How to Showcase Multitasking Skills on Your Resume
If multitasking is your work superpower, you might think listing it on your resume will be enough to elevate your application above the competition. However, if you want to pass the ATS stage and really impress employers, you’ll need to know the relevant multitasking keywords and give examples that prove your multitasking prowess. In this article, we discuss how to add this valuable transferable skill to your resume for maximum impact with recruiters and hiring managers.
What Are Multitasking Skills?
With the stress and demands of modern work, the ability to multitask is a sought-after workplace skill. If your job involves working on multiple projects simultaneously, or juggling the requirements of various colleagues, stakeholders and clients, multitasking skills are sure to be valuable in helping you remain productive and efficient in your work.
There are two main types of multitasking skills. These are:
- True multitasking: The ability to handle multiple low-focus tasks simultaneously.
- Task switching: The ability to move between high-focus tasks quickly and efficiently.
True multitasking, or ability to handle more than one task simultaneously, might mean balancing your attention and focus between a basic, low-focus administrative task while talking or taking a phone call. Task switching, on the other hand, involves moving rapidly and efficiently between high-focus, demanding tasks. This might mean prioritizing an urgent deadline, delivering the work and efficiently moving onto the next task, or synchronizing your work between two urgently pressing activities.
Both multitasking and task switching are highly beneficial skills to possess, and showcasing either or both on your resume can really elevate your job applications. It’s important, however, to ensure you always provide evidence of how you’ve used these skills and the impact they’ve made for your previous employers.
Why Multitasking Skills are Important For Your Resume
Multitasking is a crucial skill that helps employees manage their responsibilities, and prioritize their workload to meet the expectations of senior colleagues and clients. The ability to multitask helps organizations to remain productive and efficient. If you can show on your resume that your multitasking has contributed to this productivity and efficiency, it will serve you well in your job applications.
Some instances where workplace multitasking skills are particularly important include:
- Managing several projects at different stages simultaneously
- Working towards tight, demanding deadlines
- When you have management responsibility alongside your regular work
- Dealing with regular enquiries and requests from customers or clients
- Working in a fast-paced environment such as software development
- Working in a high-stress, high-pressure environment such as emergency medical care
- When your work environment is highly competitive, such as banking and financial management
- Working with children, for example as a teacher or nursery school worker
Listing any of these activities, responsibilities or experiences on your resume will help employers to understand your ability to multitask. A candidate with strong multitasking skills is far more likely to be able to handle the stresses and pressures of the modern workplace, and adapt when situations become challenging. Adding examples of your multitasking skills can, therefore, give you a clear advantage over other candidates.
Important Multitasking Skills to Add To Your Resume
As you are trying to convey your experience with multitasking, resumes should specify which specific skill you have used or developed. Here are several skills many employers want to see when reading your cover letter and resume.
Prioritization
Prioritization is simply the ability to know which tasks are most urgent and which can wait until later. When an employee understands how to prioritize their work, they’re able to get the most important things done first to keep the project moving along.
Task switching
Task switching is one of the most important office skills and requires a great deal of flexibility. Mastering task switching allows you to get two or more tasks done concurrently, without taking extra time to complete them.
Time management
Time management is the ability to use your time in the most effective or productive manner possible. It involves a lot of conscious planning about how much time you should be spending on tasks, which tasks should have priority over others, and the sequence in which tasks should be completed.
Adaptability
Adaptability is all about knowing how to quickly adjust to changing conditions. This is essential for successful multitasking, as it allows you to move between tasks with different requirements without dropping your focus. You’ll be able to take on unexpected challenges while still remaining effective in your role.
Stress management
Stress management is the ability to do your job without becoming frustrated. Building up your ability to effectively manage stress is important for multitasking, as experiencing symptoms of stress can impact your ability to focus, adapt to changing environments or circumstances, and solve any problems you may encounter along the way.
