How to Highlight Your Hard Skill Set on a Resume

You may have heard the phrase “soft skills” when it comes to your job search. These are the intangible things that candidates bring to the table, such as organizational skills or how to be a team player. However, so many people have spent time focusing on these skills that they are not presenting their hard skills in the right way for employers. Hard skills are specific to your experience and may include speaking another language, typing speed, or understanding HTML. How do you share these skills on your resume? Here are a few tips for including your hard skills in the right way.

  • Create a skills list. In many cases a quick reference bulleted list will be the most effective way to communicate what specific skills you bring to the table. Here you can share all of the things you know how to do with proficiency. Of course, this list should be customized for the specific job for which you are applying. If you are seeking a computer programming position then your typing speed is probably not in consideration. However, for an executive level administrative assistant you should know this information.
  • Highlight your education. Your education, which can include degrees or certifications, is also considered a hard skill.  Even if the education is unrelated to the job, the dedication to learning is often perceived as a plus in the eyes of employers. Don’t include data about the year of your graduation as that can lead to discrimination based on age. Focus on the course of study and what knowledge you gained. For instance, classes in bookkeeping are very desirable for a general office assistant and can take your new role to the next level if you’re hired.
  • Quantify information. Just like you would with your accomplishments, the more hard data you can add to your skills the better. Suggesting you are a fast typist is not as powerful as letting them know that you type 80 words per minute with 100% accuracy. Provide as much detail as you can without going overboard. For example, if you have experience with programming languages list them individually.

Are you looking for your next employment opportunity? Contact the team at CornerStone Staffing for jobs in Fort Worth, TX and the surrounding areas.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *