, ADDIE methodology, Instructional Systems Design (ISD) methodology, and facilitation for senior-level audiences
• Proven ability to effectively interface and influence senior leaders
• Occasional travel required
• Master's degree in Organizational Leadership, Organizational Development, Instructional Design, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or related field
• Certifications relevant to human resources, organizational development, and leadership coaching

Senior Manager, Leadership & Development Resume Examples & Samples

• Conducts leadership, learning and development needs analyses, defining behavior and skill objectives associated with Teva’s Leadership Framework and core competencies and capabilities that are aligned with strategic business objectives and priorities
• Manages global learning and development programs. Collaborates to make recommendations on improvements to curriculum or recommendations to new programs
• Applies best practice learning theories to maximize the impact of transformational learning
• Recommends and implements tools for enabling the learning experience (e.g. measurement of success and transfer of knowledge)
• Lead and facilitate the delivery of learning and transformational programs
• Provide OE consultation, tools, and frameworks that enable HR to deliver solutions. Design and deliver interventions at local level
• Manage the Talent Management processes in partnership with the HR organization (e.g. performance management, talent, succession management) to include planning, training and communication
• Participates in operational meetings in partnership with the Global Program Management team in the L&D CoE. Develops and continuously improves learning related to processes, procedures, and supporting documentation
• Builds and manages positive relationships with L&D, Human Resources and other functional partners
• Other duties as assigned or required
• Bachelor’s degree in business, human resources, talent management, learning and development, education or related field with a minimum of 7 years of experience
• An excellent communicator and facilitator of groups
• Demonstrated project management skills; experienced at successfully managing multiple projects and producing quality deliverables on time and within budget
• Knowledge and experience in needs analysis methods, role analysis, content analysis
• Working knowledge of multiple human resource disciplines, including organizational diagnosis, performance management and organization effectiveness
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills and experience managing metrics and trends. Demonstrated critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills required. Must be results oriented with strong track record of success in delivering on business objectives
• Adept at working with HR to assess and address team and workforce challenges
• Ability to identify and help others to see multiple perspectives and provide appropriate solutions based on assessment of all factors
• Collaborative interpersonal style to work as a member of a team and promote effective dynamics with colleagues
• Must possess the ability to work in a fast paced environment with multiple, concurrent priorities with many needing immediate resolution
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office with advanced skills in Word and PowerPoint
• End-to-end ownership of deliverables to Executive Committees
• Manage the development and delivery of monthly Human Capital Committee (HCC) materials and Leadership-related material for the Human Resources Committee (HRC) of the Board
• Lead the project management of HCC/HRC deliverables, facilitating the review process with VP, Leadership and SVP, Leadership. Coordinate final reviews and approval process with CHRO and CEO
• Build and leverage strong working relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g., HR RM offices, Total Rewards and the Secretary’s Department), collaborating to ensure high quality deliverables, appropriate for an executive level audience are executed with attention to detail and in a timely manner
• Design, develop and implement leadership initiatives and processes targeted to the Bank’s senior management, including inputting into the CEO succession planning process
• Deliver on ad hoc leadership requests/outcomes from HCC/HRC to advance the Bank’s leadership strategy
• Implement efficiencies to streamline existing processes for committee deliverables
• Define and implement the communications strategy for Leadership initiatives
• Develop communications roadmap and advise on strategic direction of Leadership Development Strategy initiatives
• Lead the design and development of content (e.g., presentations, speaking notes, etc.) for Leadership-related strategy sessions (e.g., Global Senior Leadership Forum)
• Ensure communications are clear, concise, consistent, and executive-ready to enhance understanding, engagement, and support for the Bank's Leadership priorities
• As required, provide communication support, including (but not limited to): research, writing, editing, planning, and measurement of key messages, presentations, speaking notes etc
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key internal stakeholders to provide subject matter expertise / advice and leverage relationships with groups including HR Relationship Management Offices, Public Corporate & Government Affairs, Secretary’s Department, and Total Rewards etc
• Sustain an external network of industry leaders and subject matter experts to stay abreast of best-in-class business practices in Leadership Development
• Inform and advise on best practices in the fields of human capital management, communications and leadership in order to contribute to the advancement of the Bank’s leadership agenda
• Provide effective management and direction to Direct Reports
• Ensure proactive performance management process is in place and employee development is a priority for all employees on the team
• The position requires an individual who is comfortable working autonomously, in a rapidly changing, fast paced environment and maintains a high degree of initiative, confidentiality and judgement
• Minimum 5 years’ experience planning and developing communications/presentations for executive audiences
• Minimum 5 years’ experience designing, developing and implementing strategic initiatives for global and/or financial services organizations
• Experience with complex / ambiguous / ad hoc situations requiring out of the box solutions, executed with minimal direction and guidance; situations may include working under aggressive time pressures and/or against competing priorities
• Strong analytical skills with ability to apply quantitative analysis to outcomes/trends to assess opportunity for continuous improvement from concept to execution
