Top 12 Planner Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's fast-changing professional landscape, strong planner skills can tilt the table in your favor. The right mix of technical depth, data sense, and clear communication helps you move work forward, not just track it. Below, twelve skills that employers keep asking for—and how to sharpen them.

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 project scheduling software for building timelines, allocating resources, tracking progress and cost, and balancing workloads across teams and vendors.

Why It's Important

It gives planners a single source of truth for scope, time, cost, and dependencies—so risks surface early, handoffs are clear, and delivery stays predictable.

How to Improve Microsoft Project Skills

Move from basic Gantt charts to a living schedule that drives the plan:

1. Customize views and fields: Tailor tables, filters, and custom fields to your lifecycle and reporting needs.

2. Build reusable templates: Standardize calendars, WBS structures, and dependencies for repeatable projects.

3. Set and manage baselines: Capture multiple baselines, compare variances, and flag slippage early.

4. Resource load intelligently: Use resource views to level workloads and resolve overallocations with alternatives.

5. Integrate with your stack: Sync with Excel, Project for the web, Planner, and Power Automate for updates and alerts.

6. Adopt cadence: Update actuals frequently, timebox re-planning, and keep change logs tidy.

How to Display Microsoft Project Skills on Your Resume

2. AutoCAD

AutoCAD is CAD software for precise 2D drafting and 3D modeling used to develop site plans, sections, and detailed drawings that align design intent with build realities.

Why It's Important

Planners rely on clean geometry, accurate layers, and scalable standards to move from concept to permit to construction without rework.

How to Improve AutoCAD Skills

Draft faster, keep layers clean, and lean on automation:

1. Master shortcuts and aliases: Reduce clicks; keep your hands on the keyboard.

2. Standardize with templates: Preload layers, plot styles, title blocks, and annotation styles.

3. Use dynamic blocks and attributes: Update many instances at once; slash repetitive edits.

4. Reference wisely: Xref large backgrounds, clip intelligently, and bind only when needed.

5. Leverage vertical tools: Tap Civil 3D or Map 3D for alignments, surfaces, and GIS layers when projects demand it.

6. Clean files: Purge, audit, and remove regapps; keep performance snappy.

How to Display AutoCAD Skills on Your Resume

3. Primavera P6

Primavera P6 is enterprise-grade scheduling software built for complex, multi-contractor, multi-phase projects with rigorous reporting and controls.

Why It's Important

It handles deep WBS structures, critical path shifts, resource and cost curves, and change-heavy programs without buckling.

How to Improve Primavera P6 Skills

Bring discipline and analytics into the schedule:

1. Nail the fundamentals: Calendars, relationships, constraints, and float—set them right from day one.

2. Use global data smartly: Standardize codes, roles, and calendars for consistent cross-project reporting.

3. Apply EVM: Track CPI/SPI, forecast at completion, and tie status to funding gates.

4. Customize layouts and filters: Build role-specific views for executives, site leads, and vendors.

5. Map integrations: Connect to cost, document control, and field tools; keep IDs consistent.

6. Run risk scenarios: Model schedule risks, apply buffers, and stress-test critical paths.

How to Display Primavera P6 Skills on Your Resume

4. SAP ERP

SAP ERP (including S/4HANA) centralizes finance, procurement, manufacturing, and supply data so planners can forecast, schedule, and allocate with confidence.

Why It's Important

Reliable master data and integrated processes cut noise, reduce stockouts, and speed up decisions across the chain.

How to Improve SAP ERP Skills

Unlock planning value, not just transactions:

1. Shape the UX: Configure Fiori tiles and fields for planner workflows; hide what’s distracting.

2. Connect planning modules: Use MRP, PP/DS, and Integrated Business Planning to align demand, supply, and capacity.

3. Automate routine decisions: Leverage rules and bots for release strategies, approvals, and data checks.

4. Strengthen master data: Governance for materials, BOMs, routings, and suppliers—quality here pays dividends.

5. Bring analytics closer: Use embedded analytics or SAP Analytics Cloud to track forecast error, OTIF, and capacity use.

How to Display SAP ERP Skills on Your Resume

5. GIS Mapping

GIS combines spatial data with attributes to map, analyze, and model places—land use, access, risk, infrastructure, and more.

Why It's Important

It reveals patterns that tables hide: equity gaps, resiliency needs, corridor conflicts, opportunities tucked between parcels.

How to Improve GIS Mapping Skills

Better data in, smarter analysis out:

1. Use authoritative data: Maintain current basemaps, parcels, and networks; document sources and refresh cycles.

2. Mind projections: Choose appropriate coordinate systems; prevent distortion on distance and area.

3. Enrich with analytics: Apply network analysis, raster processing, and spatial joins to move beyond simple overlays.

4. Design for clarity: Harmonize color ramps, labels, and legends; reduce clutter; tell one story per map.

5. Adopt open standards: Share via formats and services like GeoJSON, WMS/WMTS, and feature services.

6. Collect in the field: Use mobile data capture and QA routines to close gaps quickly.

How to Display GIS Mapping Skills on Your Resume

6. Tableau

Tableau turns raw datasets into interactive dashboards, fast—so stakeholders can explore, filter, and spot trends without touching SQL.

Why It's Important

Planners make better calls when forecasts, KPIs, and scenarios are visible and credible.

How to Improve Tableau Skills

Make dashboards punchy, fast, and trustworthy:

1. Prep the data: Clean and reshape upstream; define row-level security and data definitions.

2. Learn calculations: Parameters, LOD expressions, table calcs—use the right tool for the question.

3. Choose visuals with intent: Use small multiples, highlight tables, and reference bands when they clarify the narrative.

