written and oral communication skills resume

Enhancing your communication skills: Effective strategies for resume writing

Being a strong communicator is essential in the current job landscape. This includes  communication skills like verbal and non-verbal exchanges, active listening, and writing.  

Knowing how to show these skills in a resume can boost your chances. In this article, we define communication skills. We then explain how to add them to your resume and list some examples and FAQs.  

Here's what we'll cover: 

What are communication skills?  

Why should you include communication skills in your resume  , how to show communication skills in a resume  .

• Communication skills to include in your resume?  

Communication skills resume phrases  

Communication skills in a resume example  , conclusion  .

Communication skills are the ability to convey and receive information. They are also the ability to share ideas with others. Some communication skills include: 

• verbal communication 
• non-verbal communication, like body language and gestures 
• active listening 
• presentation 
• strong language proficiency and command 

This is vital at work. It helps you work better with your colleagues, bosses, and clients. Good interpersonal communication skills let you collaborate better, cooperate, and resolve problems. 

Adding communication skills to your resume can help potential employers understand your strengths. Good communication lets you work with diverse cultures. Singapore is multicultural.  

Most workplaces focus on consensus-building, collaboration, and   teamwork  and follow a top-down hierarchy. Knowing how to add communication skills can set you apart from other job seekers.  

Employers like to hire people who can work well with others. They must also convey complex ideas, solve conflicts, and talk to customers. A   good communicator can show they can work as part of a team and collaborate. 

Your communication skills can show your   emotional intelligence in your resume. They can also show your ability to solve problems and give confident presentations.  

A communication skills list can help employers understand your personality better. It also lets them know whether you're an excellent fit for their team. 

It's crucial to highlight verbal and  nonverbal abilities in your resume. The same goes for the capacity to engage in effective written communication. For example, you could mention when you had a successful presentation or worked in a team to land a client.  

Here are some tips: 

Evaluate relevant achievements 

Mention your achievements by reflecting on your past roles. This could include conflict resolution, successful presentations, and negotiation outcomes. For instance, you can mention team leadership. You can also mention active listening skills. This is for a leadership position.  

Choose various communication skills 

Pick three to five communication skills. They show that you're good at speaking, presenting, and writing. Look at the job posting to see what the requirements are. You can mention  soft skills in your resume for a content writer role. These include listening, collaboration, and teamwork.  

In Singapore, the common languages used are English, Tamil, Malay, and Mandarin Chinese. Your fluency decides this. You can mention these languages in your resume's "Language Proficiency" section. This is important for roles that are customer-facing.  

Use quantifiable examples 

Consider mentioning measurable outcomes from past achievements. This helps quantify the impact of your communication skills. For instance, you can say, "Improved team productivity by 30%. Did it through better internal communication." 

Communication skills to include in your resume  

Include your most relevant communication skills in your resume. Remember to use examples that demonstrate communication skills. Change your skills section to match the job you want. Here are some essential communication skills: 

• Writing:  In many Singaporean companies, clear and persuasive email communication is essential. Highlight your ability to write clear reports. They should be brief and should show shared goals. 
• Speaking:  Show your ability to speak with confidence across various settings. You could share instances. It helped with collaboration, presentations, and talking to people.  
• People skills:  People skills are the ability to build good relationships. You must do this with both your team members and your superiors. This is important. It builds respect for authority and fosters cooperation.  
• Empathy:  Emphasise your ability to empathise with others. This is important for understanding your co-workers, resolving conflicts, and establishing harmony.  
• Presentations: Highlight your presentation skills that show how you organise and convey information. You could share instances where your presentations led to successful outcomes.  
• Persuasion: Highlight your persuasive skills in the business environment. This is important for jobs in sales that use negotiations or speeches. 

Explain how your practical communication skills helped achieve specific goals or outcomes. Mention relevant achievements, feedback, or results.  

This shows how you applied your professional communication skills. Add phrases when writing your resume to highlight your communication skills: 

Sharing information and ideas through speaking or writing 

• “Used effective writing skills in creating short reports and emails.” 
•  “Used strong speaking skills to present ideas and suggestions in team meetings.” 

Negotiating or discussing business to communicate effectively in a professional environment 

• “Discussed and agreed on contracts with clients, demonstrating strong communication and persuasive skills.” 
• “Led business discussions, communicated goals, and found solutions that worked for everyone.” 

Explaining how you work with others, motivate them, and finish projects  

• I worked with a team of people with different skills. I communicated project goals and ensured everyone did their part on time.” 
• I encouraged team members. I created a positive work environment to reach project goals.” 

Here's an example resume that showcases communication skills: 

Tan Wei Ming   The Rivervale, 789 Bukit Timah Road | Singapore 987654 | 8123-4567 | [email protected]  

Objective:  

Results-driven marketing professional with strong communication skills seeking a challenging role in digital marketing.  

Education:   Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing   National University of Singapore  

Experience:   Digital Marketing Specialist | XT Agency| Queenstown, Singapore | 2018–Present  

• Developed and executed digital marketing campaigns, communicated brand messaging, and generated leads.  
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent verbal communication across various channels, resulting in a 20% increase in website traffic.  

Marketing Intern | Adverts Agency | Punggol, Singapore | 2017–2018  

• Assisted in creating social media content and communicated brand identity, increasing follower engagement by 25%.  
• Conducted market research by collecting and analysing customer feedback to inform targeted marketing strategies.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills shown through crafting compelling marketing copy and delivering impactful presentations.  
• Strong interpersonal skills, fostering positive relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.  
• Digital communication skills, including tools and platforms, social media management, and email marketing software.  

Achievements:  

• Awarded “Outstanding Team Player” for communicating project objectives, coordinating team efforts, and achieving successful campaign results.  
• Presented at industry conferences on innovative digital marketing strategies, showcasing informative and persuasive speaking abilities.  

Languages:   Fluent in English and Malay  

Professional Memberships:  

• Member, Data-Driven Marketing Association of Singapore   

Good communication skills help promote trust at work and enhance teamwork. They help achieve business success. This is done through writing, presenting, and  speaking well to people . 

Communication skills include verbal and nonverbal communication, like writing, active listening, and presentation. When applying for a job, add these skills to your resume to increase your chances of getting hired. 

When you write your resume, include your best communication skills. Give examples to highlight them. This would help you land the job. Employers want people who can communicate well at work. 

Here are FAQs related to adding communication skills to your resume: 

• How do you add good communication skills to a resume?   ⁠Add your oral and written communication skills to the skill sections of your resume. You could also mention them in your work experience descriptions. It's best to give specific examples. These are examples of using body language, speaking, and writing. They are also of getting along with others. Make sure this is relevant to Singaporean culture.   ⁠
• Are communication skills more important than technical skills in my resume?   ⁠Both technical skills and communication skills are essential in a resume. Technical skills show that you're knowledgeable in specific areas. Interpersonal skills show that you can communicate effectively and work well with others. A balance of both on your resume is ideal.  ⁠
• Should I include communication skills in a cover letter as well?   ⁠Yes, mentioning your communication skills in your  cover letter is a good idea. You could discuss your relevant skills and explain how you've used them.  ⁠
• Can I include digital communication skills?   ⁠Yes, you can add digital communication skills. They're essential because of the digital-first approach prevalent in most Singapore workplaces. For instance, you can mention effective email communication in your resume. This shows you can streamline workflows by keeping all stakeholders informed. It also prevents miscommunication.  ⁠
• How can I improve my communication skills for my resume?   ⁠Your skills include effective verbal communication and nonverbal communication skills. Try practising your active listening skills and working on your writing. You can also get constructive feedback on how you communicate.   ⁠ ⁠Take part in public speaking or presentation workshops. Work on projects with others and take part in discussions. You could also read books or take communication courses to help you improve.

Top search terms

Popular on jobstreet, explore related topics, subscribe to career advice.

CAREER & HIRING ADVICE

Top skills to put on a resume employers will actually read.

• Ryan Bradshaw
• August 30, 2024

A resume allows you to sell yourself as a professional in search of employment. It lets you showcase your work experience, academic background, and other vital credentials. However, it’s best to highlight your key skills, which is an excellent way to enhance your employability .

Why? About 70% of leaders believe there’s a skills gap in their company or organization. This gap negatively impacts employee performance and business success. As a job applicant, it makes sense to showcase the skills employers are looking for nowadays.

Fret not, as employers DO read resumes to be further discussed below. As some business experts have shared, learn what soft and hard skills to put on your resume. 

Do Employers Read Resumes?

The straightforward answer is yes! While some employers skim and scan several resumes, others read them intently from one page to another.

As you can see, a resume is sent to human resources (HR) for a job application. This professional document summarizes your employment experience, educational attainment, and other pertinent details. It often comes with a cover letter expressing your interest in an available job. Many organizations use HRM software to streamline the application process and manage resumes effectively.

But how do employers handle resumes? 

Job portals usually generate leads for recruitment and staffing companies. Whenever they post job openings, they receive a pile of resumes from potential candidates. However, many job applicants wonder if HR personnel read them.

ResumeGo conducted a survey on resume preferences among nearly 500 hiring professionals (recruiters, HR personnel, hiring managers, and C-level executives). The survey primarily aimed to uncover whether they prefer a one-page or a two-page resume. It revealed they were 2.3 times more likely to choose two-page resumes over one-page resumes.

Further, the survey surprisingly found that hiring professionals read resumes. They are willing to read even those that are two pages long. They indeed spend time reviewing them rather than scanning and skimming their content. 

Now, that gives you the confidence to add your skills to your resume since employers read them. But what soft and hard skills should you indicate? Of course, they vary from one industry, employer, and job to another. However, there are popular skills that are in demand these days.

In the next section, learn what top skills to highlight in your resume, as shared by some business experts.

What Soft and Hard Skills To Include in Your Resume

Skills are abilities developed and acquired through training, practice, and/or experience. They are usually required in the workplace for specific jobs or positions. It’s best to highlight them on your resume, whether one or two pages .

That said, discover what soft and hard skills to include in your resume below.

Soft skills

Soft skills are non-technical abilities usually needed in the workplace. Over 90% say they matter as much as or more than hard skills . Likewise, 80% believe they are vital to organizational success.

Below are essential soft skills to add to your resume:

Communication skills.

Communication skills are the ability to convey your message to others effectively. They involve relaying information, active listening, and understanding others. Whether oral or written, this skill can make a world of difference in a company or organization.

Brooke Webber, Head of Marketing at Ninja Patches , believes communication is one of the most important soft skills needed in the workplace. “This skill is crucial for promoting solid employee interactions and building good customer relationships. As they say, effective communication is almost always the key to business success.”

Leadership skills

Leaders play a critical role in a company or organization. Not only do they manage a team, but they are also responsible for motivating and engaging team members. They also set goals , delegate tasks, and make business decisions. That makes leadership an essential skill in the workplace.

Roman Zrazhevskiy, Founder and CEO of MIRA Safety , cites the value of leadership skills in the workplace. “I also have my fair share of understanding what it takes to be a good leader. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about  getting others to work for you; it’s about serving them for the good of all.”

Emotional quotient (EQ)

EQ equates to emotional intelligence, an essential skill in the workplace. Harvard defines it as “ a set of skills that help us recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others.” Simply put, EQ entails managing one’s emotions and relating well to others.

Derek Pankaew, Founder of Listening.com , underscores the importance of EQ in the workplace. “In the business world, we put too much emphasis on IQ for solving problems and accomplishing tasks. We fail to realize that an organization consists of people of different backgrounds. So we need those with high EQ, who can work well with others.”

Problem-solving skill

Intelligence quotient (IQ) is as equally important as EQ in the workplace. However, the accurate measure of IQ is the ability to identify and solve problems. That’s where the problem-solving skill comes in—a skill many employers look for!

Nothing beats employees who can see potential issues and find ways to address them. For example, one worker notices that it takes time to accomplish a particular task. He suggests automating tasks to reduce manual work and accelerate processes. That’s how problem-solving works!

Time management 

Time management is essential in everyday life, especially in the workplace. It’s the ability to organize time to get things done more efficiently and effectively. The key here is to use your time wisely without compromising your work-life balance. This skill should be reflected on your resume.

There are popular time management techniques you can employ. Think of the Eisenhower Matrix for tackling tasks based on their order of urgency and importance. Consider the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes, resting for 5 minutes, and repeating. Lastly, employ time blocking by setting time blocks for a series of tasks to accomplish.

Hard skills

Hard skills are specialized abilities required in the workplace. They are usually technical skills you’ve studied, undergone training for, and become certified for. The in-demand hard skills business leaders need today are data analysis (44.1%), project management (43.9%), and artificial intelligence (36.1%).

Below are the top hard skills to include in your resume:

Artificial intelligence (ai).

AI, the simulation of human intelligence into computer systems, has become all the rage nowadays. Not only is it revolutionizing the world of business, but AI is transforming the job market . While it can take over some jobs, it can also open the doorway for new job opportunities.

Thomas Medlin, Co-founder at JumpMD , suggests developing and acquiring AI skills. “These skills are in demand in business, given AI’s rapid evolution and widespread adoption. Our company, for instance, has started integrating AI into our healthcare referral management software. We need AI developers for its successful deployment and regular upkeep.”

Data analysis

It’s no secret that we live in a data-driven world. Almost all businesses across different industries deal with a vast amount of information called big data. That’s why many companies and organizations hire data specialists for data entry and management. However, acquiring data analysis skills requires a whole different level of expertise.

Volodymyr Shchegel, VP of Engineering at MacKeeper , however, recommends highlighting data analysis skills. “This skill is very much coveted in the workplace in today’s data-centric business. However, it goes beyond data collection and organization. It requires data scientists to research, analyze, and interpret information for informed decision-making. Capitalize on these skills for competitive advantage!”

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity has become a growing concern in today’s digital landscape. Think of the rising cyberattacks like phishing, malware, denial of service (DoS), and man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. They pave the way for cybersecurity trends , such as AI-driven threat detection, regulatory compliance, quantum computing, and incident response automation.

Chris Aubeeluck, Head of Sales and Marketing at Osbornes Law , advises specializing in cybersecurity. “Many companies and organizations seek those with technical knowledge and skills in online security. If you’ve specialized in cybersecurity and acquired the necessary skills, highlight these in your resume. You’ll be hired for such a lucrative job!”

Project management

Project management is crucial to business success. However, it’s more than just managing a particular project. It involves defining goals, setting metrics, allocating resources, delegating tasks, monitoring employees, and tracking progress. The ultimate goal is to ensure a successful project accomplished on time. 

It’s easy to see companies and organizations looking for project managers. However, they have stringent screening and hiring requirements. As someone with project management skills, see what you can bring to the table. More importantly, learn how to highlight these skills on your resume for guaranteed employment.

Healthcare skills 

The pandemic outbreak caused by the COVID-19 crisis has shaken the health industry. If anything, it has compelled health organizations and professionals to reassess how they provide patients with medical care. Today, the industry seeks optimized healthcare skills to help us survive another possible crisis.

As such, Bo Cicak, a Chiropractor Doctor at Neurogan Health , recommends specializing in healthcare. “However, there’s a need to offer new and innovative solutions. For example, health professionals should not only focus on providing medical care but also offer holistic health recommendations. Having a healthy lifestyle is key to promoting overall health and well-being. As they always say, prevention is better than cure.”

Final Words

A well-crafted resume paves the way for a successful job application. Not only does it offer an employment opportunity, but it also helps carve your career path. So, as a job seeker, invest your time and effort in creating the best resume possible.

Start by showcasing your work experience, academic background, and other key credentials. Since a skills gap exists in the workplace, what better way to sell your professional self than to highlight your soft and hard skills? Doing so can help boost your employability and provide you with a job opportunity!

Don’t worry, as employers actually read resumes. You just have to put your hard and soft skills in the spotlight. Consider some of the top skills outlined above, and you’ll ultimately get the job you deserve!

• Business Advice
• Employer Advice
• Job Seeker Advice

Related Posts

How to measure and improve offer acceptance rates for higher hiring success.

• September 3, 2024

5 Ways To Convey Quality Content For OTT 

Overcoming the obstacles of business expansions, how threat intelligence can improve your organization’s strategic decision-making, your next engineering or it job search starts here., how do you hire for engineering and it.

1955 Lake Park DR SE STE 350 Smyrna, GA 30080

Dallas, TX 75212

Our Dallas TX recruiting experts understand the challenges unique to companies in dozens of industries  and of all sizes.

Houston, TX 77040

Our Houston TX recruiting experts understand the challenges unique to companies in dozens of industries  and of all sizes.

Austin, TX 78717

Our Austin / San Antiono TX recruiting experts understand the challenges unique to companies in dozens of industries  and of all sizes.

Tampa, FL 33612

Our Tampa FL recruiting experts understand the challenges unique to companies in dozens of industries  and of all sizes.

Raleigh, NC 27612

Our Raleigh NC recruiting experts understand the challenges unique to companies in dozens of industries  and of all sizes.

Columbia, SC 29203

Our Greenville SC recruiting experts understand the challenges unique to companies in dozens of industries  and of all sizes.

Chicago, IL 60714

Our Chicago IL recruiting experts understand the challenges unique to companies in dozens of industries  and of all sizes.

• Engineering Staffing
• CAD Design / Drafting
• Information Technology
• Renewable Energy Recruiters
• Software Engineering Recruiters
• Controls Engineering Recruiters
• Supply Chain Recruiting
• Wireless & Telecom Recruiting
• Mechanical Engineering Recruiters
• Electrical Engineering Recruiters
• Civil Engineering Recruiters
• Chemical Engineering Recruiters

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

• Resume and Cover Letter
• 11 Best Communication Skills...