• Strong project management skills; demonstrated ability to motivate a team and design, develop and implement multiple enterprise-wide projects concurrently within time, cost, and quality constraints
• Demonstrated understanding of current and emerging leadership development strategies as well as latest best practice research
• Demonstrated advanced proficiency with MS Office: PowerPoint, Word, and Excel
• Lead analysis of performance needs by audience, working with stakeholders to understand priorities and challenges and generate potential solutions
• Identify and manage project scope and timelines effectively, and deliver with high quality and timeliness
• Apply adult learning principles, instructional design principles and experience working with multiple formats (iLT, viLT, digital formats, performance, and on-the-job development) to lead the creation of learning solutions
• Design for and measure against business outcomes, to clarify and track impact of programs and initiatives
• Serve as manager and liaison to the business for select programs
• Serve as lead facilitator for key programs and initiatives
• Train learning, HR and business leaders to deliver key content as part of global implementation
• Provide innovative partnership on talent development solutions
• Design and lead customized learning talent/OD/OE/change solutions for business leaders and their teams
• Manage vendors and project-based groups of SMEs, peers and stakeholders
• Business acumen: High intelligence & ability to quickly grasp complex business issues
• Confidence: executive presence to credibly and confidently work with groups of senior leaders in and out of the classroom
• Organizational effectiveness: able to help the business identify and address the root causes of performance needs
• Project Management: able to prioritize, scope, plan, budget and execute to independently move projects forward
• Communication: crisp, compelling and practical style of writing, editing, speaking
• Integrated HR perspective: expertise with related HR sub-functions and tools (succession management, performance management, organizational effectiveness, organizational design, performance consulting)
• Thinking Big. How do we build bigger, better, faster? What aren’t we thinking of?
• Diving Deep. Leverage strong analytics to design the leadership development system and influence the agenda. Be comfortable talking about data in a deep and detailed way
• Invent and Simplify. Appreciate what exists, identify why it works. Then improve it or build something totally different that derives even MORE value
• Be Right, a Lot. Take different perspectives and business needs, develop a solution that works, and move the ball forward. Support your opinions with sound reasoning grounded in the business
• Communicating. Share your ideas, listen to others, follow-up, and follow-up again
• Building relationships. Partner with HR Business Partners and central teams. Share best practices, partner on solutions, and move the organizations forward together
• Minimum requirements include a Bachelor's Degree in HR or related field with over 12 years human resource experience in leadership development, instructional design, program facilitation, change management, or senior HR Business Partner roles
• Strong coaching, consulting, facilitation and presentation skills, with ability to influence senior leaders in a global, highly matrixed environment
• The ability to be comfortable with high volume workload, dive deep into the details, and willingness to "roll up your sleeves."
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; ability to use hard data and metrics to back up assumptions, recommendations, and drive actions
• Experience measuring and reporting on business impact of leadership systems
• International experience developing leaders, designing and delivering learning solutions across multiple countries
• 15+ years of progressive experience architecting end to end leadership programs
• Experience in a high growth business environment with the practical application of leadership development, learning, and talent management
• Leadership coaching experience using 360 instruments and / or a variety of psychometric instruments
• Global experience developing leaders across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific
• Graduate degree preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Organization Development, Human Resources, or a related field required. Masters degree preferred
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in human performance and/or learning fields with strong focus on program design, management, and deployment
• Learning strategy, instructional design, and curriculum development expertise with experience across varying workforce levels (trade, technical professional, management, and executive levels)
• Proven facilitation, training delivery, and change leadership skills. Experience with 360-degree feedback, team facilitation, and use of psychometrics for development. Experience facilitating leadership development courses
• Experienced in organizational development/competency model and job profile development
• Capability in data analysis for decision-making
• Extensive program and/or project management skills and experience; global implementation experience preferred
• Ability to quickly build strong partnerships and influence others
• Ability to work within a multinational corporation with people from various cultures and areas of the business
• Strong decision making orientation; interface effectively with site leadership and carry a strong point of view to a positive decision
• Previous experience leading a team of direct and/or indirect reports
• Program Manage Talent Development Program for Team Leads – Philippines.Ensure effective execution of all launches and implementation related to building a pool of future team leads for the Philippine business. With a view to continuous improvement, review program design, track outcomes, and initiate improvements to make the program more effective and efficient
• Track and work to achieve the following metrics for talent management.These include
• Sourcing and Deployment Rates
• Retention of key talent
• Engagement of key talent
• Speed to proficiency in new role
• Coaching practice (TDP TL graduates)
• Optimization of resource investment and target efficiencies
• Effective program administration consistent with global mobility policies and standards. This involves building a strong partnership with the Global mobility and compensation teams in order to ensure that program execution meets all the standards or legislation in this regard. A strong partnership with the local counterpart of the global mobility team is key to ensuring optimal resource spending and avoiding costly issues that inflate expenses or incur unplanned investments.(Communication, Partnering, Initiative, and Administration skills)

