What Skills do I Possess?

Simply put: “A skill is the ability, usually learned and acquired through training, to perform actions, which achieve a desired outcome.”

There are a number of specific Job Skill Sets that you can choose from to show your applicable skills for the desired job you will be submitting your resume to. The most common marketable job skills are: Technical, Computer, Communications, Academic, Research and Planning, Human Relations, Management / Leadership, Critical Reasoning, and Workplace Survival (people) skills.

When writing your resume, enter the one that best describes the Skill you will be utilizing and provide a brief description or list them in bullets. You may enter as many as apply, but we recommend you use only the ones that are applicable to the desired job you are seeking. Basic skills for example encompass a wide range of sub-skills, such as learning, listening, thinking, speaking, writing, which most people posses. The focus should be placed on special skills that a company may want to use as a basis for hiring the right person. Many of these skills will be reflected in the past experience and accomplishments you annotate in your resume by default: problem solving skills, management skills, marketing skills, finance skills, systems / technical skills, office skills, etc.

Skills identify results and accomplishments. Skills should be highlighted and grouped with accomplishments in the text of the resume under job descriptions. Keep special skills listed under the Skills section of your resume, under different titles if necessary, depending on your industry or desired job you seek. Skills should be listed in order of strength and importance (to the desired job you are applying for).

Keep in mind that marketable job skills can be broken down into a number of categories, or skills sets, that you can use in showing applicable skills from one job/career to the next. Keep them separate when building your resume. Good Luck!