Are you the colleague that gets on well with everyone, the one that likes to gossip, or the one that sorts out workplace disagreements? Interpersonal skills are a non-negotiable part of our workday, so in this article we’re asking why they’re important, looking at some examples of interpersonal skills and - most importantly - finding out how to add them to a CV.

What are interpersonal skills and why are they important?

Interpersonal skills are the skills we use to communicate and interact with other people. They come naturally to some, while others find them harder to master, but we use them all the time - at work, at home, and when we’re socialising. 

Interpersonal skills are important in a professional context, as they affect how we work with others - whether that’s customers, colleagues, suppliers, or partners. Therefore, when a vacancy arises, a hiring manager won’t just be looking for someone with the right experience and knowledge - they’ll also be looking for someone who can fit into their team and interact with others in a positive and appropriate way. 

Strong interpersonal skills have multiple benefits for you: 

• You’ll be able to build relationships with the people you work with regularly, making work less of a chore and more enjoyable

• You’ll be open to more career progression opportunities, as you have the network and communication skills necessary to forge a path forward

• You’ll be able to deliver on your responsibilities and targets more easily, as you can use your interpersonal skills to help you overcome challenges

And the business benefits too: 

• Teams that work well together are more productive 

• The business will reap the rewards of your positive customer relationships and negotiation skills 

• Leaders with good interpersonal skills can motivate staff to achieve better results and overcome challenges 

10 examples of interpersonal skills for your CV

It’s clear that strong interpersonal skills are often needed in the workplace, but what skills are most in demand? Use this interpersonal skills list to identify some relevant keywords to include on your CV. 

1. Communication: This is a basic interpersonal skill, but it comes in several forms including written communication, verbal communication, and body language. Being able to communicate professionally and effectively is a very in-demand skill in the workplace. 

2. Listening: Just as important as what you communicate yourself is how you process what others are communicating to you. Active listening means you’re not just hearing, you’re understanding. 

3. Relationship building: The ability to build long-term, trusting relationships with others is a valued skill in the workplace. Whether you’re engaging with customers or team members, relationships can make or break a working environment. 

4. Conflict resolution: Being able to find a way through conflict and mediate between opposing parties is a high-level interpersonal skills example that can make all the difference in maintaining team harmony or customer satisfaction. 

5. Negotiation: Another high-level example of interpersonal skills is the ability to negotiate. Whether you’re securing the best terms for a client deal, arranging a business acquisition, or persuading an employee to complete a demanding task, great negotiation skills will smooth the way. 

6. Collaboration: Being able to work with others, as part of a team, is a very desirable interpersonal skill. These days teams come in all shapes and sizes, so the ability to work well with whoever you’re thrown together with is vital. 

7. Empathy: Along with emotional intelligence, empathy has only been recognised as a crucial workplace interpersonal skill more recently. If you can understand the perspectives, motivations, and challenges of others, it goes a long way to maintaining harmonious working relationships. 

8. Knowledge sharing: A willingness to share your expertise, whether in writing, through mentoring, or in casual chats, means that the business can function more efficiently - you’ll also be positioning yourself as an expert in your field.

9. Networking: Useful for both business and personal reasons, an aptitude for networking brings a plethora of benefits. The business benefits from your contacts, plus you benefit yourself when it’s time to source your next role. 

10.  Assertiveness: Being able to state a case for yourself, without sounding aggressive, means you can express yourself well, demonstrate confidence, and ensure your voice is heard. 

Now we have a good idea of which interpersonal skills examples to showcase on a CV, it’s time to look into how to do just that. 

How to add interpersonal skills to your CV

There are various places where interpersonal skills can be highlighted on a CV. Let’s explore the main ones:

Adding interpersonal skills to your CV Profile section

The profile isn’t the best place to describe your interpersonal skills, as the focus should be on your unique selling points and expertise that really sells you into the role. That said, if interpersonal skills are a crucial element of the role, such as for customer service or sales positions, it’s a good idea to touch on them. The weight you add will vary depending on their importance to the next step of your career. 

For example: 

A collaborative Sales Manager with particular expertise in the fashion sector. Confident negotiating multi-million-dollar deals with retailers and building long-term customer relationships. Combines an extensive industry network with a proven ability to meet and exceed stretching targets.  

Adding interpersonal skills to your CV Skills section 

The Skills section is the most obvious, and easiest, place to add interpersonal skills. Extract the key interpersonal requirements from the job advert and ensure they’re reflected as keywords in this section. 

For example: 

Relationship Building   |   Conflict Resolution   |   Collaboration   |   Networking

Expert tip: When considering interpersonal skills for your CV, a couple of skills that are absolutely necessary to excel in the job are more than enough here. This section should be focused on the key hard skills required to fulfil the demands of the role.

Adding interpersonal skills to your CV Professional Experience section

In this section, you have the opportunity to really show off your interpersonal skills on your CV. The aim here is to show the positive impacts that your interpersonal skills have had on the business. Try to write results-focused bullet points where possible. 

For example: 

• Renewed customer contracts with a total annual value of £500,000 by building positive relationships with decision-makers and negotiating favourable terms

Adding interpersonal skills in other CV sections

Depending on your personal situation, you may have other sections on your CV where you can convey your interpersonal skills. For example, students may have limited professional experience - in that case, they can add interpersonal skills used when completing academic projects. Similarly, volunteers can play on interpersonal skills gained in their voluntary roles. Hobbies and interests can also provide the opportunity to show off necessary interpersonal skills that may not be evident elsewhere on your CV. If you’re lucky enough to speak another language, you can add a new section for this, listing each language you know and your level of fluency. 

It’s up to you to identify which interpersonal skills are a priority in the role you’re applying for and to reflect those skills on your CV. Remember, though, not to overload your CV with interpersonal skills at the expense of other skills and experience. Your CV should present a rounded version of your suitability for the vacant role. 

Show you have the interpersonal skills to thrive in a new role

In this article, we’ve explained why it’s important to convey your interpersonal skills on your CV, identified some in-demand interpersonal skills to add, and provided examples of how they can be added to best effect. 

When you’ve written your CV, why not send it to the experts at TopResume for a free CV review? We’ll provide feedback to ensure you’re presenting the very best version of yourself to potential employers, helping you to land that dream role sooner.