Home » Uncategorized » 10 Great Personal Skills and Qualities for CV to Put On
When thinking about the right skills and qualities for CV, it’s tempting to focus entirely on qualifications, work experience, and technical skills. While those are important, they don’t always tell employers who you are as a person — and that’s exactly what many recruiters want to know. Employers aren’t just hiring a worker; they’re hiring someone who will join their team, adapt to challenges, and contribute positively to the workplace. That’s where personal skills and qualities come in.
These are the qualities that describe how you work, how you interact with others, and how you solve problems. They’re sometimes called soft skills or transferable skills, and they’re just as vital as technical expertise — often more so. If you’re wondering what are personal skills, they include things like communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. On the other hand, what are professional skills? These refer to the technical or job-specific abilities you’ve gained through experience and training.
The mistake many candidates make is to list vague clichés such as “hard-working” or “good team player” without backing them up. Employers see these words hundreds of times a day, and without evidence, they carry little weight. To make your CV stand out, you need to list professional strengths that truly matter, show why they’re important, and demonstrate them with clear, specific examples. Including strong skills and qualities examples from your past experience helps bring your CV to life and makes your claims far more credible.
In this blog, we’ll explore 10 great personal skills and qualities you should include on your CV. We’ll also explain how to present them effectively so they grab attention and convince recruiters that you’re worth interviewing.
Personal skills show who you are beyond your qualifications and help employers see how you’ll fit into their team and workplace culture.
In the past, many industries prioritised professional skills and technical expertise above all else. Today, however, workplaces have become far more dynamic and collaborative. Jobs are less about following set routines and more about adapting, problem-solving, and working with diverse teams. Employers understand that while professional skills can often be taught, personal skills are much harder to instil.
For example, a company can train you to use specific software, but it’s much harder to train someone to be empathetic with customers or resilient under pressure. That’s why personal skills for CVs now play such a major role in hiring decisions. They show how you work, how you communicate, and how you approach challenges — key skills and attributes that define your value in the workplace.
Surveys consistently show that UK employers rank personal skills at the top of their priorities. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has repeatedly reported that skills and qualities like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are among the most sought-after personal skills examples in new hires.
This is especially true for graduates and freshers, who often share similar academic or professional skills examples. In such cases, your list of skills and qualities — particularly the personal ones — becomes the key factor that sets you apart from other candidates.
When recruiters scan a CV, they’re asking:
Your skills and qualities for CV provide answers to these questions. They reassure employers that you’re not just capable of doing the job, but capable of thriving in it.
Of course, not all CVs present personal skills effectively. One of the most common mistakes is listing generic phrases like:
On their own, these words mean very little. Every candidate claims them, but only a few provide proof. Without evidence, these skills and attributes lose their impact and are quickly skimmed over by hiring managers.
Consider the difference:
The second version gives context and outcome — a clear, compelling personal skills example. This is exactly what employers look for: real-life proof that you possess the skills and qualities you claim.
Another important point is that not all personal skills are relevant to every role. For instance:
That’s why it’s essential not to copy and paste the same list of skills and qualities into every CV. Instead, carefully read the job description and tailor your skills and attributes accordingly — showcasing those that align best with the role and company.
Employers don’t expect you to ignore your technical or professional skills. In fact, the most effective CVs create a balance between hard and soft skills — combining what you can do with how you work. Together, these skills and qualities for CV show that you are not only technically qualified but also a great fit for the team.
At this point, you can see why personal skills for CVs are essential. They highlight your employability, cultural fit, and long-term potential — qualities that employers value just as much as your professional skills.
Next, we’ll explore 10 great personal skills and qualities in detail: what they mean, why they matter, and how to showcase them effectively on your CV — with personal skills examples you can adapt and use.
Stand out to employers by showcasing these essential personal skills and qualities that highlight how you work, communicate, and contribute in any role.
Communication is the ability to express ideas clearly, listen effectively, and adapt your style depending on the situation. It includes verbal, written, and digital communication, as well as active listening — all critical skills and attributes examples that form the foundation of effective teamwork.
Why it matters: Strong communication ensures tasks are understood, reduces errors, and builds trust. Employers across the UK consistently rank communication among the most essential CV skills and qualities.
Examples in action: Delivering a group presentation at university, explaining technical concepts to non-specialists in an internship, or handling customer enquiries in a part-time job — all excellent personal skills for resume inclusion.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Teamwork means working effectively with others to achieve shared goals, respecting different perspectives, and supporting colleagues — essential personal attributes for CV success.
Why it matters: Most roles rely on collaboration. Employers want evidence of your ability to work well in a group — an important part of any skills and qualities CV.
Examples in action: Collaborating on a university research project, volunteering at a charity event, or working shifts with a retail team.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new environments, processes, or challenges without losing effectiveness — a top trait in modern personal resumes.
Why it matters: Today’s workplaces are fast-paced and unpredictable. Employers value adaptable staff who stay calm and productive during change.
Examples in action: Learning new digital systems during the COVID-19 lockdown or managing last-minute project shifts — ideal skills and qualities for a CV.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Problem-solving is the ability to assess situations, identify solutions, and take action — key in both professional skills for CV and personal and professional skills development.
Why it matters: Workplaces encounter daily issues. Employers want candidates who stay calm and respond constructively.
Examples in action: Handling customer complaints or finding creative fixes for project roadblocks — strong examples of skills and qualities employers love.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Time management means prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines — essential skills and qualities for CV success.
