Core competencies refer to knowledge or expertise in a given area. It's wise to include a list of core competencies on your resume, especially as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) continue to grow in popularity. These are systems that scan resumes to check off keywords before the resume even makes it to a hiring manager's desk.
That means, with the right keywords, you can catch the eye of an ATS and subsequent recruiter. Your core competencies should include industry-relevant terms while highlighting the skills that make you unique. Let's explore some core competency examples.
Core competencies are a specific set of capabilities that a company desires in employees to help it succeed in business. When including core competencies in your resume use concise bullet points, not phrases or sentences. This makes your job a little bit easier, in terms of creation. The difficult task is choosing how to limit your list and/or select the most important competencies. A good number to aim for is 10. See how many of these examples apply to you:
Client Service - Responds to the clients and anticipate their needs
Conflict Resolution - Works to resolve differences and maintain work relationships
Corporate Training - Implements professional development and training
Creative Thinking - Looks outside the box, develops new strategies
Decision Making - Makes decisions and takes responsibility for them
Empowers Others - Gives employees confidence and allows freedom to complete tasks
Ethics - Fosters a diverse and respectful workplace
Evaluation Skills - Evaluates according to accepted methodologies
Even Temperament - Controls emotions without retaliating against negative behavior
Excellent Communication - Uses language effectively to gather information and facilitate an exchange of ideas
Flexibility - Adapts to changes while remaining focused on goals, applies knowledge to new circumstances
Influence - Enlists the support and cooperation of others and encourages them to be proactive
Initiative - Remains proactive when suggesting improvements and solving problems
Interpersonal Relations - Exhibits respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
Leadership - Establishes and guides a team effort that promotes a common goal
Management Skills - Possesses financial and people management skills, as well as the management of information
Persuasive Communication - Displays verbal and written communication that influences others
Problem Solving - Solves problems while ensuring rules and directives are followed
Project Management - Brings together every component of a project, including resources or planning, that are needed to complete it in a timely manner
Results Driven - Achieves goals in a timely manner while providing excellent client service
Risk Management and Assessment - Evaluates and minimizes risks to the company and its employees
Verbal Communication - Speaks with clarity, precision, and purpose in small and large groups
Writing Skills - Possesses excellent writing and grammar skills, including the ability to write concisely, clearly, and logically
Not everyone includes this section on their resume. That means this could be a nice standout moment for you. Here are some tips:
Include them in a sidebar on your resume, as they should be short bulleted lists.
Use sentence case in each bullet point. That is, capitalize as you would in a sentence (the first word only).
Or, instead of bullet points, you might opt to list them on a single line under your resume summary. If you choose this route, use title case (capitalizing each word) and separate each competency like this:
Empowering Leader | Persuasive Communicator | Digital Marketing Leader
Link your core competencies to industry buzzwords (e.g., Results Oriented Data Analyst).
Don't inundate your resume with competencies. Rather, aim for approximately 10 attributes that will leave a lasting mark on recruiters.
Job hunting can be an arduous task. But, taking the time to formulate a beautiful resume that highlights your skills provides a strong foundation for everything that's to come. Gone are the days of basic Word documents. Nowadays, it's easy to achieve a stylized resume filled with the right keywords.
For more, here are the best tips for writing a professional resume. Good luck out there!
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