Best Skills for Resumes in Australia (With Examples)

When applying for jobs in Australia, listing the right skills on your resume is a critical step in standing out in today’s competitive job market. Whether you’re just starting your career or a seasoned professional, knowing how to identify and present your skills effectively can make a significant difference in securing that dream role.

I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about resume skills, from identifying your strengths to aligning them with job descriptions, developing your abilities further, and presenting them in the most impactful way possible.

Jump Ahead:
Identifying Your Skills
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills
What Are Hard Skills?
What Are Soft Skills?
Why Listing Skills Is Important
Find Skills the Company is Looking For
FAQ on Resume Skills
Do You Have The Right Skills for Resumes?

Identifying Your Skills

First things first, what are skills? Your skills are the abilities you’ve developed through work, education, hobbies, and life experiences. These can be technical proficiencies, interpersonal capabilities, or even unique talents that make you valuable to employers.

Take a moment to reflect on what you bring to the table. Think about your past experiences and roles:

• What tasks did you excel at?
• What kind of feedback did colleagues or supervisors give you?
• What challenges did you solve?

It’s also helpful to break down your skills into categories: hard skills and soft skills. Each of these serves a purpose and tells a different story about your professional journey.

How to Identify Your Skills

1. Reflect on Past Experiences: Look back at roles you’ve held, whether paid, volunteer, or academic. What tasks came naturally to you, and where did you excel?
2. Ask for Feedback: Sometimes, others can identify strengths that you may overlook. Ask colleagues, supervisors, or mentors for feedback about what they think you do well.
3. Consider Your Interests: Think about the activities or tasks you enjoy. Skills often stem from what you find exciting and rewarding.
4. Conduct a Skills Audit: Write down everything you can do, from technical abilities like coding to interpersonal skills like active listening. Once you’ve created a list, categorize these into professional strengths.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Understanding the distinction between hard and soft skills is key to creating a well-rounded resume. Both are valuable, but they serve different purposes in demonstrating your suitability for a role.

What Are Hard Skills?

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that you can quantify and demonstrate. These are often the technical or practical skills you learn through formal education, training, or hands-on experience.

Examples of Hard Skills

• Software Proficiency: Experience with tools like Microsoft Excel, Adobe Photoshop, or specialized software like SAP.
• Certifications: Holding qualifications such as First Aid training, a CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant), or AWS (Amazon Web Services) certification.
• Industry-Specific Expertise: Knowledge in areas like compliance for banking, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) for engineering, or SEO for digital marketing.
• Languages: Proficiency in English, Mandarin, French, or coding languages like JavaScript and Python.

Hard skills are the backbone of your qualifications. They provide proof that you can perform the core functions of a role.

How to Develop Hard Skills

If you identify gaps in your hard skills, here’s how to bridge them:

1. Formal Education: Enroll in university courses, TAFE programs, or certifications relevant to your field. For example, aspiring data analysts could pursue a qualification in data science.
2. Online Learning: Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer flexible, affordable ways to learn skills like graphic design, project management, or coding.
3. On-the-Job Training: Take on projects at work that stretch your abilities, whether through mentorship or exposure to new systems.
4. Self-Learning: Use free resources, such as YouTube tutorials, blogs, and forums, to teach yourself new skills in areas like video editing or web development.

What Are Technical Skills?

Technical skills fall under the umbrella of hard skills and are typically more specific to certain industries. For example:

• In IT: Coding, system administration, or cybersecurity.
• In Engineering: CAD software, blueprint reading, or mechanical troubleshooting.
• In Marketing: SEO strategies, social media management, or data analytics.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are less tangible but equally important. They describe how you interact with people, manage your time, and handle challenges. While they may be harder to measure, soft skills are often what differentiate good candidates from exceptional ones.

Examples of Soft Skills

• Communication: The ability to write persuasively, present ideas clearly, or listen actively.
• Leadership: Motivating and guiding teams towards achieving goals.
• Problem-Solving: Thinking critically and creatively to resolve issues.
• Emotional Intelligence: Being self-aware, empathetic, and adaptable in interpersonal interactions.
• Collaboration: Working effectively within a team to achieve shared objectives.

