When writing a resume, most of us assume that employees only care about the hard skills. What software can we use? What processes do we know? What machines can we operate?
Believe it or not, though, 61 percent of employers consider soft skills to be equally important when making hiring decisions.
Perhaps the most important soft skill is communication. Why? Because without strong interpersonal communication skills, you can’t build relationships. You also can’t resolve conflict or achieve common goals.
Here’s the 101 on what communication skills are, how to include them on your resume, and which ones employers are looking for the most.
Top 10 best communication skills employers look for
1. Active listening
It’s not enough to simply hear what somebody is saying in the workplace – you need to be able to understand and process it too. Active listening involves taking in the whole message, not just the words, and responding accordingly.
- Listen to and understand what people are saying.
- Give your full attention to the speaker.
- Ask questions to clarify information.
- Summarize or repeat back what has been said.
- Show that you’re engaged in the conversation.
To show that you have active listening skills on your resume, try to include examples of times when you’ve used them in the workplace. This could be anything from leading a team meeting to resolving a conflict with a coworker.
2. Empathy
Employers are more eager than ever to find emotionally competent employees. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.
- Being aware of other people’s feelings and perspectives.
- Listening with patience and understanding.
- Responding with sensitivity and compassion.
- Asking questions to clarify someone else’s experience.
- Avoiding making assumptions about others’ feelings.
- Never talking down to someone.
Want to highlight your empathy on your resume? Include examples of giving feedback or supporting a coworker.
3. Confidence
A good communicator is someone who is confident in themselves and their abilities. This doesn’t mean being cocky or overbearing, but rather having a healthy sense of self-assurance.
- Standing up for yourself and your beliefs.
- Speaking up in meetings and group discussions.
- Sharing your ideas and opinions openly.
- Being assertive without being aggressive.
- Accepting feedback gracefully.
To demonstrate your confidence on your resume, you might highlight a time when you gave a presentation or took charge of a project.
4. Friendliness
This might seem overly simple for a resume soft skill, but you’d be surprised how many job applicants come across as cold or unapproachable.
Being friendly is important for building strong workplace relationships. Employers value it.
- Greeting people warmly when you see them.
- Offering help or assistance when you can.
- Asking questions about others’ interests and hobbies.
- Taking an interest in new coworkers.
- Celebrating birthdays and workplace milestones.
Remember, employers want to see your humanity, not just your higher education or long list of talents.
5. Clarity and directness
This is another soft skill that’s often overlooked but is very important in the workplace. Clear communication is vital at work. This is especially true for giving or getting instructions.
- Speaking in a clear, concise manner.
- Using “I” statements.
- Avoiding ambiguity or vagueness in your language.
- Giving specific examples to illustrate your point.
- Asking for clarification if you’re unsure about something.
- Listening carefully to ensure you understand what’s being said.
Clear communication is a key part of any successful workplace, so make sure it’s included on your resume with the rest of your work related skills.
6. Choosing the right communication method
Choosing the appropriate method to convey your message is crucial for effective communication. Different situations require different communication methods to ensure the message is received correctly.
- Assess the situation to determine the best communication method.
- Use formal communication for professional settings.
- Utilize informal communication for casual interactions.
- Switch between email, phone calls, or face-to-face meetings as needed.
- Adapt your communication style to the audience.
To highlight this skill, mention times where you used different communication methods to achieve goals.
7. Sharing feedback
Providing and receiving feedback is an essential communication skill in the workplace. Constructive feedback helps improve performance and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
- Offer feedback that is specific and actionable.
- Deliver feedback in a positive and constructive manner.
- Accept feedback with an open mind.
- Implement feedback to improve performance.
- Encourage a feedback-rich environment.
Show how you can give and get feedback. Share examples of how feedback helped your work or team.
8. Volume and tone
The volume and tone of your voice can significantly impact how your message is received. Speaking in an appropriate volume and tone ensures clarity and avoids misunderstandings.
