It's no secret that good time management skills are important for success in any field. But knowing that you have good time management skills is only one part of the struggle; next, you have to be able to communicate this to a hiring manager.
In order to demonstrate that you have these skills, it's essential to include specific examples on your CV and in your cover letter. Here are examples of how you can let hiring managers know that you excel in time management.
Be Specific
When writing your CV, be specific about your time management skills. Don't just say that you're "good at time management". Instead, give examples of how you've used your time management skills to succeed. For instance, you could write something like:
"I successfully managed a team of 12 people by creating a clear and concise schedule that we all followed. This resulted in our project being completed on time and under budget."
You could also highlight how your time management skills have helped you in your personal life. For example, if you are also heavily involved in organising a sports team, you might point out how time management skills have enabled you to achieve this alongside a full-time job. You could write something like:
"I have managed to successfully balance a full-time job with coaching my 5-a-side football team. This requires excellent time management skills, as I have to juggle multiple schedules and make sure everyone gets the attention they need."
Focus on Results
When giving examples of your time management skills, it's important to focus on the results you achieved. This will show that you not only know how to manage your time well, but that you are also able to get things done and achieve results. For example, you could write something like:
"I was able to increase sales by 20% in my territory by implementing a new time management system that allowed me to make better use of my time."
You could also talk about how you were able to save time for yourself or others by using your time management skills. For example, you might have reduced the time spent on a certain task by streamlining the process or delegating to others. You could write:
“My project management skills enabled my entire department to cut out unnecessary meetings, which led to a 20% boost in new business month-on-month. This was because key members of the team were available to conduct new client discovery calls, which allowed us to work through the backlog.”
Use Keywords
When writing your CV, it's important to use keywords related to time management. This will help ensure that your CV is picked up by software used by recruiters to filter CVs, and it will also help to catch the attention of hiring managers who are skimming CVs. Some examples of keywords related to time management include:
- Time Management
- Scheduling
- Organising
- Prioritising
- Delegating
- Goal-Oriented
Rather than mentioning this skill once, you can use multiple keywords to really drive home the point that you are highly skilled in time management. All employers want to see that you’ll be good at managing your time, as it means that you are typically an independent worker who won’t need close supervision.
Use Quantifiable Data
When possible, back up your claims with quantifiable data. For example:
"I was able to reduce the amount of time it took to finalise new client onboarding processes by an average of 2 weeks. I achieved this by implementing a project management board.”
You could also mention how your time management skills have saved money, increased sales, boosted performance or simply allowed you to have more time to spend on other tasks. For example, you could write:
“My time management skills have not gone unnoticed in my current role. I am consistently the fastest member of the team to file my monthly reports with no errors. I achieved this by establishing a system of keeping on top of reporting throughout the month.”
Highlight Your Achievements
Make sure to highlight your successes directly related to your time management skills. This will show hiring managers that you have a track record of getting things done efficiently and effectively. For example:
"I was able to complete my project ahead of schedule, which saved the company £10,000 in overtime and consultancy costs.”
You could also highlight extracurricular work or charity work. For example, you might write:
“My time management skills helped to save a local homeless charity around £400 a month in operating costs by enabling them to automate time-consuming processes.”
What if your time management skills need some work?
If the role requires strong time management skills and this isn’t your strongest point, don’t avoid the subject altogether. Instead, think about how you can highlight the steps you are taking to improve.
For example, you might mention how you are taking courses to help with time management, or how this has been a key part of your development plan in your current role. Show how you are acknowledging that you need to improve and the steps you are taking to get better. For example, your might write:
“Time management is something that I have always struggled with as I am quite a perfectionist. To balance this, I have been implementing a new time tracking system to ensure that I don’t run over on tasks. This has led me to deliver all of my projects on time for the past 6 months.”
Things to avoid when talking about time management
When writing about your time management skills, there are a few things you should avoid doing. These include:
Don’t just list your duties – focus on what you achieved.
Don’t make unsubstantiated claims – back up your statements with evidence.
Don’t use clichés or buzzwords – be specific and use concrete examples.
Don’t show up late to an interview after talking about your time management skills.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your CV will effectively communicate your time management skills to potential employers. With these skills in hand, you'll be well on your way to landing the job you want.