How to Highlight Your Leadership Skills on Your Resume

Are you a leader? If so, you're in luck—employers are always on the lookout for candidates with strong leadership skills. But how do you communicate that you have what it takes to lead a team on your resume? How to say you lead a team on resume?

Here are a few tips on how to talk about your team leadership experience on your resume, even if you've never had a formal leadership role:

1. Use action verbs.

When describing your experiences on your resume, use language that is active and engaging. For example, instead of saying "I helped my team members with their projects," try something like "I guided my team members to success on their projects."

2. Focus on results.

Employers don't just want to know that you led a team; they want to know what kind of results you were able to achieve because of your leadership. Did you complete your project under budget? Did you surpass your performance goals? Did you receive positive feedback from customers or clients? Be sure to include these types of details when mentioning your team leadership experience.

3. Highlight soft skills.

There are certain soft skills that are essential for any leader, such as communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. If you have examples of times when you used these skills to successfully lead a team, be sure to include them on your resume.

4. Use keywords from the job posting.

If the job posting mentions specific qualities or attributes that they are looking for in a candidate, such as "team player" or "effective communicator," be sure to use those same keywords in your resume when describing your team leadership experience. This will help ensure that your resume is tailored to the specific job and increases the chances that it will be selected by the employer's applicant tracking system (ATS).

Conclusion:

When it comes to resumes, one size does not fit all. The content of your resume will vary depending on your industry, your experience level, and the specific job you're applying for. However, there are some general tips you can follow to make sure your resume highlights your leadership skills in the best possible light.

First, focus on results rather than responsibilities. When listing your previous positions, don't simply list the duties and responsibilities associated with each role; instead, focus on the concrete results you achieved while in that role. For example, if you led a team of salespeople, don't just say that you "managed a team of salespeople." Instead, say something like "Increased sales by X% through effective team management."

Second, use numbers and data to back up your claims. Whenever possible, include hard numbers that demonstrate the impact of your leadership. Did you increase sales by 10%? Did you reduce turnover by 5%? Did you launch a successful new product? Include these types of details on your resume to really drive home the point that you're a leader who gets results.

Finally, don't forget to highlight any relevant extracurricular activities or volunteer experiences. These can be great places to showcase your leadership skills if you don't have much (or any) professional experience leading a team. For example, if you led a fundraising campaign for your child's school or coached a Little League team, be sure to mention those experiences on your resume.

If you're looking for ways to highlight your leadership skills on your resume, follow these three tips: focus on results rather than responsibilities, use numbers and data to back up your claims, and don't forget to mention relevant extracurricular activities or volunteer experiences. By following these tips, you'll be sure to give potential employers a clear picture of what makes you a strong leader—and why they should hire you!