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10 important skills you should put in your CV
If you’re currently hunting for a new job, your CV is your new best friend. Not only do employers of all levels require a CV or a resume as part of the application process, but your CV also provides your prospective employer with a compact outlook of your work experience, academic background, achievements and personal skills. These are necessary factors that the employer will judge to evaluate your qualifications and suitability for the job. However, those new to job hunting often find it difficult to decide exactly which skills to mention in their CV. If you’re having similar struggles, read on to learn about the 10 important skills you definitely should put in your CV.
Communication skills
Communication skills are essential in the workplace, regardless of the industry or job role. When listing your communication skills on your CV, it’s important to highlight your ability to communicate effectively in different contexts. This includes verbal and written communication, as well as active listening and the ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively. As such, you should accurately mention any relevant experiences you have that show off your communication skills, whether it be working with a diverse team of colleagues or interacting with peers and teachers in an academic setting.
Teamwork
The ability to work well with others is often as important as having good communication skills. Since a lot of jobs will require you to work in a group setting or with several coworkers, mentioning teamwork on your CV will make you highly valued by employers in almost all industries. Teamwork is essential for achieving common goals, building strong relationships with colleagues and contributing to the overall success of the organisation. It also includes the ability to work collaboratively with others, contribute to group discussions and support team goals.
Leadership skills
Even if you are proficient at interpersonal communication and teamwork, you may not be the best at leadership roles. Employers prefer employees with experience leading teams or group projects. As such, highlighting your leadership skills on your CV is important if you want to demonstrate to potential employers that you can lead teams, manage projects and drive results. In your CV, to show you can be a strong leader, be sure to highlight examples of how you have successfully addressed challenging situations. If you have completed leadership training or hold relevant certifications, be sure to include those as well.
Adaptability
In today’s fast-changing and unpredictable job market, being adaptable to sudden changes is a skill that pays off well. If you want to show off your adaptability in your CV, provide examples of how you have managed changes in previous roles. This can include projects where you had to adapt to changing circumstances or team structures, or instances where you implemented new processes or technologies. Even if you’re new to the job market, mention that in your academic career, you have been able to balance multiple tasks and responsibilities. Be sure to emphasise your ability to work under pressure, prioritise tasks and manage competing demands.
Problem-solving
Employers value candidates who can identify problems and come up with creative solutions. Highlight any experience you have in problem-solving, critical thinking or decision-making. This skill essentially brings together most of the aforementioned skills - teamwork, adaptability and leadership - as you need all these to show excellent problem-solving capabilities in a competitive job. If you have a specific problem-solving framework or methodology that you use, mention it in your resume. This can help demonstrate your structured approach to problem-solving and your ability to follow a proven process.
Subject knowledge
If you’re applying to a company, be absolutely sure to study everything you can about that company and the role you’re applying for. This includes having a strong understanding of what you’re expected to do - and what kind of employers and colleagues you might potentially work with. To show off your subject knowledge for the desired role in your CV, provide details of any relevant education or qualifications that demonstrate knowledge regarding that field. This can include degrees, certifications or diplomas in your field of expertise. In your work experience section, highlight examples of how you have applied your subject knowledge in previous roles. This can include projects you have worked on, problems you have solved or any notable achievements related to your subject area.
Technical skills
The technical skills you should include in your CV will depend on the job you are applying for and the industry you are in. Some examples of technical skills that are valued in many industries include computer skills (Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.), coding skills (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Java, SQL, etc.), data analysis skills (knowledge of data mining and tools such as Excel, R and Tableau), etc. When listing technical skills on your CV, be specific and provide examples of how you have applied those skills in previous roles or projects. Having certificate or proof of professional training on any technical skills is a plus - and should be mentioned in your CV as well. Doing so will help to demonstrate your expertise and value to potential employers.
Digital marketing skills
Digital marketing is becoming increasingly important in today’s business landscape, and having digital marketing skills can be a valuable asset for any job seeker. Most firms these days value an employee with a strong understanding of SEO, social media marketing and email marketing tools. Showing in your CV that you have experience with such tools will make you stand out from other applicants, and is especially helpful if you’re applying for marketing or advertising industries. With the growing importance of digital marketing, having digital marketing skills on your CV can open up new career opportunities and also help you advance in your current role.
Transferable skills
Transferable skills are skills that can be used in different roles or industries, and are valued by employers regardless of the specific job. These can include basic soft skills such as communication, teamwork, collaboration and time management, as well as hard skills such as experience working with Office, PowerPoint, WordPress, SEO, etc. The ability to gather and analyse data, draw conclusions and make recommendations is a transferable skill that is valued in many fields, including business, science and healthcare. Highlighting your transferable skills on your CV will demonstrate your flexibility in roles - a plus point for landing any new job.
Research skills
If you’re applying to academic, healthcare or any science-related fields, research skills are essential. Tailor your CV for each job application to highlight the research skills that are most relevant to the role. Use keywords and phrases from the job description to demonstrate how your research skills align with the requirements of the position. If you have any advanced degrees or certifications related to research, be sure to highlight these on your CV. Mention any research papers or thesis you have done as well - this demonstrates your knowledge and expertise in research methods and techniques.