Quick Overview
In today’s competitive UK job market, employers want more than qualifications—they want candidates who can demonstrate valuable skills that drive results. Both soft skills (how you work with others and solve problems) and hard skills (technical abilities and role-specific expertise) play a critical role in standing out.
This guide covers:
✅ Why employers value both soft skills and hard skills, and how they influence hiring decisions
✅ Top soft skills that make candidates stand out: communication, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, initiative, emotional intelligence, work ethic, and time management
✅ Key hard skills employers seek: analysis, digital literacy, project management, customer service, content creation, and industry-specific technical abilities
✅ How to showcase skills on your CV—in personal statements, skills sections, and work experience examples
✅ Using the STAR method to demonstrate your skills confidently in interviews
✅ Practical tips for backing each skill with real-life examples that impress UK employers
In today’s competitive job landscape, a multitude of CVs with examples of skills and applications flood the desks of employers and hiring managers. And a myriad of CVs and applications flood their desks. Familiar qualifications and degrees listed on CVs do not always grab an employer’s attention. Along with qualifications listed on CVs, an applicant’s skills give them an edge. However, the skills and qualifications that an applicant possesses do not always guarantee an interview.
A major stumbling block that candidates struggle with is that not all examples of skills are equal. Employers are inundated with generic buzzwords like “team player,” “hardworking,” and “good communication skills.” Understanding and presenting skills that employers find value in are the difference between standing out from the crowd.
Throughout this blog, let’s take a deeper dive into the soft and hard skills that employers appreciate and value.
What Do Employers Want?
Like any employer, every business wants to…
- Hire someone who is well-suited for the role, which includes the ability to do the work (technical and professional examples of skills);
- Interact positively with their co-workers and communicate (interpersonal examples of skills);
- Be able to handle change, challenges, and remain motivated (personal attributes);
These attributes change an applicant’s value from a job offer and transform the new hire into someone that the business can rely on.
Notable Examples of Skills That Employers Value
We’ll categorise them into two types:
- Soft Skills: Personal and Interpersonal Skills, and
- Hard Skills: Technical or Role Specific Skills.
✅ Soft Skills That Stand Out
These are the qualities that define how you work and relate to other people. In most cases, they are the differences that matter, especially in customer roles or team roles.
1. Communication
Having the ability to speak, listen, and write in a clear and confident manner.
Why it matters:
For most companies, a clear communicator brings value since silence and lack of clarity bring costs in equal measure.
Example to use on CV:
“Delivered summary presentation of data insights with recommendations for improvements during weekly senior management meetings.”
2. Problem Solving
Identifying gaps in processes and proposing effective solutions to address them.
Why it matters:
for any role, there will always be challenges. Problem solvers are resourceful in overcoming challenges.
Example:
“Improved the customer feedback process by identifying and resolving gaps in the processes, resulting in more than 30% faster response rate”
3. Teamwork
Working with other people in a way that is helpful in achieving the objectives of the organisation or any group.
Why it matters:
People get and accept support while making fewer arguments, and, as a team player, they help create a better workplace.
Example:
“Managed to work with people from other relevant departments and do a campaign to market the products as discussed during the sales objectives meeting”
4. Adaptability
The ability to change with change; This is the ability and willingness to respond when change occurs.
Why it impresses:
Productivity remains a concern for almost any employer, especially with staff who might be idle or slack during less certain situations.
Example:
“Quickly adapted to remote working tools and workflows during the pandemic, maintaining constant levels of productivity.”
5. Effective Development and Use of Time
“Effective Development and Use of Time” effectively and professionally describes one’s organisation of their time to achieve preset goals.
Why it impresses:
Illustrates maturity and responsibility, especially regard for other people’s time.
Example:
“Balanced multiple projects and daily operations, completing all assigned tasks earlier than deadlines.”
6. Initiative
Defined as taking action without being asked to do so and acting to seize opportunities.
Why it impresses:
Indicative of possible leadership and task ownership.
Example:
“Redesigned our inefficient filing system, digitising it and giving back 4 hours a week to the team.”
7. Emotional Intelligence
Understanding and responding to one’s own emotions as well as the emotions of others.
Why it impresses:
Increased ability to manage conflict, build relationships, and deal with stress.
Example:
“Steered a tense client interaction to a more positive place using calm, active listening and bespoke responding.”
8. Work Ethic
Reliability, commitment, and taking pride in one’s work.
