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Top 10 Personal Skills: Examples for Your CV

Top 10 Personal Skills: Examples for Your CV

• Update: 26/09/2025

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Ever wondered why candidates with the same qualifications can have completely different careers? The difference often lies in personal skills – the abilities that enable you to work effectively with others, solve problems, and adapt to change. While technical skills get your foot in the door, it’s personal skills that help you stand out and grow.

In this guide, you’ll learn what personal skills are, see examples of personal skills for your CV, discover tips to improve them, and find out how to showcase them in applications and interviews. Let’s begin!

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What are personal skills?

Personal skills, also known as interpersonal or soft skills, are non-technical traits that enable you to interact with others and work effectively. They aren't job-specific and include teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and other key skills that are vital to succeeding in any role.

Why are personal skills important to employers?

Employers highly value personal skills because they contribute to a positive work environment and support overall company success. Unlike hard skills, which are technical or role-specific, personal skills are abilities which are transferable across all roles and industries. While technical expertise ensures you can do the job, you need personal skills to fit in with the team, handle challenges professionally, and continue to develop over time.

Employers recognise that personal skills influence company culture and productivity. Someone with strong personal skills can help resolve conflicts, inspire their team, adapt to shifting priorities, and contribute positively to the business’s reputation.

10 personal skills examples for your CV

Here are examples of personal skills employers want — they will help you succeed, no matter your industry:

1. Communication

Being able to express ideas clearly, listen actively, and adjust your tone according to your audience is one of the most desirable skills across various industries. Communication skills help prevent misunderstandings and encourage strong working relationships.

2. Teamwork

Few jobs today are completed entirely by one person. Employers want staff who can work effectively in groups, share credit, and collaborate with others to achieve shared goals. Good teamwork involves listening, offering support, and contributing constructively.

3. Problem-solving

Problem-solving skills show you can stay calm under pressure, think critically, and devise practical solutions. Employers are drawn to candidates who can address obstacles with a solutions-first mindset, rather than just escalating problems to managers.

4. Time management

Knowing how to manage your workload, meet deadlines, and prioritise tasks is crucial in any professional environment. Strong time management makes you dependable, reduces stress, and leads to better results.

5. Adaptability

The modern workplace changes rapidly. Whether it’s new technology, processes, or team structures, adaptability shows you can handle change without losing focus. It’s a critical personal skill for staying relevant in any industry.

6. Leadership

Leadership isn’t only for management roles. It’s about taking initiative, motivating others, and guiding projects to completion. Leadership skills also help you handle responsibility and act decisively when required.

7. Empathy

Empathy – the ability to understand and relate to other people’s feelings – is key to building strong professional relationships. It helps resolve conflicts, strengthens team bonds, and improves collaboration with clients or customers.

8. Critical thinking

Critical thinking allows you to analyse situations objectively and make reasoned decisions. Instead of relying solely on opinions or gut instinct, critical thinkers evaluate facts to determine the best path forward. It’s worth noting that critical thinking is one of the most sought-after soft skills in the UK.

9. Motivation

Self-motivation means working hard because you want to, not just because you’re told to. Motivated employees show initiative, keep projects moving, and inspire others with their dedication and positive attitude.

10. Organisation

Organised employees help keep projects on track. Whether it’s maintaining files, coordinating deadlines, or managing schedules, organisational skills are crucial for maintaining productivity and reducing errors.

Personal skills development: tips to improve your personal qualities for any job

Improving personal skills requires dedication and consistent effort. Here are some practical strategies:

Take courses and attend workshops

Formal training, such as online courses or in-person workshops, is a structured way to build personal skills. FutureLearn courses on communication, teamwork, and problem-solving provide excellent starting points.

You can also explore OpenLearn from the Open University for free personal development courses relevant to a wide range of careers. Whatever your field, professional development programmes can help you sharpen your skills and boost your employability.

Seek feedback and mentorship

Ask for feedback from managers or colleagues and reflect on their suggestions. Consider finding a mentor who excels in areas you want to develop. Learning directly from experienced professionals can accelerate your progress.

Practice regularly

Look for opportunities to use your personal skills every day. Volunteer for new projects, offer to lead meetings, or take part in community initiatives that stretch your skills.

Use self-reflection techniques

Journaling, recording your progress, or setting weekly goals can help you build self-awareness and track your growth. Reflecting on both successes and challenges makes it easier to stay focused on development.

Join professional groups

Networking groups or industry associations often offer talks, discussions, and workshops focused on personal development. These groups can expose you to different communication styles and leadership techniques.

How to present your personal skills in a CV

When writing a CV, you can highlight your personal skills in multiple parts. Each CV section provides an opportunity to show employers that you bring more to the table than just technical expertise. Employers won’t just take your word for it – you need to show them how your personal skills have made a difference.

