Are you looking to elevate your resume and stand out in the competitive job market? Look no further!
In this article, we will guide you through the top business skills that employers are looking for and provide you with practical tips on how to showcase them in your resume.
From hard skills to soft skills, we have got you covered.
With our expert guidance, you will be able to craft a winning resume that highlights your business skills and catches the eye of potential employers.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Finance Skills
Finance skills are vital for businesses to effectively manage their financial resources. These skills include budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, investment analysis, and cash flow management.
They help companies to make informed decisions about their financial future, reduce financial risks, and maximize profits. These skills are valuable for a wide range of roles within a business, from accounting and finance to project management and operations.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in financial analysis and advising will grow by 15% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
Including finance skills on your resume shows your ability to manage financial resources, which is highly valued in the business world.
Budgeting
Budgeting involves creating and managing a financial plan for a business or project.
“Developed and managed a $1 million annual budget for a non-profit organization.”
Financial Forecasting
Financial forecasting is the process of predicting future financial performance based on past and present data.
“Conducted financial forecasting and analysis, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue for a retail company.”
Financial Analysis
Financial analysis involves evaluating financial data to make informed business decisions.
“Created financial analysis and provided recommendations for cost savings, resulting in a 10% reduction in expenses for a manufacturing company.”
Investment Analysis
Investment analysis is about evaluating investment opportunities to determine their potential return and risk.
“Conducted investment analysis and recommended investment opportunities, increasing portfolio value for a financial services company by 20%.”
Cash Flow Management
Cash flow management involves managing the inflow and outflow of cash to ensure the business has enough liquidity.
“Developed and implemented cash flow management strategies, resulting in a 30% increase in cash reserves for a small business.”
Cost Analysis
Cost analysis involves evaluating the costs of a product or service to determine its profitability.
“Developed cost analysis and implemented pricing strategies, increasing profits for a SAAS company by 20%.”
Accounting
Accounting involves recording, classifying, and summarizing financial transactions to provide accurate financial information.
“Managed all accounting functions, which resulted in accurate and timely financial reporting for a healthcare organization.”
Financial Modeling
Financial modeling involves creating mathematical models to forecast financial performance.
“Developed financial models to support strategic decision-making, resulting in a 10% increase in revenue for a software company.”
Risk Management
Risk management involves identifying and managing potential risks that could impact a business or project.
“Supervised risk management strategies, which reduced project delays for a construction company by 50%.”
Financial Reporting
Financial reporting involves preparing and presenting financial information to stakeholders.
“Prepared financial statements and reports for quarterly board meetings, resulting in informed decision-making for a non-profit organization.”
Project Management Skills
Project management skills are essential for organizations to deliver projects on time, within budget, and with the desired outcomes. They involve the ability to plan, organize, and execute projects effectively.
Project management skills include agile methodology, Scrum framework, project planning, resource management, and more. These skills are valuable for project managers, team leaders, and anyone involved in executing projects.
By 2027, there will be a need for 88 million employees with project management skills, according to PMI.
Including project management skills on your resume shows your ability to manage projects effectively, which is highly valued by employers.
Agile Methodology
Agile methodology refers to a project management approach that emphasizes iterative development and flexibility in responding to changes in requirements. Demonstrating experience with Agile methodology can involve listing specific Agile techniques used, such as user stories or sprint retrospectives.
“Facilitated weekly stand-up meetings to track progress and adjust project’s scope according to Agile principles.”
Scrum Framework
Scrum framework is a specific methodology within Agile that focuses on empowering teams to self-organize and make decisions. Demonstrating Scrum skills can involve listing specific Scrum ceremonies participated in, such as sprint planning or backlog refinement.
“Led daily Scrum ceremonies and facilitated sprint planning sessions to prioritize tasks and ensure team alignment with project goals.”
Project Planning
Project planning involves developing a comprehensive plan for a project, including defining scope, objectives, timelines, and resources needed. Demonstrating project planning skills can involve listing specific project management tools used, such as Gantt charts or resource allocation software.
“Developed and maintained detailed project plans using MS Project, ensuring timely completion of project milestones and deliverables.”
