10 Interpersonal Skills for a CV in 2025

Interpersonal skills form the foundation of strong professional relationships. They enable you to communicate clearly, resolve conflicts, demonstrate empathy, and collaborate effectively with others. Whether you work in sales, HR, management, or customer service, these skills are essential for fostering a positive workplace and advancing your career.

Let me show you 10+ examples of interpersonal skills for a CV and teach you all there is to know about these essential abilities.

In this guide, you’ll:

• Learn what interpersonal skills are.
• See key examples, such as teamwork and emotional intelligence.
• Discover how to enhance your interpersonal skills. 
• Find out how to highlight these skills on your CV to impress employers and stand out in any role.

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What are interpersonal skills?

Interpersonal skills are the abilities that enable you to interact effectively, communicate clearly, and build strong relationships with others. They include understanding, reacting and affecting other people in both social and professional situations. 

These skills are crucial for people working in sales, customer service, management, and human resources. However, they are instrumental in nearly all professions, and that’s why they must make it into your CV. 

Why are interpersonal skills important in the workplace?

Common wisdom is that interpersonal skills come naturally. But science proves they can be improved by training, and the more you practise them, the better you’ll become. With that in mind, consider the following tips for developing strong interpersonal skills.

Having employees with excellent interpersonal skills can only enhance the workplace. Here are some ways it influences the company, the atmosphere and the entire vibe:

• Enhanced Workplace Performance: In professional settings, practical interpersonal skills lead to improved teamwork, increased productivity, and a more positive work environment. 
• Clear Communication: Strong interpersonal abilities promote clear and effective communication, fostering more profound understanding and better collaboration. 
• Stronger Connections: Strong interpersonal skills allow individuals to effectively build and sustain positive relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and clients. 
• Career Progression: Employers often prioritise candidates with strong interpersonal skills, viewing them as valuable contributors across various roles. 
• Personal Development: Enhancing interpersonal skills can lead to increased self-awareness, enhanced social confidence, and improved overall well-being. 

Interpersonal skills for your CV: examples

Interpersonal skills encompass a wide range of related abilities. Each is valuable, and each generates distinct benefits. Combined, they create an exceptional candidate for nearly all positions that require human interaction.

Here are the key interpersonal skills for a CV:

1. Communication

Effective communication skills are about more than just speaking clearly. They include listening actively, reading body language, and adapting your message to your audience. Strong communicators ensure that information is shared accurately and misunderstandings are avoided, helping teams collaborate smoothly.

2. Empathy

Empathy means understanding and sharing the feelings of others. In the workplace, it enables you to build strong relationships by demonstrating to colleagues and clients that you value their perspectives and concerns. Empathy promotes a supportive environment where people feel heard and respected.

3. Teamwork 

Being a team player involves working collaboratively with others to achieve common goals. It requires flexibility, respect, and a willingness to share responsibility. Effective teamwork skills enable you to contribute your strengths, support colleagues, and collaborate to resolve challenges together.

4. Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is the ability to manage and resolve disagreements in a constructive manner. Skilled professionals listen to all sides, remain calm under pressure, and find solutions that satisfy everyone involved. Being skilled in conflict resolution will help you maintain a positive work environment and keep projects on track.

5. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand, and manage your own emotions, as well as those of others. This skill enables you to respond thoughtfully in challenging situations, foster rapport, and manage workplace stress with maturity. 

6. Positive attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude means approaching work and interactions with optimism and a sense of enthusiasm. It helps motivate others, fosters resilience in the face of setbacks, and creates a welcoming and productive atmosphere. Not to mention that everyone prefers to surround themselves with positive people.

7. Negotiation

Negotiation skills are about reaching agreements that benefit all parties involved. Effective negotiators listen carefully, communicate their needs clearly, and look for win-win solutions. This skill is valuable in securing resources, resolving disputes, and managing relationships with clients or suppliers.

