Writing a great resume might be a challenging task. Each time you apply for a job, your resume should be crafted for the specific position you’re applying for. The most critical part of your resume is the skills section since it tells the recruiter what you can do and how you can contribute to the company.
But how do you know which skills to include in your resume? Or where to place them?
Where to Place The Skills on Your Resume
Let’s start with the placement of your skills. The structure of your application, or more specifically, you resume, depends on many factors. In general, there are two types of resumes—one and two-column.
In any case, you start off with some personal information such as introducing yourself and giving some contact details.
If you choose to go with a one-column resume, the skills section should go right after the intro.
In the two-column resume, your most relevant skills should be placed at the top of the right section so they catch the eye of the reader.
Your resume will be more likely to stand out if you style it and highlight the skills and make them easily recognizable for recruiters and employers.
[RELATED: Resumes: 11 Ways To Impress an Employer in One Minute]
Hard and Soft Skills
Once you know where to put your skills, we should discuss what skills, in particular, you should include.
Generally speaking, skills can be divided into two main groups—hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are the teachable ones, the ones you can learn in a classroom or through learning materials. Some examples would be a second language or a commercial driver’s license.
While recruiters and employers can see proof of your hard skills, soft skills are hard to quantify. Soft skills, also known as interpersonal or social skills, includes every type of skill related to your interactions with other people.
Such skills are typically obtained through professional or personal experience. Some examples of soft skills are:
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Leadership
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Non-verbal communication
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Persistence
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Persuasion
If you want to find out what are the best skills you can put on your resume, check out the infographic below!
The 8 Best Skills to Put on Your Resume (INFOGRAPHIC)
