Tips for Showing Off Detail-Oriented Skills

Updated June 17, 20222k

Having a knack for details can be useful in almost every job. How can you write your resume so hiring managers see you for your true detail-oriented self?

Detail-oriented

Skills are a huge part of a resume, and featuring the right skills can help you land a great job. There are many skills that you’re going to want to highlight in any resume, and being “detail-oriented” is a skill that many hiring managers are looking for, so it makes sense that it’s an important skill to use in a resume. Here’s how you can show hiring managers think that you’re a detail-oriented person.

What Does “Detail-oriented” Really Mean?

Detail-oriented means that you care about turning in high-quality work. It means that you understand the importance of the little things and that you’ll pay attention to even minor details when you’re working on a project. Being detail-oriented also means that you’re not afraid to check and double-check that every little detail is in place, especially if it means that you’re able to get the job done well every time. Many of these small details are extremely important when it comes to providing quality content. If you’re a project manager, for example, you need to make a conscious effort to fix mistakes whenever they arise. Even very small mistakes can end up having an impact on how your employer sees you, and by making it second nature to fix typos and pay close attention to even very tiny errors, you’ll find that your employer values you more as a detail-oriented employee.

Tips for Describing That You Are Detail-oriented

How can you show a recruiter that you’re a detail-oriented person? Here are a few tips to help you in your job search.

Proofread your resume and cover letter multiple times before turning it in. There’s nothing more embarrassing than bragging about your detail-oriented nature while overlooking a typo.
Show how you’ll be able to use these detail-oriented skills at your new job. Being detail-oriented is a skill that works best in certain work environments, and showing that this is an important skill for this particular job will put you at an advantage over other job seekers.
Incorporate your detail-oriented nature into a variety of elements of your resume. Include it in your skills list, but also include it in your resume summary, job descriptions of previous positions, and cover letter.

The more you discuss the benefits of being detail-oriented, the more a hiring manager will want to bring you in for a job interview.

Skills Often Associated With Being Detail-oriented

What are some skills that you might want to include alongside your detail-oriented nature? Obviously, you can’t exclusively include “detail-oriented” on your skills list. On average, you’ll want anywhere from 5-12 skills on your resume. Here are a few skills you can use to reinforce your detail-oriented nature:

Time management skills
General communication skills
Stress management
Overall management skills
Writing skills
Proofreading and editing skills

FAQ: Detail-oriented Skills

What’s the difference between being detail-oriented and being a perfectionist?

Typically, “detail-oriented” is used as a positive, while “perfectionist” or “micromanager” is used as a negative. While these phrases may seem like just synonyms, the truth is that a detail-oriented team member cares about and pays active attention to the details, while a perfectionist is more likely to focus on the small details over the bigger picture. You can avoid being labeled a perfectionist or micromanager by striving to complete jobs and paying attention to timelines so that you don’t get too caught up in these details.

Do hiring managers really care about being detail-oriented?

Yes. When you come in for a job interview, the interview questions will try to determine how much you care about different elements like paying attention to little details or paying attention to the big picture. If they can tell that you decisively are not detail-oriented, they might be worried that this could lead to making larger mistakes in the future. By showcasing your detail-oriented nature, you’re reassuring a hiring manager that you do care about the little things in your job, which will make it less likely that you’ll let the company down in the future.

How can I show off my detail-oriented nature after stating it?

If you’ve decided to include “detail-oriented” on your skills list, it’s important that you also distribute it throughout your resume and cover letter. You should only include “detail-oriented” on your skills list if you feel like it’s a skill that’s helped you significantly over the years. You should be able to list at least a few experiences in your past jobs where being detail-oriented helped you do better work. Examples may be that you caught a typo in a large advertising campaign or you fixed formatting issues to look better to the customer. If you can’t provide an example of how detail-oriented you are, you might want to consider listing a different skill instead.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.