Want to apply for a job and make an impression like no one else? Need to create a resume so stunning they can’t ignore it? Sure, stunning resumes can be highly designed, but it’s also about the way you present our work experience and skills. Are you selling yourself short? Have you correctly identified the best skills to get the gig? What even are good skills to put on your resume?
Let’s start with what skills you should be putting (and highlighting!) on your resume.
Honestly – it depends! There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to resumes and talents. For each industry, career, and application, you’ll probably need to present a different set of skills. Ultimately, the best skills to put on a resume are the ones you can demonstrate results and find demand for.
The good news is that you’re are at an advantage if you’re here, reading this post, and if you are looking to pick up new skills or boost your existing talents. Being willing to learn is a skill in its own right! (Pro-tip: We would say ‘learning’ is a good skill to put on a resume, too! Everybody wants to work with someone who’s open to growth.)
Looking for some more high-level skills that can land you a lucrative job and a high-paying, prestigious role? Check out this quick read on 10 in-demand high-income skills!
10 good skills to put on a resume
As of 2024, these are the 10 most sought-after skills that recruiters want to see on a resume.
Keep in mind that the list has made use of factors such as demand, utility across industries, pay, scope, and future speculation.
1. Coding
Since the world runs on tech, we need loads of coders. Coding is, generally speaking, the art of programming computers. Coders feed instructions or input into them to get the desired output by writing code in a seemingly endless list of programming languages (Python, C#, Ruby, the list goes on!). As long as we need computers, the demand for coders isn’t going anywhere.
Head on to Skillcrushto download more such interesting tech skills; we also have a FREE coding bootcamp just for PowerToFly members!
2. UX Design
UX design, or User Experience design, is a mashup of marketing genius, tech skills, and design skills. You’ll need elements of all three to create a seamless experience with a product, whether that’s a website, an app, SaaS products, wearables…the list goes on! If a customer finds your product easy and fun to use, they are likely to stay. It is because this job has such importance that it also pays well. Average salary starts at $74,000, way above the national mean income at $65,000 (as of 2024).
3. SEO
There’s a looming question in marketing circles – is SEO dead in 2024?
It’s a complicated topic, but the reality is ‘not really’. Search engines are constantly evolving to filter out AI and tightening up their privacy rules, so websites constantly need to maneuver their existing as well as upcoming content to still stay on the top. This is true for whichever industry you’re planning to step into. If you like to keep your finger on the pulse at a job that requires agility, consider boning up on your SEO skills.
4. Digital marketing
While digital marketing can feel like a broad topic, think of it more like a soft skill (where your hard skills might be something like a CMS). Social media is a primary media, and websites are often still a brand’s first impression. To stay relevant, a business needs digital marketing. If you can show your skill here, you’re likely to complement most jobs and industries today.
5. Project management skills
It’s unfortunate that people often undermine the importance of soft skills. (Not us at PowerUp!) Project management is a transferable skill across industries and jobs. Can you delegate, monitor, and troubleshoot? Are you good at leading a team and delivering on promises as per the decided plan? This is a skill that every manager needs!
6. Critical thinking
Ah, the fine line between overthinking and critical thinking! Are you someone who’s able to question the nitty-gritties? Capable of dissecting and analyzing — perhaps you have an eye for detail? Are you a master cross-examiner? This is a skill that would serve you across jobs from a content strategy manager to a sales director. Critical thinking pioneers growth!
7. Problem solving
Not to be confused with critical thinking: one questions the process, the other answers those questions. If you are someone who can offer innovative solutions, capable of thinking outside the box while under pressure—again, every profession requires this skill!
8. Leadership
If you’re applying for a job where you want to be trusted with responsibility, and want to climb the corporate ladder to the ultimate top, and if you want to bring change, you’ll need to exhibit leadership skills. However, leadership can also be a tough one to properly showcase, rather than simply putting it on your resume. We’ve got some tips for that coming up!
9. People skills
It doesn’t matter how many skills you have on the resume if you don’t have this one. You are ultimately going to work in a team, big or small. You want to exhibit your communication skills, listening skills, and, above all, your flexibility.
10. Well-versed with AI
It’s 2024 – AI is everywhere. Including your familiarity with AI can give you a huge boost, as there are tons of companies looking for people who can keep up with the tech advancement. AI is still in its relative infancy and growing fast each day. If you can show your proficiency in AI, you can show your proficiency for the future.
Bragging…in a good way!
Now that we know the top skills to put on a resume, how to go about presenting them?
Compare your skills with the listing
We advise tailoring each application for the job you’re applying for. That starts with customizing your resume. Scan the job posting for keywords like ‘adaptable’, ‘proficient in MS Word’ etc. Make sure to highlight those skills in your resume.
Justify the skills
It’s one thing to say, you have ‘leadership’ skills. It’s another way to showcase it. How do we do that?
- Use action words: Skills are better practiced than collected! Instead of just saying ‘Social Media Marketer’, try active sentences with results like ‘drove the social media campaign for XYZ’ or started and wrote for the XYZ brand’.
- Stats to show results: Show tangible facts that verify your claims. For instance, instead of saying you’re an expert at SEO, tell them you “drove 50% more traction to the XYZ blog in less than 3 months”.
- Compartmentalize skills: Give your recruiters a simple overview of your skills, and help them absorb it by compartmentalizing your skills into three boxes: hard skills, soft skills, and transferable skills.
So…what are the best skills to put on a resume? Simply put, it’s the skills that are needed for the job.
So, if the resume is ready, get started! Don’t have to go anywhere else. Find your dream work right here on PowerToFly's job board.
