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How & Where To List Core Competencies On A Resume

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Are you feeling a little lost on how to showcase your competencies on your resume effectively? Many of us have been there before. We’re here to help you identify and list your core competencies in a way that will make hiring managers take notice.

Not highlighting your strengths may make it hard for managers to see how you can contribute to the company’s goals. You don’t want hiring managers to pass over your resume for more compelling candidates.

We’ll cover everything from where to how to place your competencies in your resume. So grab a pen and paper and get ready to take some notes about your core competencies resume.

What Are Core Competencies on a Resume?

Core competencies are the unique abilities that make a candidate stand out and are directly relevant to the job they are applying for.

These can include problem-solving, leadership, communication, and technical expertise. They are often the key attributes that set a candidate apart from others and demonstrate their value to the employer.

Core Competencies vs. Skills on Resume

On the other hand, skills on a resume are general abilities and knowledge acquired through your education and experience, such as computer skills, language proficiency, and certifications. While skills are essential to include in a resume, it’s the core competencies that will make you shine and grab the manager’s attention.

When crafting your resume, you must highlight your core competencies and skills. You can also list accomplishments to add the cherry on top. However, most of your focus should be on showcasing your core competencies, which sets you apart from other candidates.

Ensure you give specific examples of how you have used your core competencies in previous roles to demonstrate your value to the employer. Trust me. It will set you apart from the competition and make you irresistible to potential employers.

Why Include Core Competencies on a Resume

Your core competencies are the key attributes that set you apart from others and demonstrate your value to the employer, and that’s why including them in your resume is a must. Here are reasons why highlighting your core competencies will increase your chances of getting an interview:

  • Get the attention of the Hiring Manager: Highlighting your core competencies on your resume will make it more likely to catch the eye of a hiring manager. It demonstrates that you are a strong fit for the role and have the skills and experience required.
  • Highlight Your Relevance To The Role: Your core competencies demonstrate how your unique skills complement the demands of the job and how you can contribute to the company’s goals. To demonstrate this, use action words and phrases that show your ability to achieve results. You can also show quantifiable achievements that show the impact of your work.
  • Help a Hiring Manager See How You’d Fit In: The hiring manager can have a better grasp of your professional history, demeanor, and ability to fit into the business culture through the unique skills that you emphasize on your resume.
  • Pass ATS Screening: Many businesses utilize applicant tracking systems (ATS) to review applications. By including your core competencies on your resume, you can ensure these systems don’t miss yours.
  • Succinct Summary of Your Qualifications: Including core competencies on your resume gives the hiring manager an easy way to evaluate your worth as a candidate quickly.

What Are the Main Core Competencies?

Let’s talk about the skills that make you stand out as a candidate. Here are some of the most sought-after core competencies and how they can benefit you in your job search:

  • Leadership: It’s crucial to show your leadership qualities on your resume, especially if you’re applying for management and supervisory roles. You want to demonstrate that you are a natural leader who can confidently lead a team and make decisions.
  • Organization: Strong organizational skills on your resume demonstrate your ability to manage many activities and adhere to deadlines which is crucial for most jobs.
  • Flexibility: Showcasing flexibility on your resume can show that you are adaptable to changing situations and can work well under pressure. To illustrate flexibility, you can highlight examples of how you handled challenging situations or unexpected changes in the past.
  • Communication: Any career requires excellent communication skills. You must demonstrate the ability to get along well with colleagues and clients.
  • Motivation: Putting your motivation in the spotlight on your resume can indicate that you are a self-starter willing to take on new tasks and learn new things.
  • Integrity: Displaying integrity can convey that you have strong moral values and can be relied upon to behave ethically.
  • Focus: Highlighting focus in your resume indicates to your employers that you have the attention span and efficiency to focus on the task at hand.
  • Critical Thinking: Emphasizing critical thinking abilities demonstrates that you have the analytical and problem-solving capabilities necessary for various positions.
  • Problem-Solving: You want to show your employers that you can come up with solutions to complex issues, which is crucial for many positions.
  • Interpersonal Connection: Highlighting interpersonal skills will show your employers that you can work well with others.

Where To Put Core Competencies on a Resume

Placement is just as important as the content when it comes to including core competencies on your resume.

Where you put those bad boys can significantly impact how the hiring manager perceives them. You want to make it as easy as possible for the hiring manager to see your unique abilities.

There are three main resume types, each requiring a different approach.

Where To Put Core Competencies on a Chronological Resume

Core competencies are often listed in the summary and objective part of a chronological resume. In this section, the hiring manager can easily spot them, giving them a short rundown of your qualifications. It should only be a few lines long.

Additionally, candidates can list core competencies within the professional experience section, where they can emphasize how they have demonstrated the skills listed in the summary section.

Doing this will help the hiring manager understand how the applicant has utilized these skills in the past and how they can apply them to the position they are applying for.

Where To Put Core Competencies on a Functional Resume

A functional resume focuses on showing the candidate’s skills and qualifications rather than their work experience. Therefore, core competencies appear prominently in a dedicated section such as “Skills” or “Core Competencies.”

This section is usually located at the top or near the top of the resume. It provides a quick overview of the most relevant skills for the position they are applying for.

To increase the chances of being shortlisted, applicants should ensure that the skills they list in this section match the requirements in the job description.

Where To Put Core Competencies on a Hybrid Resume

Core competencies feature in various places on a hybrid resume. They are listed in the summary or objective section, giving a synopsis of the applicant’s relevant education and professional background.

Additionally, a separate section labeled “Competencies” or “Skills” is included further down in the resume.

The candidate’s skills are listed in greater detail in this section and may consist of specific software or industry-related knowledge.

How To Choose Core Competencies for Your Resume

Choosing the right core competencies to include on your resume can be challenging, but it is essential to stand out as a candidate and be considered for the job.

To choose the best core competencies for your resume, it is vital to:

Think About Your Best Qualities

Take some time to reflect on your unique abilities and how they can distinguish you from other applicants.

These can be skills you picked up through school, the workplace, or extracurricular activities.

Choose Those Most Relevant to the Job

Once you’ve picked out your best qualities, choose the ones most relevant to the position you are applying for.

These skills will prove to the company how valuable and well-suited you are for the job.

Tailor It for Each Application

The qualifications and requirements of each job you apply for may differ. Therefore, you must customize your core competencies for each one while updating the resume continually.

Doing this will show the hiring manager that you have taken the time to learn about the business and the position.

Wrapping Up

By now, you should clearly understand the importance of including core competencies, where to place them, and how to choose the right ones.

You want to showcase your unique abilities, tailor them for each job, and ensure they are relevant and easily seen by the hiring manager.

Highlighting your core competencies on your resume is a surefire way to catch any employer’s attention and increase your chances of getting that job. So, don’t be modest. Flaunt those skills and make them work for you.

Don’t hesitate to leave a comment with any questions you may have.

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