Skills for CV: A Comprehensive Guide with Tips

Understanding the Importance of Skills on a CV

The purpose of your CV is to show employers that you’re right for the job. You can do this by referencing your work experience, including duties and achievements in current or previous roles. Another way to show you’re a match for the role is to list your skills.

By including your skills in their own section of the CV, employers can quickly and easily see your strengths and compare them to the requirements for the role. Your work experience section may reference your skills, but it can be tricky for recruiters and hiring managers to pick them out at a glance. A clear, simple skills section gives you the chance to identify and emphasise what you consider to be your best qualities, whether these are hard, technical skills or soft, transferable skills. 

Identifying Key Skills for Your CV

Identifying the best skills to mention on your CV is an important step in creating your document. Think about your best strengths and abilities, and compare these to the job description. Most job descriptions list several key requirements and desirable qualities for the role. If you find a job description is brief or vague about the requirements, you can also search online for more detailed job descriptions.

Once you understand which skills are most important for the job, you can write your CV skills section with these in mind. Make sure you cross-reference your skills with those listed in the job description. If your skills section includes some or all of the essential skills listed in the job description, your chances of success should improve. You may also want to list some skills that best display your unique strengths and qualities, even if they’re not mentioned in the job description. Consider whether these skills are relevant to the role before including them in your CV.

One decision you’ll need to make for your CV skills section, is the mix of hard and soft skills to include. This might depend on the level of seniority and level of technical ability required for the role. You can find out more about hard and soft skills for your CV in the next section.

Essential Skills for your CV: Hard Skills vs Soft Skills

Most CVs include a combination of hard and soft skills. Here’s a brief definition of both, together with some advice on including them in your CV:

Hard skills

• Hard skills are technical and specialist skills required for a job.
• Technical  skills usually relate to specific tasks and responsibilities you’ll carry out in the role.
• You could learn hard skills from studying or from previous work experience.
• Hard skills can include specific licences or qualifications that make you eligible for certain roles.
• Consult the job description to see which hard skills are required for the job.
• If there are one or two key hard skills that are absolutely essential for the job, you might want to reference them in your CV summary.
• Although hard skills are often directly related to specific jobs, there are also plenty of transferable hard skills. These include coding, data analysis, writing and computer skills.

Soft skills

• Soft skills are personal character traits and transferable skills that you can apply to various roles.
• The types of soft skills required by employers will depend on the role, but they’re likely to include something related to collaborating with colleagues, teamwork and managing your workload.
• Soft skills may come naturally to you, but you can also learn them on the job.
• Soft skills are often transferable between different roles and industries.

As technology evolves and the world of work changes at a rapid pace, the best skills to put on a CV are likely to include more soft and transferable skills.

When to use hard skills vs soft skills

Most CVs tend to include a combination of hard and soft skills. However, the best skills to put on a CV, and the mix of hard and soft skills, is likely to depend on the type of role and its level of seniority. For junior and entry-level jobs, you might find that employers are more interested in soft skills that show you’re willing to learn and work as part of a team. However, for more senior or technical positions, you may need to include more hard skills or role-specific abilities.

Top 10 Hard Skills for Your CV

Although the hard skills for your CV will vary considerably depending on the role you’re applying for, some hard skills are in-demand for more roles than others. Here are some of the most valuable hard skills to put on a CV for various roles and industry sectors:

Coding

Programming languages can be extremely useful for various roles, including web development, data science, software engineering and database administration. As technology becomes more and more prevalent in everyday life, coding continues to grow as a valuable skill.

Data analysis

Analytical skills open up a wide range of career opportunities in wide-ranging fields, from finance to research and marketing to IT. Jobs you can do with data analysis skills include data scientist, data engineer, business analyst and marketing data engineer.

Writing

Writing is one of the key communication skills that you can put to good use in numerous job roles. Whether you’re working in marketing and require copywriting skills, or a formal profession such as law, requiring accurate, clear written communication skills, writing is a valuable skill across a range of industries.

