Showcasing your communication skills: Best practices for resume success

Effective communication is essential to anyone applying for a job in today's market. Communication is important when working with others to show exemplary leadership.  

You can highlight your resume communication skills by telling employers about your speaking, listening, and writing abilities. In this guide, we offer tips on how to show your communication skills in your resume. This can help You get the job you want. 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
• FAQs 

What are communication skills? 

Good communication means sharing information and ideas with others clearly and effectively. This is important in the workplace. It helps you work better with your colleagues, bosses, and clients.  

You may wonder why communication skills are so important. When you're a good communicator, you can collaborate more easily. You can cooperate better and fix problems faster. 

Written and verbal communication are soft skills. You don't need technical knowledge or expertise to use them. You learn communication skills by interacting and building relationships. 

In our country, communication skills at work is more than just sharing information. It's about making friends and feeling what others feel. It's also about knowing the right way to act in a Filipino workplace. 

The respectful exchange of ideas in meetings and the art of communication is deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. 

Why should you include communication skills in your resume? 

Listing your strong communication skills on your resume helps bosses see what you're great at. When you list your communication skills, you show that you can talk to people, listen, and work well with them. These abilities are important for many jobs. 

Effective communication skills can set you apart from other job seekers. Employers like to hire people who can work well with others and talk to customers. A good communicator can show that they can work as part of a team and handle customer problems well. 

Your communication skills in a resume show you can deal with different things. They can also show your ability to solve problems and give confident presentations. Listing these skills helps bosses see you like to talk with others and would be great on their team. 

How to show communication skills in a resume? 

Giving examples of when you use your speaking and writing skills is essential. For instance, you could talk about a time when you gave a good presentation or worked well with others. This can show employers that you're good at verbal and written communication. Follow these tips to highlight your skills in communicating with others: 

Think about what you're good at 

Think of times when you talked to people with confidence. Or wrote something that other people commended. Reflect on what you did that made it a success. 

Choose the most important things 

Pick three to five communication skills that show you're good at speaking and writing. Look at the job posting to see what the employer wants. If they say they want someone who can talk to customers well, you can use verbal communication skills in your example. 

Explain why it matters 

When you write your resume, highlight your interpersonal communication skills. Explain why they're essential for the job. For example, if you want to work in customer service, you could mention that you're good at listening to people. You could also mention that you're good at solving problems. This shows that you have the abilities the employer is looking for. 

Tailor to the Philippines job market 

Highlight skills that align with the job you're applying for, whether it's in BPO, IT, education, or healthcare. Adapt your examples to reflect the communication scenarios common in these industries. 

Read: Resume Writing Tips - Open or Hidden Resume 

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 notable communication skills:

• Written communication in English and Filipino: Emphasize proficiency in both languages. Show that you can explain things in writing. You can do this by writing reports, emails, or presentations. This shows that you can communicate your ideas.
• Verbal Communication in English and Filipino: Show that you can talk about things with confidence in both languages. This is important for collaborating, giving presentations, and interacting with people.
• Interpersonal Communication (Pakikisama): Show that you can make friends. Relate to others and build good relationships. This shows that you can work well with others.
• Empathy: Show that you can put yourself in other people's shoes. This is important for understanding your co-workers, resolving problems, and communicating well.
• Presentations: Show that you can give effective presentations. This shows that you can organize information and explain it.
• Persuasion: Show that you can convince people to do things. This is important for jobs in sales that use negotiations or speeches.   

Communication skills resume phrases 

On your resume, describe how your effective communication skills helped you reach goals. Mention achievements, feedback, or other results. Show how you applied your professional communication skills. Keep in mind the following 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."
• "Utilized bilingual communication skills to bridge the gap between international clients and local teams, enhancing understanding and project outcomes." 

Negotiating or discussing business to show effective communication 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 

• "Worked with a team of people with different skills, communicated project goals, and ensured everyone did their part on time."
• "Encouraged team members, talked openly, and created a positive and productive work environment to reach project goals." 

Communication skills in a resume example 

Here's an example resume that showcases communication skills: 

John Salvador 

12 Main St., Brgy. | Bacolor, Pampanga, 2001| (045) 8456-4482| [email protected] 

Objective: 

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

Education: 

Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing 

Pampanga University, Mabalacat City, Pampanga 

Experience: 

Digital Marketing Specialist | ABC Company | Bacolor, Pampanga | 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 | Bacolor, Pampanga | 2017– 2018 

• Helped make social media posts and shared what our brand is about, increasing follower engagement by 25%.
• Did research by gathering and studying what customers said to help plan better marketing strategies. 

Skills:

• 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 Filipino 

Professional Memberships:

• Member, Philippine Marketing Association
• Member, Digital Marketing Professionals Association 

Related: How to Nail A Job Interview and The Salary You Seek 

Conclusion 

Good communication skills are essential at work. You need to write and speak well and be confident in talking to people.  

Communication skills include kindness and understanding, giving confident presentations, and being persuasive.  

When applying for a job, mention on your resume that you have good spoken and written communication skills. This shows that you can talk to people and work well with others. When you write your resume, make sure to include your best communication skills. Give examples to highlight them. This can help you land the job.  

FAQs 

1. How do you say good communication skills on a resume? 
   ⁠You can have a separate section for your oral and written communication skills in your resume. You can also mention them in your work experience descriptions. It's best to give specific examples of using body language, speaking, writing, and getting along with others. 
2. How would you describe your written communication skills? 
   ⁠To describe your writing skills, you could say, “I'm good at writing clearly and concisely.” or “I can get my point across well in writing.” 
3. Can I list communication skills in a separate section on my resume? 
   ⁠Yes, you can have a separate section in your resume for your communication skills. You could title it “Communication Skills” or “Professional Skills.” You can use this section to list your skills in verbal, written, and interpersonal communication. 
4. 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. 
5. Should I include communication skills in a cover letter as well? 
   ⁠Yes, it's a good idea to mention your communication skills in your cover letter. You could talk about your relevant skills and give examples of how you've used them.
6. How can I improve my communication skills for my resume? 
   ⁠Your skills include verbal and nonverbal communication.   
   Try practicing your active listening skills and working on your writing. You can also get constructive feedback on how you communicate. Participate 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.
7. Is it okay to tell every employer I'm great at communicating? 
   ⁠Yes! Communication is a key skill in any job, especially in the Philippines, where building strong relationships and understanding each other is crucial for a harmonious workplace.