If you’re looking to boost your employment prospects, you may be tempted to list every skill you have on your resume. However, unless an employer is specifically looking for the skills you list on your resume, they may overlook your qualifications.
93% of employers want to see soft skills on your resume, but where do you even start?
You need to show, not tell, what soft skills you have on your resume.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 8 soft skills and action words that can help improve your resume. Use these action words (with examples) to demonstrate your soft skills on your resume. Let’s get started!
Table of contents
Influence
Influence is the ability to motivate people without force. It is the ability to get people to do what you want without having to use force or coercion. Influence can be used in a variety of ways, from getting people to follow your orders to getting them to conform to your beliefs.
Keywords:
◾ Negotiate
◾ Persuade
Example:
Negotiated with suppliers for a 5% reduction.
Flexibility
In order to be successful, you need to be flexible. You need to be able to adjust to changes in the environment, changes in the team, and changes in the company.
If you’re not flexible, you’ll find yourself struggling to keep up. You’ll be unable to adapt to changes and you’ll eventually be left behind.
Being flexible isn’t always easy, but it’s essential if you want to be successful. If you can’t adapt to changes, then you’ll be at a disadvantage no matter how talented you are. So be flexible – it’ll help you in the long run.
Keywords:
◾ Adapt
◾ Embrace
◾ Prioritize
◾ Develop
◾ Quick learner
Example:
Developed innovative digital marketing strategies that increased qualified leads by 10%.
Teamwork
When it comes to teamwork, the ability to work effectively in a team is one of the most important skills you can have. In order to be successful, you need to be able to take direction from your team leader and follow through with your tasks. You also need to be able to communicate with your team members and be able to work as a team.
Keywords:
◾ Morale
◾ Support
◾ Encourage
◾ Collaborate
Example:
Collaborated with the team to create and implement relevant and engaging social media plans.
Leadership
Leadership is one of the most important skills that anyone can possess, and it doesn’t matter what field you’re in. Whether you’re a business owner, a teacher, a employee, or any other type of leader, the ability to lead and influence others is essential.
Keywords:
◾ Mentor
◾ Delegate
◾ Lead
◾ Manage
Example:
Developed and managed goals and objectives for the XYZ project.
Communication
Communication is essential for any team or organization to function effectively. Whether it’s exchanging ideas and information between coworkers, sharing information with customers, or coordinating a team effort, effective communication is critical for success.
Keywords:
◾ Presenting
◾ Negotiating
◾ Stakeholder engagement
Example:
Facilitate and present monthly training to new hires.
Analytical Thinking
Analytical thinking is the ability to collect and process data related to a problem. This involves being able to think logically and systematically about a problem, and taking steps to gather as much information as possible.
By thinking analytically, you can better understand the problem and develop a solution. You can also more easily identify and correct any errors in your thinking.
Keywords:
◾ Research
◾ Data analysis
◾ Develop strategy
Example:
Researched and developed an onboarding training plan for new employees.
Time Management
Time management is an important skill for any individual, but especially for busy people who want to be successful. It’s all too easy to get sidetracked and end up working on projects that are less important than those that should be at the top of your list.
Keywords:
◾ Prioritize
◾ Delegate
◾ Met deadlines
Example:
Managed multiple initiatives while delivering continuous support to the existing team.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is essential for solving complex problems. It allows you to think through a problem and come up with a solution that is logical and well-founded.
Keywords:
◾ Implemented
◾ Troubleshooting
◾ Analysed
Example:
Analyzed customer feedback forms to develop a training session.
Conclusion
Soft skills are essential in any profession, and if you want to make sure yours stand out on your resume, use above mentioned action words to describe them.