Top 12 Planner Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving professional landscape, possessing a strong set of planner skills has become indispensable for those looking to stand out in the job market. This article delves into the top 12 planner skills that can significantly enhance your resume, highlighting the competencies that employers value most in prospective candidates.

Planner Skills

1. Microsoft Project
2. AutoCAD
3. Primavera P6
4. SAP ERP
5. GIS Mapping
6. Tableau
7. Excel Advanced
8. Adobe InDesign
9. SketchUp
10. Salesforce CRM
11. Asana
12. Power BI

1. Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is a project management software designed for project managers to develop plans, assign resources to tasks, track progress, manage budgets, and analyze workloads.

Why It's Important

Microsoft Project is important for a planner because it offers comprehensive tools for project scheduling, resource allocation, progress tracking, and collaboration, enabling efficient planning, execution, and management of projects of all sizes.

How to Improve Microsoft Project Skills

To improve your Microsoft Project experience, focus on mastering a few key areas:

1. Customize Views and Tables: Tailor your views and tables to match your specific project needs. This personalization can streamline your workflow. Customizing Views in Microsoft Project.

2. Use Templates: Begin with templates to save time. Modify existing templates or create your own for repeated use. Using Templates in Microsoft Project.

3. Leverage Baselines: Set and save project baselines to monitor current vs. planned progress. This is crucial for managing deviations effectively. Setting Baselines.

4. Integrate with Other Tools: Use Microsoft Project’s integration features with other Microsoft tools like Excel for data analysis and PowerPoint for presentations. Integration Features.

5. Regular Updates and Feedback: Keep the software updated and provide feedback to Microsoft for feature improvements. Engage with the community for shared solutions. Microsoft Project Feedback.

6. Training and Certification: Invest time in official training courses and certification to deepen your knowledge and efficiency in using Microsoft Project. Microsoft Learn for Project.

Enhancing your proficiency in Microsoft Project involves personalizing the tool to your project management styles, integrating it with other software for a seamless workflow, and staying updated through continuous learning and community engagement.

How to Display Microsoft Project Skills on Your Resume

2. AutoCAD

AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) software used for creating precise 2D and 3D drawings and models, essential for planners in designing, planning, and visualizing project layouts and infrastructures.

Why It's Important

AutoCAD is important for planners because it enables precise and efficient creation, modification, and analysis of spatial designs, facilitating the development of comprehensive, accurate, and scalable urban and regional plans.

How to Improve AutoCAD Skills

Improving your AutoCAD skills as a planner involves focusing on efficiency, accuracy, and leveraging advanced features. Here are concise strategies:

1. Master Shortcuts: Learn and use AutoCAD keyboard shortcuts to speed up your drafting process. Autodesk provides a comprehensive list.

2. Customize Workspaces: Tailor your AutoCAD interface to suit your specific planning tasks for quicker access to frequently used tools. Autodesk's guide on customizing the user interface can help.

3. Use Templates: Save time by creating and using templates with pre-set layers, styles, and settings relevant to your planning projects. The AutoCAD templates guide offers insights into setting up your templates.

4. Leverage GIS Data: Integrate Geographic Information System (GIS) data for detailed site analysis and planning. Autodesk Civil 3D supports GIS data, and more insights can be found on the Autodesk Civil 3D page.

5. Attend Training and Webinars: Continuous learning through Autodesk’s official training courses and webinars can enhance your skills. Explore options on the Autodesk University website.

6. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to becoming proficient. Engage in real-world projects or challenges to apply and refine your skills.

7. Stay Updated: AutoCAD regularly updates its software. Keep abreast with the latest features and tools by visiting the AutoCAD blog.

By focusing on these areas, planners can significantly improve their efficiency and effectiveness in using AutoCAD for their projects.

How to Display AutoCAD Skills on Your Resume

3. Primavera P6

Primavera P6 is a project management software used by planners to schedule, manage, and monitor project timelines, resources, and performance efficiently.

