If you’re looking to get hired, you need to build your resume. While soft skills like punctuality, good communication, and the ability to work in a team are valued, it’s the practical skills you have that will make you stand out to employers.
Having hard skills in using different kinds of software and knowing about the business will help you beat your competition when it comes to getting hired. Here are 7 valuable hard skills that look great on any resume or CV.
Writing and Editing
Copywriters are always in demand. With content marketing being one of the most effective ways to boost a business, companies are always looking for people who can produce engaging writing.
All kinds of writing will help. Some companies need short blog posts that can improve SEO and bring a wide readership to their website. Others look for in-depth technical writing for eBooks that can appeal to a more knowledgeable audience. Even knowing how to write fun social media posts is a skill that many employers look for in 2018.
Having excellent writing and formatting skills is key here- make sure you always grammar-check and proofread your work. Editing is another valuable skill. If you have the ability to rearrange someone else’s thoughts in writing, then many employers have a place for you.
Marketing
When it comes to bringing in new clients and customers, every business needs marketing. Even if you’re not a marketing employee, knowing how to promote a business and entice new people will look great on your resume.
This can involve all kinds of things, but digital marketing is especially important in 2018. If you have a huge following on social media, pitch this to businesses as a marketing asset. Knowing about content marketing, email marketing, and being proficient with tools like MailChimp and HootSuite will also help.
Employers will love you if you can help them with their marketing strategy. Knowing how to engage a specific audience or demographic is a very bankable skill. If you know how to persuade people and get them interested in something, put this on your list of skills.
Administrative Skills
If you can help a company with managing their workload and keeping the office organized, this is a skill that can get you hired. Administrative skills, such as public administration, involve both soft skills like time management and organization and hard skills in using computer software.
There’s no reason not to have Microsoft Office on your resume in 2018. You should also know how to use common business software and apps like Google’s G Suite and Slack. It’s a bonus if you can help them with modern software like content management systems and scheduling software.
The more you can offer administrative tasks, the better. These are a huge part of any business and being able to contribute and boost office efficiency is a profitable asset.
Data Analysis
Being able to collect data, read it, and apply it to improve a business makes you valuable to any employer.
There are all kinds of ways this can be applied. For instance, knowing your way around Google Analytics can help you improve the marketing efforts of an organization. You might also be skilled in dealing with financial data to fine-tune a company’s budget.
Being able to delve deep into in-depth data and use it is even more valuable. It’s even better if you know ways to collect data that will help a business. Some companies even revolve around the collection and analysis of data, and this is more valuable than ever nowadays.
You→ Good Resume →Job
Image and Video Editing
Another computer skill that many employers appreciate is the ability to edit pictures and videos. A lot of companies need this for their marketing efforts, but it can come also come in useful in other ways.
Being able to quickly take pictures and edit them for use on marketing materials is a fantastic skill. Being able to plan out interesting videos to reach out to a target audience is even better. These are valuable technical skills for many jobs.
Image and video editing also come into use for social media. Creating content that’s likely to get views on YouTube and Instagram is a big plus for any kind of business. If you know your way around PhotoShop, Adobe Premiere Pro, and other such tools, put it on your resume.
Coding and Programming
Coding and Programming can take a long time to master. But even some basic knowledge of things like HTML, PHP, and CSS will look fantastic on a resume. Companies often need small fixes when it comes to these things. Having someone who knows about them can be a big help.
Of course, experienced programmers can find jobs based on their programming skills alone. The more popular languages you’re experienced in, the better. One of the most valuable skills in 2018 is the ability to code mobile apps. Tons of businesses these days are looking to become mobile-friendly, so being able to help with apps can land you big wages.
These skills are great both for full-time jobs and freelance work. If you’re proficient in some coding or programming language, build up a portfolio and mention it on your resume or CV.
Sales and Persuasion Skills
These might seem like soft skills since they’re very much in line with things like communication and the ability to get ideas across effectively. But if you’re experienced at selling to anyone, this can be a huge skill.
Knowing how to relate to someone and get them interested in something is a valuable skill in all areas of business. Not only can you help with sales, but you can also help with business meetings, talking to investors, reaching out to sponsors, and all kinds of other things.
If you have the gift of the gab and powers of persuasion, make sure you put it on your resume. It’s even better if you can include examples in your resume or CV.
Conclusion
While knowing how to manage your time and work within a team will look good on your resume or CV, these practical skills will look great. Many are enough to get a job in themselves, but the more you have, the more you’ll stand out to employers.
These can come in useful in all kinds of industries. No matter what you’re applying for, make sure to include these on your list of skills and proficiencies when you’re applying to jobs.
