Many job seekers think they know how to write a CV that will land them their dream job. But they often forget the importance of skills, which can turn a mediocre CV into a winning one when they are relevant to the intended employer. Many candidates may add a skills section listing their qualifications at the bottom of their CVs. That’s not the way to use your skills to your advantage. Putting the right skills in the right places on your CV attracts recruiters and shows that you’re the right match for the job.
Here are five strategic ways to choose skills for a winning CV.
Table of Contents
1. What skills should land on your CV?
You can divide work-related skills into two basic types: hard skills and soft skills.
Hard skills are the qualifications you need to do a particular job. For example, if you’re applying for the position of “Software Developer,” you need to know the required programming languages. That’s a hard skill.
Soft skills are “people skills and recruiters value them so much.” They’re harder to measure, but taking an online course can make it tangible.
Here are some examples of soft skills:
- Creativity
- Communication
- Relationship building
When faced with two candidates with the same hard skills, hiring managers will choose the one with excellent soft skills on their CV.
A study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) showed that recruiters value leadership and teamwork the most in new student applicants.
Both hard and soft skills are essential to a successful job application. But how can you tell which skills recruiters want from you the most?
2. Here’s how to learn what recruiters want
Have a look at the job description. You’ll see a list of qualifications and skills required by the employer.
These are the skills that recruiters expect to see on CVs. They will scan your CVs for these skills before they read your documents. Talking about job descriptions and recruiters scanning your CV, it’s 2025 —the era of Artificial Intelligence, and neither needs to be done manually. Tailoring your CV to match the job description is now the job of an AI tool like Jobberman AI Career Tool. This tool literally tailors the job you are applying for with your CV. It also picks key skills from the job description to craft a cover letter that aligns with it.
3. Research which skills your sector values most
Often, many skills not listed in the job description are still valuable to recruiters. The Jobberman AI Career tool curates key skills that are imperative to your job. Check the image below.
4. Where should you place skills on a CV?
Now that you know which skills to put on your CV, you need to find the right place for them. With Jobberman’s AI Career tool, it strategically places skills in the correct positions, not jamming them together.
For example, if you’re a genius at digital marketing, the tool will incorporate the skill into the experience section:
Skill: Marketing Skill
Experience Section Entry: ‘Developed social media marketing strategies to enhance brand engagement and adoption.’
The AI Career tool automatically adds figures and numbers to emphasise your impact using these skills. Jobberman’s AI Career Tool writes data-like work experiences.
5. Now check that you’ve added keywords and skills
There is a chance your CV will need to pass through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The software scans your CV for relevance before ranking it. Watch how the ATS works.
That means you have to create a CV that satisfies both bots and humans.
The software will scan the CV for keywords. These keywords are often the same as those that appear in the job description. The Jobberman AI Career Tool tailors your CV with keywords from the job description, not irrelevantly filling it with them.
Key takeaway
Only 2% of candidates who apply for a job land an interview. And it’s not likely that the other 98% were unqualified for the job. They failed at some point to convince the hiring manager that they had the required skills. By using tools like Jobberman AI Career Tool, you can easily add relevant skills to your CV and keywords to match job descriptions, ensuring it passes the ATS test. It’s time you changed your job search tactics. One CV does not fit all.
Watch how the AI Career Tool helps you write a winning CV and do so much more.
FAQs
1. What is the Jobberman AI Career Tool?
The Jobberman AI Career Tool is a self-serve digital solution integrated into the Jobberman Ghana platform. It uses artificial intelligence to help job seekers at all levels create standout CVs, tailor cover letters, prepare for interviews, and negotiate job offers.
2. How does the AI Career Tool work?
The tool guides users through steps such as creating an ATS-friendly CV, writing a cover letter customised to a role, practising interview responses, and receiving guidance on salary negotiation. Watch here.
3. Who can use the AI Career Tool?
Any job seeker in Ghana can use it-whether you’re just entering the workforce, changing careers, or seeking a more senior role. The tool is designed to empower users across all experience levels.
4. How will the results help me in my job search?
Using the tool can help you:
- Produce a CV aligned with current industry trends and more likely to get noticed.
- Craft compelling cover letters tailored to the roles you’re applying for.
- Practice and prepare for interviews with more confidence.
- Approach salary negotiation more informed and confident.
