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 see if someone's a good fit before their resume 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.
Examples of Core Competency
Core competencies are 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 ten. See how many of these examples apply to you:
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Analytical Thinking - Applies logic to solve problems and get the job done
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Client Service - Responds to the clients and anticipate their needs
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Conflict Resolution - Works to resolve differences and maintain work relationships
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Corporate Training - Implements professional development and training
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Creative Thinking - Looks outside the box, develops new strategies
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Decision Making - Makes decisions and takes responsibility for them
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Empowers Others - Gives employees confidence and allows freedom to complete tasks
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Ethics - Fosters a diverse and respectful workplace
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Evaluation Skills - Evaluates according to accepted methodologies
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Even Temperament - Controls emotions without retaliating against negative behavior
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Excellent Communication - Uses language effectively to gather information and facilitate an exchange of ideas
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Flexibility - Adapts to changes while remaining focused on goals, applies knowledge to new circumstances
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Influence - Enlists the support and cooperation of others and encourages them to be proactive
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Initiative - Remains proactive when suggesting improvements and solving problems
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Interpersonal Relations - Exhibits respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
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Leadership - Establishes and guides a team effort that promotes a common goal
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Management Skills - Possesses financial and people management skills, as well as the management of information
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Persuasive Communication - Displays verbal and written communication that influences others
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Problem Solving - Solves problems while ensuring rules and directives are followed
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Project Management - Brings together every component of a project, including resources or planning, that are needed to complete it in a timely manner
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Results Driven - Achieves goals in a timely manner while providing excellent client service
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Risk Management and Assessment - Evaluates and minimizes risks to the company and its employees
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Verbal Communication - Speaks with clarity, precision, and purpose in small and large groups
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Writing Skills - Possesses excellent writing and grammar skills, including the ability to write concisely, clearly, and logically
Core Competencies on Your Resume
Not everyone includes this section on their resume. That means this could be a nice standout moment for you. Here are some tips:
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Include them in a sidebar on your resume, as they should be short bulleted lists.
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Use sentence case in each bullet point. That is, capitalize as you would in a sentence (the first word only).
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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).
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Don't inundate your resume with competencies. Rather, aim for approximately ten attributes that will leave a lasting mark on recruiters.
Stand Tall in a Crowd
Job hunting can be an arduous task. But, taking time to formulate a beautiful resume 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 all the right keywords. For more, here are the best tips for writing a professional resume. Good luck out there!
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By YourDictionary
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 see if someone’s a good fit before their resume 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.
