But qualifications aren’t the only thing employers are interested in. If you didn’t receive the grades you desired or were unable to take exams because of COVID-19, this may be a relief. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up on your studies or pursue any further education. Instead, think about how most companies are looking for employees with the ideal mix of education, abilities, and behaviors. And this means all three elements are important.
What are skills?
Your abilities to successfully complete tasks in a professional setting are referred to as skills. Usually, education, experience, or practice are the ways that people learn and develop their skills. Technical skills, also known as hard skills, are those that can be applied in a variety of professional settings and don’t require specialized training or education to acquire. Non-technical skills, also known as soft skills or transferrable skills, are those that can be applied in a variety of professional settings but don’t require specialized training or education to acquire. Examples of skills include:
Core competencies are skill sets made up of actions and knowledge that one uses in a professional setting to get things done. Some examples of core competencies include:
What are qualifications?
The prerequisites a candidate must meet in order to fulfill and succeed in a particular role are known as qualifications. Typically, gaining qualifications in your field or role requires a combination of experience, education, and training. Some qualifications may include:
Qualifications and skills in a job description
This sample job description will demonstrate how employers may list credentials and abilities when posting job openings:
In order to increase customer satisfaction, in-store advertising, and training for all sales floor team members, DolceMart is seeking to hire an assistant manager. We’re looking for someone with at least five years of retail experience; prior retail management and leadership experience is preferred. The ideal applicant should be enthusiastic about pursuing a career in the foodservice or retail sectors. They must have excellent customer service, communication and collaboration skills. Additionally necessary are strong organizational skills, flexibility, and a keen attention to detail.
Required qualifications:
Preferred qualifications:
Qualifications vs. skills
Here are some similarities and differences between qualifications and skills:
Technical and non-technical
Both non-technical skills and non-technical qualifications exist in addition to technical skills and qualifications. Hard skills, education, and experience with a direct connection to a particular role are known as technical skills and qualifications. For instance, a software engineer may require technical expertise, such as programming knowledge, as well as technical training, such as a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. You can acquire or earn non-technical skills and credentials in any role. For instance, a software engineer might also require three years of teamwork experience and communication skills.
Required and preferred
In addition to preferred skills and qualifications, employers may also have requirements. The bare minimum requirements for a role are the necessary abilities and credentials. Others are willing to train the right candidate if they meet the majority of the requirements and have a strong cultural fit with the organization, even though many employers may not consider candidates who don’t meet these requirements. An employer’s preferred qualifications and skills are those that a candidate should possess. Meeting these requirements may make you a standout candidate.
Skills as qualifications
For many roles, having particular skills is a requirement, but not all qualifications are skills. For instance, a hiring manager might insist that prospective retail associates have five years of retail experience and the capacity to operate a cash register. In this situation, operating a register is both a skill and a requirement, but having five years of experience is only a requirement.
Equivalent alternatives
Regardless of whether they mention it in the job description or not, some employers will accept equivalent qualifications for a position. For instance, a potential employer might think that a candidate with three years of experience in a boutique qualifies for a department store position. Alternatively, a company might accept a bachelor’s degree in exchange for two years of experience.
However, it might be more difficult to translate skills into equivalent alternatives. Skills like time management and project management aren’t quite the same, but some related skills, like communication and customer service, may be accepted as equivalents.
Importance to an employer
Depending on the requirements of the role, the industry, and the employer’s particular needs, an employer may place more value on your skills than your qualifications. For instance, if a candidate has little to no experience, an employer looking for an entry-level professional may place more value on their skills than their education. Other employers, though, who are looking for entry-level candidates in technical fields might demand pertinent or equivalent credentials, like volunteer work or internships.
Employers, however, might prioritize qualifications for leadership positions over general skills, such as relevant experience, prior leadership positions, and leadership-related core competencies.
Qualifications and skills on a resume
Here is an illustration of how to list credentials and abilities on a resume:
Experience
Retail associate, June 2017–Present
Carters Wholesale, Topeka, Kansas
EducationMay 2020 graduation from Eastern Kansas Community College’s business administration program in Topeka, Kansas
Accomplishments
March 2020: Employee of the Month; June 2019: Employee of the Month; October 2017: Employee of the Month
Skills
Qualifications and skills in a cover letter
Here is a succinct illustration of how to mention qualifications and abilities in a cover letter:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am confident that, as the store’s newest assistant manager and with my five years of retail experience, I can raise DolceMarts’ customer satisfaction levels through efficient product displays and top-notch team member training. I want to build a successful career in retail management with your store using my understanding of in-store advertising, leadership skills, and distinctive customer service philosophy.
In the four years I’ve worked at Carters Wholesale, my duties have expanded from simply stocking shelves to including staff training, creating product displays, and setting high standards for customer service. I won employee of the month three times for my efforts in designing displays for the back-to-school and holiday seasons as well as my commitment to providing excellent customer service. I also hold an associate’s degree in business administration, which allows me to use supply chain management procedures, leadership principles, and training methods in the store.
I’m prepared to advance in my career and develop into a leader with the help of the DolceMart team. Please review my resume; I’d appreciate learning more about working for your company in the future.
Hard Skills vs Soft Skills
FAQ
What are examples of qualifications?
- Specific degree or professional designation or certification.
- The number of years of experience.
- Proficiency with certain software programs.
- Specific industry knowledge.
- being able to perform specific tasks, like lifting, standing, or working in very hot or very cold temperatures
Are skills more important than qualifications?
Your resume’s skills section demonstrates to potential employers that you possess the skills needed to succeed in the position. Employers frequently pay close attention to this section to decide whether to advance you to the next stage of the hiring process.
What is considered a qualification?
67% of recruiters today emphasise skills and experience more than the background and educational qualifications of the potential candidates, finds new data Companies prioritize experience and skills over degrees, and eight out of ten of them offer internal upskilling programs for employees.
