10 Ways to Write a Skills Forward Resume

We've often heard it said that in the now of work, it's all about skills. We know what that means for the workplace but how does that look on your resume?

Here are ten ways you can make your resume skills - forward and position yourself to stand out as the best fit for the job.

1. Use a Skills-Based Format: Recruiters expect you to organize your CVs/resumes in a skills-based format, prominently featuring relevant skills at the top of the document. This allows recruiters to quickly assess your qualifications and suitability for the role.
2. Optimize Keywords: incorporate industry and role-specific keywords and phrases throughout your CVs/resume to ensure alignment with job descriptions and applicant tracking systems (ATS). You increase your chances of being noticed by recruiters during the initial screening process.
3. Quantify your Skills: Quantify your skills whenever possible, using metrics or examples to demonstrate proficiency and impact. This provides tangible evidence of your abilities and potential contributions to the organization.
4. Highlight your Transferable Skills: Highlight transferable skills that are relevant across multiple industries or roles. This broadens your appeal to recruiters and increases your versatility in the job market.
5. Use Skills Clusters: Instead of listing skills individually, you should group related skills into clusters or categories, such as technical skills, soft skills, and leadership skills. This organization facilitates easier comprehension for recruiters and emphasizes the breadth of your capabilities.
6. Skill-Level Proficiency: You should indicate your proficiency level for critical skills in the job description. However, rather than just write “beginner” or advanced”, briefly enumerate the things you can do with the skill. For example, creating macros or using pivot tables when applying for a role that requires them for MS Excel. Remember, your idea of “advanced” might be different from the recruiter and you want to help them gauge your expertise accurately and match it with the requirements of the role.
7. Write a Skills-Based Summary/Objective: Rather than traditional career objectives, include a skills-based summary at the beginning of your CV/resume. This succinctly highlights your core competencies and value proposition to potential employers.
8. Evidence for Skills Validation: Recruiters expect you to provide evidence to validate your claimed skills. This could include relevant projects, certifications, training programs, or endorsements from previous employers or colleagues.
9. Continuous Learning Mentions: Show your commitment to continuous learning and skill development by mentioning relevant courses, workshops, or professional certifications you have completed. This showcases your proactive approach to staying current in their field.
10. Align your Skills with the Job Requirements: Recruiters prioritize candidates whose skills closely align with the specific requirements of the job. Therefore, you should tailor your CVs/resumes for each position, emphasizing the skills most relevant to the role and industry.

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I am an HR Professional and Career Fitness Coach based in Lagos, Nigeria. I am the Founder of Toyin Talks Talent (T3), a career coaching and mentoring platform for youths and purpose-focused professionals. I also run T3 Torchbearers Academy, a Non-Profit Organisation aimed at equipping graduates with employability skills and enabling them to excel in their careers. When I’m not working or writing, I enjoy reading and trying out new recipes on my family.

Follow me on social media @Oluwatoyin Puddicombe or @toyintalkstalent