The purpose of a resume is simple: showing a potential employer your skills and abilities. However, knowing what talents to include in your resume is a skill itself. After all, how are you supposed to show everything you’re capable of in a page or two? Do you choose to focus on hard skills? Or do you focus on soft skills? How do you measure which skills are your “best” and make you stand out as a key player? Finding these answers can be difficult, but we’re here to help.
When reviewing your resume, employers are seeking two key concepts: hard and soft skills.
Hard skills
Hard skills are technical in nature and vary based on the industry you’re seeking work in. They can typically be measured using numbers or backed up by certifications and test scores. Examples of hard skills on a resume are welding, foreign languages, and programming skills.
Soft skills
Soft skills, on the other hand, are trait-based and personal in nature. They aren’t easily measured like hard skills but are equally important to your resume. Examples of soft skills are adaptability, integrity, willingness to learn, and emotional intelligence.
Having the right combination of skills for a job is critical. One great way to ensure your resume stands out is to look at what skills your industry demands. Each industry will have different skills that employers are seeking. Utilizing lists of in-demand skills like this can go a long way. The more specific your skills are to the job you’re applying for, the more you will stand out as a quality candidate.
Additionally, how you format your skills in your resume is essential. While it’s important to incorporate skills in your work experience section, adding a different skills or competencies section can hone recruiters in on what you bring to the table. The order you list the skills in also matters. You want to group related skills together to help keep your resume visually balanced and intuitive. At NTG Staffing, we’re committed to helping our clients foster success. We work alongside top-quality candidates and match them with employment opportunities that allow them to reach their full potential. So if you are a candidate looking to find your next career opportunity, contact us today to see how we can help your career journey.
