Isn't 2019 flying past us at turbo speed? With Halloween around the corner and the Christmas countdown underway, we wanted to slow things down and go over an important feature that your CV should showcase. Hard skills and soft skills are an excellent way of boosting your CVs credibility with potential employers. But do you know what they are? Maybe it's time to find out in case you don't!
Employers are wowed when they see these skills effectively incorporated in CVs. Having them both on your CV will help you quickly land the job you have always wanted.
So, let's take a look at what they are and why you should include them.
What are hard skills?
Hard skills are teachable skills, it's as simple as that! You can learn them via training and having prior knowledge in your particular field of interest and expertise.
Some examples of hard skills are as follows:
An academic qualification such as a degree or specialised course
Proficient computer skills
Excellent typing speed
Coding ability
Proofreading skills
SEO marketing skills
Proficient knowledge of another language
Therefore, expanding your knowledge in your academic discipline or field of study means energising your career! Use them to boost your CVs credibility.
Include hard skills on your CV
The easiest way to exhibit your hard skills is to have a look at the job description of the role you are intending to apply for. If you have any relevant skills, bring them to view on your CV to grab employers attention and make you stand out from the crowd.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills are a bit more difficult to measure unlike hard skills. You usually pick these skills up during your life and work experiences. They are extremely invaluable to have and are a must for your CV as they help facilitate human connections. Without these skills, landing your ideal job would prove quite difficult.
Soft skills can include:
Written and verbal communication skills
Leadership skills
Analytical skills
Teamwork
Problem solving skills
Be sure to include the soft skills you know you have sound experience in and can effectively apply to a new position.
Include soft skills on your CV
It’s all well and good that you have soft skills under your belt. However, the best way to prove them to employers is to explain how you applied your particular soft skill to a task, and how you successfully accomplished it.
If you state that your written communication skills are second to none then a good example would start from your CV and covering letter. Do they demonstrate the high level of written communication skills you say that you have?
You’re good to go!
Now that you know what hard skills and soft skills are, be sure to include them in your CV to boost its credibility. Alongside this, ensure that you have thoroughly read through the job and person specification for the role you are applying for. You want to be a good match and equally, so does your CV.
Remember, if you tick 80% of what employers are looking for, you will have a stronger chance of moving onto the next stage.
Should you require professional CV writing help and incorporating these two skills, be sure to contact our Send Me Your CV team today. We're here to help you strengthen your chances of employment, and obtain insight into the professional world. We have helped hundreds of customers over the years and have had excellent feedback about what we do.
Flaunt these skills, apply and good luck!