Manager, Leadership & Development Resume Examples & Samples

• Provide learning needs analysis, design, development, assessment, implementation and evaluation of training materials to ensure alignment with business strategy
• Design initiatives and programs for high potential development Future Leaders. Define program objectives, design and deliver curriculum that includes a blended approach to learning that includes coaching, classroom training, experiential learning, distance learning and self-paced learning
• Facilitate talent review meetings with Division / Functional managers to ensure consistent and effective identification and development of high potential talent
• Facilitate development programs for junior - mid levels across the organization
• Acts as organizational coach delivering assessment, evaluations and providing coaching and mentoring to junior - mid level leaders across the company
• Collaborate in the analysis of initiatives and the workforce to generate insights to drive talent decisions and investments
• Stays abreast of latest developments in management, leadership, and organizational development areas to serve as subject matter expert
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development or other related field: MBA or Master’s degree preferred
• At least 3-6 years of experience in talent development, talent management, and/or learning and development
• Proven ability to strategies into actionable plans
• Strong knowledge of adult learning methodologies and ability to build practical, applicable and results-driven learning programs
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate programs
• Strong planning skills; comfortable navigating ambiguity and ability to multi-task while delivering high quality results
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills working with all levels of employees
• Track record of developing and using metrics
• S&P Global Ratings, which provides credit ratings, research and insights essential to driving growth and transparency
• S&P Global Market Intelligence, which provides insights into companies, markets and data so that business and financial decisions can be made with conviction
• S&P Dow Jones Indices, the world’s largest resource for iconic and innovative indices, which helps investors pinpoint global opportunities
• S&P Global Platts, which equips customers to identify and seize opportunities in energy and commodities, stimulating business growth and market transparency
• BA/BS Bachelor’s Degree
• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in the field of Leadership Development and/or Talent Management, including experience with Talent Ratings systems, Leadership Development program design and execution and succession planning
• A minimum of two (2) years of managerial experience and/or project management experience
• Experience working in a matrixed organization
• Intermediate to Advanced skills with Excel
• Ability to travel as required
• MA/MS Master’s Degree in Industrial and organizational Psychology
• A minimum of four (4) years of Supervisory experience
• A minimum of three (3) years of Hospitality industry experience
• Experience partnering with HR Business Partners or Consulting teams
• Experience in HR Analytics and the use of predictive analytics in Talent Management
• Experience working in a global business environment
• Tableau Experience
• Develop and drive innovative L&D strategy and organizational learning mechanisms
• Diagnose and prioritize learning needs that are aligned with business objectives
• Assess performance gaps, analyze learning needs, design and develop customer-centric solutions, and evaluate the effectiveness of learning programs
• Effectively manage multiple projects and initiatives from scope to evaluation
• Continuously scale programs to expand scope of audience and learning areas
• Lead an L&D team comprised of specialists, to develop and innovate multiple L&D programs
• A Master's degree in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Adult Learning, or related field
• 5+ years Leadership Development experience with increasing responsibility of scope
• Strong business and HR acumen, including critical thinking and creative problem solving
• Outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills, and effective at influencing across various leadership levels
• Experience leading and managing a team of up to 5 people
• Ability to influence leaders at all levels to understand their role in employee development and help build their skills
• Strong business and HR acumen, including problem solving skills, critical thinking, and willingness to be vocally self-critical
• Flexibility to respond quickly to changing business requirements
• Ability to deliver results with minimal supervision in a dynamic and often ambiguous environment
• Experience with project management software, SharePoint, and Learning Management Systems are a plus

