Core Competencies on a Resume: Definition + Examples
“Core competencies” is a fancy name for a resume skills section that targets the required abilities for a job. It’s a more formal or corporate way of listing the key skills the employer needs.
Core competencies refer to any combination of soft, hard or technical skills.
These should include the needs mentioned in the job post or ad. If the post has a “required” and “preferred” qualifications list, make your “core” abilities your greatest strengths from each category.
They should be listed in bullet points and not in sentence form.
Many companies use ATS software to scan the resumes that job candidates send them. A human being may not see your resume if your resume doesn’t pass an ATS scan!
That’s why your core competencies should reflect what’s listed in the job post.
Here’s a good core competencies example of how to copy the job post into your resume:
Core competencies:
Required Qualifications
High School diploma
Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word and PowerPoint
Experience supporting a senior/executive leadership team
Ability to balance multiple or competing priorities and initiatives and prioritize workload to meet deadlines
Strong organizational skills and diligence
Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
Customer service orientation and pleasant, professional demeanor
Capacity to maintain confidentiality
Must live within a commutable distance of the Arlington, VA office
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in Microsoft Teams
Demonstrate resourcefulness and time management skills (including proactive thinking such as looking ahead in calendars for conflicts and deadlines before the date arrives)
The key to nailing core competencies is to reflect the same terms the employer uses in the job post or description.
Here are 17 core competencies examples:
Leadership: Refers to your ability to assemble and guide a team.
Flexibility: Shows you’re willing and able to adapt to any situation or surprise.
Communication: Highlights your ability to convey information with coworkers, managers and clients.
Time management: Indicates your efficiency and ability to get work done on time.
Problem-solving: Refers to how you evaluate situations and find effective or creative solutions.
Teamwork: Suggests you work well with others and thrive in team settings.
Responsibility: Supports the idea that you complete every task and are trustworthy.
Motivation: Involves your ability to self-manage and inspire other people.
Focus: Refers to your level of attention and ability to avoid distractions.
Integrity: Hints that you do high-quality work and can be trusted with important tasks.
Attention to detail: Illustrates that you care about every part of a task and see it through to completion.
Career-focused: Shows that you care about your work and are passionate about developing further in your career.
Ambitious: Indicates that you want to prove yourself by doing incredible work.
Avid learner: Shows your ongoing commitment to improving yourself and your skills.
Results-driven: Signifies that you care about the impact of your work and improving business.
Collaborative spirit: Suggests that you contribute in meetings and have positive relations with coworkers.
Creativity: Implies that you have unique problem-solving skills or a knack for making inspired or visionary work.
How to write core competencies on a resume
Core competencies are basically just a list on your resume, so they’re straightforward to include.
Here are the three steps to writing a core competencies section on your resume:
Look at the job post or ad for keywords.Scan down the list of core competencies the employer has requested. Identify the ones that you possess. These are the competencies you want to include on your resume!
Decide on a title for your section.If “Core Competencies” is what’s cited in the job post, title your section just like that.Otherwise, it’s also acceptable to list these competencies in a section that’s titled “Skills” or “Summary of Qualifications.”
List the employer-needed competencies in bullet points.Again, employers use AI-driven software that scans resumes called applicant tracking systems or ATS.They search your resume looking for specific keywords and may not identify variations. Bullet points give your core competencies plenty of white space, making it easier for humans to read.
Writing a summary of qualifications is really that simple!
So, if you’re ready to get your document done now, check out our Resume Builder!
The builder automates the resume writing process into a series of prompts that take you through each section. When you’re writing the “Skills” section, the builder will even autosuggest phrases that you can plug into your document targeted to the job title for which you’re applying.
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About the Author
Eric Ciechanowski • CPRW, Career Advice Writer
Eric is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. He focuses on helping job seekers improve their professional resumes to highlight their unique skills and experience. Eric holds a B.A. double major in creative writing and philosophy from Tulane University and offers more than five years of specialized experience helping candidates navigate the complexities of today’s online job market, with a strong focus on resume optimization and effective self-presentation. He has had his work featured on LiveCareer’s resume builder and his career background includes fields as diverse as education, hospitality, journalism, copywriting, and tech.
