Do you pride yourself on being a team player? Do you work well with others? Are you able to motivate and inspire people?
Teamwork skills are in high demand in virtually every workplace. These transferable skills result in smooth interactions between team members, management, suppliers, and customers.
How can you develop and improve your teamwork skills? How can you demonstrate them on your resume? Let’s dive in.
Learn more about how to show teamwork skills on your resume here.
Teamwork is defined as “working with others toward a common goal.” The large skill category of “teamwork” includes elements of many other skills, such as:
â—Ź Motivation
â—Ź Efficiency
â—Ź Communication
â—Ź Problem-solving
â—Ź Empathy
â—Ź Active listening
â—Ź Collaboration
â—Ź Conflict resolution
â—Ź Friendliness
â—Ź Respectfulness
â—Ź Reliability
â—Ź Creativity
â—Ź Decision-making
â—Ź Delegation
â—Ź Planning
â—Ź Leadership
â—Ź Project management
â—Ź Open-mindedness
â—Ź Attentiveness
â—Ź Patience
â—Ź Time management
â—Ź Scheduling
â—Ź Evaluation
â—Ź Reporting
â—Ź Implementation
How important is teamwork? It often appears near the top of “top skills” lists that employers are looking for in their job candidates.
How to Build Your Teamwork Skills
Like most skills, the best way to improve in your teamwork skills is to practice, practice, practice. You’ll need to work as part of a team.
As you do so, evaluate your interactions with others. Do you have tense or friendly relationships with them? How often do conflicts arise? If your relationship with your team is strained, focus on resolving differences, showing respect to others, and listening to their ideas. You may also discover harmful personal prejudices you have against others. If so, weed them out.
Getting to know your teammates is also important. Talk to them. Make eye contact. Ask questions when appropriate. Make a point to remember their names, the names of their family members, even their pets. Share appropriate information about yourself so that they can get to know you, too.
Team-building exercises are another way of improving your teamwork skills. Many team-building exercises are in the form of a game – they’re a fun break from the daily grind.
What if you have a leadership position within your team? That’s great! While we may not think of a leader as part of a team, he or she actually is. Often, the leader is crucial to forming the team, directing it, and keeping it running smoothly.
Some teamwork skills can also be developed personally, without reliance on others. For example, you can strive to better manage your time. Later, you’ll be able to fulfill your assignments on time to meet group deadlines.
Outside of the workplace, volunteerism is a good way to build your teamwork skills. You’ll need to work with others to accomplish the goals of the volunteer organization.
How to Include Teamwork Skills on Your Resume
The easiest and most straightforward way to include teamwork on your resume is to list it in the “Skills” section. You can arrange your skills section in this way:
Skills
â—Ź Teamwork
â—Ź Leadership
â—Ź Time management
â—Ź Problem-solving
However, there are other more subtle – and more effective – ways of displaying teamwork ability.
In your job descriptions, include teamwork-related words from the above list. You should also examine the original job posting for potential keywords.
Also, mention teams that you have been a part of. At work, have you led or served on a project or departmental team? Did you train others? Did you collaborate with contacts outside your company, such as vendors or shipping managers? All of these experiences lend themselves to teamwork skills.
Consider an example. Look for the teamwork-related keywords and phrases in italics.
Work Experience
Logistics Coordinator
B and C Manufacturing | Cleveland, OH
2012 to 2019
â—Ź Oversaw a team of 34 individuals in the warehouses and loading docks
â—Ź Prepared schedules for unloading, cataloging, and storing supplies; packing and loading outgoing products; and completing monthly inventory reports
â—Ź Trained new team members, including extensive safety training
â—Ź Coordinated with vendors and shipping providers to ensure smooth and efficient interactions
Even in your hobbies and interests, you may be able to list team activities – sports teams, coaching, competitive academic teams, and the like.
You might also find yourself in a group interview during the hiring process. Group interviews are used to determine how well you will fit into the company culture. During a group interview, be confident and friendly.
Make an effort to speak to everyone in the group, and really listen when they speak to you. Avoid any confrontational or discomforting behavior.
Key Takeaways
â—Ź Teamwork is a multifaceted skill that includes abilities such as communication, collaboration, delegation, conflict resolution, time management, and good organization.
â—Ź Practice teamwork skills by putting yourself in team situations – in the workplace, in recreational activities, and through volunteerism.
â—Ź Improve teamwork skills by monitoring your interactions with others and focusing on teamwork-related skills.
â—Ź Include teamwork and related skills on your resume in the skills section, in your job descriptions, and even in your Hobbies and Interests section.
