Leadership Skills Examples for Resume and Job Interview

As opposition continues to grow in the job market, you need to find a way to stand out from all the other candidates. One way to do this is by highlighting your leadership skills in your resume.

Good managers look for people who can show exceptional leadership abilities. They reason that, in any job requiring other people to cooperate and make decisions, those who can lead have the the potential to produce the best results.

One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.
Arnold H. Glasow

In this article, we’re going to teach you how to present your leadership skills in your application papers and at the interview as well, so you can understand how to give the interviewer what he’s looking for in your response. Plus, we provide different job industry examples to help you.

What are leadership skills?

Leadership skills are the attributes and abilities of an individual that make him suitable to lead a team towards a certain goal.

Good leaders have a combination of these skills and are able to shift their style depending on the situation and the context.

These include the capacity to communicate effectively, think strategically, make decisions, solve problems, develop and work with people, motivate, and adapt to change.

Leadership abilities are not just for managers or those in executive roles, but for everyone. Include them on your resume to give a good impression and demonstrate what you can.

Ultimately, the possession of these skills is crucial for every leader and can be cultivated through consistent practice, hands-on experience, and ongoing education.

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What makes a strong leader?

Leadership can be the make or break of any organization, from a small one to a multinational. What makes a good leader stand out from the rest?

Below are several key traits that exemplify the skills of a good leader:

Clear communication. A proficient leader is able to say what they want and explain the direction clearly to the team, to avoid confusion.

Empathy. A good leader puts himself into the shoes of their team members, creating a good work atmosphere.

Decision-making. Strong leaders are decisive and can make tough choices when needed. They consider all options and act in the best interest of the team.

Accountability. You should always be willing to account for your actions, and to acknowledge where you got things wrong. This is how you demonstrate that you respect your team.

Adaptability. Things change around here really quickly. A leader can adapt to new situations and adjust the game as needed.

Inspiration. Strong leaders inspire their team through actions and words, motivating them to reach full potential.

Overall, a good leader is not defined by a single trait but by a combination of qualities that enable them to inspire, motivate, and empower others to achieve common goals and drive positive change.

Types of leadership skills for a resume

By highlighting your skills of a leader and showcasing concrete examples of your achievements in your resume, you can differentiate yourself as a great leader. This will enhance the chances of your success in the job search.

But what exactly are the different types of leadership abilities that you should include on your resume? Below, we will break down the various categories of key leadership skills and provide examples for each type.

Communication

A good leader must be a great communicator. This encompasses both spoken and written forms.

Effective communication ensures that your vision, goals, and expectations are clearly articulated to the team. This clarity helps align everyone's efforts towards common objectives, fostering unity and direction.

Examples:

Public speaking
Active listening
Persuasion
Nonverbal communication
Feedback delivery
Negotiation

Decision-making

Leaders are often faced with making tough decisions that can impact their team and organization. Effective decision-making allows leaders to assess various options, weigh potential outcomes, and choose the best course of action to achieve long-term goals.

Leaders who encourage creativity, experimentation, and calculated risk-taking through their decisions inspire innovation, drive continuous improvement, and propel the organization forward.

Examples:

Analytical thinking

Risk assessment

Prioritization

Problem-solving

Critical thinking

Data analysis

Strategic planning

Resource allocation

Team-building

The capacity to bring a team together and nurture a harmonious work culture is one of the top leadership skills. When employees feel connected and supported by their colleagues, they are more likely to work together effectively towards common goals.

Interactive activities help break down barriers, alleviate stress, and create a positive work environment, leading to increased job satisfaction and productivity.

Examples:

Delegation
Motivation
Collaboration
Empathy
Conflict resolution
Setting clear goals
Promoting diversity

Time management

Good leaders have the ability to manage their time to meet deadlines and achieve goals. This allows them to prioritize tasks based on urgency, importance, and impact, ensuring that critical objectives are addressed promptly and efficiently.

Poor time management can cause stress, burnout, and overwhelm. Effective techniques, such as prioritization and delegation help managers maintain a healthy work-life balance and prevent exhaustion, enabling them to sustain high performance over the long term.