11 Best Communication Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

11 min read · Updated on February 13, 2024

Are you properly conveying communication skills in your resume?

When it comes to employment skills, few are more important than the ability to effectively communicate with others. No matter your profession, chances are that you'll need some level of communication skill to interact with co-workers, managers, subordinates, and customers. As a result, employers who are evaluating potential hires always want to see evidence of communication skills in a resume.

But which communication skills should you include in your resume to make the best possible impression on employers?

In this post, we'll explain why you need to highlight these skills in your resume, examine 11 of the top communication skills, and offer tips to help you demonstrate those abilities. We'll also provide examples that show you how to include this critical information.

Why should you include communication skills in your resume?

While your hard skills - specific, measurable, job-related abilities - typically form the core of any job description's required qualifications, soft skills cannot be overlooked in your resume. In fact, those interpersonal abilities can play a significant role in any hiring decision that involves two otherwise equally competent candidates. If you're competing for a job against someone with equivalent technical capabilities and experience, that difference in soft skills may determine who gets hired.

When you include communication skills in your resume, you're letting an employer know that you have interpersonal abilities that can make you a valuable member of their team. That's an important consideration for any employer, of course. Companies want new hires who can do more than just fulfill their duties; they want team players who fit well within their organization.

Related post : The Essential Steps of Your Communication Process

Types of communication skills

It's important to understand what we mean when we talk about communication skills. For our purposes, we can categorize these skills into three distinct types:

Verbal skills . These communication skills include everything from conveying information or persuading others to public speaking and dealing with customer complaints.

Written skills . Many jobs require the ability to write in a concise and informative manner. These skills can include everything from informal emails to professional briefs, client presentations, and detailed reports for superiors.

Interpersonal skills . The third type of communication skill involves all those abilities that you use to interact with others. They can include things like empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution.

  What are the top 11 communication skills employers want to see?

Below are 11 of the top communication skills for resumes. As you might expect, there are many others that you might want to consider as well. However, these 11 skills are among the most sought-after that employers are looking for in job candidates.

1.     Active listening

Active listening is a prized communication skill. This ability goes well beyond simply hearing what others say, and instead involves the ability to actively understand their message. People with these skills can connect with others, build trust, and participate in collaborative problem-solving efforts.

Active listening includes a host of other skills, including the ability to ask probing questions, provide nonverbal and verbal cues that show that you're paying attention, and paraphrase what you're hearing to confirm your understanding of the message.

Related post : What are the Types of Listening Skills? 8 Types Explained

2.     Empathy

Empathy is a vital interpersonal trait and one of the most important leadership communication skills. People with empathy tend to be more curious and open-minded, have a keener sense of self-awareness, and are less likely to be hostage to their own natural biases and preconceptions. They value other people's perspectives and are willing to entertain ideas that challenge their beliefs.

3.     Conflict management and resolution

Conflict is an inevitable feature of human interaction - including in the workplace. If you have excellent conflict resolution skills, it's important to highlight them in your resume. Employers will be interested in knowing that you're capable of resolving interpersonal conflict in your work setting, since that can have a direct and positive impact on productivity and workplace harmony.

4.     Presentation skills

There are many jobs that require the ability to make presentations to superiors, customers, shareholders, or even coworkers. Good presentation skills enable you to compellingly convey information to others, persuade them to consider your point of view, or simply keep your target audience apprised of relevant developments.

5.     Writing skills

Effective writing skills are important in virtually every industry and a wide variety of roles. Obviously, many jobs will require simple writing tasks like composing emails, but there are a whole host of other writing abilities that employers may be looking for. These can include everything from legal briefs or technical writing to advertising copy, marketing presentations, contract creation, and more. Depending on the job you're seeking, including these important communication skills in your resume could be vital.

6.     Team building

The ability to build and work with teams is another important leadership communication skill for your resume. Whether you're interested in a managerial or executive role, this skill set is something that you'll need to succeed in that leadership position. Effective team builders know how to work with others to solve problems, are skilled in delegating work to competent subordinates, and know how to help team members reach their full potential.

Related post : 20 Key Leadership Competencies for Success (Plus Tips!)

7.     Motivation

Employers also appreciate candidates who possess useful motivational skills. While the ability to set goals, maintain a positive attitude, and rally others to achieve a shared objective is essential for leadership, it can also be an invaluable skill for anyone who works in a collaborative setting. By including these communication skills in your resume, you can ensure that employers recognize your ability to inspire others and drive productivity in the workplace.

Related post : 6 Qualities of Managers Who Practice Inspiring Leadership

8.     Openness to feedback

Hiring managers also want to see that you're capable of receiving feedback, whether it's constructive criticism or praise. These skills reflect a commitment to teamwork and continual improvement, both of which are highly prized by today's employers. It's a bonus if you're also adept at providing feedback to others. That desire to develop as an employee and help others to reach their full potential can make you an attractive candidate for many jobs.

9.     Honesty

You might not think of honesty as a communication skill, but it is. Whether you're an entry-level worker or a manager, it's important for others to know that they can trust your words. Of course, honesty encompasses more than just being truthful. It also includes character traits like trustworthiness, responsibility, accountability, and reliability. Honest people are seen as authentic and confident, traits that all good leaders possess.

10.  Emotional intelligence

As the workplace has grown more complex in recent years, hiring managers have placed greater emphasis on employees' emotional intelligence. That's a fancy term that simply describes your ability to manage your own emotions, understand your own interactions with others, and use that knowledge and insight to control stress, relate to others, communicate in a clear and effective way, and manage conflict.

People with high emotional intelligence often excel at interpersonal relations in the workplace and tend to be competent leaders. Their ability to recognize their own emotions and the feelings of others around them can help them to make more informed decisions. Including examples of your use of emotional intelligence can help to highlight those critical interpersonal communication skills in your resume.

11.  Negotiating

Negotiation skills are also highly prized in most industries, so make sure that you highlight these abilities in your resume too. Successful negotiators are adept at problem-solving, persuasive communication, and conflict resolution - skills that are useful in nearly every industry. Include an achievement in your professional experience section that highlights your negotiation skills, demonstrating how those abilities provided measurable value to a previous employer. 

Tips you can use to highlight these skills in your resume

Of course, being familiar with these different communication skills is just the first step. You also need to know how to highlight them in your resume. The following tips can help you with that process.

Match your skills to keywords in the job posting

Always make sure that you review the job posting to identify specific communication-related skills that are listed as job requirements. Wherever possible, use those exact terms in your resume as you describe various communication skills that you've used in previous jobs. That will help to ensure that your resume is found by an applicant tracking system when an employer conducts a search.

Focus on measurable achievements

Don't just say that you have certain communication skills. Show that you have them by including them as achievements in your resume summary or professional experience section. Make sure that you describe how you used those skills to produce measurable value for your employer. Use real numbers to help the reader understand the type of value you can provide as a potential hire.

Always be brief and to the point

Brevity is important, since hiring managers often sift through dozens or even hundreds of resumes. Make sure that you highlight communication skills and other abilities as concisely as possible to optimize space in your resume. Remember also that your writing skills will be on full display as you create the resume, so you probably won't need to spend much time boasting about them.

Communication skills: resume examples you can use

As we noted, there are several ways that you can highlight communication skills in your resume. You can include mention of them in your resume summary, list several within your core competencies section, and highlight examples of their use in your professional experience section. Below are some examples to show you how this is done.

Communication skills in your resume summary

Detail-oriented Office Manager with 10 years of experience managing office operations and interdepartmental communications. Managed 21-person team responsible for accounts totaling $123 million a year. Researched, drafted, and implemented interoffice communication changes that reduced waste by 22%, expedited internal processing and increased departmental revenue by 19% in the first year.

Communication skills in your skills section

Including these communication skills in your core competencies, or skills, section is a simple matter. Pick the skills that most closely align with the job requirements, and list them in bullet point form alongside other key soft skills and your technical proficiencies. For example:

Copywriting

Email management

Media communications

Presentations

Team building

Training management

Office management

Organization

Time management

Decision-making

Communication skills in your work experience section

When it comes to including your communication skills in a work experience section, you again need to focus on notable achievements. Use real numbers that demonstrate value and create several bullet point accomplishment examples for each job listing in this section. You only need to include a couple of examples of how you used your communication skills, of course, since you'll likely also want to highlight other core job-related skills too. Here are some examples that show how to do this:

Reorganized office information flow to speed up client onboarding and account management, resulting in growth of 12% in client acquisition and an increase of 40% in retention

Created an innovative training program for new office transfers, focused on new skills and employee growth. Program resulted in 60% drop in employee attrition, contributing to a 13% increase in revenues in the first quarter of implementation

Negotiated resolution to client conflict that saved a $2 million project contract and led to a 30% expansion in business with the customer over the next two years

Related post : 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

Achieve job search success by including communication skills in your resume

Much of your resume will be devoted to highlighting your job-related skills and experiences, but that's no reason to neglect these important soft skills. Conveying effective communication skills in your resume can be a terrific way to demonstrate that you're the best candidate for any job, and may be just what you need to differentiate yourself from your competition!

Are you still not sure if you've properly included your communication skills in your resume? Get a free resume review from our team of experts today!

Recommended reading:

Soft Skills Explained - and the Top 7 for Your Resume

What Are Skills? (With Examples and Tips on How to Improve Them)

These 14 Leadership Traits Can Fuel Your Career Success

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

50 Inspiring Examples for 7 Communication Skills for a Resume

When crafting your resume, highlighting your strong communication skills is essential. Here are some top skills to consider and examples of how to showcase them on your resume.

• Active Listening: Demonstrate your ability to be receptive and engage in the conversation. For example: Successfully facilitated team meetings by actively listening to colleagues and providing constructive feedback.
• Verbal Communication: Showcase your ability to express ideas clearly and effectively. For example: Presented quarterly reports to the executive board, effectively communicating the sales team’s achievements.
• Written Communication: Emphasize your capacity to create clear, concise written documents. An example may be: Developed and maintained monthly newsletter for the marketing department, reaching over 500 employees.
• Empathy: Understanding others helps foster strong professional relationships. For example: Addressed customer concerns with compassion, resulting in significant improvements in client satisfaction.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Focus on moments where you contributed to successful team projects. For instance: Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and execute a new product launch, achieving a 30% increase in sales.
• Adaptability: Showcase your flexibility and ability to handle change effectively. Here’s an example: Adapted communication style to accommodate remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring a seamless transition for the team.
• Conflict Resolution: Resolving conflicts efficiently benefits everyone. For example: Mediated disagreements between team members, helping to create a more collaborative and harmonious work environment.

Verbal Communication Skills

Public speaking.

Mastering public speaking can be a game changer for your resume. Employers appreciate candidates who can confidently present information to groups. To showcase your public speaking skills, mention specific experiences where you have delivered presentations or speeches. For example:

• Delivered a presentation on sustainable business practices to a team of 30 colleagues
• Facilitated a workshop on effective communication for new employees

Foreign Language Proficiency

Being proficient in one or more foreign languages can set you apart from other candidates. It indicates your ability to communicate with a diverse range of people, which is valuable in a globalized workplace. To highlight your language skills, list the languages you’re proficient in along with your level of fluency. For instance:

• Fluent in Spanish and French
• Intermediate proficiency in Mandarin and German

Related: How to Include Language Skills on Your Resume (Examples)

Active Listening

Active listening is an essential verbal communication skill that demonstrates your ability to understand and engage with others effectively. Employers value employees who can listen attentively and respond thoughtfully in discussions. To emphasize your active listening skills, provide examples of situations where you’ve made a difference through attentive listening. Examples might include:

• Resolved a customer complaint by actively listening to their concerns and implementing a solution
• Improved team dynamics by being attentive during meetings and encouraging open communication among team members

Written Communication Skills

Professional writing.

In the professional world, written communication is a must-have skill. Your resume should showcase your ability to articulate thoughts and ideas with clarity and precision in different formats (reports, emails, proposals, etc.). To highlight this skill on your resume, use phrases like:

• Developed and edited company newsletters, enhancing employee engagement
• Created detailed project proposals, securing client approval and project funding
• Drafted and revised technical documentation, ensuring user-friendly clarity and accuracy

Business Correspondence

Effective business correspondence involves crafting clear and concise emails, memos, and letters tailored to various audiences. Showcasing this skill on your resume can demonstrate your expertise in professional etiquette and the ability to adapt your writing style to different scenarios. Here are some examples:

• Collaborated with international teams, sending clear and concise email correspondence to prevent miscommunications
• Generated persuasive sales emails that contributed to a 15% increase in client conversion rates
• Wrote concise and informative weekly memos to upper management, providing updates on project progress

Interpersonal Communication Skills

Conflict resolution.

When listing your conflict resolution skills on your resume, be specific about the techniques you employ:

• Skilled in using active listening to pinpoint underlying issues and complaints.
• Experienced in mediating disagreements between colleagues to find a mutual agreement.
• Proficient in providing constructive feedback and reinforcing positive communication behaviors.

Collaborative Teamwork

Highlight your ability to work effectively with others by showcasing the following abilities:

• Proven track record of successful group projects and team initiatives.
• Ability to adapt communication style based on team dynamics and members’ strengths.
• Skilled in brainstorming, group problem-solving, and co-creating ideas with diverse team members.

Showcase your ability to understand and relate to others’ feelings and emotions by including these skills in your resume:

• Empathetic and compassionate attitude to foster a positive work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide emotional support and encouragement to team members in stressful situations.

Digital Communication Skills

Social media.

Nowadays, social media plays an important role in promoting a company’s brand and engaging with customers. Highlight your experience in leveraging social media platforms to advocate brand values and enhance customer relationships. Include these skills in your resume with statements like:

• Managed corporate social media accounts to establish a consistent brand voice and engage with customers.
• Successfully increased follower count and engagement on various platforms by creating relevant content.

Online Meeting Management

Effectively managing online meetings is a skill that demonstrates your ability to keep participants engaged and ensure productive outcomes. Emphasize your ability to plan, host, and facilitate virtual meetings using platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Here are some examples of how to put those skills on your resume:

• Experienced in scheduling and hosting virtual meetings, ensuring timely starts and focused discussions.
• Skilled in facilitating online meetings with participants from diverse backgrounds, fostering collaboration and decision-making.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some strong examples of communication skills to include on a resume.

Consider showcasing a range of communication skills, such as active listening, clear writing, public speaking, and negotiation. For example:

• Active listening: “Consistently praised for effectively capturing project requirements through attentive listening in client meetings.”
• Clear writing: “Developed company-wide email guidelines to ensure clarity and professionalism in written communication.”
• Public speaking: “Delivered engaging and informative presentations at industry conferences, demonstrating strong public speaking skills.”
• Negotiation: “Successfully negotiated contracts with suppliers, resulting in a 12% reduction in supply chain costs.”

How can I effectively showcase teamwork and collaboration abilities on my resume?

To emphasize your teamwork and collaboration skills, think about the projects you’ve participated in and your role in those projects. Examples:

• Successfully worked on cross-functional teams to complete projects on time and under budget.
• Collaborated with colleagues to innovate and implement improvements, increasing department efficiency by 15%.
• Facilitated open and constructive conversations within a diverse team environment, fostering trust and accountability.

What are some tips for highlighting written communication skills in a resume?

When showcasing written communication skills, focus on the outcomes your writing has achieved. For example:

• Crafted client proposals that consistently resulted in increased contract value and successful project launches.
• Edited and proofread internal communications, ensuring consistent tone and style across departments.
• Authored monthly newsletter with a growing subscriber base, receiving positive feedback for engaging and informative content.

Which techniques can demonstrate strong verbal communication abilities on a resume?

To illustrate your verbal communication skills, highlight situations where your speaking abilities played a critical role. Examples:

• Delivered persuasive sales pitches, resulting in a 20% increase in closed deals.
• Articulated complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, facilitating successful project rollouts.
• Mediated conflicts between team members, fostering a positive work environment and promoting effective problem-solving.

How can one emphasize active listening skills when creating a professional resume?

To showcase your active listening skills, emphasize your ability to understand and respond to others’ ideas and concerns. Think about instances where your attentive listening has positively impacted projects. For example:

• Acted as a key liaison between departments, ensuring clear communication and understanding of project goals and tasks.
• Routinely sought input and feedback from team members, incorporating ideas into project plans and processes.
• Demonstrated a diplomatic approach in meetings and discussions, fostering open communication and maintaining team harmony.

What are some strategies to showcase problem-solving and leadership skills on a resume?

To highlight problem-solving and leadership skills, focus on examples where your actions led to positive outcomes. You might include:

• Successfully led a team through a challenging project turnaround, implementing targeted solutions to deliver on-time and within budget.
• Mentored junior employees, providing guidance and support that contributed to their successful progression within the company.
• Identified inefficiencies in work processes and implemented process improvements, resulting in a 25% increase in productivity.
• 42 Communication Skills Self Evaluation Comments Examples
• Communication Skills: 25 Performance Review Phrases Examples
• List of 21 Important Technical Skills (with Examples)
• 50 Example Phrases: Technical Skills Examples for Resume
• How to Improve Key Communication Skills
• 2 Detailed Examples of Administrative Assistant Resumes

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Sidebar
• Skip to Footer

Resume Genius

The World's Smartest Resume Builder

Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

Blog Resume Help Communication Skills

60+ Essential Communication Skills Employers Want to See

People who can clearly communicate make better employees and managers. Include these 60+ effective communication skills on your resume to impress hiring managers and start getting more interviews.

As featured in *

Why are communication skills important on a resume?

