The skills section of your resume shows the recruiter you have the abilities required to succeed in the role. Often, recruiter pays special attention to the skills section to determine who should move on to the next step of the hiring process. Here are some tips and resume skills examples to help you craft the skills section of your resume.
Hard skills vs. Soft skills
There are two different types of skills when employers are looking to hire employees: Hard skills and Soft skills.
Hard Skills: Hard skills are abilities specific to the industry and job. Generally, these are more technical hard skills you learn in training schools, materials, certification programs, or experience on the job. This skills might include proficiency in things like:
- Foreign languages
- Software
- Operating certain machinery or equipment
Soft skills: Soft skills are skills that can be applied in any post or recruitment. This skills may be related to as “social skills” or “people skills” and include proficiency in things like:
- Customer service
- Communication
- Leadership
- Time management
- Problem-solving
Hard skills are usually educable while soft skills are typically personality traits much harder to develop, and therefore greatly valuable to employers. In most cases, your soft skills can boost your hard skills.
For example, if you’re a particular software developer skilled in a programming language, you’ll likely be able to correct and catch errors issues in the code you and your team create.
As a candidate, it’s essential to highlight your best soft and hard skills to position yourself as a well-rounded applicant. It’s also helpful to examine how the two types of skills relate to each other and the career so you can speak to this in your next interview.
How to Identify your Best Skills
If you are not sure which best skills you want to share, consider your previous skills. Where did you excel? Where would your companions say you’re especially practiced? Here are some ways to determine skills to include on a resume:
Consider your achievements and awards: Did you ever receive recognition for assembly a particular excelling or objective in a specific area? If so, your skills likely help you in reaching this achievement. Consider what attributes or personal talents helped you meet that milestone.
Ask fellow students or former coworkers: Sometimes others can help note strengths you may not recognize yourself. Reach out to former coworker or colleagues who worked closely with you. If you are new to the acknowledged world, reach out to students you worked with, teachers who know you well give you consider an adviser.
Talk to experts in the field: If you’re having a hard time determining what capability an employer may require to see, consider contacting a professional already working in the industry to the one you’re applying for. Find out what skills they consider essential, and identify which align with your own.
Related: How to prepare for an Interview
How to list skills on your resume
Review the job description & research the organization:
Though you may have various areas of strength, include only those that are related to the job. The employer often has limited time when reviewing resumes, so it’s best to keep your skills section concise and specific. Once you move on to the interview level, you’ll have the chance to elaborate on other professions not mentioned on your resume.
Start by reviewing the job description & making a note of any required abilities and skills that match your own. In addition to the job needed, consider the description of the organization.
For example, a job description for a medical secretary may want proficiency in electronic medical records software and scheduling programs. It may also share that the organization values patient and teamwork satisfaction.
- Interpersonal communication
- Electronic medical records systems
- Customer service
- Team leadership
- Patient scheduling software
If you don’t see any clues about organization culture listed in the job description, check out Indeed organization Pages or review the employer’s website for additional information.
Related Article: Interview Questions and Answer for Freshers
Top 10 Resume Skills Examples
While you can often easily determine skills to list based on details in the career or job description, selecting applicable soft skills is not always as clear. Soft skills to include on a resume, review the different duties of the position and determine which of your strengths will help you complete those tasks. Here are some tips and resume skills examples to help you craft the skills section of your resume.
1. Communication Skills
Communication skills are the capability you use when receiving and giving various kinds of information. Some examples include communicating feelings, ideas, or what’s happening around you. Communication skills involve speaking, listening, empathizing, and observing. Having strong communication skills is essential in every industry at every career level.
Related communications skills include:
- Active listening
- Verbal/Non-verbal communication
- Constructive criticism
- Written communication
- Interpersonal communication
- Public speaking
2. Active Listening Skills
Active listening is the skill to focus completely on a speaker, understand their message, apprehend the information, and respond thoughtfully. Active listeners skill use verbal and non-verbal techniques to show and keep their attention on the speaker. Developing and using listening skills can show your colleagues that you engaged and have an interest in the project.
Related Active listening skills include:
- Verbal/Non-verbal communication
- Note-taking
- Organization
- Asking questions
- Punctuality
3. Customer Service Skills
These service skills are practices and traits that help you address consumer needs to create a positive experience. In general, consumer service skills rely heavily on problem-solving and communication. This skill is often considered a “soft skill,” including traits like active listening and reading both verbal and nonverbal cues.
Related customer service skills:
- Interpersonal skills
- Active listening
- Problem-solving
- Empathy
- Reliability
4. Computer Skills
These skills involve the ability to learn and operate various technology. Hardware skills allow you to operate a computer physically and can be as simple as knowing how to turn devices on and off. Software skills help you to use computer programs and applications efficiently. There are some computer skills that employers may consider as requirements to employment, like using spreadsheets or knowing a certain coding language.
Related computer skills include:
- Word/typing processing
- Spreadsheets
- Email management
- Fluency in coding languages
5. Interpersonal Skills
These skills are traits you rely on when you communicate and interact with others. Developing interpersonal skills is essential to work efficiently with others, solve problems, and lead projects or teams.
Related interpersonal skills include:
- Communication
- Empathy
- Flexibility
- Leadership
- Patience
6. Leadership Skills
Leadership skills are the ability you use when organizing other people to reach a shared goal. Whether you’re in a management leading or position a project, leadership skills need you to inspire others to complete a series of tasks.
Related leadership skills include:
- Time management
- Risk-taking
- Ability to teach and mentor
- Flexibility
- Team building
7. Time Management Skills
Time management skills allow you to complete projects and tasks before deadlines while also maintaining a work-life balance. Deeply understanding your team, individual, and company goals can provide a starting point when deciding how to manage your time.
Related time management skills include:
- Organization
- Delegating tasks
- Focus
- Prioritization
- Goal setting
8. Management Skills
Managerial skills are a capability that helps you govern both people and tasks. A good manager is empathetic, organized, and communicates clearly to support a project or team. Managers should also be adept in both specific technical skills and soft skills related to their industry.
Related management skills:
- Decision-making
- Project planning
- Task delegation
9. Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are the ability that is useful to any employer as you change careers and jobs. Often soft spoken skills, these might include things like organization, teamwork, flexibility, or other qualities employers seek in strong applicants. This skills can be used to position your experience when applying for a new job—especially if it’s in a different industry.
Related transferable skills:
- Leadership
- Ambition
- Teamwork
- Creativity
- Empathy
10. Problem-Solving Skills
Problem-solving skills are an ability that helps you determine to solve the problem and quickly find an effective solution. This problem-solving skill is highly valued in any role for every organization. Problem-solving in your role might require certain industry or job-specific technical skills.
Related problem-solving skills:
- Communication
- Attention to detail
- Research
- Collaboration
- Patience
The best skills to include on a resume vary by job type, education, career level, and other factors. For example, the skills most essential for a commercial taxi driver will differ from those of a sale manager. Before you apply to any job, take time to review the skills that are most valuable to the employer, and adapt your resume based on which of your skills fall within their requirements.
Your resume skills list aims to show the hiring manager or recruiter that you’re the best applicant for the role and will bring defined value to their team. By paying attention to the type of applicant an employer is looking for and making connections to your strengths, you can quickly stand among the competition.