Top Verbal Skills For Resume

Learn how to effectively list verbal skills on your resume with real-world examples. Includes top verbal skills, sample resume phrases, and related skills.

verbal resume skills

Top 20 Verbal Skills for Resume

  1. Active Listening: The ability to fully concentrate, understand, respond, and empathize with a speaker.

  2. Clear Communication: Expressing ideas in a concise, coherent, and easily understood manner.

  3. Persuasive Speaking: Influencing others through effective verbal arguments or presentation of information.

  4. Public Speaking: Delivering speeches to large groups effectively and confidently.

  5. Presentation Skills: Creating visually appealing slides to support oral communication.

  6. Negotiation Skills: Achieving a mutually satisfactory agreement through discussion, compromise, or concession.

  7. Interpersonal Communication: Building strong relationships with others by using appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication.

  8. Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing one's own emotions, as well as those of others.

  9. Adaptability: Ability to adjust speaking style or communication method depending on the audience.

  10. Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.

  11. Assertiveness: Expressing thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and feelings in a confident yet respectful way.

  12. Storytelling: Ability to engage audiences by sharing compelling narratives or anecdotes.

  13. Active Reading: The ability to read critically, extract important information, and understand its implications.

  14. Critical Thinking: Analyzing situations rationally, identifying problems, and proposing effective solutions.

  15. Problem-Solving Communication: Communicating effectively about complex problems and their proposed solutions.

  16. Conflict Resolution: Addressing and resolving conflicts by facilitating communication between parties involved.

  17. Active Writing: Writing clearly, concisely, and coherently for various purposes.

  18. Editing: Revising text to improve clarity, structure, and style.

  19. Proofreading: Correcting errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting of written documents.

  20. Writing for the Web: Creating content optimized for online reading, including headlines, meta descriptions, and subheadings.

How to List Verbal Skills on Resume

  1. Group similar skills under relevant categories (e.g., Communication, Presentation, Negotiation).

  2. Use action verbs when describing your accomplishments (e.g., "Developed and presented annual budget reports to the board of directors").

  3. Quantify your achievements using numbers or percentages where possible (e.g., "Improved customer satisfaction by 15% through effective communication with support team").

  4. Customize your resume for each job application, highlighting the most relevant skills.

  5. Consider adding a section for certifications and training related to verbal skills (e.g., Toastmasters International certification).

Examples of How to List Verbal Skills on Resume

Example 1: Bullet Point Format

  • Excellent Active Listening skills, allowing me to understand and respond effectively to customer concerns and inquiries.

  • Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely, resulting in a streamlined and productive work environment.

  • Demonstrated negotiation skills, successfully leading to a 10% increase in annual sales through effective deal-making.

Example 2: Paragraph Format

In my role as Customer Support Manager, I have honed my verbal communication skills by actively listening to customer concerns and responding with empathy and professionalism. I have also demonstrated exceptional presentation skills by delivering clear and concise training sessions to my team, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency. In addition, my negotiation skills have been crucial in securing favorable agreements with suppliers, ultimately saving the company thousands of dollars per year.

Example 3: Section-based Format

Communication Skills

  • Active Listening

  • Demonstrated ability to actively listen and respond appropriately to customer concerns.

  • Clear Communication

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ensuring all messages are concise, coherent, and easily understood.

  • Persuasive Speaking

  • Strong persuasive speaking skills, enabling me to effectively argue my points and influence others.

Jobs that Demand Verbal Skills

  1. Customer Service Representative: Requires strong verbal communication skills to handle customer inquiries and complaints effectively.

  2. Salesperson: Requires the ability to persuade potential customers through effective verbal communication.

  3. Manager: Needs excellent verbal communication skills for leading teams, communicating goals, and resolving conflicts.

  4. Public Relations Specialist: Demands strong verbal communication skills for creating and maintaining a positive public image for clients or organizations.

  5. Recruiter: Requires persuasive verbal communication to attract top talent and close job offers.

  6. Lawyer: Needs excellent verbal communication skills for arguing cases, negotiating settlements, and communicating complex legal concepts to clients.

  7. Teacher: Demands strong verbal communication skills for teaching and inspiring students effectively.

  8. Journalist: Requires active listening, research, and writing skills to gather and present accurate information in a compelling manner.

