salesdetroit

Director

Valued Contributor

What are the most impactful "Areas of Expertise" and "Technical Skills" for a Resume?

I'm in the long-overdue process of updating my resume and have hired an executive resume company. After reviewing the first draft, I got caught up on the sections listing "Areas of Expertise" and "Technical Skills" as everything either feels too fluffy or too specific. I get caught up on this section every time my resume gets updated, which made me wonder more broadly....does this section really even matter, or does anyone take it seriously? What "Areas of Expertise" do you include on your resumes, or look for in resumes? For reference, this is targeting VP of Sales type roles, but really curious on what buzzwords are being used across the industry.

For technical skills, I basically have Microsoft Office, Google Docs and Virtual Meeting Platforms (Zoom, etc), which I feel like is a vast under-representation of my capabilities. Out of curiosity, what level of expertise/experience do you typically feel you need to have with a program to list it on your resume, and what technical skills even matter or stand out anymore?

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6

9 comments

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braintank

Politicker

3

Enterprise Account Executive

You gotta know more than the average bear.

I get a lot of mileage touting my advanced Salesforce skills.

salesdetroit

Politicker

0

Director

Thanks @braintank! Not sure why I didn't think to include Salesforce

braintank

Politicker

3

Enterprise Account Executive

Yep it's a biggie. Especially if you can do things like reporting, dashboards, etc.

Feel free to upload an anonymous version of your resume here. We can give you free feedback.

TennisandSales

Politicker

3

Head Of Sales

for things like Zoom and Microsoft office and Google docs.....those are all table stakes. I wouldnt list those. no employer is going to go "oh shit they know Google docs??"

Salesforce is a big one like @braintank mentioned.

I would focus on soft skills a little more than the general basic tools.
- able to explain complicated processes in a simple way
- Consistently finds pain points quickly
-Effectively links pain points to solutions to show value in the solution im selling.
- able to transfer knowledge to my team effectively and consistently
things like that.

CatMom

Politicker

2

Account Executive

Love these suggestions!

jefe

Arsonist

2

🍁

I haven't done areas of expertise, but a section on specific platforms/technologies you're adept with cane be super helpful.

You need to expand beyond Office/Zoom

Pachacuti

Politicker

0

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

So you basically have -0- Technical Skills. Those applications you named are not technical, no matter what any Millennial says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo0KjdDJr1c

If you want to target a specific role with the right words on your resume, check out JobScan.co.

I include Sales-specific skills and training - Miller-Heiman, GAP, etc. Proposal Writing, and soft sales skills (presenting, etc.) are good too.

salesdetroit

Politicker

1

Director

So that's along the lines of what I thought as well. Not sure what generation the resume writer falls into specifically, but likely on me for not properly presenting my own skills and proficiencies. Wondering if this is a common attribute of "imposter syndrome" as well, as I have experience with tons of programs, but don't necessarily feel "proficient" unless I could teach a course on it.

Alwaysclosingnext

Big Shot

0

kingcharlie

What have you done for me lately?

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