Presentation skills

The ability to present to an audience doesn’t just require Powerpoint skills, although these are valuable. It also requires excellent writing skills and the ability to communicate your ideas in a clear, engaging manner. Additionally, you’ll need confidence and plenty of practice to get up and speak in front of an audience. Presentation skills are useful in a range of sectors, from academia to sales.

Project management

One of the most transferable hard skills, project management actually encompasses a variety of hard skills that are extremely valuable for business. To manage a successful project, you need budgeting skills, people management skills, knowledge of project planning and the ability to identify and assess risk.

Marketing skills

The marketing industry offers career opportunities for various different types of people, with varied skill sets. As such, ‘marketing skills’ are a broad term that can include project management skills, client service skills, specialist knowledge of different marketing techniques and creative skills such as design, photography and film-making.

Financial analysis

Financial reporting and analysis skills are valuable across a range of jobs and careers in the banking and finance sector. These include the ability to produce financial reports and forecasts, the use of accounting software and knowledge of accounting regulations.

Design skills

Design skills are wide-ranging and useful for various jobs. They include the ability to use several types of software packages, including Adobe Creative Suite and CAD software for creating 3D models. Design skills also require knowledge of design principles and creativity to produce original, engaging work.

Research skills

You can put good research skills to use in journalism, marketing, scientific research and numerous other roles and sectors. Research skills combine the ability to search for information, process data, analyse results and present your findings clearly and concisely.

Network and cybersecurity skills

Network management and information security skills are some of the most valuable IT-based skills to possess. Jobs include designing and installing IT networks, managing and maintaining networks and designing and implementing security systems to protect networks from cyberattacks.

Top 10 Soft Skills for Your CV

People are becoming more likely to have multiple careers throughout their working life. At the same time, the rapid evolution of technology is changing the way we work, and shifting the value of different hard skills. As such, soft skills are increasingly desirable for employers across various industries. Here are some of the most valuable soft skills to put on a CV across a range of sectors:

Leadership

Leadership skills encompass various skills and personal qualities that can make you an attractive employee. Leaders display excellent communication skills, the ability to build strong relationships, vision, determination and the ability to inspire others.

Problem-solving

A track record of solving problems is extremely valuable across almost any job you’ll apply for. You can sum up many job roles as a series of problems and challenges that need solving. If you can analyse the situation, assess the challenge and find a solution that others can’t see, you’ll be an extremely valuable asset.

Teamwork

Most jobs that require contact with colleagues will need you to display a certain level of teamwork skills. These skills include the ability to form working relationships, the ability to compromise, the ability to take on criticism and the ability to work collectively towards share goals and objectives..

Adaptability

With the world of work changing at an ever-growing pace, the ability to adapt and flex to new challenge and conditions is essential. Employees who show flexibility and adaptability are likely to thrive when given new challenges and responsibilities.

Organisation

Time management and organisation are essential when you’re working to a deadline, or when you’re working closely with other people. Skills in organising your workload help you to deliver what’s required, and also mean you’ll need to be supervised less closely than someone who struggles to manage their time effectively.

Communication skills

Most jobs require the ability to communicate with others, whether colleagues, customers or management. Well-developed verbal and written communication skills will take you far, while strong listening skills can also help you to understand others better and thrive in a communal working environment.

Critical thinking

Employers are always on the lookout for candidates who can stand back from a situation, examine it, see things from a different perspective and find a way to move forward. Critical thinking means not accepting the established way of doing things, but instead looking for innovative and unexpected solutions that can give you the edge over the competition.

Creativity

A creative mindset is something that’s very difficult to teach, and as such it’s highly valued by employers in various industry sectors. Creative thinkers are essential if an organisation wants to remain relevant and competitive.

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence skills include compassion, empathy and the ability to understand things from the perspective of others. These can make you a valuable employee who gets on well with colleagues and forms strong working relationships.

Attention to detail

Accuracy and attention to detail are always useful qualities. They mean you’ll be meticulous with your work and you’ll always put forward work of the highest quality. If you can learn to focus on the details while also remaining productive and efficient in your work, you’ll be a valuable asset to any organisation.