- Adjust your volume to suit the setting and audience.
- Use a tone that matches the context of the conversation.
- Avoid speaking too loudly or too softly.
- Modulate your voice to maintain interest and engagement.
- Use tone to convey emotions and emphasis appropriately.
Show how you use volume and tone well. Do this by giving examples of good presentations and tough conversations.
9. Respect
Respect in communication involves valuing others’ viewpoints and maintaining a courteous demeanor. It is essential for building trust and fostering positive relationships in the workplace.
- Listen without interrupting.
- Show appreciation for others’ ideas and contributions.
- Communicate in a way that respects cultural and individual differences.
- Use polite and respectful language.
- Maintain a positive attitude even during disagreements.
Show respect by sharing examples. In them, you navigated diverse opinions and kept professional relationships.
10. Responsiveness
Being responsive in communication means addressing queries and concerns promptly. It shows reliability and a commitment to effective communication.
- Respond to emails and messages in a timely manner.
- Prioritize urgent communication needs.
- Keep others informed about the status of ongoing tasks.
- Follow up on requests and promises.
- Adapt your responsiveness to the expectations of your role and industry.
Show how you are responsive. Include examples. In these, quick communication led to success or fixed problems fast.
What are communication skills?
“Communication skills” is a broad term. It covers a wide range of abilities. They include both verbal and nonverbal communication.
Some of the most common communication skills include:
- Active listening
- Clear and concise writing
- Public speaking
- Persuasion/negotiation
- Emotional intelligence
As you can see, there’s more to being a good communicator than first meets the eye. Employers want to know that you can share your ideas. They also want to know you can understand and respond to others’ ideas.
Why you need communication skills
So, why are communication skills so important? Let’s take a look at some of the key reasons:
- Communication is how we build relationships – Strong skills are essential for maintaining good relationships with co-workers, customers, and clients.
- Communication allows us to resolve conflict – Conflict will happen. Being able to talk with those involved is crucial for finding a resolution that everyone can live with.
- Communication lets teams achieve common goals – To work together, we must be able to communicate well.
- Communication is how we give and receive feedback – Feedback is a crucial part of growth, both professionally and personally. You need strong communication skills. They are required for giving feedback that is clear, short, and helpful. You also need them for receiving feedback gracefully.
Communication skills touch on all aspects of our professional and personal lives. They are key for building good relationships. They help in resolving conflict and working as a team. They also aid in growing and developing.
Verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills
Communication skills can be divided into two main categories: verbal and nonverbal communication. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Verbal communication skills
Verbal communication skills are those that involve using words to communicate. This could be communicating in the form of face-to-face conversation, over the phone, or even in writing.
- Speaking clearly and concisely – Employers are looking for candidates who can communicate their ideas in a clear and concise manner.
- Listening actively – Active listening is a key communication skill that involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also taking the time to understand and process it.
- Giving and receiving feedback – This is an important part of communication, and one that employers will be paying close attention to.
Verbal communication is often what people think of first when they think of communication skills. But remember, there’s a whole other side to the story!
Nonverbal communication skills
Did you know that more than 70 percent of our communication takes place nonverbally? Some experts even estimate that as much as 93 percent of communication is nonverbal.
Nonverbal communication is any type of communication that doesn’t involve using words. This could be body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, or even the way we dress.
- Reading body language – Being able to read and understand the nonverbal cues of those around us is a key part of effective communication.
- Using facial expressions – Our facial expressions can communicate a lot about how we’re feeling, even when we don’t say a word.
- Maintaining eye contact – Without eye contact, it can be difficult to build trust and rapport with others.
Written communication skills
Written communication involves expressing ideas clearly and concisely through written words. This can include emails, reports, memos, or any other written document.
- Clear and concise writing – Being able to convey your message in a straightforward manner is crucial.
- Grammar and spelling – Proper grammar and spelling are essential for professional communication.