Time blocking is a great technique to allocate specific time blocks in their schedule for different types of tasks. You must adhere to these blocks strictly, minimizing interruptions and maximizing productivity.

Examples:

Planning

Organizing

Setting clear goals

Multi-tasking

Delegating tasks

Meeting deadlines

Time tracking

By showcasing these diverse leadership skills on your resume, you can prove to prospective employers that you possess the traits of a capable leader. Remember to provide specific examples of how you have utilized these skills in previous roles or experiences. This will make your resume stand out even more.

How to list leadership skills on a resume?

Demonstrating leadership abilities involves highlighting relevant experiences, achievements, and qualities that demonstrate your ability to lead, inspire, and influence others.

Create a strong summary

Begin your resume with a compelling summary or objective statement that highlights your career goals. Use words related to leadership and achievements to grab the attention of hiring managers.

Highlight relevant experience

Any relevant experience is key in showcasing examples of leadership skills in the workplace. This could include previous job titles such as manager, team leader, or project coordinator.

Even if you haven't held a formal leadership position, think about times when you have taken charge or led a group towards a common goal. Use bullet points to describe specific initiatives you led, teams you managed, and results you achieved.

Use action-oriented language

On your resume, use strong action verbs to describe your leadership experience.

Instead of saying "I was responsible for leading a team", say "I successfully led a team of 10 individuals towards achieving our project goals". This shows that you were actively involved and had a direct impact on the team's success.

Quantify your achievements

Employers love to see tangible results on resumes. If you have any quantifiable achievements related to your leadership, remember to include them.

For example, "Increased team productivity by 20% through implementing new strategies" or "Led a successful project that resulted in a 10% increase in company revenue".

Include relevant keywords

Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for relevant keywords before they even reach the hands of hiring managers.

ATS allows organizations to streamline the hiring process by automating tasks such as resume parsing, job posting, candidate screening, interview scheduling, and communication with applicants.

To ensure your resume makes it through this initial screening process, include keywords related to leadership skills. These could include "team building", "motivation", or "decision-making".

Provide examples

Whenever possible, provide specific context and examples of your leadership experience in the workplace. Describe challenges you faced, actions you took, and the impact on team performance or organizational outcomes.

Leadership skills during an interview

Showing your leadership abilities during a job interview requires thoughtful preparation and strategic communication.

Here are some tips to demonstrate your leadership skills:

Prepare examples. Identify specific examples from your past experiences. Choose examples that highlight your achievements and the positive impact of your leadership.
Use the STAR method. Structure your responses using the STAR method to provide context and clarity. Start by describing the situation you faced, outline the tasks involved, explain the actions you took, and conclude with the results achieved.
Discuss leadership style. Be prepared to discuss your leadership approach. Highlight key principles or values that guide your actions as a leader, such as integrity, transparency, empathy, or collaboration.
Be confident. Showcase confidence and authenticity in your responses. Speak confidently about your experiences, skills, and accomplishments.
Ask relevant questions. Use the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions about the organization's culture, opportunities for personal growth, and expectations for your role. This demonstrates your proactive approach to professional development.

Leadership skills examples for an interview:

Can you provide an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership skills in a challenging situation?: Certainly. In my previous role as a project manager, a key team member resigned during a critical phase of the project. I quickly convened a meeting, reassigned tasks, and secured additional resources through proactive communication. Despite the setback, we delivered the project ahead of schedule. This experience reinforced the importance of decisive leadership and effective teamwork.

Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team through a significant change or challenge.: In my previous position as a team lead, our department underwent a major restructuring. I organized team-building activities, maintained open communication, and worked closely with senior management to ensure a smooth transition. Despite the challenges, we emerged as a stronger and more cohesive team. This experience taught me the importance of communication and adaptability in leadership.

Can you give me a situation of a time when you motivated a team to achieve a challenging goal?: Absolutely. In my role as a sales manager, we were tasked with achieving a 20% increase in sales revenue within a tight deadline. To motivate my team, I implemented a rewards system to recognize top performers and organized weekly team meetings. Additionally, I led by example, actively participating in sales calls and offering support to struggling team members. We not only met but exceeded our sales target by 25%.