A strong resume skills list should be concise and include relevant keywords. It’s important to be honest and accurate, and to proofread thoroughly to avoid errors. Cataloging too many skills can be confusing and detract from a candidate’s most valuable attributes.
A resume skills list can provide an excellent opportunity to provide potential employers with a summary of one’s most valuable attributes. By following a few basic tips, you can create a strong list of resume skills. First, for the greatest impact, limit the size of your resume skills list and try to use as many keywords as possible. Also, check that all claims are factually accurate. Finally, review the skill list thoroughly to ensure it is error-free.
Many job seekers make the mistake of creating a very long list of resume skills in hopes of setting themselves apart from other applicants. Rather than impressing a potential employer, however, an overly long list of skills can sabotage a candidate’s chances of getting an interview. Long lists can appear confusing and sloppy, and can cause a candidate’s most significant talents and attributes to be lost in an inventory of less important qualities. Rather than cataloging dozens of skills, highlight approximately ten to 12 attributes that are relevant to the job on offer.
Often, a potential employer will scan incoming resumes for keywords to determine if a candidate is a good match for a job. A strong list of resume skills for a candidate seeking a managerial position, for example, might feature keywords like “leadership” or “team building.” When writing a list of skills, a candidate should try to include several relevant keywords. To determine which keywords are most desirable in a given field, he must study several job postings in that field and compile a list of required skills that are repeated throughout the posts. If any of his own skills match those on this list, he should include them on his resume.
When writing a list of resume skills, it’s also important to be sincere. A candidate may be tempted to beef up their resume by listing skills they don’t really have or by exaggerating their level of proficiency in a particular skill area. If a potential employer discovers such falsehoods during an interview, he is very likely to be turned off for the candidate’s dishonesty. Therefore, all claims made in a skill list must be factually accurate.
Finally, as with the rest of the resume, a list of skills that is incorrectly formatted or riddled with typographical errors can give potential employers a bad first impression. Therefore, a resume skills list should be thoroughly proofread to ensure it is error-free. While helpful, word processor spelling and grammar checkers are not foolproof. Consider asking a relative or friend with spelling and grammar skills to review a resume before submitting it to the employer.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
