Your CV is the most important tool you have when looking for a job. Think of it as your calling card; it’s what you’ll use to demonstrate your talent and your experience to prospective employers. There are certain CV skills that are more valuable than others, they are must-haves for any job seeker.
Putting together a CV can be tough. You need to decide what to include and what to exclude and present everything in a professional way. We’ve written up a handy guide with advice on the kind of CV skills you should be looking to learn and include. Let’s find out more.
Computer Skills
In decades past, having computer skills listed on your CV would have been a nice bonus. Now, it’s an absolute necessity. Almost all jobs make use of a computer to at least some degree, and many use computers as an integral part of the role.
However, it’s not enough to simply list ‘computer skills’ on your CV. Employers will assume a base level of computer literacy from all applicants. Instead, you need to be more specific about the particular skills you have.
For example, if you can use Microsoft Office, list the programs you are proficient with, such as Microsoft Word and Excel. These are important tools in the professional environment, so if you are unfamiliar with them make it a priority to learn them.
If you can use content creation tools such as Photoshop or a video editing platform, these are extremely valuable CV skills that you should definitely include. Content is incredibly important for modern businesses, which means candidates who have content creation skills are in high demand.
Teamwork
CV skills can be hard skills, such as the example above, or soft skills. By listing soft skills on your CV, you will be demonstrating your ability to work well with others and deal with situations regardless of the role or task at hand.
All jobs will require you to work as part of a team. One of the most important CV skills you can list is teamwork. By highlighting your ability to work as part of a team, you will be demonstrating that you are an effective communicator, a key attribute for any employer.
When listing teamwork on your CV, talk about a previous position you have held and discuss how that role worked as part of a larger group.
Project Management
Another soft skill to list as one of your CV skills is project management. You will be asked to oversee a variety of different projects depending on what job you have. These can range from sales pitches to social media marketing campaigns.
By detailing your project management skills, you will be outlining your ability to rise to new challenges and complete tasks. It’s about showing an employer that you can take the initiative and see a project through, paying close attention to things like deadlines and quality control.
If possible, give an example of a project you have completed that you are particularly proud of. Discuss what you did well and highlight anything you might approach differently in the future.
Writing
The final suggestion on our list of CV skills to include on your CV is writing. Having an excellent grasp of the written word is one of the most valuable CV skills you can have. According to research, 73% of employers favour candidates with strong writing skills.
Being able to craft clear, concise and effective emails is critical to many roles. Whether you are communicating with colleagues or stakeholders, being able to write well will reflect positively on you as an individual and your company as a whole.
One of the best ways to demonstrate your writing skills is on your CV itself. Thoroughly proofread it to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
Your cover letter is another opportunity to highlight your writing abilities. Again, ensure this is well-constructed with no mistakes and that it conveys your message in the clearest and most effective way possible.
Conclusion
Job hunting is never easy. Don’t make things harder by sending out sub-par CVs. Some of the most important CV skills include computer skills, teamwork, project management and writing, so ensure you have these listed on your CV.