Resource Management
Resource management involves allocating, managing, and optimizing resources to maximize efficiency and achieve project goals. An example of demonstrating this skill on a resume could be:
“Successfully executed a resource allocation strategy that led to a 9% increase in productivity.”
Risk Management
Risk management involves identifying, assessing, and controlling potential risks to minimize negative impacts on the project.
“Devised a comprehensive risk management plan that minimized project risks by 22%.”
Project Scheduling
Project scheduling involves creating and maintaining a project schedule to ensure timely completion.
“Oversaw a team in establishing a project schedule and completing the project two weeks before the deadline.”
Change Management
Change management involves managing the process of change within a project or organization.
“Formulated and executed a change management plan that boosted employee adoption.”
Project Budgeting
Project budgeting involves creating and managing a project budget to ensure that resources are used effectively.
“Managed a project budget of $500,000, completing the project within budget and achieving a 10% cost savings.”
Stakeholder Management
Stakeholder management is the process of identifying, analyzing, and planning communication with stakeholders to ensure their needs and expectations are met. Effective stakeholder management can result in increased support and buy-in from stakeholders.
“Developed and executed a stakeholder engagement plan, resulting in a 25% increase in stakeholder satisfaction scores.”
Project Communication
Project communication is the process of exchanging information and ideas between team members and stakeholders to ensure everyone is informed and aligned. Good project communication can help build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and avoid delays.
“Implemented regular project status updates, reducing stakeholder inquiries by 15%.”
Technical Skills
Technical skills are crucial for businesses to leverage technology and stay competitive in today’s fast-paced digital world. They help businesses to analyze data, create engaging websites, secure their networks, and develop innovative products and services.
Technical skills are valuable for a wide range of roles within a business, from marketing and sales to operations and finance. Including technical business skills for a resume shows your ability to work with technology, which is highly valued in the modern business world.
Data Analysis
Data analysis involves collecting, processing, and performing statistical analysis on data to derive insights and make data-driven decisions. Proficiency in data analysis tools and techniques can enable a person to uncover trends and patterns in data.
“By utilizing multivariate regression analysis, we were able to pinpoint the main catalysts behind customer churn, ultimately leading to a notable 15% decrease in churn rate.”
Data Visualization
Data visualization is the representation of data in a graphical or pictorial format, making it easier to understand and interpret. Effective data visualization skills can help convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.
“Developed an interactive dashboard using Tableau, reducing time to interpret data by 20%.”
SQL
SQL, a programming language primarily used for the management and manipulation of relational databases, has become increasingly important in modern data management. Knowledge of SQL can help individuals extract data from databases and perform various operations on them.
“Developed complex SQL queries to extract data from multiple tables, reducing data retrieval time by 30%.”
Python
Python is a general-purpose programming language used for data analysis, machine learning, and web development. Proficiency in Python can enable a person to build complex data-driven applications.
“Built a machine learning model using Python, which improved prediction accuracy by 25%.”
JavaScript
JavaScript is a programming language used for building interactive web applications. Knowledge of JavaScript can enable a person to build dynamic and responsive web applications.
“Created user-friendly web applications using React.js and JavaScript, resulting in a 40% increase in user engagement.”
HTML/CSS
HTML/CSS are markup languages used for creating and styling web pages. Proficiency in HTML/CSS can enable a person to build responsive and visually appealing web pages.
“Developed a website using HTML/CSS, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic.”
UX (User Experience)
UX (User Experience) design is the process of designing products that are easy to use, engaging, and meet users’ needs. Knowledge of UX design can help a person create user-friendly and intuitive products.
“Through conducting user research and developing wireframes, we were able to achieve higher levels of user satisfaction.”
UI (User Interface)
UI (User Interface) design is the process of designing the visual layout and elements of a product. Proficiency in UI design can help a person create visually appealing and cohesive products.
“The design of our mobile app’s user interface was optimized, ultimately resulting in a noteworthy 20% increase in app downloads.”
Network Security
Network security involves implementing security measures to protect networks and systems from unauthorized access and cyber attacks. Knowledge of network security can help a person ensure the safety and integrity of data.