Good communication skills for your resume, how to demonstrate communication skills on your resume, how to improve your professional communication skills, additional skills-related resources for different industries.

Whether it’s written, digital, or verbal communication, being able to convey yourself clearly is one of the essential soft skills you need for practically any job (and life in general).

But how can you be sure your communication skills shine through in a job application?

Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

Communication skills are among the most important skills that make qualified applicants stand out, according to a survey on job skills in 2023 .

Strong communication skills are becoming even more valuable as professionals adjust to an increasingly digital workplace. For example, the rise of remote and hybrid work has required workers to change how they communicate when collaborating digitally.

Additionally, many workplaces are beginning to use AI to complete daily tasks. When asked about what skills they thought would gain importance because of AI and automation, the majority of surveyed hiring managers said communication skills.

The best way to show employers that you can communicate effectively in the modern workplace is by highlighting your various communication skills throughout your resume. But what counts as a communication skill, and how do you list communication skills properly?

In this guide, we break down five different types of communication skills for your resume, provide examples of how to effectively showcase these skills throughout your application, and offer tips on improving communication. Let’s dive in:

Here are the most essential communication-related skills to put on your resume that will help you get the job you want:

Written communication

Written communication skills don’t come naturally to many people — they need to be developed through experience. However, writing skills are highly valued by companies, especially if you’re in fields like marketing, editing, or communications.

Here are some of the most valuable job skills related to written communication:

• Proofreading
• Translation
• Content strategy
• Social media content writing
• Email etiquette
• Proposal writing
• Technical writing
• Copywriting
• Adaptability
• Mastery of tone

Even if writing isn’t essential for your job, being able to communicate effectively through writing is still important. With many offices now fully or partially remote, being able to write a clear email or put together a thorough brief is a key skill no matter what your role is.

If you have a knack for writing, your resume and cover letter are places to prove it. Most people don’t have many writing-related accomplishments to list on their resume, but writing a great cover letter is an effective way to showcase your written communication skills.

Verbal communication

Verbal communication skills include everything from being a great conversationalist to a strong presenter. These skills are highly important in any job that requires you to work with people, whether that’s in front of a cashier or in the boardroom.

Some essential verbal communication skills include:

• Negotiation
• Active listening
• Foreign language skills
• Interviewing
• Persuasiveness
• Storytelling
• Public speaking
• Asking clarifying questions
• Awareness of tone and volume
• Conversational skills

Even brilliant engineers who spend most of their day deep in computer code can benefit from effective verbal communication skills. Being able to articulate complex ideas to people outside of your field could quickly help you move up the corporate ladder, regardless of where you’re working.

Additionally, verbal communication will help you best represent yourself during interviews, meaning you’ll never be far from work once you’ve mastered it.

Nonverbal communication

A lot can be said even without speaking. Even when you’re talking, your body is helping you convey information (whether you’re aware of it or not).

If you’re able to harness the power of nonverbal communication skills, you’ll immediately come off as more confident and capable to employers.

Some important aspects of nonverbal communication skills are:

• Eye contact
• Facial expressions
• Body language
• Appropriate gestures
• Spacial awareness
• Cultural awareness
• Professional appearance

While nonverbal communication skills are difficult to highlight on your resume, they’re an important part of your overall ability to communicate effectively, and help you make a strong impression at work and in interviews.

Interpersonal communication

In order to communicate effectively with others, you need to develop strong interpersonal abilities .

A big part of communicating your ideas clearly and persuading others involves building relationships with people. That’s because people who trust you are more willing to see things from your perspective and work with you to get the job done.

Here are some important interpersonal skills to master:

• Sense of humor
• Friendliness
• Emotional intelligence
• Giving and receiving constructive feedback
• Collaboration
• Approachability
• Healthy boundaries
• Trustworthiness
• Conflict resolution

Cultivating your interpersonal communication skills will make you a much more effective team member and leader. If you have a history of developing great working relationships with clients and coworkers, mention on your resume how your people skills have helped you succeed.

Digital communication

While some of us are most comfortable communicating face-to-face, others are happiest when talking over the internet.

With more and more companies going fully or partially remote, being able to communicate effectively online is an increasingly valuable skill for many jobs, particularly those in social media management or customer support.

Many employers are looking for the following digital communication skills:

• Online research
• Instant messaging
• Social media
• Video conferencing
• Web design and development
• Project management software
• Graphic design
• Phone skills
• Cybersecurity best practices
• Online customer support

Additionally, you can easily highlight your digital communication skills on your resume by listing apps or websites you have experience with. While not necessary, employers may want to see that you’re familiar with specific tools mentioned in the job posting.

For example, mention your knowledge of any of the following software in your resume skills section to highlight your ability to effectively communicate online:

• Google Docs

Customer support software

Now that you know some of the best communication skills for the workplace, it’s time to highlight them on your job application.

Here’s how to put communication skills on a resume like a professional:

1. Give examples of effective communication

The most effective way to describe communication skills on your resume is by highlighting them in your experience section. This gives you a chance to describe how your communication skills have helped you succeed in the workplace.

Giving specific examples and providing data on the positive impact you had (known as quantifying your achievements ) is the most convincing way to let employers know what you’re capable of.

Here’s an example of how to include communication skills in your resume experience section (we’ve highlighted the communication skills in orange):

This candidate doesn’t just tell employers that they have great communication skills. Using specific details, they demonstrate how they kept in touch with customers remotely and made sure they had a positive experience with the company.

2. Match job description and requirements

You should always target your resume to the job description to have the best chance of capturing the hiring manager’s attention. But you don’t need to write your resume from scratch each time — simply tweak your word choice to match what each employer is looking for.

For example, here’s a sample job description for a role that requires strong communication skills:

To effectively target this job description, see how the following candidate targeted their resume introduction to the skills and experience the employer is looking for:

Not only does this sample resume excerpt use important keywords from the job description (underlined in green), but it also makes a convincing argument that the candidate is prepared to take on the duties of the job.

3. Be concise

No matter if it’s verbal or written communication, people appreciate when you’re able to get your point across in fewer words.

Your cover letter is another great place to show employers you’re able to communicate effectively by editing your writing to remove any hedging , wordy phrasing, or unnecessary details.

Submitting a short cover letter that makes a convincing argument for why you’re the best candidate will impress hiring managers and give them a first look at what writing abilities you’ll bring to the job.

4. Choose the right adjectives and action verbs

Because you shouldn’t throw things like “confident” and “perfect grammar” into the skills section of your resume , you’ll need to demonstrate these different aspects of effective communication with your resume word choice.

Picking the right action verbs for your resume is a great way to highlight your communication skills with an example.

Below are some communication-related action verbs to consider using on your resume:

• Contextualized
• Coordinated
• Corresponded
• Collaborated

You can also include some resume-appropriate adjectives to describe yourself , such as:

• Approachable
• Collaborative
• Multilingual
• Culturally sensitive

Adding some adjectives to your resume is a great way to target additional skills the company is looking for. Just remember not to go overboard, because it’s most convincing to use action verbs and examples to showcase your skills.

Not sure you have strong communication skills? Don’t worry, there are still steps you can take to improve your communication skills in and out of the workplace. Here are a few tips for developing better communication skills:

1. Seek feedback from trusted sources

No matter your experience level, improving your communication skills is a lifelong task. Getting feedback from people you work closely with is one of the best ways to know what aspects of your communication skills you should work on.

Reach out to a trusted mentor, supervisor, colleague, or friend who can provide honest feedback. Explain that you want to develop your communication skills and ask them some of the following questions:

• What would you consider some of my greatest communication strengths?
• Are there any areas where I could improve my communication skills?
• Have you noticed anything specific that may be getting in the way of my effective communication?
• Can you think of any times when you weren’t sure exactly what I was trying to communicate?

Listen to their feedback with an open mind, take notes, and reflect on their advice. If you get the same feedback from multiple people, that’s probably a good place to start.

2. Take some time to self-reflect

Even if you don’t have a good source for feedback, you can pause to reflect on your interactions with others and try to determine where you have room to grow.

Consider how people respond when you talk to them: Do people usually seem to get exactly what you’re trying to say, or do you have to explain several times? Do you tend to dominate conversations, or are you a great listener? How well do you pick up on others’ nonverbal cues?

If you’re not sure, pay closer attention to people’s tone, facial expressions, and body language in your next few interactions. Take note of when people seem engaged and interested in what you’re saying and why that might be.

For example, if someone is swiping on their phone and giving you abrupt answers to questions, that could be a sign that they’re not interested in what you have to say.

3. Consider taking an online course

Once you decide what aspect of your communication skills you want to improve, try searching around for some online courses or lectures to help you develop them.

Sites like Coursera and Udemy , as well as universities and local community centers often have free and paid courses to help you cultivate excellent communication skills.

Whether you want to speak a language more fluently, write more persuasively, or boost your emotional intelligence, there are plenty of online resources that can help you get there.

4. Learn from great communicators

One of the best ways to improve your communication is to pay attention to the types of media you’re consuming — you’ll naturally learn to speak and write like the people you listen to.

First, think of some public figures or authors you admire and would want to model your communication style after. (Do some research on great leaders and communicators if you don’t know where to start.)

You can also listen to audiobooks or watch speeches, presentations, and documentaries on subjects you’re interested in or that relate to your field.

Carving out some time in your schedule to learn from amazing writers and presenters will give your communication skills a boost that’s sure to shine through in your work.

Here are some more skills-related resources for different job titles:

• Medical assistant skills
• Graphic design skills
• Sales associate skills
• Teacher skills
• Cashier skills
• Server skills
• Project manager skills
• Marketer skills
• Receptionist skills
• Accountant skills

Emily Crowley

Career Advisor & Senior Content Writer

Emily Crowley loves helping job seekers overcome obstacles to advance their careers. She graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Foreign Language and Culture and relocated to Taipei shortly after. As a writer and career advisor, she takes a particular interest in empowering young professionals through practical knowledge and advice on topics like resume writing, interviewing, and navigating career changes. Emily’s career advice has been featured in online publications such as Global Trade Magazine and Parade. For media-related queries, she can be reached at emily [at] resumegenius [dot] com.

Subscribe to our newsletter

By clicking “Submit” you agree to receive marketing communications from our site, and to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy . You can unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks for subscribing!

We're thrilled to be a part of your professional journey! Stay tuned for the most up-to-date job news, free resources, and expert advice for your job hunt and career.

Communication Skills

Click to rate this article

4.8 Average rating

Related Articles

Resume Help

Conrad Benz

The Resume Genius Team

Corissa Peterson

Samuel Johns, CPRW

100% FREE TEMPLATES

Use our templates to win the job.

Each template on our website was designed by HR and hiring professionals to help jobseekers easily apply for work.

Sign up for more free templates & career resources!

In addition to this template, you'll also receive:

• Early access to our newest premium templates
• Job-specific resume tips & free examples
• Access to our exclusive newsletter for jobseekers
• Notifications of product improvements

* By sharing your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from our team. You can easily opt out of future emails on the dashboard of your account or by unsubscribing directly from the link at the bottom of an email you receive from us.

How to list communication skills and examples on a resumé

Good communication skills are essential to have – in your personal life and in the workplace. They’re a key ingredient for collaboration and teamwork, and essential if you work with customers or clients. 

Employers want team members who work well together and can support one another, which is impossible without good communication skills. No matter what type of job you’re applying for, including communication skills on your resumé is a good idea.

If you’re applying for your first job with no experience, it’s even more important to list communication skills and examples on your resumé. In this guide, we explore what communication skills are and help you pick the right skills to include in your resumé.

What are communication skills?

Communication skills involve the ability to clearly convey and understand information. Specific to work, it’s how effectively you:

• Collaborate with your teammates
• Interact with stakeholders
• Present data
• Send emails
• Solve problems
• Serve customers or clients 

Effective communication skills are helpful for career progression as they give you the ability to convey thoughts clearly and tactfully and help you build strong work relationships.

On your resumé, communication skills fall into the category of soft skills or transferable skills. They’re different from technical skills , which refer to specialised knowledge and specific areas of expertise. Depending on your profession, they are both highly beneficial to showcase in your resumé. Soft skills, for example, are especially important for roles in sales and hospitality.

Why should you include communication skills in a resumé?

Adding communication skills to your resumé helps give the employer a rounded impression of your abilities and what you can bring to a role. Even if your profession doesn’t involve interacting much with others, the hiring company probably still has expectations for communication. Communication skills can only benefit you at work and in your resumé. 

Quick examples of roles and communication skills in a resumé

There are many different types of communication skills and not all of them are common or required for every job. So how do you know which to add to your resumé? Here are a few examples of communication skills, to give you an idea of how to tailor yours to the role you’re applying for. 

• A manager may highlight their presentation skills, report-writing skills, active listening skills or empathetic communication skills
• A sales assistant may include their problem-solving and persuasion skills
• A designer would want to highlight their collaboration skills and visual communication skills

It’s all about selecting the communication skills that are most relevant and important to the job you’re applying for. Let the individual role and job description be your guide.

How to show communication skills in a resumé

There are a few different ways to showcase your communication skills in a resumé. You can highlight them in a career objective statement along with other key skills and work experience. You can list them in the skills section of your resumé or work them into the experience section. It’s up to you how you include them, but keep these best practices in mind. To best show off your communication skills:

• First assess your professional abilities and see which fall under the umbrella of communication skills.
• Choose two to five key communication skills that best align with the job.
• Show how your skills have helped you achieve an outcome in the workplace, like using effective communication to manage projects or meet deadlines.

The more specific your communication skills are to the job ad, the easier it will be for the hiring manager to align your abilities with what they need. 

Communication skills to include in your resumé

Communication skills come in many forms, like being able to write well, present engagingly or resolve conflicts in the workplace. Some of the top communication skills you can include in your resumé:

• Written communication: this could include creating reports, writing emails, liaising with clients, responding to customers, writing tenders or pitches, etc.
• Verbal communication: this could include delivering constructive feedback , public speaking, MCing events, chairing meetings, etc.
• Interpersonal communication: this could include day-to-day collaboration and teamwork, conflict resolution, serving customers, mediating, etc.
• Empathy, active listening and non-verbal communication: these could be important skills to list for roles in social and public services, teaching and healthcare, etc.

To ensure your skills support your application, choose the ones that best align with the job ad. This will ensure everything on your resumé makes a case for why you’re a great candidate for the job and why the hiring company should call you for an interview.

Communication skills – resumé phrases

Giving your communication skills some context in your resumé gives employers a better understanding of what you bring to the table. It helps them imagine your skills in practice in their workplace. Describe where you have used a specific skill and how it helped your past employer.

For example, include how a specific skill helped you exceed key performance indicators or how your skills help keep customers happy. Some different communication skills resumé phrases you could use include:

• Excellent written communication: wrote and edited my department’s quarterly reports
• Excellent verbal communication: increased average floor sales by 10%
• Presentation skills: required to present to senior leadership every quarter
• Empathetic manager: improved staff retention in 2023
• Public-speaking skills: moderated several industry panels
• Collaboration skills: work effectively with international teams 

Your resumé itself should also show off excellent written communication. Ensure it is concise and typo-free to give the hiring manager a good first impression of your skills.

Communication skills in a resumé – example

How you format your communication skills in your resumé depends on where you put them. If you put them in your skills section, you only need to list them as bullet points. If you include them in your work experience section, write them into the descriptions of your duties. You could also choose to highlight skills in your resumé summary . Here are some examples:

• Highly empathetic and compassionate nurse with a decade of experience in providing the highest level of patient care.
• Persuasive sales manager with strong closing abilities. Maintained a 72% close rate in the top 3% of sales managers in the state.
• Well-spoken student looking for a casual retail role with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Getting your resumé right is crucial if you want to effectively show off your skills. Choosing your most relevant communication skills can make all the difference when it comes to standing out against other job seekers. Even if your profession doesn’t involve a lot of communication, these skills are always valued in the workplace. They’re the foundations of a good workplace culture, which is something every employer – and employee – wants. 

How do you say good communication skills on a resumé?

A good way to talk about good communication skills on a resumé is to be specific about your particular skills. For example, you could mention or list:

• Good written and verbal skills 
• Strong presentation skills
• Public speaking experience

If your skills are advanced or you have a relevant qualification, you can list them as technical or advanced skills. 

How would you describe your written communication skills?

Some words to describe written communication skills on a resumé include: 

• Professional

You can also show off your written communication skills in your resumé and cover letter, or provide links to any professional writing samples. 

Can communication skills be listed in a separate section in my resumé?

Communication skills are often listed with other soft skills on a resumé or in the objective description. You can also use them in your work experience section to showcase how they helped you achieve specific results. If you are writing a resumé for a writing job or a role requiring formal communication, you should also include a portfolio of work or links to writing samples.

Are communication skills more important than technical skills in my resumé?

While technical skills will help you meet criteria for the role, communication skills help you stand out as a valuable team player. You should include both communication and technical skills on your resumé. 

Should I include communication skills in a cover letter as well?

Your cover letter is a good place to include examples of how you’ve used good communication skills, if they’re relevant for the job. For example, for a customer-facing role, you may highlight being commended for providing great customer service or being known for high satisfaction rates. 

How can I improve my communication skills for my resumé?

Some good ways to improve your communication skills for your resumé include:

• Working on active listening
• Practising speaking skills
• Asking for feedback
• Doing a course
• Joining a special interest group
• Getting a mentor

You can practise communication skills at home by reading more, watching instructional videos, taking online courses or role-playing work situations with family and friends. Communication skills are abilities that will evolve naturally over time through experience as you interact with different people in new situations.

