Your CV is one of the most important tools you have when it comes to landing a job. It's your chance to make a good first impression and sell yourself to potential employers. But what exactly are good skills to include on your CV? They could include anything from customer service to sales and marketing, teamwork and leadership skills.
In order to figure out which skills are most important for your CV, take some time to assess the job description, the industry and the requirements. This will give you a good idea of the specific skills that the employer is looking for. From there, you can begin to tailor your CV to match their needs. To help you along the process, we'll cover some of the top skills to include on your CV based on the industry you're in.
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- Key skills to include on your CV to get hired
- Hard skills vs soft skills
- Best skills to include on a CV by industry
- How to identify your most relevant skills
- How to include your best skills in a CV
What are the best skills to include on a CV to get hired?
When it comes to writing a CV, it's important to choose the right skills to include. Hiring managers often don't spend a lot of time reviewing CVs, so you need to make sure the most important information stands out. There are two types of skills that are particularly important to highlight: soft skills and hard skills.
Here are 10 of the most common skills seen in job posts:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Organisation
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Interpersonal skills
- Computer literacy
- Analytical skills
- Customer service
While there are many different skills that can be included on a CV, these 10 are some of the most essential if you want to get hired. Make sure to highlight both your soft and hard skills to give yourself the best chance of getting called for an interview.
If you're looking for a job after graduating, make sure to check out our graduate jobs. We have a range of roles in a variety of industries, and we're always updating our listings with the latest vacancies.
Hard skills vs soft skills
As we mentioned, skills can broadly be divided into two categories: hard skills and soft skills.
Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that prepare you for a particular job. They are often learned through formal education or training programs and are relatively easy to measure. Examples of hard skills include:
- Computer technology
- Data analysis
- Marketing hard skills
- Management skills
- Multilingualism
Soft skills, on the other hand, are personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others. They are often harder to quantify than hard skills, but they are just as important for success in the workplace. Examples of soft skills include:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem Solving
- Leadership
- Time Management
Because they are less tangible, soft skills can be more difficult to learn. However, they are also more transferable than hard skills, meaning they can be applied in a wide range of situations and industries. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to make a change, it's important to develop both kinds of skills. This will give you the best chance of feeling confident going into a job interview and making the most of any career opportunities that come your way.
Learn everything you need to know before you head to work with these free e-learning courses. Discover everything from how to develop your transferable and digital skills to how to smash the application process.
Best skills to include on a CV by industry
The ability to list the right skills for each industry can make all the difference when it comes to getting hired. Here is a list of skills for CV writing for different industries:
Consulting
Consultants provide expert advice to businesses and organisations. As such, they need to be able to quickly understand complex problems and find innovative solutions. They also need to be able to build relationships and communicate effectively with clients. This makes the following consulting skills essential to succeed in the industry:
Browse: Graduate consulting jobs
Retail
Retail jobs are all about customer service. To succeed in this industry, you need to be able to deal with challenging situations and provide a positive experience for the customer, while driving sales. This means having excellent communication and people skills. In addition, retail employers often look for candidates with good time management and organisation skills. So, make sure you include the following retail skills for CVs if you're applying for a retail job:
Browse: Graduate retail jobs
Engineering
Engineers are responsible for designing, developing and maintaining systems, products and structures. They need to be able to apply scientific and mathematical principles to solve problems. They also need to be able to think creatively and have strong problem-solving skills. So, to secure an interview, you need to highlight the following engineering skills on your CV:
Browse: Graduate engineering jobs
Finance
In the finance industry, employers are looking for candidates who have strong analytical and mathematical skills. They need to be able to understand financial data and make sound decisions based on this information. They also need to be able to manage risk and have strong problem-solving skills. This means that the following are key skills needed for finance jobs:
Browse: Graduate finance jobs
Banking
The banking industry is similar to the finance industry in that employers are looking for candidates with strong analytical and mathematical skills. The difference is that bankers need to have an understanding of the banking industry and the products and services that it offers. The skills needed for an investment banker also include the ability to manage risk and deal with customers in a professional yet friendly manner. This is reflected in the fact that recruiters in the banking sector look for the following skills:
Browse: Graduate banking jobs
Law
Lawyers need to be able to understand and interpret the law. They also need to be able to research legal issues, write clearly and persuasively and argue their cases in court. They also need to be able to build relationships with clients and communicate effectively with them in order to understand their needs. The skills needed for commercial law and other legal specialities include:
Browse: Graduate law jobs
Management
Managers are responsible for leading and coordinating teams of employees. They need to be able to motivate and inspire others to achieve common goals while delegating tasks, managing projects and solving problems. All in all, the key management skills that employers look for the most include:
Browse: Graduate management jobs
Marketing
Marketers create and deliver marketing campaigns that promote products or services. They need to have a deep understanding of their target audience and be able to create content that resonates with them. They also need to be effective communicators and have strong analytical skills. The top skills needed for marketing jobs include:
Browse: Graduate marketing jobs
Public sector
The public sector is made up of organisations that are responsible for providing services to the public. These include government agencies, schools and hospitals. The employees in the public sector need to have strong communication skills, as they often have to deal with difficult situations. They also need to be able to handle a large workload and be organised. Civil service skills vary depending on the organisation, but some of the key skills for CVs in the public sector include:
- Communication
- Patience
- Stress management
- Time management
- Teaching skills
Browse: Graduate public sector jobs
Sales
Salespeople are tasked with generating revenue for their organisations by selling products and services. They need to be able to identify potential customers, build relationships and close deals. They also need to be driven and motivated to meet targets, while staying organised. As a result, employers look for the following sales skills when reviewing CVs:
Browse: Graduate sales jobs
Science
Jobs in science require employees to have a deep understanding of their field. They also need to be able to apply this knowledge in practical ways. Typically, scientists need to have strong analytical and research skills and communicate their findings clearly, both in writing and verbally. The specific skills needed for a job in science will depend on the field, but some of the top skills needed in the pharmaceutical industry and other scientific fields include:
Browse: Graduate science jobs
IT
IT jobs require employees to have a deep understanding of computer systems and networks. They also need to use their technical skills to solve and troubleshoot complex problems.
