What Skills Should You have on your CV?

Part of the process of landing job interviews is to list relevant and valuable skills on your CV. These show a great deal of who you are in terms of your ability to perform tasks and what you are bringing to the table.

While including skills on your CV, ensure you understand the core skill requirements of your target roles so that you can reflect them throughout your CV.

When noting your skills, analyse the job description to determine the skills needed and tailor your skills to the specific position.

So, what skills should you have on your CV? Here are a few categories with practical examples that you can use when updating your CV.

1. Transferable skills

These skills have been acquired in one setting but can be used in many businesses.

Examples include:

• Reading or writing skills – Being able to digest written information and present it in written form.
• Computer skills
• Management experience
• Commercial skills – Being able to negotiate and handle figures like turnover and gross profit often possesses the business acumen sought after in many organisations.

2. Job-related skills

These mainly focus on the skills you have acquired in employment. Many times, they are those that you have received through training. They are work-related and geared towards a specific sector. They are, therefore, not transferrable to other industries.

Examples include:

• Nursing skills—Being a qualified nurse shows you have specific valuable skills. These include caring and organisation, but nursing is a job-related skill that only works in the healthcare sector.
• Mechanical engineering – Being able to work and repair engines is a job-related skill. It may mean you can transfer into related sectors but probably only within similar roles unless you have other transferable skills to offer.
• Accountancy qualifications – Various organisations offer Bookkeeping and accountancy roles, which presents plenty of job choices. However, this job-related skill narrows down that choice to certain types of jobs only

3. Adaptive skills

These skills rely on personality traits rather than on learning. These skills often set you apart from other candidates applying for the same position.

Examples include:

• Teamwork – Not everyone is a team player, but teamwork is an essential adaptive skill many employers seek.
• Flexibility—We all need to be flexible in the workplace from time to time, but some are better at it than others. Don’t discount your adaptability as a skill.
• Tenacity – Taking ownership of problems and seeing them through is a key skill in many organisations. If you can demonstrate this from your experience, include it on your CV.

In the end,

The best skills to put on your CV vary depending on the job type, career level and education. Before applying for any job, review the skills most valuable to the employer and tailor your CV based on the skills that fall within the requirements.

Remember, the goal here is to show the recruiter you are the best candidate for the role. If you are finding it hard to weave the relevant skills into your CV, invest in our professional CV Writing service today to get a job-winning CV.