Why it matters: Every job has deadlines. Employers need reliable people who can manage their time independently — especially in roles with multiple responsibilities.
Examples in action: Juggling academic deadlines with part-time work or successfully running a project timeline.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Leadership involves guiding others, taking responsibility, and making decisions. Initiative is about stepping up without being asked — both vital personal skills and qualities to include in your CV personal skills section.
Why it matters: Employers want future leaders — people who think ahead and take charge even in entry-level roles.
Examples in action: Leading a student society, mentoring a peer, or coordinating a group project.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Emotional intelligence is about managing your emotions and understanding others’ — an underrated but powerful personal attribute for CV success.
Why it matters: EQ helps teams communicate better, resolve conflict, and build supportive working relationships.
Examples in action: Supporting a stressed colleague, mediating a disagreement in a group task, or offering feedback with tact.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Resilience means bouncing back from setbacks. Stress management is staying composed under pressure — crucial in both personal and professional skills categories.
Why it matters: Work is demanding. Employers want people who stay focused, even under pressure — essential in any personal skills for resume list.
Examples in action: Reapplying after rejections or meeting tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Work ethic involves being dependable, committed, and consistent. Professionalism is about behaving with integrity — a combination of personal skills and qualities and professional skills for CV strength.
Why it matters: Employers want people who can be trusted to represent their organisation and get the job done.
Examples in action: Maintaining perfect attendance in a part-time job or being recognised for performance consistency.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Creativity means generating ideas; innovation means turning them into results — standout CV personal skills in many industries.
Why it matters: In a competitive job market, fresh ideas help companies stand out. Employers value creativity in everything from marketing to product design.
Examples in action: Proposing a new campaign for a student society or redesigning a process to improve efficiency.
How to showcase it on a CV:
Together, these 10 skills and qualities for CV writing cover the foundations of employability: how you communicate, collaborate, adapt, lead, and contribute in any role.
They go beyond technical knowledge to show the full range of your personal and professional skills. Whether you’re writing a graduate CV, updating your personal resumes, or tailoring a mid-career application, these skills and attributes examples help you stand out.
When crafting your CV, think carefully about which skills and qualities for a CV are most relevant to the job and back them up with real-life examples. That’s how you move from generic to compelling — and get closer to landing the interview.
Knowing which personal skills and qualities for CV success to include is only half the battle — the real test is how you present them. Too many candidates undermine themselves by listing vague or overused traits without context or evidence. The goal is to show employers not just what personal skills you have, but how you’ve demonstrated them effectively in real-life situations.
Your opening paragraph is a prime spot to highlight 2–3 of your strongest personal qualities for CV relevance that directly align with the job description. Keep this section short but impactful, reflecting both personality skills and professional strengths.
Example:
“Confident communicator with experience leading group projects and delivering presentations to large audiences.”
This gives a quick, focused example of skills of a person who can work well in teams and lead with confidence.
Use this section to list both your work skills for CV and your top personal attributes for a job. Don’t just write single words like “communication” or “teamwork.” Add context that reflects examples of professional skills in action.
Example:
“Strong written and verbal communication (delivered client reports and presentations to senior managers).”
This approach strengthens both your CV personality skills and your professional skills for resume clarity.
This is where you show the strongest evidence of your personal skill and professional impact. Each bullet point should demonstrate a skill in action with measurable outcomes.
Weak:
“Responsible for managing meetings.”
Strong:
“Organised and led weekly team meetings, ensuring cross-department alignment and reducing project delays by 15%.”
This example showcases good personal skills like organisation and leadership within a business context, which are highly regarded skills and qualities for CV success.
If you’re a fresher or have limited work history, that’s okay. Use university projects, volunteering, internships, and extracurricular activities to show off your examples of personal skills and professional development.
When writing CV bullet points or preparing interview answers, the STAR method helps structure clear, impactful stories around your personal and professional skills:
Example:
Weak: “Team player.”
Strong: “Collaborated in a five-member team (Situation) to research market trends (Task). Designed survey questions and analysed data (Action), leading to a report that achieved a first-class grade (Result).”
This method helps highlight both personal qualities CV relevance and examples of professional skills employers want to see.
Don’t copy and paste the same list of professional skills into every application. Tailoring your CV skills and qualities makes your CV more impactful.
Customising your personal qualities for CV based on the role shows you’ve taken the time to understand the employer’s needs.
By thoughtfully showcasing your personal skills and qualities for CV writing — from your personal profile to your work experience — you build a strong, trustworthy application that stands out. Remember: employers aren’t just hiring a set of qualifications; they’re hiring a person. Let your personality skills, work ethic, and examples of personal skills shine through every section of your CV.
Your CV is more than a list of qualifications — it’s your chance to show employers who you are as a person and what you’ll bring to their team. Personal skills in CV such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, leadership, and resilience are what make the difference between being a competent candidate and an outstanding one.
In this blog, we’ve explored 10 great personal qualities and skills to highlight, explained why they matter, and shown you how to present them effectively. The key takeaway is simple: don’t just list skills — prove them. Use action-driven language, measurable results, and real examples from work, study, or volunteering.
If you’re updating your CV today, take a few minutes to reflect on your skills and personal attributes. Which ones are your strongest? Which ones match the role you’re applying for? Rewrite your CV with these in mind, and you’ll immediately increase your chances of being shortlisted.
Employers aren’t just hiring qualifications — they’re hiring people. Make sure your CV shows not just what you know, but who you are by focusing on a strong list of key skills for a CV and qualities for resume success.