How to List Resume Strengths on Your Resume

Updated June 18, 2022949

Resume strengths are all about highlighting your top qualifications so that recruiters can recognize them. Here’s how you can make sure your resume strengths are in order.

Resume Strengths

If you want to make sure that your resume is as high quality as possible, then it’s important that you master every element of the resume, including your resume strengths. This means highlighting your key abilities and qualifications for a recruiter. No matter what your strengths are, you should discuss them both throughout your job application, from your resume to your cover letter and in the answers to interview questions. Here’s everything you need to know about resume strengths.

List of Strengths to Consider on Your Resume

There are thousands of potential strengths out there, but many of them are best for very specific jobs rather than being valuable for a wide variety of jobs. Here are some examples of strengths that many job seekers can benefit from, as they’re skills that are beneficial across a number of different industries:

Teamwork
Communication
Problem-solving
Strong work ethic
Critical thinking
Decision-making
Dependability
Interpersonal skills
Time management
Analytical skills
Open-mindedness

Note that these strengths are all soft skills, as these tend to be the most transferable skills. It’s important to include these soft skills alongside hard skills which relate to the specific job on your resume. For example, knowledge of particular software is a hard skill that is as important to a prospective employer as soft skills like your ability to talk to your team members.

Which Strengths Should I List on a Resume?

Now that you have a number of different resume strengths that might be a great addition to your skills section, how can you narrow them down? When going through the resume writing process, here are a few ways to create the best skills for your resume:

Strengths with certifications

If you have certifications for any strengths, then you’ll want to gravitate toward those over strengths that you have no certifications for. For example, if you’re working in an industry that requires computer skills, list specific skills that you’ve been certified for, like certain programming languages or proficiency with particular programs. The more you can bring up third-party acceptance of your skills, the more likely it will be that the hiring manager will accept those skills as competencies that you’re great at.
Strengths you’ve won awards for

If you’ve ever won an award or been recognized for your skills, then you’ll want to consider including these recognitions to your resume. For example, if once got an award for having been the most punctual employee in your district, you might want to include punctuality on your list of skills, and mention the award in your work history section. You can also create a separate resume section for a list of awards, or list them in your work history section.
Strengths employers have noted from you

Even if you didn’t get formal awards for a strength, employers might still have noted that you had these skills in the past. For example, you may have seen that employers regularly noted that you were great at communicating with customers or motivating your team members. These are personal strengths that those employers would likely mention if they were recommending you to someone new. Look back through your work experience and see what types of strengths employers routinely talked about.
Strengths that reflect job requirements

Lastly, it’s always important that you look at how your strengths reflect the specific job description you’re targeting. Every job search is going to be different, and you need to include strengths that reflect the job requirements of specific jobs as well as resume examples that you see within your industry. One of the best ways to do some research when it comes to listing your strengths is to look at resume examples for your specific industry and your specific job. Listing these strengths can be an important part of looking like the best job seeker for a specific job.

FAQ: Resume Strengths

How many strengths should I list on a resume or job interview?

When it comes to a job description, it depends largely on the resume format you choose. A chronological resume format will typically list around five to six strengths in the skills section, while a functional resume format may list up a dozen strengths or more as skills. It’s also important to remember that the skills section isn't the only place for you to list strengths. You can also list these strengths in your work experience section and in your resume summary or resume objective.
When it comes to a job interview, you should typically stick to two to three if you’re answering the question, “What are your top strengths?” If the interviewer asks for a specific number, like “Top three strengths” or “Top five strengths,” then definitely stick to that number.

How do I personalize my resume strengths to the job posting?

The biggest tip to personalize strengths to a specific job posting is to look for resume keywords. Keywords can be found in the job posting and describe what a hiring manager is looking for in the ideal job seeker (e.g., specific skills or experience with specific duties). Personalize your resume to describe the skills that you note in the keywords for a new job’s description. That way, you’ll showcase yourself as the perfect applicant.

Do resume strengths really impact my results?

Yes. Resume strengths are what you base your resume around, and that means they’re going to impact your ability to get a job. If you choose resume strengths that the hiring manager doesn’t really care about, then you’re going to be less likely to get the job. Resume strengths that fit the job requirements, however, will steer you toward getting a great job.

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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.