CV Writing Tips: 5 Skills You Shouldn’t Put In Every Job Application.

By Elizabeth Benu,

A recruiter is always looking for a candidate with the right skills for any position advertised for. With the need for job seekers to impress a HR Manager there is a temptation to put in all skills they have acquired over the years.

Unfortunately, not all skills impress the HR as you expect them to be. Talking to Adrian Kariuki, a Communications Officer at Corporate Staffing Services, he lists some of the skills that Human Resource does not care much about and explains why.

1. Numeracy skills
Numeracy is the ability to use numbers and to make calculations, to estimate, to work with money, to analyze numerical trends and to create schedules and budgets.

“These skills will only impress a recruiter if the job you applied for falls in either of these categories: IT, Accounting, Administration, Banking, Sales and Marketing, Hotel jobs such as waitressing, Engineering, Finance, Insurance, Audit and Architecture,” he says.

He further explains that these skills will impress the recruiter only if they are looking for a candidate with such expertise.

“However, they are as important to possess in your daily lives,” he adds.

2. Negotiating Skills
Negotiating involves knowing when to compromise, having an allowance for agreements and getting your points across in a calm but assertive manner. It is basically being able to discuss with another party and reach a mutually satisfactory agreement.

“Positions likely to require these skills include those in HR, legal administration, marketing, sales, advertising, PR and Customer Service. This is because they are involved in face to face interactions with people,” Mr. Kariuki confirms.

3. Leadership skills
Being able to motivate, direct, organize others, taking the initiative and accepting responsibility for mistakes/wrong decisions are all part of leadership.

“Positions that require the leadership skills include Management trainees, director jobs, managerial positions or sometimes consultancy jobs. For an Internship position leadership skills will not impress since you will be under the supervision of someone else. Unless the job requirement dictates otherwise then such a skill will not make your CV noticeable,” he advices.

4. Language Skills
Nowadays a huge number of people are keen on learning a second language or two. Even so, these skills may not interest a recruiter if they are not needed.

“For example if I am looking for an Engineer to work in China and one candidate can speak fluent Chinese I will definitely pick him or her.

“These skills come in handy in positions such as a Translator, Bilingual Secretary, Teaching and jobs in the Tourism industry,” he says.

5. Creativity
Creativity as Mr. Kariuki describes it is the ability to think outside the box.

“It is using your inspiration and imagination to solve problems by looking at them from unforeseen perspectives,” he explains further.

“Creativity is very important in careers such as advertising, marketing, the media, art and design, teaching and legal jobs. These positions require more than general academic training for them to be successful,” he adds.

He concludes by saying that, “Such skills are important for candidates but it is important to tailor your CV to the skills required by the position being applied for. Relevant skills are bound to impress the hiring manager as compared to putting down all the basic skills that everyone else has.”

For queries concerning CV’s contact elizabeth@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

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