Part of my job was being a hiring manager, so hundreds of resumes were reviewed. My advice is to keep anything listed under ‘Skills’ tangible and items that can be confirmed. For example, “Certified in Microsoft Office” is more valid that “Skilled in Microsoft Office”. No only should you be able to provide a certificate, but we would test people on their ability. Fluff like “a people person” is subjective. Stick to the facts.

Another way of documenting the facts is to describe concrete accomplishments you’ve made with your skills. So, if you are skilled in Microsoft Office, you could talk about the spreadsheets you have built, or the template for a series of presentations, or all the fancy wordprocessing you have done. You can offer to provide examples if requested. You want to be able to prove your skills as concretely as possible.

Hiring managers have heard it all. A gazillion promises and generally little to back it up. Promise less and back it up more. You’ll stand out like a supernova.

To simplify, skills are things you are capable of doing, which will benefit the employer. If you’re applying to be a receptionist, don’t list “great cook”. They’re looking for things like “type 70 WPM” and “handle a multi-line phone system”.

This is what appears on the resume I am handing out at the moment, just after work experience and before hobbies…

Skills and Abilities:

Fluent in English, Spanish, Catalan, Mallorquin. Plus some German.
Good understanding of 1000’s of computer programs.
Good understanding of HTML, DHTML, javaScript and other computer languages.
Fully capable of using many tools, ranging from mere hammers to big hydraulic presses.
Solid understanding of logic.
Good sales abilities
Capable of lifting EU regulation 25 kilo loads with one arm.

List professional training periods and jobs from most recent to furthest in the past.
Fill gaps in the timeline by things that sound good to the employer.
Limit the list of additional skills to skills that are relevant to the job you are applying to.

@poisonedantidote
this reads more like satire than a serious list…

@ragingloli Indeed, but that combined with my new email of “putmetowork@xxxxxxx.com” just landed me a job, I start in 3 hours from posting this message. :D

(I have been looking for work for 3 days only, not bad hehe)

@poisonedantidote seriously? what did you apply for? PM me :D