Personal skills are the qualities and attributes you bring to the table that make you stand out as a candidate in the professional world. When compiling your resume, it’s important to include a mix of these soft skills alongside your technical abilities and experience. These are the traits that show potential employers how you interact with others, handle responsibilities, and adapt to new situations. They are essentially your personality strengths at work. By showcasing the right personal skills with concrete examples, such as leading a successful group project or managing tight deadlines, you increase your chances of catching an employer’s eye.
Related: What Are Soft Skills? (and How to Showcase Them)
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills (with Examples)
Technical Skills Examples for Resume
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills are the tools you use to interact and communicate with fellow employees, customers, and managers in an organization. These are integral for creating a positive work environment and achieving effective teamwork and collaboration.
Communication Skills
Effective communication means you are capable of sharing your ideas clearly and listening to others with an open mind. You adapt your language and tone depending on who you’re speaking to and always aim to be clear and concise.
Examples
- “Facilitated open and effective communication between cross-functional teams.”
- “Drafted comprehensive reports that simplified complex information for stakeholders.”
- “Designed and delivered engaging presentations that captivated diverse audiences.”
- “Streamlined interdepartmental emails to improve company-wide clarity and efficiency.”
- “Mediated discussions to foster understanding and mutual respect among team members.”
- “Tailored communication style to the needs of clients, enhancing customer satisfaction.”
- “Translated technical jargon into easily understandable language for end-users.”
- “Utilized active listening skills to accurately respond to client inquiries and concerns.”
- “Collaborated with international partners, navigating cultural and linguistic barriers.”
- “Maintained open lines of communication during high-stress situations, ensuring team cohesion.”
Teamwork
Your ability to work within a team to achieve shared goals is indispensable. You show adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to learn from your colleagues.
Examples
- “Coordinated with team members to successfully complete project milestones ahead of deadlines.”
- “Leveraged the strengths of diverse team members to enhance project outcomes.”
- “Participated in shaping a collaborative team culture that values everyone’s input.”
- “Supported team members, providing constructive feedback and assistance when necessary.”
- “Actively engaged in team brainstorming sessions, contributing innovative ideas.”
- “Assisted in aligning team objectives with company goals for increased productivity.”
- “Promoted teamwork by organizing team-building activities that fostered trust and collaboration.”
- “Participated in a cross-functional team that improved processes, saving the company time and money.”
- “Helped to create a supportive environment that encouraged risk-taking and creativity.”
- “Played a key role in a team recognized for exceeding service delivery expectations.”
Conflict Resolution
Your competence in resolving disputes demonstrates your ability to manage emotions and negotiate effectively. You work to find common ground and aim for solutions that satisfy all parties involved. On your resume, you might describe your conflict resolution skills like this:
Examples
- “Resolved conflicts among team members, facilitating compromise and collaborative solutions.”
- “Implemented a step-by-step mediation strategy to de-escalate client disputes.”
- “Negotiated between conflicting parties to reach mutually beneficial agreements.”
- “Applied emotional intelligence to understand different perspectives in workplace conflicts.”
- “Devised conflict-resolution protocols that reduced tensions and improved morale.”
- “Arbitrated a major client conflict that resulted in a renewed service contract.”
- “Managed sensitive employee relations issues with discretion and fairness.”
- “Fostered an inclusive culture that minimized conflicts through proactive communication.”
- “Trained team members in conflict resolution techniques, contributing to a more harmonious workplace.”
- “Addressed customer complaints swiftly, restoring trust and preventing potential churn.”
Empathy
Possessing empathy means you have the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. This skill can lead to better teamwork and more effective leadership.
Examples
- “Provided empathetic customer service that increased repeat business.”
- “Recognized by management for consistently empathizing with team members and addressing personal concerns.”
- “Incorporated client feedback into service delivery, enhancing client satisfaction and engagement.”
- “Mentored new hires by attentively understanding their challenges and guiding them through their transition.”
- “Cultivated a customer-centric approach that improved client retention rates.”
- “Adapted services to meet the needs of individuals from various cultural backgrounds.”
- “Demonstrated ability to connect with dissatisfied customers, turning negative experiences into positive outcomes.”
- “Leveraged empathy to diffuse emotional client situations, resulting in positive resolutions.”
- “Championed diversity initiatives, fostering an environment of understanding and respect.”