Why It's Important

Primavera P6 is crucial for planners because it provides advanced project scheduling, management, and reporting capabilities, enabling efficient planning, tracking, and optimization of complex projects to ensure timely and within-budget completion.

How to Improve Primavera P6 Skills

Improving your skills and efficiency in Primavera P6 as a Planner involves a combination of understanding the software's core functionalities, leveraging advanced features, and incorporating best practices. Here's a concise guide:

1. Master the Basics: Ensure a strong grasp of scheduling, resource allocation, and cost management. Oracle's official guides are a great starting point.

2. Advanced Features: Dive into advanced topics like Earned Value Management (EVM), risk analysis, and custom reporting. Plan Academy offers tutorials and courses that cover complex functionalities.

3. Customization: Learn to customize layouts, filters, and reports to match your specific project needs. This Oracle blog provides insights and tips on customization.

4. Integration Skills: Understand how to integrate P6 with other software tools for improved project visibility and control. The Oracle Cloud Infrastructure site discusses integration options.

5. Practice and Feedback: Apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios and seek feedback. Engage with communities like the Oracle Primavera P6 User Group to share experiences and learn from peers.

6. Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest features and best practices by subscribing to newsletters and attending webinars. Project Management Institute (PMI) often hosts relevant learning events.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your proficiency and effectiveness in using Primavera P6 for planning purposes.

How to Display Primavera P6 Skills on Your Resume

4. SAP ERP

SAP ERP is an integrated enterprise resource planning software that centralizes data and processes across various departments, providing planners with tools for efficient resource management, forecasting, scheduling, and operational planning.

Why It's Important

SAP ERP is crucial for planners as it centralizes data management, streamlines operations, and enhances forecasting accuracy, enabling efficient resource planning and decision-making.

How to Improve SAP ERP Skills

To improve SAP ERP for a planner, focus on the following strategies:

1. Customize User Experience: Tailor the SAP interface and functionality to match the planner's specific needs for efficiency. SAP Fiori provides a user-friendly design for SAP software.

2. Integrate Advanced Planning Tools: Use SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP) to enhance forecasting, demand planning, and inventory optimization. Check out SAP IBP for more details.

3. Automate Processes: Implement SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate repetitive tasks and increase accuracy. More information can be found on SAP RPA.

4. Invest in Training: Ensure planners are proficient with SAP ERP functionalities through official SAP training programs. Visit SAP Training and Certification for courses and resources.

5. Leverage SAP Analytics Cloud: Use advanced analytics for real-time decision-making and forecasting. Explore SAP Analytics Cloud for insights.

By focusing on customization, integration of planning tools, automation, training, and leveraging analytics, planners can significantly enhance their productivity and effectiveness within the SAP ERP environment.

How to Display SAP ERP Skills on Your Resume

5. GIS Mapping

GIS Mapping, for a planner, is a digital tool that combines spatial data and information to create, manage, visualize, and analyze geographical representations, facilitating informed decision-making and planning processes.

Why It's Important

GIS Mapping is crucial for planners as it provides a powerful tool for spatial analysis and visualization, enabling informed decision-making on land use, infrastructure development, and resource management by integrating and analyzing geographical data.

How to Improve GIS Mapping Skills

Improving GIS Mapping for Planners involves the integration of accurate data, the use of advanced software tools, and the application of best practices in spatial analysis. Here are concise steps for enhancement:

1. Update Data Regularly: Ensure your datasets are current for accurate mapping. Use authoritative sources like the US Geological Survey for updated geographic information.

2. Leverage High-Quality Base Maps: Utilize high-resolution base maps from reliable providers such as Esri’s Basemap Gallery for a solid foundation.

3. Employ Advanced GIS Software: Utilize advanced GIS software like QGIS for sophisticated spatial analysis and mapping capabilities.

4. Incorporate Spatial Analytics: Apply spatial analytics to reveal patterns and relationships. Tools like ArcGIS Spatial Analyst offer advanced capabilities.

