Writing a resume can be challenging as it is, but figuring out what skills to include can be a bit daunting. You need to choose those skills for your resume which are related to the job for which you are applying. In this blog, we will focus on the skills section of composing a resume. We shall provide skill examples for resumes as well.
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What Kind of Skills Should be Included in a Resume?
The two main categories of skill sets that should be included on a resume are soft skills and technical skills. Below we will provide skill examples for resumes for each of these specific skill sets.
Soft skills, often referred to as interpersonal skills are those that focus on personal attributes. These include your ability to multitask, handle stressful situations, work as a team player, and various communication skills. Technical, or hard skills, are those that highlight technical responsibilities or skills. These skills are gained via education, training and experience.
Soft Skills Examples for Resume
- Problem-solving skills
- Time management skills
- Positive attitude
- Customer service skill
- Communication skills (these include written, verbal and non-verbal)
- Decision-making skills
- Ability to adapt to a variety of different work scenarios
- Ability to multitask
- Empathy
- Attention to detail
- Work ethic
- Leadership skills
- Ability to collaborate and be a team player
Technical Skills Examples for Resume
- Data analysis
- Mathematical skills, abilities, and proficiencies
- Human resources training
- Typing skills
- Bookkeeping/Accounting skills and training
- Language skills (i.e., bi or multi-lingual: ability to read, write, speak and comprehend other languages)
- Computer skills, including any special software training programs in which you have been trained and are extremely proficient
- General office skills (faxing, photocopying, mailroom, filing, and so forth)
- Research skills
- Management training
- Cybersecurity training
- Resource planning
Tips for Skills Section of Resume
- Never forge numbers
Always be sure that your dates coincide with your training, education, and so on. Do not “fudge” dates, sales quotas, and the like. Forging data is not professional, and many companies are thorough with their background/reference checks, so make sure your numbers are correct.
- Do not exaggerate or lie about your skill set
Under any circumstances, do not invest in job skills or even exaggerate. Do not add skills, training, or certifications that you do not possess. Just as human resource departments will check dates, they will also check to see if your training and so forth are indeed correct. Do not risk missing out on the perfect job by falsifying any of the skills on your resume.
- Take the time to proofread
It’s easy to miss a typo on a resume, so you should definitely take the time to proofread your resume before submitting it. As well you should ask a friend to proofread your resume as well. Even the smallest typo or grammatical error could lead to you not getting the job.
- Only list those skills that are pertinent to the job for which you are applying.
Many people have changed jobs over the years and therefore have a wide skill set. You should only include those skills examples for your resume that are related to the specific job for which you are applying. This may mean that you have multiple resumes. However, tailoring your resume to the job for which you are applying can make or break your chance of landing the job of your dreams.