List of Skills to put on a Resume

Your resume acts as your first impression, which is a gateway to securing your dream career. But what truly sets your resume apart from the rest? The answer lies in the skills you mention in your resume or CV. From technical expertise to interpersonal qualities, the skills you showcase on your resume tell a compelling story of your capabilities and potential. Let’s explore how mastering the art of showcasing your skills can unlock exciting opportunities and propel you towards professional success.

Why should you add skills to your resume?

Skills play a critical role in a resume, acting as a gateway to opportunity and a key differentiator among candidates. Here’s how:

1. Matching qualifications

Skills demonstrate your ability to perform the job’s core tasks and responsibilities. They showcase your technical knowledge (hard skills) and personal qualities (soft skills) relevant to the position.

2. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Many companies use ATS software to scan resumes for keywords. Including relevant skills increases your chances of passing this initial screening and reaching human eyes.

3. Highlighting strengths

Skills allow you to emphasize your unique value proposition. They let employers see what sets you apart from other candidates with similar experience.

4. Building a compelling narrative

By weaving your skills into your work experience descriptions, you create a powerful story that demonstrates your capabilities and achievements.

Hard skills vs Soft skills-what is the difference?

Two types of skills are generally looked at by the recruiters in a resume, namely hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the technical knowledge and abilities you gain through education, training, or experience. They’re specific, measurable, and demonstrably learnable, making them highly valuable in the job market. Think of them as the tools in your professional toolbox, ready to be used for specific tasks and projects.

Examples of Hard skills

General

• Computer skills: Proficiency in operating systems, software applications (e.g., Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite), and programming languages.
• Data analysis: Ability to collect, clean, analyze, and interpret data using tools like Excel, SQL, or Python.
• Financial analysis: Understanding financial statements, ratios, and valuation methods.
• Project management: Skills in planning, organizing, and executing projects on time and within budget.

Technology

• Software development: Expertise in specific programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++), frameworks, and development methodologies.
• Cybersecurity: Knowledge of security best practices, threat detection, and vulnerability assessment.
• Network administration: Ability to configure, manage, and troubleshoot computer networks.
• Web development: Skills in building and maintaining websites and web applications.

Engineering

• Mechanical engineering: Design, analysis, and manufacturing of mechanical systems.
• Civil engineering: Planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects.
• Electrical engineering: Design, development, and testing of electrical systems and devices.
• Chemical engineering: Knowledge of chemical processes, reactions, and equipment.

Healthcare

• Nursing: Clinical skills, patient care, and medication administration.
• Medicine: Diagnosis and treatment of diseases, knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
• Medical laboratory science: Performing laboratory tests and analyzing results.
• Pharmacy: Dispensing medications and providing drug information.

Business

• Accounting: Preparing and analyzing financial statements.
• Marketing: Market research, campaign development, and digital marketing skills.
• Sales: Prospecting, lead generation, and negotiation skills.
• Human resources: Talent acquisition, employee relations, and payroll management.

While the specific hard skills in demand vary depending on the field and role, a strong foundation in core skills like communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking is always valuable across the field. So, let’s now understand the soft skills.

Soft Skills

Soft skills are the interpersonal and personal qualities that make you a collaborative, adaptable, and successful professional. They paint the picture of your work ethic, personality, and cultural fit, playing a crucial role in building strong relationships, navigating challenging situations, and achieving goals. 

Examples of Soft skills

Communication

• Oral and written communication: Effectively conveying your thoughts and ideas, both verbally and in writing.
• Active listening: Genuinely listening to others and understanding their perspectives.
• Public-speaking: Efficiently presenting ideas and insights to a group of people.
• Adaptive: Ability to adapt communication style to different audiences

Collaboration

• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with others to achieve shared goals.
• Leadership: Inspiring, motivating, and guiding others towards a common vision.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements constructively and finding solutions.
• Negotiation: Finding mutually beneficial solutions through discussion and compromise.

Problem-Solving

• Critical thinking: Analysing information objectively and making sound judgments.
• Creativity: Thinking outside the box and generating new ideas.
• Problem-solving: Identifying and creatively solving problems individually and collaboratively.
• Decision-making: Making well-informed choices under pressure.

Management

• People management: Ability to hire, lead, and develop team members with ease.
• Time management: Effectively organizing and prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines.
• Stress management: Coping with pressure and challenging situations in a healthy way.
• Risk management: Identifying, evaluating, and controlling financial, legal, strategic, and security risks to an organization’s capital.

Personal Qualities

• Self-motivation: Taking initiative and driving yourself to achieve goals.
• Work ethic: Demonstrating dedication, understanding different perspectives, commitment, and a strong work ethic.
• Positive attitude: Maintaining a positive outlook even in challenging situations.
• Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and challenges.

Remember, soft skills are just as important as hard skills for career success, and by developing your soft skills, you can become a more well-rounded professional, build stronger relationships, and thrive in any work environment.

How to List Skills on a Resume? Step-by-Step Guide

Key skills refer to the particular knowledge, abilities, and experiences required for a specific job role. These skills are directly related to the job description and essential for successfully performing the job’s duties and responsibilities. This is how you can highlight key skills on your resume.

1. Understanding the job requirements:

Before you start listing skills on your resume, it’s crucial to understand the job requirements. Take the time to carefully read the job description and identify the key skills that the employer is seeking. Let’s do it with an example. Assume it as a JD and try to understand its requirements.

We’re seeking a passionate and skilled Full Stack Developer to join our growing team! You’ll be responsible for the entire development lifecycle, building and maintaining both the front end using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks and the back-end using Python, and databases of our web applications. You’ll collaborate closely with designers and other developers, ensuring our products are user-friendly, scalable, and secure. Experience with CI/CD pipelines and cloud platforms is a plus. If you’re a problem-solver and team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply!

2. Identifying the key skills needed:

Once you have a clear understanding of the job requirements, it’s time to identify the key skills needed. These are the skills that are directly relevant to the job and will make you stand out as a qualified candidate. 

For example, the hard skills required in the above job description are HTML, CSS, JavaScript frameworks, Python, databases, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platforms and soft skills include team player and problem-solver.

3. Prioritizing and tailoring skills for different job applications:

Now that you have identified the key skills, add them to your resume to significantly increase your chances of getting noticed by employers.

Remember, simply listing skills is not enough. Your resume should paint a vivid picture of your capabilities, weaving seamlessly between your skills and accomplishments. Quantify your achievements, highlight impactful projects, and demonstrate how your skills have contributed to past successes. By presenting your skills not just as keywords, but as lived experiences, you create a powerful narrative that resonates with employers and positions you as an ideal candidate. So, what are you waiting for? Quickly update your resume and start applying.