How to Develop Soft Skills

Developing soft skills takes time and intentionality. Here’s how to start:

1. Seek Feedback: Request constructive input from peers or supervisors about your teamwork, leadership, or other interpersonal skills.
2. Practice Self-Awareness: Reflect on how you handle stress, give feedback, or navigate conflicts. Minor adjustments can lead to big improvements.
3. Attend Workshops: Many organizations and training providers offer workshops on topics like emotional intelligence, negotiation, and public speaking.
4. Learn by Observation: Watch how effective communicators or leaders in your workplace operate and model their behavior.

Why Listing Skills Is Important

So why does showcasing your skills matter so much? Employers are on the lookout for candidates who match their needs as closely as possible. The skills section of your resume serves as a roadmap, showing them that you’re equipped to excel in the role.

Reasons to Highlight Skills

1. Showcase Relevance: Highlighting the right skills ensures that hiring managers quickly see how you fit their requirements.
2. Differentiate Yourself: Unique or in-demand skills help you stand out from other applicants.
3. Pass the ATS Test: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords. Including relevant skills ensures your resume gets noticed.

Expert Tips for Listing Skills

• Tailor to the Job: Always customize your skills section to align with the specific role you’re applying for.
• Use Action Words: Phrases like “proficient in,” “experienced with,” or “skilled at” add authority to your skills list.
• Balance Hard and Soft Skills: Employers value a mix of technical expertise and interpersonal abilities.
• Keep it Concise: A focused list of the most relevant skills is more effective than an exhaustive inventory.

Find Skills the Company is Looking For

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is listing generic skills without tailoring them to the employer’s needs.

How to Match Your Skills with the Company’s Ideal Profile

1. Analyze the Job Description: Look for repeated phrases or skills mentioned multiple times.
2. Research the Company: Understand their mission, values, and the industry they operate in.
3. Review Similar Roles: Check job ads for similar positions to spot trends in desired skills.

How to List Skills on Your Resume

• Create a dedicated Skills section near the top of your resume for quick scanning.
• Integrate skills into your Work Experience section to show real-world applications.
• Highlight technical skills in a separate section if they’re critical to the role.

Example Skills Section:

• Project Management: Skilled in Agile methodologies and team leadership.
• Technical Skills: Proficient in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and project cost analysis.
• Soft Skills: Strong problem-solver with excellent interpersonal communication.

FAQ on Resume Skills

Q1: How Do I Know Which Skills to Include?

• Focus on skills that match the job description. If the posting mentions teamwork, analytical skills, or software proficiency, those should take priority on your resume.

Q2: Should I Include Skills That Are Not Relevant to the Job?

• Only if they demonstrate transferable value, for instance, public speaking skills might seem outside of an IT job but could be useful for presenting solutions to clients.

Q3: What Are the Top Skills to List on Your Resume?

• The most in-demand skills vary by industry but commonly include:

• IT: Programming, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
• Business: Strategic planning, data analysis, and financial modeling.
• Creative Fields: Graphic design, copywriting, and multimedia production.

Q4: How Many Skills Should I List on My Resume?

• Aim for 6–10 skills, focusing on those most relevant to the job.

Q5: Can I Include Skills I Learned Outside of Work?

• Absolutely. Transferable skills gained from volunteering, hobbies, or side projects are valuable as long as they relate to the role.

Q6: Should I Tailor My Skills to the Job Description?

• Yes. Customizing your skills for each application increases your chances of catching the recruiter’s attention.

Q7: Should I Add the Same Skills from My Resume to My Cover Letter?

• Yes, but expand on them in your cover letter with examples of how you’ve used these skills to achieve results.

Q8: How Do I Demonstrate My Skills in an Interview?

• Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to show how you’ve successfully applied your skills in past roles.

Do You Have The Right Skills for Resumes?

Your skills are your greatest asset in landing your next role. By identifying, developing, and presenting them effectively, you can create a resume that captures the attention of employers and highlights your unique strengths.

If you’re ready to take your resume to the next level, our expert resume writing and job placement services are here to help. Let’s craft an application that reflects your full potential and opens the door to exciting new opportunities.

For more career advice, tips, and resources, explore our other articles. Your success story begins here!