8. Active listening

Active listening involves fully concentrating on what someone is saying, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully. It fosters trust, prevents misunderstandings, and demonstrates respect for the speaker’s perspective.

9. Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust your behaviour and approach when faced with changing circumstances or new information. Being adaptable enables you to remain effective in dynamic environments, demonstrating your openness to learning and growth.

10. Persuasion

Persuasion involves influencing others to understand and support your ideas or proposals. This skill necessitates clear communication, empathy, and credibility. Persuasive professionals propel projects forward and secure buy-in from stakeholders.

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How to improve your interpersonal skills

Enhancing your interpersonal skills can significantly improve the way you connect with clients, colleagues, and managers. Whether you’re just starting or striving to become a more influential professional, these tips will help you communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships, and tackle any workplace challenge with confidence. 

Here are some of the ways you can improve your interpersonal skills:

1. Practice active listening

Give your full attention when others are speaking. Avoid interrupting, and demonstrate your engagement by nodding, summarising key points, and asking clarifying questions. Active listening fosters trust and enables you to understand different perspectives more clearly.

2. Offer empathy in interactions

Make a deliberate effort to understand and recognise others’ feelings and perspectives. Empathy not only demonstrates that you care but also fosters a supportive environment where individuals feel respected and valued.

3. Manage your emotions

Keep calm and carry on, especially during stressful or confrontational situations. Being aware of your feelings and controlling your reactions helps maintain professionalism and prevents misunderstandings.

4. Be respectful and choose your language carefully

Use polite, clear, and positive language, especially when discussing complex subjects. Respectful communication nurtures goodwill, ensuring that conversations remain constructive and productive.

5. Improve your body language

Non-verbal signals, such as maintaining eye contact, using open gestures, and mirroring others’ posture, can enhance your message and convey confidence. Positive body language enhances the engagement and authenticity of your interactions, thereby having a more substantial impact on your conversation partners.

6. Ask for and accept constructive feedback

Consistently gather feedback on your interactions with others, and remain receptive to improvement suggestions. Constructive criticism enables you to develop and adjust your interpersonal approach for various situations.

7. Keep interactions focused and avoid distractions

Show you’re 100% focused on the conversation, the other person or the task. Do it by removing all the distractions, such as phones or side discussions. Focused interactions show respect and guarantee more transparent communication.

8. Build and nurture interpersonal relationships

Take time to get to know your colleagues and clients beyond work tasks. Be friendly, ask questions, try to learn something and actively listen. Showing genuine interest in others creates stronger bonds and a more collaborative work environment.

9. Develop conflict resolution skills

Learn to handle disagreements calmly and objectively. Listen to different perspectives, identify common ground, and strive for solutions that meet everyone's needs. Successful conflict resolution fosters harmony and trust.

10. Attend workshops and seek mentorship

Strengthen your development through communication or interpersonal skills training. Additionally, seek mentors who exemplify strong interpersonal skills and can offer guidance and constructive feedback.

How to present administrative skills on your CV

Your interpersonal skills make you approachable, easy-going, and friendly. Demonstrating them on your CV will immediately show that you’re a great communicator who is adaptable to new tasks, unafraid to ask questions, and capable of working well with others. So let’s find out how to do it right.

1. Start with a CV profile that highlights interpersonal skills

Your CV profile is a great place to start showing your interpersonal skills. After all, these skills require tons of excellent communication, so communicating your abilities at the top of your resume is a must.

Interpersonal skills examples in the CV summary:

2. List strong interpersonal skills in your job description

The core of your CV is the work experience section. This is the most space you will have to elaborate on any aspect of your CV, which should be one page in most cases. These CV tips should help you format this part effectively:

• Skim the job posting carefully and focus on the exact components of interpersonal skills that your future employer asks for.
• Make a bullet point with each required interpersonal skill. Think of a real-world example of you using this skill and achieving a positive outcome. 
• Describe each situation, from problem to solution, quantifying with numbers where possible.
• List no less than five bullet points for your most recent job.
• Limit yourself to 3 bullet points for older positions, unless they are relevant to the new position.

