A resume allows you to sell yourself as a professional in search of employment. It lets you showcase your work experience, academic background, and other vital credentials. However, it’s best to highlight your key skills, which is an excellent way to enhance your employability.
Why? About 70% of leaders believe there’s a skills gap in their company or organization. This gap negatively impacts employee performance and business success. As a job applicant, it makes sense to showcase the skills employers are looking for nowadays.
Fret not, as employers DO read resumes to be further discussed below. As some business experts have shared, learn what soft and hard skills to put on your resume.
Read on.
Do Employers Read Resumes?
The straightforward answer is yes! While some employers skim and scan several resumes, others read them intently from one page to another.
As you can see, a resume is sent to human resources (HR) for a job application. This professional document summarizes your employment experience, educational attainment, and other pertinent details. It often comes with a cover letter expressing your interest in an available job. Many organizations use HRM software to streamline the application process and manage resumes effectively.
But how do employers handle resumes?
Job portals usually generate leads for recruitment and staffing companies. Whenever they post job openings, they receive a pile of resumes from potential candidates. However, many job applicants wonder if HR personnel read them.
ResumeGo conducted a survey on resume preferences among nearly 500 hiring professionals (recruiters, HR personnel, hiring managers, and C-level executives). The survey primarily aimed to uncover whether they prefer a one-page or a two-page resume. It revealed they were 2.3 times more likely to choose two-page resumes over one-page resumes.
Further, the survey surprisingly found that hiring professionals read resumes. They are willing to read even those that are two pages long. They indeed spend time reviewing them rather than scanning and skimming their content.
Now, that gives you the confidence to add your skills to your resume since employers read them. But what soft and hard skills should you indicate? Of course, they vary from one industry, employer, and job to another. However, there are popular skills that are in demand these days.
In the next section, learn what top skills to highlight in your resume, as shared by some business experts.
What Soft and Hard Skills To Include in Your Resume
Skills are abilities developed and acquired through training, practice, and/or experience. They are usually required in the workplace for specific jobs or positions. It’s best to highlight them on your resume, whether one or two pages.
That said, discover what soft and hard skills to include in your resume below.
Soft skills
Soft skills are non-technical abilities usually needed in the workplace. Over 90% say they matter as much as or more than hard skills. Likewise, 80% believe they are vital to organizational success.
Below are essential soft skills to add to your resume:
Communication skills
Communication skills are the ability to convey your message to others effectively. They involve relaying information, active listening, and understanding others. Whether oral or written, this skill can make a world of difference in a company or organization.
Brooke Webber, Head of Marketing at Ninja Patches, believes communication is one of the most important soft skills needed in the workplace. “This skill is crucial for promoting solid employee interactions and building good customer relationships. As they say, effective communication is almost always the key to business success.”
Leadership skills
Leaders play a critical role in a company or organization. Not only do they manage a team, but they are also responsible for motivating and engaging team members. They also set goals, delegate tasks, and make business decisions. That makes leadership an essential skill in the workplace.
Roman Zrazhevskiy, Founder and CEO of MIRA Safety, cites the value of leadership skills in the workplace. “I also have my fair share of understanding what it takes to be a good leader. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about getting others to work for you; it’s about serving them for the good of all.”
Emotional quotient (EQ)
EQ equates to emotional intelligence, an essential skill in the workplace. Harvard defines it as “a set of skills that help us recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others.” Simply put, EQ entails managing one’s emotions and relating well to others.
Derek Pankaew, Founder of Listening.com, underscores the importance of EQ in the workplace. “In the business world, we put too much emphasis on IQ for solving problems and accomplishing tasks. We fail to realize that an organization consists of people of different backgrounds. So we need those with high EQ, who can work well with others.”
Problem-solving skill
Intelligence quotient (IQ) is as equally important as EQ in the workplace. However, the accurate measure of IQ is the ability to identify and solve problems. That’s where the problem-solving skill comes in—a skill many employers look for!
Nothing beats employees who can see potential issues and find ways to address them. For example, one worker notices that it takes time to accomplish a particular task. He suggests automating tasks to reduce manual work and accelerate processes. That’s how problem-solving works!
