Collaboration skills are the abilities and attributes that help you work with others toward a shared goal. These skills are essential for successful teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in the workplace.
In this guide, we’ll teach you how to impress hiring managers with the right collaboration skills on your resume.
1. Communication
Depending on your workplace and role, you might need to focus on different forms of communication skills.
For example, an office manager might spend a lot of time writing informative and thorough internal documents and participating in meetings, while a nurse will spend a lot of time speaking with patients one-on-one and making sure that all records are up-to-date and accurate.
Figure out what kinds of communication you’ll need to master in a new role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:
- Active listening
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Presentation skills
- Nonverbal communication
- Negotiation
Example of how a call center representative mentions communication skills in their resume
- Handle 50+ customer interactions per day, giving detailed, personalized, friendly, and polite service to ensure customer retention and satisfaction
- Proficient in video conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Hangouts, and Skype, able to communicate with customers across a variety of channels
2. Ability to give and receive feedback
If your team wants to see meaningful progress, then you need to both provide constructive criticism and accept feedback from others with professionalism and openness.
Depending on your workplace and role, feedback might take different forms. For example, a project manager might need to regularly provide performance feedback to team members and receive input about project processes, while a graphic designer will need to incorporate client feedback into their work and provide clear explanations for their creative decisions.
Figure out what kinds of feedback will be most important in your role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:
- Constructive criticism
- Performance evaluations
- Peer reviews
- Client feedback management
- Progress reporting
Example of how a content writer highlights their ability to give and receive feedback in their bullet points
- Write 3 informative articles and edit 7 blog posts per week according to SEO best practices, integrating feedback and updating copy to meet search queries, receiving excellent feedback
3. Team building
Team building is a collaboration skill that involves creating a supportive team culture, fostering trust, and encouraging cooperation among team members.
Team building takes different forms depending on your workplace and role. For example, a department head might focus on organizing structured team development activities and creating formal mentorship programs, while a manager might concentrate on establishing informal knowledge-sharing opportunities and daily interactions that build rapport.
While team building usually evokes images of trust falls and awkward company events, there are lots of ways you can contribute to team building at work:
- Cross-departmental collaborative projects
- Peer learning sessions, where colleagues present on topics of interest and share their knowledge
- Peer mentoring programs, where you mentor colleagues in areas they are unfamiliar with
- Starting fun work traditions (like “Pink Wednesdays”)
- Initiating coffee chats or walking meetings
- Conflict resolution facilitation, when needed
Example of how a software developer highlights team building in their work experience section
- Initiated PlayDays where our team spends 2 hours together one Friday a month, collaborating closely to brainstorm, resolve philosophical problems, and work through puzzles relevant to our current projects, leading to the creation of BetterCall, a new consultation app for counselors
- Meet with software security team to spot and debug any errors before product launch
- Consistently beat deadlines and received high praise from clients
4. Delegation
Depending on your workplace and role, delegation takes different forms. For example, a product owner might need to assign complex project components across multiple teams, while a store manager might focus on distributing daily tasks and mentoring team members in new responsibilities.
Here are some examples of delegation you can expand on in your cover letter or interview:
- Distributing tasks and assigning responsibility
- Managing your workload
- Allocating resources
- Monitoring performance
- Mentoring and guiding new hires
Figure out what kinds of delegation will be most relevant in your role and showcase those in your application. Here’s an example of how you might discuss your experience in an interview:
Example of how a project manager discusses delegation skils in an interview
“As a project manager for the launch of the BetterCall app, I took a unique approach to delegation by considering individual interests beyond their designated roles. For instance, I assigned technical development tasks to programmers with expertise in different areas, fostering efficient problem-solving and knowledge sharing, and assigned marketing strategy to marketers while inviting tech-savvy colleagues to contribute innovative ideas on leveraging digital platforms. I noticed that engagement was greater throughout this project than in past projects, and have since continued to factor in employee interests when delegating.”
