With the current situation of the job market today due to the effects of COVID-19, hiring managers have become more particular in choosing the right person for the job. They search for a candidate with the fitting credentials and skills for the workplace and the job. Here’s where skill sets come into play. Skills are vital to your job search. However, with tons of skills examples online, you might wonder which of them would really help you secure your target job. So let’s go straight to the point: You need to list the top soft and hard skills you have, and those that are relevant to the job.
Here’s a quick overview on the difference between the two:
Soft skills examples include those you obtain naturally in your daily life encounters, may they be at work or not. This skill type shows your character and qualities which are hard to quantify, yet which you can use in any type of job. On the other hand, hard skills examples involve your technical, quantified skills which you can obtain through training, practice, and lessons. One set of hard skills can differ from one job to another.
Hence, in this article, we will learn the best skills examples you can include in your resume (and in your cover letter, too!).
Soft Skills to Include in Your Resume
The list below will show soft skills examples that you can put in your resume. You gain, and can hone, them when you’ve worked with people, faced challenges, and resolved them. Read on and learn which soft skill fits you.
1. Teamwork
Can you work well with other people? Teamwork is one vital skill hirers look for in a candidate. Whatever industry you plan to pursue, employers expect their people to be good team players. A team won’t ever work without a group of people working together. It is important for the business’s success. Though each worker has a different role to play, it is teamwork that brings them together in producing positive results.
Moreover, this skill can be connected to other soft skills. When you’re a good team player, you could be a great communicator, too. You can be great at managing and resolving conflicts among team members as well.
List of Skills to Include in Resume
- Intercultural Competence
- Influence
- Networking
- Persuasion
- Accepting Feedback
- Diversity Awareness
- Social Skills
- Establishing and Maintaining Good Relationships
- Conflict Resolution
2. Leadership
Do you put others first and motivate them regularly? Then you probably have a strong leadership skill. Firms look for job hunters that are selfless leaders. Why? They want people who can take care of their resources. Can you foresee problems? Do you remain driven and positive while handling a group of people? The leadership skill you’ve honed for years of working will surely get you ahead of your competitors.
This skill goes beyond handling colleagues. It can also manifest when handling or interacting with clients. A good leader also ensures they build and boost morale of the team members, making sure they feel valued.
List of Skills to Include in Resume
- Coaching
- Goal Setting
- Initiative
- Good Judgement
- Integrity
- Logical Thinking
- Empathy
- Problem Solving
- Handling Pressure
- Decision Making
3. Creative Thinking
Do you think out of the box? Then hiring managers would most probably be interested in hiring you. Creative skills are vital for all work industries. They help businesses build new and fresh approaches and solutions to dominate their market. More than the business benefits, creative thinkers also prove helpful in strategizing ways how to strengthen team relationships. This aids in lowering the probability of burnouts in the workplace.
While fresh perspectives and unconventional ideas are a plus to hirers, it could also be a risky and challenging skill since you need to consider the enactment of your ideas. So, when you put this skill example in your resume, cite previous projects when you were able to put your creativity into action and reality. Since creative people are problem solvers, they are known for their courage in asking questions until they fully understood the task or problem.
List of Skills to Include in Resume
- Brainstorming
- Problem Solving
- In-depth Research
- Analysis
- Clear Idea Presentation
- Experimenting
4. Critical Thinking
Do you have the ability to solve problems logically and based on facts? Then you might be a critical thinker. Hiring managers value job seekers who have critical thinking skills since they can be efficient problem solvers in the workplace.
When you are a critical thinker, your thought processes mean analyzing issues and resolving them in an unbiased way. This is truly helpful at work in resolving conflicts, planning and strategizing, and leading teams. Take note, too, that you can be both critical thinker and creative thinker.
List of Skills to Include in Resume
- Accuracy
- Logical Reasoning
- Evaluation
- Prediction
- Flaw Detection
- Decision Making
Hard Skills to Include in Your Resume
As mentioned earlier, hard skills vary from one job to another. For instance, hard skills for the IT industry are surely different from the culinary industry. In this article, we’ll tackle the set of hard skills examples that can be used in more than one industry.
1. Computer Skills
Nowadays, computer skill is a must. Every job now uses computer technology, so it’s imperative for you to list this hard skill. Basically, computer skill is the ability to use and utilize hardware and software. Even if you only know the basics, write them down. If you can do troubleshooting or other highly specialized computer tasks, it’s best to list them as well.
List of Skills to Include in Resume
- Microsoft Office
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- Google Drive
- Troubleshooting
If you’re applying in the IT industry, here’s the most common hard skill set to include:
- Python
- SQL
- Java
- C++
- C#
2. Writing Skills
Any job would require at least basics of writing. You’d need this in creating and submitting a report. Also, you’d need it in writing your email to your managers or colleagues.
List of Skills to Include in Resume
- Email Writing
- Copywriting
- Proofreading
- Research Writing
- Transcription
- Creative Writing
3. Analytical Skills
Whatever your target job is, analytical skills can boost your hiring chances. Wait, you may think. “Is analytical skill a hard skill?” Not exactly. In order analyze something, you have to have data. And gathering and presenting one is considered a hard skill. Having these skills means being good with data—gathering, analyzing, understanding, and presenting them.
List of Skills to Include in Resume
- Data Gathering
- Data Mining
- Database Management
- Reporting
4. Design Skills
Since every industry is in one way or another connected to tech, firms search for workers skilled in design. Well, this does not automatically mean you’d pursue graphic design or fine arts. Design skills are helpful in simple tasks such as creating a report presentation. The choice of color, font, and design—these can be acquired through practice. Thus, it is a plus to gain these skills and put them in your resume.
List of Skills to Include in Resume
- Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Adobe Illustrator
- Canva
For more, read about the key skills for resume writing on the top industries today.
How to Include Skills in Resume
- Choose 5 to 10 skills relevant to the job post. Do not flood your resume with hundreds of skills. Doing this will not just overwhelm the reader; it will also turn them off. So, what should you do? From the listed skills examples above, pick at least 5 soft and hard skills that you believe you’re really good at. Remember to always refer to the job description and match them with your skills.
- Dedicate a skills section. Don’t just list your chosen skills anywhere in your resume. There’s a proper and professional way in doing so. Resume experts are adept at presenting your skills using the right layout and the correct label which you can read on the next point below. If you’re wondering how it should be placed, check out Resume Prime’s resume examples.
- Label the sections correctly. You have tons of choices on how to label your soft and hard skills. For instance, you possess great interpersonal skills. Instead of writing this, you can write cross-functional collaboration or rapid conflict resolution. Again, if you’re unaware of these resume skills label, you may seek the help of resume services.
- Optimize for ATS (and humans, too!). Many companies are taking advantage of the applicant tracking system. This helps them choose the right person for the job in an efficient way. However, you must write for the humans, too. One great tip is to run your resume on free ATS checker online then have them checked by your friends.
- Make it presentable. Editing your resume is making them presentable. Once your resume is error-free, it’s time to pick the layout. This can make or break your job hunt. Imagine having the perfect credentials, the right skills but presented them poorly through your resume.
Let Only the Experts Write Your Resume Now
Do you see resume writing as a time-consuming, tiring task? Are you overwhelmed with tons of resume skills examples you saw? Then seeking help from expert resume writers is key. Resume Prime provides a hassle-free process. They provide professional and pandemic-proof resume for you in today’s tough market. Browse through our best resume services and choose the right package for you.