How and Where to Place Multitasking On Your Resume
Where you choose to mention multitasking skills on your resume will depend on how critical these skills are to the job, and to what extent it’s one of your greatest strengths.
How you add multitasking skills to each section of your resume will have a significant impact on your chances of success with your applications. Take a look below at our tips for where and how to add multitasking skills to your resume:
- Resume summary: if multitasking is a critical skill for the role, you might wish to mention it here. Pick one or two skills relevant to multitasking and use strong verbs to emphasize the impact of your skills.
- Work experience: use the bullet points for each job to detail your different multitasking skills, and explain the impact they’ve made. Provide evidence for how each skill made a difference to outcomes and project successes.
- Skills section: add multitasking skills to your skills list, but avoid simply adding ‘multitasking’ and be more specific about the skills you feel are your greatest strengths (i.e. organization, delegation, project management, adaptability).
- Achievements section: if your multitasking skills have contributed directly towards any of your measurable career achievements, you could mention them in this section.
- Volunteer work/hobbies and interests: if multitasking is a key personal strength, but you don’t have any examples of using it in a work setting (i.e. if you’re an entry-level candidate without much work experience), you could use volunteer work or hobbies and interests to showcase them.
When adding multitasking skills to any section of your resume, follow these basic rules to increase your chances of success:
- Avoid vague terms like ‘multitasking skills’, but use specific examples from your career.
- Use various terms related to multitasking, to increase the keyword density of your resume and improve your chances of passing the ATS stage.
- Showcase your multitasking skills by adding evidence of their impact. This could be data that shows increases in efficiency, productivity or customer satisfaction.
- Use Jobseeker’s resume builder to easily add multitasking skills to each section of your resume.
Industry-Specific Multitasking Resume Examples
Multitasking can be a highly valuable skill for various jobs and industry sectors. If the job description lists multitasking as one of the key skills for the job, you’ll want to make sure your resume showcases various examples of multitasking, and includes numerous multitasking-related keywords. This will help your application pass the ATS resume screening stage, and make your multitasking skills really stand out to the reader.
Here are some different roles and industries where multitasking can be particularly valuable, with examples of how to evidence your skills in work experience bullet points:
| Role | Work experience |
|---|---|
| Project management | Managed a minimum of four concurrent projects with staggered delivery and overlapping project teams, ensuring 100% on-time, within budget project completion. |
| Customer service | Addressed 50+ customer enquiries per day via telephone, email and website live chat service, achieving a 96% customer satisfaction rate. |
| Healthcare (nursing) | Provided critical care to an ICU ward of up to 16 patients, maintaining medical records and assisting doctors with medical procedures while responding to emergency calls. |
| Retail management | Balanced responsibility for supervising a shop floor sales team of 12, while overseeing customer service desk, inventory tracking and increasing upselling and cross-selling figures by 21%. |
| Marketing | Juggled responsibility for multiple digital marketing campaigns, conducting SEO analysis, content creation and social media scheduling, while boosting engagement levels by 40% |
| Teaching | Delivered history lessons to secondary pupils of all ages while maintaining form supervision for a year 10 class of 30 and Head of Upper School responsibilities and administrative duties. |
| Administrative roles | Collaborated with a team of eight to deliver administrative tasks, including calendar management, meeting minutes and responding to correspondence, while acting as PA to the CEO. |
| Event planning | Organized and delivered corporate events to audiences of 2,000+, including managing catering services, audiovisual provision, event hospitality and event troubleshooting. |
| Journalism | Collaborated with the news desk on multiple stories concurrently, including identifying sources, organizing interviews, fact-checking, drafting articles and sub-editing, while meeting demanding daily deadlines. |
| Hospitality roles | Juggled responsibility for welcoming and seating guests, while ensuring timely food and drinks service and responding to customer complaints, to ensure a seamless dining experience with 4.2 out of 5 Tripadvisor rating. |
| Logistics management | Coordinated multiple supply chain operations simultaneously, overseeing inventory management, transportation schedules, and vendor communications to ensure timely deliveries and cost efficiency. |
| Emergency services | Managed high-pressure policing responsibilities, including emergency response, conducting interviews and compiling detailed reports. |
Expert tip:
When showcasing your multitasking skills, quantify your achievements using concrete numbers. For example, you might share how efficient multitasking decreased timelines for project deliverables by 42% or saved clients an average of 15% on hourly fees. This catches the attention of hiring managers by clearly demonstrating the positive business impact of your skill set.
