Top 12 Senior Planner Skills to Put on Your Resume

In planning and project management, the right skill mix on a resume can tilt decisions in your favor. Hiring managers skim fast, then zero in. Make their pause count with skills that reveal mastery, judgment, and the ability to steer complex work without chaos.

Senior Planner Skills

1. AutoCAD
2. Revit
3. GIS
4. SAP
5. Primavera P6
6. MS Project
7. Tableau
8. Excel
9. BIM
10. SketchUp
11. Adobe Illustrator
12. ArcGIS

1. AutoCAD

AutoCAD is CAD software for precise 2D and 3D drafting and modeling used across architecture, engineering, and construction.

Why It's Important

For a Senior Planner, AutoCAD enables exact layouts, clear detailing, and fast iteration that aligns design intent with constraints, codes, and stakeholder needs.

How to Improve AutoCAD Skills

1. Accelerate with shortcuts: Memorize core commands and build muscle memory for speed.
2. Tune your environment: Customize tool palettes, ribbons, and workspaces to match your workflows.
3. Build smart content: Use dynamic blocks, attributes, and parametric constraints to reduce rework.
4. Manage data: Leverage xrefs, sheet sets, data extraction, and annotation scaling for consistency.
5. Automate: Script repetitive steps with macros or AutoLISP; standardize layers and naming.
6. Keep files lean: Purge, audit, and clean drawings; control lineweights, linetypes, and plot styles.
7. Interoperate: Exchange cleanly with IFC, GIS, and BIM tools; set units and coordinate systems right from the start.

Refined standards plus light, stable drawings make planning faster and reviews smoother.

How to Display AutoCAD Skills on Your Resume

2. Revit

Revit is Building Information Modeling software for coordinated 3D models, documentation, and multi-discipline collaboration.

Why It's Important

It brings architecture, structure, and MEP into one interoperable model. Fewer clashes. Clearer decisions. A single source of evolving truth.

How to Improve Revit Skills

1. Template and family rigor: Standardize templates, shared parameters, view templates, and title blocks.
2. Model management: Use worksharing best practices, linked models (not imports), and regular audits; compact and purge unused.
3. Design intent tools: Phasing, design options, and filters for scenario planning without model bloat.
4. Schedules that think: Drive QA with key schedules, calculated fields, and conditional formatting.
5. Automate: Use Dynamo for batch tasks, data validation, and parameter management.
6. Coordinate: Roundtrip with Navisworks and IFC; maintain shared coordinates with civil models.
7. Performance first: Lightweight families, view range control, and disciplined worksets keep teams moving.

Good Revit work feels invisible—clean, quick, predictable.

How to Display Revit Skills on Your Resume

3. GIS

GIS captures, stores, analyzes, and presents geographic data, turning layers of place-based information into decisions that stick.

Why It's Important

It lets Senior Planners see patterns, model scenarios, and explain tradeoffs to non-technical audiences with clarity.

How to Improve GIS Skills

1. Data discipline: Enforce metadata, projection consistency, topology rules, and versioned geodatabases.
2. Core analysis: Master buffering, overlays, network analysis, raster tools, and suitability modeling.
3. Automation: Use ModelBuilder and Python to streamline repeat analyses and QA checks.
4. Real-time and mobile: Incorporate field capture and live feeds for current-state awareness.
5. Storytelling: Build dashboards and map series that answer who, where, and why at a glance.
6. Governance: Set sharing rules, data refresh cadences, and privacy safeguards for sensitive datasets.

Reliable inputs, transparent methods, defensible outcomes—that’s GIS done right.

How to Display GIS Skills on Your Resume

4. SAP

SAP is an enterprise platform that connects planning, procurement, finance, operations, and analytics so decisions travel fast and stay aligned.

Why It's Important

Senior Planners lean on SAP for integrated data, scenario planning, capacity checks, and forecasting without guesswork.

How to Improve SAP Skills

1. Master data first: Clean materials, resources, locations, calendars, and units; set clear ownership and change control.
2. Modern planning stack: Exploit S/4HANA capabilities, PP/DS where relevant, and IBP for end-to-end supply and demand alignment.
3. Surface insights: Build role-based Fiori apps and dashboards; use SAP Analytics Cloud for forward-looking KPIs.
4. Automate the grunt work: Apply SAP Build Process Automation for repetitive workflows and approvals.
5. Integrate cleanly: Standardize interfaces and mappings for MES, EAM, and finance; monitor with alerts and reconciliations.
6. Exception-based planning: Design alerts, thresholds, and worklists so planners focus on what moved the needle.

Good SAP setups reduce noise and highlight the few decisions that matter today.

How to Display SAP Skills on Your Resume

5. Primavera P6

Primavera P6 is scheduling software for large, interdependent projects where resources, risks, and deadlines collide.

Why It's Important

It enables rigorous critical path control, resource planning, baselining, and scenario analysis across portfolios.

How to Improve Primavera P6 Skills

1. Structure first: Thoughtful WBS, calendars, and coding structures make reporting effortless later.
2. True critical path: Validate logic ties, use minimal constraints, and test float paths regularly.
3. Resource realism: Level vs. smooth with intent; check overallocation windows and crew continuity.
4. Baselines and what-ifs: Freeze, compare, and run alternatives without polluting the live plan.
5. Global Change and UDFs: Apply batch updates safely; standardize fields for analytics.
6. Risk-aware planning: Incorporate uncertainties and run risk-adjusted schedules where required.
7. Healthy files: Audit XERs, remove circular logic, and keep codes consistent across projects.

When the schedule is trustworthy, conversations get honest fast.

How to Display Primavera P6 Skills on Your Resume

6. MS Project

MS Project supports plan creation, resource assignment, tracking, and reporting—across desktop and cloud (Project for the web).

Why It's Important

It’s widely adopted, integrates with Microsoft 365, and scales from simple timelines to detailed earned value tracking.

How to Improve MS Project Skills

1. Pick the right flavor: Desktop for complex logic and EV; Project for the web for light collaboration and roadmaps.
2. Custom fields that matter: Formulas, graphical indicators, and flags for quick status scanning.
3. Resource strategy: Use resource pools, master/subprojects, and calendars to manage capacity across programs.
4. Baselines and EV: Track SPI/CPI, variance, and trend; keep baselines disciplined.
5. Views that tell the story: Tailor views, filters, and reports; use Timeline and Roadmap for execs.
6. Automation: VBA or Power Automate to eliminate repetitive updates and sync with SharePoint/Teams.

Clarity over complexity. That’s the signature of a strong Project plan.

How to Display MS Project Skills on Your Resume

7. Tableau

Tableau turns raw data into interactive visuals and dashboards that decision-makers actually use.

Why It's Important

Senior Planners can monitor KPIs, highlight bottlenecks, and reveal trends quickly—without burying people in spreadsheets.

How to Improve Tableau Skills

1. Model smart: Use relationships appropriately; minimize heavy joins; extract when performance counts.
2. Calculations with bite: Get fluent with LOD expressions, table calculations, and parameter/set actions.
3. Design for comprehension: Thoughtful color, hierarchy, labels, and tooltips; prioritize accessibility.
4. Analytics features: Forecasts, clustering, trends, and statistical summaries to deepen insight.
5. Performance tuning: Optimize data sources, reduce marks, and cache wisely; test on real datasets.
6. Governance: Version dashboards, certify sources, and set refresh schedules on Server/Cloud.

No fluff—just dashboards that answer the question before it’s asked.

How to Display Tableau Skills on Your Resume

8. Excel

Excel remains the planner’s pocketknife—for modeling, analysis, dashboards, and quick audits.

Why It's Important

It’s ubiquitous, flexible, and powerful enough to prototype logic you’ll later scale elsewhere.

How to Improve Excel Skills

1. Modern functions: XLOOKUP, FILTER, SORT, UNIQUE, TEXTSPLIT, LET, and LAMBDA cut complexity.
2. Power Query + Power Pivot: Automate data shaping and model with DAX for reliable analysis.
3. Pivot mastery: Fast summaries, slicers, timelines, and calculated fields for dynamic views.
4. Data quality: Validation, structured tables, and named ranges keep models robust.
5. Dashboards: Dynamic charts, sparklines, and form controls for crisp storytelling.
6. Automation: VBA or Office Scripts to remove repetitive steps; standardize templates.