5. Flexibility
Depending on your workplace and role, flexibility manifests differently. For example, a software developer might need to adapt to new programming languages and methodologies, while a customer service representative might need to adjust their approach for different customer needs and communication channels.
Here are some experiences that highlight your flexibility:
- Learning new skills
- Implementing new software or technology
- Adapting to remote or hybrid work while maintaining productivity
- Collaborating on an evolving project
- Taking on multiple roles or diverse projects
- Adjusting to new management styles and schedules
- Improving processes and SOPs
Example of how a customer service director showcases flexibility in a cover letter
During a major system outage affecting 10,000+ customers, I led the crisis response team and made the time-sensitive decision to implement our backup protocol while simultaneously initiating customer communication protocols. By quickly assessing the situation, evaluating available options, and decisively executing our contingency plan, we restored service within 2 hours and maintained a 92% customer satisfaction rating through the incident.
6. Decision making
Depending on your workplace and role, decision-making varies in scope and impact. For example, a marketing manager might make strategic decisions affecting entire departments, while a video editor might focus on daily operational choices and resource allocation that will also affect collaboration.
Figure out what kinds of decisions you’ll need to make in your role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:
- Strategic planning
- Risk assessment
- Resource allocation
- Priority setting
- Problem resolution
- Team consensus building
- Crisis management
- Process optimization
Examples of how a team lead highlights decision-making skills
- Led a cross-functional team through the decision making process for a complex project, soliciting input from stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and integrating their perspectives to achieve a unanimous consensus on the project’s direction
- Demonstrated strong decision making abilities in fast-paced environments by promptly analyzing critical issues, consulting with team members, and implementing effective solutions that resulted in a 15% reduction in project turnaround time
- Utilized a data-driven decision making approach to assess market trends and competitor analysis, enabling the team to make informed strategic choices that led to a 25% increase in customer engagement
7. Project management
Where there’s a collaborative project, there’s project management. As a collaboration skill, project management involves planning, organizing, and coordinating team efforts to achieve project objectives efficiently.
If you can show employers that you have project management skills, they’ll be more likely to consider you for leadership roles. Here are some elements of project management to include in your application:
- Initiation and planning: Defining the project’s objectives and scope, conducting research, and creating a project plan.
- Execution: Coordinating resources, assigning tasks to team members, and ensuring that the project stays on track to achieve its goals.
- Monitoring and controlling: Monitor progress and compare actual performance with planned targets, using data to identify deviations and take corrective actions.
- Risk management: Assess risks and develop response plans.
- Quality management: Define quality standards, perform quality checks, and address any issues that arise during the project.
- Project closure: Finalize all project deliverables, conduct project evaluations, capture lessons learned, and deliver the results.
Example of how to discuss experience with project management in a cover letter
During my role as Senior Coordinator at Demo Consulting, I successfully managed a complex digital transformation project that showcased my ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver results under pressure. While overseeing a team of 12 members across IT, Operations, and Customer Service, I implemented a new CRM system that reduced customer response times by 25%. By establishing clear milestones, maintaining detailed project documentation, and conducting weekly progress meetings, I ensured the project was completed two weeks ahead of schedule and 15% under budget.
Given OutSystem’s focus on innovative solutions and efficient delivery, I believe my project management experience would be particularly valuable in the Digital Transformation Coordinator role. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my skills in stakeholder management, resource allocation, and strategic planning to your team.
8. Respect
Respect is an essential collaboration skill that involves treating team members with consideration, valuing their contributions, and appreciating diverse perspectives. Mutual respect among colleagues creates a positive work environment and encourages team members to offer their ideas and feedback.