4. Optimize performance: Favor extracts when needed, reduce marks, index filters, and minimize nested calcs.

5. Design for action: Clear titles, helpful tooltips, guided filters, and mobile-friendly layouts.

How to Display Tableau Skills on Your Resume

7. Excel Advanced

Advanced Excel spans complex formulas, dynamic arrays, Power Query, Power Pivot, and automation that turns spreadsheets into nimble planning tools.

Why It's Important

It bridges data sources, crunches scenarios, and produces reports without waiting on another system change request.

How to Improve Excel Advanced Skills

Modernize your toolkit and cut manual work:

1. Upgrade formulas: Prefer XLOOKUP, FILTER, UNIQUE, and LET over legacy approaches; reserve array tricks for when they truly help.

2. Use Power Query: Automate imports and transforms; create repeatable refresh pipelines.

3. Model with Power Pivot: Build a data model with relationships and DAX for reliable, fast pivots.

4. Control inputs: Data validation, structured tables, and named ranges keep errors at bay.

5. Automate: Record macros for repetitive steps and use VBA or Office Scripts where it pays off.

6. Scenario planning: Sensitivity tables, Solver, and What-If analysis for decisions under uncertainty.

How to Display Excel Advanced Skills on Your Resume

8. Adobe InDesign

InDesign is desktop publishing software for crisp, multi-page layouts—reports, brochures, plan sets, and polished stakeholder materials.

Why It's Important

Complex documents demand consistent styles, strong typography, and pixel-precise exports. InDesign delivers that control.

How to Improve Adobe InDesign Skills

Work like a production pro:

1. Use styles everywhere: Paragraph, character, object, and table styles keep formatting uniform.

2. Lean on Parent Pages: Standardize headers, footers, grids, and recurring elements across long documents.

3. Build libraries: Reuse branded components, color swatches, and icon sets.

4. Structure content: Master threading text frames, anchored objects, and tables for clean revisions.

5. Export wisely: Match export settings to print or interactive use; compress images without losing clarity.

6. Preflight and package: Catch issues before sending; include fonts, links, and profiles for handoff.

How to Display Adobe InDesign Skills on Your Resume

9. SketchUp

SketchUp is 3D modeling built for speed—great for massing, site options, and communicating form to non-technical audiences.

Why It's Important

It turns abstract constraints into tangible volumes you can measure, critique, and iterate.

How to Improve SketchUp Skills

Keep models clean; keep scenes readable:

1. Model with intent: Use components and groups from the start; control hierarchy.

2. Tag and scene setup: Organize with tags (layers), scenes, and styles for fast presentation switches.

3. Extend when needed: Add extensions for terrain, sunlight, reports, and urban analysis.

4. Tap 3D assets: Pull vetted objects for context; avoid bloated geometry.

5. Bridge to LayOut: Produce scaled drawings and callouts directly from your model.

6. Master navigation: Shortcuts and inference locking keep geometry true.

How to Display SketchUp Skills on Your Resume

10. Salesforce CRM

Salesforce centralizes customer, project, and interaction data while enabling automation, collaboration, and reporting across teams.

Why It's Important

For planners, it streamlines pipeline visibility, stakeholder communications, and resourcing decisions—all in one place.

How to Improve Salesforce CRM Skills

Build a system that matches how you plan:

1. Customize the data model: Use custom objects, fields, and record types to reflect your planning lifecycle.

2. Automate with Flow: Replace legacy Process Builder rules; orchestrate assignments, approvals, and updates.

3. Integrate wisely: Connect calendars, document tools, and planning apps via AppExchange or APIs.

4. Elevate reporting: Create joined reports, dashboards, and subscriptions that drive action.

5. Harden data quality: Validation rules, required fields, and deduplication keep reports accurate.

6. Upskill your team: Role-based permissions and training turn features into habits.

How to Display Salesforce CRM Skills on Your Resume

11. Asana

Asana organizes tasks, timelines, and requests so teams can plan, execute, and review work in one shared space.

Why It's Important

It clarifies who’s doing what by when—and makes dependencies and blockers visible before they sting.

How to Improve Asana Skills

Turn busy boards into a system that hums:

1. Start with templates: Standardize projects, sections, and assignee rules for repeatable work.

2. Add custom fields: Track priority, effort, status, and due risk across teams.

3. Automate with Rules: Auto-assign, set dates, move tasks, and post updates on triggers.

4. Connect your tools: Link calendars, chat, and files so context travels with the task.

5. Use Goals and Portfolios: Roll up project health and outcomes; spot slippage early.

6. Review cadence: Weekly triage, monthly retros, and lean backlogs keep noise down.

How to Display Asana Skills on Your Resume

12. Power BI

Power BI turns disparate data into models and visuals you can share across the organization—securely and at scale.

Why It's Important

Planners need timely insight: forecasts, capacity, burn, risk. Power BI brings it together—and keeps it fresh.

How to Improve Power BI Skills

Model cleanly, visualize with intent, and ship fast:

1. Model for performance: Use star schemas, proper relationships, and friendly column data types.

2. Level up DAX: Master row vs. filter context, measures vs. calculated columns, and time intelligence.

3. Power Query discipline: Build stepwise, documented transforms; handle nulls and types early.

4. Design readable reports: Consistent layouts, accessible colors, and interactions that guide exploration.

5. Choose the right storage: Import for speed, DirectQuery for freshness, and Direct Lake/Fabric where appropriate.

6. Govern and share: Set roles, endorsements, and refresh schedules; use deployment pipelines for change control.

How to Display Power BI Skills on Your Resume