“Through the implementation of access controls and firewall configuration, we were able to achieve a significant 11% reduction in network security incidents.”
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing encompasses the delivery of a range of computing services, including software, databases, storage, and servers, over the internet. Acquiring expertise in cloud computing can facilitate the development and implementation of scalable and dependable cloud-based systems.
“Following the transition of our legacy systems to a cloud-based infrastructure, we succeeded in reducing operational costs by a noteworthy 20%.”
Soft Skills
Soft skills are essential for businesses to build positive relationships, promote teamwork, and improve overall performance. These skills include leadership, communication, time management, and much more.
They help businesses to create a positive work environment, improve employee morale, and foster innovation. Soft skills are valuable for a wide range of roles within a business, from customer service and sales to management and executive positions.
Including soft skills on your resume shows your ability to work effectively with others, which is highly valued in the business world.
Here’s are the top soft business skills for a resume:
Leadership
Leadership is the ability to guide and motivate a team towards achieving a common goal. Being able to inspire and influence others is a highly valued skill in any industry. To showcase your leadership skills on a resume, you can mention examples of times when you took charge of a project or led a team to success.
Communication
Effective communication involves the ability to listen actively, express ideas clearly, and respond appropriately. Being able to communicate with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders is crucial in any job. To demonstrate your communication skills, mention examples of times when you effectively communicated a complex idea or resolved a conflict through clear communication.
Time Management
Time management involves the ability to prioritize tasks, set goals, and meet deadlines. Employers value individuals who can effectively manage their time and work efficiently. To demonstrate time management skills, you can mention examples of times when you successfully completed a project ahead of schedule or implemented a new system to streamline workflows.
Teamwork involves the ability to collaborate with others towards achieving a common goal.
Teamwork
75% of employers rate teamwork and collaboration as “very important” when hiring, making it the top-ranked skill in demand by employers.
Being able to work effectively in a team is important in any industry. To show your teamwork skills, you can mention examples of times when you contributed to a team project or collaborated with colleagues to solve a problem.
Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution involves the ability to identify, address, and resolve conflicts in a professional and constructive manner. Being able to manage conflicts effectively is important in any work environment. To demonstrate your conflict resolution skills, you can mention examples of times when you successfully resolved a conflict with a colleague or customer and maintained a positive relationship.
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills are the ability to build positive relationships with others. Strong interpersonal and networking skills are crucial in almost any workplace and include traits like empathy, respect, and active listening. To present interpersonal skills on a resume, mention any team-building activities you’ve led or participated in.
Creativity
Creativity is the ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. A creative individual can generate new ideas, take risks, and approach challenges from unique angles. To present creativity on a resume, highlight any projects or initiatives you’ve spearheaded that required you to think creatively.
Problem-solving
Problem-solving is the ability to identify and resolve issues efficiently. A strong problem solver can analyze data, brainstorm solutions, and implement a plan to fix the problem. To demonstrate problem-solving skills on a resume, highlight any specific problems you’ve solved and the results of your solutions.
Adaptability
Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new circumstances and situations. A person with strong adaptability skills can stay calm and focused when plans change, and can quickly pivot to a new direction. To showcase adaptability on a resume, mention any times you’ve had to adapt to new procedures or situations in a previous job.
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is the ability to focus on the small things that matter. Someone with strong attention to detail can spot errors and inconsistencies, ensuring that everything is accurate and precise. To present attention to detail on a resume, highlight any projects or tasks you’ve completed that required a high level of accuracy and precision.
Marketing Skills
Marketing skills are crucial for businesses to attract and retain customers, promote their products and services, and grow their market share.
They help businesses to create compelling marketing campaigns, generate leads, and convert prospects into customers. Marketing skills are valuable for marketing and sales roles within a business, as well as for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Here are the top marketing business skills for a resume:
Brand Management
Brand management is the process of creating, developing, and maintaining a brand’s identity and reputation. Knowledge of brand management can help a person build and promote a strong brand image.
“Developed brand strategy and increased brand awareness by 25% within six months.”
Market Research
Market research is the process of collecting and analyzing data about a market, including customer needs, preferences, and behaviors. Knowledge of market research can help a person identify market trends and
make informed business decisions.
Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is the use of digital channels, such as social media, email, and search engines, to promote products or services. Proficiency in digital marketing can enable a person to create and implement effective online marketing campaigns.
“Managed social media accounts and increased engagement by 30% within three months.”
Content Creation
Content creation is the process of creating and sharing valuable and relevant content, such as articles, videos, and infographics, to attract and engage a target audience. Knowledge of content creation can help a person develop engaging and effective marketing materials.
“Over the course of six months, we generated blog content that led to a remarkable 20% increase in website traffic.”
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of enhancing a website’s content and structure to attain higher rankings on search engine results pages. Adeptness in SEO can help individuals amplify website visibility and draw in greater organic traffic.
“We created and executed a customer service training initiative that led to an impressive 20% upsurge in customer satisfaction ratings.”
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing involves creating and executing marketing campaigns on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
“Increased Instagram engagement by 25% through targeted social media ads and influencer partnerships.”
Marketing Analytics
Marketing analytics involves using data to analyze marketing performance and make informed decisions.
“Developed and implemented marketing analytics strategy resulting in a 15% increase in website traffic and a 10% increase in conversion rate.”
Sales Funnel Management
Sales funnel management is the process of optimizing the stages of a sales funnel to increase conversions.
“Managed sales funnel for a B2B SaaS company resulting in a 20% increase in leads and a 15% increase in sales.”
Email Marketing
Email marketing involves creating and sending marketing emails to a targeted audience.
“Increased email open rates by 30% through A/B testing and personalized email content.”
Event Planning
Event planning involves organizing and executing events to promote a product or service.
“Planned and executed a successful product launch event with over 200 attendees resulting in a 50% increase in sales within the first month.”
Operations Skills
Operations skills are essential for businesses to manage their resources, optimize their processes, and deliver products and services efficiently. These skills include supply chain management, logistics, and they help businesses to reduce costs, improve quality, and deliver value to their customers.
Operations skills are valuable for a wide range of roles within a business, from operations and supply chain management to finance and marketing.
Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management involves the coordination and management of activities involved in the production and delivery of goods or services.
“Implemented a new inventory management system, reducing stock-outs by 25% and improving order fulfillment by 20%.”
Logistics
Logistics involves the planning and coordination of the movement of goods or services.
“Reduced transportation costs by 15% through route optimization and renegotiating contracts with logistics providers.”
Process Improvement
Process improvement involves identifying and improving inefficient processes within a company.
“Led a team to implement Lean methodology in manufacturing, resulting in a 30% reduction in waste and a 15% increase in production efficiency.”
Lean Methodology
Lean methodology involves the elimination of waste and streamlining of processes to improve efficiency.
“By incorporating Lean Six Sigma principles and a Kanban system in our manufacturing process, we were able to diminish lead time by 20%.”
Quality Control
Quality control refers to the procedures involved in ensuring that products or services meet or exceed customer expectations.
“Our implementation of a new and innovative quality control system resulted in a significant decrease of 50% in defects and customer complaints.”
Six Sigma
Six Sigma is a set of quality management methods that use data and statistical analysis to identify and eliminate defects in processes.
“Implemented Six Sigma methodology resulting in a 25% reduction in defects within the production line.”
Inventory Management
Inventory management involves tracking and controlling a company’s inventory levels to optimize costs and ensure availability of stock.
“Implemented new inventory management system reducing inventory holding costs by 15%.”
Customer Service
Customer service involves providing support and assistance to customers before, during, and after a purchase.
“Developed and implemented a customer service training program resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction scores.”
Vendor Management
Vendor management involves managing relationships with suppliers to ensure the timely delivery of goods and services.
“Negotiated new contracts with vendors resulting in a 10% reduction in costs and improved delivery times.”
Facilities Management
Facilities management involves overseeing the maintenance and operation of a company’s buildings and equipment.
“Implemented preventive maintenance program resulting in a 30% reduction in equipment downtime and repair costs.”
