How Do You Say "Interpersonal Skills" on a Resume?

Interpersonal skills, also known as soft skills or people skills, are the abilities that enable you to interact effectively and harmoniously with others. They are crucial in virtually every workplace, regardless of industry or role. However, simply stating “interpersonal skills” on your resume is vague and doesn’t tell a potential employer anything concrete about your abilities. This blog post will delve into how to effectively showcase your interpersonal skills on your resume, providing specific examples and actionable advice.

Why Are Interpersonal Skills Important?

Interpersonal skills are essential because they contribute to a positive and productive work environment. They facilitate:

Effective Communication: Clear and concise communication is the cornerstone of any successful team.
Collaboration and Teamwork: The ability to work effectively with others towards a common goal.
Conflict Resolution: The capacity to navigate disagreements constructively and find mutually agreeable solutions.
Leadership and Influence: The ability to motivate, inspire, and guide others.
Client Relations: Building rapport and maintaining positive relationships with clients and customers.
Adaptability and Flexibility: Adjusting to different personalities and work styles.

Employers highly value candidates with strong interpersonal skills because they are more likely to be successful in their roles and contribute positively to the company culture.

The Problem with Simply Listing “Interpersonal Skills”

While it’s important to highlight your interpersonal skills on your resume, simply listing “interpersonal skills” or a string of related terms like “communication,” “teamwork,” and “leadership” is ineffective. This approach is:

Vague: It doesn’t provide any specific evidence of your abilities.
Generic: It doesn’t differentiate you from other candidates.
Unconvincing: It doesn’t demonstrate the impact of your skills.

Instead, you need to demonstrate your interpersonal skills through concrete examples and quantifiable achievements.

How to Effectively Showcase Interpersonal Skills on Your Resume

Here’s a detailed guide on how to showcase your interpersonal skills effectively on your resume:

Identify Relevant Skills: Start by identifying the specific interpersonal skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Carefully review the job description and look for keywords related to communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and other interpersonal abilities.
Use Action Verbs: Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments and demonstrate your skills. Instead of saying “responsible for team projects,” say “led cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget.”
Provide Specific Examples: Provide specific examples of how you have used your interpersonal skills in previous roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your examples:
- Situation: Describe the context or situation you were in.
- Task: Explain the task or challenge you faced.
- Action: Detail the actions you took to address the situation.
- Result: Highlight the positive outcome or result of your actions.
Quantify Your Achievements: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements to demonstrate the impact of your interpersonal skills. For example, instead of saying “improved customer satisfaction,” say “increased customer satisfaction scores by 15%.”
Integrate Skills Throughout Your Resume: Don’t just list your interpersonal skills in a separate section. Integrate them throughout your resume, particularly in your work experience and accomplishments sections.
Tailor Your Resume to Each Job: Customize your resume for each job you apply for, highlighting the interpersonal skills that are most relevant to the specific role.

Examples of Interpersonal Skills and How to Showcase Them

Here are some examples of common interpersonal skills and how to effectively showcase them on your resume:

Communication:

Instead of: “Good communication skills”
Try: “Presented complex technical information to non-technical audiences, resulting in improved understanding and project alignment.”
Example using STAR: “During a project delay (Situation), I recognized a communication breakdown between the development and marketing teams (Task). I organized regular cross-departmental meetings to facilitate open communication and address concerns (Action). This resulted in improved collaboration and the successful completion of the project (Result).”

Teamwork:

Instead of: “Team player”
Try: “Collaborated with a team of five to develop and implement a new marketing strategy, resulting in a 20% increase in leads.”
Example using STAR: “Our team faced a tight deadline for a critical project (Situation). My task was to coordinate the efforts of several team members with different skill sets (Task). I facilitated daily stand-up meetings, delegated tasks effectively, and provided regular updates to the project manager (Action). As a result, we successfully completed the project on time and within budget (Result).”

Leadership:

Instead of: “Leadership skills”
Try: “Led a team of 10 employees, mentoring and coaching them to achieve individual and team goals.”
Example using STAR: “The sales team was experiencing low morale and declining performance (Situation). I was tasked with leading the team and improving their results (Task). I implemented a new training program, provided regular feedback and support, and fostered a positive team environment (Action). This led to a 15% increase in sales within three months (Result).”

Problem-Solving:

Instead of: “Problem-solving skills”
Try: “Successfully resolved a complex technical issue that was impacting customer service, restoring system functionality and minimizing downtime.”
Example using STAR: “A critical software bug was causing significant disruptions to our online platform (Situation). My task was to identify the root cause of the problem and implement a solution (Task). I conducted thorough testing and analysis, collaborated with the development team, and implemented a patch that resolved the issue (Action). This resulted in a 90% reduction in system downtime and improved customer satisfaction (Result).”

Conflict Resolution:

Instead of: “Conflict resolution skills”
Try: “Mediated a disagreement between two team members, facilitating a constructive dialogue and finding a mutually agreeable solution.”
Example using STAR: “Two team members had a conflict regarding project priorities (Situation). My task was to help them resolve their disagreement and ensure the project stayed on track (Task). I facilitated a meeting between them, actively listened to their concerns, and helped them find a compromise that addressed both of their needs (Action). This resulted in a positive resolution and the project continued without further delays (Result).”

Adaptability/Flexibility:

Instead of: “Adaptable”
Try: “Successfully adapted to a rapidly changing work environment, quickly learning new technologies and processes.”
Example using STAR: “Our company underwent a major restructuring (Situation), which required employees to learn new software and adapt to new workflows (Task). I proactively sought training on the new software and quickly integrated the new processes into my work (Action). As a result, I was able to maintain my productivity and contribute effectively to the team during the transition (Result).”

Active Listening:

Instead of: “Good listener”
Try: “Actively listened to client feedback, identifying key concerns and incorporating their suggestions into project deliverables.”
Example using STAR: “During a client meeting, the client expressed dissatisfaction with a specific aspect of the project (Situation). My task was to understand their concerns and address them effectively (Task). I actively listened to their feedback, asked clarifying questions, and took detailed notes (Action). As a result, I was able to identify the root cause of their dissatisfaction and propose a solution that met their needs, leading to a successful project outcome and strengthened client relationship (Result).”

Where to Highlight Interpersonal Skills on Your Resume

Summary/Profile Section: Briefly mention 1-2 key interpersonal skills relevant to the target role.
Work Experience Section: This is the primary place to showcase your interpersonal skills using the STAR method and quantifiable results.
Skills Section: List relevant keywords, but don’t just list generic terms. Use more specific phrases like “Cross-functional Team Leadership” or “Client Relationship Management.”
Projects/Extracurricular Activities: If you have limited work experience, highlight projects or extracurricular activities where you demonstrated strong interpersonal skills.

Key Takeaways

Don’t just list “interpersonal skills.” Show them.
Use action verbs and provide specific examples.
Quantify your achievements whenever possible.
Tailor your resume to each job.
Use the STAR method to structure your examples.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively showcase your interpersonal skills on your resume and increase your chances of landing an interview. Remember, employers are looking for candidates who not only have the technical skills but also the people skills to thrive in their organizations. Demonstrating these skills clearly and convincingly on your resume is crucial for your job search success.