The Employers Wish List for Team Skills

The minimum is not good enough when you are fighting for a job. Employers dream of the exceptional employee, so to get an interview, submit an exceptional resume. There are exceptional team skills employers love to see. These are employees who: make personal sacrifices are givers not solely concerned with what they are getting out of everything have learned to apply their other skills to make team contributions can navigate conflict without negative emotional reactions can see the big picture Your resume must say more than work well with others or great team player. Your resume needs to make statements that show you possess exceptional team skills and exhibit accomplishments that prove your statements.

Team Skills Pyramid

To create an exceptional resume you will need to show you have applied your other desirable skills to make team contributions. The term team skills is broad. Many other skill categories support and demonstrate team skills. Most other job skills can show you are a team player when stated correctly: Communication Skills Teams need members who can state their ideas and questions clearly, listen well, and debate and resolve issues without being confrontational. Analytical Knowing how to digest and examine information and situations can be very important to a group. Problem Solving If you can solve problems and an employer is requesting a team player, make sure you include resume statements that show instances of problem solving. Creative The ability to come up with new ideas and suggestions is valuable to a team. When creative skills should be coupled with communication skills whenever possible. Organizational Staying organized is vital for interacting with other team members and meeting deadlines. When a team member holds up other team members, they can become remorseful and harbor animosity. Positive Attitude This might be the most powerful and important attribute for many people. A positive attitude can be infectious and motivate others. Clerical- If your position on a team is clerical, your interaction with and support of team members can demonstrate your team skills. Here are examples of tasks you might show on your resume to demonstrate team play:

Defined common goals for projects Created an outline or list of tasks required Assigned tasks to others Developed a time line for project Followed up with others on the status of their contributions Scheduled and informed others of meetings Communicated issues Created shared file folders or project boards Created and maintained archive for communications. Sent reminders of approaching deadlines Sent confirmation of completed tasks to other team members Reported regularly to project leader For resume statements describe: how you participated on a team your contribution to a team how you met deadlines how you resolved a conflict successfully an instance of how you supported another team member how you helped build a team how you made personal sacrifices willingly Characteristics for good team players: hard work persistence sacrifice influence persuasiveness sharing commitment initiative goal oriented

Resume Example Statements for Team Skills

Created centralized communications through project board and prioritized tasks for team members. Defined responsibility expectations for each team member. Listened to the issues of fellow team members and provided lists of possible options to avoid conflicts and expedite work. Encouraged team members by setting an example of persistence, after several experiments failed to produce results. Increased team productivity by mediating conflict team members.

Kept projects on track in harmonious environment by validating and addressing all team member concerns. Volunteer to lend a hand on kitchen team serving at homeless shelters once a week. Loyal team player demonstrated by seven year disease awareness project for the WHO. Managed team accommodations and received two promotions by being attuned to the needs of team mates. Willing to make personal sacrifices to reach project goals proven by volunteering for seven reconnaissance missions