Time is a very valuable resource. In fact, it has been called the most valuable resource we have. We only have so much time in a workday, in a workweek, in a lifetime.
This is why, when you apply for a job, you should let your employers know that you can handle your time responsibly. This is especially the case when you’re up for a managerial role supervising others.
How can you let your employer know that you have good time management skills? One way is to include them on your CV.
Not sure what to put under management skills on a CV? You’re in luck, as this article looks at key time management skills CV phrases and time management skills CV examples.
We’ve compiled these time management skills CV tips with management positions in mind. However, keep in mind that time management skills are important to almost any job you can think of – from your first entry-level position to the highest rungs on the corporate ladder.
Management skills to put on a CV – What are they?
Managers and supervisors need a wide range of skills to do their jobs well. This is because they must juggle a plethora of different tasks. At the same time, they must monitor the activities and productivity of the employees they supervise.
What are some management skills to put on a CV? Among the top skills managers must master are:
- Administrative Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Budgeting
- Business Development
- Business Knowledge
- Coaching
- Teamwork
- Collaboration Skills
- Communication
- Conceptual Thinking
- Conflict Resolution
- Critical Thinking
- Delegation
- Finances
- Hiring
- Interpersonal Skills
- Leadership
- Logistics
- Negotiating
- Office Management
- Organisation
- People Management
- Planning
- Presenting
- Problem Solving
- Project Management
- Technical Skills
- Time Management
Did you notice that last one? Time management skills are extremely important to supervisory positions. When you are applying to a managerial role, the hiring manager may very well be looking for evidence that you can manage your own time and that of the people you supervise.
Let’s dig deeper into how to list management skills on a CV, paying special attention to CV time management skills.
What are time management skills?
Time management skills are defined as “the process of organizing and planning your activities (time) in a way that it maximises performance, efficiency, and productivity.” Another definition is “the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively, especially at work.”
As we shall see, time management involves a varied subset of skills, including good organisation, scheduling, and communication.
Why are time management skills so important?
Time management skills are among the most in-demand soft skills – those skills that involve “behavior and thinking, personal traits and cognitive skills.” One reason is that time management skills are universally transferable – that is, they are needed for every job on the planet.
Think about it – can you dream up any job in which time is not a factor? Employees need to know when to go to work and customers must know when they can shop. Perishable goods must be moved. Appointments must be kept. Deadlines must be met. The list goes on and on.
So, no matter what industry you work in – or whether you are the boss or an entry-level employee – time management skills are a must.
In fact, developing good time management skills now can help your career grow in the future. As already mentioned, this article is geared toward management jobs but applicable more broadly. If you want to climb the career ladder, practicing good time management is one small way to get a foothold.
Examples of good time management practice
Consider: A position has opened up in your company. The boss wants to promote one employee to that position. You and another candidate are equally qualified. You are punctual and get your work done on time; your coworker does not. Who do you think will get a promotion? The answer is clear – time management skills are important.
Additionally, soft skills are notoriously hard to teach. Hard skills like using a tool or a certain software can be mastered with relative speed, but changing someone’s habits is more difficult. Therefore, employers would prefer to hire someone who already demonstrates the important skill of time management.
Time management skills are also important to maintaining a good work-life balance. For example, if you manage your time well, you may be able to avoid working after-hours. Thus, your workload would not cut into your free time.
The reverse is also true. Some people like to stay up late, getting less than adequate sleep before going to work the next day. Performance at work could then suffer, whereas proper time management would necessitate getting adequate rest.
Cultivating time management skills as a Manager
Before you can demonstrate your time management skills on your CV, you need to demonstrate them in real life. Consider the following tips to help you up your time management game.
- Post a large wall calendar in an area accessible to all team members. Keep it up-to-date with upcoming deadlines and events.
- Learn to differentiate between matters that are urgent, important, time-sensitive, or none of the above. If something is both important and urgent/time-sensitive, do it first. Then, do tasks that are important but not urgent. Finally, if time permits do those tasks that are not time-sensitive and of lesser importance.
- Learn to delegate. Recognize when you have got too much on your plate, so to speak. Assign some tasks to other responsible and capable employees.
- Get to know your team. If you make an effort to get to know your team members and employees personally – not just as a cog in the machine of big business – you may find that you are able to schedule and delegate more effectively. For example, you may learn that John is better at a certain task than Susie, while Susie is more effective at a different task. You can assign their projects accordingly. Further, if you learn that Megan always attends a non-work-related meeting on Sundays, you can adjust your scheduling with the result of fewer schedule change requests.
- Set a good example in managing your time. Strive to get to work on time each day and to meet all assigned deadlines.
What are the best time management CV skills to acquire and put on your CV? We’ve listed some in the following section.
Time management skills to put on your CV
When creating your CV, consider using some of the following management skills CV keywords.