Multitasking Metrics – How to Add Numbers to Prove Your Skill
Adding evidence to your resume in the form of figures and data will support the credibility of your application. Employers will be encouraged to see real-world, quantifiable examples of your multitasking skills, and reassured that you can put your skills to good use in the role you’re applying for.
Wherever possible, add specific figures to illustrate the impact of your multitasking skills. Some different types of figures you could draw on to showcase your multitasking skills include:
- Number of employees
- Number of projects
- Percentage increase/decrease in cost, efficiency or productivity
- Customer satisfaction scores
- Amount of time saved
- Value of budgets
Here are some examples of how to turn weak resume examples into strong ones with the use of numbers and data:
Weak resume bullet point
- Managed a team of employees
- Coordinated multiple projects
- Balanced customer enquiries and sales activities
- Organized shift scheduling and temporary recruitment for a busy logistics team
- Delivered various HR support services
Strong resume bullet with figures
- Managed a team of 10 employees from entry-level to junior management.
- Coordinated up to five projects simultaneously, consistently meeting project deadlines and improving efficiency by 18%
- Handled 30+ customer requests, queries and complaints daily, with a 4.5 out of 5 satisfaction score, while exceeding personal sales targets by 22%.
- Organised full-time and part-time shift scheduling for a warehouse with 65 employees, including arranging temporary staff to maintain 95%+ shift coverage.
- Performed multiple HR roles for a small company, including processing payroll for 20 employees while managing leave and overseeing recruitment and onboarding, with a 25% reduction in staff attrition rates.
Multitasking Resume Examples for Different Work Environments
Depending on the type of role you’re applying for, you may need to vary the way you frame your multitasking skills on your resume. The type of working environment will play a major role in the types of multitasking skills employers will be looking for. Here are some examples of different work settings, and the types of multitasking skills you may wish to focus on:
Startup: emphasize flexibility, adaptability and your ability to wear multiple hats and perform several roles.
For example: “Juggled product development, social media strategy, and customer service in a high-growth startup, leading to a 30% increase in operational efficiency”
Corporate: showcase a structured, measured approach to multitasking and using your skills to prioritize your workload and drive efficiency.
For example: “Managed 4+ ongoing client accounts while leading weekly strategy meetings, maintaining a 98% on-time project delivery rate”
Remote working roles: highlight your ability to self-manage without oversight and supervision as well as using digital skills to manage your work schedule.
For example: “Balanced Zoom meetings, task automation and project tracking in Asana boosting team productivity by 25%”
Creative industry: focus on juggling multiple projects and balancing project management responsibilities to deliver to tight deadlines.
For example: “Designed 10 branding projects simultaneously while managing client expectations and optimizing creative workflows”
Power Verbs and Synonyms for Multitasking on a Resume
If you want your multitasking skills to really shine through in your resume, you’ll want to showcase them in multiple places, using various synonyms and power verbs. Varying your language will help you to avoid repetition in your resume and increase the likelihood of your resume passing the initial ATS screening stage.
Review this list of multitasking synonyms to mix up the language across your resume:
- Balanced competing priorities
- Juggled multiple projects
- Prioritized workload according to corporate strategies
- Managed a varied team of project coordinators
- Organized complex projects and budgets
- Handled numerous customer enquiries and complaints
- Orchestrated a variety of concurrent tasks
- Optimized processes to ensure efficient project delivery
- Switched between tasks according to urgency and importance
- Coordinated collaboration with project managers and operational staff
Employer expectations and tailoring your multitasking skills
When highlighting your multitasking skills, your resume template should be tailored specifically to the job you’re applying for.
