“Great Communicator” is Written on Your Resume – But Does the Hiring Manager Reviewing It Agree?

By Natalie Berkiw-Scenna, PMP
Founding Lead, Project Management Life (PML)
August 21, 2025

Members of the Project Management Life (PML) team are often involved in hiring activities within our regular day-to-day work. We want to share some common observations from this side of the hiring table that we know many project managers who are job hunting might benefit from.

Nearly every project management resume that crosses our desk has one thing in common: a claim of strong communication skills. It might show up in a few different ways, such as:

“Great communicator”
“Strong communication skills”
“Able to communicate with all levels of leadership”
Or another generic statement around their ability to communicate effectively

The question is: Does the rest of the resume back up that claim?

When we review project management resumes, here’s what we look for to see if that candidate truly demonstrates the “great communication skills” that they’ve stated in their application submission.

1) Did they include a cover letter?

There’s always debate about whether a cover letter is necessary. Although we don’t have a hard stance on this topic, if you are a strong communicator, a cover letter is a great opportunity to prove it. You have the chance to tailor your message, tell your story, and show your ability to connect with the reader in a clear and engaging way. So consider this — why wouldn’t you want to do this to set yourself apart?

2) Do they actually describe their communication skills?

Anyone can write “great communication skills” on their resume. However, far fewer candidates actually find ways to show us how.

Are there examples of how they tailor any communication needs to different stakeholders?
Do they mention their ability to successfully present to various leadership teams?
Do they discuss their ability to effectively facilitate project team meetings?
Do they discuss how they leverage communication to support cross-functional collaborations?
Can we see measurable impacts from their communication efforts?

Remember this, specific examples will always speak louder than buzzwords or generic statements.

3) Is the resume itself consistent and well-organized?

Strong communicators present information clearly and consistently. But often, we see resumes that jump around in style and structure, even from one bullet point to the next. For example, we might see several bullets, such as the following, that change how information is presented:

“Able to lead and manage cross-functional teams…”
“Great at planning & scheduling…”
“Strong budget / resource management skills…”

The format, tone, and even punctuation can vary wildly, and that inconsistency undermines the claim that this candidate is a great communicator. A resume should always tell a coherent, polished story.

4) Does the resume clearly show the candidate’s value?

Ultimately, communication is about delivering a message that resonates with the audience. A strong project management resume should clearly communicate:

What unique value this candidate brings
How they lead and collaborate with key stakeholders
What results they drive that would benefit the organization

Simply listing bullet tasks and activities completed or a list of responsibilities isn’t enough. Strong communicators connect the reader with the candidate’s outcomes, impact, and value.

5) Are the candidate’s top skills clearly and confidently communicated?

In the first few seconds of reading a resume, it should be obvious what the candidate’s top skills and strengths are. There should be no guessing, no hunting for clues, no vague summaries. Strong communicators organize and prioritize information to make their message easy to grasp.

Listing project management as a key skill in the first few lines of a resume should be a given, but it’s often found hidden at least halfway down the page.

Remember this, if you’re a project manager who lists “strong communication skills” on your resume, consider this as just a starting point. Make sure your entire resume and application submission reinforces this. Your resume is the very first impression you provide on how well you communicate.

Leverage this insider’s view from the hiring side of the table to show off your great communication skills and “wow” that next hiring manager reviewing your resume!

You got this, project manager!

Shared by Project Management Life (PML)

“Great Communicator is Written on Your Resume – But Does the Hiring Manager Reviewing It Agree?” is written by PML Founding Lead, Natalie Berkiw-Scenna, PMP.

Project Management Life (PML) is a growing, online community of amazing project managers focused on celebrating the incredible work we do and supporting you to live your best life. We share exclusive content around project management, career and personal branding, health and well-being, self-care, and so much more.

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Natalie Berkiw-Scenna

Founding Lead, Project Management Life (PML)

Natalie Berkiw-Scenna, PMP is the founding lead behind Project Management Life (PML) – an inspiring online community of passionate project managers and dedicated volunteers. PML is committed to celebrating the profession of project management and actively sharing knowledge, wisdom, and practical insights on how project managers can thrive and live their best life.

With well over 20 exciting years of project management experience, Natalie Berkiw-Scenna brings her passion and guidance to support other project managers to grow their careers through mentorship, coaching and education.

She brings her wealth of knowledge and expertise from her PMP and Lean designations, and years of leading complex, strategic projects. Her book, Unleash Your Meeting Potential™, can be found in retailers around the world. She also launched this material as an online course after teaching this valuable content to several MBA programs and at various educational events and symposiums including IIL’s 2021 International Project Management Day.

Natalie has international project experience in both Canada and the United States, and has worked primarily in the healthcare and non-profit sectors. She currently provides her expertise to Beaumont Health in Michigan. In her spare time, she focuses on training and coaching others to build their confidence and credibility to take their careers to the next level.

You can connect with Natalie through the following:
Website: www.NatalieScenna.com/learn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieberkiwscenna/
Email: NatalieScenna@gmail.com