Top search terms

Explore related topics, subscribe to career advice.

• Resume Tips

Communication Skills on a Resume (Examples + Tips)

13 min read

Communication skills are something that almost every employer is looking for – and for good reason. Most jobs require some level of human interaction with coworkers, supervisors, subordinates, customers, or other stakeholders. Employers need employees with these abilities to ensure that their operations run smoothly and productively. It is thus vital to include communication skills on your resume if you want to ensure that you capture an employer’s attention during any job search.

In this post, we will explain why you need to include communication skills on your resume, examine the top five skills you need to highlight and 10 others that you may want to consider, and provide a communications skills resume template you can use to showcase your abilities.

Why should you include communication skills on your resume?

While hard skills will help show that you have the right qualifications for most jobs, soft skills are just as important for success. And when it comes to soft skills, few are as vital as the ability to communicate in a skillful way. By including communication skills on your resume, you demonstrate to employers that you can not only interact with customers, colleagues, and supervisors but also work as part of a cohesive and effective team.

How to include communication skills on a resume

Of course, you need to know how to include communication skills in a resume if you want to effectively convey these abilities to employers. To do that, you need to illustrate these skills in various sections of the resume rather than simply claim that you possess them. The following tips can help you ensure that your inclusion of these skills is as compelling as possible:

Don’t just list “excellent communication skills” in your skill section and assume that you’re done. You’ll need to include examples of how you used those abilities to solve problems, create value, or otherwise benefit your previous employers.

Make sure that your resume includes all the key qualifications you find in the job posting, using those exact terms. If a skill like team leadership is cited as a qualification, use that term in one of the achievement examples that you include in your resume.

Use real numbers to quantify the results your achievements provided for those prior employers. For example, instead of just writing that you used negotiation skills to close multiple deals for your last employer, show real value by quantifying those results: “Successfully negotiated and closed new client deals valued at more than $27 million.”

Communication skills resume template

If you’re wondering how all this might look in your resume, it may be helpful to see a simple template for including communication skills on your resume. Below, we’ve provided an easy-to-follow template that you can use to organize your own resume.

[Your name, phone number, email, LinkedIn URL]

[Headline, including desired job title]

[Summary statement. This should be 3-5 sentences highlighting your key skills and achievements to demonstrate value. Think of it as an elevator pitch that sells your qualifications to employers.]

[Core competencies section. This section should include both hard and soft skills. You can list any required communication skills here but be prepared to also highlight them in achievements in other sections of the resume.]

[Professional experience. This section should list your previous jobs in reverse order, beginning with your current or most recent position. Include the company name, job title, and employment dates for each position. Below each job, include several bullet point achievements – including those that relied on your communication skills.]

[Education. Your educational section needs to include the schools you attended, the years of attendance, course of study, degrees earned, and any relevant coursework. ]

Communication skills resume example

We’ve also put together a sample resume that highlights communication skills that you can use for inspiration or as a customizable guide for your own resume.

John Johnson

555-555-5555 • [email protected] • https://www.linkedin.com/in/JohnJohnson

Lead Corporate Negotiator with 10 Years of Fortune 500 Experience

Proven corporate negotiator and deal-closer with 10 years of success in closing multimillion-dollar client deals in the finance and manufacturing sectors. Organized, managed, and led a 20-person acquisition and merger team that created more than $500 million in value for our clients. Personally negotiated ABCD Corp. merger with EFG Inc, increasing company value by 23% while saving more than 1300 jobs.

Core competencies

Motivational speaking

Team building

Presentation

Copywriting

Computer proficiency

Data analysis

Media relations

Negotiation

Professional experience

ABCD Corp, 2015-2023

Chief Negotiator, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Division

Led teams responsible for identifying M&A prospects to further company growth plans

Oversaw creation of M&A outreach, negotiation, and closure plans

Negotiated deals worth more than $400 million, with 72% M&A success rate

 Alpha, Inc., 2009-2015

Lead strategist, M&A

Created merger and acquisition strategies that successfully led to more than 35 completed deals in a 6-year period

Developed negotiation presentation plans that were used to achieve a 62% success rate by negotiation teams

Created and managed negotiator training program that boosted overall closure success rate for M&A by 29%

  Education

Bachelor of Communications, GoodSpeak College, 2008

Coursework: Digital Communications, Media Relations, Public Relations, Persuasive Speaking, Negotiation Theory

Different communication skills to highlight on your resume

When you’re evaluating your own communication skills, it’s important to remember that they all fall into two main categories. Those two forms of communication include verbal and nonverbal communication. Let’s consider each to get a better idea of how they can help you in your career.

Verbal communication

Most people are intimately familiar with verbal communication, which involves the use of words to convey ideas and messages. Verbal communication can occur person-to-person, in a phone call, during a video conference, or through text, email, and other forms of writing. This type of communication is an effective way to deliver information, share new concepts, and solve problems.

Nonverbal communication

While verbal communication is important, many experts believe that seventy percent or more of all human communication occurs without words. This nonverbal communication includes subtle things like facial expressions, body language, posture, and the tone of your voice. Even something as simple as maintaining or avoiding eye contact can impart useful information to other people.

Top 5 communication skills employers look for

Before you start listing communication skills in your resume, it can be helpful to ensure that you have a better idea of the type of abilities today’s employers are looking for. In the following sections of this post, we will examine some of those key communication skills, beginning with the top five communication skills that most employers always appreciate.

Emotional intelligence is more important than ever before. As the workplace grows ever more complex, employers need to know that each member of their team is cognizant of their colleagues’ emotions and points of view. This is especially true in environments where collaboration and workplace harmony are essential for success.

It is one thing to be able to communicate an idea. It is often quite another to do with the type of clarity that most people need if they are to fully understand your message. Whether you are giving directions or taking them, it is important to be able to do so in a direct and clear way. For example, if you not only provide instructions but offer an example that effectively illustrates those directions, you’re more likely to be understood by others.

Honesty and integrity in your communications are the most important keys to gaining others’ trust. Every employer wants to build a team made up of people who say what they mean and follow through on their word. Honest employees can be relied upon to be both responsible and accountable for their actions, transparent in their actions, and authentic in all their dealings.

Team building is a powerful skill that demonstrates an ability to communicate with others, collaborate as part of a group, and even motivate colleagues to reach new heights of success. Good team builders are adept at things like delegation, inspirational messaging, and problem-solving. This skill is one that is often associated with managers – but make no mistake: employers appreciate seeing it on the resume of any job candidate.

Active listening

Active listening is a skill prized by many employees because those who possess this ability can do more than just hear messages from others. They are also adept at understanding the true meaning of any message because they actively engage in conversations and know how to use questions and reflective listening to ensure clarity.

10 other communication skills to highlight in a resume

Of course, those five critical skills are just a small subset of the full range of abilities you can cite to demonstrate your communication skills. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 10 other communication-related skills that you can include in your resume to illustrate your ability to articulate information to others.

1.      Presentation

Are you experienced in giving presentations ? If so, then turn that skill into an accomplishment in your work experience section. For example:

Supplied superior customer service training and presentations to external and internal stakeholders, reducing training time and costs by 10% over 2 years.

2.     Negotiation

Negotiation skills will benefit you in many different industries including sales, business development, and law. Showing that you successfully negotiated a deal will display your great communication skills. Here is an example of how that might be conveyed in a resume:

Experienced in delivering high-quality work products in a variety of subject matter areas, building effective case strategies, and negotiating high-value, multimillion-dollar contracts for corporate clients.

3.     Coordinating human resources

It is impossible to manage or coordinate other people’s activities without effective communication skills. If you’ve ever managed people at any level of an organization, you can illustrate this ability in your resume through a well-constructed example of a quantifiable achievement.

Managed a team of 26 customer service employees, decreasing staff turnover by 20% with improved morale, and increasing customer satisfaction and retention by 15%.

4.     Written communication

Written communication is a vital skill for writers, marketers, office staff, and many other workers. While your whole resume serves as a testament to your writing ability, you can give more weight to your writing skills by mentioning how they've helped you succeed professionally. For example:

Created headlines, edited copy, and designed graphics and pages for both print and digital platforms.

5.     Conflict resolution

Whenever humans interact, there is always the potential for interpersonal conflict. If you’re adept at resolving these types of issues, you should demonstrate that by citing examples of your conflict resolution skills in your resume.

Regularly called upon to defuse conflicts within the team to reduce distraction and ensure that our combined attention remained 100% focused on our collective mission objective.

6.     Collaboration

As we mentioned earlier in the post, teamwork is essential in many different types of jobs. If your talents include the ability to collaborate effectively with others, then you should make sure that your resume includes that skill. Pick one or more jobs where you relied on this ability for success and include a bullet point example of how it benefited the company.

In collaboration with my team and other departments, successfully reorganized our sales process to increase lead generation by 22%, improve sales conversions by 18%, and increase profits by 19%.

7.     Persuasion

The ability to persuade others can be a vital communication skill that can help you supercharge your career. It is also one of those skills that most employers will prize, especially if you can demonstrate how your persuasiveness can add value to their bottom line. One way to illustrate that persuasive ability is to highlight instances where you’ve been able to persuade others in ways that benefited your employers. For example:

Led acquisition advance team tasked with persuading target company leaders to consider selling their enterprises. Utilized persuasive techniques to achieve more than 19% success rate on first attempts, 52% success rate on second contact.

8.     Open-mindedness

One of the most important communication skills these days involves the ability to maintain an open mind. Are you someone who values other people’s perspectives and ideas? Do you enjoy brainstorming with others to come up with new and creative solutions to problems? If so, then that open-minded approach to new information and points of view is a strength that you should share on your resume.

Led diverse team in collaborative effort to brainstorm new ideas and solutions for needed technological system changes, resulting in implementation of new systems that improved company logistical efficiency by 33%.

9.     Motivational speaking

Your ability to inspire others by using your voice to motivate them to new heights of success can also be an attractive communication skill for many employers. After all, motivational skills are essential for any management or leadership position. If you’ve ever been in any situation where you needed to motivate your colleagues to achieve a goal, be sure to include that as one of your achievements.

As team leader, incorporated daily stand-up meetings to motivate and focus team members, which helped increase productivity by 28% in just 6 months.

10.  Giving and receiving feedback

Employers also want to know that you’re capable of receiving feedback, and even providing it depending on your role. Are you someone who always wants to hear constructive criticism or even negative feedback? That desire to be accountable so that you can continue to improve is something that employers will be eager to know about you. They’ll also appreciate your ability to offer constructive advice to other members of your team.

This is one of those skills that you may want to highlight in your summary statement if you’re focused on receiving criticism. For example:

Dedicated team leader who seeks out constructive feedback to fuel consistent growth and improvement in performance metrics.

On the other hand, if you’re usually the one providing the feedback, you may want to mention that in one of your work history achievements.

Provided monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reviews for team members, as well as more frequent feedback designed to prevent performance issues before they became serious problems.

Your communication skills on a resume can make all the difference

Knowing which communication skills to put on a resume could help determine the type of impression you make on any prospective employer. That’s why it’s so important to understand which skills employers are looking for and make sure that your skills align with those needs. 

So, take the time to assess your key communication skills and pay careful attention to the qualifications cited in any job posting. If you can ensure that those cited skills align well with the communication skills on your resume, you can increase your chances of landing an interview.

Want to ensure that you have the right communication skills on your resume? Head on over to get your free resume review from our team of experts to learn whether your resume has what it takes to help you achieve your job search goals.

Recommended reading:

The Best 10 Skills to Put on Your Resume

Top 15 Skills Employers Are Hiring For in 2023

Interpersonal Skills Can Give You the Competitive Career Advantage You Need

Ken Chase, Freelance Writer

During Ken's two decades as a freelance writer, he has covered everything from banking and fintech to business management and the entertainment industry. His true passion, however, has always been focused on helping others achieve their career goals with timely job search and interview advice or the occasional resume consultation. When he's not working, Ken can usually be found adventuring with family and friends or playing fetch with his demanding German Shepherd. Read more resume advice from Ken on  ZipJob’s blog .

Our resume services get results.

We’ve helped change over 30,000 careers.

Get a free resume review today

Our experts will review your resume’s grammar, layout, and ability to pass ATS — all free and delivered straight to your inbox.

• Resume Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
• Resume Examples Nurse Student Internship Teacher Accountant View all
• Resume Builder
• Cover Letter Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
• Cover Letter Examples Nursing Administrative Assistant Internship Graduate Teacher View all
• Cover Letter Builder
• Resume Help

Communication skills: how to demonstrate them on your resume

Resume builder

Top Communication Skills for Resume

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing job market, having strong communication skills is essential for success in any industry. In fact, according to recent research by Salesforce, 86% of employees and executives cite insufficiency of collaboration and communication as the main reason for workplace failures.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to make a change, highlighting your communication skills on your resume can set you apart from other candidates.

In this blog post, we will explore the top communication skills that employers are looking for and provide tips on how to effectively showcase these skills on your resume. From active listening to written communication, we’ll cover the key skills you need in order to succeed in the modern workplace. So, let’s dive in and learn how to make your communication skills shine on your resume!

Table of Contents

What Are Communication Skills?

Communication skills refer to the ability to effectively convey and receive information through various channels, such as verbal , nonverbal, and written communication.

These skills include the ability to listen actively, express ideas clearly and coherently, ask questions, provide feedback, and adapt communication style to different audiences and situations. Additionally, communication skills may involve being able to negotiate, persuade, resolve conflicts, and collaborate with others effectively.

Good communication and networking skills are essential in both personal and professional contexts and are highly valued by employers.

Top 10 Communication Skills for a Resume

Written and oral communication: Both verbal and written communication skills are essential in almost all industries and job roles. Good communication skills enable individuals to convey their ideas effectively, build relationships with others, and ultimately achieve their professional goals.

• Active listening: Paying attention to what others are saying, asking clarifying questions, and responding appropriately.
• Nonverbal communication: Being aware of and using body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice to effectively convey messages.
• Empathy: Understanding and acknowledging the perspectives and feelings of others.
• Adaptability: Adapting communication style to different situations and audiences.
• Respect: Showing respect for others’ opinions and ideas, and communicating in a professional and courteous manner.
• Conflict resolution: Resolving conflicts in a professional and constructive manner.
• Persuasion: Using effective reasoning and communication to influence and persuade others.
• Public speaking: the ability to deliver an effective speech or presentation to a live audience. It involves the ability to articulate ideas clearly and confidently, engage and persuade the audience, and adapt to different speaking situations.
• Feedback: Giving and receiving feedback constructively and effectively.

Written and Oral Communication

Verbal communication involves the use of words to convey information, and it can be either oral or written. Strong oral communication skills are crucial, even in jobs that don’t involve public speaking. For example, as a server in a restaurant, being able to speak clearly and establish a rapport with customers is essential for providing good service.

Additionally, written communication skills are vital for most jobs, as you will likely need to write emails, reports, or other forms of correspondence. If you have expertise in a specific type of writing, such as copywriting or editing, it’s important to highlight that on your resume or in a job interview.

Here’s how to demonstrate written and oral communication on a resume:

“Exceptional written and oral communication skills with a talent for conveying complex information in a clear and engaging manner.”

“Demonstrated ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences and contexts, from technical reports to marketing materials.”

Active Listening

Active listening is a communication skill that involves paying full attention to what someone is saying and demonstrating that you are engaged and interested in the conversation. Active listening requires more than just hearing the words that are being spoken. It involves being fully present in the conversation, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback to ensure that you understand the message accurately.

Active listening can help build rapport and trust between communicators, and it can help prevent misunderstandings or miscommunications. Additionally, active listening can help individuals understand different perspectives and gain insight into other people’s experiences and ideas. Some specific techniques for active listening include making eye contact, avoiding distractions, paraphrasing or summarizing what the other person said, and acknowledging their feelings or emotions. Active listening is an essential skill for effective communication in both personal and professional contexts.

Here’s how to demonstrate active listening on a resume:

“Conducted regular one-on-one meetings with team members to actively listen to their concerns and provide guidance on professional development, resulting in a 20% increase in employee satisfaction.”

“Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather and synthesize customer feedback through active listening, informing product development decisions that led to a 15% increase in customer retention.”

Nonverbal Communication

Effective communication involves nonverbal cues such as body language, posture, gestures, eye contact patterns, and facial expressions, which can foster trust and reveal underlying emotions.

Nonverbal communication is crucial in various professions, including sales and leadership. In fact, the power of nonverbal communication was the subject of the research of the renowned behavioral psychologist Dr. Albert Mehrabian. His research resulted in the 7-38-55 rule , which indicates that only 7% of all communication is conducted via verbal communication, whereas nonverbal communication (tonality and body language) accounts for 38% and 55% respectively.

During job interviews, it’s advisable to showcase your nonverbal communication skills by maintaining eye contact, controlling facial expressions, and avoiding excessive hand gestures.

Here’s how to demonstrate nonverbal communication on a resume:

“Implemented effective communication strategies, including active listening and nonverbal cues, to manage high-pressure situations and diffuse conflicts in a team environment.”

Yes, empathy is a communication skill. It involves the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Empathy can help establish a connection with others, foster trust, and create a safe space for effective communication. It is especially important in situations where people may be experiencing strong emotions, such as during conflict resolution or when providing support to someone in distress. By demonstrating empathy, you can show that you care about the other person’s well-being and are willing to listen and support them.

How to demonstrate empathy on a resume:

“Developed a reputation for being approachable, patient, and attentive to the needs of clients and colleagues”

Adaptability

Adaptability is a communication skill that refers to the ability to adjust your communication style and approach to fit the situation and audience. It involves being flexible and responsive to changing circumstances, such as the needs, expectations, or preferences of different people.