- Editing and proofreading – Ensuring your written communication is error-free shows attention to detail.
But what specific skills or abilities are employers looking for in an interview? How can you explain your communication skills on your resume?
Who needs communication skills?
Just about everyone! Effective communication is a fundamental skill that transcends industries and job roles.
Skills such as clear and effective communication are vital for numerous professions. A software engineer’s skills should include it, just as much as it’s essential among nursing skills. It’s also a key teacher skill, since they have to be able to explain complex ideas to students. Similarly, financial analyst skills include the ability to clearly interpret and present data. Even a project manager’s skills are incomplete without effective communication.
Developing communication skills for future jobs
If you’re reading the communication skills examples listed above and feeling a little lost, don’t worry. These skills can be learned and developed over time. The key is to start practicing now so that you can be prepared for future opportunities.
1. Join a Toastmasters club: This organization helps its members improve their public speaking and leadership skills.
2. Take a class: Many community colleges offer adult education classes on topics like effective communication, business writing, and public speaking.
3. Get a mentor: Ask a friend, family member, or trusted coworker to help you improve your communication skills. They can give you feedback and offer suggestions for improvement.
4. Self-Assessment and feedback: Seek feedback from colleagues. Use it to find areas to improve.
5. Practicing active listening: Focus on truly understanding the speaker’s message. You should ask clarifying questions and give feedback that shows you are engaged.
It’s never too late to start developing your people skills. By taking the time to improve these important abilities, you’ll be better prepared for success in your future career.
How to highlight communication skills on your resume
A well-written resume is itself a demonstration of strong communication skills. Making sure that your resume has an effective and professional structure and is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Also, you may want to include positive communication skills in your resume’s skills section. This is especially true if the job post calls for them.
- Be specific. For example, say when you successfully communicated.
- Tailor to the job description. Highlight the mentioned communication skills. For example: presenting, influencing, managing, and writing.
- Use strong action verbs. Words like “orchestrated,” “directed,” and “negotiated” show strong communication.
- Provide quantified results. For example, instead of writing “Responsible for communication,” say that you “led a plan that increased team efficiency by 30%.”
- Utilize bullet points: Make your accomplishments easy to scan.
It’s one thing to know the importance of adding communication skills on your resume, but it also helps to see it. Below are specific examples of great ways to showcase these communications skills to your resume. Using a Power Edit tool is the best way to make sure you’re adding the right skills in the right places.
- I managed international stakeholders in India, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. I did this by hosting daily standups and coordinating weekly status reports.
- I managed team projects and communications across global time zones. I did it efficiently using Slack and Zoom. This led to a 40% increase in project delivery speed.
- Wrote and produced 100+ client prospecting video emails, leading to 50+ leads and landing major accounts.
Adding these skills to your resume will help you land more interviews. But if you want to take your job search to the next level, try a tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner. It uses the latest AI technology to analyze your resume and provide you with a score.
FAQs
1. Active listening
2. Empathy
3. Confidence
4. Friendliness
5. Clarity and directness
1. Active listening
2. Empathy
3. Confidence
4. Friendliness
5. Clarity and directness
6. Using the right communication method
7. Sharing feedback
Good communication skills involve the ability to convey information clearly and effectively, listen actively, empathize with others, and respond appropriately to different communication situations.
1. Be clear and concise
2. Listen actively
3. Use the right communication method
4. Be mindful of nonverbal cues
5. Give and receive feedback
1. Practice active listening
2. Develop emotional intelligence
3. Seek feedback
4. Engage in public speaking opportunities
5. Take communication courses or workshops
Effective communication is the ability to convey information to others in a clear and understandable manner while also being able to listen and understand others’ messages.
Highlight specific examples of your communication skills in action on your resume, cover letter, and during interviews. Use measurable results and concrete examples to demonstrate your abilities.
Communication skills are important because they enable you to build relationships, resolve conflicts, achieve goals, and give and receive feedback effectively.
