Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Proposal specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Anthony McMullen,

Anthony McMullen

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical proposal specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for proposal specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.2% of proposal specialist resumes contained powerpoint as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a proposal specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 proposal specialist skills for your resume and career

1. PowerPoint

Here's how proposal specialists use powerpoint:

Assisted in preparation of oral presentations using PowerPoint.
Edited and helped develop relevant PowerPoint presentations.

2. RFP

RFP stands for request for proposal and is a document that contains details about a project or bids from contractors who are responsible for completing the project.

Here's how proposal specialists use rfp:

Reviewed RFQ, RFP, RFI pipe, electrical, valve, and fittings specifications to comply with industry standards.
Compose excellent past performance write-ups * Prepare alignment of functional requirements with business areas * Ensure compliance with RFP instructions.

3. SharePoint

Here's how proposal specialists use sharepoint:

Maintain proprietary websites (MOL, Compass, SharePoint) holding Channel Partner templates and system descriptions.
Performed shreds of previous proposals to provide research and materials for future proposals on SharePoint.

4. Project Management

Here's how proposal specialists use project management:

Worked effectively with engineering, project management, upper management, legal, insurance and finance.
Assist project management with priorities and deadline in the proposal process.

5. Subject Matter Experts

Here's how proposal specialists use subject matter experts:

Obtained current data gathered from subject matter experts and compiled statistics to incorporate into marketing projects.
Coordinated with project leaders/subject matter experts to gather information in order to draft corporate responses.

6. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how proposal specialists use business development:

Provide planning and support to Business Development Director and Proposal Manager throughout the preparation process.
Compiled daily research into a report disseminated to relevant business development personnel via e-mail.

Choose from 10+ customizable proposal specialist resume templates

Build a professional proposal specialist resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your proposal specialist resume.

7. Healthcare

Healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of a person's health by the diagnosis and treatment of a person's injury, illness, or any other disease. Healthcare is a basic necessity of human life and is the responsibility of the country's government to ensure that each person gets healthcare. Providing healthcare is the job of certified health professionals that includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other physicians. Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, dentistry, therapy, and health training all come under healthcare. Healthcare plays a vital role in the country's economy and its development.

Here's how proposal specialists use healthcare:

Generated proposals in support of sales activities for this computer software/hardware systems integrator serving the healthcare industry.
Assisted senior healthcare specialists with proposal completion.

8. Proofreading

Here's how proposal specialists use proofreading:

Provide oversight of final proposal production, including desktop publishing, proofreading, editing, printing, and binding.
Provided proofreading and editing of proposal ready content for style and grammar, flow and format.

9. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how proposal specialists use customer service:

Provided excellent customer service and quick response time to internal and external customers, resulting in good relationships and consistent sales.
Prepare and distribute weekly/monthly tender budget report; Sales Derogation Report for Customer Service/Finance; weekly calendar for staff.

10. RFQ

A request for quotation (RFQ) is a document that a corporation submits to one or more potential suppliers obtaining quotations for a service or product. Typically, an RFQ seeks a detailed list of prices for something that is measurable like hardware and it involves more than the price per item. RFQ, call for bids and invitation for bid generally mean the same thing.

Here's how proposal specialists use rfq:

Review client Tender invitations, RFQ documents, technical specifications and amendments.
Streamlined quote process by generating spreadsheets for repetitive RFQ's.

11. Proposal Management

Here's how proposal specialists use proposal management:

Planned and was accountable for proposal management and proposal design including some government proposal organization.
Performed cost/benefit analysis of various Proposal Management software packages and facilitated departmental training.

12. Proposal Content

A proposal content includes a brief description of the name, history, purpose, goals, costs, specific objectives, method and expected impact of a program/project/company. This section of the proposal set out the detailed work plan for the work and activities, including emphasizing its capacity to carry out the proposal, and how the program/project/business will be sustained in the future.

Here's how proposal specialists use proposal content:

Prepared the proposal project plan managing assignment, collection and organization of proposal content provided by different departments within the organization.
Provided proposal content applicable to RFP/RFI solicitations.