Manager Leadership Development Resume Examples & Samples

• Collaborate with senior leaders and HR Business Partners to drive various talent development programs including development planning, and leadership development
• Design and implement comprehensive organizational development, programs, and action plans to improve performance based on the strategic vision of the company
• Lead managers in the strategic vision through project leadership and management
• 50% Travel Required
• The ability to influence leadership in a highly dynamic environment
• Proactive change agent with a strong sense of urgency to drive results
• Critical thinker with a strong ability to diagnose the performance of an account/ site and identify solutions to business issues
• Proactive change agent who can lead through influence and with a strong sense of urgency to drive results
• Design, develop, and implement leadership and high-potential development programs and other enterprise talent initiatives
• Promote creativity and innovation by researching, recommending and applying best practices or new approaches
• Implement metrics and evaluation strategies
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders on program design and implementation
• Minimum of six years in leadership development, executive development, learning and development, organization development or talent management
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; Master’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred
• Knowledge and experience in designing and implementing innovative, premiere leadership development solutions
• Ability to influence, collaborate, and work effectively with colleagues and senior leadership
• Experience in effectively leading large projects, strong organization and analytical skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with individuals at all levels
• Ensure seamless delivery and facilitation of learning programs including new manager programs, coaching and leadership development
• Manage delivery of entire leadership development curriculum to intended audience
• Conduct needs assessments; develop training and group specific learning solutions, pilot and implement to intended audiences, conduct post event analysis and evaluation
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to design, develop, and implement leadership and high-potential development programs and other enterprise talent initiatives
• Ensure training administrative infrastructure is in place to support implementation of learning plans and development initiatives
• Develop and manage training budget
• Coach executives through leadership challenges and collaborate on finding solutions
• Regular, dependable attendance & punctuality
• Bachelor’s Degree in HR, HRD, Organizational Development and relevant job experience
• Experience in a retail environment is a plus
• Ability to read, write, and interpret instructional documents such as design documents, evaluation reports, and facilitation manuals
• Must have above average mathematical skills, including the ability to compute rates, ratios, and percentages, and the ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Must have strong knowledge of Microsoft office. Strong Microsoft access skills, able to create queries and manipulate large amounts of data with ease. Strong Excel skills, including v lookup and pivot tables
• Advanced training and facilitation skills
• Experience creating learning and development approaches and solutions to address leadership development, change management and organizational development initiatives
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to influence leaders at all levels
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced, often changing, team oriented environment
• Effectivelymanage a team of learning and development professionals
• Facilitatelearning and development services, such as assessments, internships,mentorships, and profile and 360-degree assessments
• Collaborateand partner with corporate and regional training teams and business subjectmatter experts to ensure functional training needs are met
• Managethe learning for all team members and leaders by enabling team members with thenecessary tools and skills needed to fulfill their position requirements andenhance career development
• Consistentlyevaluate, evolve and improve company learning and development programsincluding but not limited to onboarding, new hire orientation, leadership andmanagement skills, etc
• Identifyand build scalable custom training programs based on company-wide need
• Managecorporate functions training needs and work with legal and compliance and HRleaders to identify curriculum content and design and ongoing maintenance ofprograms
• Identifyand implement innovative approaches for training, such as gamification anddigital based media
• Minimum 7 years with corporate experience in leadership development and/or organizational development in a fast-paced environment
• Minimum 5 years’ experience successfully delivering learning and leadership development programs
• Bachelor’s degree required in Human Resources, Organizational Development, business or related field of study. Master’s degree is preferred
• Effectively manage a team of learning and development professionals
• Facilitate learning and development services, such as assessments, internships, mentorships, and profile and 360-degree assessments
• Collaborate and partner with corporate and regional training teams and business subject matter experts to ensure functional training needs are met
• Manage the learning for all team members and leaders by enabling team members with the necessary tools and skills needed to fulfill their position requirements and enhance career development
• Consistently evaluate, evolve and improve company learning and development programs including but not limited to onboarding, new hire orientation, leadership and management skills, etc
• Identify and build scalable custom training programs based on company-wide need
• Manage corporate functions training needs and work with legal and compliance and HR leaders to identify curriculum content and design and ongoing maintenance of programs
• Identify and implement innovative approaches for training, such as gamification and digital based media
• Comfortable facilitating meetings and creating and delivering training and presentations to a variety of audiences. On-line and distance delivery experience using collaboration tools such as WebEx or Lync is a plus
• Computer skills in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook) and SharePoint
• Bachelor’s degree is required. Master’s degree in a related field is preferred. Concentration in Organizational Development or similar field is preferred
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in training and development and/or senior leadership experience in YMCA or nonprofit is required
• Strategic and operational business acumen is required
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication and presentation skills are required
• Excellent training and facilitation skills are required
• Strong project-management and problem-solving skills are required
• Proven ability to establish and maintain senior-level, collaborative partnerships with individuals across a broad range of groups is required
• Must possess organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to adapt to change and guide others in support of change management is required
• Intermediate skills with Microsoft Office Suite is required
• Ability to travel 50 – 60% of the time is required
• Commitment to the YMCA character development values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility is required
• Conducts needs analyses, designs, and develops staff or board-volunteer leadership development solutions and talent-management systems, as assigned by the Senior Director, to help new and existing leaders at all levels be more effective in their current roles, and/or prepare for future roles
• Conceives, initiates, manages and/or facilitates the delivery of portfolios of national YMCA leadership development training and programs that build Cause-Driven Leadership® competencies. Programs may include but not be limited to the areas of change leadership, YMCA operations, communication, design and innovation, and community engagement
• Coaches leaders to strengthen their competencies, and trains and manages other coaches
• Collaborates with and advises internal clients/business partners and local YMCAs to assess their leadership-development needs, perform gap analyses and design and lead programs to develop management and leadership skills and capabilities
• Selects the appropriate blend of learning modalities that will maximize the relevance, impact and understanding of specific subjects
• Advances and invents leadership-development practices to anticipate and stay current with emerging trends and needs
• Manages the marketing and promotion of programs to ensure that they attract appropriate audiences and are financially sustainable
• Performs other duties as assigned by Senior Director, Leadership Development
• Act as thought partner with HR and business leaders on leadership development strategies
• Design, develop, and implement large-scale talent and leadership development programs
• Develop, launch and manage high potential and top talent development programs
• Assist in developing long term positioning of Leadership Development programs and planning with full P&L responsibility
• Lead efforts on a new General Manager Development program
• Manage and support the Leaders Forum program
• Manage and support the global mentoring programs
• Lead the annual employee survey process, including developing strategies for implementation, communication and evaluation; advise on aligning action plans to results and business needs
• Oversee delivery of intact team development programs and source key note speakers for global leadership meetings
• Conduct 360 degree surveys aligned with coaching engagements
• Manage leadership development content on Edwards University portal
• Keep current and educate on emerging leadership development and training trends
• Speak/write on LD topics to establish credibility and increase brand awareness
• Research and evaluate future service offerings for leader and professional development
• Bachelor’s Degree; Advanced degree in Organizational Development, Industrial Organizational Psychology, Business or Education preferred
• Demonstrated interest and application of leadership development in their careers
• 12 years of related experience, including at least 7 years of general business management experience and success in developing relationships in complex business environments
• Demonstrated experience in creating, implementing and maintaining talent management programs
• Proven ability to build trusting relationships
• Ability to write proposals and implementation plans for services
• Experience creating an effective and strategic plan
• Extensive knowledge of business environment
• Strong knowledge in engagement surveys and competency modeling. Certification for 360 assessments
• Strong written, verbal communication and presentation skills; speaking experience is a plus
• Strong program/project management skills is a must
• Ability to recognize opportunity for improvement and contribute to change and ongoing innovation