You can also cross-reference this list to the job listing to which you are applying. If you see a specific word or phrase in the listing, be sure to use it in your CV! Why?
Today, many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS), software designed to look for pre-programmed keywords within CVs.
Keep in mind that companies may receive hundreds of applications for a single position. If the job is posted online, they may receive thousands of inquiries.
The hiring manager may not have the time to consider each of these applications personally. That’s where the ATS comes in. It ranks applicants’ CVs based on the presence of keywords – usually the skills, education, experience, or other qualifications needed for the job.
If the keywords are present, the CV is scored highly, and it will be reviewed by the hiring manager. If the keywords are not found, the CV will not likely advance in the hiring process.
So, if time management is an important skill in your desired job, be sure to include some related keywords, such as:
- Assessment and evaluation
- Decision-making
- Delegation
- Documentation
- Effective teamwork
- Goal setting
- Managing appointments
- Meeting deadlines
- Multitasking
- Office management and maintenance
- Organization and filing
- Prioritizing
- Problem-solving
- Record keeping
- Resource management
- Scheduling
- Self-awareness
- Stock inventory
- Strategic planning
- Strategic thinking
- Stress management and coping
Why it’s important to include a range of time management skills on a CV
Consider the ramifications of each item on the above list. You may be surprised to find that time management is related to almost everything you do.
For a manager, for example, these time management skills aren’t limited to managing your own time. You must also manage the time of others. This may mean making the schedule for your team, prioritizing tasks before delegating or making assignments, and planning weeks, months, or at times even years in the future to accomplish long-term projects.
To do this, you will also need to communicate well with your team. Would a task get done on time if you never mentioned the deadline? Also, you should be well aware of each team member’s skills, workload, and personal circumstances. This will help you choose whom to assign each task so that the work is done efficiently.
One way to enhance this element of time management is to break down tasks into smaller goals, setting benchmarks before the ultimate deadline. This will help you stay up to date on everyone’s progress. If something unexpectedly slows the workflow, you can make adjustments.
As a manager, you also need to practice self-awareness. You need to be aware of your limitations, including the constraints of time itself. If you cannot complete all your duties in a set amount of time, can you delegate some to another team member? Which are the least important and can be put off until a later time?
In this way, decision-making and time management are intimately linked as well.
Tips for Including Time Management Keywords on a CV
Remember that in using the time management phrases listed above, you should not limit yourself to just saying that scheduling, filing, etc. were among your duties. You should try to demonstrate these skills in action.
Where possible, cite the results of your using this skill. For example, did you win an award for punctuality? Did scheduling adjustment requests drop by 50 percent? If so, say so! These accomplishments and statistics will stick with a hiring manager much longer than will a simple list of skills.
Time Management CV Skills Example
If you’re looking for more inspiration, consider the following CV example. Stacey is applying for an office manager position at a technology startup. Based on the job listing, she knows that time management and organization are vital skills.
Stacey Smith
555.555.5555
Staceysmith@gmail.com
123 Chestnut Street, London
Skills
Business administration
Time management
Organisation
Scheduling
Supervisory skills
Work Experience
Office Manager
Jones and Smith Solicitors
London
2016 to 2022
- Scheduled client meetings and court appearances
- Oversaw historical research projects while meeting strict case deadlines
- Organized and input data for both physical and electronic filing systems
- Handled urgent postal, email, telephone, and fax correspondence in a timely manner
Cashier/Shift Manager
Greene’s Supermarket
London
2011 to 2015
- Used a point of sale (POS) system and acted as a point of contact for customer service
- Promoted to shift manager within six months
- Trained new employees to use POS and handle customer complaints
- Created rotating weekly schedules, taking into account employee requests and known periods of increased sales, resulting in 10 percent less employee turnover
Education
Associate’s Degree in Business Administration
2015
Redwinds Community College
London
5 GCSEs – B Level
2011
Cottonway Seondary School
London
Did you notice the phrases Stacey used to demonstrate her time management skills? In addition to listing time management, organization, and scheduling in her Skills section, she also described time management tasks in her job descriptions.
These included “scheduled client meetings,” “meeting strict case deadlines,” “organized and input data for both physical and electronic filing systems,” “handled urgent postal, email, telephone, and fax correspondence in a timely manner,” and “created rotating weekly schedules.”
She even cited a result or accomplishment – “10 percent less employee turnover.”
Can you use similar descriptions when writing your own CV?
Key Takeaways
- Time management is a highly valued managerial skill.
- Time management involves a range of other skills, including scheduling, meeting deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and good organization.
- You should include time management keywords on your CV, especially when time management skills are vital to the job.
- Don’t just say you are good at time management – show it in your job descriptions. Include accomplishments or statistics where possible.
- Building your time management skills now can open opportunities and positively affect your career in the future.
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