5. Adopt Best Practices in Data Visualization: Enhance the readability and interpretability of your maps. The Cartography. guide by Esri provides valuable tips.

6. Ensure Accessibility and Interoperability: Make your GIS maps accessible and interoperable by following standards set by organizations like the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC).

7. Engage in Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in GIS through resources like GIS Lounge for ongoing professional development.

By focusing on these areas, planners can significantly enhance the effectiveness and utility of GIS mapping in their work.

How to Display GIS Mapping Skills on Your Resume

6. Tableau

Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool that allows planners to analyze and present data in interactive, easy-to-understand dashboards and reports, facilitating better decision-making.

Why It's Important

Tableau is important for a Planner because it enables efficient data visualization and analysis, facilitating informed decision-making and strategic planning through interactive and easily understandable charts and graphs.

How to Improve Tableau Skills

To improve your Tableau skills as a Planner, focus on the following concise strategies:

1. Enhance Your Data Skills: Understand your data sources. Practice cleaning and shaping data in Tableau or with external tools like Excel or SQL. Tableau Prep can be a valuable tool for this.

2. Learn Tableau Features Thoroughly: Dive deep into Tableau's functionalities such as calculated fields, parameters, and Tableau’s analytics pane. The Tableau Training and Tutorials page offers comprehensive resources.

3. Incorporate Advanced Visualizations: Beyond basic charts, explore advanced visualizations to represent data more effectively. Use the Tableau Public Gallery for inspiration.

4. Optimize Dashboard Performance: Ensure your dashboards are efficient and user-friendly. Tableau provides a Dashboard Performance Checklist for reference.

5. Attend Workshops and Webinars: Participate in Tableau's live webinars and workshops for hands-on learning and updates on new features.

6. Join the Tableau Community: Engage with the Tableau Community Forums to learn from peers, share your knowledge, and get your questions answered.

7. Practice Regularly: Like any skill, proficiency comes with practice. Challenge yourself with new datasets and visualization techniques frequently.

By focusing on these areas, you'll be well-equipped to leverage Tableau's capabilities to their fullest as a Planner.

How to Display Tableau Skills on Your Resume

7. Excel Advanced

Excel Advanced refers to the use of sophisticated features and techniques in Microsoft Excel, such as complex formulas, data analysis tools, macros, and pivot tables, to enhance planning, forecasting, and decision-making processes.

Why It's Important

Excel Advanced is crucial for a Planner as it enables efficient data analysis, complex problem-solving, and sophisticated project scheduling through advanced formulas, macros, and pivot tables, optimizing planning accuracy and productivity.

How to Improve Excel Advanced Skills

To improve your Excel skills for advanced planning, focus on the following concise strategies:

1. Master PivotTables: Essential for summarizing, analyzing, sorting, and reporting data. ExcelJet's PivotTable Guide is an excellent starting point.

2. Learn Advanced Formulas: Understand functions like INDEX-MATCH, INDIRECT, and array formulas. Chandoo's Advanced Excel Formulas offers clear explanations.

3. Automate with Macros & VBA: Automate repetitive tasks and customize Excel to your needs. Excel Easy's VBA Tutorial provides a practical introduction.

4. Utilize Data Validation: Ensure data integrity in your planning spreadsheets. Contextures' Data Validation Guide covers the basics to advanced usage.

5. Explore Power Query: Import, transform, and automate data processing. Microsoft's Power Query Overview introduces key concepts.

6. Get Familiar with Power Pivot: Enhance data analysis and modeling. The Power Pivot Overview by Microsoft is useful for understanding its capabilities.

7. Practice with Real-Life Scenarios: Apply your skills to solve real-world planning problems. Websites like Excel Exercises offer practice tasks.

8. Join Excel Forums: Engage with the community, ask questions, and share knowledge. The MrExcel Forum is a great place to start.