Related Job Titles

Top 20 Leadership Experience Examples for Interviews in 2024

When it comes to interviewing for a job, having leadership experience can give you a significant advantage. Employers value candidates who have demonstrated leadership skills in the past, as they show that the candidate is capable of taking charge, making decisions, and motivating others.

In this article, we will be discussing the top 20 leadership experience examples that you can use to showcase your skills in a job interview. Whether you’re applying for a management position, or simply looking to stand out from the competition, having a solid understanding of what makes a great leader can be beneficial.

Overview of Leadership Experience Examples for Interviews

Some examples of leadership experience that you might want to include in your interview include:

Leading a team or department: This could be in a professional or volunteer setting, where you managed and motivated a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.

Mentoring or coaching others: If you have experience mentoring or coaching others, whether it be in a work or personal setting, this can show that you’re capable of guiding others towards success.

Project management: If you’ve managed a project from start to finish, this can be a great example of your ability to organize, communicate, and lead others towards a specific goal.

Conflict resolution: Being able to resolve conflicts in the workplace is a crucial trait of a good leader, and can be a valuable example to share in an interview.

Importance of Leadership Experience in Job Interviews

Having strong leadership experience can make a candidate stand out from other applicants, as it demonstrates that they have the necessary skills to lead a team or work independently.

Employers are looking for candidates that can not only perform their job responsibilities, but can also motivate and lead others towards success. By showcasing your leadership experience in an interview, you can demonstrate that you have the skills and abilities that employers are looking for in a top-performing candidate.

Defining Leadership Experience

Leadership is a multifaceted concept that can be difficult to define precisely. However, at its core, leadership refers to the ability to influence and motivate others towards achieving a common goal. A leader is someone who inspires, guides, and empowers individuals or teams to reach their full potential and accomplish great things.

To be an effective leader, one must possess certain characteristics that are essential in inspiring trust and respect. These include:

A. Characteristics of a Good Leader

Visionary : A good leader has a clear vision for the future and the ability to communicate it effectively to their team.

Confident : Leaders exude confidence and positivity, even in the face of adversity or uncertainty.

Strategic : Leaders are able to analyze complex situations and devise effective strategies for achieving their goals.

Empathetic : A leader must be able to understand and empathize with their team members’ perspectives and concerns.

Resilient : Leaders must be able to bounce back from setbacks and motivate their team to do the same.

Decisive : A good leader is able to make tough decisions based on the available information and the best interests of their team.

Innovative : Leaders are not afraid to take risks and try new approaches to achieve their goals.

B. Types of Leadership Experience

There are various types of leadership experience one can have. These include:

Team Leadership : This involves leading a group of individuals towards a common goal, typically in a work setting.

Community Leadership : This includes leading local or national initiatives aimed at creating positive change in society.

Project Leadership : This involves overseeing a specific project, from planning to execution, and ensuring its success.

Interpersonal Leadership : This involves inspiring and motivating individuals or groups to achieve personal growth and development.

Institutional Leadership : This includes leading organizations or institutions, such as universities or religious establishments.

Effective leadership is critical in most settings and can greatly impact the success of any organization or project. By showcasing your leadership experience during an interview, you can demonstrate your ability to inspire and motivate others towards achieving common goals.

Leadership Experience Examples

When interviewing for a leadership role, it’s important to provide specific examples of your experience in various leadership styles. Here are ten examples of different leadership experiences that may come up in an interview:

A. Examples of Situational Leadership

Situational leadership involves adapting your leadership style to fit the needs of your team in different situations. For example, you might need to be more hands-on with a new team member and then step back to a more delegative approach once they are more experienced. During an interview, highlight a time when you demonstrated situational leadership by changing your approach to fit the needs of your team.

B. Examples of Team Leadership

Team leadership involves motivating and guiding a group of individuals towards a common goal. This could be through delegation of tasks, facilitating meetings, or providing feedback. When discussing your experience with team leadership, provide specific examples of successful projects or initiatives you led and highlight how you motivated and empowered your team members.

C. Examples of Project Leadership

Project leadership involves managing a specific project from start to finish, which often involves overseeing a team of individuals. Share a detailed example of a successful project you led and highlight your role in keeping the team focused and on track, as well as your communication and problem-solving skills.

D. Examples of Change Leadership

Change leadership involves initiating and managing change within an organization. Whether it’s a shift in the direction of the company, a new product launch, or a change in workplace culture, change leadership requires strong communication skills and the ability to bring people on board. Share how you navigated a significant change at a previous workplace and how you ensured the change was successful.

