Five in-demand skills to add to your resume

If you're wondering what skills you need to add to your resume while applying for a new job, you are in the right place. Filling up the skills section with a bunch of “competencies” that have absolutely nothing to do with the job you're applying for is a waste of space. You need to carefully read your job description and then fill in skills that will be useful at that particular job.

As you might already be aware, there are two sets of skills job-seekers can include on their resume - hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are those abilities that are easily quantifiable like operating computer programs and speaking foreign languages. Soft skills, on the other hand, are more subjective. Communication and relationship building are examples of soft skills.

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Here are five in-demand skills every individual should consider adding to his/her resume.

The ability to speak a foreign language

If you know how to speak French, Spanish or any other foreign language with fluency, you'll immediately better your chances of landing a job. This is especially true for those individuals who are looking for opportunities abroad. Rest assured, being bi-lingual will grant you a clear advantage in life.

The ability to use Microsoft Office

Whatever job you take up, at some point you will be required to make a PowerPoint presentation, prepare a Word document or create an Excel sheet. When that happens, you don't want to fumble around asking colleagues for help. Mastering Microsoft Office is therefore a great skill to have in your resume.

The ability to speak in public

Several people are petrified at the prospect of giving a public speech. It is for this reason that you need to include 'a good orator’ in your resume. Most companies will require you to present pitches at some point and if you are afraid of it, they'd rather not have you on board at all. Start by developing an authoritative voice and coping with anxiety when it comes to speaking in public and take it forward from there.

The ability to manage time

If you've been assigned a task that needs to be completed within a certain deadline, you need to start managing your time effectively. Most people are unable to create deadlines for themselves which always results in them either missing the official deadline or working late hours to complete a project.

The ability to understand Google Analytics

You might be able to devise a brilliant marketing strategy or create a great product, but if you don't know your audience, all your efforts can go in vain. It is for this reason that you need to learn the use of Google Analytics. When your employer knows that you can read your audience's behavior and keep them coming back, he'll be more inclined to hire you.

The most essential thing to remember is to select skills that are relevant to the position you are interviewing for. You can use the above mentioned five skills as starters to point you in the right direction.