You can show employers that you’re respectful by:
- Using professional language
- Acknowledging the contributions and achievements of others
- Expressing gratitude for your mentors, managers, or colleagues
- Demonstrating efforts to promote diversity and inclusion
- Highlighting respectful and courteous communication with clients and customers
- Showing cultural awareness
- Respecting professional boundaries and conducting yourself ethically
Examples highlighting respectfulness on resume
- “Established and maintained collaborative relationships with cross-cultural teams across 5 global offices, leading to a 40% improvement in project completion rates”
- “Created an inclusive mentoring program that paired junior and senior staff members, resulting in 85% of participants reporting increased job satisfaction and professional growth”
- “Implemented a structured feedback system to acknowledge team contributions, leading to a 30% increase in employee engagement scores”
- “Facilitated multilingual team meetings with colleagues from 8 different countries, ensuring all voices were heard and cultural perspectives were valued”
- “Developed and led diversity awareness workshops for 200+ employees, contributing to a 45% improvement in workplace culture survey scores”
9. Emotional intelligence
Employers know that candidates with high emotional intelligence will make great collaborators because they’re more likely to be in tune with what others are thinking or feeling.
Depending on your workplace and role, emotional intelligence manifests differently. For example, counselors might need deep empathy and active listening skills, while sales representatives might focus on reading customer emotions.
Figure out what aspects of emotional intelligence are most crucial in your role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:
- Self-awareness
- Empathy
- Stress management
- Conflict resolution
- Relationship building
- Social awareness
- Emotional regulation
- Motivational skills
Examples highlighting emotional intelligence on resume
- Provided empathetic leadership by supporting 5 international team members’ well-being, understanding their goals, and creating engaging opportunities to foster their professional growth
- Delivered exceptional customer service by demonstrating empathy, patience, and effective communication in 600+ client- and customer-facing roles over 20XX
- Acted as a mentor and coach, offering guidance, emotional support, and encouragement to help 3 team members achieve professional goals
10. Negotiation
Being able to negotiate with others effectively is important for many different types of jobs. For example, a supply chain manager might focus on vendor contracts and pricing agreements, while a human resources professional might concentrate on salary discussions and benefit packages.
Figure out what types of negotiations are most common in your role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:
- Contract terms
- Resource allocation
- Timeline adjustments
- Budget discussions
- Conflict resolution
- Service agreements
- Partnership development
- Stakeholder management
Examples of how to highlight negotiation skills on your resume
- “Successfully negotiated $2.3M in annual vendor contracts, achieving 18% cost reduction while maintaining service quality standards”
- “Led salary negotiations for 25+ new hires, balancing budget constraints with competitive market rates to achieve 92% offer acceptance rate”
- “Negotiated favorable payment terms with key suppliers, extending payment windows from 30 to 60 days and improving cash flow by $500K quarterly”
How to showcase collaborative skills in an application
According to a recent survey on the most in-demand skills we conducted, 48% of hiring managers responded that soft skills are a must-have, while 28% said that a candidate’s soft skills are even more important than their hard skills.
That means it’s essential to demonstrate a strong blend of hard and soft skills in your application. Here are our top tips for showcasing collaboration in your application:
Mention cross-functional collaborations in your resume objective
Your resume inroduction is the best place to craft a compelling summary of your collaborative efforts. You should also mention any cross-functional collaborations here.
Highlight collaboration in your work experience section
Use your work experience section to emphasize specific projects or experiences where you collaborated with others. Specify which departments you worked alongside, what role you played, the outcomes you achieved, and the skills you used.
Use concrete examples in your cover letter
Unsure how to write a cover letter that highlights your collaboration skills? Choose one example from your resume and expand on your collaborative experience in the body of your cover letter.
You can describe a successful collaborative project you worked on and how your contributions positively impacted the team’s performance or project outcomes. Include quantifiable achievements when possible.
Discuss any experiences that involved working with colleagues from different departments or teams in your application, and emphasize how you were able to facilitate teamwork that led to a successful outcome.
Get recommendations on LinkedIn
You might not be asked to add your LinkedIn to an application, but more and more employers will check a person’s profile to get a better idea of a potential candidate’s character.
Use this to your advantage by showcasing actual references from colleagues or supervisors. Online recommendations that mention collaborative skills will serve as a strong testament to your abilities.