Additionally, they need to be able to effectively communicate with non-technical staff and customers. Sometimes, these skills are overlooked but are still important to develop and include on your CV. The key skills for CVs in the IT industry include:
Browse: Graduate IT jobs
If you're not sure about what you want to do, don't worry. Our Career Path Test matches you with roles and sectors that are in line with your values and interests.
How to identify your most relevant skills
There are many ways to identify your most relevant skills for a job. Here are a few effective ways to spot them:
Look at the job description and requirements: Every job requires certain skills and employers will often list these in the job description. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a marketing manager, it might mention that the ideal candidate has “strong copywriting skills” and is “creative”.
You can align your CV and cover letter to showcase these specific skills to put yourself ahead of other candidates and show you've understood the requirements of the job.
Think about your previous experience and highlight your best skills: If you’ve worked in a similar role before, think about the skills that you used most often and had the most success with. Even if your previous experience isn't directly related to the job you’re applying for, it can still be relevant.
For example, if you’ve worked as a waitress in a restaurant, you’ll have gained customer service skills that can be transferred to a job in retail. To identify your transferable skills, think about the duties and responsibilities you had in your previous roles and match them to the skills required for the job you’re applying for.
Take an inventory of your personal strengths and interests: If you’re struggling to identify relevant skills, taking an inventory of your personal strengths and interests can be helpful. If you're interested in the position and think you would excel at it, there's a good chance that you have the necessary skills.
For example, if you’re a people person, customer service might be a good skill to highlight. Or, if you’re a creative thinker, you might want to focus on your ability to come up with new ideas and solve problems in innovative ways.
How to include your best skills in a CV
Once you’ve identified your most relevant skills, it’s important to include them in your CV in a way that will capture the attention of employers. Here are some tips for how to do this:
- Use keyword phrases: When employers are reviewing CVs, they often use software that allows them to scan for specific keywords. To ensure that your CV is picked up by these systems, include keyword phrases from the job description in your CV. For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, include phrases like “financial analysis”, “budgeting” and “statistical reports”.
- Highlight your skills in your CV profile: Your CV profile is a great place to showcase your most relevant skills. This brief section sits at the top of your CV and gives employers an overview of your abilities, so make sure to use it wisely. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a marketing manager, you might say something like “Results-driven marketer with 10 years of experience in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns. Skilled in copywriting, SEO, and lead generation.”
- Include a skills section in your CV: If you want to give employers a more detailed overview of your skills, you can include a dedicated skills section in your CV. This should be a short section that sits near the top of your CV, under your personal details and CV profile. Simply bullet point a list of your most relevant skills, ensuring that you include both hard and soft skills.
- Mention your skills in your work experience section: As well as including a dedicated skills section, you can also mention your best skills in your work experience section. For each role listed on your CV, include a sentence or two about the skills you used in that particular job. For example, you might say “Copywriting: Wrote compelling copy for website content, brochures, and email marketing campaigns” or “Customer Service: Dealt with customer queries and complaints in a professional and efficient manner.”
To Sum Up
As you can see, there are many skills that can be relevant to your career and are worth developing and focusing on. The key is to identify the career skills that are most important to your industry and target employers. Make sure you think about both hard skills and soft skills for CV readers to see a well-rounded individual.
It's always a good idea to keep on top of what skills are desirable in your industry and continuously work on improving your skill set. As you develop, you can include new skills on your CV in a way that will capture the attention of employers and help you stand out from the competition.
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