Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Zety.com.
Skills for resumes. This topic brings many questions. What are good skills to put on a resume? How many skills should you list on a resume? What are the best resume skills examples?
These are just a few question that many people have regarding skills for resumes. But no matter what you’d like to learn about resume skills, I’ve got you covered. Read on and find out everything you need to know to create a perfect skills section of your resume!
What are good skills for resumes? Actually, the best skills to put on a resume are a mix of soft and hard skills. Remember: both of these types of skills are equally important.
Here you’ll find resume skills to enrich your job application.
1. Communication
Communication skills are used for receiving, understanding, and giving all kinds of information. But these skills also include respecting others’ points of view, explaining thoughts and ideas, and listening to others.
Communicating with your superiors, colleagues, and customers, whether verbally, nonverbally, in writing, or via visuals, is essential in any workplace, as research shows that 50% of job postings require communication skills.
What resumes require great communication skills?
- Sales Representatives
- Customer Service
2. Organizational Skills
Having great organizational skills means you can remain focused while executing different tasks. You’re also able to juggle multiple tasks at once and organize work not only for yourself but also for other people.
Being organized sends a simple message to the recruiter: You’re efficient and effective. And that’s something valuable for every job.
What resumes require great organizational skills?
- Project Manager
- Personal Assistant
3. People Skills
Sometimes called interpersonal skills, these skills are about interacting with others in an effective and friendly way.
People skills include mediating disputes, tolerating differences, trusting, and persuading others to your ideas. According to a survey, 62% of recruiters identify interpersonal skills as necessary, so showing them on your resume is always good.
What resumes require great people skills?
4. Problem-Solving
Problem-solving helps you identify and address the problem, think about possible solutions, select the one that will work best, and successfully implement it.
Solving unexpected issues on time is vital for recruiters, as it shows you’re someone the company can rely on in case of any unforeseen difficulties.
What resumes require great problem-solving skills?
- Police Officer
- Medical Doctor
5. Creativity
According to the World Economic Forum’s report, creativity is among the most desirable skills an employee can possess.
Creative thinking allows you to see things from a new perspective. This can lead to surprising conclusions and completely new approaches to successfully completing old tasks.
What resumes require great creativity skills?
6. Teamwork
Being able to work as a group helps you build strong relationships, both between you and your work colleagues and between you and your customers.
No wonder why teamwork skills are so valuable. Having strong collaboration skills is something that can impress every recruiter.
What resumes require great teamwork skills?
- Filmmaker
- Restaurant worker
7. Active Listening
Listening and responding to what other people say in a manner that helps you move forward with your tasks, find solutions to problems, and improve your work is what you call active listening.
Giving your full attention to what other people say and reacting to it is helpful in many situations, and proving that during a job interview is a great way to show that you care. And that’s what makes a great hire.
What resumes require great active listening skills?
8. Decision-Making
Being able to choose between two or more alternatives to reach the best outcome in the shortest time is a valuable quality. If you have good decision-making skills, you’d be able to assess the facts, see the current situation, and select the best action for the company based on facts, numbers, consultations, and rational thinking.
What resumes require great decision-making skills?
9. Time Management
Did you know that according to a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit of the Economist Group, approximately 28% of work time is lost due to digital distractions? That’s one of the reasons why having good time management skills is something that every employer values in their employees.
Being able to focus on work and not getting distracted is a perfect way of showing you’re the right person for the job.
What resumes require great time management skills?
- Production Manager
- Entrepreneur
10. Adaptability
Adjusting to unexpected changes without too much stress involved can be tricky. But having adaptability skills will allow you to be flexible, no matter how many changes you need to take. Adapting to a new situation is very useful in the workplace and everyday life, whether it’s a project schedule, objectives, or sudden obstacles.
What resumes require great adaptability skills?