*Bonus* Use the STAR method in your interview
During the interview, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe specific examples of how you’ve collaborated at work.
Explain the challenges you faced, the actions you took to collaborate effectively, and the positive results you achieved as a team. Illustrate how your collaboration skills align with your target company’s values and help contribute to a positive work environment.
Resume examples for different industries
Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.
Frequently asked questions about collaboration skills
Still have questions about collaboration skills? Check out our answers to some of the most common questions below.
How can I foster collaboration skills in the workplace?
If you’re looking for ways to grow your collaborative skills, we’ve got you covered. Here are four ideas you can implement at work to get recognized as a star collaborator:
- Initiate informal collaborative activities: Take the initiative to organize gatherings in more casual settings, like lunchtime discussions or cafe work sessions, where colleagues from different departments can interact and share ideas.
- Volunteer for cross-departmental projects: Let your manager know that you’re interested in working on cross-departmental projects. Cross-functional initiatives provide the opportunity to encounter diverse skill sets, foster teamwork, and expand your professional network.
- Offer support and expertise to colleagues: Be proactive in offering help and sharing your expertise with colleagues. Your willingness to support others will contribute to a positive, collaborative atmosphere.
- Engage in active listening and empathy: Making an effort to understand your colleagues’ perspectives, concerns, and ideas, and respond with respect and consideration, will build trust and enhance collaboration.
- Actively participating in meetings: Use active listening, repeat what you’ve heard back to colleagues to ensure you understand, and volunteer suggestions and ideas to every meeting.
- Asking for (and graciously accepting) feedback: Not only does this show an active growth mindset, it will also expand your skills in all arenas of work.
- Encourage diversity: Expressing interest in different viewpoints builds collaborative efforts and shows a welcoming spirit, even if the idea isn’t necessarily the right one.
- Participate in offered workshops or training: Take any chance you have to upskill yourself, and while learning you can show your commitment to the team’s growth and collaborate with others.
How does collaboration demonstrate professionalism?
Collaboration demonstrates professionalism by showcasing an individual’s ability to work and communicate with others in a respectful, cooperative, and curious way. When employees actively collaborate, they show dedication to achieving common goals and contributing to a harmonious work environment.
Why are collaboration skills important?
Collaboration skills are important because they foster teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, which in turn lead to improved productivity and a healthy and positive work culture.
When employees collaborate effectively, they can pool diverse skill sets and perspectives that drive innovative solutions and create better outcomes for the organization.
How do I say I have good collaboration skills?
Instead of saying you have good collaboration skills, demonstrate them by emphasizing the active role you’ve played in team accomplishments. Highlight instances where you contributed creative ideas, and worked alongside colleagues to achieve shared objectives. Here’s an example:
“As a marketing specialist, I actively worked with the sales team to align marketing strategies with customer needs. Through these collaborative efforts, we achieved a 30% increase in lead generation and a 20% growth in sales.”
Additional skills-related resources
Below are more skills-related resources for different industries to help you write your resume.
- Best soft skills for your resume
- Hard skills
- Technical skills
- Skills-based resumes
- In-demand job skills
- Multitasking skills
- Transferable skills
- Accounting skills
- Receptionist skills
- Child care skills
- Sales skills
- Marketing skills
- Project manager skills
- Nursing skills
- Server skills
- Cashier skills
- Teacher skills
- Sales associate skills
- Is a skills section necessary on a resume?
- How many skills should you list on a resume?

Leora Joy Jones
Career Expert & Content Writer
Leora Joy Jones is a multidisciplinary creative who writes career content for job seekers. She is passionate about empowering people to invest in personal development. From recent graduates to career changers to DIY freelancers, she aims to cheerlead her readers to make informed choices. Born in the USA and raised in South Africa, Leora now lives and works in Taiwan. She has a BFA in Fine Arts, an MA in Art Curation, and over 10 years experience writing and editing words on many topics. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
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