  9. Media Relations Specialist: Needs excellent verbal communication skills for creating press releases, pitching stories to media outlets, and managing media inquiries.

  10. Event Coordinator: Requires strong verbal communication skills for coordinating events, negotiating contracts, and communicating with vendors and attendees.

  1. Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing one's own emotions and those of others, leading to more effective verbal communication.

  2. Critical Thinking: Analyzing situations rationally and proposing effective solutions, which can inform verbal communication strategies.

  3. Active Reading: Ability to read critically, extract important information, and understand its implications, enhancing written and verbal communication.

  4. Writing for the Web: Creating content optimized for online reading improves the clarity of written communication.

  5. Problem-Solving Communication: Effectively communicating complex problems and proposed solutions can lead to more productive verbal exchanges.

  6. Presentation Design: Creating visually appealing slides supports oral communication in presentations.

  7. Time Management: Balancing multiple verbal tasks and deadlines improves overall effectiveness in verbal communication.

  8. Adaptability: Ability to adjust speaking style or communication method depending on the audience, leading to more effective communication.

  9. Cultural Competence: Understanding different cultures and adapting communication styles accordingly, enhances cross-cultural communication.

  10. Conflict Resolution: Addressing and resolving conflicts effectively can improve overall verbal communication skills.

How to Address Gaps in Verbal Experience on a Resume for Verbal Positions?

Highlight transferable skills from other fields that are still relevant to the verbal position. If there were significant gaps due to personal reasons or career transition, consider including a brief explanation without going into too much detail. Emphasize any self-study or short courses taken during the gap period that pertain to verbal abilities.

How to Showcase Self-taught Verbal Skills Without Formal Education?

Present tangible examples of projects where you demonstrated your verbal skills effectively, such as creating a podcast, presenting at public events, or writing articles for online publications. Quantify the impact of these projects whenever possible.

How to Handle Outdated Verbal Skills on a Resume?

Update your resume regularly to reflect current trends and best practices in the field. If you haven't used certain verbal skills for some time, consider taking refresher courses or participating in workshops to maintain your proficiency. Prioritize relevant skills when listing them.

How Long Should a Verbal Professional's Resume Be?

Aim for one page if possible, focusing on the most important achievements and skills. If necessary, extend to two pages but ensure each section is concise and well-organized. Tailor your resume to the specific job you're applying for by highlighting relevant experience and qualifications.

How to Address Verbal Certifications that are in Progress?

Include any completed certifications and list those still in progress at the bottom of the resume, stating their expected completion date if applicable. For certifications in progress, you may also want to mention any related coursework or training attended as evidence of your commitment to ongoing professional development.

What to Do If You Have Limited Verbal Experience but Want to Enter the Field?

Focus on demonstrating a strong passion for the field and showcase any relevant education, transferable skills, or projects that demonstrate your potential. Reach out to professionals in the industry for informational interviews or networking opportunities to learn more about the job market and gain insights into how you can position yourself as a competitive candidate.

How to Compete with More Experienced Verbal Professionals?

Emphasize unique strengths, such as niche skillsets or specialized experience, that set you apart from other candidates. Highlight achievements and quantify results wherever possible to demonstrate the impact of your work. Finally, focus on demonstrating a strong fit for the company culture and aligning your values with theirs.

How Frequently to Update Verbal Skills on Your Resume?

Update your resume whenever you acquire new verbal skills or significant achievements in the field. For ongoing roles, consider updating quarterly or semi-annually to ensure that your resume remains current and relevant. Regular updates will also make it easier for you to maintain a clear and concise document over time.

Whether to Include Verbal Side Projects or Volunteer Work on a Resume?

Include any relevant side projects or volunteer work that demonstrate your passion for the field, showcase your skills, and add value to your application. Ensure these items are presented in a clear and concise manner and tailored to the specific position you're applying for. If space is limited, prioritize inclusions based on relevance and impact.

Whether to Include Soft Skills (e.g., Communication, Collaboration) on a Verbal Resume?

Yes! Include soft skills that are crucial in the verbal field, such as communication, collaboration, leadership, or problem-solving skills throughout your resume. Provide tangible evidence of these abilities by discussing specific instances where you demonstrated these skills effectively and achieved positive outcomes.

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