- “Applied an empathetic listening approach to better address employee suggestions and concerns.”
Organizational Skills
Organizational skills demonstrate your ability to plan, prioritize, and achieve goals efficiently. These skills are highly valued across various professions because they help you to maintain productivity and manage responsibilities effectively.
Time Management
Managing your time effectively means you prioritize tasks and work on the most important ones first. It’s important to know how to structure your day to maximize efficiency.
Time Management Examples for Your Resume:
- “Prioritized tasks to meet project deadlines consistently”
- “Scheduled weekly planning sessions to outline tasks and goals”
- “Balanced multiple projects without sacrificing attention to detail”
- “Implemented time tracking tools to monitor task durations”
- “Developed daily to-do lists and updated them throughout the day”
- “Organized work calendar with color-coded priorities”
- “Streamlined workflow by identifying and eliminating time-wasters”
- “Allocated break times to enhance focus and productivity”
- “Monitored deadlines and adjusted schedules proactively”
- “Utilized planning apps to manage team schedules and appointments”
Decision Making
Decision making is about choosing the best course of action. It’s important to show that you can assess situations, consider various perspectives, and decide on the right move forward for the benefit of the team or project.
Decision Making Examples for Your Resume:
- “Evaluated and selected vendors that cut costs by 15%”
- “Analyzed client feedback to drive product improvements”
- “Identified risks to prevent potential issues down the line”
- “Chose effective marketing strategies that improved brand awareness”
- “Led team meetings to decide on project directions”
- “Made timely decisions under pressure to meet client needs”
- “Weighed pros and cons before implementing new company procedures”
- “Collaborated on budget allocation for department resources”
- “Negotiated contracts to secure the best terms for the company”
- “Decided on staffing assignments based on skill levels and workload distribution”
Problem-Solving Skills
Being adept at problem-solving is highly valued in any job market. This section will give you insight into demonstrating your skills in critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and analytical abilities on your resume.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking means making reasoned judgments that are logical and well-thought-out. It is a way of thinking in which you don’t simply accept all arguments and conclusions you are exposed to but rather have an attitude involving questioning such arguments and conclusions. You might demonstrate your critical thinking abilities by taking complex projects and breaking them down into manageable steps.
Examples
- “Evaluated multiple vendors to optimize supply chain efficiency”
- “Assessed client needs to develop a more focused marketing strategy”
- “Determined the root cause of repetitive issues to prevent recurrence”
- “Orchestrated a workflow redesign, increasing team productivity by 20%”
- “Led a task force to resolve a persistent quality control problem”
- “Implemented a new testing protocol to improve product reliability”
- “Analyzed customer feedback to enhance service delivery models”
- “Conducted a comprehensive review to decrease budget expenditures”
- “Critiqued project proposals to ensure alignment with company goals”
- “Appraised competing technology solutions to aid strategic planning”
Creative Problem-Solving
Creative problem-solving means using innovation or lateral thinking to find solutions to complex issues. You can display your ability in this area by highlighting instances where you thought outside the box or proposed unique solutions to challenges.
Examples
- “Devised a novel customer loyalty program that increased repeat business”
- “Crafted a new interface design that enhanced user experience and satisfaction”
- “Initiated a recycling program that cut down waste and operational costs”
- “Invented a time-saving tool that streamlined the team’s data entry process”
- “Formulated an alternative sales strategy that captured a new market segment”
- “Piloted a social media campaign that doubled online engagement”
- “Revamped an outdated filing system, increasing retrieval efficiency”
- “Launched a cross-training program that maximized staff versatility”
- “Executed a creative workflow that accelerated project completion times”
- “Engineered a cost-saving solution that also improved customer service”
Analytical Abilities
Your analytical abilities are showcased when you systematically examine and interpret data patterns to gain an understanding and drive decision making. In your resume, you can focus on situations where your data analysis skills directly contributed to better decisions or enhanced outcomes.
Examples
- “Interpreted sales data to redirect marketing efforts and boost revenue”
- “Condensed complex data sets into clear, actionable reports”
- “Mapped out user experience trends to guide product development plans”
- “Correlated customer service metrics to implement targeted improvements”
- “Utilized analytics to optimize website content for search engine ranking”
- “Discerned patterns in user behavior to tailor the e-commerce platform”
- “Leveraged analytics tools to track and report on social media performance”
- “Segmented market data to identify and pursue untapped customer bases”
- “Quantified production metrics to pinpoint areas for process enhancement”
- “Applied statistical methods to refine inventory management strategies”
Leadership Skills
When you showcase leadership skills on your resume, you’re demonstrating your ability to guide a team towards a common goal. It’s important to articulate how you can inspire and influence others through specific actions and strategies.
