Skills in the CV – what to enter? [Universal examples]

See other templates, create resume and download PDF document here .

1. What to enter in the Skills section of your CV ?

Enter into your CV the skills that are relevant to your profession. If you are not sure what specific competences these are, carefully read the job offer you are applying for. It says what the job position requires from the candidate.

However, it is worth going beyond the minimum described in the advertisement and adding skills to your CV that will enrich your candidacy for a given position, regardless of the industry in which you work. Here are some examples.

Skills on your CV to showcase:

• skill working under time pressure
• responsibility
• independence
• leadership skills
• good time management
• diligence
• problem-solving skills
• good work organization (also when working remotely)
• quick adaptation to new conditions
• analytical thinking
• easy to learn new things
• initiative
• conflict resolution
• empathy
• ability to motivate others
• ability to cooperate .

The above list summarizes the fairly universal qualities of a good worker. But this is not enough, because employers are looking for people who have the right combination of two types of skills – appropriate character traits and learned competences.

Therefore, the CV must include soft and hard skills. Without one or the other, your document will be incomplete.

Soft skills

These are the ones I have listed above, that is the candidate’s character traits and his competences in working with people, approach to work, inborn or developed psychological abilities.

Communication skills in a CV are extremely important. Science confirms that professionals who work effectively with others can do so precisely because of their developed communication skills.

Competences such as the ability to listen actively and attentively , ease of networking , the ability to provide feedback will distinguish us from robots for a long time to come.

Hard skills

They are closely related to the candidate’s profession. In the case of a cashier it will be e.g. cash register service , programmer – proficiency in C ++ , in a CV for office work – knowledge of MS Office tools .

What about the driving license on your CV? In fact, a driving license means being able to drive, so it fits perfectly into the hard skills section. Other permissions like Sanepid’s book or forklift service should also be included in this section.

If you have difficulty creating skills section of your resume, our resume wizard offers help. After selecting the profession or position you are applying for, the tool will show you a list of skills tailored to you.

Note that the character traits in the CV are mixed with professional competencies here. This is correct, but to make it easier for the recruiter to read your document, you can divide the skill list into soft and hard.

See also: Strengths in CV – how to describe your strengths well?

2. How to describe the skills on your CV?

Write the skills on your CV as a bulleted list – one skill under the other (never on the same line and decimal!). Let it be a separate section in which you will present the most important competences necessary for working in a given position.

Here is an example of a skill in a salesperson’s resume.

As you can see, when listing your skills in your CV, write each item with a capital letter, no punctuation marks (commas or periods).

Using the CV wizard, you can also indicate the level of some skills in your CV – this mainly applies to hard skills, because such features as communication or responsibility should always be 5 stars!

How many skills to enter to your CV?

Don’t put too many skills on your CV. 10 sub-points are enough. Bet on those skills that are important from the employer’s point of view and which are your strength. After all, you will have to convincingly tell about them in an interview.

See also: CV template 2021: sample CV for work [Download ready CV]

Want to write your CV right away? Use our wizard, where you will find professional templates to complete and practical tips. Create a resume in 5 minutes here .

See other templates, create CV and download PDF document here .

3. What not to enter in the Skills in a CV section?

Everyone knows how to write a CV, but it is worth remembering the most important rule. Especially in the context of describing your skills. A good CV is one that addresses the employer’s requirements. Too much additional information will reduce the value of the document.

If the job requires competences such as knowledge of MS Office and high personal culture , then there is no point in boasting in your CV e.g. cash register service . Even if you used to work in a store and did really well there.

Here are the other rules to follow when describing skills in your CV:

1. Skip from CV skills that sound very general and are obvious.

Creativity , Punctuality , assertiveness – anyone can enter them on their CV and most candidates do.

2. Put your knowledge of foreign languages ​​in a separate section.

Create a foreign language section on your CV and describe in detail your knowledge of English, German or another language you speak.

3. Describe your computer skills precisely.

Do not use the word computer skills in your CV, because it means nothing. Instead, list the specifics, e.g .: knowledge of Google Workspace , advanced Excel support .

4. Don’t include skills you don’t have on your CV.

Lying on your CV doesn’t pay off. If you show off your stress management skills on your CV and when you are interviewed for a job, you will lose credibility in the eyes of the recruiter.

5. Avoid adding skills to your CV that may already be out out of date .

Skills such as finding information , using Microsoft Paint or posting on social media have long ceased to be unique. Therefore, do not mention them in your CV. Likewise, with other skills that you have acquired in the past and that you have not used at work for a long time.

Finally – remember – it’s a good idea to make good use of the skills section on your CV and not clutter it up with clutter or false information. You have to find a balance between your professional skills and your distinguishing character traits. All this to show the employer that you are an employee aware of your strengths.

If you don’t know how to enter English skills on CVs you send abroad, read this article: English CV – template . How to write a CV in English (also with the help of a wizard)?

Do you also need to write a cover letter? In our wizard you will find modern patterns to fill in and practical advice. Create a cover letter in 5 minutes here .

See other templates, create a cover letter and download the PDF document here .