Great Self-Management Skills to Include on a Resume

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Having self-management skills can be an important factor in finding a job, getting hired and growing your career. Many companies look for candidates with self-management skills in order to build a highly motivated staff that is interested in improving as individuals and as a group. Including self-management skills on your resume demonstrates a strong aptitude for meeting goals and promoting company values.

What are self-management skills?

Self-management skills are the abilities and knowledge that allow you to remain focused and productive. They enable people to analyze what they need to accomplish and create a plan for doing those tasks without being prompted by an outside motivator such as a manager. People who are able to use self-management skills can be trusted to accomplish their work, use their time wisely and seek out opportunities for growth. Self-managing involves knowing how and when to ask for help and collaborate with others in addition to completing projects independently.

Why is it important to include self-management skills on a resume?

Listing self-management skills on a resume shows employers that you have the ability to thrive and grow in a position without needing too much oversight. Hiring managers look for self-management skills in order to build an efficient and motivated team, allowing them to use their time and resources on growing the company. Companies rely on employees to have self-management skills to succeed at their job and seek out help when necessary.

Best self-management skills to list on your resume

Here are several useful self-management skills that can help strengthen your resume:

Time management

Time management refers to your ability to plan out your responsibilities, make and follow a schedule, prioritize different tasks and be efficient when completing your work. People with good time management skills are able to develop a strategy for meeting a goal and make a reasonable timeline for doing so. Time management skills also involve knowing how to delegate tasks among a team and making both short and long term plans.

Organization

Having organization skills is essential in keeping a neat workspace that helps you complete your work efficiently. Organization can refer to the way you manage both your physical space and your mental energy. Knowing what organization systems work best for the task you need to accomplish can make you a valuable asset in the workplace. Being organized makes it easier for you and others to access resources related to your job, and ensures that none of your responsibilities are accidentally forgotten.

Accountability

Showing accountability for your actions is a critical part of working with others or completing an independent project. Being accountable and taking responsibility for how your actions affect other people shows maturity and strong ethics, which can build trust in your team. People who are skilled in accountability have a consistently positive attitude and carefully consider the possible results of their actions. Accountability also allows you to be recognized for your contributions to a company’s success.

Decision-making

Employers often seek out candidates that are skilled in making well-informed decisions in order to promote a culture of leadership within their company. Being able to make both small choices and important decisions in a timely manner is an important part of managing your time and your workload. In order to develop your decision-making skills, you must be able to consider all factors of a situation and make an educated choice about what you need to do to reach a goal.

Self-confidence

While some people may seem naturally confident, self-confidence is a skill that you can grow in order to grow your career. Practicing self-confidence in the workplace shows that you trust your own skills and knowledge, encouraging others to believe in your success as well. Acting with confidence involves committing to the choices you make and seeking out opportunities to learn and practice new skills. Employers seek out candidates who are confident in their experience and their ability to succeed in the position.

Motivation

Motivation is an important part of self-management that involves being able to encourage yourself to complete your goals. Businesses hire candidates that are highly motivated in order to ensure that all essential tasks are accomplished on time. People who are motivated are able to commit to doing a task well and invest their time and energy into a project’s success. Many people with motivation skills are able to use them to manage their time and hold themselves accountable alongside other self-management skills.

Stress management

In order to manage yourself at work, you should also be able to manage stress and maintain a reasonable work-life balance. Your stress levels can influence the quality of your work and the amount of satisfaction you get from your job. If a position is fast-paced and highly stressful, employers will look for candidates that have the stress-management skills to enjoy that type of environment.

Initiative

Taking initiative involves seeking out new opportunities and pursuing them. Having initiative is essential in finding a job and moving up in your company because it helps you see the value in exploring new ideas and working towards your goals. Employers look for candidates with initiative who can innovate and look for ways to advance the company’s mission.

How to show self-management in the workplace

Follow these steps to demonstrate strong self-management skills in the workplace:

1. First, understand your responsibilities

Successfully self-managing at work requires you to understand what you are responsible for and what opportunities are within the scope of your position. Knowing specifically what your manager’s expectations are can help you meet and exceed them. A large part of self-management skills is being able to make a plan, which will be much easier if you have a strong knowledge of your position and abilities.

2. Then, maintain a schedule

You can build your organization and time-management skills by setting a regular daily or weekly schedule for accomplishing tasks. Scheduling both professional responsibilities and time for self-care can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and make work more enjoyable. Writing down your schedule in a planner and checking off each accomplishment can help reinforce positive self-management habits. After setting your schedule, regularly evaluate how well it works for you and make adjustments when necessary.

3. Finally, seek out opportunities

You can become more self-sufficient and improve your management by learning new skills and pursuing new opportunities. Look for projects where you can practice leadership and develop the self-management skills you are less confident in. Seek out colleagues who show the self-management skills that you admire and spend time learning from them.

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