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Have you listed the most important skills on your CV?

The Middle East job market is currently in its most competitive phase. College degrees have become as common as having a high school education. Therefore, candidates need to stand out by effectively highlighting how they are a perfect fit for the job opening. The best way to do this is by making sure your skills are well aligned with the employer’s requirements.

Skills are nothing but one’s ability to do something well. For example writing, listening, typing, can all be considered as skills. However, when it comes to a job application, you need to be careful as to what you include on your CV. The job that you are applying for usually has specific skills requirements and it is in your best interest to list your skills as close that as possible.

As most professional CV writers will agree, simply listing down a number of generic or basic skills that are not matched to the job you are applying for will not help you in getting shortlisted. Therefore, it’s crucial to know what skills to include on your CV.

Types of Skills on Your CV

Skills can be divided into two categories; hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are technical or quantifiable skills that are acquired through formal education or training. These include computer skills and language skills. For example, Arabic language is a highly desirable skill for most jobs in UAE. Soft skills, on the other hand, are transferable skills such as leadership, integrity, and time-management that are slightly difficult to quantify. These skills are acquired over years of experience that cannot be taught easily.

While some employers prefer candidates with specific hard skills as they would require less on the job training, others prefer candidates with well-developed soft skills that prove to be more beneficial in the long run. Hence, job seekers need to take a balanced approach and provide a good mix of both skills on their CV.

CV / Resume Writing Service in Dubai

CV writers in Dubai can help you in identifying your top skills in both categories and then match them to the job you are applying for. They can also help you in integrating these skills into not only your resume but also your cover letter and interview answers.