Do you know how some people land their dream jobs with decent results while others struggle even with high scores? We will reveal the secret right here. While their persistence and hard work are the building blocks, the ideal skills for resume were the golden key that opened the door for the first group.
According to Forbes, only 25% of the resumes get past Application Tracking Systems (ATS), which means almost 75% of the resumes are not even seen by a human. Can you guess the reason behind this? Well, one of the key reasons is a resume that fails to highlight the relevant skills of a candidate for their applied job role.
Enlisting the essential skills for resume makes sure that you tick all the marks that are being looked for by the recruiting team. Now, you might wonder what are the best skills to put on your resume. In this blog, we will discuss the essential skills for resume that are a must!
Why Highlighting the Right Skills Matters for New Grads
The new graduates are often seen as blank slates with much growth potential. It’s like kindergarten, where you are about to start your academic journey. Highlighting skills such as willingness to learn, adaptability, and resilience can show probable employers that you are a candidate capable of improving and evolving. This is why adding the right skills to resume for freshers is essential.
The job market is highly competitive, with various candidates looking for the same position. By effectively highlighting the unique skills of resume, an individual can differentiate themselves from the crowd. A perfectly crafted skills section can grab the attention of hiring managers and make the candidate’s application more memorable.
Essential Soft Skills to Include on Your Resume
There are some skills which when included strengthens your resume considerably. Let’s check out some of the essential soft skills for resume that you need to include:
1. Communication (verbal and written)
As a new graduate, showcasing your communication skills via your interview and resume is vital. Employees generally look for candidates who can communicate effectively via writing and verbal communication to convey ideas, interact with clients, and collaborate with team members.
2. Teamwork and collaboration
The hiring managers value team players who can collaborate, support their colleagues, and communicate effectively. Highlight your experience in projects or leading teams, and also offer examples of how you have inspired team members to achieve common goals.
3. Adaptability and flexibility
The job market is constantly evolving, and employers prefer candidates who adapt to new situations and challenges. Highlighting your flexibility by sharing your skills is a must!
4. Problem-solving and critical thinking
Employers want candidates to have excellent critical thinking skills to solve problems and make informed decisions. Showcase your ability to analyse complex situations and evaluate different perspectives to meet business goals.
5. Time management and organisation
Better time management is vital in the workplace, and employers actively prefer employees with sound time management skills. It allows them to finish multiple projects on time.
6. Leadership and initiative
Leadership traits are massively sought after by employers as they showcase the ability to manage and motivate others effectively.
7. Interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence
Interpersonal skills are essential in the workplace and involve collaboration, communication, and relationship-building. Showcase the ability to build relationships with colleagues and stakeholders by providing examples.
8. Creativity and innovation
Hiring managers appreciate candidates who can bring fresh ideas to the table and can think outside of the box when necessary.
9. Work ethic and dependability
Make sure you demonstrate your strong work ethic and how it can benefit the role you are applying for.
10. Attention to detail and accuracy
Attention to detail is non-negotiable and one of the best skills for resume that you can consider. The more precise you are, the better performance you can offer the more customers you can retain.
Technical Skills to Showcase on Your Resume
Undoubtedly, your technical skills will indicate how viable you are as a candidate. Now, let’s move on to some of the technical skills for a resume that you can consider:
11. Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
It is essential for analytical and administrative tasks; proficiency in Word and PowerPoint showcases your ability to handle presentations and documentation.
12. Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
The tools in Google Workspace offer cloud-based tools for productivity and collaboration, essential for work environments.
13. Data analysis and visualisation (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
Tools are vital for making data-centred decisions by transforming the raw data into actionable insights via visual representations.
14. Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
Tools like Asana, Trello, and others help track, organise, and manage projects efficiently, showcasing your management skills.
15. Social media management (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
Proficiency in these platforms showcases your authority to manage and analyse social media campaigns and enhance a company’s online presence.
16. CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
Knowledge of CRM tools is crucial for managing customer relationships and driving sales processes, demonstrating customer management skills.
17. Programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++)
Highlighting the programming skills showcases your ability to analyse data or create algorithms, which are essential in tech roles.
18. Web development (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
Skills in tools like C++ and HTML are vital for developing and maintaining websites, making sure you may contribute to an organisation’s online infrastructure.
19. Graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator)
Proficiency in such tools is crucial for creating visual content and is vital for marketing, advertising, and brand development.
20. Video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro)
Skills in video editing are valuable for producing video content for training, marketing, and communication purposes.
Industry-Specific Skills to Highlight
Now that you are aware of the technical skills for resume for freshers, let us consider some of the industry-specific skills:
21. Marketing and Advertising
These are another two important technical skills for a resume. Marketing helps in enhancing brand visibility. Hence, this can prove your capability to ensure more sales and recognition.
22. Market research and analysis
Vital for understanding market trends and the behaviour of consumers, guiding effective marketing tactics.
23. SEO and SEM
Essential for enhancing online visibility and driving website traffic through search engine marketing and optimisation.
24. Content creation and copywriting
These are key for creating engaging content that attracts and retains customers and supports brand messaging.
25. Email marketing and automation
Crucial for executing targeted email campaigns and enhancing conversion rates and engagement.
26. Analytics and reporting
Data is the fundamental backbone of any organisation. Hence, this proves your ability to measure marketing campaign effectiveness and make data-backed decisions.
27. Finance and Accounting
Some of the financial skills for resume that you can consider include budgeting, financial analysis, problem-solving, risk assessment, financial planning, etc. These are a holistic way to define your financial abilities.
28. Financial modelling and forecasting
The finance of a company drives the profitability behind a company. They are essential for predicting financial performance and supporting tactical planning.