Delegation
Delegation means entrusting tasks to team members based on their strengths and skills. You help the team progress efficiently while developing individual capabilities.
Examples
- “Managed a team of 10 and effectively distributed tasks to align with individual strengths”
- “Entrusted junior staff with key projects to foster skills development and career growth”
- “Defined clear roles and responsibilities within the team to streamline project execution”
- “Oversaw a successful delegation system that boosted team productivity by 25%”
- “Appointed team leaders to oversee segments of projects, strengthening leadership pipeline”
- “Matched tasks with expertise, resulting in improved quality of work and staff satisfaction”
- “Delegated administrative duties to appropriate staff, maximizing time for strategic tasks”
- “Fostered a culture of trust by delegating critical tasks to capable team members”
- “Implemented a task rotation program to enhance cross-functional team expertise”
- “Coordinated the delegation of work during high-stake projects, ensuring timely completion”
Motivational Techniques
Motivational techniques are strategies you use to encourage and energize your team so they remain engaged and committed to their work.
Examples
- “Implemented an employee recognition program that increased team morale and productivity”
- “Organized team-building retreats that enhanced collaboration and cohesiveness”
- “Championed a mentorship program that motivated employees to achieve personal and professional goals”
- “Conducted regular progress meetings to celebrate milestones and motivate continuous effort”
- “Introduced flexible work options to maintain high levels of team motivation and well-being”
- “Established a system of constructive feedback that motivated employees to excel and innovate”
- “Led by example to inspire and motivate team members during challenging periods”
- “Developed incentive programs aligned with team and individual performance goals”
- “Used positive communication to boost team spirit and maintain high motivation”
- “Encouraged skill development through workshops, benefiting both employees and project outcomes”
Strategic Planning
Strategic planning means outlining a long-term vision and breaking it down into actionable steps. Your ability to anticipate future trends and adapt plans accordingly is key.
Examples
- “Formulated a 5-year strategic plan that resulted in a 40% growth in company market share”
- “Led cross-departmental teams in the development of a strategic product launch roadmap”
- “Analyzed market trends to inform long-term business strategies and competitive positioning”
- “Orchestrated the strategic shift of business focus which increased customer acquisition by 30%”
- “Designed and supervised a risk management strategy that safeguarded the company during economic downturns”
- “Hosted strategy workshops to align team objectives with company goals”
- “Constructed a resource allocation plan to support strategic initiatives without disrupting operations”
- “Set measurable goals to track the success of strategic endeavours and pivot when necessary”
- “Facilitated the reorganization of company structure to improve operational efficiency and meet strategic aims”
- “Collaborated with key stakeholders to ensure strategic plans were robust and achievable”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some examples of personal skills to list on a resume?
When listing personal skills on your resume, consider including effective communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and time management. These soft skills can demonstrate your ability to work well in various environments and with different teams.
How can you describe personal skills in a sentence for a CV?
You can describe personal skills on a CV with a sentence like: “Adept at conflict resolution and negotiation, with a strong ability to communicate effectively with diverse teams.” This showcases specific skills and provides context for how you use them.
Can you give examples of unique personal skills that stand out on a resume?
Unique personal skills that could make your resume stand out include emotional intelligence, cross-cultural literacy, and advanced problem-solving abilities. Including innovative thinking or the ability to learn and apply new technologies quickly can also be advantageous.
In what way should you present personal interests and hobbies on your resume?
Present your personal interests and hobbies on your resume in a concise manner, linking them to job-related skills whenever possible. For instance, if you’re an avid chess player, you could note that it hones your strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
What are the top personal skills employers look for in fresh graduates?
Employers typically seek fresh graduates with strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work under pressure, and enthusiasm for learning and professional development. Demonstrating that you’re results-oriented and have a proactive approach can be particularly effective.
What are some professional skills that can enhance your resume?
Professional skills that can enhance your resume include project management, technical skills relevant to your industry, foreign language proficiency, and proficiency with specific software tools. Highlighting these skills shows you possess both the soft and hard skills required for the job.