As a job applicant, the labor market is different than ever before. From the widespread implementation of remote work to the rise of artificial intelligence, the professional landscape is changing rapidly. So how can you stay competitive in a job market that’s constantly changing?
A great way to stay ahead of the curve is to understand the resume statistics and trends that are rising. Seeing as 16.3 million Americans were laid off during the pandemic, there’s high competition for employment. This means it’s more important than ever for you to be a competitive applicant. So what do employers want, and how can you highlight the best sides of yourself as a job applicant?
One interesting trend is the shift towards focusing on soft skills. Interestingly, 61% of employers believe soft skills are just as important as hard skills. Even though hard skills were what was generally thought to be more important for listing on a resume.
Soft skills are the “people skills” that people learn over the course of their lives. The most popular soft skills to list on a resume are:
- Communication (11%)
- Leadership (9%)
- Time management (8%)
However, that’s not to say that hard skills aren’t important as well. Hard skills are quantifiable abilities that are usually gained through education or training. The most popular hard skills to list on a resume are:
- Microsoft Office (12%)
- Project management (6%)
- Microsoft Excel (6%)
Understanding what employers want to see if one of the best ways to get yourself noticed as a candidate. In a world where nearly 3 in 4 large companies are using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen candidates, it’s not enough to just be a stellar applicant anymore — you need to understand how to tailor your application to meet their needs.
Must-know resume statistics
Want to know more about how you can stay ahead of the curve with resume statistics and trends in 2021? Check out the infographic courtesy of Resume-Now below to learn more.
This infographic was created by Resume-Now.