Adaptability is particularly important in diverse environments where people have different backgrounds, cultures, or communication styles. It enables you to build rapport, avoid misunderstandings, and communicate effectively with people who have different perspectives or preferences.

Examples of adaptability in communication can include modifying your tone, word choice, or nonverbal cues based on the situation or audience, listening actively and responding to feedback, and being willing to change your approach when necessary.

How to demonstrate adaptability on a resume:

“Adaptable team player with a proven track record of thriving in fast-paced, dynamic environments.”

“Able to pivot quickly in response to changing priorities and maintain a positive attitude in high-pressure situations.”

Respect is a crucial element of successful communication and an essential skill to demonstrate during job interviews. It involves active listening, patience, and appropriate initiation and response in conversations. Demonstrating respect through simple gestures, such as staying focused, being polite, and minimizing distractions, can go a long way in building relationships with colleagues and recruiters.

During job interviews, interrupting the recruiter or going off-topic is considered rude and may harm your chances of getting the job. Therefore, showing respect by being attentive and focused during the interview can make a positive impression and increase your chances of success.

How to demonstrate respect on a resume:

“Skilled in effective and respectful communication with diverse audiences, from team members to clients and stakeholders.”

“Demonstrated ability to navigate complex conversations with empathy, tact, and professionalism.”

Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is an important communication skill on a resume because it demonstrates an ability to effectively manage and resolve disagreements or disputes in the workplace. This skill is highly valued by employers as it can lead to increased productivity, improved morale, and stronger relationships among team members. In addition, the ability to handle conflicts in a calm and professional manner can showcase a candidate’s leadership potential and ability to work well under pressure.

Here’s how to demonstrate conflict resolution on a resume:

“Skilled in conflict resolution, with a proven track record of successfully navigating challenging conversations with tact and empathy.”

“Experienced in using active listening, problem-solving, and negotiation skills to find win-win solutions in high-pressure situations.”

Persuasion is an important communication skill in the workplace because it can help individuals influence others and achieve their goals. Effective persuasion skills can help individuals sell ideas, products or services, negotiate contracts, motivate employees, and convince stakeholders to support a particular course of action.

This skill is particularly valuable for individuals in leadership, sales, marketing, and customer service roles, as well as for those who need to work collaboratively with others to achieve common objectives. By mastering the art of persuasion, individuals can become more influential and successful in their careers.

Here’s how to demonstrate persuasion on a resume:

“Adept at crafting persuasive arguments and delivering compelling presentations to diverse audiences.”

“Proven track record of using data-driven insights and compelling storytelling to influence key stakeholders and drive business results.”

Public speaking

Public speaking is an important communication skill in the workplace because it enables individuals to effectively communicate their ideas, expertise, and vision to their colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. It is a crucial skill for professionals in a wide range of fields, from sales and marketing to education and politics, as well as for those in leadership positions who need to inspire and motivate their teams. Effective public speaking can help individuals build their credibility, establish themselves as thought leaders, and connect with their audience on a personal level. It can also lead to career advancement opportunities, as those who are able to deliver compelling and persuasive presentations are often seen as more capable and competent by their superiors.

Here’s how to demonstrate public skills on a resume:

“Experienced public speaker with strong presentation and facilitation skills for audiences of all sizes.”

“Adept at developing and delivering clear, concise, and engaging presentations that drive knowledge transfer and inspire action.”

Providing and accepting feedback is an essential communication skill that requires active listening, respect, open-mindedness, and teamwork. To encourage constructive feedback, it is necessary to truly understand the speaker’s meaning, respect their opinion, and remain open-minded. When receiving feedback from a supervisor, it is important to listen and accept the evaluation without judgment, and ask clarifying questions at the end to make the process as constructive as possible. When giving feedback to a colleague, a fact-based evaluation should be used, offering time for them to respond and considering their needs, with negative feedback provided discreetly. The ability to give and take feedback is essential for career success, as it reflects a willingness to learn, adapt, accept constructive criticism, and engage in critical reasoning.

Here’s how to demonstrate feedback on a resume:

“Experienced in giving and receiving constructive feedback to drive personal and team development.”

“Adept at creating a culture of feedback that fosters open and honest communication and continuous improvement.”

How to Describe Communication Skills on a Resume

When describing communication skills on a resume, it’s important to be clear and specific about the types of communication that you excel in. Here are some tips for effectively describing communication skills on a resume:

Tailor your language to the job description: Look at the job description and identify the specific communication skills that the employer is looking for, such as public speaking, active listening, conflict resolution, or persuasion. Use similar keywords and phrases to describe your skills.

Use concrete examples: Provide specific examples of how you have used your communication skills in past jobs or other experiences, such as leading a team meeting, giving a presentation, or resolving a conflict. Use metrics or other data to show the impact of your communication skills on the organization.

Be concise: Keep your descriptions brief and to the point, using bullet points or short sentences to convey your skills and accomplishments. Use action verbs to describe what you have done, such as “collaborated,” “negotiated,” or “facilitated.”

Highlight your soft skills: Soft skills such as active listening, empathy, and emotional intelligence are highly valued by employers, so be sure to include these in your description of communication skills. Provide examples of how you have used these skills in the past to achieve results or build strong relationships.

Proofread: Ensure that your descriptions are error-free, well-organized, and easy to read. Use a clear, legible font and avoid cluttered or complex formatting.

20 Phrases for Describing Communication Skills on a Resume

• “Excellent verbal and written communication skills”
• “Strong interpersonal skills “
• “Exceptional listening skills”
• “Articulate and clear communicator”
• “Comfortable speaking in public or presenting to groups”
• “Effective at communicating complex ideas to diverse audiences”
• “Skilled in facilitating group discussions or meetings”
• “Proficient in professional email communication”
• “Experienced in negotiating and persuading”
• “Active and engaged listener”
• “Comfortable working in a team environment”
• “Accustomed to adapting communication style to meet various audiences”
• “Skilled in conflict resolution and problem-solving through communication”
• “Experienced in giving constructive feedback and criticism”
• “Knowledgeable in nonverbal communication cues”
• “Effective at communicating empathy and understanding”
• “Fluent in multiple languages”
• “Adept at creating and delivering effective presentations”
• “Experienced in active listening and paraphrasing”
• “Proficient in using various communication technologies and tools.”

Communication vs. Effective Communication

Communication in the workplace refers to the exchange of information or ideas between individuals or groups.

Effective communication, on the other hand, means conveying messages clearly, accurately, and in a way that is easily understood by the receiver, leading to a desired outcome. According to a study by Pumble, teams who master effective communication can increase their productivity by as much as 25%.

Effective communication involves not only the transmission of information but also the ability to actively listen, provide feedback, and adjust communication styles as needed to ensure the message is understood.

Why You Need Communication Skills

Communication skills are essential in the workplace for several reasons:

• Collaboration and teamwork: Effective communication skills enable individuals to work together and collaborate effectively as a team, share ideas, and work towards a common goal.
• Better productivity: Good communication reduces misunderstandings and errors, thereby improving productivity and efficiency.
• Improved customer relations: Communication skills are critical in customer service, ensuring that customer needs are understood, and their issues are addressed promptly.
• Career advancement: Effective communication skills are often a requirement for leadership positions in organizations. Strong communicators are often considered for promotion as they can effectively convey their ideas to colleagues and management.
• Building relationships: Communication skills are essential for building relationships in the workplace, including networking , negotiating, and managing conflict.

How to Improve Your Communication Skills?

There are several things you can do to improve your communication skills. Namely:

Practice active listening: Pay close attention to what others are saying and respond appropriately.

Use clear and concise language: Avoid using complicated or jargon-filled language and focus on being straightforward and to the point.

Be aware of your body language: Nonverbal cues such as eye contact, posture, and facial expressions can impact how your message is received.

Be empathetic: Try to understand the perspective of the person you are communicating with, and respond in a way that shows you value their thoughts and feelings.

Practice, practice, practice: The more you communicate, the better you will become. Seek out opportunities to practice, such as in public speaking or social situations.

Get feedback: Ask for feedback from others to help you identify areas where you can improve your communication skills.

Read and write: Reading and writing can improve your vocabulary and help you communicate more effectively.

Take a course or workshop: Consider taking a course or workshop in communication skills to learn new techniques and strategies.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The opinions expressed are solely those of Find My Profession. Click to see our Advertising Disclosure.

100 Communication Skills for Your Resume

Find 100 good communication skills (verbal, written, interpersonal) you can use on your resume and how to list communication skills on your resume.

Effective communication skills are undoubtedly one of the most sought-after skills in today’s world of technology.

Communication is now multifaceted and multi-channel.

It doesn’t matter how good you are at the core skills of your job if you are not good at communicating with team members or stakeholders effectively. Work gets hindered and your career progress gets stalled.

The art of communication is of eminent importance not only in the world of sales and marketing but in all careers and in our day-to-day lives.

So it is quite obvious that your potential employer will be on the lookout for effective communications skills on your resume.

Here are 10 of the best communication skills for your resume:

• Collaborative Mindset
• Conflict Management
• Negotiation
• Presentation Skills
• Public Speaking
• Team Building

But let’s not stop here. There are so many other communication skills that are very useful for different career options.

What Are Communication Skills?

Communication skills are defined as the abilities needed to exchange information between you and others. These skills involve giving and receiving both verbal and non-verbal information.

When you are writing a resume, it’s important to note that there are three distinctly different types of communication skills.

Three Types of Communication Skills:

• Verbal communication skills are all the skills that help you with job speaking to colleagues or customers (i.e. phone kills, presentational skills, persuasion).
• Written communication skills include the skills you need to write anything in your job, from emails to presentations to legal briefs.
• Interpersonal communication skills are the skills that help you understand and work with other people effectively. These skills would be adaptability, empathy, flexibility, etc.

We’ve researched 100 communication skills for your resume and categorized them for your convenience. Check out the list and choose the skills that are relevant to the jobs you are applying for.

Read on to see these skills in action!

Verbal Communication Skills For Your Resume

Verbal communication is the most used and perhaps the most important mode of communication in our daily life.

Ask anyone with communication anxiety about the importance of using the right words with the right tone and voice in front of an audience.

A slight mispronunciation can throw you off-track during a presentation, as the presenter or audience member.

The same is true for our day-to-day office activities.

Use the following verbal communication skills on your resume to show that you are a pro at this.

Not required for most jobs other than the entertainment industry. But putting it on your resume can show that you are a good communicator.

2. Active Listening

If you don’t listen to others, how would you know what to say to them? Active listening is a must for effective verbal communication.

3. Articulation

Being able to speak clearly and present your ideas coherently and effectively is a skill that everyone would like to have.

4. Assertiveness

There are situations when we must be assertive to present an idea or opinion. But not everyone can do it in a polite manner. It’s a skill that you can master with practice.

Speaking with clarity and making sense to each and every person in your audience is one of the basics of effective verbal communication.

6. Conciseness

We want to know what we want to know quickly. Concision is a virtue.

7. Confidence

Speaking with confidence keeps your audience assured and engaged. A lack of confidence in you will sow doubts in others’ minds about your capabilities.

8. Conflict Management

Among colleagues, subordinates, or customers, conflicts must be handled. You can solve conflicts with your empathetic verbal communication and problem-solving skills.

9. Consensus Driving Skills

Having the ability to get multiple people on the same page is a difficult task that involves understanding different viewpoints, conveying ideas, and some persuasion.

10. Counseling Skills

If you have counseling skills, that means you know how to use words to soothe minds in distress. It’s also a great leadership trait to include on your resume.

11. Debating Skills

They may not be explicitly required for the job, but having this skill means you are a good speaker and critical thinker.

12. Eloquent Speaking

Fluent or eloquent oratory skills enable you to express your ideas, emotions, and incidents in an easy-to-follow and effective manner.

13. Expressing Complex Ideas

Verbal communication is about expressing facts, ideas, and emotions. Expressing complex ideas so that your audience understands them demonstrates your ability to process information and communicate it.

14. Imagination

The more imaginative you are, the more ways of problem-solving and expressing yourself are at your disposal.

15. Inquisition

Another element of active listening is being responsive and asking the right questions to gain insight. It lets you pinpoint the pain points of your audience and address them.

16. Literary Device Skills

Devices like similes, metaphors, analogies, and others help in expressing complex and abstract ideas in an easy-to-grasp manner.

17. Motivational Speaking

People need motivation every now and then and you know how to provide it. This could be one-on-one with a colleague or in front of an audience.

18. Multilingualism

If you know more than one language, you can show it off on your resume. It also indicates that you are ready to learn new things.

19. Open-Mindedness

You should not let your biases and judgments affect your communication. Open-mindedness is a much-needed communication skill in today’s world.

20. Persuasion

Persuasion is tricky. You always risk being too “salesy”. But there’s a sweet spot for being convincing without being pushy and it’s a highly sought-after skill.

21. Phone Skills

Knowing phone call etiquette and having stellar phone conversation skills are required for jobs involving phone calls with customers or other team members.

22. Presentation Skills

Presentation skills are very useful in an office setup. Not everyone can give an effective presentation, so if you have presentation skills, make it known on your resume.

23. Public Speaking Skills

Speaking effectively and clearly in front of an audience requires both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

24. Quick Thinking

There are situations when we feel at a loss for words. You have to be a quick thinker to get out of these situations quickly.

25. Sense of Humor

A sense of humor can go a long way in more professions than you think. Customer-facing, marketing, and human resources roles can all benefit from someone who can crack a joke and a smile.

26. Storytelling

Who doesn’t love stories? Weaving storytelling techniques into verbal communication keeps your audience attentive and entertained.

27. Vocal Tone Sensitivity

Using vocal tones and pitch is an essential element of effective verbal communication. It enables your communication to be deeper and more powerful.

Written Communication Skills For Your Resume

Written communication skills are the core of many jobs and almost all jobs require you to have some kind of written communication skills.

Moreover, as a significant portion of office communication is happening online, written communication skills have assumed further importance.

Check out some of the most sought-after written communication skills below.

28. Blogging

Blogging is a great written communication skill. It denotes creativity and depth of understanding.

29. Business Analysis Writing

Similar to business writing, but more focused on comparative study between companies or business models. Add to your resume for any writing or business-related positions.

30. Business Writing

This is a great writing skill to add to your resume for any kind of job. Apart from writing, this also shows that you have business acumen.

31. Content Strategy

A must-have for marketing jobs today. It’s a huge skill consisting of many sub-skills like SEO. It denotes you are familiar with the new media landscape.

32. Content Writing

Adding content writing skills to your resume will show that you are good at writing as well as research.

33. Copywriting

Listing copywriting skills is a must for any digital marketing-related job. It is also useful for any job where you are required to do text-based work.

34. Correspondence

Effective office and business correspondence is a must-have skill for many jobs, especially office assistance and customer support professions.

35. Creative Writing

The ability to write creative pieces not only shows your writing ability but also your creativity. This skill is essential for artistic career fields.

36. Editing

A must-have skill for writing-heavy jobs. Include it whenever the job responsibilities include written communication.

37. Effective Message Writing

Essential for jobs in the communications field. Putting it on your resume will show you understand audience targeting.

38. Email Writing

Emailing is one of the essential written communication skills. You need to know what to say and how to say it correctly.

39. Financial Report Writing

If the job is related to finance, you should consider including this written communication skill on your resume. It also does well for any writing-related jobs or managerial positions.

Grammar Knowledge

We all know technology can do most of this for us in some jobs, but having a keen eye and a thorough understanding of grammar rules is essential for some roles.

40. Investigative Writing

Indicates your attention to detail, research skills, and critical thinking ability.

41. Legal Writing

A job-specific requirement. List it if the job descriptions hint at the ability to handle legal documents.

42. Pitch Deck Writing

Writing wonderful pitch decks will make you the boss’ favorite in no time. It also expresses your business acumen.

43. Playwriting

Not required in most cases, other than jobs in the entertainment industry. But having it means you are good with words and expressing ideas.

44. Poetry Writing

Writing poetry shows you are creative and imaginative. It can also show that you have a deeper level of sensitivity and emotional intelligence.

45. Presentation Writing

Writing a stellar presentation is almost 70% of the job of giving an impeccable presentation.

46. Press Release Writing

Often required for many positions in public relations, public affairs, and mass communications. Having this ability would prove you to be an asset to the team.

47. Proofreading

Having this skill means you will keep office correspondence and documents flawless.

48. Report Writing

Previous experience and your ability to describe and analyze all the crucial business updates for your office meetings will make you stand out among others.

49. Research

No writing is possible without research. Even creative writing requires it to some extent. So, add it to your resume as needed.

50. Screenwriting

Required for some specific jobs in the entertainment industry. Having this skill means you are creative.

51. Social Media Skills

Social media management and writing are popular skills sought after for digital marketing positions.

52. Speech Writing

Not always required. But having it would benefit you for certain jobs, like office assistant, personal assistant, etc.

53. Summarizing

The ability to summarize events or documents concisely and accurately can be an important communication skill to have.

54. Technical Writing

Applying to a tech company? Having this skill will denote that you are familiar with the technology landscape.

55. Translation

If you know more than one language, translation is a great written communication skill to show off on your resume.

56. Visual communication

Having this skill allows you to convey ideas through visual formats such as infographics, charts, animation, etc.

57. Web Communication

A must for jobs that require constant communication over the internet, i.e. customer support.

Interpersonal Communication Skills For Your Resume

Interpersonal communication skills are essential for our day-to-day operations.

These skills describe how you work with other people in a work environment. These skills are especially important for leadership roles in an organization.

