The skills section on a resume is one of the first things an employer will look at and it’s important to tick all the boxes to get through to the first interview stage.
Companies look for candidates with a range of skills and abilities and each job will have different requirements. There will be technical skills (known as hard skills) which are specific to each job as well as skills associated with personality (soft skills).
When a company is recruiting they are looking for someone who not only has the right technical skills but also for someone who has the right personality for the role. There are certain transferable skills which are highly sought-after in most industries and in most roles.
Are you good at solving problems? Do you get along with people easily? Are you a natural-born leader?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions you are in an advantageous position. A resume template is an effective way of making sure your resume reflects this.
What are the top skills employers want? Here are some of the most important abilities on a resume which recruiters look for.
Most important soft skills employers look for
Communication skills
In the vast majority of jobs the need to communicate effectively is essential, often in writing as well as verbally. Whether you’re dealing with colleagues, managers or customers, interpersonal skills are a must.
Without the ability to express yourself work relationships can be tricky. You may be highly-skilled in your job, have creative ideas or have solutions to difficult problems, but without effective communication skills you won’t be able to get your thoughts across.
Even if you work alone most of the time, it’s still necessary to communicate with bosses and clients in most job roles. When writing a student resume or an entry-level resume it’s important to keep these basic skills in mind.
Organization
Organization leads to efficiency and allows teams to operate effectively. The opposite is total chaos. If a candidate can demonstrate they can follow methods of organization it a valuable skill for companies as it shows that they will contribute to the smooth-running of the company.
Even though some people thrive in a chaotic atmosphere, or at least claim to, an organized-approach is much more attractive for prospective employers. Demonstrating these skills on your resume will help you reach the first interview stage.
Problem-solving
We use these skills on a daily basis to observe, make decisions, detect patterns, and understand information. Demonstrating these skills on your resume is highly-advantageous.
Analytical skills are highly valuable as recruiters like people who fix problems. Every company has difficulties and there is always a better way of doing something.
Employees need to be able to think for themselves and work things out. These strengths can help solve a company’s problems as well as boost efficiency.
Teamwork
In whichever industry you work in, it is likely that you’ll have to work with others effectively. You have to talk to them, reach mutual decisions, share ideas, and find solutions.
The ability to work as part of a team is therefore one of the most important skills employers look for. People who struggle to do this cause a number of difficulties for their employers.
Not only can it lead to inefficiency, it can also cause interpersonal issues which can damage morale, resulting in a negative workplace environment.
Leadership
This is not necessary for many roles but is a requirement if you’re a manager. It is a valuable skill which not everyone has and it’s advantageous.
Recruiters value employees who take on extra responsibilities and can successfully interact with those around them.
Even if the role isn’t managerial it may be necessary to lead projects or to delegate tasks. It is a highly valuable skill to bring to the table.
Tips for adding skills on your resume
The skills section of your resume must be tailored to each application. Read through each job description carefully, identify the key skills and weave them into the skills section of your resume.
Make sure that you include the keywords from the job description. This will help to ensure that you make it through the initial application stage where many companies scan resumes to filter out weaker candidates.
Hard skills, such as computer skills, are easier to demonstrate through qualifications and experience but soft skills are trickier.
Anyone can say that they are analytical or a people-person, but simply writing descriptive words on your resume skills section is not enough.
Resume skills ideas: Think about your personality and character and what your strengths are and write a resume skills list. Consider how these attributes have helped you to achieve something or have benefited your career. Using a resume writing guide can aid you.
Both on your resume and in the job interview, it’s much better to give specific examples of times when you’ve demonstrated certain skills. This will allow you to truly show that you have the skills that employers are looking for. Using a resume builder can help you achieve this.