11. Management Skills
Management skills are among the most valued qualifications that employers are looking for. Every leader needs these leadership skills to relate with co-workers, take care of their well-being, and understand how to deal with subordinates while also ensuring the company progresses and operates efficiently.
What resumes require great management skills?
- Sales Manager
- Stage Manager
12. Analytical Skills
Collecting, organizing, visualizing, and assimilating data are all connected to analytical skills. Having them in your skill set allows you to see patterns, draw conclusions, and solve different problems. It’s a valuable skill set for many positions, as you can work with data, and in the modern world, it’s something irreplaceable.
What resumes require great analytical skills?
- Analyst
- Software Engineer
13. Technical Skills
Technical skills are required to perform specific, job-related tasks and are learned through on-the-job experience and structured learning. Those skills are many different types because they all depend on the job. Technical skills often require the use of certain tools and the technologies required to use those tools.
What resumes require great technical skills?
- Java Developer
- Automotive Technician
14. Computer Skills
Different computer skills are extremely important in the modern world, primarily since everything you do is somehow related to computers. These skills combine knowledge and ability that allow you to use computers efficiently and effectively.
Different things can go under the umbrella term of computer skills, such as MS Office, Google Drive, Spreadsheets, Web, Software, Hardware, etc.
What resumes require great computer skills?
15. Language Skills
Being able to communicate properly is a good skill to have. But being able to communicate in different languages is something impressive. Language skills are useful in many different scenarios, so if you have a knack for them, you should definitely include them in your resume.
Having someone who speaks more than one language on board can be helpful when the company grows.
What resumes require great language skills?
- Translator
- Event Coordinator
16. Presentation Skills
Effective presentation skills are crucial in the current job market, as they allow to convey ideas and proposals in a convincing way. Whether you’re addressing a small team or a large audience, strong presentation skills will let you make an impact by sharing your knowledge or persuading others to your point of view.
What resumes require great presentation skills?
- Sales Representative
- Marketing Manager
17. Research Skills
Research skills are the foundation of informed decision-making and problem-solving across various industries and professions. Proficient researchers possess the ability to gather, analyze, and synthesize information from diverse sources.
Thanks to strong research skills, you can contribute to evidence-based insights, innovation, and strategic planning within organizations.
What resumes require great research skills?
- Market Research Analyst
- Research Assistant
18. Marketing
Marketing skills can often come in handy even if you don’t actually work in marketing. Knowing how to highlight the key benefits of the company’s products or services is a valuable hard skill that many employers view as a huge plus. Investing in improving marketing skills can be a wise career move for many professionals.
What resumes require great marketing skills?
- Digital Marketing
- Business Development Manager
19. Customer Service
Customer service skills are absolutely crucial for all professionals who hold client-facing jobs. Providing a great customer experience increases client satisfaction and retention which are crucial for a stable business growth.
Strong customer service skills are one of the top skills employers are looking for, and they involve an intricate mix of emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills and other competencies.
What resumes require great customer service skills?
20. Project Management
Efficient project management skills are a prized asset in any industry as they ensure that goals are reached efficiently and on time. Professionals with strong project management capabilities are good at coordinating teams, assessing and mitigating risks, and ensuring successful project outcomes.
However, you can also embody project management skills even if you work by yourself and don’t manage other people’s work. Organizing your various work tasks in an efficient manner is an important part of project management.
What resumes require great project management skills?
- Project Coordinator
- Technical Project Manager
21. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking skills allow you to effectively analyze various types of information. These skills are crucial in the decision-making process and developing innovative solutions. Employers within various industries seek individuals who can take on challenges with logical reasoning and creative problem-solving skills.
What resumes require great critical thinking skills?
22. Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is much more than just a skill. It’s a mindset that sets exceptional professionals apart from the rest. Professionals with above-average attention to detail easily notice even the smallest errors and inconsistencies, which allows them to deliver high-quality work.
Recruiters highly value candidates with strong attention to detail, as this trait leads to enhanced efficiency and productivity in the work environment.
