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On Today’s Launch
Why your resume needs a skills section
Should job seekers show their desperation?
Subscriber Question: How do you describe your work experience on a resume and what’s an appropriate level of detail?
What you may have missed…
Here’s why you need to include a skills section
First off, sorry we missed last week. I was out of the country and wasn’t able to finish the newsletter on time - my bad!
This week, we’re talking about skills sections and why you need em!
To clarify, skills sections should only be used for listing one of two things:
Technical skills (i.e., Python, SQL, PowerBI etc.)
Industry skills (i.e., project management, lean six sigma, GAAP accounting etc.).
Your skills section should not be used for soft skills (i.e., problem solving, results-oriented etc.), because those are typically best sold in an interview. It’s tough to prove to the recruiter that you’re detail-oriented just by listing it on a resume, especially when a hundred other applicants probably did the same thing.
Now, why you should include a skills section? After all, I’ve heard some make the argument that if you incorporate skills into your bullet points, you don’t need a skills section.
Sure, you could make that argument. But there are two reasons why that may not be enough:
First, it’s not always possible to include all skills in the bullet points, and sometimes, it’s not possible to incorporate them in a way that flows naturally. For instance, to include ‘project management’ in a bullet point, you’d need to express it as something like this: “Leveraged project management skills to do X…”. However, in my humble opinion, this is a poor way of illustrating project management experience. It’s better to say something like “Managed 10 digital transformation projects for financial services companies from scoping and cost estimation through to completion”.
Second, sometimes if a recruiter is skimming, they want to see the skills section on its own so they can quickly get a handle on the software and tools you’ve used.
A few other tips for the skills section:
No skill bars, levels, graphs, or dashboards of any kin
No soft skills
Differentiate skills by category (i.e., project management, communication etc.) to make them easier to skim
About the Author
I’m James, Cofounder of Final Draft Resumes. I’ve been in the career consulting space for 13 years, and before that, I was a recruiter for AECOM.
I’ve helped thousands of job seekers, from industries like software engineering, IT, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and more generate job opportunities through well-written resumes that translate unique backgrounds into coherent narratives.
If you’re struggling with your resume for whatever reason, reach out - I just might be able to help!
If you’re more of a DIY person, then check out Resumatic, my free-to-try resume builder.
If you’re unemployed, should you try to hide your desperation?
I’ve seen some recruiters and career professionals out there advise people to hide their desperation.
This is terrible advice and I don’t think you should listen to it.
As a matter of fact, I’ve seen far more people generate traction and offers simply by announcing that they’re open to work on LinkedIn.
If you’re in need of a job (and NOW), then trying to play it cool is only gonna burn more time.
Show your desperation and give people a clear call to action - some folks will try to help in some way, either by talking to you themselves (if they’re a recruiter or HM for example) or putting you in contact with someone (if they know a recruiter that’s looking to fill a position).
Heck, you might even grab the attention of one of those LinkedIn celebrities and go viral.
For that reason, as soon as you’re out of work, get that green open to work banner up, and create a post to announce to your network that you’re in need of a job. Doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
What to include in your post:
Clear Statement of Intent
"I'm actively seeking a new role in [Industry/Industries]."
"I'm excited to explore opportunities in [Job Title(s)]."
Specifics About Your Target
Locations: "Ideally in [City/Region], but open to remote work."
Job Titles: "My background aligns well with roles like [List 2-3 relevant titles]."
Industries: "I have experience in [List 1-2 industries] and am interested in [Additional industry if applicable]."
Companies (Optional): Tag 2-3 companies you admire or would love to work for.
Call to Action
"Please feel free to share this post with your network."
"If you know of any openings or have suggestions, I'd be grateful for a connection."
"I'm happy to chat further about my experience and how I can contribute."
Subscriber Question
How should we show what we have done in our work experience? How granular should one get, to have the recruiter see what one actually did?
Here's the straight answer 👇
Prioritize Relevance: Focus on the accomplishments and responsibilities that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Tailor your descriptions to align with the keywords and requirements in the job posting.
Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use numbers, percentages, or concrete metrics to demonstrate your impact. Instead of saying "managed a team," say "managed a team of 10 and increased team productivity by 15%."
Use Action Verbs: Start each bullet point with a strong action verb that highlights your skills and initiative. Examples include "led," "developed," "implemented," "achieved," "managed," etc.
Granularity: Aim for a balance. You don't need to list every single task you performed, but you also shouldn't be too vague. Focus on the most impactful accomplishments and provide enough detail for the recruiter to understand your contribution.
Avoid Jargon and Acronyms: Unless you're absolutely certain the recruiter will understand industry-specific terminology, use clear and concise language.