We’ve all heard the age-old advice, Keep your resume to a single page. For some, this is a challenge and, if you’re in this camp, you’ve likely spent hours wrestling over what information to cull and what to showcase.

For others, finding enough content to create a full-page resume can be challenging—perhaps you don’t have much work experience, or you’ve spent the majority of your career with the same company. It’s easy to feel as though written documentation of your work experience could barely fill a note card much less an entire page.

But, not so fast.

 

Have you showcased your soft skills?

Soft skills – Those non-tech skills that tell a future employer how you work instead of what you can do—are often overlooked, when they should be highlighted in your resume to drive home the notion that you are a well-rounded employee. After all, these are the intangible characteristics that are useful across industries and are difficult for employers to teach.

As author Peggy Klaus noted, “Soft skills get little respect, but they can make or break your career.” If you can show potential employers you already possess them, you’ll put yourself ahead of your competition.

So, what soft skills are employers looking for? Here are 3 soft skills that should be worked into your resume content.

Leadership

Even if the position you’re applying for is in management, employers want to know you have the ability to inspire team members and are a strategic thinker.

There’s a reason companies create detailed job descriptions – They’re telling you exactly what they want. Take time to review the listing and search for the leadership qualities they are looking for, then adjust your resume language accordingly.

Perhaps you were an integral part of the adoption of a new business strategy for your current company. You may have organised specific meetings or team events. Even examples of handling things gone wrong can show potential employers you have the leadership skills they are looking for. Be specific and quantify when you can – if the product launch you organised led to a 15% bump in sales, include it in your resume. Details will catch the eye of the person reviewing your resume and set you apart from others.

Communication

I don’t care what industry you’re in or what position you’re applying for—highlighting your communication skills is a must when it comes to resume writing. And, simply writing “excellent written and verbal communication skills” just isn’t enough.

Employers are looking for candidates who can adjust their delivery and tone depending on who they’re speaking to, so it’s important to include examples in your resume that highlight your flexibility when communicating.

 

Some examples might include:

  • Welcoming new hires and providing an overview of company culture
  • Interacting with potential customers and clients (again if you can quantify here, do it. If you know the percentage of clients you landed for your previous employers or sales that were a result of your ability to communicate with customers, write it down)
  • Facilitating monthly training for a group of employees

Again, it’s always wise to review the job description and see what communication skills the company is looking for, then adjust your information to fit.

Adaptability

While it may seem rather ambiguous, showcasing your adaptability can make all the difference in determining whether you get the job. Every employer knows that disruption is a part of doing business, and knowing a candidate has the flexibility to pivot when disruptions come out of left increases the likelihood they’ll get the job.

Think of instances when you’ve faced unexpected challenges or roadblocks in your current position. How did you handle them? If your business underwent a change in management, you likely experienced growing pains during the transition – what did you to ease them? Did your company implement a new software system? Convey your enthusiasm for learning new skills and how you supported coworkers during the change.

The key here is letting new employers know you can thrive in ambiguous environments and are confident in your own decision-making abilities.

At the end of the day, the point of having a resume is to showcase how uniquely qualified you are for a position. Using boring catchphrases like a go-getter, self-starter, or positive attitude is a sure way to guarantee your resume gets lost in the HR ether.

Do yourself a favor and beef up your resume by incorporating specific and, when possible, quantified soft skills into the body of your resume (heck, include a few in your cover letter, too). It’s what employers are looking for-just ask the folks at LinkedIn who found, in their 2019 Global Talent Trends research, a whopping 91% of companies felt soft skills were most important to the future of recruiting and HR.

If the idea of fleshing out your resume in a way that is cohesive and clear feels overwhelming, know that we are here to help. Our resume services are reasonably priced and will ensure you make the best first impression.

Contact us here for a custom quote. We look forward to making your resume unforgettable.