Why it impresses:
Businesses seek to hire staff who always deliver and do not require constant supervision.
Example:
“Kept a flawless attendance record and was given critical client engagements to manage.”
✅ Hard Skills Employers Want and Why They Are Important
These are examples of skills that have been clearly defined and measurable through education, training, or experience. They are usually tailored to a specific field.
9. Analysis Skills
These involve evaluation and competent decision-making based on relevant data.
Positions:
Business, finance, marketing, operations.
For instance:
“Employed data analysis using Excel and Power BI on customer data, resulting in a strategy that improved retention by 20%.”
10. Digital Literacy
The level of competence using relevant software applications, tools, and flow of work processes.
Positions:
All modern office jobs.
For instance:
“Possesses proficiency using MS Office, Google Workspace, Zoom, and project management software, Trello and Asana.”
11. Digital project management
Project management includes virtual management of a project within specified deadlines and costs.
Positions:
Admin, marketing, it, construction, and logistics.
For instance:
“Supervised a marketing project within a team of four members and completed it two days earlier at 10% cost savings.”
12. Customer Service
Support and services rendered to a client or user.
Positions:
Retail, hospitality, administration, health and service sectors.
For instance:
“With a background in customer service, I managed more than 60 customer calls and email queries daily and resolved 95% of the issues on first contact.”
13. Content Creation or Copywriting
Draft and publish materials on the company blog or other social media, website or advertisement.
Positions:
Marketing, media, communications, and small business.
Example:
“Developed website content that improved the company site’s traffic by 40% in 3 months.”
14. Technical Skills – Industry Specific
These can be:
- Graphic design (Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
- Financial modelling (Excel, QuickBooks)
- Healthcare documentation
- Legal research suggestions
Example:
“Developed and managed a customised WordPress site for a local company, including bespoke WordPress plugins.”
How to Showcase These Examples of Skills on Your CV
Context and results are far more helpful than simply listing examples of skills. Show how you achieved results with the skills you have.
✅ In Your Personal Statement:
“Strategic, flexible, and detail-oriented with proven problem-solving and strong communication skills. Known for high-quality outcomes, it has earned a reputation for exceptional work under pressure.”
✅ In Your Skills Section:
Highlight 6 – 10 examples of skills that match the role described in the job listing. Blend soft skills with hard skills.
✅ In Your Work Experience Section:
Provide a succinct description of the role’s key responsibilities and outcomes, listed in bullet points, skill-based achievement language.
Example:
- “Enhanced accuracy in reporting by implementing automated Excel reporting templates.”
- “Coordinated with a group of 6 to design instructional materials for new employee orientation sessions.”
How to Discuss Skills During Interviews
After CVs get employers interested, and in most cases, the candidates are able to prove their skills in person.
Use the STAR approach for structuring your responses and examples.
- Situation: What was going on?
- Task: What was the goal?
- Action: What steps did you take?
- Result: What were the outcomes?
Example – Teamwork:
“Our team was tasked with delivering a campaign in fewer than two weeks. My role in the campaign was the lead scheduler for the team, and I needed to manage the communication (T). I scheduled a shared calendar for the team to log important dates, and I conducted daily updates with the team (A). Because of this, we were able to launch on time and surpassed the engagement targets by 25% (R).”
Final Recommendations for Practising and Showcasing Your Skills
Adapt every CV and examples you have for every job, unlike using a generic template for every job description, you have a tailored skill checklist.
Backup soft skills with clear supporting evidence, as stating “great communicator” without any proof isn’t acceptable.
Cross skills in examples like time management with adaptability or blending communication with creativity.
Never stop learning, as every skill mastered translates to higher skill value.
Final Statement
The examples of skills that will catch the attention of most employers go beyond trendy phrases—these are the specific attributes that will allow you to work efficiently, collaborate effectively, and add value in a meaningful way.
No matter if you wish to highlight your teamwork, problem-solving, or technical prowess, what matters is showcasing the examples of skills rather than the phrases: “what you did” integrated with the examples of skills provided.
Remember to virtually assess your strengths, marry them to your desired roles, and practice expressing them in a confident manner. Doing so will make you not just a job seeker, but a sought-after candidate.
Are you ready to learn the in-demand skills your dream job wants?
Check out our online courses that will help you learn and showcase skills that will help boost your career. Enrol now and get to work!