We often get asked what skills should be highlighted on your resume, and, if you have followed our blog, you know that we are the pioneer experts of skills-based resumes, which takes a different approach to resume writing. We focus on all the essential qualities that will demonstrate you as the ideal candidate for the job. In doing so, we focus on both hard skills as well as soft skills.
But what do these terms mean, and why is it important?
Soft Skills
These are abilities you possess that cannot be defined or measured. If you are new to the workforce, changing careers, or have a gap in your work history, soft skills can be used to help fill in these gaps. They also illustrate your unique strengths to a potential employer.
Soft skills can include the following:
- Conflict resolution
- Strategic thinking
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Organization
- Punctuality
- Persuasion
- Teamwork
- Creativity
Soft skills are important and speak volumes to your abilities and who you are at the core, as a person and employee. A study by Carnegie Melon Foundation found that 57% of employers value soft skills more than hard skills. Therefore, do not withhold on these skills when it comes time to craft your resume!
Hard Skills
These are the skills that you possess that can be measured and quantified. Most commonly, these are the skills you have been trained for and that can be assessed and supported with tangible evidence. Hard skills can be measured in terms of certifications, awards, data, and supporting reports with outcomes and statistics.
Hard skills can include the following:
- Expertise in specific computer programming
- Degree and other certifications
- Editing and proofreading
- Cash flow management
- Foreign language skills
- Business analysis
- Cloud computing
- SEO marketing
- Bookkeeping
- Coding
Hard skills serve a key role in your resume as they clearly show the credentials you possess that make you an ideal, qualified employee.
When you work with Resumes with Results, our skills-based resumes will combine both your soft and hard skills to give a well-rounded and well-crafted resume that displays your abilities.
We look forward to helping you with your resume. Contact our team today to get started!