What Not to List in Your Resume Skills Section

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Why employers want to see skills on your resume

Among the most important aspects of any resume is the skills section where you detail the relevant abilities that will help you excel at the prospective position. Employers appreciate a detailed skills section because it’s the simplest way to see if you qualify for the advertised position. Employers commonly scan a skills section for a specific ability, putting aside any resumes that lack the needed skills.

How to list skills on a resume

You can follow these best practices for listing skills on your resume:

1. First, consider the required skills listed in the job posting

You may have a wide array of skills, but the position you are applying for probably won’t need them all. Like all aspects of your resume, you’ll need to cater your skills list specifically to the job. That means thinking about which skills are relevant and which you can leave out.

2. Then, include the most relevant skills first

Employers often scan resumes quickly without reading every single word, or they may search for major keywords via a scanning program. In either case, it’s best to list the most relevant skills first. For example, if you’re applying for a programmer position, programming languages and general computer literacy should be at the top of your list. 

3. After that, determine how you can organize your skills list to make them more compelling

Consider how the list is going to look as a whole when highlighting your skills. It may be helpful to break up your skills into sections. A programmer, for example, might create a separate category in their skills section for programming languages. 

4. Finally, make your list concise by eliminating unnecessary or repeated skills

While you can never have too many skills at your disposal, you don’t necessarily need them all on your resume. After you’ve completed your list, go through it and see if there are any skills you can eliminate without impacting your qualifications for the job. Additionally, watch for skills that essentially mean the same thing, such as collaboration and teamwork.

What not to list in a skills section

Here are some common things to avoid when creating your resume skills section:

Skills you don’t have

Only include the skills you actually possess. Including skills you don’t really have can be among the worst infractions because your lack of ability will come to light quickly should you get hired.

Outdated skills

For example, if you’re applying for any kind of tech position, don’t list outdated skills. Not only will these skills be irrelevant to the position, but including them can give a bad impression to the employer and imply that you don’t know how to function in a modern workplace. 

Buzzwords

There are a handful of buzzwords that people tend to use too often in their resumes. These words can include general and nonspecific skills like leadership, creative, strategic and focused. Be specific with your skills. Instead of describing yourself as creative, you can say you have creative problem-solving skills.

Universal minimum requirements

Employers are going to expect every candidate to have certain skills, such as being hardworking and focused. This is applicable to some hard skills as well, such as Microsoft Word and web searching. Basic computer skills are a prerequisite for every office job and many other jobs. 

Irrelevant skills

Make sure that every skill you list is relevant to the position. Listing irrelevant skills may actively hurt your chances, as employers may think you don’t understand the position you applied for or that you didn’t read the job description. For each skill on your resume, think about how you would use it to fulfill your assigned duties. If you’re having trouble coming up with something, remove the skill from the list.

Best skills to add to a resume

Here are some of the best skills you should be including in your resume if applicable to you:

Communication

Both written and verbal communication are essential in virtually every position. Whether you interact with clients and customers or you just have to communicate with your fellow employees, being able to communicate properly is key to getting any job done right.

Conflict resolution

Conflict is possible and virtually inevitable in just about every position. Skills that help you deal with that conflict and resolve problems quickly are useful for setting you apart as the ideal candidate. 

Hard skills

The relevant hard skills to any position are going to vary based on the job description, but they’re always essential to include. If you’re applying for a sales position, for example, you may want to include skills in managing CRM software and maintaining client relationships.

How to improve your resume skills

Here are some steps you can follow to improve the skills you should be adding to your resume:

1. First, volunteer to help broaden your skill set

Volunteering at places like a community center, for example, can help you improve a wide variety of skills, especially communication. 

2. Second, learn MS Office skills 

MS Office is a base requirement for many jobs, so being able to navigate Word and Excel properly is helpful for making your resume stand out. Online training classes and books found at your local library can help.

3. Third, practice new skills until you are confident

You should be confident in every skill you list. If you’re feeling doubtful about any of them, whether it’s conflict resolution, typing, or any other skill, practice until you feel confident.