Time management
Time management is essential in everyday life, especially in the workplace. It’s the ability to organize time to get things done more efficiently and effectively. The key here is to use your time wisely without compromising your work-life balance. This skill should be reflected on your resume.
There are popular time management techniques you can employ. Think of the Eisenhower Matrix for tackling tasks based on their order of urgency and importance. Consider the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes, resting for 5 minutes, and repeating. Lastly, employ time blocking by setting time blocks for a series of tasks to accomplish.
Hard skills
Hard skills are specialized abilities required in the workplace. They are usually technical skills you’ve studied, undergone training for, and become certified for. The in-demand hard skills business leaders need today are data analysis (44.1%), project management (43.9%), and artificial intelligence (36.1%).
Below are the top hard skills to include in your resume:
Artificial intelligence (AI)
AI, the simulation of human intelligence into computer systems, has become all the rage nowadays. Not only is it revolutionizing the world of business, but AI is transforming the job market. While it can take over some jobs, it can also open the doorway for new job opportunities.
Thomas Medlin, Co-founder at JumpMD, suggests developing and acquiring AI skills. “These skills are in demand in business, given AI’s rapid evolution and widespread adoption. Our company, for instance, has started integrating AI into our healthcare referral management software. We need AI developers for its successful deployment and regular upkeep.”
Data analysis
It’s no secret that we live in a data-driven world. Almost all businesses across different industries deal with a vast amount of information called big data. That’s why many companies and organizations hire data specialists for data entry and management. However, acquiring data analysis skills requires a whole different level of expertise.
Volodymyr Shchegel, VP of Engineering at MacKeeper, however, recommends highlighting data analysis skills. “This skill is very much coveted in the workplace in today’s data-centric business. However, it goes beyond data collection and organization. It requires data scientists to research, analyze, and interpret information for informed decision-making. Capitalize on these skills for competitive advantage!”
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has become a growing concern in today’s digital landscape. Think of the rising cyberattacks like phishing, malware, denial of service (DoS), and man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. They pave the way for cybersecurity trends, such as AI-driven threat detection, regulatory compliance, quantum computing, and incident response automation.
Chris Aubeeluck, Head of Sales and Marketing at Osbornes Law, advises specializing in cybersecurity. “Many companies and organizations seek those with technical knowledge and skills in online security. If you’ve specialized in cybersecurity and acquired the necessary skills, highlight these in your resume. You’ll be hired for such a lucrative job!”
Project management
Project management is crucial to business success. However, it’s more than just managing a particular project. It involves defining goals, setting metrics, allocating resources, delegating tasks, monitoring employees, and tracking progress. The ultimate goal is to ensure a successful project accomplished on time.
It’s easy to see companies and organizations looking for project managers. However, they have stringent screening and hiring requirements. As someone with project management skills, see what you can bring to the table. More importantly, learn how to highlight these skills on your resume for guaranteed employment.
Healthcare skills
The pandemic outbreak caused by the COVID-19 crisis has shaken the health industry. If anything, it has compelled health organizations and professionals to reassess how they provide patients with medical care. Today, the industry seeks optimized healthcare skills to help us survive another possible crisis.
As such, Bo Cicak, a Chiropractor Doctor at Neurogan Health, recommends specializing in healthcare. “However, there’s a need to offer new and innovative solutions. For example, health professionals should not only focus on providing medical care but also offer holistic health recommendations. Having a healthy lifestyle is key to promoting overall health and well-being. As they always say, prevention is better than cure.”
Final Words
A well-crafted resume paves the way for a successful job application. Not only does it offer an employment opportunity, but it also helps carve your career path. So, as a job seeker, invest your time and effort in creating the best resume possible.
Start by showcasing your work experience, academic background, and other key credentials. Since a skills gap exists in the workplace, what better way to sell your professional self than to highlight your soft and hard skills? Doing so can help boost your employability and provide you with a job opportunity!
Don’t worry, as employers actually read resumes. You just have to put your hard and soft skills in the spotlight. Consider some of the top skills outlined above, and you’ll ultimately get the job you deserve!
The post Top Skills To Put on a Resume Employers Will Actually Read appeared first on Apollo Technical LLC.