E. Examples of Visionary Leadership

Visionary leaders have a big-picture mentality and can see opportunities for growth and innovation. Share a time when you came up with a new idea or vision that led to significant change or success.

F. Examples of Communication Leadership

Effective communication is a vital skill for any leader. Share an example of a time when clear communication was critical for the success of a project or initiative. Explain the strategies you used to communicate effectively with team members, stakeholders, or customers.

G. Examples of Strategic Leadership

Strategic leaders have an ability to think critically and plan for the long-term success of an organization. Share a time when you demonstrated strategic thinking and how it led to positive outcomes.

H. Examples of Coaching and Mentorship Leadership

Coaching and mentorship involve guiding and developing team members to help them reach their full potential. Share an example of a time when you worked closely with a team member or mentee and helped them develop skills to grow in their role or take on new challenges.

I. Examples of Conflict Resolution Leadership

Conflict resolution involves navigating difficult or contentious situations and finding a resolution that works for all parties involved. Share an example of a time when you successfully resolved a conflict within a team or with a stakeholder.

Key Skills Demonstrated Through Leadership Experience

As a leader, it is important to have a solid set of skills in order to effectively guide and motivate a team towards success. In this section, we will discuss the top 10 key skills that can be demonstrated through leadership experience:

A. Communication Skills

Effective communication is essential for any leader. Being able to clearly convey your message and actively listen to others is key to establishing trust and understanding among team members. As a leader, it is important to communicate expectations, feedback, and important information in a timely and appropriate manner.

B. Problem-Solving Skills

Leaders are often faced with complex problems and challenges that require creative thinking and quick decision-making. A strong problem-solving skill set allows leaders to identify underlying issues, evaluate different solutions, and implement the best course of action.

C. Decision-Making Skills

Making sound decisions is a key responsibility of any leader. Leaders must consider different perspectives and weigh the pros and cons of each option before deciding on a course of action. By involving team members and soliciting feedback, leaders can ensure that their decisions align with the goals and values of the organization.

D. Time Management Skills

Leaders must juggle multiple priorities and responsibilities on a daily basis. Effective time management skills allow leaders to prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and ensure that deadlines are met in a timely and efficient manner.

E. Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills

Conflicts and disagreements arise in any team environment. Leaders who are skilled in conflict resolution and mediation are able to facilitate discussions, identify common ground, and encourage compromise to reach a mutually beneficial solution.

F. Team Building and Motivation Skills

Leaders must be able to foster a positive team culture and encourage team members to work collaboratively towards a common goal. Strong team building and motivation skills allow leaders to identify strengths and weaknesses, provide constructive feedback, and create a shared sense of purpose.

G. Strategic Planning and Execution Skills

Leaders are responsible for developing and executing strategies that align with organizational goals. Strong strategic planning skills allow leaders to assess market trends, identify growth opportunities, and develop actionable plans that drive success.

H. Innovation and Creativity Skills

Leaders who are able to think outside the box and encourage innovation can drive significant growth and success for their organizations. By fostering a culture of creativity and experimentation, leaders can inspire their teams to challenge assumptions and explore new ideas.

I. Risk Management and Crisis Management Skills

Effective leaders must be able to quickly identify and respond to potential risks and crises. By developing contingency plans and establishing protocols for handling emergencies, leaders can ensure that their organizations are prepared to navigate unexpected challenges.

J. Coaching and Mentoring Skills

Leaders who are able to coach and mentor team members can help them reach their full potential and achieve personal and professional growth. By providing guidance, support, and opportunities for skill development, leaders can create a positive and productive work environment.

How to Highlight Your Leadership Experience in Job Interviews

When it comes to job interviews, having leadership experience can give you an edge over other candidates. However, simply having leadership experience is not enough. You need to be able to effectively highlight your experience to show your potential employer that you are the right fit for the job. Here are seven tips on how to showcase your leadership experience in job interviews:

A. Understand the Job Requirements

Before walking into the interview, make sure you have a clear understanding of the job requirements. This will help you to better highlight your relevant experience and show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed to excel in the position.

B. Identify Relevant Leadership Experience

Identifying your relevant leadership experience is crucial. You don’t want to overwhelm the interviewer with every leadership role you have ever held. Instead, focus on your most recent and relevant experience that directly aligns with the job at hand.

C. Use the STAR Method to Showcase Leadership Experience

The STAR method is a great way to showcase your leadership experience in job interviews. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Use this method to provide concrete examples of how you have used your leadership skills in the past, what actions you took, and what results were achieved.

D. Demonstrate Collaboration and Teamwork Skills

Leadership is not just about being in charge; it’s also about working collaboratively with others. Be sure to highlight how you have worked with teams in the past and how you have fostered a positive team environment. This will show the interviewer that you have the ability to work well with others and lead a team to success.

E. Highlight Your Leadership Philosophy and Style

Every leader has their own unique style and philosophy. Highlighting your leadership philosophy and style can help the interviewer to understand your approach and how you would fit in with their team. Be sure to include any relevant training or certifications that support your philosophy and style.