9. Stay Updated: Excel is constantly evolving. Follow Excel Blog by Microsoft for the latest features and tips.

10. Take an Advanced Course: Consider enrolling in a structured course for in-depth learning. Coursera’s Excel Skills for Business: Advanced is highly recommended.

By focusing on these areas and utilizing the provided resources, you can significantly enhance your Excel skills for advanced planning tasks.

How to Display Excel Advanced Skills on Your Resume

8. Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is a professional desktop publishing software used primarily for creating layouts for print and digital media, such as magazines, brochures, and eBooks. For a planner, it is an ideal tool for designing intricate and visually appealing organizational materials, schedules, and any documentation requiring a blend of text and graphics in a structured layout.

Why It's Important

Adobe InDesign is crucial for planners because it offers advanced layout and typography controls, enabling the precise design of complex, multi-page documents like planners, with consistent styling and efficient production workflows.

How to Improve Adobe InDesign Skills

Improving your Adobe InDesign skills, particularly for creating planners with external links, involves mastering a few specific techniques. Here's a concise guide:

1. Learn the Basics: Ensure you understand InDesign's interface and basic functionalities. Adobe's tutorials are a great starting point.

2. Master Styles: Use Paragraph, Character, and Object Styles for consistent formatting. This guide on Styles can help.

3. Utilize Master Pages: For repetitive elements like page numbers and backgrounds. This Master Pages tutorial will be useful.

4. Incorporate External Links: Learn to hyperlink text and images to external sources. Adobe's own hyperlink guide is very informative.

5. Leverage Tables: For organized layouts, especially useful in planners. Explore how to effectively use tables.

6. Exporting PDFs: Understand the process for exporting interactive PDFs with working links. This PDF export tutorial can clarify the process.

By focusing on these areas, you'll significantly improve your InDesign proficiency for creating planners with external links. Practice regularly and explore each feature to discover more efficient workflows and creative possibilities.

How to Display Adobe InDesign Skills on Your Resume

9. SketchUp

SketchUp is a 3D modeling software used by planners for designing, visualizing, and communicating spatial and architectural concepts, facilitating efficient planning and decision-making processes.

Why It's Important

SketchUp is important for a Planner because it allows for easy visualization and manipulation of 3D models, facilitating efficient planning and design of spaces, structures, and urban layouts.

How to Improve SketchUp Skills

To enhance your proficiency with SketchUp as a Planner, focus on these concise strategies:

1. Learn the Basics: Start with SketchUp's official tutorials to grasp the fundamentals.

2. Utilize Extensions: Integrate powerful extensions from the SketchUp Extension Warehouse for advanced features like terrain modeling and urban planning tools.

3. Practice Efficient Modeling: Adopt efficient modeling practices, such as using components and groups, to streamline your workflow. The SketchUp YouTube Channel offers practical tips.

4. Explore 3D Warehouse: Enhance your models by incorporating elements from the 3D Warehouse, which provides a vast library of pre-made models.

5. Master Shortcuts: Learn keyboard shortcuts to speed up your modeling process. A comprehensive guide can be found on the SketchUp Help Center.

6. Stay Updated: Keep your skills current by following SketchUp blogs and forums for the latest trends and updates.

7. Join a Community: Engage with other planners and SketchUp users in forums like the SketchUp Community to exchange ideas and solutions.

By focusing on these areas, you'll enhance your efficiency and creativity in using SketchUp for planning projects.

How to Display SketchUp Skills on Your Resume

10. Salesforce CRM

Salesforce CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management platform designed to help businesses manage sales, customer service, marketing, and more, offering a centralized system to organize customer information, track interactions, and plan future activities.

Why It's Important

Salesforce CRM is essential for planners as it provides a centralized platform to manage and analyze customer interactions, streamline operations, and improve planning efficiency by offering insights into sales, marketing, and customer service activities.

How to Improve Salesforce CRM Skills

To enhance Salesforce CRM for a Planner, consider the following concise steps:

1. Customize for Your Needs: Tailor Salesforce to fit your specific planning requirements by using custom fields and objects. This ensures that you're tracking and managing the exact data points critical for your planning activities.

2. Automate Processes: Implement automation tools within Salesforce, such as workflow rules and Process Builder, to automate routine tasks. This can streamline event planning, follow-ups, and task assignments.

3. Integrate with External Tools: Connect Salesforce with external planning tools and apps via AppExchange or APIs. Integration can enhance functionality and provide a more unified planning platform.

4. Use Analytics and Reporting: Leverage Salesforce reports and dashboards to gain insights into your planning activities. This can help in making informed decisions and improving your strategies over time.

5. Train and Support Your Team: Ensure your team is fully trained on Salesforce functionalities relevant to planning. Utilize Salesforce Trailhead for educational resources and encourage a culture of continuous learning.

By customizing the platform, automating processes, integrating with other tools, utilizing analytics, and ensuring team proficiency, you can significantly enhance the effectiveness of Salesforce CRM for planning purposes.

How to Display Salesforce CRM Skills on Your Resume

11. Asana

Asana is a web and mobile application designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work and projects, serving as a collaborative planner for tasks and deadlines.

Why It's Important

Asana is important for a planner because it provides a centralized platform to organize tasks, track project progress, and facilitate team collaboration, ensuring efficient project management and timely completion of objectives.

How to Improve Asana Skills

To improve Asana as a planner, consider implementing these concise strategies:

1. Integrate External Tools: Use Asana integrations to connect with external tools like Google Calendar, Slack, and Microsoft Teams for seamless project tracking and communication.

2. Custom Fields and Templates: Customize your workflow with Asana Custom Fields and use templates that cater specifically to your planning needs, ensuring more detailed task management.

3. Automate Repetitive Tasks: Set up Asana Rules for automating repetitive tasks, saving time and reducing manual errors.

4. Prioritize Tasks: Utilize the Priority feature in Asana to ensure that the most critical tasks are addressed first, enhancing productivity and focus.

5. Utilize Asana Goals: Leverage Asana Goals for setting clear, actionable objectives that align with your planning and ensure that all team members are focused on high-impact activities.

6. Regular Review and Adjustment: Regularly review your Asana setup and adjust your strategies, templates, and integrations to continually refine and improve your planning process.

By strategically integrating external tools, customizing your workflow, automating tasks, prioritizing effectively, setting clear goals, and continuously refining your process, you can significantly enhance your planning efficiency in Asana.

How to Display Asana Skills on Your Resume

12. Power BI

Power BI is a business analytics tool developed by Microsoft that allows users to visualize data, create reports, and share insights across an organization, aiding in informed decision-making and planning.

Why It's Important

Power BI is important for a Planner because it enables effective data visualization and analysis, helping in making informed decisions, optimizing planning processes, and forecasting future trends accurately.

How to Improve Power BI Skills

To improve Power BI, focus on the following concise steps, tailored for a Planner:

1. Learn DAX Formulas: Deepen your understanding of DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) to create more complex and powerful data models. DAX Guide

2. Optimize Data Models: Simplify and optimize your data models for better performance. Data Model Optimization

3. Use Power Query Efficiently: Master Power Query to clean, transform, and integrate data more effectively. Power Query Documentation

4. Incorporate Advanced Visualizations: Explore and use advanced visualizations to make your reports more insightful. Power BI Visualizations

5. Implement Best Practices for Reports: Follow best practices for report design to enhance readability and user experience. Report Design Best Practices

6. Stay Updated with Power BI Updates: Regularly check for and incorporate the latest Power BI features and updates. Power BI Blog

7. Leverage Power BI Community: Join the Power BI Community to learn from experts and share your experiences. Power BI Community

8. Attend Training and Webinars: Participate in official Power BI training sessions and webinars to enhance your skills. Power BI Training

By concentrating on these areas, you can significantly improve your Power BI skills and capabilities as a Planner.

How to Display Power BI Skills on Your Resume