Ditch the Clichés: How to Showcase Your Personal Skills on Your Resume



We all know the drill: leadership, teamwork, communication... These words have become so overused on resumes that they've practically lost all meaning. When hiring managers skim through endless applications, their eyes glaze over at these tired phrases. 😴

So, how do you stand out from the crowd and effectively demonstrate the personal skills that make you the perfect candidate? It's time to ditch the clichés and get specific!


Show, Don’t (Just) Tell

Instead of simply listing generic skills that everyone claims to have, provide concrete examples from your experiences that illustrate those skills in action. This approach not only makes your resume more engaging but also provides hiring managers with a clearer picture of your capabilities.


  • Leadership: Rather than saying "strong leadership skills," try something more specific like, "led a cross-functional team of 5 in a project that increased sales by 15% within three months." This not only highlights your leadership but also shows measurable results.
  • Communication: Instead of the vague "excellent communication skills," you might say, "effectively communicated project updates to stakeholders, resulting in streamlined decision-making that saved the company 10 hours of meeting time each month." This emphasizes the impact of your communication abilities.
  • Problem-solving: Swap out the overused "proven problem-solver" with a statement like, "identified and implemented a solution that reduced customer service wait times by 20%, significantly enhancing customer satisfaction scores." This kind of detail demonstrates your ability to tackle challenges directly.

Tailor to the Job

Every job has its unique set of personal skills that are crucial for success. Before you hit send on your application, take the time to carefully analyze the job description. Identify the key traits the employer is seeking and tailor your examples to highlight how you’ve successfully utilized those skills in the past.

For instance, if the job emphasizes innovation, you might include an example of a time you developed a new process or introduced a creative solution that improved productivity. By aligning your experiences with the job requirements, you present yourself as a tailored fit for the role.


Quantify Your Impact

Numbers speak volumes, so whenever possible, quantify your achievements. This adds a layer of credibility to your claims and gives hiring managers a tangible understanding of your impact.


  • Did you improve efficiency by a specific percentage?
  • Did you manage a budget of a certain size?
  • Did you receive positive feedback from a specific number of clients?

For example, instead of saying "managed a successful marketing campaign," consider saying "managed a marketing campaign that reached 100,000 potential customers and generated a 30% increase in leads." This kind of data-driven information is compelling and memorable.


Think Beyond the Resume

Don’t limit your showcase of personal skills to just your resume. Let them shine through in your cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and even during job interviews. Consistency across all platforms reinforces your personal brand and makes you more memorable to potential employers.

In your cover letter, you can weave in personal stories that demonstrate your skills and tie them directly to the company’s mission or values. On LinkedIn, consider sharing posts or articles that reflect your expertise and thought leadership in your field.


Bonus Tip: Use Action Verbs

To make your descriptions even more dynamic and engaging, use powerful action verbs. Instead of phrases like "responsible for," opt for words like "spearheaded," "managed," "collaborated," or "innovated." These verbs not only convey action but also instill a sense of confidence and proactivity.