How to Describe Your Strengths in a Resume

Write a strong resume that makes your strengths shine.

Your resume is the most important tool in getting you an interview for a job. It is your introduction to the person doing the hiring and the sales tool that convinces her to interview you. Your resume should sing your strengths, making you a strong candidate who is skilled, competent and experienced. Write each section of your resume so that it highlights what you are good at and why you are a good match for the job.

Instructions

1. Make a list of your professional strengths related to the job for which you are applying. Ask your spouse, a friend or a colleague to help you brainstorm the list to make it as long as possible.

2. Note at least one specific accomplishment for each strength on your list. Describe details of that accomplishment. For example, if you listed "programming skills" as a strength, note a time when you programmed a spreadsheet that increased the productivity of your employer's accountants by 20 percent.

3. Find a strong, active verb for each one of the accomplishments you noted in Step 2. Use a thesaurus if necessary. Avoid verbs that say very little, such as "utilize," "was" and "determine."

4. Describe each of your strengths using the accomplishment to show rather than tell about the skill. Start the sentence with the active verb and include specific details, such as the amount of money you generated, the percentage of productivity you increased or the number of units you created or sold. Read these descriptions out loud several times to make sure they are strong, readable statements that say precisely what you want them to say.

5. Incorporate these descriptions into your resume under specific job titles if you are doing a chronological resume or in the skills section of a functional resume.

Tips & Warnings

• Start your search for your strengths by looking at past performance appraisals. Note the strengths that your past supervisors praised you about.

• You can also discover professional strengths by taking online career assessments. Search for "online career assessments" or "MAPP assessment."

References

• Career Education Center: Types of Resumes
• Job Interview and Career Guide; Resume Strengths Examples; October 2010
• NWI.com; Cover Letter, Resume Should Identify Strengths; Mildred Culp; November 2010

Resources

• Your Career Change Starts Here: Key Strengths and Self Describing Skills for a Winning Interview ...
• Assessment.com: Are You Happy With Your Job?