For most job seekers, your CV is your first point of contact with a potential employer and your first opportunity to impress. You want to sell yourself, stand out, and get that job, but in a sea of applications it can be hard to achieve.
Below are 5 skills that’ll undoubtedly add a little something to your CV and help you land that dream job.
A second language
Being able to put on your CV that you speak a second language can really help you stand out against the competition in increasingly competitive job markets. The 21st century is extremely interconnected, by speaking multiple languages you can communicate with a wider range of communities and develop strong professional relationships worldwide.
The world of business in particular benefits from communication between countries. They want employees who can participate in a globalised economy and show respect for prospective customers by communicating with them in their native tongue. German, Italian, and French, three key languages offered by London Translations, are all well worth getting your head around.
Even if the jobs you’re going for don’t require a bilingual candidate, prospective employers will see a second language as a demonstration of your ability and dedication to acquiring new skills. So it’s a skill well worth gaining.
Computing and IT skills
You might think that a working understanding of Microsoft Word and being able to send attachments with your emails makes you a computer wiz, but there’s a whole lot more you can learn. Developing your IT skills further can only increase your employability.
Yes, you know your way around Microsoft Office and you’ve played around with Photoshop a couple of times, but how’s your HTML? Strong computer skills make a great addition to your CV and tend to catch the attention of prospective employers. Lynda is a platform that will allow you to build on your existing skills as well as acquire new ones.
Computing skills in the workplace are growing in importance. Knowing your CSS from your Java can show the world that you’ve a technical mind and the ability to learn quickly in a world increasingly dependant on technology.
SEO and marketing
Computing skills aren’t the only ones important in almost every industry. Knowing how to perform SEO and demonstrating experience in marketing are skills that can translate into most job sectors. Marketing affects practically every industry and is a multifaceted discipline well worth exploring.
By honing your SEO and marketing skills you’ll appeal to potential performs because you’ll demonstrate an ability to take their brand further, even if the job you’re trying to get isn’t specifically a marketing or SEO role!
There are multiple ways to learn these skills and present them in your CV. Some SEO companies, such as Go Up, offer SEO courses. Completing courses like these not only expand your knowledge, but also your job prospects and could even improve your earning potential.
Related: The Most Important Elements of a Modern Resume (How to Land Your Dream Job)
Management and leadership
It’s likely that an employer will be looking for someone with potential to grow and progress within their company. Showing that you have the ability to manage and lead will undoubtedly impress potential employers.
Not everyone is a natural leader and it can be hard to build up the courage to take such initiative. However strong management skills are extremely desireable in the workplace, particularly in huge sectors of work such as leisure, customer service, and training industries.
It’s an easy skill to put on your CV, however it can be clear in interviews if you’re lacking in that area so there’s no harm in working on these important skills. Building your confidence in management and leadership, by taking courses or following some simple tips, can most certainly set you up for success in your next job hunt.
Communication skills
Communication is extremely important in all industries and the key to building successful professional relationships. Whether it be between co-workers or clients, and whether it’s written or verbal, it’s important to know how to communicate professionally and accurately.
For many employers there is nothing worse than poor spelling, grammar, and punctuation. So if your CV isn’t well written, it’s likely you won’t get far in your job hunt. An employer’s confidence in your ability take care in everything you do will plummet if you present them with proof of poor writing skills. It may seem like accurate writing is not a skill you’ll need in every job, but attention to detail certainly is.
Not only that, but strong proofreading skills are extremely transferable in any industry. The ability to write accurately and to edit publications to a high standard will have their uses in most places of work.
Whether you’re sending emails to clients, speaking over the phone with customers, copywriting online media, or running social media campaigns, knowing how to communicate in a professional and accurate manner will often be a deal breaker in the world of employment.
Make sure to brush up on your spelling, grammar, and general tone of voice and always check cover letters and CVs carefully before sending them to prospective employers.