Many hiring managers today only spend a short amount of time looking at a resume before deciding whether to shortlist or pass on a candidate. While there are many skills that you can include on your resume, the best thing you can do is to choose only the ones that you think will give you an edge over the other applicants. These are called power skills. 

Technical skills versus soft skills?

Technical skills are abilities specific to the job and industry, while soft skills are integral to an individual. Power skills are a combination of both. 

Many companies today want to see a mixed set of technical and soft skills like written and verbal communication, the ability to work independently, time and task management, organisation, and knowledge with communication tools.

Generally speaking, technical skills are skills that you learn in school, certification programs, training materials or experience on the job. Soft skills, however, can be human abilities that can be strengthened over time. Some examples can include adaptability, self-management, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work under pressure.

Technical skills allow workers to showcase their talent to hiring managers. For example, software developers have their own set of technical skills, such as understanding multiple programming languages. 

Industry-specific skills are important because they will tell the recruiters about a candidate’s ability to do a specific task. But other applicants can possess the same technical skills as yours because you both work in the same industry. This is the part where developing your power skills can help.

Here are some of the best power skills you can put on your resume:

Problem-solving

Problem-solving comes with every job that needs a quick solution. Employers want to measure your capacity to manage and solve problems efficiently. Many companies have jobs that are basically solving problems for clients and the company itself.

Active listening

Being able to focus on what the speaker’s saying helps you respond to your colleagues faster. Active listeners use verbal and non-verbal techniques to show and keep their attention on the speaker. Developing an active ear can help you stay engaged with work and your colleagues.

Communication

Being an effective communicator means you can relate better with your boss, clients and colleagues. Developing your writing skills can also help you generate better results at work overall.

Organisational skills

Organising projects and managing tasks properly for your co-workers can help. If you want to show off that you’re organised, having a tightly structured resume certainly helps.

In the modern workplace, it’s no longer enough to have only technical skills in your resume – employers now are looking for the perfect mix of technical and soft skills in a job application.