Team leader CV examples

This guide will help you craft a CV that highlights your leadership experience and interpersonal skills, and convinces any recruiter that you’re more than ready to step into the role with confidence.

A Team Leader CV is all about showcasing your ability to manage people, drive performance, and keep your team on track.

Your CV structure needs to be a bit like a team briefing: it needs to be clear, well-organised, and leave no one wondering what’s going on (we’ve all been in those meetings, right?). 

Recruiters need to quickly see why you’re the leader they’ve been searching for: your CV layout should let them do that easily.

Here’s how to structure your Team Leader CV:

• Name and personal info – Keep contact details at the top for easy access. Adding a picture of yourself is entirely optional.
• Profile – Hook the reader with a summary of your leadership style, key skills, and career highlights in a concise snapshot.
• Core skills – Show off key abilities like team management, performance analysis, and conflict resolution.
• Work experience – Detail your career history in reverse chronological order, focusing on your leadership roles.
• Education – Share your academic qualifications, as well as any leadership or management training or awards.
• Additional info – This is an optional section to add to your CV, you can also include hobbies and interests, like mentoring or volunteering, which reflect your leadership qualities.

Your CV format should be polished to keep a recruiter’s focus on your strengths, rather than the avoidable mistakes and poor aesthetic choices of your application. 

Here’s how to format your Team Leader CV effectively:

• Bullet points – Break down your responsibilities and achievements into clear, digestible sections: any recruiter will appreciate it.
• Divide sections – Using headings and consistent formatting will make your CV easy to navigate.
• Use a clean font – Prioritise readability with a straightforward font that looks professional.
• Keep it the right length – Two pages are ideal: that’s enough length to showcase your experience without overwhelming the recruiter.

Your profile is your chance to concisely demonstrate why you’re the ideal candidate for a leadership role. Keep it concise but impactful, focusing on your experience, skills, and the value you bring to a team.

Here are some helpful tips on what to put in your Team Leader CV profile:

• Where you’ve worked – Showcase the industries or companies where you’ve honed your leadership skills, such as retail, customer service, or logistics.
• Your top qualifications – Make sure to highlight your most relevant certifications or training, like management diplomas or leadership development courses, that prove your expertise.
• Essential skills – Bring attention to your key abilities, such as coaching, performance monitoring, or conflict resolution, that make you an effective leader.
• Teams you’ve led – Detail the size and type of teams you’ve managed – whether it’s a small crew, a large department, or a cross-functional team.
• Tools you’ve used – Include any systems or software you’ve mastered, like scheduling tools, CRM platforms, or productivity trackers, that enhanced your leadership efficiency.

The core skills section is like a quick huddle before the big game – it gives recruiters an instant snapshot of your strengths as a leader. For a Team Leader, these should highlight a balance of organisational ability, interpersonal expertise, and strategic thinking.

Make sure they’re properly tailored to the role – when you’re writing your application, check the job description for the qualities the recruiting company is actively looking for.

Your work experience section is where you demonstrate how you’ve put your leadership skills into practice. Highlight your accomplishments and the positive impact you’ve had on your teams.

Don’t worry if your leadership journey started small – everyone’s first team was probably a group of reluctant co-workers learning to work the tills. It’s all about showing growth and impact.

Whatever your experience, make sure your job history is listed in reverse chronological order.

• Outline – Describe the company, your role, and the size or type of teams you led.
• Responsibilities – Focus on key tasks, such as setting goals, managing team performance, or implementing strategies.
• Achievements – Include measurable outcomes, like improving productivity, boosting employee satisfaction, or achieving sales targets.

The education section is where you list qualifications relevant to leadership and management.

Include degrees, certifications, or training programs that demonstrate your ability to lead effectively. For newer leaders, focus on coursework or internships that highlight transferable skills.

Always list your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.