Key resume skills that grab employer attention

In addition to including skills related to the job applied for, it is necessary to add a set of personal skills, also known as functional skills. These skills attract employers’ attention and create a positive impression, suggesting the applicant is exceptional and giving them an additional advantage.

Resume: skills that impress employers

Among the essential skills to include in a resume when applying for a job are:

Teamwork: the spirit of one team

Achieving an organisation’s goals and ensuring the success of its plan requires effective cooperation among employees, concerted efforts, and the ability to communicate effectively and productively in all situations. These are all elements of teamwork that make those who possess them more desirable to employers than others.

According to the 2024 Job Outlook Report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), nearly 80% of employers surveyed seek candidates with teamwork skills. Thus, including this skill in the resume gives the job applicant an additional advantage.

Communication: the point of convergence

The ability to communicate and interact with others is vital in various aspects of life, particularly in the workplace. Working within a team requires expressing ideas, exchanging viewpoints with colleagues, actively participating in interactions, and attentively listening to others. Moreover, it involves managing collective dialogues and discussions effectively.

Communication methods are diverse, including face-to-face interaction, which is the most important, phone conversations, and digital communication channels, such as email and social media. Effective communication requires reconciling these different methods.

Critical thinking: the ability to analyse

Critical thinking is the ability to analyse and evaluate information and ideas logically and systematically, leading to informed decision-making. Employers usually look for individuals with the skills to analyse complex situations, assess different perspectives, and develop creative solutions to achieve business goals and solve the intricate problems that may arise.

Emotional and social intelligence: successful work environment

One of the key aims of employers is to create a healthy and successful work environment. Creating such an environment necessitates that involved individuals possess the skill of understanding, managing, and using their emotions positively. This skill enables effective communication and helps overcome various workplace challenges. Additionally, understanding and appropriately responding to other’s emotions is equally important for a healthy work environment.

Flexibility: the ability to adapt

The constant change in the labour market requires hiring flexible employees who can adapt to new attitudes and challenges. Applicants can demonstrate flexibility by sharing examples of adapting to changes in previous workplaces, quickly acquiring new skills, being open to new ideas, taking on new responsibilities, and adjusting methods to achieve goals in a dynamic environment.

Organisation: setting priorities

Employers value candidates who are organised, capable of managing multiple tasks efficiently and systematically, and possess a strong attention to detail and ability to follow up. Such candidates excel at managing their time effectively to meet deadlines, ensuring the achievement of goals, and enhancing efficiency and productivity.

Creative thinking: keeping up with change

 Businesses need individuals who think outside the box to keep abreast of progress, development, and constant change in the market. Individuals with this skill are valued for their ability to provide creative and innovative solutions or suggest new projects that yield positive results for the company or institution. Therefore, highlighting this skill in the resume, along with providing examples of past creative behaviour if available, can be advantageous. 

In conclusion, it is essential to truly possess the skills listed in a resume and not just include them to pass interviews. Demonstrating these skills in the workplace is the real test, paving the way for success and development. This contributes to good job evaluation, enhanced efficiency, and productivity, thus advancing one’s career. 

Conversely, if these skills are not authentic and are not applied in the work environment, it indicates poor performance and low ability to achieve tasks, resulting in a lower professional performance evaluation. These factors are detrimental to the employee's interests and can eventually lead to job loss.

References 

[1] coursera.org, Skills for CV Writing: Top Skills to Include on Your CV
[2] indeed.com, 10 Best Skills To Put On Your Resume (With Examples and FAQ)
[3] zety.com, 15 Best Skills for a Resume in 2024 + How-To Guide
[4] flexjobs.com, Top 20 Must-Have Skills to Put on Your Resume
[5] roberthalf.com, Skills to Put on a Resume Employers Will Actually Read (With Examples!)