One way to do this is to read through the job description and incorporate any multitasking-related keywords you find. Not only will this ensure relevance, but it can also help your resume make it through electronic applicant tracking systems.
When highlighting multitasking skills, resumes should include them in the places employers expect to see them. Many employers expect these skills to show up in your skills section as well as your job description section, so make sure to place them there.
If you include a separate project section, this also gives you an additional avenue to incorporate those skills.
Finally, when mentioning multitasking, resumes should show that you can handle a fast-paced environment.
For example, those in customer service roles should be able to take on high call volume while they are talking to customers, taking notes, and searching for answers to their queries. Project managers need the leadership skills to prioritize tasks, follow up, and manage time to meet deadlines.
The Value of Controlled Multitasking
While multitasking can be an effective way to respond to stressful, demanding work scenarios, it’s important to avoid creating an impression of overwork and chaos when mentioning multitasking. Employers will favor efficient, smooth workers over those who create stress and chaos. Make sure you frame your multitasking skills as controlled, structured and efficient, and avoid appearing disorganized, chaotic or unable to delegate. You want your multitasking to appear as an asset to an organization, not simply a necessary response to a stressful work environment.
Here are some example bullet points that showcase controlled multitasking skills:
- Coordinated up to eight campaigns concurrently, meeting deadlines and managing complex schedules and budgetary constraints with a 76% repeat business rate.
- Balanced administrative support for five senior executives, including scheduling, correspondence and note-taking, while maintaining regular office management responsibilities.
- Delivered product updates as part of an agile team of eight developers, collaborating closely to provide a 26% increase in efficiency and reduce downtime by 42%.
- Coordinated operational activities across a team of 20 project managers, streamlining workflows to increase profitability by 25%.
Multitasking vs. Deep Work – When NOT to Multitask
Although employers typically value candidates who can show multitasking skills and the ability to work under pressure, there are some situations where multitasking isn’t always beneficial. If you’re applying for a role that requires a meticulous approach, high levels of accuracy and attention to detail, you might not want to emphasize multitasking ability too much in your resume.
If the job requires a high degree of focus, to carry out complex tasks, you may be better highlighting ‘deep work’ skills (1). This concept, developed by US academic Cal Newport, relates to the ability to focus on highly demanding tasks in a distracting work environment. This approach can enhance your productivity levels and improve the quality of your work. If you’re applying for a complex technical role, it may be more effective to focus on this skill in your resume over multitasking.
Here are some examples of different workplace scenarios, with guidance over which approach is likely to be most suitable:
| Task type | Best approach | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Checking emails while carrying out data entry | Multitasking | Both tasks require minimal cognitive loads and focus. |
| Writing a technical document while receiving customer calls | Deep work | Writing requires full focus, particularly if the subject is especially technical. Phone calls will interrupt the flow of work. |
| Coding a new product feature while attending a daily scrum | Deep work | Both tasks require full attention, and as such shouldn’t be combined. Coding is a complex task, while a daily scrum is critical for team collaboration and efficiency. |
| Listening to a conference call while clearing your inbox | Multitasking | If you’re listening to a group call but not actively participating, it may be possible to carry out some basic admin without being distracted. |
| Formatting a document while brainstorming with a colleague | Multitasking | Basic document design and formatting activities can take up minimal cognitive load, while brainstorming is a gentle, informal activity. |
| Analyzing data while dictating correspondence | Deep work | Data analysis requires a deep cognitive focus, problem-solving and attention to detail, making it difficult to combine with other activities. |
AI & Automation Tools to Enhance Multitasking
The evolution of AI is starting to impact our everyday lives, both in and out of work. AI tools can now offer powerful solutions to increase our productivity levels. This is particularly relevant for our ability to multitask. Indeed, effective mastery of AI productivity tools can be a strong indicator on your resume of your ability to multitask. If you use any AI assistants or productivity tools to improve your efficiency and productivity at work, be sure to mention these in the bullet points of your work experience section.
