Retail Resumes Q&A: Should I list my skills on my resume?

Most resume experts recommend listing your skills in a section called Core Competencies or something similar - and, in fact, most resumes I see have a section like this near the top. I don't think it adds much value and here's why:

1. It's subjective. Just because you claim to be skilled in a certain area doesn't make it so - at least not in the eyes of the recruiter. Think about it - they've read thousands of resumes over many years from people who claim to be experts in this, that, and everything in between. After awhile you start to realize that it doesn't carry much weight because it's YOU talking about YOU. Not exactly an objective source.

2. It takes up valuable real estate. The first page is very important - it has to catch the reader's attention and give them the information they're looking for; otherwise they may not make it to page two. Since recruiters are more interested in your work history than your opinion about what you're good at, listing a bunch of skills at or near the top just gets in the way. It ends up being an obstacle that delays the reader from getting to the section of the resume they really want to see.

3. Everyone does it so, if you do it too, your resume will look that much more like everyone else's. Since the objective is to stand out rather than blend in, listing the same bland set of generic skills on your resume won't help.

So should you not bother listing skills at all on your resume?

Not necessarily, but it's important to understand the value they bring, if any, and how that value compares to other information that you might prefer to have on your resume. As I said, dedicating a large section to the skills you believe you possess in the top half of the first page of your resume can be detrimental. However, listing a few key skills in a profile or summary at the top may be helpful, if they don't take up a lot of room and they're backed up by achievements (ie. proof that you're actually skilled in the areas you say you are). 

Look at it this way. Recruiters want to minimize risk - they want candidates who can offer the closest thing possible to a guarantee that they will be successful in the role. Claiming you're skilled in talent development doesn't do anything to minimize their risk - after all, what does that prove ? Maybe you read the phrase "talent development" on someone else's resume and thought it sounded professional? However, if you say you're skilled in talent development and also that you've trained, developed, and promoted 10 store managers and 15 assistant store managers in the last 5 years, then you've offered them some level of proof.

Skills aren't necessarily a bad thing to include on your resume, but long lists of generic-sounding skills like communication, organization, process improvement, business development, etc. don't add a lot of value. Instead, focus on what you do best, back it up with proof, and dedicate the majority of your resume to your work history.

Best of luck!