Let’s have a look at some of the best interpersonal communications skills to put on your resume.

58. Adaptability

Having adaptability means you excel at change management and can read changing situations easily.

59. Approachability

Approachability indicates how easy you are to work with. It shows that you are open to discussions with your team.

60. Coaching and Training

Having the ability to teach and coach others is a great asset to have in any employee or leader.

61. Collaborative Mindset

Required for working on teams and building lasting client relationships. Effective collaboration makes work effortless.

62. Convergent Thinking

A problem-solving tool used to arrive at a concrete answer using logical reasoning. Show off your logic and problem-solving skills.

63. Courtesy

A basic skill that we all should have. But being courteous in the most difficult of situations is a great skill to master.

64. Creative Thinking

A must for creative fields. But having it on your resume for business-related jobs also fares well.

65. Cross-Cultural Communication

A much-needed skill in today’s world of globalization. You need to constantly engage with people from various cultures across the globe.

66. Diplomacy

Although required on a daily basis, it is essential for jobs involving international relations.

67. Divergent Thinking

A problem-solving tool that uses multiple possible solutions to come up with ideas or answers. Show that you are creative and open-minded.

68. Emotional Intelligence

An underrated interpersonal skill. Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in rapport building by forming an understanding of others at an emotional level.

69. Empathy

A must for your personal as well as professional life. Understanding the pains of your clients or audience is what makes you the best at what you do and say.

70. Flexibility

Flexibility is a must for creating a smooth workflow. Working with others and in certain situations can require a great amount of compromise.

71. Friendliness

A great skill to have for any kind of career that involves co-workers or customers.

72. Giving and Receiving Feedback

Being able to give and receive constructive feedback shows that you are open to improving yourself and helping others succeed.

73. Honesty

Another much-needed skill for any job. You should always be honest to keep you and your company out of trouble.

74. Identifying Personality Types

If you know how and what to say based on someone’s personality and values, you can get the desired result out of any interpersonal communicative situation.

75. Improvisation

Improvisation skill is a lifesaver in awkward situations. Shows that you are an out-of-the-box thinker.

76. Interviewing

An essential HR management skill. Indicates that you contribute to the recruitment process and can select the best candidates for a position.

77. Leadership

Leadership skills come with experience and practice. If you are applying to management roles, be sure to include leadership skills on your resume.

78. Logical Thinking

Logical thinking is a must for every job. But more so for jobs in business development, strategy, and planning.

79. Mediation Skills

Having this skill helps in day-to-day conflict management. It is also essential to work in corporate legal teams.

80. Mentoring

The same is true for mentoring. This skill is a leadership trait and enables you to set an example and keep your whole team in sync.

81. Motivating

Including this interpersonal communication skill on your resume indicates that you are optimistic and a team player.

82. Negative Reinforcement

An interpersonal skill for leadership and executive roles. It allows you to keep your team on the right track.

83. Negotiating

Stellar negotiation skills are a great advantage when it comes to interpersonal communication. It lets you create a win-win situation for all the parties involved.

84. Networking

Networking is a communication skill that is great to have for your own career growth as well as for your company’s progress.

85. Positive Reinforcement

This is a required skill for leadership and executive roles. It allows you to constantly improve your team.

86. Problem Sensitivity

The ability to sense the pain points and problems of your clients is a great skill, specifically in sales and marketing.

87. Psychology

Having a basic knowledge of psychology helps you to understand others better, and improves your interpersonal communication.

88. Rapport Building

Interpersonal communication is all about building lasting relationships. Rapport building is a must-have skill when you will be working directly with clients.

89. Reading Facial Expressions

A non-verbal communication skill that allows you to get the vibe of your audience and craft your message accordingly.

90. Respect

Every recruiter keeps an eye open to detect disrespectful behavior in potential employees.

91. Responsiveness

Responsiveness means that you are proactive and a team player. You are also able to take appropriate action quickly.

92. Social Skills

Social skills are great for networking events. Employees with stellar social skills can attract clients to their companies.

93. Strategic Thinking

A must-have skill for business development, planning, management, leadership, and executive roles.

94. Team Building

Teamwork is fine, but team building is even better. Team building is the ability of a leader.

95. Teamwork

Every employer wants a team player in their organization. The ability to selflessly work on a team is a trait that employers will be looking for.

96. Understanding Body Language

An often ignored, but very crucial part of interpersonal communications. A lot depends on reading and using body language signs.

97. Understanding Non-Verbal Cues

Reading non-verbal cues is essential for knowing how the other person is feeling and what you should say or do next.

98. Utilizing Non-Verbal Tools

Hand gestures, facial expressions, touch, and eye contact are important parts of interpersonal communication. Using them appropriately is an essential skill.

99. Versatility

Versatility means you are flexible, can communicate across mediums, and handle difficult situations with calmness and ease.

100. Visualizing

Be it with words or creative art forms, visualizing skills are often required for many jobs, i.e. customer experience manager and creative director.

(Check this article out for more hard and soft skills: Most Important Skills for a Resume .)

How to Add Communication Skills To Your Resume

How do you include your communication skills on your resume? Depending on the jobs you are targeting, you may need to list written, verbal, or interpersonal skills…or perhaps all three!

There are multiple ways you can put communication skills on your resume.

The first step is to take inventory of all of the communication skills that you possess. Use the list above to write down as many skills as you have.

Next, check the job description of the job that you are targeting. Look for any required or preferred skills the employer would like to see.

Compare the employer’s list to your list and any common skills will be the skills to add to your resume.

If your skills list falls a little short, double-check the job description for skills that may have been missed in your initial list. You can also research common skills for the role you are applying to.

The key is to list the communication skills on your resume that you possess, and  are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Resume Summary Section

Your resume summary, or professional summary, sits at the top of your resume and provides a summary of your highlights to your prospective employer.

It is only 4-6 sentences long, so you want to include your most impressive and relevant information.

Describe your skills using examples or experiences.

Here are some sample sentences from resume summaries that include communication skills:

Senior Marketing Leader with proven experience in driving the full scope of traditional, digital, social media, and content marketing for diverse organizations and Fortune 500 clients.

Cultivate team symmetry and drive adherence to industry best practices by effectively communicating with executives, teams, and stakeholders to ensure achievement of all financial goals.

Technical and business acumen with advanced knowledge of and experience with machine learning technologies, analytics solutions, and data warehouse tools.

Resume Skills Section

You can list your most relevant skills in the main “Skills”, “Core Competencies”, or “Area of Expertise” section of your resume.

This section of your resume quickly lists and highlights the skills you possess for the targetted job.

The main skills section of your resume is usually between your summary and your professional experience section.

List 12 -15 of the hard and soft skills you possess for the job. Use our list above to get started.

Professional Work Experience Section

You should also showcase the achievements that you have made possible using your verbal communication skills wherever suitable on your resume, i.e. in the previous job details, voluntary or extracurricular work.

In this section, you will write about any hard communication skills you have as well as soft skills.

Take a look at some example sentences from professional experience sections that include communication skills:

Recognized for consistently exceeding individual quotas by overcoming client objections, making appropriate product recommendations, and diffusing escalated client issues.

Mentored and coached resources in adopting Agile behaviors and principals, including 200 scrum masters, product owners, business owners, development teams and HR teams.

Drafted and edited legal documentation, including pleadings, appellate briefs, summonses, subpoenas, complaints, discovery and court filings, as well as transcribing dictation and drafting legal correspondence.

Consistently created viral content across several social media platforms in addition to playing a lead role within a team tasked with developing a $5MM financial presentation/analysis.

Educate providers on product portfolios, addressing their questions and concerns to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Sample Resume With Communication Skills

We’ve provided samples of adding good communication skills to your resume.

How does this look put together on one resume?

The communication skills used in this sample resume are underlined to show how these skills are used throughout a resume.

How your resume will look will depend on your own communication skills and what skills are required for the job you are applying for. Every job is different and every resume will be too.

Key Takeaways

The most important lessons from the article are worth repeating: 

• Having effective communication skills is a must in today’s world of business.
• Communication skills to include on your resume are skills related to verbal, non-verbal, interpersonal, and written communication.
• You must include only relevant communication skills on your resume to be seen as the perfect fit for your desired job.
• You can highlight your communication skills in various sections of your resume.
• Back up your skills with examples and achievements in your resume.

Follow these guidelines to list communication skills on your resume and rest assured that you will get noticed.

Of course, an effective resume is more than great communication skills on a mediocre resume. Your entire resume needs to shine!

If you’d rather have a professional take care of all of this for you, no problem! Professional resume writers create successful resumes with effective communication skills for clients every day. Check out how Find My Profession  can help you!

Recommended Career Advice For You

7 Conflict Resolution Interview Questions [+Sample Answers]

Briefcase Coach Review [Cost + Customer Reviews]

Best Resume Writing Services in Virginia Beach 2024

How Should you Show That you Have Communication Skills on Your Resume?

Here are the top ways to show your Communication skills on your resume. Find out relevant Communication keywords and phrases and build your resume today.

Is your resume ATS-friendly?

Drop your resume here or upload a file to find out if the skills in your resume are readable by an ATS.

In This Guide:

What are communication skills, why are communication skills important on your resume, what skills, activities, and accomplishments help you highlight your communication skills, communication skills: key takeaways for your resume.

Did you know that around 85% of employees and executives believe that the lack of effective collaboration and communication is the main reason for workplace failures? Or that employees who communicate effectively could increase their productivity by 25%?

Effective communication is all about having your ideas and understandings heard and doing the same in return. That, plus the ability to convince people to act upon your ideas.

Having communication skills means that you are not just exchanging information with a partner, but rather understand the emotions and intentions behind everything you hear.

Yes, this sounds intrinsic, but it actually requires a lot of situational awareness and emotional intelligence. Being an effective and respectful communicator would save you the trouble of dealing with misunderstandings and frustration.

The reason why employees are after candidates who stand out as good communicators is that effective communication is directly related to business performance.

Just imagine having a team of impatient employees who are not able to listen and negotiate well, lack a sense of humor and cannot express their ideas and position with confidence.

Well, this is the ideal recipe for project failure. Usually, business tasks require the participation of more than one person. No matter how easy or complex such a task is, the successful implementation depends on the communication skills of the responsible team.

So, employees who have communication skills are not only preferred by the managers of a company. They are the preferred colleagues, mentors, and points of contact by clients.

It’s not enough to mention that you are an attentive listener, confident speaker, or team player. Instead, to showcase your communication skills, focus on highlighting specific situations where your excellent communication has played a crucial role.

Saying the right thing at the right time can really make the difference and turn the tide in your favor. Here are some examples of skills and personal qualities that would demonstrate that you are adept at having productive and meaningful conversations.

• Positive attitude & Confidence: being able to dominate a conversation does not mean that you have to be pushy and impatient. Instead, to reach your end goal, you can rely on your charisma, confidence, and friendly attitude.
• Focus & Control of emotions: staying present in the moment of the conversations and focused on your and your partner’s objectives is essential. In addition, you should be able to stay calm even if things don’t seem to go your way.
• Non-verbal communication & Body language: while in a conversation, you can improve the way you express your ideas and goals by relying on body language. This helps the other party connect with you better and understand your viewpoints.

How to demonstrate communication skills on your resume:

• Explain how your friendly and positive attitude has boosted the levels of teamwork and has helped increase organizational productivity.
• Give examples of times when you have sought feedback from your superiors and have given constructive feedback to colleagues and interns.
• Mention some occasions when you have kept an open mind during a brainstorming session, which resulted in a better group discussion.
• Explain how your negotiations skills and empathy have helped you reach a specific goal in your workplace.
• Mention some achievements connected to collaborating with colleagues from other departments and new employees.

As much as we might think that communication skills are a natural human trait, they are not. And that is why it is important to convince your future employer that you actually possess what it takes to work in a team or to be in charge of a team.

This can be done by taking this big and vague notion of “communication skills” and breaking it down into smaller and more specific abilities and situational examples.

If you need some inspiration, take a look at the following snippets from Enhancv users who found a way to demonstrate their effective communication skills.

Just make sure that you take the time to consider what it personally means to you to be a good communicator. From then on, the examples will follow intrinsically.

Example 1: Demonstrate communication skills in the experience section

Job situation: Junior Project Manager applies for the position of a Marketing Specialist

• • Collaborated with a team of 10 fellow Junior Project Managers and 5 Senior Managers.
• • Received a small promotion within six months due to positive feedback from the business clients that I was in communication with.
• • Was in charge of managing the relations with 40 business clients, understand their needs and translate that to deliverables for the marketing team.
• • Delivered monthly presentations in front of the Senior Management team to report on progress.

These examples demonstrate that the candidate for the position of Marketing Specialist is a very emotionally intelligent and confident person.

He/she is clearly not afraid to take a lead on some projects but is also open to receiving feedback.

The fact that the candidate mentions being in charge of leading the communication with clients speaks that he/she is well able to have up-to-the-point conversations while keeping an upbeat attitude.

Being the bridge between external and internal stakeholders, meaning clients and the team, the Junior Project Manager appears as a good listener and negotiator.

Example 2: Demonstrate communication skills in the resume summary section

Job situation: Financial Analyst applies for the position of Junior Portfolio Manager

This resume example communicates determination, hard work, and resourcefulness. The fact that the applicant has been working in a small startup team highlights that he/she has successfully gone through a lot of communication and organizational challenges.

Example 3: Show your communication skills in your achievements sections

Job situation - PR Specialist applies for the position of Head of Communication

Make sure you build yourself an image of a professional communicator. Not only one that communicates effectively in the office but one that is confident to speak under the spotlight and in front of big crowds.

Example 4: Demonstrate the skill through other sections of your resume

Effective communication is something that one learns through experiences. So, include in your resume examples of hobbies and group activities. Topple that with organizations that you have been part of as well as volunteering initiatives.

If you are the kind of a public speaking person, mention some of the occasions that you have presented in front of an audience.

Last, but not least, you can include any relevant courses and certifications that you have completed. For example, a soft skills training course or a negotiations class.

It’s all about the soft skills: show that you are empathetic, understanding, and open-minded, build an impression of a person that is pleasant to talk to. Don’t forget to stress how important feedback is to you and that you proactively seek it.

Balance out between confidence and compromise: effective communication requires that parties compromise, so you should demonstrate your readiness to step back if needed. On the other side, show that you are also confident in yourself and pursue your goals.

• Resume Skills

How to Decline an Interview: With Tips and Templates to Help You Succeed

Church volunteer experience on resume, everything about reference letters – writing or requesting, what is a resume builder, how to include your relevant coursework on a resume, from one path to another: creating a compelling linkedin headline for career changers.

Find out how you have showcased your skills & optimize your resume

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Examples
• Resume Templates
• AI Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Simple Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Guides
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Career Planning
• Skills Development

Important Communication Skills for Resumes & Cover Letters

What Are Communication Skills?

Types of communication skills, written communication, verbal communication, nonverbal communication.

• Reconciliation / Conflict Management

Communication Mediums

More communication skills.

Regardless of the job you're applying for, employers will expect you to have excellent written and verbal communication skills . Depending on the position, you will need to be able to communicate effectively with employees, managers, and customers in person, online, in writing, and on the phone.

As with any other skill set, your communication abilities are demonstrated by your professional employment history. In your application materials and your interview, you can draw attention to how your prior experiences exemplify your communication skills.

Some jobs require different skills than others, so review the job posting to see what the employer is seeking in applicants.

Then take the time to  match your credentials to the job requirements , so you can show the employer you're a strong match for the job.

It may seem simple enough to say, “I know how to communicate.” However, those with little experience communicating with people from different walks of life don’t realize how complicated communication can be.

How many times have you ever said or written something to someone that they took the wrong way? This happens in the workplace all the time. The best employers need leaders that can exercise care in their ability to listen and respond to customers and fellow employees.

Employers look for applicants with superior written and verbal communication skills for almost every job they hire for.

Writing well is a major component of your professionalism. Many talented people often do not write well. Poor writing not only makes an exchange of ideas and information less efficient, but it also makes you look unintelligent. Learning to write well has an important side effect; because clear, readable text is also well-organized, straightforward, and concise, learning to write also teaches you to speak and to think better.

• Advertising 
• Business Storytelling
• Content Management
• Content Strategy
• Correspondence
• Microsoft Office
• Speech Writing
• Technical Writing  

Verbal (also called “oral”) communication skills  are essential for those with jobs in a traditional workplace and for employees whose tasks include extensive use of telephones. While verbal communication skills are probably most important for those in sales, customer service, and public relations, anyone who has to interact face-to-face with supervisors and colleagues needs to be able to express themselves clearly and succinctly.

• Articulating
• Multilingual
• Negotiation
• Presentation
• Public Speaking
• Telephone Etiquette

Nonverbal communication  includes vocal tone, eye contact patterns, body language, and more. Nonverbal communication often carries more weight than verbal communication and has a much greater impact on rapport and trust. Learn the nonverbal signals you need to present yourself well. And if you have non-standard body language (for example, if you are on the autism spectrum or have a physical disability), you will have to find ways to avoid or correct misunderstanding.

• Life Skills
• Active Listening
• Quick Thinking
• Visualization
• Problem Sensitivity
• Emotional Intelligence

Reconciliation and Conflict Management

Simple friendliness, politeness, and respect go a long way to create rapport and improve communication. Part of conflict management is simply being kind and considerate with everyone so that they can model your behavior. Say “please,” “thank you,” and “I’m sorry” as needed. Remember to ask people how they’re doing and listen to their answer. As the workplace becomes more diverse, conflict management is a communication skill increasingly sought after.