F. Provide Quantifiable Results and Achievements

Quantifiable results and achievements are key to demonstrating your leadership skills. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you have led teams to achieve specific goals or how you have improved processes that led to measurable results.

G. Show a Willingness to Learn and Develop

No matter how experienced you are, there is always room for growth and development. Showing a willingness to learn and develop can demonstrate your commitment to being a better leader and your willingness to adapt to new challenges and situations. Be sure to highlight any training or professional development opportunities you have pursued to improve your leadership skills.

By following these tips, you can effectively showcase your leadership experience in job interviews and stand out as the top candidate for the job. Remember, it’s not just about having leadership experience, it’s about how you present that experience to potential employers.

Common Leadership Experience Interview Questions

As a leader, your ability to inspire, motivate, and guide others is essential. During interviews, hiring managers will often ask questions to gauge your leadership experience and style. Here are some of the most common leadership experience interview questions:

A. Tell Me About a Time When You Led a Team Successfully

This question requires you to describe an experience where you were able to effectively communicate goals, delegate tasks, and manage a team to achieve a successful outcome. Be sure to highlight any key challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

B. Describe a Challenging Situation You Faced as a Leader and How You Overcame It

This question is designed to assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills as a leader. You should describe a specific example where you faced a difficult situation and explain the actions you took to address it.

C. How Do You Handle Conflict Within a Team?

As a leader, you will need to be skilled at resolving conflicts and ensuring that all team members feel heard and valued. Be prepared to describe a specific incident and explain how you used effective communication and problem-solving skills to reach a positive resolution.

D. How Do You Inspire and Motivate Your Team?

When leading a team, you need to be able to inspire and motivate individuals to perform at their best. Be prepared to describe specific techniques you have used to motivate team members and create a positive and productive work environment.

E. Can You Give an Example of a Time When You Implemented a Successful Change Initiative?

Change is inevitable, and as a leader, you need to be able to successfully manage change initiatives within your organization. Be sure to provide a specific example and explain the strategies you used to ensure the change was successful.

F. How Do You Prioritize Your Tasks and Manage Your Time Effectively?

Managing your time effectively is critical when leading a team. Be prepared to describe your strategies for prioritizing tasks, managing your time, and keeping track of deadlines.

G. Can You Describe a Time When You Coached or Mentored Someone to Improve Their Performance?

As a leader, you should be invested in the growth and development of your team members. Be prepared to describe a specific example where you coached or mentored someone to achieve their goals and improve their performance.

H. How Do You Manage and Mitigate Risk in Your Work?

Risk management is an important skill for any leader. Be prepared to describe specific strategies you have used to evaluate and mitigate risk in your work.

I. What is Your Leadership Style and Why?

This question requires you to describe your leadership style and explain how it has helped you achieve successful outcomes. Be sure to provide specific examples and explain the strengths of your leadership style.

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Modernizing your resume for executive IT leadership

CIO resume makeover: Recent trends in structure, presentation, and emphasis can ensure your resume is streamlined to emphasize your professional brand.

For IT leaders seeking a new position, condensing an extensive and storied employment history into a short, readable resume can be daunting. But by embracing modernized approaches to resume presentation, and eliminating outdated and redundant content from your CV, a streamlined resume that stands out can be readily achieved.

To give an example of this in practice, we paired a CIO with an eye on continuing their executive leadership career at a new company with Stephen Van Vreede, president, executive resume writer, and coach for ITtechExec.com, to help improve their resume and modernize the overall look and feel.

[ See also: CIO resumes: 9 best practices and 8 strong examples and CDO resumes: 5 tips for landing a chief data officer role ]

It may seem like window dressing, but familiarizing yourself with current resume style and format trends is crucial for a career move at the leadership level. And if it’s been a few years since you’ve evaluated your resume, it’s likely those standards have changed. In this resume makeover, Van Vreede modernizes the resume of a seasoned IT leader, who wishes to remain anonymous, updating the aesthetic while delivering a clear, strategic message to draw in recruiters and hiring managers.

A modern look to catch a hiring manager’s eye

When updating your resume, content shouldn’t be your only focus. In the past decade, it has become easier than ever to create aesthetically pleasing documents without having a graphic design degree, and it’s important to use these accessible design tools to your advantage.

In this resume makeover, Van Vreede noted that the candidate’s resume “came across as antiquated because a very old format was being used.” The candidate’s original resume was visually basic with black text on a white background, bulleted lists, and no visual elements to draw the eye across the page. This outdated style creates a dense document that is hard to read, making it more difficult for recruiters to quickly scan for relevant skills.

[ View the original resume for “Patricia T. Nguyen” ]

Formatting your resume doesn’t have to be intimidating — utilizing options available in Word is all it takes. VanVreede decided on a blue theme for the candidate’s resume, highlighting each section with complementary light and dark blue tones, while utilizing larger fonts for the candidate’s name and the various section headers.

Using color and fonts help break up the document, making it easier for the reader to take in each section and better focus on the information presented. Creating visual stop points also helps hiring managers and recruiters more readily find the information they are looking for without having to labor through the entire document. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for the first person reading your resume to quickly identify why they should consider you for the role.