What resumes require great attention to detail skills?
Hard Skills Versus Soft Skills
Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities acquired through education or experience. They’re teachable, measurable, and related to a specific job. For instance, if you work in customer service, your hard skills include Zendesk, data entry, and product knowledge.
Soft skills, on the other hand, encompass interpersonal traits like communication, teamwork, and more. Soft skills are often transferable skills. Such abilities are universal and not associated with a particular job or industry — they’ll make fantastic employment skills no matter the job title.
While hard skills are essential for performing tasks, soft skills are crucial for effective collaboration and navigating interpersonal dynamics in the workplace. On resumes, hard skills show what you can do. Soft skills indicate how you’ll perform your duties.
What to Put for Skills on a Resume
There are various types of skills that employers want to see on your job application. When putting skills on a resume, you should focus on showcasing your employability skills — skills that make you a highly desirable candidate for any recruiter. These include soft and hard skills and character traits that your employers want and that make a person a highly attractive candidate.
According to a study, employability is one of the most researched areas regarding workers.
Different studies list different employability skills. Having them all on your resume and then proving them to your employer is rather impossible. That’s why, when creating a list of skills, you should distinguish three different types of skills:
- Transferable skills — also known as portable or functional skills, they’re abilities you can transfer from one job to another. They’re based on ability and aptitude and describe actions needed to perform a task, transferable to various positions and industries. Transferable skills can be both hard and soft skills, and due to their versatility, those skills are attractive to any recruiters, regardless of the industry.
- Self-management skills — traits or characteristics that can contribute to performance at work. They’re based on what you have learned throughout your life. These are soft skills, such as patience, independence, or active listening
- Knowledge-based skills — they’re the results of your education, training, experience, and understanding of specific topics, procedures, dos and don’ts, and information required to perform certain tasks properly. These are hard skills, such as speaking a foreign language, computer skills, or technical skills.
Why should you determine these three types of skills for your resume? Because combining them gives you a higher chance for your resume to pass the ATS screening and land on your recruiter’s desk.
How to List Skills on a Resume
Having a great list of skills for resumes is one thing. But presenting them in your resume is also important! It’s time to find out how to put skills on a resume in the best possible way.
1. Tailor Your Skills to the Job Offer You’re Targeting
Customize the skills list on every resume you send to match the job offer requirements.
Show recruiters that you’ve crafted a tailored resume specifically for this particular job offer and beat resume-screening ATS software that searches for relevant resume keywords.
How to make a resume skills list tailored to the job ad?
- Start with a master list of all your professional skills, both hard and soft.
- Read the job description carefully, especially the “Requirements” or “Key Skills” sections.
- Look for skills-related words and phrases and jot them down.
- Compare your master list of skills with those you see in the job ad. All that match have to go on your resume.
2. Put Relevant Resume Skills in a Separate Section
This way, you’ll help recruiters spot strengths on your resume in a flash. Use a standalone skills section where you put your most important qualifications.
Make sure to be precise — e.g., “Written and verbal communication,” instead of “good communicator.” You can indicate how advanced your abilities are using descriptive words, such as “Advanced,” “Intermediate,” or “Basic.”
3. Add Your Work-Related Skills to the Experience Section
That’s right, your work history section with descriptions of past jobs is evidence of the skills you’ve just listed. That is where you must prove you can apply your skillset in real-life professional situations.
4. Weave the Most Relevant Skills Into Your Resume Profile
Yes, you guessed it — for the best resume, you need to mention a few of your most relevant skills in the profile, too.
After all, you don’t just tell recruiters about your skills. You show them.
Key Takeaways
Here’s how to list skills on a resume:
- Pick skills for your resume to match the job offer requirements.
- Create a separate resume skills section and add up to 10 skills.
- Refer to your top skills in your work experience.
- Add two- to three-most-relevant skills to your resume profile.
