Top 5 Skills to Add to Your CV

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the way we work has changed. Not only are more people working remotely, the skills employees need have shifted slightly too. This doesn’t mean that everyone requires new, formal training or certification however. Most of the skills businesses are looking for are soft skills that you probably have already. You simply need to draw more attention to them on your CV.

Job roles and responsibilities are often evolving, and it’s important to stay ahead of the curve, willing to adapt and expand your skill set where necessary. Make sure you know what sort of skills employers are looking for, and develop them if you’re a little rusty. As long as you don’t forget to include these skills and qualifications in your application, you’re bound to go far!

To help you get started, we’ve listed five of the most sought after skills by employers below. Some are considered to be soft skills, while others may require a bit of training.

1. Digital Skills

Most businesses these days expect you to have at least some degree of digital expertise. The modern workplace is becoming increasingly tech focused, so you may need more than just basic computer skills for some jobs. It’s become expected that you will be able to use programs such as Microsoft Office, but what about other platforms? Someone working in marketing, for instance, may need to have experience using scheduling software, analytics platforms, and perhaps have some knowledge of coding.

When looking for a new job, it can be a good idea to see what sort of tech skills are needed for the roles you want, and see if you can brush up on these skills. There are usually guides on YouTube if you’re just looking for basic training, or you could consider taking an online course.

It’s also worth noting that having digital skills can ensure you have more job security. Automation is becoming more and more common, so having technological knowledge should keep you ahead of the curve.

2. Leadership Skills

Needing to have leadership skills isn’t a new thing – most employers are looking for some form of ‘take charge’ attitude in candidates. And leadership skills don’t necessarily mean someone in a position of authority, such as a manager, but could describe someone who leads by example. They should be an individual who believes in the company vision, and is working towards the overarching goals of the business.

The best way to demonstrate that you’d be a good fit for a business is to include details in your cover letter stating why you’d like to work for them specifically. How would you try to achieve the company goals? Why are you passionate about the business ethos?

3. Adaptability

When it comes to adaptability, you might list this as things like flexibility, resilience, or resourcefulness on your CV. Whichever word you choose, make sure that you explain how these traits apply to the workplace. For example, are you good at adapting a strategy when you get unexpected results? Or are you willing to work flexible hours when needed?

In general, employers are looking for candidates who can be relied on, and may need to work from home independently on occasion. Maintaining your work ethic in challenging circumstances is also a desirable trait.

4. Data Analysis Skills

You may not realise just how heavily we rely on data in the workplace. And lots of businesses hope to use data in new and innovative ways when it comes to improving their performance and offerings. It’s much easier to make an informed decision when you have previous data, and companies will review and analyse such data to predict outcomes.

Essentially, if you have data analysis skills, even if it’s only a fundamental understanding of how to read certain data sets, you’re likely to stand out from other job applicants. And just like with tech skills, you can find lots of online tutorials to help you get started, if you’ve not tried analysing data before!

5. Teamwork

As with leadership skills, sometimes the classics are the best. In order to work productively in a business, you need to get on well with your colleagues, and work together towards common goals. This usually happens when people within the team have high levels of emotional intelligence, and can accurately gauge the energy levels of others.

While it may seem that having strong leadership skills and being able to work well with others are opposing traits, this is not the case. With teamwork, you need to show that you can work productively in the background, without needing constant recognition, while leadership is about others following in your example.