How do you optimize your skills section?

1 Choose the right format

The format of your skills section can vary depending on your industry, experience, and preference. A functional format is ideal for career changers, fresh graduates, or those with gaps in their employment as it focuses on skills and abilities rather than work history. Skills can be grouped into categories such as communication, technical, or leadership and examples of how they were used in various contexts should be provided. A combination format combines elements of the functional and chronological formats by listing skills and achievements alongside work history and education. This is suitable for those with a balanced mix of skills and experience or who want to emphasize both aspects of their profile. Lastly, a targeted format tailors the skills section to the specific job being applied for by researching the job description, company, and industry to identify the most relevant and sought-after skills for the role. These should be highlighted in the resume using keywords that match the employer’s expectations.

2 Use keywords and action verbs

Keywords are words or phrases that describe your skills, abilities, and achievements in a concise and specific way. They help you showcase your value and relevance to the employer, as well as pass through the applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan resumes for keywords. You can find keywords in the job description, the company website, or industry publications. Some examples of keywords are: proficient in, certified in, managed, delivered, or improved.

Action verbs are words that describe what you did or accomplished with your skills. They help you demonstrate your impact and results, as well as add variety and energy to your resume. You should use strong and active verbs that show your initiative, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Some examples of action verbs are: created, implemented, led, resolved, or increased.

3 Quantify and qualify your skills

Quantifying and qualifying your skills means providing evidence and details that support your claims and show your achievements. Quantifying means using numbers, percentages, or metrics to measure your impact and results. Qualifying means using adjectives, adverbs, or modifiers to describe your level, quality, or scope of your skills. You should use both methods to make your skills section more specific, credible, and impressive. Some examples of quantifying and qualifying your skills are: increased sales by 25% in six months, proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator, or led a team of 10 engineers on a complex project.

4 Prioritize and organize your skills

Prioritizing and organizing your skills means choosing the most relevant and impressive skills for the job and arranging them in a logical and clear way. You should prioritize your skills based on the employer's needs, preferences, and expectations, as well as your own strengths and goals. You should organize your skills based on their importance, frequency, or category, and use subheadings, bullet points, or columns to separate them. You should also avoid listing too many or too few skills, and aim for a balance between hard and soft skills. Some examples of prioritizing and organizing your skills are: listing your most relevant skills first, grouping your skills by category, or using a table or a chart to display your skills.

5 Review and update your skills

Reviewing and updating your skills means checking your skills section for accuracy, consistency, and relevance. You should review your skills section before sending your resume to any employer, and make sure that it matches the job description, the company culture, and the industry standards. You should also update your skills section regularly, and add any new skills, certifications, or achievements that you have acquired or improved. You should also remove any outdated, irrelevant, or redundant skills that do not add value to your resume. Some examples of reviewing and updating your skills are: proofreading your skills section for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors, customizing your skills section for each job application, or adding new skills that you learned from online courses, volunteer work, or personal projects.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?