What to Include in Resumes: Core Competencies Definition and Importance

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A good resume effectively showcases your personality and your professional ability to employers. A core competency section can help you do this.

Core competencies are slightly different from skills. They’re a bit broader and typically refer to knowledge or expertise in a particular field. 

In this article, we’ll go over what core competencies are and why they are important. We’ll also identify some of the top ones to include when using our online resume builder.

What is a core competency?

Core competencies are your list of qualifications that show what makes you a desirable candidate. They can include your skills, certifications, and other personal attributes.

From a business perspective, core competencies are skills, abilities, and personality traits that contribute to better employee performance and organizational success.

Highlighting key abilities that match a company’s list can help tailor your resume for specific positions. They make it less generic and aid in catching employers’ attention.

Should you include core competencies on a resume?

Yes, your resume is significantly elevated by including this section. It takes it to a more professional and well-rounded standard.  

Some reasons to include core competencies vs skills on your resume include:

1. Qualify for keyword searches

Your resume is often vetted through a digital scanning process. This software looks for keywords within your resume that the employer has deemed as necessary. 

Having a clear and concise key capabilities section makes it easier for scanners to validate your resume. It can also help get you to the next step of the hiring process. 

If you don’t clearly state your attributes on your resume, you might not get through this tracking process. A clear abilities section helps avoid this problem. It forces you to spell out your skills using a precision that you might not realize you need.

2. Grab attention

This is sometimes the hardest part of the hiring process because of how many resumes are sent in. Employers may be more likely to spend time on your resume if they immediately notice your core capacities. 

Employers often compare their organization’s requirements and competencies with the resumes of new hires. Adding your personal competencies can help them make quick comparisons.

3. Give a clear and professional structure

Core competencies help showcase who you are in a concise manner. It lists all your biggest strengths and abilities. It immediately gives employers a clear idea of who you are and what they can expect if you are offered the position. 

Structuring a resume can be the most intimidating part of starting a job search. This is especially true if you’re doing it for the first time (or the first time in a while).

If you’re unsure of how to write a resume or core competencies section, use ResumeGiant’s builder tool or follow a resume template.

Tips for Including Top Capabilities on Your Resume

Here are some ways you can build your core competencies section on your resume template:

1. Identify your best skills and attributes

If you are far along in your career, there may be more than 50 skills and attributes you can identify. It is important to narrow this down to the strongest ones. Ensure that each skill differs from the others so that the items on your list are not repetitive.

It is often helpful to make sure you have experience or project work that corresponds to the competencies you list. This way, you can explain how you gained and utilized these skills.

2. Be specific to the job

Tailoring your core competencies section based on the job shows a high degree of interest in the position. Use terms from the job description and look up the company’s values, then adjust your list accordingly. 

Don’t simply write one resume and use it to apply for every job. This is unlikely to impress a hiring manager. It’s even less likely to match the narrow list of keywords a digital scanning software identifies.

3. Choose a good format

Formatting the core competencies section is also important. Some people find success by following a resume template. Resume builders can also help correctly format your resume.

Where to put core competencies on a resume

You should include a section listing your essential talents at the top of your resume.  Just below your name and contact information. 

You can include it either before or after your summary section. This way hiring managers can notice it right away. 

If you’re unsure how to format the resume to give this section prominence,  using a resume builder can be the most efficient way to arrive at a layout you like.

List of Key Abilities to Include on your Resume

Here are 12 core competencies examples to get you started:

• Time management skills: Many employers will be on the lookout for this skill. Make sure you can link it to your professional experience. Also, prepare to support its inclusion with a concrete example if you land an interview.

• Teamwork: You are able to work well in teams even when you disagree or have different opinions.

• Problem-solving skills: You always try to find a good solution to any problem that arises and enjoy the process of solving problems. 

• Leadership ability: You know how to lead a team of people, be assertive, and act responsibly.

• Adaptability: You are able to quickly adjust to a new situation while producing high-quality work.

• Focus: Show you have drive and passion for your work.

• Communication skills: This ability is becoming more important in the digital age with the increase in remote work.

• Innovation: If you are an innovative person who has the experience to support it, this can make you stand out from the crowd. 

• Research skills: You can find and analyze information and pick good resources.  Research also involves other skills like critical thinking, resourcefulness, and digital literacy.

• Decision-making: Many jobs require you to make difficult decisions on a daily basis. Decisiveness can indicate a future leader.

• Ambition: Being career-focused shows your commitment to your work. 

• Job-specific skills: it is often vital to add skills that are specific to the job.

Skills like Java for a programming job or customer interaction experience for a service-oriented job could be valuable to include. Use the job description to pick out keywords and skill sets the hiring manager has already determined to be relevant.

Conclusion

To sum up, including a core competencies section is important in order to: 

• Get your resume noticed by employers.  
• Pass through digital tracking or scanning software. 
• Show employers exactly why you might be a good fit for a position 
• Outline your professional background and personality in a clear, concise way. 

If you are finding it difficult to narrow your list, consider browsing online resume examples. You can also get inspiration from others in your field by looking at their resume core competencies section.

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