Van Vreede also suggests making strategic use of simple font enhancements, such as bolded text and italics. For example, in updating the candidate’s resume, Van Vreede ensures each section has the most relevant and crucial information bolded, enabling recruiters and hiring managers to pick out the most important skills and accomplishments quickly and then go back after to read for more detail once they’re pulled in and interested in you as a candidate.

A strategic summary shift

An executive summary at the top of your resume has become a popular way to identify relevant skills and experience from the jump. But remember, each detail in this summary must convey your professional brand, so make every word count.

This section should signal to the reader that you are a strong candidate for the role, and entice them to delve further into your experience and background. Design this section for the job you want, not the job you have — and illustrate why you would be the ideal fit.

In this case, the candidate’s original executive summary was short and redundant in the context of the rest of the document, and the experience section “came across as a laundry list of duties,” positioning the candidate as an “IT manager focused on tactics instead of a CIO focused on strategy and organizational value,” Van Vreede says.

The original resume also included two brief sentences about the candidate’s general experience, noting that they have a “proven record of achievement in reducing costs, streamlining operations, stakeholder satisfaction, creating business strategies and how to best leverage technology.” While these are valuable experiences for the sought-after role, it’s better to provide substantive examples of how each accomplishment was achieved.               

Van Vreede addressed this in the revised resume by first shifting the executive summary message to “position the candidate as a technology and operations executive who helps drive growth, scale, and profitability into the business,” he says. To enforce this shift from “tactical to strategic ” leader, Van Vreede also expanded the summary to include information that would highlight the candidate’s “achievements and business impact statements,” he says.

[ View the revised resume for “Patricia T. Nguyen” ]

In the revised document, Van Vreede included specific accomplishments such as “rebuilt IT and modernized technology stack, led strategic projects and change management programs, managed 501c3 IT business operations, and modernized higher education IT operations and technology ecosystem.” These are more clear directives that demonstrate the candidate’s competency as a CIO, emphasized in bold, with additional context for each point included after for anyone who wants to know more.

This not only helps create a more cohesive narrative for the resume, but also ensures it will stand out and be “more likely to be read on a quick first review,” says Van Vreede. You want to establish your professional brand right from the start, and lead with the most compelling information to hook the reader.

Brevity makes a difference

The candidate, who felt their original resume was “too long and detailed,” wanted an updated resume that better reflected their “current role as an executive leader” in a more succinct manner. Here, Van Vreede says that applying a “strategic content and messaging focus” throughout a resume is the key to streamlining decades of experience into a professional brand.

For instance, on the candidate’s original resume, each job included an extensive list of often repetitive or outdated information. Moreover, the candidate’s career history on the original resume went back to 1997, with multiple bullet points for each position. In the revised version, Van Vreede condensed the oldest work experiences to a list of job titles under the heading “Select Additional Experience.” In this section, he also highlighted a few key accomplishments, removing everything that was outdated. Under the “Professional Experience” section, Van Vreede included the candidate’s four most recent positions, with the most space devoted to highlighting their two most recent positions.

In making these choices, Van Vreede emphasized the candidate’s CIO career path. For example, including the candidate’s two positions as business operations manager in their Professional Experience section outlines how these two positions led to the candidate’s later positions as director of IT operations and technology and CIO, the descriptions of which include far more detail and bullet points because they’re the most relevant to the candidate’s sought-after role.

For the candidate’s experience as a business operations manager, Van Vreede focused on accomplishments such as “championed cloud enablement, elevated organizational culture, and drove revenue and profit attainment surpassing business objectives.” These help demonstrate how the candidate’s path to leadership began, in managerial roles where they began flexing their leadership and strategic skills. It makes it easy to see how the candidate eventually found their way to the C-suite, highlighting their earliest accomplishments in these relevant areas.

The final result

It’s common to struggle with understanding which accomplishments to highlight on your resume, but thanks to the resume makeover process, the candidate says that Van Vreede helped them see how they were underselling themselves.

“I was impressed by the expert’s professionalism, expertise, and feedback. They were very supportive, attentive, and responsive throughout the process. I enjoyed the collaboration and communication with the expert. They listened to my needs, goals, and preferences and incorporated them into my resume,” says the candidate, who also noted that Van Vreede offered valuable tips on how to tailor the resume for different positions and industries.

“I learned a lot from the process, such as how to highlight my achievements, skills, and keywords, format and structure my resume, and tailor it for different opportunities,” the candidate says. “Thanks to the resume rewrite process, I feel more confident and prepared for my job search. I think it gave me a competitive edge and a positive impression.”

[ Compare the original resume with the revised version . ]

More on IT executive resumes:

• CIO resumes: 9 best practices and 8 strong examples
• CDO resumes: 5 tips for landing a chief data officer role

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Meet digital transformation experts making waves with value stream management, women in tech increasingly dissatisfied, job search rates surge, cisco: workers like the hybrid model, but crave better offices, vmware by broadcom: the first 100 days, from our editors straight to your inbox.

Sarah White is a senior writer for CIO.com, covering IT careers, hiring & staffing, and diversity.

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