what are effective ways in discovering my strengths in prepare for resume writing?

Hi Hollie,

First off, skills and strengths are your personal qualities. Listing your skills and strengths in a CV helps employers see why they should pick you. Everyone has skills and strengths, including you. They mean slightly different things:

Skills: You learn skills through being taught or through experience, like handling money or being fluent in French or being proficient in software like Word, Excel or Photoshop.

Strengths: You have natural strengths, or they're qualities you've picked up over time. Your strengths on a CV might include 'organised' or 'good communication skills when serving customers or undertaking reception work'. These strengths are also known as soft skills.

Where do skills and strengths go in a CV?

Your skills and strengths fit smoothly in the 'key skills' section of your CV
Doing them as bullet points like this makes them easier for employers to read!
You can give examples of where you've displayed some of your skills, e.g. "self-motivated and able to meet deadlines, as shown by completing my own project during my summer internship in 2014"
You can also add a few key skills to describe you when filling in your personal statement. You know what a personal statement is in a CV, right? If you're not sure, it's the beginning part of the CV that says a little bit about you, your education so far and some idea about what you're looking for in career/education next steps.

13 examples of key skills and strengths for your CV
HOT TIP: Try giving examples of where you've shown your skills! We've included some examples for you below in italics. When you're brainstorming your CV you can remove these examples, or change them to make them true for you.

• Problem solving skills


• Numeracy skills


• Written and verbal communication skills (built up through essays, presentations and coursework during my time at school/college, and through replying to email queries during my office work placement)


• Strong customer service skills (developed through retail work experience)


• Excellent telephone manner (built up through work experience involving reception work and answering phones)


• Self-motivation and ability to take the initiative


• Ability to work well under pressure


• I.T. skills including experience in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)


• Punctuality and time-keeping (as displayed through good attendance when doing early shifts in a summer job)


• Able to take on responsibility (given extra responsibilities at school in the form of co-ordinating school assemblies and clubs and helping out at lunchtime. Past babysitting work experience required being in a position of responsibility, as did being given extra responsibilities at school like helping out at lunchtime)


• Good organisation, with attention to detail (organised a charity fundraising event)


• Teamwork skills (worked well as part of a team in previous summer office experience)


• Quick learner, keen to learn and improve skills

Ask yourself a few questions. Which of these skills and strengths sound like you? If you were asked in a job interview to give an example of when you displayed your skills and strengths, which ones do you think you could give an example of?

Answering these questions may help you choose which skills and strengths to put down in your CV, and could help you when it comes to job interviews, too.

Remember, whatever your level of education or work experience, you've always got skills and strengths to brag about. Don't be shy - let your light shine!

https://www.plotr.co.uk/advice/articles/cv-tips-how-to-write-about-your-skills-and-strengths-in-a-cv/

Good luck!