By: Lise Kalla Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School Resume Skills By: Lise Kalla Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School

Why include a section about skills on my resume? If you have little job experience in that field, listing your relevant skills shows the employer that you are qualified for the job. Some skills are specific for one type of job. They are called technical skills. Some skills are needed for almost every type of job. They are called soft skills.

Most Wanted Skills The next slide will list the top 10 skills employers are looking for. The first nine are soft skills. The 10th is technical skills.

Top 10 Skills Employers are Looking for Leadership Problem-solving skills Written communication skills Ability to work on a team Analytical/quantitative skills Strong work ethic Verbal communication skills Initiative Computer skills Technical skills Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Job Outlook 2013.

How do I get these skills? Soft Skills are learned and practiced in every day life through home, school, work, sports, and community involvement. Technical skills are usually learned and practiced when you perform specific job-related tasks or take specific job-related classes.

How do I show my skills on a resume? Create a skills section for your resume Create three or four headings from the top 10 skills list One heading should be for technical skills related to that job. The heading name can be changed to match the job. The other two or three headings should be skills that you are strong in AND are important for that job. Summarize two or more ways you have practiced each skill Use action verbs

How do I summarize the ways I practiced the skills? Make a list of all of the things you have done related to the skills category. Group similar activities together Write a statement for each type of thing you have done, beginning with an action verb. For ideas, see the next 10 slides.

Leadership …times that you were in charge of something. Think about… Examples …times that you were in charge of something. Managed group assignments in class. Led 100-member organization at school. Directed youth group at church.

Problem-Solving Think about… Examples …when you saw something wasn’t right and you made it better. …when you realized what could be and then you made it happen. Implemented ink cartridge recycling program at school. Developed methodology for conducting scientific experiments. Coordinated staffing of concession stand at football games.

Written Communication Skills Think about… Examples …when you wrote something you were proud of. Developed multimedia advertising campaign in business class. Composed business letters for a variety of purposes. Wrote research papers in MLA format. Earned high honors in English Language Arts class.

Teamwork …when you worked well with others. Think about… Examples …when you worked well with others. Participated in a variety of team sports. Worked in group projects at school. Served on committee to improve school grounds.

Analytical/Quantitative Skills Think about… Examples …times you had to put something together. …times you had to figure something out. …times you worked with math or science. Graphed and interpreted the results of a student survey. Developed a membership database for FBLA. Earned high honors in math class.

Strong Work Ethic …things you have stuck with for a long time. Think about… Examples …things you have stuck with for a long time. …events you attended regularly or came early and stayed late to get the job done. …rewards you received for a job well done. Achieved student of the month award for the social studies department. Played baseball for eight seasons. Received perfect attendance award five years in a row.

Verbal Communication Skills Think about… Examples …when you spoke in front of others. …times that you used persuasive speech. Presented speeches with visual aids in class. Served customers at football concession stand. Sold products for school to friends and neighbors. Read books to elementary school children.

Initiative Organized carnival fund raiser for church. Think about… Examples …times you did something meaningful without being asked. …you created the means to achieve something you wanted. Organized carnival fund raiser for church. Implemented marketing strategy for my lawn care business.

Computer Skills Completed three levels of computer classes. Think about… Examples …the many things you have done with computers …classes you have taken that focused on the use of computers. …specific computer applications you worked with. …recognition of your computer skills. …industry certifications will be listed in the Education section. Completed three levels of computer classes. Created graphs and charts using Microsoft Excel.

Technical Skills Think about… Examples …how you practiced specific skills that would be helpful for the job you seek. …recognition of your job-specific skills. …industry certifications will be listed in the Education section. Handled money at football concession stand. (cashier) Completed class on small engines. (auto repair shop) Supervised younger siblings (child care) Earned most valuable player in three baseball games. (assistant coach)