The good news? You don’t need a separate ‘personal skills’ section on your CV. Instead, weave these abilities throughout your CV in every section possible.

Here’s how to show off personal skills on your CV, from top to bottom:

1. Start with your CV profile

Your CV profile, or personal statement, is your opening pitch to the recruiter. It’s your chance to make an immediate impact, showing not just what you can do, but how you work and why you’ll fit into the organisation. It’s essential to highlight a couple of personal skills that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Personal skills in the CV summary

Customer-focused office administrator with +5 years of experience supporting busy finance teams. Skilled in communication, organisation, and proactive problem-solving, with a proven track record of improving internal workflows. Eager to support Star Solutions in streamlining operations and enhancing team efficiency through strong administrative support and continuous process improvement.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

2. Write an impactful work experience section

The work experience section is where you prove skills in action. Employers don’t just want a list of responsibilities – they want to see how personal skills helped you achieve results. Focus on using accomplishment statements, backed by figures and concrete outcomes.

Sample job description with personal skills

Marketing Assistant
Peak Creative Agency, Manchester
March 2021–Present

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities:

Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including design, sales, and content, to deliver consistent brand messaging.
Communicated with clients to clarify briefs, resolve queries, and maintain satisfaction throughout campaigns.
Managed and prioritised multiple marketing projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines and budgets were consistently met.
Created engaging copy for email newsletters and social media posts, tailored to diverse audience segments.

Key Achievement:

Boosted social media engagement by 30% through targeted campaigns and collaborative planning with internal teams.

3. Add relevant skills in the education section

If you don’t have a long professional history yet, your education section is the perfect place to show examples of personal skills. Whether it’s leading student societies, volunteering, or completing challenging group projects, make sure to highlight how you’ve used these qualities in real situations.

Examples of personal skills in the education section

BA (Hons) Business Management
University of Leeds, Leeds
September 2018–June 2021

Extracurricular activities:

Volunteered as a student mentor, supporting first-year students with academic and social challenges.
Organised annual charity fundraising events for the university business society, developing leadership and teamwork skills.

4. List personal skills in the skills section

While you don’t want the skills section of a CV to look like a buzzword checklist, it’s a great place to include specific personal skills that match the job description. Add a sentence or phrase that illustrates how you’ve applied each one.

Personal skills in the skills section

Communication: Wrote and edited internal company newsletters, improving readership engagement by 15%.
Adaptability: Quickly adjusted campaign strategies in response to market feedback, maintaining a steady 10% growth rate.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

5. Highlight personal skills in additional sections

Finally, strengthen your CV even further by using extra sections to showcase your personal skills. Volunteering, languages, certifications, hobbies and interests all provide opportunities to demonstrate your strengths beyond your formal experience.

Personal skills in the extra CV sections

Volunteering

Volunteer Fundraiser

Hope for Youth UK

Organised community events, raising £10,000 for local youth initiatives.
Built strong relationships with local sponsors, demonstrating communication and organisational skills.

To create a standout CV, incorporate examples of your personal skills throughout. Don’t forget to highlight these skills in your cover letter as well. Many HR professionals believe a strong cover letter remains essential — it can even land you an interview if your CV falls short.

How to present your personal skills in a job interview

Your CV might land you the interview, but personal attributes often win the job. The interview is your chance to show – not just tell – how you use these skills in real-life situations. Employers want to see how you communicate, handle challenges, and work with others.

The most effective way to showcase personal skills in interviews is to utilise the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result. This structured approach helps you tell clear, compelling stories that show your personal qualities for a job.

Here’s how to do it:

Situation: Briefly describe the context.
Task: Explain your responsibility in that situation.
Action: Detail the steps you took, focusing on your personal skills.
Result: Highlight the outcome and any positive feedback you received.

Example

Q: "Can you describe a time you had to adapt to a change at work?"

A: "In my previous role, a major client changed their project requirements at the last minute. I worked closely with my manager (communication), kept the team focused despite the stress (leadership), and re-prioritised my workload (time management) to deliver the revised project two days ahead of the deadline (result). The client was impressed with the flexibility we demonstrated, and the relationship with them has since grown significantly."

Practice makes perfect. Rehearse your examples before the interview so you can share your stories confidently, clearly showing how your personal skills add value to any employer.

A cover letter alone simply won’t be enough—you need an impactful CV, too. Create your CV in minutes. Just follow our wizard and fill in every CV section with ready-made content. Get started by choosing a professional CV template.

Thank you for reading my article on personal skills for CVs. For more CV-writing advice, feel free to explore other guides on our blog. And if you’re looking for general career advice, we’ve got plenty of articles for you, too!

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with LiveCareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

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About the author

Danuta Detyna

Danuta Detyna is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and career expert with over nine years of writing experience. Known for her empathetic, detail-oriented approach, she creates practical and empowering career resources that help job seekers move forward with confidence.

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