When structuring and designing your CV, you have a lot of freedom when it comes to the “skills & abilities” section. And this is the real challenge, ironically. While it’s fairly clear which information goes into the “professional experience” and “education” sections, many job seekers struggle to identify which skills are relevant to their job application. Particularly when you’ve had a lot of work experience already, you’ll likely have acquired a great number of skills and abilities – but which of these should be highlighted in your CV?
The following tips aren’t only applicable to the “skills and abilities” section of your CV, they are of enormous importance for the rest of your job application as well.
The clearer, more concise and more well-organised your information, the better. Keep in mind that recruiters are notoriously pressed for time. You’ll have the advantage over other applicants if you can deliver your arguments in a precise and comprehensible manner. Irrelevant information only wastes recruiters’ time without demonstrating your suitability for the job at hand. Be sure to exclude such information in your CV.
Ideally, you’ll want to provide proof of any skills and abilities you possess. Certificates, references and similar documents are a key element of the attachments section of your application portfolio.
It’s still very common to self-assess your proficiency in foreign languages in your CV. This is where you might use phrases such as basic proficiency, advanced proficiency, fluent in spoken and written language, business level, native speaker. You should only refer to yourself as a native speaker of a language if it’s actually the language you grew up with. If you have near-native proficiency but aren’t a true native, “near-native proficiency” is acceptable. Ensure you list your language skills in order of proficiency, from highest to lowest. The language skills section of your CV could look something like this:
Languages: English (native speaker), French (fluent in spoken and written language), Spanish (basic proficiency).
Assessing your proficiency yourself is generally acceptable, but there is a much better alternative: get your language skills certified! When applying for a job in the UK or in the EU, for instance, you could have yourself tested according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which classifies language proficiencies into six categories:
University language courses in Europe are typically tailored to this reference framework, while courses in countries like the United States may use their own national reference frameworks. You’ll usually receive a certificate upon completing the course, which you can use in your job application to prove your proficiency. Make sure to note your native language as such, though. You may also want to elaborate on practical experiences using these languages:
Languages: English (native speaker), French (CEFR C1), Spanish (CEFR B2, practical experience during a semester abroad in Seville, Spain).
There are also specialised tests for specific languages. These are explicitly tailored to these languages, so they offer an even better idea of how proficient you are. Here are some examples:
While UK employers expect applicants to have some proficiency in English, you probably won’t have to produce certificates for other languages unless these are directly related to the job for which you’re applying. Review the job advert closely, as employers typically specify which languages are required for the job and at which level of proficiency.
Pretty much every job in the digital age requires some level of proficiency with computers. Employers expect you to have a basic understanding of how to use a computer for writing business e-mails or processing digital information in one way or another. In this day and age, job advertisements won’t explicitly explain to you that you need to know how to use a mouse and keyboard. However, employers will still want to know which operating systems and software suites you’re familiar with.
You can still self-assess your proficiency level with specific software, using phrases like “basic proficiency”, “advanced proficiency”, or “expert proficiency”, but like your language skills, it’s always better to have a certificate that proves your skills and abilities. You should also provide specific examples of how you have previously used the software in question, to help recruiters understand what you can do:
IT skills: Advanced proficiency with MS Excel (experience handling macros, formulas and references); SAP (focus on inventory management); advanced proficiency with MS Word (includes using templates and serial printing); basic proficiency in using Adobe Photoshop (creating infographics).
To reiterate: Only mention skills and abilities that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Don’t try to impress recruiters by listing every piece of software you’ve used. Recruiters are typically more impressed by just a few pieces of software that fit the job perfectly and where you can demonstrate a high level of proficiency. If possible, provide them with certificates and similar proof of your skills and abilities.
In any case, you should be prepared to prove your IT skills if you present yourself as an IT expert here. You can expect recruiters to test your skills during the job interview or as part of applicant testing in an assessment centre.
That depends entirely on the job for which you’re applying. Ask yourself: Will you have to drive in order to perform your job properly?
Technically, it should be obvious which jobs require you to have a driving license, yet many applicants still mention their licenses even if the job doesn’t explicitly require one. That’s because having a car and a license allows you to be more flexible in general, which some recruiters will see as an advantage. But don’t worry if you don’t have a license. Unless the job absolutely requires one, your driving license will not determine the success of your job application.
The situation is completely different when it comes to special driving licenses. If you’re applying for a warehouse position, for example, you’ll likely need to be forklift certified, and bus drivers need to be certified to drive buses. These specific requirements are usually included in the job advert, and you’re required to prove you have the correct license needed for the job.
It’s always good to prove your skills and abilities by providing certificates. These provide an objective assessment of your skills. However, you might also consider adding an entirely new section in your CV for “further training”, including any certificates you have received through training programmes if these certificates are of central importance to your professional qualifications.
Let’s take an industrial clerk who works in goods procurement as an example:
Social or soft skills can be mentioned in your CV if these skills are integral to the job for which you’re applying. If you’re applying for a job that puts you in direct contact with customers, your soft skills may be highly relevant to your CV, so you can create a new section dedicated to these skills. This allows recruiters to quickly understand where your strengths lie. In any other case, it’s usually best to demonstrate your soft skills in your cover letter. In this case you don’t need to repeat them in your CV.
Keep in mind that you probably don’t have certificates to prove your social skills or soft skills, such as your mental resilience or your ability to communicate complex ideas. Since such skills are almost impossible to prove objectively, you should provide specific examples from your job history to illustrate these skills.
Social skills: Leadership abilities (management of various projects), mental resilience (successful completion of projects with tight deadlines), creativity (website created for The Company Ltd.)
Note: Your work history is not the only thing that shows your social skills and abilities. Hobbies can also allow recruiters to draw conclusions about your character. If you mention hobbies or voluntary work as part of your CV, recruiters will be able to understand the soft skills you possess without you explicitly mentioning them in your CV.
If you’re involved in a club or if you volunteer at certain social organisations, for example, recruiters will assume you are able to work well in teams or that you have strong social skills. Depending on your position, being a volunteer or club member could also demonstrate your organisational abilities, conflict resolution skills or leadership qualities.
If you’re unsure which skills you possess, a skills analysis can be beneficial. Employers use this technique to review the motivation and suitability of applicants for a position, but you can test yourself as well. This allows you to find out your own personal strengths and weaknesses, which can help you present yourself optimally in your job application.
First of all, you should take a look at your current job and the job you’re looking for. This helps you understand whether your current line of work really suits your abilities and your motivation. The following questions can help you with that:
This should provide you with an overview of your current job situation, including the skills and abilities you possess. You can then reflect on these skills and abilities. Make an honest assessment of how well-developed these skills are. Observe yourself in everyday life to reflect on how you’ve been working so far. You may also want to ask friends and family, as well as your colleagues, to give you some feedback on what they perceive as your strengths and weaknesses.
After identifying your personal skills and abilities, you can categorise them into the following skillsets:
All these skills are key attributes that employers look for in an employee. Try to identify whether you have any of these skills, and how well-developed they are. This will help you determine which skills are the most helpful for the job at hand, and which of them you possess. You can also review the job advert for any skills that are explicitly mentioned there. This will allow you to create a CV that effectively shows your prospective employer that you’re the right person for the job.
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