A job title can tell you about someone’s past roles and responsibilities. But it doesn’t give you the full picture. And sometimes, the right person can be someone who seems to have no experience in the field being hired for. It’s the skills and experiences that truly count.
Research shows that 92% of talent professionals value soft skills. The changing nature of the job market means hiring managers have to see past what’s on paper and look for potential. They know that by focusing solely on job titles they can overlook valuable experiences and accomplishments a person may have. That’s why it’s important at every opportunity to highlight your skills and achievements and demonstrate their benefit to the business needs.
Writing a Skills-Focused Resume
Your CV should first and foremost highlight your skills and achievements. Under each job experience you should provide a high-level description of the skills you demonstrated alongside an achievement. Use specific examples and accomplishments to showcase the skills in action.
For example, instead of saying “Managed a team of sales representatives,” consider: “Led a team of 10 sales representatives, resulting in a 20% increase in quarterly revenue.” That way the hiring manager can visualise how you can use that skill in the role.
Not sure where to start? The job description details the kind of person they’re looking for and the required skills for success in the role. Identify the skills you have that match what’s in the job description and use them in your CV.
The Cover Letter
Although not everyone agrees with cover letters, 87% of hiring managers take the cover letter into consideration. Your CV will show the skills you have, so use the cover letter to tell the story of how you used those skills in the past.
You should also tailor your cover letter to address how you can support their specific values and needs. And just like your CV, it’s important you customise each cover letter to make sure you’re showcasing the relevant skills for each job application.
LinkedIn: Your Skills Showcase Platform
LinkedIn offers an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills and experience. And it’s the place most recruiters and employers look to understand what you can bring to the role and the team. Include your skills into your experience summaries, gather skills endorsements from colleagues, and showcase projects or achievements.
You could even consider including multimedia like project links or portfolios to showcase samples of your work if relevant.
Demonstrating Transferable Skills in Interviews
The number one reason job interviews go wrong is because the candidate was unprepared. Although you won’t know what questions will be asked, you can prepare your top skills using the STAR method – a way to answer behavioural questions.
Situation: Describe the situation where you used a particular skill.
Task: Explain the specific task or challenge.
Action: Detail the actions you took to address the task or challenge.
Result: Finish by describing the result of that action.
Your Elevator Pitch
Elevator pitches are a concise 30-60 second summary of who you are. Using these in your interviews will be the perfect groundwork, highlighting your top skills and achievements straight off the bat. Here’s how to structure your elevator pitch:
Start strong by introducing yourself with a statement that will grab their attention. Highlight your unique value with your top skills and achievement relevant to the role. Explain how you and your skills can contribute to their business goals.
“Hello, I’m [Your Name]. With a background in [Your Field], I’ve led teams to exceed revenue targets by 25% through innovative strategies. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring this experience to [Company Name] to drive growth and customer satisfaction.”
It’s down to you to prove to the hiring manager that your skills transfer across job titles, and how you can use them to impact their team Skills are the true measure of your value and impact to employers. Be confident in your abilities and the value you bring. When you have a recruiter by your side you have a person who will support you through the process, offering you insights, advise and encouragement when you need it most.
Ready to start implementing these strategies in your job search?