How to Showcase Your Hard and Soft Skills on a CV and in an Interview

Candidate Advice

How to Showcase Your Hard and Soft Skills on a CV and in an Interview

When applying for a new job, demonstrating both your hard and soft skills effectively can set you apart from other candidates. Employers look for a mix of technical expertise and interpersonal abilities to ensure that new hires can perform their job responsibilities and integrate well into the workplace culture. Here’s how you can highlight both types of skills on your CV and during an interview.

Hard vs. Soft Skills: Understanding the Difference

Before diving into how to showcase these skills, it’s important to understand what they are:

  • Hard skills are measurable, teachable abilities acquired through education, training, or experience. Examples include accounting, data analysis, programming, and foreign language proficiency.
  • Soft skills relate to interpersonal and behavioural abilities that influence how you interact with others. Examples include communication, leadership, adaptability, and teamwork.

Demonstrating Hard and Soft Skills on Your CV

  1. Tailor Your Skills to the Job Description

Before listing your skills, carefully review the job description to identify the key competencies required. Customize your CV to highlight relevant hard and soft skills.

  1. Showcase Hard Skills in Your Work Experience and Skills Section
  • Dedicated Skills Section: Create a “Skills” section where you list technical abilities relevant to the role. For example:
    • Financial Analysis
    • Advanced Excel & Financial Modelling
    • CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
  • Work Experience: Instead of just listing responsibilities, highlight how you’ve applied hard skills in real situations. Example:
    • “Developed financial models that improved forecasting accuracy by 30%, enabling better business decisions.”
  1. Highlight Soft Skills Through Achievements and Examples

Rather than simply stating that you have strong communication or leadership skills, provide context within your experience section:

  • “Led a team of five accountants in streamlining reporting processes, reducing month-end closing time by 20%.”
  • “Managed cross-functional collaboration between finance and marketing teams, ensuring budget alignment and strategic planning.”

Demonstrating Hard and Soft Skills in an Interview

  1. Use the STAR Method

During an interview, structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to showcase both your hard and soft skills.

  • Example for a hard skill (Data Analysis):
    • Situation: “At my previous role, we struggled with inaccurate sales forecasts.”
    • Task: “I was responsible for analysing sales trends and identifying key performance indicators.”
    • Action: “I developed a predictive model using Excel and Power BI.”
    • Result: “This improved forecast accuracy by 35%, allowing better inventory management.”
  • Example for a soft skill (Problem-Solving):
    • Situation: “A major client was unhappy with our financial reporting format.”
    • Task: “I was asked to improve client satisfaction by adjusting our reporting.”
    • Action: “I engaged with the client to understand their needs and developed a new customized reporting format.”
    • Result: “Client satisfaction increased, and we retained their business for an additional three years.”
  1. Demonstrate Soft Skills Through Your Communication

Beyond your answers, interviewers assess soft skills based on how you communicate, your confidence, and your ability to engage in conversation. Make eye contact, listen actively, and respond thoughtfully to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills.

  1. Give Real-Life Examples of Teamwork and Leadership

Employers value collaboration and leadership skills. Be ready to share experiences where you:

  • Successfully worked in a team to complete a challenging project.
  • Took initiative in a leadership role or helped mentor junior colleagues.
  • Navigated conflicts and contributed to a positive work environment.

Final Thoughts

Balancing hard and soft skills on your CV and during an interview is key to standing out in a competitive job market. By using specific examples and structuring your responses strategically, you’ll provide potential employers with a clear picture of both your technical expertise and interpersonal strengths. Approach your job application with a well-rounded perspective, and you’ll be well on your way to landing your next role!

 

At Môrwell Talent Solutions, we’re passionate about helping candidates succeed in their job search. If you’d like a second opinion on your CV or advice tailored to your career goals, feel free to reach out to Ceri Leath or Sarah Jones who would be delighted to assist.

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