What Skills to Put on Resume: 2024 Guide

Crafting a compelling resume in today’s competitive job market requires a strategic approach, especially when considering what skills to put on resume. LinkedIn, as a professional networking platform, highlights the growing demand for candidates who possess a blend of both technical and soft skills. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides valuable data on in-demand occupations, further informing your choices. Modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) often scan resumes for specific keywords, necessitating a tailored approach to skill selection. Laszlo Bock’s (former Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google) insights into the importance of "learnability" underscore the need to showcase adaptability and a willingness to acquire new skills.

Crafting a Powerful Resume for Career Success: Your Launchpad

In today’s fiercely competitive job market, a resume is more than just a document—it’s your personal marketing brochure, a concise and compelling narrative designed to open doors.

It’s the crucial first impression that often determines whether you advance to the interview stage, or if your application fades into the digital abyss.

A well-crafted resume acts as your advocate, showcasing your skills, experience, and accomplishments in a way that resonates with potential employers.

The Resume: Your Key to Unlocking Opportunities

Think of your resume as your golden ticket to the interview.

A strong resume doesn’t just list your past roles; it highlights your achievements and quantifies your impact.

It demonstrates how your skills and experience directly address the employer’s needs.

By presenting a clear and compelling story of your professional journey, you significantly increase your chances of securing an interview and taking the next step in your career.

Tailoring and ATS: Navigating the Modern Landscape

In the digital age, resumes are often first screened by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems scan for specific keywords and qualifications before a human even lays eyes on your application.

This makes tailoring your resume to each specific job posting absolutely essential.

Carefully analyze the job description, identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is seeking, and ensure these are prominently featured in your resume.

Proper ATS optimization means using the right keywords, formatting your resume correctly, and avoiding elements that may confuse the system.

Actionable Steps: Building Your Compelling Resume

This guide provides you with the actionable steps needed to build a compelling resume that gets noticed.

We’ll equip you with the knowledge and tools to:

• Identify and showcase your most valuable skills.
• Structure your resume for maximum impact.
• Optimize your resume for both human readers and ATS systems.

Our objective is to empower you with a step-by-step process, transforming your resume into a powerful tool that opens doors to exciting career opportunities.

By following our advice, you’ll create a resume that not only gets you noticed, but also positions you as the ideal candidate for the job.

Understanding the Foundation: Resume Essentials

A successful resume is built upon a solid foundation of essential components. Understanding these fundamentals is crucial before you start crafting your personal marketing document. Let’s break down what makes a resume effective and how it differs from its close cousin, the CV.

What is a Resume? Unveiling its Core Purpose

A resume is, at its heart, a personal marketing document. It’s your opportunity to present yourself as the ideal candidate for a specific job.

Think of it as a concise and targeted advertisement, designed to capture the attention of a hiring manager and persuade them to invite you for an interview.

Its purpose is not to simply list your past experiences. Instead, it’s designed to highlight the skills and accomplishments that directly address the employer’s needs.

Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV): Know the Difference

While the terms "resume" and "CV" are often used interchangeably, they are distinct documents with different purposes.

A resume is a brief, typically one- to two-page summary of your skills, experience, and education, tailored to a specific job.

A Curriculum Vitae (CV), on the other hand, is a comprehensive and detailed account of your entire academic and professional history.

CVs are typically used in academic, research, or international contexts and can be significantly longer than resumes.

For most job applications in the United States, a resume is the preferred document. Understanding this distinction is crucial for presenting yourself effectively.

Key Resume Components: Building Blocks of Success

A well-structured resume is divided into key sections, each serving a specific purpose. Mastering these components is essential for showcasing your qualifications effectively.

The Compelling Summary/Profile Section

The summary or profile section sits at the top of your resume. It’s your opportunity to make a strong first impression.

This section is a brief overview of your skills, experience, and career goals.

It should immediately grab the reader’s attention and highlight what makes you a unique and valuable candidate.

Use keywords relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Structuring Your Work Experience Section for Achievement

The work experience section is the heart of your resume. It’s where you demonstrate your skills and accomplishments through your past roles.

Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, focus on quantifying your achievements and highlighting the impact you made in each position.

Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments and provide specific examples of how you contributed to your previous employers’ success.

Structure each entry with your job title, company name, dates of employment, and a concise description of your responsibilities and achievements.

Showcasing Your Education Section Effectively

The education section highlights your academic background and any relevant degrees or certifications you’ve earned.

List your degrees in reverse chronological order, including the name of the institution, the degree earned, and your graduation date (or expected graduation date).

If you have a high GPA or received any academic honors, be sure to include those as well.

Leveraging Certifications/Licenses to Demonstrate Expertise

Certifications and licenses demonstrate your expertise in specific areas and can significantly enhance your credibility.

List any relevant certifications or licenses you hold, including the name of the issuing organization and the date of issuance (or expiration date).

This section can be particularly valuable for demonstrating your commitment to professional development.

The Vital Role of the Skills Section

The skills section is a dedicated space to showcase your key abilities and competencies.

Include both hard skills (technical skills) and soft skills (interpersonal skills) that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Organize your skills into categories for easy readability. For example, "Technical Skills," "Software Skills," or "Language Skills."

Use keywords that align with the job description to ensure your resume is easily searchable by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

By mastering these essential resume components, you’ll create a solid foundation for showcasing your qualifications and landing your dream job.

Mastering Your Skills Showcase: Highlighting Your Value

Your resume is more than just a list of past jobs; it’s a strategic presentation of your capabilities. To truly stand out, you need to master the art of showcasing your skills effectively. This involves understanding the different types of skills you possess and how to present them in a way that resonates with potential employers. Let’s delve into the strategies for identifying and highlighting your value.

Identifying Your Skills: A Comprehensive Overview

Before you can showcase your skills, you need to identify them. This involves a careful self-assessment and an understanding of the different categories of skills. By recognizing your strengths, you can tailor your resume to match the specific needs of each role.

Hard Skills, Soft Skills, and Transferable Skills: Understanding the Nuances

Skills aren’t monolithic. They come in different forms, each with its own importance. Recognizing these differences is key to a well-rounded resume.

• Hard Skills are technical abilities or knowledge gained through education, training, or on-the-job experience.
  These are often quantifiable and easy to demonstrate, such as proficiency in specific software, programming languages, or accounting principles.
• Soft Skills are interpersonal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others.
  These skills are crucial for teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, and are often harder to quantify. Examples include leadership, communication, time management, and critical thinking.
• Transferable Skills are skills that can be applied across different roles and industries.
  These skills are valuable because they demonstrate your adaptability and ability to learn new things. Examples include project management, customer service, and analytical skills.

Addressing the Skills Gap: Bridging the Divide

The skills gap refers to the mismatch between the skills employers need and the skills that job seekers possess. Identifying this gap is crucial for career advancement. Recognizing your weaknesses can open doors to improvement and opportunity.

Addressing the skills gap requires a proactive approach. Researching industry trends and identifying in-demand skills is the first step.

This might involve taking online courses, attending workshops, or seeking mentorship. By closing the skills gap, you increase your marketability and make yourself a more attractive candidate.

Upskilling and Reskilling: Enhancing Your Marketability

Upskilling involves learning new skills to improve your performance in your current role. Reskilling, on the other hand, involves learning entirely new skills to transition to a different career path.

Both strategies are essential for staying competitive in today’s rapidly evolving job market. Online learning platforms, industry certifications, and professional development programs are valuable resources for upskilling and reskilling. Embrace lifelong learning and remain agile.

Presenting Your Skills Effectively: Making a Lasting Impact

Identifying your skills is only half the battle; presenting them effectively is equally important. This involves using strategic keywords, action verbs, and quantifiable results to demonstrate your value to potential employers.

Strategic Use of Keywords: Aligning with Job Descriptions

Keywords are the specific terms and phrases that employers use to search for candidates.
By incorporating relevant keywords into your resume, you increase your chances of being found by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and hiring managers.

Carefully analyze job descriptions and identify the skills and qualifications that are most important to the employer. Use these keywords throughout your resume, particularly in your skills section and work experience descriptions.

Employing Strong Action Verbs: Describing Accomplishments

Action verbs are powerful words that describe your accomplishments and responsibilities.
Instead of using passive language, use action verbs to showcase your skills in a dynamic and engaging way.

For example, instead of saying “Responsible for managing projects,” say “Managed projects, resulting in a 15% increase in efficiency.” Use action verbs that convey your impact and contribution.

Showcasing Quantifiable Results: Demonstrating Impact

Quantifiable results are specific, measurable achievements that demonstrate the impact of your skills. Whenever possible, use numbers and data to showcase your accomplishments.

For example, instead of saying “Improved customer satisfaction,” say “Improved customer satisfaction scores by 20% in Q3.” By quantifying your results, you provide concrete evidence of your value and make a stronger impression on potential employers.

Optimizing for Success: Tailoring, ATS, and Online Platforms

In today’s digital landscape, a generic resume simply won’t cut it. To truly stand out and land that dream interview, you need to embrace a holistic approach that encompasses tailoring, ATS optimization, and strategic use of online platforms. Let’s delve into these crucial aspects.

Tailoring Your Resume: The Art of Personalization

Imagine sending a mass email with the wrong name and irrelevant information. That’s essentially what a non-tailored resume does to potential employers. Tailoring your resume for each job application is not just a suggestion; it’s a necessity.

It demonstrates that you’ve taken the time to understand the specific requirements of the role and the company.

The key is to thoroughly research the job description and identify the skills, experience, and keywords that are most important to the employer. Scrutinize what the role emphasizes.

Then, strategically incorporate these elements throughout your resume, highlighting your relevant accomplishments and qualifications. Think of it as speaking directly to the hiring manager’s needs.

Focus on the alignment between your capabilities and what the organization needs. Remember, relevance reigns supreme.

Achieving ATS Compatibility: Navigating the Gatekeepers

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software programs used by companies to scan, sort, and rank job applications. They act as gatekeepers, filtering out resumes that don’t meet certain criteria.

Understanding How ATS Works

ATS primarily scans for keywords, formatting, and specific skills mentioned in the job description. Resumes that are poorly formatted or lack relevant keywords are often rejected automatically, even if the candidate is qualified.

Think of ATS as a robot with a very specific checklist. If your resume doesn’t tick all the boxes, it’s unlikely to make it to a human reviewer.

Strategies for ATS Optimization

To ensure your resume gets seen by the right people, follow these ATS optimization strategies:

• Use Keywords Strategically: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume, including in your skills section, work experience descriptions, and summary/profile section.
• Choose a Simple Format: Avoid complex formatting elements such as tables, images, and unusual fonts, as these can confuse the ATS. Opt for a clean, simple, and easily readable format.
• Use Standard Section Headings: Use standard section headings such as “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills” to ensure the ATS can easily identify and categorize your information.
• Submit in the Right Format: Submit your resume in a format that is compatible with most ATS, such as .doc or .pdf. Avoid submitting your resume in .docx format, as some older ATS may not be able to read it.

By understanding how ATS works and implementing these optimization strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of getting your resume past the gatekeepers and into the hands of a hiring manager.

Utilizing Online Platforms: Expanding Your Reach

Online platforms are essential for modern job searching, offering powerful tools for networking, showcasing your profile, and identifying relevant opportunities. Using them effectively can broaden your reach.

LinkedIn: Your Professional Hub

LinkedIn is more than just an online resume; it’s a professional networking platform. Use it to connect with industry professionals, join relevant groups, and showcase your skills and experience.

A well-crafted LinkedIn profile can act as a powerful supplement to your resume, providing employers with a more comprehensive view of your professional background.

Be active, engage with your network and seek to grow the network intentionally.

Job Search Engines: Finding the Right Opportunities

Job search engines like Indeed and LinkedIn Jobs are invaluable resources for identifying relevant opportunities. Use these platforms to search for jobs based on your skills, experience, and location.

Set up job alerts to be notified of new openings that match your criteria. Cast your net wide, and look for jobs that align with your career goals and expertise.

CareerOneStop: Your Government-Backed Career Resource

CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, offers a wide range of resources for career exploration, training, and job searching. You can find information on different occupations, skills requirements, and local training programs.

Use CareerOneStop to research different career paths, identify in-demand skills, and find resources to help you develop those skills. Its a great way to start.

Online Learning Platforms: Continuously Upskilling

Platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Udemy offer a vast array of online courses and certifications that can help you upskill and reskill. Consider taking courses to enhance your knowledge in areas relevant to your target job.

Acquiring new skills and certifications can make you a more attractive candidate and demonstrate your commitment to lifelong learning. Stay relevant and stay hungry to acquire more knowledge.

Immersive Tech Programs: Accelerating Your Career Transition

General Assembly, Flatiron School, and other bootcamps offer intensive, immersive tech education programs that can help you transition into a new career in fields such as software engineering, data science, and UX design.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, career-focused education, consider exploring these immersive programs. They’re a fast path to enter tech.

By leveraging these online platforms strategically, you can significantly enhance your job search efforts and increase your chances of landing your dream job. Think of it as leveraging available tools to help with your search.

Tools and Resources: Enhancing Your Resume Creation Process

Crafting a compelling resume is no longer a solitary endeavor. A vast ecosystem of tools and professional services has emerged to assist you in creating a polished and effective document. From resume builders and grammar checkers to recruiters and career coaches, these resources can significantly enhance your chances of landing an interview.

This section explores how to leverage these valuable assets to optimize your resume creation process. Let’s dive in.

Leveraging Software: Automating and Refining Your Resume

In today’s digital age, software tools offer efficient solutions for building and refining your resume.

Resume Builders: Structuring Your Professional Story

Resume builders can be invaluable resources for creating a professional-looking resume, especially if you’re unsure where to start. These platforms provide pre-designed templates, formatting options, and guided content suggestions to streamline the creation process.

• Canva offers a wide array of visually appealing templates for creative professionals.

• Resume.io provides a user-friendly interface with AI-powered suggestions.

• Kickresume focuses on ATS-friendly designs.

However, it’s crucial to remember that resume builders are tools, not replacements for strategic thinking. Don’t blindly fill in the blanks. Tailor the content to reflect your unique value proposition and the specific requirements of each job.

Choose the best fit for your industry and desired style.

Grammar Checkers: Polishing Your Prose

A single grammatical error can derail your job application. Grammar checkers like Grammarly and ProWritingAid are indispensable tools for ensuring error-free writing.

These platforms go beyond basic spell-checking. They identify grammatical errors, suggest stylistic improvements, and even offer feedback on tone and clarity.

• Grammarly integrates seamlessly with various applications, providing real-time feedback as you write.

• ProWritingAid offers more in-depth analysis and reports to help you improve your overall writing skills.

While grammar checkers are powerful, they aren’t foolproof. Always proofread your resume manually to catch any subtle errors or inconsistencies that the software might have missed. Human oversight is still crucial.

Seeking Professional Guidance: Partnering for Success

Sometimes, you need a human touch. Recruiters and career coaches can provide personalized advice and support to help you navigate the complex world of job searching.

Recruiters: Your Industry Insiders

Recruiters act as intermediaries between job seekers and employers. They have a deep understanding of specific industries and can connect you with opportunities that might not be publicly advertised.

Working with a recruiter can significantly expand your network and increase your visibility to potential employers. They can also provide valuable feedback on your resume and interview skills.

When selecting a recruiter, look for someone who specializes in your field and has a proven track record of success. Be prepared to provide them with a detailed resume and be open to their guidance.

Career Coaches: Your Personal Career Strategists

A career coach provides personalized guidance and support to help you achieve your career goals. They can help you identify your strengths, clarify your career aspirations, and develop a strategic plan for landing your dream job.

Career coaches can offer invaluable assistance with resume writing, interview preparation, and negotiation skills. They can also provide emotional support and motivation throughout the job search process.

When choosing a career coach, look for someone with relevant experience and a coaching style that resonates with you. Be prepared to invest time and effort in the coaching process.

Final Touches: Formatting, Design, and Proofreading

The content of your resume is paramount, but its presentation is what ultimately seals the deal. A well-structured, visually appealing resume conveys professionalism and attention to detail, immediately grabbing the reader’s attention. Conversely, a poorly formatted document, riddled with errors, can instantly disqualify you, regardless of your qualifications.

This section delves into the crucial aspects of formatting, design, and proofreading, providing actionable steps to ensure your resume makes a lasting positive impression. These final touches are not mere formalities; they are integral to showcasing your value and securing that coveted interview.

Formatting and Design: Creating a Visually Appealing Document

Your resume’s formatting and design create the first impression. It’s essential to ensure your document is not only informative but also visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Clean formatting and a professional design contribute significantly to readability and showcase your attention to detail.

Ensuring Clean, Professional, and Easy-to-Read Formatting

Consistency is key when it comes to formatting. Choose a font and stick with it throughout the document. Avoid using more than two fonts, as this can create a cluttered and unprofessional look.

Use a standard, professional font like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Georgia. These fonts are easy to read and widely supported by different systems.

Maintain consistent font sizes for headings, subheadings, and body text. Generally, use a font size of 11 or 12 for the body text and slightly larger sizes for headings.

Employ white space strategically to break up text and improve readability. Use margins of at least 0.5 inches on all sides, and consider adding extra space between sections.

Bullet points are your friends. Use them to highlight your accomplishments and skills in a concise and easy-to-digest format.

Avoid using excessive bolding, italics, or underlining, as this can make your resume appear cluttered and distracting.

Use bolding sparingly to emphasize key keywords or phrases.

Save your resume as a PDF (Portable Document Format) to ensure that the formatting remains consistent across different devices and operating systems. PDF also helps preserve font embedings for ATS systems.

Choosing a Template That Aligns with Your Industry and Target Role

While creativity is valued in some fields, most industries prefer a classic, professional resume design. Choose a template that reflects the norms of your industry and the specific requirements of the job you’re applying for.

There are countless resume templates available online, both free and paid. However, not all templates are created equal. Select a template that is clean, well-organized, and easy to customize.

For traditional industries like finance, law, or government, opt for a more conservative template with a simple layout and minimal use of color or graphics. A chronological resume format is typical, showcasing your work history in reverse-chronological order.

For creative industries like marketing, design, or advertising, you have more leeway to experiment with color, graphics, and layout. Consider a functional or combination resume format that emphasizes your skills and abilities. However, always ensure that the design is still professional and appropriate for the specific role.

Avoid templates with overly complex layouts or excessive use of graphics, as these can be distracting and difficult to read. ATS systems struggle to parse overly designed resumes.

Consider using a template that incorporates your personal brand. This could involve using a specific color scheme, font, or logo that is consistent with your other online profiles and marketing materials.

So, there you have it! Hopefully, this gives you a clearer picture of what skills to put on resume in 2024. Remember, your resume is your personal marketing document, so tailor it to each job and let your unique skills shine through. Good luck with the job hunt!