Interpersonal skills in the work experience section:

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3. Mention interpersonal skills in the education section

If you’re writing a student CV, your CV education section will contain most of the evidence for hiring you. That’s where leading or organising extracurricular activities can show your interpersonal skills. If you have work experience already, limit your note to just a brief mention of where you studied.

Examples of interpersonal skills in the education section:

4. Emphasise interpersonal skills in the skills section

Your CV skills section is a tricky one. If you are in a more technical field which requires a lot of hard skills, this is where that longer list goes, and the focus on your interpersonal skills has already been done.

If you don’t have many critical hard skills to put on your CV, it may serve you to use this opportunity instead to reiterate the most important strengths you possess.

• Carefully analyse what exactly the employer is looking for in the job posting.
• Describe the interpersonal skills needed for this specific job: it is better to elaborate with a couple of sentences on 2–3 skills, instead of listing a jumble of 10 random ones.
• Ensure that you tailor each CV to the specific position.
• Balance soft skills and hard skills. 

Interpersonal skills examples in the skills section:

5. Add some extra sections that further prove your interpersonal skills

Making a CV perfect means not losing focus until the end. Adding a hobbies and interests section is okay if what you’re including is somewhat relevant to the position. For interpersonal skills examples, it could be as simple as showing you get along well with others elsewhere.

• Certifications: Choose those that show your commitment to communication, conflict management, or coaching others.
• Languages: Being multilingual reflects both strong communication skills and the ability to connect across cultures.
• Interests: Highlight activities where you’ve worked with others, led a team, or offered support in group settings.
• Associations: Membership in professional bodies demonstrates your engagement with the broader community.

Examples of interpersonal skills in the extra sections:

Don’t forget to reinforce these interpersonal strengths in your cover letter. It’s your chance to tell a story about how your people skills have made a difference—and to explain how you’ll continue making that difference in your next role.

How to show interpersonal skills in a job interview

Demonstrating interpersonal skills in a job interview involves more than merely discussing them. It’s about how you engage with the interviewer and respond to questions. From your tone and body language to the examples you share, every aspect matters. With the right preparation, you can showcase your ability to collaborate, communicate, and foster positive working relationships.

Here’s how to prove your interpersonal skills on a job interview:

• Prepare for common questions about teamwork, conflict resolution, and communication.
• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
• Practice examples where you worked with others, handled difficult conversations or conflicts.
• Show active listening by maintaining eye contact and asking thoughtful questions. Prepare those questions beforehand as well.
• Demonstrate empathy by including moments where you supported or understood others.
• Communicate clearly, avoid jargon, and be direct in your answers.
• Share examples of teamwork and how you contributed to group success.
• Mention how you give or receive feedback constructively.
• Follow up after the interview with a thank-you message that reflects your enthusiasm and positive attitude.

Combining real examples with positive, professional communication will help you bring your interpersonal skills to life. The way you speak and listen during the interview can be just as persuasive as what’s written on your CV!

Now let’s see how all these tips will look when applied to a CV.

CV with interpersonal skills examples

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See more skills guides:

• Active Listening Skills Examples
• Best Customer Service Skills Examples
• Decision-Making Skills for a CV
• Employability Skills Examples
• Interpersonal Skills Examples for a CV
• Job Skills Employers Look Out For
• Soft Skills in Tech Industry
• Teamwork Skills Examples for a CV
• Top Remote Job Skills to Work From Home
• Transferable Skills Examples for 2025

Thank you for reading! Good luck with your CV and your interviews. You got this!

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Sources

• Tara Van Bommel, PhD, "The power of empathy in times of crisis and beyond (2nd edition)"
• Psychology Today: Emotional Intelligence
• Edward Gorbis, "Surround Yourself With Positive People"
• Cameron Klein, "What Do We Know About Interpersonal Skills? A Meta-analytic Examination Of Antecedents, Outcomes, And The Efficacy Of Training"