Core Competencies Demystified

by | Oct 23, 2013 | Blog

Resume Competencies

Resume Competencies

One of the most common questions that professional resume writers field is, “What, really, are core competencies?” The simple answer to this question is that these are keywords that reflect your skills in the workplace; however, the long-form answer is a bit more complex.

Creating a Positive First Impression

The goal of any great resume is to achieve a strong marketing message, meaning that readers know exactly what you have to offer and what you are looking for without you having to implicitly state your goals in an objective (which is outdated, but that’s a topic for another post). Typically, readers will look at a resume for a mere 30 or so seconds before tossing it into the yes, no, or maybe pile, so it is crucial that your document does a great job of reeling readers in.  Core competencies are a great way to catch the attention of potential employers, as they are easy to peruse and provide a quick and detailed outline of your most valuable professional skills.

Building a Successful List of Core Competencies

Now, given the above information, you may assume that creating a list of core competencies is as easy as writing out your strengths. While this is partially true, it is important to remember that this section of your resume needs to be targeted at the job you are looking to land. Keep the following in mind:

  • Core competencies should reflect the needs of the employer by naming not your general strengths but the skills that will best meet the expectations of the position.
  • Remember that this section should include both hard and soft skills. For instance, an IT professional may list “system networking” and “clear communication,” as both of these are key in the IT field.
  • The list of core competencies that you create is dynamic, not static. This means that you should update it to reflect the skills that you possess that best suit the job for which you are applying. Taking five minutes to do this before sending out your resume is critical in creating a document that catches attention for all the right reasons.

The professional resume writers at Grammar Chic, Inc. have the drafting of core competencies down to an art form. Call us for more information at (803) 831-7444!

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