Best Hard Skills for Resumes and Free Online Training
Important Hard Skills for your Resume
When making a resume it's important to include skills that employers are bound to notice. Standing out from other students can be the difference between securing a job or getting rejected. In order to give you and other students an advantage over the competition we put together a list of hard skills employers will be sure to notice on your resume.
Every skill on this list can be applied to different jobs and aren't always necessary for the job you are applying to. It's essential to put skills that apply to the job you are applying for on your resume. For example, including "Proficient in Excel" will likely not help you get a job as a landscaper. Where as "Proficient in Gardening" would likely better your chances of getting the same job.
Are some skills listed out of your comfort zone? No worries! On top of the skills, descriptions, and why they are perfect for your resume we also included where you can find free training to ensure you have everything you need to perfect your resume.
The list below isn't in a particular order of importance. All skills are equally important depending on the job applied for.
1. Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office includes some of the most used computer apps in the world. Microsoft Excel, Word, and Powerpoint all make up the different components of Microsoft Office and they all are used in different ways. Including any of these on your resume is sure to bolster it and help you stand out.
Microsoft Office Tutorials & Training There are many places you can go for Microsoft Office training, however Linkedin is very reliable site and know exactly what employers are looking for. This means you are going to get an experience that prioritizes the sections of Microsoft Office that will benefit you the most in your job search.
2. Data Analysis: Data analysis is becoming more and more important in today's world. Data is every where and increasing daily. Being able to process data and make informed decisions can help any company position themselves above competitors. Companies are always looking for people who can think critically about scenarios and then provide the best possible outcome, which is why this is another important skill to include on your resume. There are also many different Apps/ Websites that can help you analyze data, such as Google Analytics, and Tableau. Including these show employers how well versed you are and can only strengthen your chances of getting hired.
Analytics Academy (google.com) Although this is just one of the many options for analytics, it is a very good one. It also provides you with different courses so you can customize your experience and makes it so you are in charge of how much you are willing to learn.
3. Graphic Design: Graphic designers are becoming more important to companies with the increase in prominence of social media. Social media allows companies to post advertisements as frequently as they want and to whomever they want. This has caused many to search for graphic designers so including this on your resume gives you a huge advantage over competitors.
Top Free Graphic Design Courses & Tutorials Online - Updated [April 2022] | Udemy This website provides a wide variety of classes to help you learn and expand your knowledge of graphic design. There are beginner courses for if you just want to have a little bit of experience but there are also advanced courses that teach you how to photoshop, or even the best ways to design a logo. This site is as perfect as you can get for teaching graphic design because of its wide variety of offerings.
4. Public Speaking: Public Speaking can be difficult but can be improved upon with time and practice. A big part of public speaking is having confidence in yourself. This is a great skill to have in most fields as it allows you to communicate with your peers. Even if your job doesn't require you to give presentations you still have to be able to sell yourself for the job. The internet has many free sources to improve public speaking. An example below is one of many Ted Talks about public speaking.
5. Computer Software and Application knowledge: With most employers now being fully integrated in technology, the need for people that understand how software and applications work is at an all time high. Businesses use technology and software programs to become a more efficient company, knowing this these companies will want to bring in people that know the in's and out's of the software and technology.
https://www.edx.org/learn/software-development
This link will bring you to a website where you are able to choose a training course where you can learn what ever computer software that you need. Being proficient just one of these programs could make you standout from other potential candidates.