Some of the most powerful and valuable AI automation tools, to help you with productivity in the workplace, include:
- Calendly: automates scheduling of various tasks, so you can focus on other more urgent and important activities.
- Zapier: connects other apps to automate workflows and improve efficiency.
- Otter.ai: transcribes meetings automatically, so you can listen, contribute and create notes later.
- Chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI): can be used to draft correspondence, summarize documents, create lists and explain complex topics and concepts.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
Being able to properly position yourself as a multitasker on resumes comes down to how you present your skills. Make sure to keep the following tips in mind as you build your resume:
- Be specific about your skills and how you have used them to help your team accomplish goals
- Place multitasking skills in your soft skills section, as employers are starting to prioritize them more (1)
- Quantify your achievements so employers can see the impact your skills have made on business outcomes
- Don’t make it your goal to create a “multitasking resume,” as employers will want to see communication skills, leadership, and other abilities as well
- Avoid listing irrelevant skills by considering which ones are most valued in your industry
- Scan the job description and include related keywords to keep your resume relevant
Finally, ensure you fully customize any resume or cover letter templates you are using to include the skills that are specific to you. Though these resources often include example phrases and sections, they should still be tailored to your professional background.
How to Improve Your Multitasking Skills
Your multitasking skills could be the thing that sets you apart from other candidates. Spending time improving these skills can make you a more resilient employee with higher productivity levels and the ability to adapt to different challenges you might encounter in the workplace.
Take a look at these advanced techniques for leveling-up your multitasking skills:
- Time blocking: assigning dedicated blocks of time for specific tasks can help you to effectively focus on multiple projects or activities during a workday, without over-prioritizing or favoring a certain type of task or a specific project more than others.
- The Eisenhower Matrix: this method for organizing your workload splits your tasks into a matrix of urgency and importance. The most urgent and important tasks are assigned for immediate attention. Urgent tasks that aren’t important are ideal for delegation. Important tasks that aren’t urgent can be scheduled for later completion. Tasks that are neither urgent nor important take the lowest level of priority or can be eliminated altogether.
- The Pomodoro Method: this technique involves assigning 25-minute focused work sprints to specific tasks. The method requires you to use a timer to track your work for 25 minutes, and at the end, you can give yourself a five-minute break before moving on to the next task.
- AI & automation tools: incorporating AI tools into your everyday work can transform your productivity levels and supercharge your ability to multitask. Think about whether any of your daily duties are repetitive and time-consuming, yet relatively undemanding. These tasks are ideal for delegating to AI automation tools.
- Delegation skills: your ability to delegate can have a direct impact on your own productivity and efficiency. If you’re becoming overwhelmed by the volume of tasks you’re required to complete during a day, assess which ones you can delegate, to free yourself to focus on fewer tasks, with the goal of completing them more effectively.
"Multitasking is a crucial skill that helps employees manage differing responsibilities, as it builds mental agility to quickly adapt to changing tasks, requirements, and circumstances."
Positioning yourself as a skilled multitasker can help you get noticed
Multitasking skills are valued by employers because they help employees stay productive and meet deadlines. When highlighting your multitasking abilities in your resume, be specific about your skills and quantify them to highlight your professional accomplishments.
When using resume or cover letter examples, don’t forget to tailor them to your industry and the job you’re applying for. Jobseeker’s resume templates and tools can help you showcase multitasking and other key skills on your resume. Sign up today to start creating a professional, eye-catching resume that makes your multitasking skills shine.
Sources:
(1) Cal Newport: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
