Supervisor Skills
Most commonly requested Supervisor skills based on our database of over 10 million real job listings.
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Discover the key supervisor skills employers seek and learn how to showcase them effectively on your resume, increasing your chances of securing your dream job. Gain a competitive edge and confidently secure interviews using these expert tips and resume examples tailored specifically for supervisor positions.
How we got the data
The data in this report was pulled from Jobscan’s database of more than 10 million job descriptions and 17 million resumes.
We analyzed the job descriptions to find the skills that employers want the most. Then we analyzed the resumes to see which skills appeared most frequently.
Armed with this knowledge, job seekers can easily tailor their resumes and cover letters to highlight the top skills for each job they apply to.
top 10 supervisor Hard Skills
top 10 supervisor Soft Skills
top 10 supervisor Skills on Resume with High Match Rate
- Communication
- Professional
- Leadership
- Documentation
- Customer Service
- Microsoft Office
- Analytical
- Sales
- Reporting
- Powerpoint
Top 10 supervisor skills
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Streamlined operations by implementing new procedures, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity.
- Oversaw daily operations for a team of 30 employees, ensuring timely completion of tasks and quality assurance.
- Managed budgets and resource allocation, optimizing operations to save 10% on expenses.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Implemented weekly team meetings to improve communication and foster collaboration among team members.
- Developed and delivered clear and concise training materials, enhancing employee understanding of tasks and responsibilities.
- Facilitated open and constructive communication, resulting in a decrease in team conflicts.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Conducted regular safety audits, leading to a reduction in workplace accidents.
- Developed and implemented safety training programs for employees, increasing overall safety awareness.
- Successfully managed OSHA compliance, maintaining a zero-violation record during tenure.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Provided technical guidance to employees, increasing product quality.
- Managed inventory and procurement of technical equipment, ensuring timely repair and replacement.
- Developed and implemented new technical processes, reducing production time.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Led a team of 20 employees, achieving 100% on-time completion of tasks.
- Implemented a performance feedback system, resulting in a 25% increase in employee satisfaction.
- Developed and executed a team-building initiative, improving collaboration and communication among employees.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Successfully managed compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
- Developed and implemented new policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with company standards.
- Conducted regular compliance training for employees, resulting in a higher adherence rate.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Developed and implemented a new reporting system, resulting in a 20% increase in data accuracy.
- Analyzed data and created reports that informed strategic decision-making, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue.
- Conducted regular data audits, ensuring data integrity and consistency.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Developed and implemented a customer service training program, resulting in a 30% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Responded to customer inquiries and complaints, resolving issues promptly and satisfactorily.
- Led a team that consistently exceeded customer service KPIs and increased post-call review ratings by 25%.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Developed and implemented a new documentation system, increasing efficiency.
- Conducted regular audits of documentation, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
- Created and maintained a library of policies and procedures, improving employee access to information.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Managed maintenance schedules and repairs, resulting in a decrease in equipment downtime.
- Developed and implemented a preventative maintenance program, reducing maintenance costs
- Conducted regular inspections of facilities and infrastructure, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
5 tips for writing a supervisor resume
Create a bulleted resume skills section
Use a simple, clean format that highlights your skills and experiences. Focus on readability by using bullet points and short phrases to present your skills. Properly organize your resume into education, experience, and skills sections.
“Adding a skills section to your resume is a great way to draw the recruiter’s attention to your most relevant strengths and competencies.”
– Ashley Watkins, NCRW, NCOPE, Job Search Coach
For example, a supervisor’s bullet points might look like this:
- Streamlined operations by implementing new procedures, increasing productivity.
- Led a team of 20 employees, achieving 100% on-time completion of tasks.
- Developed and implemented a customer service training program, resulting in a 30% increase in customer satisfaction.
Hitting all the top job requirements with your skills list will help you rank highly for a keyword search within an applicant tracking system. But don’t stop there. Add context for every skill elsewhere in your work experience. If a recruiter is excited by leadership skills in your skills section, the first thing they’ll do is skim your work experience to figure out when, how, and how much you used that skill.
