Teamwork is one of the most appreciated skills when you go looking for a job. But, the question here is, how would recruiters know that you are a team player when they have not seen it firsthand. They cannot come to that conclusion by taking a glance at your resume. So, that makes it very difficult to convince future employers that you are actually a good team worker.
If you plainly write teamwork on resume, it won't suffice. You need to show them using tips and tricks that you are actually a team player and believe in the supremacy of working as a team rather than alone. The corporate world is not very kind to the lone wolf and believes in the idea that the best output comes from the collaboration of great minds. Keeping this in regard, you simply cannot score a lucrative opportunity by ignoring teamwork. You must somehow show your interviewers and recruiters that you are flexible and are willing to work in teams.
Since it is one of the most crucial skills to have on your resume, here are 5 ways you can illustrate teamwork on resume. This will certify that you get the job you are aiming for.
5 Ways to Add Teamwork to Resume
Showing the employer that you are team worker on paper can be very difficult. However, the general advice is to use as many action verbs as you can.
Use Action Words
Action words have a very positive impact on your resume. This gives the recruiter the idea that you are ready and up for anything. When you talk about how you took part in something you can use words that describe what exactly you did in the team. For instance, you can talk about how you 'worked' 'managed' or 'created' something or the other. All these words give your recruiters the idea that you are hands-on and do not talk about your achievements alone but when mentioning your achievements you keep all your team members in the count. However, be as honest as you can be.
You can never know when or who can cross-check the claims you make on your resume. When describing your actions stay as rooted as possible. Exaggeration will not work well in your case, as employers can easily identify resumes that are not entirely honest.
Do Not Exaggerate
Exaggeration can be the worst thing possible for your resume. We all can take the high road when describing something we are proud of or if we know that doing so can go well in our favor. However, we must also keep in mind that it will not always go well. It is a common practice for people to lie or exaggerate on their resumes which is why recruiters are far too cautious when it comes to exaggeration.
They simply disregard a resume that has a lot of exaggeration and that can cost you your opportunity. This is why, it is important that you avoid exaggerating and get to the point right away. Mention all the things that you have done with a team but do not try to stand out among them. It can come off as negative and will give the image that you are trying to single out your efforts. Teamwork means that you are equal to other team members and put in the same efforts. Representing this in your resume can give you the leverage of recruiters deeming you a team player.
Talk about Results and How You Got Them
When you talk about what you have done in a team, make sure to talk about the results you achieved from them. It is very important for you to lead recruiters into believing that your efforts did not go to waste and that you were actually able to get the results you and other team members were aiming for.
It is true that recruiters are looking for someone who is a team player but they are also looking for people who can help them drive up their results. If you include the results in your resume you give them proof that you did a good job. In addition to this, when talking about your results you need to show the recruiters, how exactly you were able to achieve them. Do not go into the extreme details but briefly talk about how your team was able to achieve the results that you did.
Back With Statistics
When you are making claims, it is a good idea to back these claims with the right statistics. At the end of the day, it is numbers that matter most to your recruiters and if you make an effort to include them on your resume, they will be impressed. Most people do not much thought into their resumes and are often quick to list all their achievements without giving tangible details. Statistics can be a very powerful tool to have on your resume, it might be unheard of, but if used in the right way can benefit you greatly.
However, do not try to over smart your way into this. If your recruiter wants, they can easily cross-check the statistics you mention on your resume. This is why you must be extra cautious of the numbers you include in your resume. Moreover, do not go overboard with the statistics. If you go on to provide statistical data for every claim you make, it will simply be a lot. This is why you must limit the statistics to a point or two. The best values to include in your resume are the number of years you might have spent working on a project or the amount of money you might have earned for the company you were working with previously.
You can also take your time and quantify the efforts or results you put into a project in percentages. This can be very informative for your recruiter and may help them drive their decision.
Add Tangible Evidence
Last but not least is to include evidence of your teamwork. Do anything that is practical for you. For instance, you can include the pictures from a project you participated in to show your recruiter who were the people you worked with and what project you guys did together.
If not, then you can link to the project on the internet. This will direct your recruiters to the project directly and this will help you get the evidence you need to prove your claims.
In Conclusion
Your resume is a reflection of what you do and who you are. To impress your recruiters you need to be very cautious when working on your resume. Use the tips and tricks mentioned above to come up with the best ways to incorporate teamwork on your resume. Teamwork is one of the most sought after skills and if you are able to clearly illustrate it on your resume, you can open doors for your career that can take you to the very top.
Use the mentioned 5 ways to demonstrate teamwork and you are good to go! The best things are outcomes of great minds that think alike.