How to List Business Skills on a Resume
When it comes to crafting an effective resume, highlighting your business skills on a resume is essential. It can set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers. However, it’s important to present your business skills in a clear, concise, and compelling way that showcases your expertise and ability to contribute to the organization. Here are a few tips to help you list your business skills on your resume.
- Identify the specific skills that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. This may involve reviewing the job description and researching the company to understand the skills they value most.
- Organize your skills into categories such as leadership, communication, financial management, project management, and so on. Within each category, list your skills in order of importance, with the most critical skills listed first.
- Use bullet points to describe your experience and accomplishments that demonstrate your mastery of each skill. By following these steps, you can present your business skills in a way that is clear, concise, and compelling, helping you stand out from other applicants and land your dream job.
Where to Include Business Skills on a Resume
There are several places where you can include your business skills on a resume, depending on the format and layout you choose. Here are some options to consider:
Skills section: One of the most common ways to list your business skills is to create a dedicated skills section, just like the contact information section, near the top of your resume. Here, you can list your skills in bullet points or in a table format, making it easy for employers to quickly scan and identify your strengths.
Job descriptions: Another way to highlight your business skills is to incorporate them into the descriptions of your previous job roles. For example, you can include specific accomplishments or responsibilities that demonstrate your proficiency in areas like financial analysis, project management, or strategic planning.
Cover letter: If you’re submitting a cover letter along with your resume, you can also include a brief section that highlights your most relevant business skills. This can help to reinforce your qualifications and demonstrate your fit for the role.
How to Tailor Your Business Skills to the Job
Tailoring your business skills to the job you’re applying for is an important step in creating a strong and effective resume. Here are some tips to help you do this:
- Review the job description: Read through the job description carefully to identify the specific skills and qualifications that are required for the role. Look for keywords and phrases that indicate the types of business skills that are most important.
- Identify your relevant skills: Once you’ve reviewed the job description, make a list of the business skills you possess that are most relevant to the role. Focus on skills that you have experience with, and that you can demonstrate through specific examples from your work history.
- Prioritize your skills: Next, prioritize your list of skills based on their relevance to the job. Put the most important skills at the top of your list and make sure they’re prominently displayed on your resume.
- Use examples: When describing your business skills on your resume, use specific examples from your work history to illustrate how you’ve applied those skills in a professional setting. This will help to demonstrate your expertise and make your resume more compelling.
- Be concise: While it’s important to showcase your business skills on your resume, it’s also important to be concise and to-the-point. Focus on the most important skills and avoid overwhelming the reader with too much information.
Resume Example for a Business Position
Emily Johnson
Seattle, WA 98101
(555) 555-1234
emily.johnson.example@email.com
https://www.linkedin.com/emily-johnson-exampleSUMMARY
Highly motivated and results-driven Business Administration professional with over 5 years of experience in project management, process improvement, and financial analysis. Proven track record of delivering strategic solutions to improve organizational performance and profitability. Skilled in data analysis and interpretation, with experience using Excel, Tableau, and other data visualization tools. Strong communicator and team player with excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Business Analyst – ABC Company, Seattle, WA
June 2019 – PresentConducted financial analysis to identify cost-saving opportunities, resulting in a 10% reduction in operational expenses.
Developed and implemented process improvements to increase efficiency and streamline operations, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify and address key business challenges and opportunities, resulting in improved organizational performance.
Project Coordinator – XYZ Corporation, Bellevue, WA
September 2017 – June 2019Managed multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely and accurate completion of deliverables.
Coordinated project activities with cross-functional teams, including IT, finance, and operations, resulting in successful project outcomes.
Developed and maintained project plans, timelines, and budgets, ensuring project goals were achieved within established parameters.
Customer Service Representative – Acme Corporation, Seattle, WA
May 2015 – September 2017Provided excellent customer service to a diverse customer base, resulting in high customer satisfaction ratings.
Resolved customer complaints and issues in a timely and professional manner, ensuring customer retention and loyalty.
Collaborated with team members to identify and implement process improvements, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Business Administration – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2011-2015
Major in Business Administration
Minor in AccountingSKILLS
Project Management
Financial Analysis
Process Improvement
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
Tableau
Interpersonal Skills
Teamwork and Collaboration