Highlight skills and accomplishments in your work experience section
As you list your responsibilities, it’s also important to highlight your specific accomplishments wherever you can.
“For soft skills, it’s often more effective to demonstrate them in the context of your past work experience. Instead of merely stating “excellent team player”, you are better off saying “collaborated with a cross-functional team of 6 on a new product launch that boosted sales by 30% in one year”. Examples of specific accomplishments or business outcomes speak louder than buzzwords.”
– Ana Lokotkova, Career Coach and Advisor
For example, mention these accomplishments if you’ve led a team or managed a project successfully.
Instead of saying,
“Worked on a team to complete a project.”
You could say,
“Led a team of 5 members to successfully complete a project within the deadline, resulting in a 15% increase in client satisfaction.”
Another example:
Instead of saying,
“Responsible for training new employees.”
You could say,
“Developed and implemented a comprehensive training program for new employees, reducing onboarding time by 20% and increasing employee retention by 10%.”
By highlighting your achievements and providing quantifiable results, you can demonstrate your impact as a supervisor and make your resume stand out to potential employers. This showcases your expertise in the skills you listed and gives recruiters more reasons to be interested in you.
Break resume skills sections into categories
If you’re applying for a role requiring a broad skillset, categorize your skills.
“If you opt to include a designated skills section on your resume, include up to 10 of your core competencies. Excessive skills lists are overwhelming and sometimes confusing to the reader.”
– Kelli Hrivnak, Marketing and Tech Recruiter
For example, someone applying for a role as a supervisor might benefit from segmenting their skill lists as follows:
Leadership & Management:
- Team Building, Project Management, Performance Evaluations, Staff Training & Development, Conflict Resolution
Communication:
- Verbal & Written Communication, Active Listening, Presentation Skills, Negotiation, Interpersonal Skills
Technical Skills:
- Microsoft Office Suite, Scheduling & Planning Software, Inventory Management Systems, CRM Tools
Industry-Specific Knowledge:
- Safety Regulations, Quality Control, Industry Best Practices, Product Knowledge, Budgeting & Financial Management
Problem Solving & Decision Making:
- Critical Thinking, Analytical Skills, Strategic Planning, Adaptability, Time Management
By organizing your skills into categories, you can provide a clear and concise overview of your supervisor’s expertise, making it easier for potential employers to identify your strengths and determine your fit for the role.
Quantify your achievements
Use numbers to quantify your achievements wherever possible. This helps potential employers understand your abilities and the impact you can have on their organization.
“Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for relevancy of how and when you applied those skills, so provide examples of this in your experience section. Bonus tip: Don’t just insert the skill like a task–include results.”
– Kelli Hrivnak, Marketing and Tech Recruiter
Instead of saying,
“Led a team to complete a project.”
You could say,
“Led a team of 6 members to complete a project within deadline, resulting in a 20% increase in efficiency and a 15% increase in client satisfaction.”
Another example:
Instead of saying,
“Implemented new training program for employees.”
You could say,
“Implemented a comprehensive new training program for employees, reducing onboarding time by 30% and increasing employee retention by 12%.”
Using numbers gives hiring managers a better sense of your value and demonstrates your ability to drive results as a supervisor. By quantifying your achievements, you can showcase your expertise and make your resume stand out to potential employers.
Tailor your resume to the job description
Read the description carefully and emphasize the relevant skills and experiences. Highlight the skills that the employer seeks and provide examples of how you’ve used those skills in your previous roles. Doing so can demonstrate that you’re a strong fit for the position and increase your chances of being invited to an interview.
“The ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work when it comes to your resume. For every job application, tailor your skill set to match the job description. Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that filter candidates based on keywords and skills listed in the job description. So, research the role you’re applying for and distill the skills required.”
– Ana Lokotkova, Career Coach and Advisor
In order to do this, “you must first understand what skills are most important for the target role,” says Ashley Watkins.
Here’s an example of how to tailor a Supervisor’s resume to a job description:
Job Title: Production Supervisor at a Manufacturing Company
Requirements: Experience in team management, quality control, and production process optimization.
