Communicate your skills: 3 concrete recommendations

It's one thing to know your skills. It's something else entirely to formulate them so they capture the employer's attention. Here you get 3 concrete recommendations with before/after examples.

Many job seekers actually know what they can do. But when they write it down, it becomes vague and general. And then they lose the employer's interest.

The basic principle is simple: Companies hire people to solve concrete tasks. They're not just looking for a new colleague – they want someone who can create results.

When you understand that mindset, it becomes easier to write something that makes sense to them.

Recommendation 1: Remove the unclear and imprecise

Many job seekers express themselves too broadly. They write things that sound nice – but don't say anything concrete.

Example: Product development

Before (vague):
"I have worked for many years with product development."

The reader is left with questions: How many years? What products? What tasks?

After (precise):
"I have worked for 5 years with product development in dairy products for the food industry."

Now the employer knows exactly what you've done. With a few adjustments, it becomes clearer – and the company gets a much better basis for understanding your strengths.

Checklist for clarity

• Are there numbers missing? (years, quantity, percentage)
• Can the reader visualize what you've done?
• Would someone without knowledge of your industry understand it?

Recommendation 2: Support with examples

It's not enough to claim you're good at something. You need to show it with examples.

Example: Teaching

Before (empty claim):
"I really enjoy teaching and I'm often told I'm a skilled instructor."

The reader is left with the question: How do you teach? What makes you skilled?

After (with example):
"My students are happy because I engage them actively in an enthusiastic way during class."

Here the sentence is rewritten so the value (happy students) comes first. Then it's supported with a concrete example of what you do. It's convincing because it's specific.

How to find examples

• When have you been praised for this skill?
• What specific situation shows it in action?
• What was the result?

Recommendation 3: Use the space wisely

Your CV and application have limited space. Use it to write what captures attention – not what's obvious.

Example: CV profile text

Before (wasted space):
"My name is John Smith. I'm a cheerful 32-year-old with a good sense of humor. I have many years of experience in customer service and thrive in a busy workday."

There are several problems here:

• Name and age – already elsewhere in the CV
• Good sense of humor – that's expected by default
• Many years of experience – how many years? And what exactly?

After (valuable information):
"Over the past 7 years, I have worked with customer service via phone, chat, and email. I quickly identify customer needs and ask the right questions, so customers get precise answers and feel well taken care of."

Now it's clear:

• What John can do (customer service across multiple channels)
• How he does it (quickly, with the right questions)
• What value he creates (customer feels well taken care of)

It makes the company curious – and they want to meet him.

The common thread: Speak the company's language

All three recommendations have the same purpose: To help the employer see what you can do for them.

Companies think in terms of:

• What tasks need to be solved?
• Can this person solve them?
• What results can we expect?

When writing your application materials, keep those questions in mind. Review and ask yourself:

1. Have I removed what's unclear and imprecise?
2. Have I supported with examples?
3. Am I using the space for what's important?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using clichés – "results-oriented," "team player," "good at communication" without explanation
• Writing too long – stick to what's essential
• Repeating the same thing – vary your examples
• Forgetting the recipient – write for the employer, not for yourself
• Being too modest – if you created value, say it

Practical tips

• Read your CV/application aloud – does it sound natural?
• Ask others to read it – what do they understand?
• Ask yourself: Would I be curious about this candidate?
• Replace vague words with concrete numbers and examples
• Write the value first, then the elaboration
• Keep the profile text to 3-5 lines – short and sharp

Try it yourself

Take your current profile text or a section from your application. Go through it with the three recommendations:

1. Is there anything unclear or imprecise? Make it concrete.
2. Are there claims without examples? Add an example.
3. Is there anything obvious or unnecessary? Remove it.

Compare before and after. You'll see that the text becomes sharper, more convincing, and easier to read.

Frequently asked questions

Next step

Now you know how to formulate your skills effectively. But what about LinkedIn? Different rules apply there. In the next guide, you'll learn to showcase your skills on LinkedIn – without sounding desperate.