Mastering Project Management Skills on your Resume: Your Key to Winning Over Applicant Tracking Systems
The ATS Game: What is It?
Honing your project management skills can make your resume stand out in today's competitive job market. Showcasing the right project management skills on your resume can open doors in the age of advanced technology. It's not just about impressing human eyes. There's another important player you need to win over - the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The Applicant Tracking System is the digital gatekeeper standing between your resume and your potential employer. This software is designed to scan resumes and cover letters for keywords related to job descriptions. In fact, it is reported that nearly 75% of resumes never even reach the human resources department because they fail to make it through the ATS.
So, how do you make it through this digital labyrinth? The key lies in your project management skills.
Project Management Skills: Your Golden Ticket
Project management skills are like a Swiss Army knife; they are versatile and useful in almost every industry. By showcasing these skills, you show potential employers that you are competent, adaptable, and capable of leading a team to achieve set goals. Here are some top project management skills that can make your resume ATS-friendly:
Communication Skills: Whether it's liaising with clients or coordinating with team members, communication is the lifeblood of project management. Phrases like 'team collaboration', 'stakeholder engagement', and 'clear communicator' are often sought after by ATSs.
Problem-Solving Skills: In project management, you're likely to encounter challenges and roadblocks. Highlighting your ability to troubleshoot problems, think critically, and make data-driven decisions is crucial.
Time Management: Balancing multiple tasks within tight timelines is a given in any project management role. Using keywords like 'deadline-driven', 'scheduling', or 'task prioritization' can capture the ATS’s attention.
Risk Management: This is all about identifying, assessing, and managing potential risks to ensure a project runs smoothly. Words such as 'risk assessment', 'contingency planning', and 'crisis management' can add significant weight to your resume.
Leadership Skills: As a project manager, you're not just a team member, but a team leader. Leadership-related keywords like 'team leadership', 'strategic planning', and 'decision-making' can resonate well with the ATS.
Writing an ATS-Friendly Resume
To make your resume ATS-friendly, you need to strategically include the keywords mentioned above. However, remember to keep it natural and conversational. Keyword stuffing may lead to over-optimization and could hinder your chances of passing the ATS.
Instead, include these skills in your work history or your summary of qualifications. For example, you might write, "Utilized strong communication and leadership skills to lead a diverse team in completing a $1M project ahead of schedule," or "Applied problem-solving and risk management strategies to mitigate project risks and exceed client expectations."
Remember to avoid too many over designed layouts. Tools like Canva have made beautiful fun resume templates more accessible than ever, but they can be hard to scan. Keep it straight forward, separate information with the right headers and bullet points, and leave the uniquely formatted resumes for creatives or for handing out in person.
Don’t forget Transferrable Skills
Take a look at these related skills you may want to consider for your PM resume:
Agile Methodologies
Communication
Risk Management
Leadership
Budget Management
Conflict Resolution
Quality Assurance
Performance Management
Resource Management
Change Management
Strategic Planning
Data Analysis
Technical Knowledge
Vendor Management
Documentation
Contract Management
Time Management
Continuous Improvement
Training and Development
Related Skill Descriptions:
Project Management: Ability to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects.
Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.
Communication: Effective communication skills with team members, stakeholders, and clients.
Risk Management: Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks in project delivery.
Leadership: Ability to lead, motivate, and manage team members towards project objectives.
Budget Management: Ability to manage project budgets and optimize resource allocation.
Conflict Resolution: Ability to identify, analyze, and resolve conflicts that arise during project delivery.
Quality Assurance: Ability to ensure that software products meet quality standards and specifications.
Performance Management: Ability to monitor and evaluate team performance and provide feedback.
Resource Management: Ability to manage project resources effectively, including people, time, and materials.
Change Management: Ability to manage change requests and adjust project scope as needed.
Strategic Planning: Ability to plan strategically for the long-term success of software products.
Data Analysis: Ability to analyze and interpret data to make informed decisions.
Technical Knowledge: Knowledge of software development and programming languages such as Java, Python, and C++.
Vendor Management: Ability to manage vendor relationships and ensure quality service delivery.
Documentation: Ability to create and maintain project documentation such as requirements, specifications, and user manuals.
Contract Management: Ability to manage contracts and ensure compliance with terms and conditions.
Time Management: Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks based on project goals.
Continuous Improvement: Ability to continuously improve processes and software products.
Training and Development: Ability to provide training and development opportunities for team members to improve their skills and knowledge.