13. CRM

CRM stands for Customer relationship management and it is a complete process through which a business or organization monitors and administers its interactions with the customers. A process in which large amounts of data are collected through marketing via a company's website, polls, surveys, and other social media applications. The basic goal of CRM is to target the right audience for their product, and then fulfill their needs, to increase the sales and revenue of the company.

Here's how proposal specialists use crm:

Generate and track proposals utilizing Sales Force (CRM) software program.
Maintained CRM records for RFX opportunities.

14. Proposal Responses

Here's how proposal specialists use proposal responses:

Developed proposal responses, presentation materials and sales/marketing collateral for FPLES sales team.
Assist in preparing high-quality, compliant, and compelling proposal responses, primarily for the Federal Government.

15. Photoshop

Here's how proposal specialists use photoshop:

Create documents, cover pages, images, and marketing material using InDesign and Photoshop.
Create marketing and proposal materials, from covers to technical figures and graphs, using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop.

5 Proposal Specialist resume examples

Build a professional proposal specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your proposal specialist resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Proposal Specialists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What soft skills should all proposal specialists possess?

Anthony McMullen

Associate Professor of Business Law and Director of Forensics, v, University of Central Arkansas

Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the phrase "soft skills" v. "hard skills," as some might take such phrases to imply that soft skills are not as important or are easier to obtain. That being said, to answer the question, communication and critical-thinking skills are essential to a successful career. Communication skills (both oral and written) are necessary to convey messages. It does not matter how much technical expertise someone has if that person is unable to convey that expertise to others. Critical-thinking skills are important because skilled workers need to know how to think through problems. The answer will not always be readily apparent. And even when it is, workers need to ensure that they can analyze it to ensure that it is trustworthy. Maybe the information found is outdated, doesn't apply to the situation, or is just flat out wrong, and a skilled worker needs to be able to make that determination.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, adaptability is also necessary to be successful. So many jobs have changed (and will continue to change). Many people left their respective industries during the pandemic because they couldn't (or did not want to) adapt to change. Those who can, or at least try, will find more opportunities in the workplace.

What skills stand out on proposal specialist resumes?

Anthony McMullen

Associate Professor of Business Law and Director of Forensics, v, University of Central Arkansas

This will depend on the specific field. Business is an incredibly broad area. Anyone with a business type of degree will at least obtain basic knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. These skills should be highlighted. But when thinking about a resume, workers should think about (and participate in) experiences that allow them to use these skills. And once they have these experiences, they should be able to articulate how they used these skills on a resume. Don't just say, "I did ______." Say, "I used _________ in order to accomplish __________."

What type of skills will young proposal specialists need?

Jim Drinkwine

Professor, Whatcom Community College

Employers consistently say they want graduates with strong people skills. While technical skills are good, being able to work effectively in group settings is more important. I hear from students all the time about how much they dislike group projects for several reasons. However, the topic of the group project isn't as crucial as the teamwork skills you develop as a part of this type of learning. Take every opportunity you can to develop strong skills in interpersonal communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Do you want to know more?

List of proposal specialist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a proposal specialist resume and required skills for a proposal specialist to have include:

PowerPoint
RFP
SharePoint
Project Management
Subject Matter Experts
Business Development
Healthcare
Proofreading
Customer Service
RFQ
Proposal Management
Proposal Content
CRM
Proposal Responses
Photoshop
Veterans

SMEs
Proposal Preparation
Executive Summaries
Proofread
Sales Support
RFIs
Proposal Efforts
Past Performance
Writing Support
Compliance Matrices
Proposal Schedule
Proposal Production
Federal Government
Adobe Acrobat
Project Descriptions
Proposal Outlines

Market Research
Process Improvement
Content Development
Technical Proposals
Marketing Collateral
Data Entry
Government Agencies
Proposal Templates
Version Control
Sales Proposals
Proposal Sections
Data Calls
Discriminators
Cost Estimates
DOD
Press Releases

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs