TOP 5 SOFT SKILLS TO ADD TO YOUR RESUME
“ A resume will seldom get you a job offer. A resume will often lose you a job offer.”
- Robert Half
What is a RESUME?
A resume is a formal document that is created by job applicants to itemize their qualifications for a position. It provides an overview of their professional qualifications like relevant work experience, skills, education, and some other notable accomplishments. A resume usually has a customized cover letter that shows capabilities and convinces the employers that the candidate is qualified and can be hired. In the cover letter, the applicant expresses an interest in a specific job or company and draws attention to the most relevant specifics on the resume.
Basically, a resume provides employers with a summary of a candidate’s relevant qualifications.
SOFT SKILLS IN A RESUME -
Soft skills is a term used to refer to a set of transferable skills that are considered to be essential for succeeding in a workplace. They comprise common sense, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, character traits as well as communication skills. Soft skills either can’t be acquired or are hard to acquire through traditional education as they can’t be taught to one.
Transferable skills are not related to any kind of particular job, a person has them regardless of what kind of job s/he is doing. Soft skills in the workplace are the driving force behind any company’s success.
Here are the top 5 soft skills that one must add to their resume:
- Communication skills: Communication should be one of the top soft skills to include in your resume. Both written and verbal communication skills are important.
Communication skill is the tool used to clearly and effectively converse with others, set expectations, and work with others on projects. Whether you are a senior manager or just an employee, good communication skills are the most important. Verbal and written communication both come into play every day at the workplace.
Verbal communication skill is something that comes more naturally to certain people and it is a highly ranked skill in the workplace. Starting with a phone call interview, verbal communication will be a soft skill you need to hone, no matter what your role is.
Written communication skill also needs to come handy to a person. A person should be able to express his viewpoints clearly if writing an email, preparing briefs for a meeting etc.
2. Problem-solving skills: Problem-solving is a key soft skill to secure yourself a job in any industry. You will always face problems regardless of the industry you are in. So when something goes wrong, you can either complain about it or act on it.
Considering a problem and analyzing it from all angles to take a good decision is important for success in the workplace. Companies look for problem solvers who can steer through unexpected challenges and come up with solutions.
This skill helps you to overcome problems quickly and effectively. It is one of the key skills that employers seek in job applicants, as employees with these skills are self-reliant in nature. Problem-solving skills require quickly identifying the issue and implementing a solution. An employee with problem solving skills will always be preferred first.
3. Team-work skills: Being able to cooperate and work with others, is an essential skill. You will have to work with others in every industry at every level in your career. Working with others is an integral part of having a job. Team-work skills are the qualities that allow you to work well with others in projects and meetings. One’s teamwork skill is dependent on their ability to communicate well, actively listen and take responsibility.
You must include in your resume examples of the number of times you have collaborated on projects to make an impression.
4. Interpersonal skills: Interpersonal skills are the behavior traits and tactics that a person uses to interact with others effectively. In the business world, it refers to the ability of an employee to work well with others.
Interpersonal skills are also referred to as social intelligence. They depend on reading the signals others send and acting on them. Understanding each other’s point of view and working to improve understanding between people is essential to succeed in business.While interpersonal skills may be based in part on personality and instinct, they can also be developed with diligence.
5. Leadership skills: A good leader distinguishes himself from others by the ability to take charge of a situation.
Showing examples of past leadership or management skills shows that you are capable of taking charge of the work and can also inspire others to perform. Basically, leadership skills are the abilities people use to lead and deliver projects, encourage initiatives, build a sense of common purpose, and empower others. Leadership skills also include the ability to navigate employees towards achieving business goals, inspiring them, bringing changes and delivering results.
It is not only about including soft skills in your resume, you must also back them up with relevant examples from your professional life. For instance, If you seek to have excellent attention to detail, you must be careful about any spelling errors or other grammatical errors in your resume. However, soft skills shift constantly and one might not have one or two of the above listed ones but a completely different soft skill set.