• Collaboration
• Friendliness
• Interpersonal
• Open-Mindedness
• Social Skills
• Team Building

Communication can be in person, “snail-mail,” email, telephone, through text message, or video. Each medium has its advantages and disadvantages, and each adds something different to the message you are trying to convey. Some messages are better suited to particular media than others. For instance, most people prefer to have bad news delivered in person. But people also vary widely in how they respond to different media.

For example, people who lack confidence in their written communication prefer talking on the phone. Others prefer the slower, more thoughtful pace of email and prefer to avoid phones.

You have your own preferences, but part of communicating well is being able to identify the preferred medium of the  other  person for any given situation.

Communicating well is one of those abilities that is often overlooked, and yet those who have it are at a substantial advantage to those who are not. Fortunately, many communication skills can be learned.

• Creative Thinking
• Imagination
• Logical Thinking
• Social Media
• Information and Communications Technology
• Mobile Devices
• Brainstorming
• Versatility
• Encouragement
• Positive Reinforcement
• Negative Reinforcement
• Human Resources
• Interviewing
• Integration
• Project Management
• Paraphrasing
• Approachability
• Lie Detection

How to Make Your Skills Stand Out

Add Relevant Skills to Your Resume: As you scan the job posting, highlight the specific qualifications and skills mentioned and be sure to incorporate those keyword phrases into your resume.

Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter: Take the time to write a quality cover letter that focuses on your most relevant skills for the job.

Use Skill Words in Your Job Interview: Are you comfortable talking with people in different settings? If you know this is not your strong point, be sure to prepare for the interview in advance.

Watch Now: 6 Soft Skills Every Employer Wants

Related: Best Resume Writing Services

Communication Skills for a Resume: Examples & Definition

Let’s talk communication skills: Find out how to talk to people and connect with them. Become a people person with this set of effective communication skills.

Effective communication is not just talk. It’s the eye contact we make when speaking and listening, and the body language we use to express our emotions. It all seems like a simple concept, but…

Not everybody has the right communication skills to deal with all kinds of people from all walks of life. Find out what are the most effective communication skills and learn how to develop them to become more successful in the workplace.

In this article: 

• What are communication skills and how to improve them.
• How to put communication skills on a resume.
• Definition and examples of effective communication skills.

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder with 20+ resume templates and create your resume now.

Create your resume now

What users say about ResumeLab:

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.” Patrick I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan  My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George

Want to learn more about other types of skills and how to include them in your next job application? Make sure to take a look at these articles as well:

• Computer Skills
• Technical Skills
• Marketing Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Conflict Resolution Skills
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Conceptual Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Creative Thinking Skills

Communication Skills Resume Example 

Carolyn Quinn

Fashion Sales Associate

1382 Sardis St

Fort Worth, TX 76118

978-879-8003

[email protected]

Self-motivated and open-minded fashion sales associate with 4+ years of professional experience selling women's designer handbags, clothes, shoes, and jewelry while providing exemplary customer service and building strong clientele relationships. Rated #1 "Sales Associate of the Month" for exceeding sales goal by 63%. 

Sales Associate

Boutiquette, Fort Worth, TX

June 2019–Aug 2021

• Responsible for entire stock of apparel, also for transferring apparel from stockroom onto sales floor for consumer purchase.
• Communicated with customers and implemented strong work ethic by facilitating their needs.
• Reduced inventory by 23% through category management, stock balancing, creative merchandising ideas and developing purchasing partnerships with outside agencies.
• Achieved company goal of 100% customer satisfaction.

Evoluxury, Fort Worth, TX

Feb 2017–June 2019

• Provided great customer service to ensure top experience for customers.
• Responsible for handling cash, credit card, and gift cards transactions.
• Recognized as Employee of the Month, October 2017.
• Contributed to a 45% increase is sales over the year 2018.

A.A. Humanities

Tarrant Country College

• Retail software
• POS and Payment Processing
• Product knowledge
• Active listening
• Friendliness
• Goal orientation
• Italian—advanced

Certifications

• CPSA Certified Sales Associate (CSA)

1. Communication Skills—Definition

Communication is key to any successful business initiative. In fact, it’s the foundation of human society .

We all interact with other people every day. Both verbally and nonverbally. Eye contact, body language, facial expressions, gestures, and posture are all nonverbal aspects of communication, and they all contribute to the perception of your competence, trustworthiness, and character. 

We often don't realize the huge impact that communication has on our lives. The way we treat other people and the relationships we establish with them shape many elements of our reality. 

Communication skills encompass the ability to convey information using verbal, and non-verbal channels. These skills enable you to articulate ideas, share knowledge, and foster mutual understanding. Effective communication involves active listening, empathy, and adapting messages to the situation.

Communication skills are needed in the workplace in order to interact with employers, co-workers, clients, and all other people involved in the business. A communicative person is able to effectively state their opinion, present their point of view and defend their ideas while keeping the dialogue diplomatic and respectful.

It’s important to include communication skills on a resume, as employers want to know that you can speak, write, persuade and negotiate like a pro.

So what skills should you include on your resume ?

2. Effective Communication Skills—Examples

Until recently, the most important thing hiring managers were looking for in a new employee were their hard skills—measurable abilities that could be easily proven. 

However, nowadays more and more employers are actually seeking candidates with a strong set of soft skills, which cannot be easily learned, but can make an employee more adaptable and flexible. 

Knowledge of software programs, foreign languages, and other technical areas is of course very important, but what if a candidate doesn’t know how to communicate clearly and has a hard time working with a team? 

A lack of soft skills can limit their potential and be the back burner for their overall growth and progress…

In order to land more job interviews, make sure to include several communication skills on your resume to show your ability to talk with and actively listen to patrons and coworkers.

Here’s a list of the most important communication skills in the workplace:

1. Active Listening

It might seem that listening is a passive activity, when in fact it’s the opposite. Active listening is a valuable technique of concentrating and observing nonverbal cues. It requires the listener to thoroughly absorb, understand, respond, and retain what's being said. Active listeners are involved in the communication process and constantly engage with the speaker.

Empathy is the ability to see a situation through the eyes of another person. It means that you understand what someone else is feeling and why they’ve acted in a particular way because you see meaning in it. Once you've done that, you can communicate your ideas to others in a way that is meaningful to them, and you begin to understand others when they speak to you.

3. Authenticity

Strong communication should always be authentic, which means that you say what you feel and mean what you say. Being phony during a conversation can cost you trust points when talking to employees and customers. Of course, you can still adapt a little— for example, you should avoid colloquial language in a conversation with a supervisor or boss.

4. Clear Articulation

When speaking, pay attention to clear articulation. Always make sure to be as brief as possible and clearly formulate your thoughts. Typical examples of poor articulation are using sounds like “uh” or “er”. You should also avoid filler words such as “like” and “y’know”. Mumbling, talking quickly or too slowly, or even in the wrong pitch, prevent open and successful communication. 

5. Positive Body Language

An upright, strong posture opens the airways and ensures proper breathing, which allows all of your organs and tissues to function properly and makes your enunciation easier to interpret. Eye contact and a smile also reflect a confident demeanor to others. Over-formal attitudes and body language that do not suit you or the situation may cause discomfort among the people you’re talking to.

6. Confidence

Be confident in what you say and in your communicative interactions with others. Being confident can be as simple as maintaining eye contact, a relaxed body position, and speaking concisely. Try not to ask many questions and avoid sounding aggressive or demeaning.

Respecting and acknowledging what others have to say is an important aspect of communication. Being respectful can be as easy as paying attention to what others have to say, using the person's name, and not being distracting. If you show respect to other people, they will feel appreciated, which will lead to a more honest and productive conversation.

8. Using the right media

There are many forms of communication and choosing the right one is important. For example, communicating in person on serious matters (layoffs, salary changes, etc.) is more appropriate than sending an email about it.

9. Open-mindedness

In situations where you don't agree with what someone else has to say, whether it's an employer, colleague or friend, it's important to sympathize with their point of view rather than just trying to get your point across. Respect the opinions of others and never resort to belittling those who disagree with you.

10. Writing

Writing is a fundamental mode of communication, enabling you to convey ideas, information, and messages clearly and accurately. It's essential for internal and external communication with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

3. How to Include Communication Skills on Your Resume

When deciding what to include in your resume , make sure to also write a killer skills section that will grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Here are some tips on how to write a resume so it’s packed with communication skills and proves you’re a competent candidate for the job:

1. Begin with a Resume Profile

Your resume profile is a mini-presentation of you and your experience that’s supposed to include a summary of your experience, skills, and qualifications for a job. 

Make sure to throw in one or two communication or interpersonal skills that will have your resume outperforming resumes from even the most experienced candidates.

Check out this example resume summary for reference:

Communication Skills in a Resume Summary  

As you can see, this person included two communication skills in their resume summary. 

While open-mindedness is one of the most important communication skills, which we mentioned earlier, “building strong clientele relationships” isn’t one per se. Though it does imply that the candidate can effectively communicate with customers and ensure their satisfaction.

2. Write a Strong Work History Section

Your resume’s work experience section is the most important part of your application. 

It should include information on your previous employment with details such as: name of company, city, time of employment, your responsibilities and most notable achievements (with numbers, if possible).

A pretty easy concept to grasp, isn’t it? But simply listing your experiences is not enough. You should always remember to target your resume for a specific job opening.

Before you start preparing your entries, read the job offer carefully by scanning the requirements. You will find out what skills are required for a given position. 

If in the job advertisement you find competences that you have or that intersect with yours, add them to your job description section and make sure to use similar vocabulary to that in the job offer.

Here’s an example job description section that gives off strong communication vibes:

Resume Job Description With Effective Communication Skills

This person clearly has a knack for helping customers through the use of effective communication skills!

3. Use Your Education Section To Show Off Your Communication Skills

Believe it or not, but you can use the education section on your resume to highlight your communicating abilities. 

Especially if you’re writing a resume with no experience , you can really go crazy with it.  Like this:

Communication Skills in a Resume Education Section

BA in English

University of Illinois

• Extracurricular activities:  captain of the Spanish club (2016-2018), student council vice president in 2016

4. Shape Up the Skills Section on Your Resume

From the recruiter's point of view, the most important part of every resume is the work experience section. However, your skills section is the second most important thing. 

And that’s still pretty important. So don’t just list random skills in your resume’s skills section. There is a way to do it right.

Here are some tips on which  skills to put on a resume :

• Make sure your skills section is visible. 
• Always try to match the skills that you list with the job offer. Thanks to this, the employer will immediately see that you are the perfect candidate, and that you’re not sending a generic resume to every employer. 
• Be as specific as possible. Use numbers, percentages etc. 
• You can display your skill level using words or ratings / stars. 

Here’s an example resume:

Good Communication Skills: Resume Skills Section

5. include additional sections.

Adding extra resume sections is a good way to show that you are an extraordinary candidate that is motivated and dedicated to personal development. Include anything from certifications, foreign languages, and other extra activities on your resume that will showcase that you are a great communicator.

Here are some inspirations:

• Foreign languages
• Associations
• Conferences
• Volunteer work

Take a look at this example:

Communication Skills in the Resume Extra Sections

Expert Hint: Make sure to include a cover letter with your job application. Writing a cover letter will additionally prove your written communication skills and focus to detail.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now .

4. How to Improve Communication Skills

The ability to communicate effectively is perhaps one of the most important skills to success in any career . Effective communication allows us to share information with other people and understand what we have been told. 

Developing communication skills can help you in all aspects of life, from work life to socializing and everything in between. So, what actions to take in your every day life in order to improve your communication skills?

1. Listen More

A communicative person is able to establish and maintain a dialogue. It’s not possible to communicate effectively without allowing the other person to speak. Active listening is especially important in business relationships. 

2. Ask For Feedback

Knowing your weaknesses is the first step to self-development. So don’t be afraid to ask your superiors, or even your colleagues, to listen to a recording of your phone conversation with a client and evaluate it.

3. Learn From Your Communication Experiences

Analyze specific situations that you’ve been in and list what you think you did well and which areas need improvement. You can use that information to develop your strengths and eliminate any imperfections.

4. Maintain Eye Contact 

Keeping eye contact with the person you are talking to shows that you are listening and that you’re involved in the conversation. Making eye contact naturally and effortlessly takes time and a lot of practice, so exercise your eye muscles if you have trouble maintaining eye contact for a longer period of time.

5. Control Your Emotions

In order to communicate effectively with other people, you must learn to manage, for example, stress or anger. Strong negative emotions can trigger a completely different range of thoughts and may affect your communication process.

6. Use Proper Grammar

A communicative person can choose the right words and say them in the right context. To express yourself more correctly, you can, for example, read more books and expand your vocabulary.

7. Know When to Use Informal Language

When talking to your superiors, or someone you don't know, use a more formal language. Informal speech may be used when talking to people you know better, as it often involves using acronyms, nicknames, jargon, dialect, or slang. 

8. Ask Questions

Questions can be very helpful in understanding someone else’s intentions. They also show our commitment to the conversation, so if something is unclear to you during a conversation— don’t be afraid to ask questions.

9. Focus On Nonverbal Communication

Effective communication is not only the ability to work with words. It’s also a strong ability to use nonverbal communication, that is: body language, facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact. 

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

The ability to communicate is one of the most important interpersonal skills, both in our private and professional lives. Exchanging opinions, knowledge and information, presenting, selling, negotiating, persuading, or reaching an agreement are just some things that we need strong communication skills for. Make sure to highlight them in your resume in order to stand out from the crowd and show that you’re a master communicator.

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Aleksandra is a career expert with a solid professional background in various industries. At ResumeLab, she shares her knowledge, insights and expertise with all applicants looking to make a career move with a perfect resume and cover letter that guarantee recognition and success.

Was it interesting? Here are similar articles

Public Relations Resume: Free Template & 25+ Examples

A public relations resume example that lands interviews. Make your PR resume quickly. Learn from samples and expert tips. See good vs. bad examples.

Maciej Duszynski, CPRW

Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Apple Cover Letter (for Store)—Example & Templates

You know your iProducts inside out and you’ve got the Genius that qualifies you for the job. Create a perfect Apple cover letter that proves just that.

Aleksandra Makal

Career Expert

Recruiter Cover Letter Sample & Full Writing Guide

You specialize in recruiting others, so show you know how to get recruited yourself. The best way to do so is by writing a jaw-dropping recruiter cover letter. Learn how with us.

Mariusz Wawrzyniak

Press Enter to search

Communication Skills on Resume: What Do Recruiters Look For?

Need to demonstrate communication skills to land a job? Copy these examples and follow these practical tips for showing those skills on your resume.

3 years ago   •   8 min read

"This role requires excellent written and verbal communication skills."

If this line looks familiar, that’s because it’s on nearly every job description. It’s kind of a no-brainer — nearly every job requires some form of communication, so employers want to see evidence of those skills on your resume.

The question is, how do you convince a hiring manager you have what it takes based on your resume alone? How do you show you have great communication skills without simply stating that you’re “great at communication.”

In this article, we’ll discuss how to show your strong communication skills through detailed examples, the best competitive communication skills to highlight on your resume, and what recruiters are really looking for when they ask for good communication.

Why is communication so important

Communication is a hidden skill — you use it all the time, but rarely notice it. In some jobs, the need for clear communication is obvious, like if the position involves a lot of writing or public speaking . In others, it’s more subtle, but things like taking direction, working with clients, and conflict resolution are all clear forms of workplace communication. Every position, no matter the field, can benefit from good communication, hence why it’s a must-have for your resume.

How to demonstrate communication skills on your resume

Here are the top tips for listing communication skills on your resume:

• Remove vague words like “communication skills”, and instead, list detailed, specific examples of times you’ve communicated well.
• Review the job description to identify the kinds of communication skills the job is looking for, such as presenting, influencing, managing, and written communication, and detail your experience with these particular skills.
• Use strong action verbs and quantified results to create memorable statements. For example, instead of writing “Responsible for communication,” state that you “orchestrated a communication strategy that increased team efficiency by 30%.”
• Use bullet points to make your points easy to scan.
• Highlight relevant hard skills like languages that show your ability to communicate well.

Now, let’s dive into what skills recruiters are really looking for when they ask for “good communication” and the best examples of communication skills to include on your resume.

What recruiters mean by “good communication skills”

When recruiters ask for candidates with good communication skills, they’re not just looking for people who know how to chat around the office. They’re looking for candidates who can effectively communicate with colleagues and clients, discuss performance, resolve conflicts, and have experience communicating in their particular professional setting - be it a team environment, a remote workplace, social media, or delivering presentations.

The best way to determine what type of communication each particular role requires is to look at the job description. Here is a list of commonly sought-after communication skills you’ll likely see listed in a variety of job postings:

• Speaking and listening
• Negotiating
• Teamwork and relationship building
• Sales and pitching
• Business writing
• Social media
• Visual communication
• Marketing copy
• Giving and accepting feedback

If you’re looking to get more specific, check out our list of skills and keywords , broken down by your industry and job title.

Where to list communication skills on your resume

Communication is a soft skill, which means the do’s and don’ts of listing it on your resume are simple:

• Don’t list communication in your skills section or write that you have “excellent communication skills.” When it comes to communication, you need to show, not tell!
• Do describe accomplishments that involve good communication throughout your resume, in your work experience, resume summary, and education section.
• Do mention hard skills related to communication in your skills section, such as language proficiency and digital tools like Slack or Teams.
• Do use your resume itself as an example of good communication. This means proper grammar, no spelling mistakes, and good punctuation.