Tailored Resume Description:
- Managed and supervised a team of 15 production line workers, consistently achieving 98% on-time delivery of orders and a 25% increase in overall productivity.
- Implemented strict quality control measures, resulting in a 20% reduction in product defects and a 15% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Optimized production processes by introducing lean manufacturing techniques, leading to a 30% reduction in waste and a 10% increase in production efficiency.
“Focus on the sought-after and in demand skills. A great way to figure out what is currently in demand is by researching current job openings from your preferred companies and reading through the posting. Pay close attention to the preferred requirements section and build your skills section based on this list.”
– Chelsea Jay, Career & Leadership Development Coach – Seasoned and Growing
By tailoring your resume to the job description, you can showcase your expertise in the skills required for the supervisor role and make your resume stand out to potential employers.
Bonus Tip: Use action verbs
Start each bullet point with an action verb. An action verb expresses an action, such as “create,” “build,” “manage,” “lead,” or “implement.”
Action verbs grab the reader’s attention and paint a vivid picture of what you accomplished at work.
Action verbs make your resume more interesting to read. They also show the kind of can-do attitude that employers are looking for.
FAQs
The most important supervisor skills to have on your resume include:
- Leadership: Demonstrating your ability to guide, motivate, and inspire team members toward a common goal.
- Communication: Showcasing strong verbal and written communication skills to ensure clear, concise, and effective communication with team members and upper management.
- Problem-solving: Highlighting your ability to identify, analyze, and resolve issues efficiently and effectively.
- Time management: Emphasizing your skill in prioritizing tasks, setting deadlines, and managing your own time and that of your team members.
- Conflict resolution: Illustrating your ability to address disputes and disagreements professionally and constructively, fostering a positive work environment.
While all supervisor skills may have some importance, focusing on the most relevant and impactful skills is key. Avoid listing generic skills like multitasking or being a team player, as these are less specific and less likely to set you apart from other candidates.
The skills and responsibilities of a call center supervisor include:
- Staff management and scheduling: Overseeing and organizing employee work schedules, ensuring adequate staffing levels, and making necessary adjustments to maintain productivity.
- Performance monitoring and coaching: Tracking employee performance, providing feedback, and offering guidance to help team members improve and meet performance goals.
- Customer service quality assurance: Ensuring that customer service representatives provide consistent, high-quality customer support and continuously implementing strategies to improve service.
- Conflict resolution and handling escalated customer issues: Addressing disputes between employees or customers and resolving escalated customer concerns professionally and efficiently.
- Data analysis and reporting: Collecting, analyzing, and reporting on call center metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for improvement and inform decision-making.
The top 3 necessary qualities of an effective supervisor are:
- Leadership: An effective supervisor must possess strong leadership skills, guiding and motivating team members toward achieving common goals. This includes setting clear expectations, providing direction, and creating an environment that fosters collaboration and productivity.
- Communication: Clear and concise communication is essential for a supervisor to ensure everyone is on the same page and to minimize misunderstandings. An effective supervisor must be able to actively listen, provide constructive feedback, and maintain open lines of communication with team members and upper management.
- Problem-solving: A successful supervisor must be adept at identifying and addressing challenges that arise in the workplace. This requires analyzing situations, developing creative solutions, and implementing them efficiently to minimize disruption and maintain productivity.
A supervisor’s role is more focused on directly managing employees and their day-to-day tasks. In contrast, a manager’s role encompasses broader responsibilities related to the overall functioning and success of the organization.
The difference between a supervisor and a manager lies primarily in their level of responsibility and the scope of their roles within an organization:
- A supervisor typically oversees the day-to-day tasks and performance of a team or a specific group of employees. They focus on ensuring their team works efficiently and effectively, providing guidance, direction, and support as needed. Supervisors often report to managers and are responsible for implementing policies and procedures set forth by management.
- Conversely, a manager is responsible for broader operational and strategic aspects of a department or organization. They have a higher level of authority and are involved in decision-making processes that affect the entire organization. Managers often oversee supervisors and are accountable for setting goals, developing strategies, and allocating resources effectively to achieve organizational objectives.