The Most In-Demand Skills for Different Jobs

Take a look at these lists of the best skills to put on a CV for various industry sectors and job roles:

Web design/development

• Graphic design skills
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Coding languages (HTML, Python, SQL)
• Development frameworks (Angular, jQuery, Django)

Accounting and finance

• Bookkeeping skills
• Profit/loss reports
• Financial reporting
• Accounting software
• Advanced Excel skills
• Knowledge of financial regulations and laws

Teaching and education

• Lesson planning
• Presentation skills
• Knowledge of safeguarding regulations
• Communication skills
• Empathy

Project management

• Risk planning
• Project management software
• Budget management
• Task management
• Project planning

Construction

• Technical skills (i.e. bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, plastering, electrical)
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations
• Knowledge of building standards and regulations
• Attention to detail

Engineering

• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Organisation
• Leadership
• Creativity

Law

• Communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Relationship building
• Attention to detail
• Analytical skills

Food and hospitality roles

• Creativity
• Attention to detail
• Self-motivation
• Ability to work under pressure
• Customer service

Healthcare worker

• Interpersonal skills
• Time management
• Ability to work under pressure
• Teamwork
• Problem-solving

Office management/administration

• Communication
• Organisation
• Time management
• Negotiation skills
• Interpersonal skills

If your skills section includes some or all of the essential skills listed in the job description, your chances of success should improve.

How to Effectively Showcase Skills on a CV

Most CV structures and layouts have a dedicated skills section, but you can also showcase your skills throughout your CV. You might choose one or two key skills to mention in your CV statement. You can also use your employment history section to provide evidence of using your skills in the workplace. The bullet points under each job entry offer a chance to mention various skills and abilities, and how you’ve used them in your work. This section can be a showcase of how these skills have contributed to achievements and success in your career.

The skills section of your CV provides space to show your most significant skills. Depending on the role, you might create the section as a single list, or you could split it into hard and soft skills. Make sure the skills you add to your CV match those in the job description. It’s best to use the same language and phrases where possible, and avoid using synonyms, (for example, don’t write ‘people skills’ if the job description asks for ‘interpersonal skills’).

You can prove your skills throughout your CV, but if space allows, you could also add a brief explainer of each skill in your skills section. This could take the form of a bullet point underneath the name of the skill, explaining what it is or how you’ve used it. If you don’t have space to add extra lines to your document, you could include them in the main text (for example, write ‘producing monthly financial reports and presenting them to senior board members’ instead of ‘financial reporting’ and ‘presentation skills’).

Additional Key Skills to Put on a CV

If you’re wondering which skills to put on your CV, any relevant skills will help your chances of success. You could add these to your skills section or include them in other places, such as your CV summary and work experience sections. You may also decide to mention several key skills in your cover letter, particularly if they’re critical to the role and you have great examples of how you’ve used them in your career to date.

While it’s essential to tailor the skills on your CV to the job description, some skills are likely to be valuable whatever the role. These tend to be skills that combine numerous other qualities or abilities together into one highly effective and useful skill set. Project management, for example, showcases various valuable workplace skills, such as organisation, planning, management and teamwork. Interpersonal skills are also a valued commodity, as they include communication, emotional intelligence and collaboration skills. Other skills that demonstrate a mastery of various qualities include customer service, finance skills and computer skills.

Remember the importance of soft skills on your CV, and consider how these evolve as you gain experience. The soft skills you used in your early career may well develop into far more powerful and effective skills as you become more senior. Consider this when you’re writing your CV, and update it accordingly.

Key Takeaways for Showcasing Skills on Your CV

Your whole CV is a great opportunity to showcase your skills and prove you have the necessary experience and qualities for the job. Make sure you read the job description and tailor any skills you include in your CV to the requirements, paying particular attention to any skills the employer deems ‘essential’. Your skills section is the perfect place to reference your skills, but you can also mention skills in your CV summary and work experience sections. You could even use optional sections such as voluntary work, or your cover letter

The layout and structure of your CV play a big role in your ability to showcase your skills. CVwizard has a wealth of tools to help you design and write a winning CV. Sign up today to access CV templates and other resources that can help you prove your skills and experience to employers.