How to describe communication on your resume

The first step in highlighting good communication skills is to avoid repeating the same word or phrase over and over. When building your bullet points, try these action verbs instead:

• Interpreted
• Corresponded

Top communication skills to put on your resume - with examples

Here are the top communication skills to list on your resume that are relevant to almost all industries, with examples of how to showcase these skills through quantified bullet points.

Conflict resolution

Whether you're negotiating million-dollar contracts or resolving customer complaints, conflict resolution is a critical skill in any workplace. It involves handling disputes effectively, mediating between parties, and arriving at mutually beneficial solutions. On your resume, illustrate these skills by explaining an issue, how you resolved it, and what benefits your company gained. For example:

• Supported management with handling and resolving human resources issues, decreasing employee complaints by 70%.
• Resolve customer disputes and enhanced customer satisfaction ratings by 25%.

Digital tools and social media expertise

In today's digital environment, proficiency in modern communication tools like Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams is essential, while social media expertise is increasingly in demand for marketing and customer-facing roles. Demonstrating your ability to effectively use these tools can set you apart in a competitive job market.

Describe your skills by detailing what particular tools you’re proficient with, and include results-based data, such as social media campaigns you’ve run or the number of teams you've collaborated with on Slack. For example:

• Efficiently managed team projects and communications across global time zones using Slack and Zoom, leading to a 40% increase in project delivery efficiency.
• Directed 10+ social media campaigns for RSP clients on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Leading meetings and team collaboration

Discussing leading meetings and team projects highlights your ability to convey ideas, engage with audiences, and facilitate group interaction. These skills reflect not only good communication but also leadership and management skills. To show this, describe an accomplishment demonstrating your ability to manage personnel, host meetings, or coordinate reports and other correspondence. For example:

• Managed international stakeholders in India, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong by hosting daily standups and coordinating weekly status reports.

Verbal and written communication skills

Highlight both your verbal and written communication skills by mentioning presentations, reports, emails, or projects. Include hard numbers — like the number of marketing emails you wrote, new leads generated, or major accounts you landed — to show the positive outcome of your involvement. For example:

• Wrote and produced 100+ client prospecting video emails, leading to 50+ leads and landing major accounts.

Delivering education and training

Training others is an invaluable skill that showcases leadership, communication, and conflict resolution. If you've led training, mentored new staff, or guided clients through a complicated process, highlight these accomplishments. For example:

• Directed and advised 10+ business partners through annual talent assessments, discussions, and proactively pipelining for future openings.

Communicating with clients

Building relationships with clients is another soft skill closely related to communication. Creating a positive atmosphere, maintaining client relationships, and reaching out to community partners are all valuable skills. Including metrics elevates your bullet points from subjective to objective. For example:

• Established and maintained positive internal and community relations through on-site recruitment and telecommunications, ensuring 93% community acceptance.

How to show communication skills in different sections of your resume

As mentioned above, you can showcase great communication skills throughout your resume, as well as in your cover letter, online profiles, and during any professional correspondence. Here is how to showcase different communication skills in various sections of your resume:

Under professional work experience

The work experience section of your resume is the best place to list communication skills. You don’t need to have worked in a communication-heavy role to do this — every job uses communication skills. Using the job description as a starting point, identify what kind of communication skills the position requires and address each one with a bullet point accomplishment.

Once you’ve done that, use the tool below to search for skills for the job you’re applying to. You also have the option of adding in your resume — the tool will quickly scan it and tell you which skills are missing and which you need to add.

Through education, projects, and activities

If you don’t have a lot of paid work experience, or you’re struggling to find examples of good communication, that’s okay. Personal or academic projects and extracurricular activities can be used to show excellent communication skills, especially if you’re a current student or recent graduate.Use action-focused bullet points for these, too, and include metrics wherever possible.

In your hard skills section

You shouldn’t list communication in the skills section of your resume, but you can list hard skills that demonstrate strong communication. Language proficiency , is a great skill to inclide here, as well as particualr digital communication tools, such as Slack, Zoom, Trello, or Microsoft Teams.

In your cover letter

Showing most soft skills on a resume is difficult because there’s no way for hiring managers to evaluate those skills for themselves. Communication is an exception to this rule — Your resume itself, and in particular your cover letter , is a direct example of your written communication skills. Make sure your application, and any other communications, are well-written, succinct, and error-free by always proofreading to catch any errors.

Common mistakes to avoid when showcasing communication skills

Here are some key pitfalls to watch out for when trying to showcase good communication skills on your resume:

• Overusing generic phrases : Avoid vague language and overused terms like "excellent communication skills" or "strong communicator." These phrases are too general and don't provide a clear picture of your actual abilities.
• Lacking specific examples : Failing to provide concrete examples where your communication skills made a positive impact is a common mistake. Employers want real-world examples that demonstrate your skills in action.
• Not tailoring your examples to the job : Not tailoring your communication skills to the specific job you're applying for can be a missed opportunity. Highlight aspects of your communication that align with the job description.
• Neglecting digital communication skills : In today's digital world, not showcasing your proficiency with modern communication tools like Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams can be a significant oversight.
• Overstating your abilities : Be honest about your level of proficiency. Overstating your skills can lead to challenges if you're unable to meet the expectations set by your resume.

Top-Tip: Create personal branding through good communication

One crucial aspect often overlooked when showcasing communication skills is the role these skills play in personal branding. Personal branding is about how you present yourself to potential employers and the unique mix of skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate. Think of it as your USP, or unique selling point.

When you describe your communication skills, think about how these skills have helped you achieve results and how they reflect your professional brand. For instance, if your selling point is that you’re an effective team leader, highlight instances where your communication skills facilitated team success or resolved conflicts. Or if your brand is about being innovative, highlight how your communication skills have been pivotal in driving change or adopting new technologies in your previous roles.

Ensuring that this theme, or “personal branding”, is reflected throughout your resume can transform a list of job duties into a compelling narrative, painting a picture of a dynamic and capable professional.

Find out how well you score on communication skills

The most important thing to remember when listing communication skills on your resume is show don’t tell . An easy way to check if you’ve actually shown hiring managers your strong communication skills is to upload your resume to the tool below. It’ll tell you if your resume has shown enough communication skills, as well as other soft skills like leadership or problem-solving skills.

Spread the word

Changing job titles on your resume: do’s and don’ts, listing freelance work on your resume: a 2024 guide, keep reading, how to show bilingualism on your resume (with examples), oops what to do if there’s a mistake on your resume, getting the basics right: resume line spacing, subscribe to our newsletter.

Stay updated with Resume Worded by signing up for our newsletter.

🎉 Awesome! Now check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription.

Please enter a valid email address

Oops! There was an error sending the email, please try later

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

10 Other Ways to Say “Good Communication Skills” on Your Resume (with Examples)

Are you looking for impactful ways to demonstrate your stellar communication abilities on your resume or CV, without simply listing “good communication skills” under your skills section?

As someone who has reviewed hundreds of resumes throughout my career as a hiring manager, I can tell you that explicitly stating “good communication skills” doesn’t do much to show me that you have them. But featuring concrete examples of how you’ve applied communication abilities in past roles? Now that catches my eye.

In this blog post, I’ll highlight 10 techniques you can use on your resume/CV to exhibit your verbal, written, interpersonal, and public speaking skills, without ever directly saying “good communication skills.” From highlighting presentations you’ve developed to showcasing rapport-building with colleagues, these examples will help hiring managers immediately recognize your knack for successful communication.

So if you’re ready to refresh your resume and demonstrate, not tell, about your standout communication talents, read on!

Is “Good Communication Skills” a Good CV/Resume Word?

At first glance, “good communication skills” may seem like a strong resume keyword to include. However, simply listing this generic term does little to showcase your abilities . Instead, it’s more impactful to demonstrate communication skills through concrete examples .

For team-oriented or customer-facing roles especially, use your resume to highlight instances of successful communication . For example, quantifying presentations delivered, meetings led, or rapport built with colleagues powerfully proves you can connect with audiences.

Remember, communication is less about buzzwords and more about displaying versatility. Showcase instances of adjusting your style for diverse settings or mediums. Use active verbs to compel rather than merely tell.

The bottom line? Don’t just say you have communication skills. Prove it through stand-out resume examples that emphasize you are a nuanced, adept communicator ready to engage audiences in any role.

As we go further in this article, we’ll explore more compelling “good communication skills” alternatives or synonyms to highlight your verbal, written, interpersonal, and public speaking talents. You’ll learn powerful verbs and specific instances that exhibit sophistication as a communicator.

We’ve provided actionable tips and tailored examples to help you showcase communication excellence. Avoid resume buzzwords and learn how to exhibit nuance, versatility, and resonance as a communicator.

What to Say Instead of “Good Communication Skills” on a Resume or CV

• Articulate and persuasive communicator
• Masterful storyteller and presenter
• Adaptable communicator, tailoring messages for diverse audiences
• Collaborative communicator, building strong relationships and fostering teamwork
• Active listener and constructive feedback provider
• Engaging public speaker and captivating storyteller
• Dynamic writer, crafting compelling content for various mediums
• Culturally aware communicator, navigating diverse audiences and contexts
• Confident presenter, delivering impactful messages with clarity and poise
• Strategic communicator, aligning messages with audience needs and goals

Key Takeaways:

• Show, don’t tell:  Instead of simply stating you have “good communication skills,” use action verbs and specific examples to demonstrate your abilities in different situations. Start your sentences with “I am a…” to personalize and actively showcase your communication prowess.
• Tailor your language:  Consider the specific role and industry you’re applying to when choosing synonyms and phrasing your examples. Highlight skills relevant to the position and avoid overly generic statements.
• Go beyond “communication skills”:  Emphasize specific aspects of communication you excel in, such as active listening, storytelling, cultural awareness, or content writing. This showcases your unique strengths and versatility.
• Focus on impact:  Don’t just describe your actions, quantify the results of your communication efforts. Mention increased engagement, achieved buy-in, or improved performance to demonstrate the value you bring.
• Be concise and confident:  While providing specific examples, keep your resume entries brief and impactful. Use strong verbs and positive language to project confidence in your communication abilities.

Enhance your resume with impactful synonyms for “good communication skills.” We’ll explore the best options and help you use them effectively to showcase your communication strengths and shine in interviews.

1. Articulate and persuasive communicator

Pros: Concise, highlights both verbal and written skills , emphasizes ability to convince others.

Cons: Might sound less impactful than “excellent,” which could be interpreted as mainly focused on persuasion.

Example: I am an “ Articulate and persuasive communicator with a proven ability to present complex ideas to diverse audiences and win buy-in for new initiatives.”

2. Masterful storyteller and presenter

Pros: Emphasizes ability to engage audiences, and showcases creative communication skills.

Cons: Might not be suitable for all roles, and could be perceived as overly dramatic for some contexts.

Example: I am a “ Masterful storyteller and presenter , skilled at weaving data, anecdotes, and visuals into compelling narratives that captivate audiences and drive action.”

3. Adaptable communicator, tailoring messages for diverse audiences

Pros: Highlights versatility and cultural sensitivity , valuable in today’s globalized workplaces.

Cons: Less concise than other options, might not be relevant for all roles.

Example: I am an “ Adaptable communicator, tailoring messages for diverse audiences , with experience crafting presentations for technical experts, executive boards, and the general public.”

4. Collaborative communicator, building strong relationships and fostering teamwork

Pros: Emphasizes interpersonal skills, valuable for team-based roles and leadership positions.

Cons: Might not be as relevant for roles focused on individual communication.

Example: “ Collaborative communicator, building strong relationships and fostering teamwork , adept at facilitating discussions, resolving conflicts, and achieving consensus among diverse groups.”

5. Active listener and constructive feedback provider

Pros: Highlights ability to listen effectively and provide helpful feedback, crucial for personal and professional growth.

Cons: Focuses on one specific aspect of communication, might not be the most impactful choice.

Example: I am an “ Active listener and constructive feedback provider , skilled at drawing out ideas from others, offering actionable feedback that leads to improved performance.”

6. Engaging public speaker and captivating storyteller

Pros: Similar to “Masterful storyteller,” but emphasizes public speaking skills specifically.

Cons: Might not be relevant for roles with limited public speaking requirements.

Example: I am an “ Engaging public speaker and captivating storyteller , with experience delivering presentations to audiences of all sizes, from small team meetings to industry conferences.”

7. Dynamic writer, crafting compelling content for various mediums

Pros: Highlights versatility in writing skills, important for content creation and marketing roles.

Cons: Might not be as relevant for roles with limited writing requirements.

Example: I am a “ Dynamic writer, crafting compelling content for various mediums , including blog posts, website copy, social media content, and email campaigns, with a proven track record of driving engagement and conversions .”

8. Culturally aware communicator, navigating diverse audiences and contexts

Pros: Similar to “ Adaptable communicator, ” but emphasizes cultural awareness specifically.

Cons: Might not be relevant for roles with limited interaction with diverse audiences.

Example: I am a “ Culturally aware communicator, navigating diverse audiences and contexts , with experience working effectively in multicultural teams and communicating across language and cultural barriers.”

9. Confident presenter, delivering impactful messages with clarity and poise

Pros: Highlights public speaking skills and ability to command attention.

Cons: Might sound less specific than other options, similar to “ Confident public presence .”

Example: I am a “ Confident presenter, delivering impactful messages with clarity and poise , comfortable speaking in front of large audiences and tailoring presentations to diverse needs.”

10. Strategic communicator, aligning messages with audience needs and goals

Pros: Emphasizes ability to tailor communication for specific objectives.

Cons: Might sound less approachable than other options, focusing more on strategy than personality.

Example: I am a “ Strategic communicator, aligning messages with audience needs and goals , with experience developing targeted communication plans that resonate with specific audiences and drive desired outcomes.”

Any Parting words?

Achieving communication excellence is about much more than just saying you have “good communication skills.” By now, you have a toolbox of compelling techniques to showcase your sophistication.

To recap, avoid resume buzzwords and generic claims. Opt for active verbs and tailored examples that bring your abilities to life. Highlight nuance by showcasing adjustments across diverse contexts. Emphasize achievements by strategically formatting key items.

Follow these tips, and your resume will reveal the depth of your communication talents . Hiring managers will immediately recognize your ability to connect with any audience, adjust your style, articulate complex information, and represent your organization powerfully.

So next time your resume needs updating, skip the nebulous claims. Showcase your communication skills strategically through the many avenues we’ve covered today. You’ll convey true excellence as a communicator while making your resume stand out.

The examples and alternatives provided equip you with everything needed to express your communication capabilities persuasively. Now it’s time to put these strategies into action as you present your most compelling resume yet.

Related Posts:

University of Notre Dame

Undergraduate Career Services

Meruelo Family Center For Career Development

Verbal/Written Communication

• Home ›
• Getting Started ›
• Career Ready Competencies ›

Verbal and written communication is the ability to articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written and non-verbal communication skills (to inform, instruct, and persuade), to multiple audiences, as well as to listen for meaning and understanding. 

Assessing Your Level of Competency

This is the time to really reflect on yourself and where you are at with this competency. Ask yourself the following questions to dive deep into your self-assessment:

• Can you identify and use the grammatical style guide that is most commonly used in your discipline or field?
• Do you know how to write x, y and z ? e.g. composing a persuasive essay?
• Do others seem to have to often ask you to repeat yourself or clarify your comments when speaking?
• Do others ask clarifying questions in your written communication, or are you clear and concise?
• Can you recognize when enough is enough when writing an email or communication rather than making it longer than necessary?  Being brief but specific!
• Do you feel comfortable speaking in front of others?
• Do you ensure your written communications are error free before submitting?
• The flip side of communicating is listening, do you truly listen when others are speaking?
• Do you take the time to think before you speak?

Building Your Level of Competency

Build on your level of this competency through the following:

• Work with tutors at the Writing Center to strengthen your writing skills.
• Ask faculty for feedback and tips on your writing.
• Proofread online and written communication to avoid errors, keeping your audience in mind.
• Attend a CUSE workshop on “Writing a Strong Grant Proposal."
• Look for opportunities to share your work at conferences and departmental events, e.g., poster presentations.
• Take a class that emphasizes speaking extemporaneously.
• Build digital communications skills, including PPT or similar program.
• Develop and deliver a presentation for a class.
• Check for understanding when speaking with others by asking clarifying questions.
• Conduct informational interviews .
• Develop a strong professional online presence on Handshake and LinkedIn.
• Create professional job search documents such as  resumes and cover letters.
• Join the campus Toastmasters group
• Modify your 30-second professional introduction (elevator pitch/self-introduction) for different audiences--types of employers, e.g. or to ask about joining faculty research.
• Attend networking events and employer information programs and talk to at least three new people at each event.
• Practice interviewing/speaking skills with Big Interview .

Communicate this Competency

Your communication skills will be on display throughout the application process--your cover letter, resume and follow-up notes as well as your interviewing skills are all ways you communicate with potential employers. That's why it's essential to develop your job search skills. Consider first any opportunities you have had to utilize these communication skills:

Then start with statements like the samples below to build upon:

Class Project:   Initiated collaborative relationship with local nonprofit to develop assessment of client needs

Internship :   Prepared and delivered presentation on lab results for Principal Investigator and graduate student researchers

Student organization :   Developed a social media campaign for the robotics club, increasing membership by 150%.

Service :  Taught conflict resolution skills to local middle and high school students using Take Ten curriculum.

Job:   Provided excellent customer service, assisting customers with locating items and recommending materials for projects.

Career Ready Competency Tracking Tool

Download the Career Ready Competency Tracking Tool    one time from the main Career Competencies webpage , and utilize one document to track the development of all your competencies.