How to List Business Communication Skills on a Resume: Best Skills and Examples

Business Communication Skills | Best Skills & Examples | Resume.com

If you’re applying for a job where you’ll need to work in an office or another workplace setting, you’ll need to have strong business communication skills. The more of these skills you exhibit, the better employee you’ll be. Learn more about the best business communication skills to have and how to include them on your resume.

What are business communication skills?

Business communication skills refer to your ability as an employee to communicate effectively in the workplace. They are used to transfer or convey information to another person such as a coworker. As a working professional, you’ll need to exhibit strong business communication skills in order to perform your daily responsibilities. This is relevant to several industries and settings such as when you’re conducting a meeting or collaborating with a coworker or supervisor.

Why employers want to see business communication skills on your resume

Employers want to see business communication skills on your resume because it lets them know you have the qualifications necessary to meet the demands of the job they’re hiring for. Ultimately, it gives them an idea of whether or not you’d be a good fit for their company and if you’d be able to handle the everyday tasks of the job. It also lets them compare you to other candidates vying for the same position.

Best business communication skills to add to a resume

Here are some of the best business communication skills to add to your resume:

Public speaking skills

Depending on the role you play at your company, you may find yourself having to speak in front of your colleagues. Having strong public speaking skills involves having the ability to clearly convey your ideas and thoughts to those in the room. The stronger your public speaking skills, the better they’ll be able to understand you. You should be articulate, engaging and be able to determine the audience’s needs.

Collaboration skills

As part of a business, you should also be able to effectively collaborate with your coworkers and supervisors. The better you’re able to work as part of a team, the more productive you’ll be. This can also contribute to your company’s success. Being able to collaborate involves respecting your coworker’s contributions, asking insightful questions and considering their perspective despite any of your disagreements.

Active listening skills

Active listening involves fully understanding and concentrating on what someone is telling you. As an employee, it’s important to be a good active listener not only for your own understanding but to make your coworkers feel respected and valued, as well. You can become an active listener by eliminating distractions around you, focusing on the speaker and actively engaging in the conversation.

Nonverbal communication skills

In order to display strong business communication skills, you’ll need to be able to communicate nonverbally. Some examples include body language, posture and eye contact. All of these can lead the person you’re communicating with to feel a certain way about your attentiveness and character.

Verbal communication skills

It’s extremely important to have strong verbal communication skills in the workplace. This involves your ability to transmit information by speaking such as through sounds and words. You should be able to relay information in a clear and concise manner when you speak to others.

Written communication skills

Another business communication skill to add to your resume is the ability to write. Businesses commonly use emails to communicate. Because of this, you should have the ability to effectively communicate through this medium. Be sure to maintain a formal tone when crafting business communications through email.

How to list business communication skills on a resume

Here are the steps to take when listing business communication skills on your resume:

1. First, consider your business communication skills

Before you start adding anything to your resume, consider which business communication skills you have. Make a list of your skills and refer to the job posting to determine which of your skills align with the necessary qualifications. This will give you a better chance of landing the job.

2. Second, include your business communication skills within your certifications section

If you have a section devoted to your certifications, you can include your business communication skills there. This lets hiring managers know that your skills have been vetted and verified. In addition, it allows them to see whether or not you can perform the job you’re applying for. Be sure to include only your most relevant certifications and skills for the role.

3. Third, include your business communication skills within your experience section

When you list your previous positions, include your business communication skills throughout the descriptions of your job duties. For example, if you were previously an accountant, you can include the duties you had in this role as well as the skills that helped you perform them.

4. Finally, make a skills section for your resume

Lastly, you can add your business communication skills in a separate skills section on your resume. This is a great way to highlight any skills you have yet to touch on in your resume. Add a skills section to the bottom of your resume and list your relevant business communication skills to the role you’re applying for.

How to improve business communication skills

Here are a few ways to improve your business communication skills:

1. First, be an effective collaborator

In order to display strong business communication skills, you’ll need to practice being an effective collaborator. The next time you’re speaking with someone or to a group of people, make sure you’re giving them time to speak. Give them the time to offer their input and opinions and be sure not to take complete control over the conversation. This will help create a healthy, collaborative environment.

2. Second, practice simplifying your communication

When you communicate in the workplace, it’s important to stay focused and simplify what you’re trying to convey. This can help you get to the point of your communication and will help others better understand you. Your coworkers will likely have a lot of other duties, therefore, it’s important to simplify your language and not take up too much of their time. Practice simplifying your message the next time you find yourself communicating.

3. Third, practice active listening

You can also improve your business communication skills by practicing active listening in your daily life. When someone is speaking to you, make sure all of your focus is on them. Be attentive to what they’re saying, engage with them and ask insightful questions. The more you do this, the better communicator you’ll be.

4. Finally, consider your body language

You should also consider monitoring your body language. In your next conversations, make note of your posture, eye contact and overall body language. Make sure that it’s reflecting the right tone and sending the right message. This will help you improve your body language in your future workplace communications.

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