Tidy workbooks, clear assumptions, and visible calculations—trust grows from there.

How to Display Excel Skills on Your Resume

9. BIM

BIM (Building Information Modeling) enables coordinated planning, design, construction, and asset handover using structured, connected data.

Why It's Important

It reduces clashes, centralizes intent, and improves outcomes across cost, schedule, quality, and operations.

How to Improve BIM Skills

1. Standards and BEP: Align to ISO 19650 principles; define a clear BIM Execution Plan and roles.
2. Common Data Environment: Single source repository with naming, revision, and approval rules.
3. Classification and data: Apply Uniclass/Omniclass (as required) and maintain parameter discipline.
4. 4D/5D workflows: Link schedule and cost to models for scenario and cashflow insight.
5. Coordination: Systematic clash detection, issue tracking, and resolution cadences.
6. Handover readiness: Plan COBie/asset data early; verify completeness before turnover.
7. Immersive reviews: Use VR/AR for stakeholder engagement and rapid feedback cycles.

BIM thrives on governance. Good rules make collaboration feel effortless.

How to Display BIM Skills on Your Resume

10. SketchUp

SketchUp offers quick, expressive 3D modeling to test ideas, present options, and communicate spatial intent.

Why It's Important

Fast concepting, clear visuals, and easy iteration—perfect for early engagement and approvals.

How to Improve SketchUp Skills

1. Model clean: Use components and groups relentlessly; manage Tags; avoid raw geometry edits.
2. Speed navigation: Scenes, styles, and section cuts craft compelling, lightweight presentations.
3. Extend power: Add vetted extensions for terrain, reporting, and parametric forms.
4. Real-world context: Geolocate, import terrain, and align to survey data when relevant.
5. Document and render: Use LayOut for annotated sheets; pair with renderers for photoreal output.
6. Interoperability: Exchange with DWG/IFC and keep scale/units consistent.

Clean components plus disciplined tagging keep models nimble and sharable.

How to Display SketchUp Skills on Your Resume

11. Adobe Illustrator

Illustrator is vector design software for precise, scalable graphics—maps, diagrams, infographics, and polished presentations.

Why It's Important

Senior Planners can distill complexity into visuals that persuade: crisp, consistent, and publication-ready.

How to Improve Adobe Illustrator Skills

1. Vector fluency: Pen tool, Shape Builder, Pathfinder, and precise anchor control.
2. Reusable systems: Symbols, graphic styles, and the Appearance panel for rapid, consistent edits.
3. Color and type: Manage swatches, global colors, and typography hierarchies for clarity.
4. Layout discipline: Artboards, grids, and guides; export presets for print, web, and SVG.
5. Work fast: Keyboard shortcuts, custom actions, and lightweight scripts.
6. Mapping workflows: Prepare GIS exports, simplify paths, and label legibly at target scales.

Presentation polish is not vanity—it's comprehension.

How to Display Adobe Illustrator Skills on Your Resume

12. ArcGIS

ArcGIS is a full-stack GIS ecosystem for authoring, analyzing, automating, and sharing spatial data and applications.

Why It's Important

Senior Planners rely on ArcGIS for spatial analysis, dashboards, collaborative maps, and authoritative data services.

How to Improve ArcGIS Skills

1. ArcGIS Pro mastery: Geodatabases, projections, symbology, labeling, and advanced editing.
2. Automate with ArcPy: Script batch geoprocessing, data QA, and map production; use ModelBuilder for quick wins.
3. Smart expressions: Apply Arcade in pop-ups, symbology rules, and dashboards.
4. Web GIS: Publish items to ArcGIS Online/Enterprise; define roles, content lifecycles, and refresh schedules.
5. Analyst extensions: Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, and 3D scenes for suitability, routing, and visibility.
6. Scenario planning: Build repeatable zoning and growth scenarios; compare impacts with clear metrics.

Strong ArcGIS practices turn local knowledge and raw data into credible, sharable evidence.

How to Display ArcGIS Skills on Your Resume