Core Competencies on a Resume (26 Examples and Tips) - ZipJob

Core Competencies on a Resume (26 Examples and Tips) Spread the loveA core competencies (also known as a core qualifications) section on a resume could really help you stand out to both hiring managers and ATS systems. ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) are utilized by most employers today which automatically screen resumes to determine if they’re a good match. Every resume today should include a core competencies section yet very few job seekers utilize one. We’ll show you what a core competencies sections is, how to include one and some great examples.What are Core Competencies on a Resume?Core competencies on a resume are your core skills and  competencies that relate  to the position you’re applying for. They should be listed in bullet points not sentences.Keeping it short will make it clear, concise and more ATS friendly which well discuss in more detail.The core qualifications  section is important for two reasons:#1 Catches the Attention of a Hiring ManagerA core competencies quickly tells the hiring manager how you’re q ualified. Your resume is only skimmed over for a few seconds before the hiring manager decides to either reject your resume or look at it in more detail. A core competencies section allows you to quickly show the hiring manager that you’re a perfect fit for the position.#2 It Gets You Past ATS Systems An ATS system screens your resume for keywords and other information to determine if you’re a good match for the position. Why does this matter? Because over 90% of employers utilize an ATS and they reject over 75% of resumes submitted.ATS Resume Test  You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume ReviewThe core competencies section is super helpful for including keywords that the ATS may be searching for. It’s also really useful because you could tailor your resume for different positions by swapping keywords in and out.Examples of Core Competencies on a Resume  Here is an example of what a core competencies section on your resume should look like:As you see this is a resume for a person in the sales and marketing field. It quickly and concisely shows the hiring manager what skills and knowledge the candidate posses without having to dig into the work experience section.Once a hiring manager sees that the candidates informatio n is relevant, theyre more likely to read into the resume in more detail.Lets take a look at how we can quickly tailor this to another position.Say another marketing position interests this candidate and Content Marketing  is listed as a required skill. We can simply remove a less relevant skill and include  Content Marketing instead.Take a look now:You can see that tailoring your resume is much easier with a core competencies section. Now if this were run through an ATS and it was searching for that particular term, it would rank the resume as good match for the position.Do  not  use buzzwords like Goal-Oriented or Problem Solver. Hiring managers dont like seeing these overused soft skills on a resume. Stick to hard skills and keywords that are relevant to the industry or position.How to Find The Right Core CompetenciesYou need to find the right competencies to include if you want to stand out and get past an ATS system.Step #1  Come up with a list of skills that relate to the pos ition or Industry youre targeting.Step #2 Check the job descriptions to positions you want to apply for. You will find many of the same keywords listed which you should be using on your resume.Step #3   Include the top 9 12 competencies under your summary.Remember that you dont need to change each one when applying for different positions but you should swapping some in and out so its more tailored.Here is an example of what someone in sales might include:Core Competencies List Example:Strategic Market PlanningBusiness DevelopmentCommunity RelationsTerritory DevelopmentTeam Leadership/ManagementCustomer ServiceMarketing StrategistBrand DevelopmentTraining/DevelopmentTips to Keep in Mind When Writing Your Core CompetenciesKeep it ShortDont use full sentences as it doesnt appear as clean and concise as short and relevant keywords.List it Under the SummaryListing it under the resume  summary makes it easy to spot at first glance. You want to capture the hiring managers attention from the start and show that youre a good match for the position.Tailor your ResumeYou should be swapping keywords in and out for each position you apply to. Look at the job description to get ideas of keywords that an ATS would be looking for. Major responsibilities and skill requirements from the job description should be listed in your resume.Dont Stuff your ResumeThinking about stuffing your resume with tons of keywords to rank high in an ATS test?Its not  going to work. As quickly as an ATS rejects  a resume without relevant keywords, it also rejects  one thats stuffed with tons of them. Keep it between 9-12 core competencies.A core competencies section can really help give your resume that boost it needs with all that competition. It allows you to bypass ATS systems and capture the attention of a hiring manager. Remember to tailor your resume with relevant keywords for each position you apply for.Good Luck with Your Job Search! Core Competencies on a Resume (26 Examples and Tips) Spread the loveA core competencies (also known as a core qualifications) section on a resume could really help you stand out to both hiring managers and ATS systems. ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) are utilized by most employers today which automatically screen resumes to determine if they’re a good match. Every resume today should include a core competencies section yet very few job seekers utilize one. We’ll show you what a core competencies sections is, how to include one and some great examples.What are Core Competencies on a Resume?Core competencies on a resume are your core skills and  competencies that relate  to the position you’re applying for. They should be listed in bullet points not sentences.Keeping it short will make it clear, concise and more ATS friendly which well discuss in more detail.The core qualifications  section is important for two reasons:#1 Catches the Attention of a Hiring ManagerA core competencies quickly tells the hiring manager how you’re q ualified. Your resume is only skimmed over for a few seconds before the hiring manager decides to either reject your resume or look at it in more detail. A core competencies section allows you to quickly show the hiring manager that you’re a perfect fit for the position.#2 It Gets You Past ATS Systems An ATS system screens your resume for keywords and other information to determine if you’re a good match for the position. Why does this matter? Because over 90% of employers utilize an ATS and they reject over 75% of resumes submitted.ATS Resume Test  You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume ReviewThe core competencies section is super helpful for including keywords that the ATS may be searching for. It’s also really useful because you could tailor your resume for different positions by swapping keywords in and out.Examples of Core Competencies on a Resume  Here is an example of what a core competencies section on your resume should look like:As you see this is a resume for a person in the sales and marketing field. It quickly and concisely shows the hiring manager what skills and knowledge the candidate posses without having to dig into the work experience section.Once a hiring manager sees that the candidates informatio n is relevant, theyre more likely to read into the resume in more detail.Lets take a look at how we can quickly tailor this to another position.Say another marketing position interests this candidate and Content Marketing  is listed as a required skill. We can simply remove a less relevant skill and include  Content Marketing instead.Take a look now:You can see that tailoring your resume is much easier with a core competencies section. Now if this were run through an ATS and it was searching for that particular term, it would rank the resume as good match for the position.Do  not  use buzzwords like Goal-Oriented or Problem Solver. Hiring managers dont like seeing these overused soft skills on a resume. Stick to hard skills and keywords that are relevant to the industry or position.How to Find The Right Core CompetenciesYou need to find the right competencies to include if you want to stand out and get past an ATS system.Step #1  Come up with a list of skills that relate to the pos ition or Industry youre targeting.Step #2 Check the job descriptions to positions you want to apply for. You will find many of the same keywords listed which you should be using on your resume.Step #3   Include the top 9 12 competencies under your summary.Remember that you dont need to change each one when applying for different positions but you should swapping some in and out so its more tailored.Here is an example of what someone in sales might include:Core Competencies List Example:Strategic Market PlanningBusiness DevelopmentCommunity RelationsTerritory DevelopmentTeam Leadership/ManagementCustomer ServiceMarketing StrategistBrand DevelopmentTraining/DevelopmentTips to Keep in Mind When Writing Your Core CompetenciesKeep it ShortDont use full sentences as it doesnt appear as clean and concise as short and relevant keywords.List it Under the SummaryListing it under the resume  summary makes it easy to spot at first glance. You want to capture the hiring managers attention from the start and show that youre a good match for the position.Tailor your ResumeYou should be swapping keywords in and out for each position you apply to. Look at the job description to get ideas of keywords that an ATS would be looking for. Major responsibilities and skill requirements from the job description should be listed in your resume.Dont Stuff your ResumeThinking about stuffing your resume with tons of keywords to rank high in an ATS test?Its not  going to work. As quickly as an ATS rejects  a resume without relevant keywords, it also rejects  one thats stuffed with tons of them. Keep it between 9-12 core competencies.A core competencies section can really help give your resume that boost it needs with all that competition. It allows you to bypass ATS systems and capture the attention of a hiring manager. Remember to tailor your resume with relevant keywords for each position you apply for.Good Luck with Your Job Search!