29. Data analysis and interpretation
Important for making well-informed financial decisions depending on data insights.
30. Accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero)
Gone are the days where you have to manually account. Hence, you must be proficient in such tools to make sure precise financial record keeping and reporting.
31. Risk management and compliance
Vital for mitigating and identifying financial risks and making sure of regulatory compliance. This is very necessary for ensuring that the company does not have to incur dramatic losses.
32. Budgeting and cost control
The lookout for keeping the expenses low and generating more inflow of cash in short renders profitability and loss of a company. Hence you must be efficient with the techniques to managing finances efficiently, maintaining profitability, and controlling expenses.
33. Healthcare and Life Sciences
If you are applying for a hospital based job there are some common skills you must include. The common healthcare skills to put on resume are empathy, taking care of patients, etc.
34. Patient care and communication
These two skills for resume are vital for offering quality healthcare and ensuring effective patient engagement. Effective communication not only helps the patient to ease out but also ensures a smooth treatment.
35. Medical terminology and documentation
Your knowledge of medical terms and techniques of recording information will prove your technical skills. These are essential for precise record-keeping and communication within healthcare teams.
36. Laboratory techniques and procedures
This is ideal for carrying out medical tests and experiments safely. It is one of the crucial skills for resume that you should consider.
37. Clinical research and data analysis
Patient history has been used to solve various medical cases hence adding this is a must. This is required for advancing medical knowledge and enhancing patient outcomes through research.
38. Regulatory compliance and quality assurance
Hospitals certainly need to maintain a high quality and hygienic environment. This is essential to make sure healthcare practices meet regulatory standards and maintain high-quality care.
39. Engineering and Technology
The top Engineering and Technology skills to put on resume is your efficiency in using different tools and softwares. These are paramount in any resume for applying in top engineering companies.
40. CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks)
Crucial for developing detailed engineering designs and technical drawings. It is one of the top skills for resume.
41. 3D modeling and printing
If you are familiar with the techniques of 3D modelling make sure you include it in your CV. It is essential for developing prototypes and manufacturing components in different industries.
42. Robotics and automation
These skills for resume are keys for implementing and designing automated systems, enhancing innovation and efficiency.
43. Agile and Scrum methodologies
A seamless process requires efficient implementation of the agile and scrum methods. These methodologies are vital for managing teams and projects iteratively and flexibly.
44. Cloud computing (e.g., AWS, Azure)
Including your ability to use the cloud storage effectively will increase the weight of your resume appreciably. It is crucial for deploying and managing scalable applications and services in the cloud. Azure, AWS, and others are some of the best skills for resume you can consider.
Transferable Skills from Internships, Projects, and Extracurricular Activities
If you are thinking about the finest resume skills examples, the following transferable skills are a must-inclusion:
45. Research and analytical skills
Interviewers will always favour resumes mentioning their analytical skills rather than those not including them. As these skills are crucial for investigating topics, solving issues, and making data-driven decisions.
46. Presentation and public speaking skills
Vital for effectively communicating information and ideas to diverse audiences. These skills for a resume are crucial.
47. Event planning and coordination
Planning gives structure to an event. The key to managing and organising events is ensuring they run successfully and smoothly. Make sure to incorporate this skill in your resume.
48. Fundraising and grant writing
There are various important projects that need to be sponsored. These skills are crucial for securing funding and resources for initiatives and projects. Hence, if you are capable of this ability make sure to mention it in your resume.
49. Mentoring and coaching
Coaching and mentoring skills are crucial for developing and guiding others as they foster a productive and supportive environment.
50. Cross-cultural communication and awareness
An organisation will always have employees from different backgrounds and ethnicity. These skills are vital for working effectively in various teams and understanding various perspectives.
51. Conflict resolution and negotiation
Conflicts are obvious in every organisation. Hence, it is crucial for you to know the art of resolving disputes and reaching mutually beneficial arguments.
52. Networking and relationship building
A company cannot strive alone in an industry. Hence, networking is a must. These are key for developing professional opportunities and connections.
53. Entrepreneurship and business acumen
These skills are essential for understanding business operations and noticing growth opportunities.
54. Foreign language proficiency
Valuable for communication in multilingual settings and improving global business interactions. They are one of the crucial skills for resume.
Tips for Effectively Incorporating Skills into Your Resume
Speaking of resume skills sample, here are some of the tips you need to know:
- Tailor your skills to the specific job and company
- Use relevant keywords and industry terminology
- Provide concrete examples and quantifiable achievements
- Highlight transferable skills from diverse experiences
- Be honest and accurate in your skill assessment
- Continuously update and refine your skills section
Conclusion
So, these are all the key skills for resume that you can consider. Your journey from a recent grad to a fresher working for your desired role is one step away from adding the right skills for resume. Since you have read this far, we know you will make no mistakes.
FAQs on Skills for Resume:
Q1. What skills should you include in your resume?
A1. It depends on the role you are applying for and the sector you want to work in. However, you should include skills for resume that are relevant to the job.
Q2. How many skills are appropriate to be included in a resume?
A2. You need to add relevant skills to the job and try to keep around 10-15 skills.
Q3. Should I include soft skills on my resume?
A3. Adding soft skills to your resume, such as communication, time management, and other skills, is crucial.
Q4. What are professional skills?
A4. Professional skills are abilities that allow you to perform your best at work. These skills can include anything from hands-on knowledge about the job role to interpersonal skills for developing professional connections.
Q5. Can I include skills that I have a little experience on?
A5. Yes, you can, but be sure to be honest about the level of proficiency in the skill.
