Prove your skills and capabilities on your Resume

Demonstrate HOW you have applied your skills

Written by: LAURA BIGGS

When it comes to job applications, your resume is your primary tool for making a strong first impression on the reader. A crucial aspect of crafting an impressive resume is showcasing your skills and focusing on HOW you have developed and used your competencies, rather than merely listing WHAT competencies you have.

Here are some points to consider in crafting evidence of your skills.

1. Incorporate Keywords
Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes for relevance to the advertised position. Increase your chances of passing through ATS scans, by including keywords from the job description throughout your resume. These keywords should accurately reflect your skills and expertise.

2. Select the Right Skills
The foundation of a skill-centric resume is selecting the right skills to highlight. Start by carefully reviewing the job posting and identifying the specific skills, qualifications and requirements. Tailor your resume to match the job requirements, making it immediately clear that you are a suitable candidate for the role.

3. Create a Dedicated Skills Section
Create a dedicated skills section near the top of your resume. By giving examples of your capabilities early on, you instill confidence in the recruiter or hiring manager that your application is relevant and worth further exploring.

Be cautious not to make this section Hard to read. Pay attention to spacing and avoid heavy text like bold or underlining.

Some examples of headings could be:

• Technical skills
• New Business Development
• Revenue Generation
• Stakeholder Relationship Management
• Communication Skills: Public Speaking, Writing skills and Presentations (you could cluster a group of ‘like’ skills like this)

4. Prove HOW you have used these skills
Take each category and tell the story to provide evidence of your proficiency.

STEP 1 – Create the context of your example and explain what objectives you had to achieve.

Begin each skill statement with a strong action verb. Words like “achieved,” “managed,” “developed,” and “implemented “make your accomplishments more compelling, can bring your skills to life and demonstrate your ability to act and produce results.

“Direct what you want the recruiter or hiring manager to see about you.”

Here is an example:
“The organisation was challenged by a significant shift in the market which required a zero-based approach to our current offering. I was tasked with …..”

STEP 2 – Explain the impact of your actions

Whenever possible, include quantifiable evidence. This could involve percentages, numbers, or specific accomplishments that illustrate your skills in action.

For instance:
“My initiatives increased customer engagement by 30%.”, “I led a cross-functional team of 10 members to successfully launch a new product.”, “I delivered a solution resulting in a major contract valued at more than $5m per annum”.

Continue to differentiate your skills and value in your resume
You can now use other sections in your resume to further enhance evidence of your value to the role.

Here are some other sections to focus on:

*Career highlights: Note awards, recognitions and promotions received.
*Qualifications and training: If you have relevant certifications or have completed training courses, create a separate section on your resume to showcase them. Include details like the institution, the certification or course name, and the date of completion. This not only underscores your skills but also demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning.
*References: Select referees who can deliver further evidence and endorse your capabilities relevant to this role.

Remember the golden rule! One size does not fit all when it comes to resumes. Customise your resume for each job application by adjusting the skills section and work experience details to align with the requirements of the position.

Crafting your resume in this way allows you to control the focus on your career highlights and direct what you want the recruiter or hiring manager to see about you. Tell your own unique story.

“Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!” Dr.Seuss.