How to Use the Skills Section on Your Resume

How to Use the Skills Section on Your ResumePersonally, I like a tidy resume. I like my job descriptions to pull their weight, my education to speak for itself, and my titelbild letter to do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to describing the soft skills and experience that make me the best candidate for the job. But Danny Rubin over at SavvyIntern.com may have convinced me that a separate Skills section is worth its weight in resume real estate googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) First off, Rubin clarifies, personality traits are notlage skills. Your work ethic, your diligence, your optimismthese are terrific qualities, but they dont belong in a list alongside technical expertise with Word, Photoshop, or Content Management Systems. Skills are tangible, practical, hands-on, real world stuff you have to learn how to do.The best part is that skills involving certifications or hours of practice show hiring managers that youve got a strong work ethic and time management skillsConsider featuring these types of skillsProject management tools you know how to use (ex Basecamp)Certifications youve completedSocial media channels you understand (but its not enough to say Proficient at LinkedIn you need to go deeper like Proficient at LinkedIn advertising and provide info on a niche topic within the platform)Data analysis, fundraising, marketing, sales, or IT tools/softwareLanguages you speakYou can mention soft skills if theyre specific to the position like if the job requires you to work from home, then you can write Experience with virtual teams or Experience working independently (if you had written Focused and motivatedthats vague and wont help you)DO NOT includeMicrosoft Office everyone knows how to use those programs by now*(I actually disagree with this last onethere are plenty of people lost in GoogleDocs or Pages who still dont know how to make the most out of Excel, but use your best judgment.)Remember to make y our titelblatt letter show what you can do, rather than just describing what youve done. Have compelling anecdotes and success stories ready to deploy in your letter or your interview, so they know youre not just a list of skills, but a reservoir of professional experience they want on their side.Heres What Your Resume Skills Section Should Tell an EmployerRead More at The Savvy Intern