When you write a resume you want to highlight your skills. What some workers don’t realize, however, is that there are two different types of skills. We separate them into “soft” and “hard” skills. Employers are looking for both, and the employment staffing experts here at CRG can help you figure out the difference between these types of skills and how to best shine a spotlight on what you could bring to a new role.
What Are Hard Skills?
First, let’s take a closer look at what’s considered a hard skill. Hard skills are usually more technical and show off something that you’ve learned. It required some sort of training and practice. Knowing how to use a specific type of machine or software could be considered a hard skill. Even mastery of a foreign language can be considered a hard skill, because it took training and practice to learn.
Different industries require different types of hard skills, and often you’ll have to show in some kind of assessment that you’re competent with the tools that you’ll need to use every day in this position.
What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are more like personality traits. Are you a natural leader? Are you good at communicating? Can you manage time well? These are not skills that are taught, but they can have a huge effect on how you perform at work. Mastering certain soft skills will make you a more effective employee and improve your work environment. Sometimes soft skills can even be seen as more valuable, because they’re harder to teach than a technical skill. If it seems like you have the traits needed to do the job, but you might need some more training with the software used to perform it, a hiring manager may bring you on board simply because they believe that your soft skills are valuable and that certain hard skills can be taught later.
How Do You Highlight Your Skills?
Highlighting hard skills on your resume can be an effective way to show an employer what you can do. You can list off what kinds of software you can use, what database tools you’ve worked with, and any extra skills, like a second language, that show that you can do the job.
As for soft skills, it’s a little harder to list traits like dependability, empathy, or creativity on a resume. Instead you may have to show that you possess these soft skills with your accomplishments and during the interview itself.
If you had a leadership position, list it on your resume. Show up on time for the interview. Maintain eye contact and show that you can actively listen during your interview, asking follow up questions that show you’re paying attention. Between your printed resume and your interview itself, you can successfully show off both of your skill sets.
Your Employment Recruiters in Greensboro, NC
So now that you know more about skills and the best ways to show a company what you’re capable of, why not contact the employment recruiters at CRG? Call us at 844-CRG-WORK and see how we can help you find the next step in your career. We’re ready to match your skills with an employer who can use them!
