200+ Resume Strengths: How to Showcase Your Biggest Career Wins in 2024

Your resume strengths are a competitive advantage in today's job market. They're part of a strong overview of your professional experience that grabs attention and makes potential employers think, "We need this person on our team!"

But what exactly are resume strengths? Are they skills or accomplishments, or is there more to them? And how can you leverage your strengths to set you apart from other job seekers as the most qualified candidate for the job you've been dreaming about?

Understanding resume strengths

Resume strengths are the key professional experiences and qualities that differentiate you from other applicants during a job search and demonstrate how you're the right fit for a particular role.

But they aren't an all-encompassing list.

Instead, your strengths are highlighted by showcasing how you've successfully used them. (For example, if leadership is one of your strengths, you would showcase your track record of leading teams to achieve specific results.)

Aligning closely with who you are as a person and professional, your key strengths are typically emphasized throughout your resume as part of your professional summary, work experience achievements, and some of your skills.

Walking hiring managers and recruiters through your strengths by incorporating them in the different sections of your resume can help differentiate you because they:

• Attract attention
• Match job requirements
• Showcase expertise
• Convey competency and accomplishments
• Demonstrate adaptability

Resume strengths vs. resume skills: What's the difference?

Two key elements that showcase how you're the right fit for a job are resume strengths and resume skills. So what's the difference?

Skills are specific capacities that apply directly to your particular job or field. They serve as the foundation of your expertise and demonstrate your capabilities. There are hard skills (those more technical skills you've acquired through a particular role) and soft skills (also known as transferrable skills), which you've developed that you can apply across functions and industries. 

Some examples of skills:

On the other hand, strengths include a range of qualities, including skills, accomplishments, experiences, and personal attributes that contribute to your overall suitability for a job. It's how you show a hiring manager or recruiter a more holistic view of your value.

Some examples of strengths as work experience that coincide with the skills above: 

Different types of resume strengths

Your resume represents your professional journey. And showcasing a diverse range of strengths presents you as a well-rounded job candidate who's both versatile and valuable.

• Technical or hard strengths refer to specific skills, knowledge, and expertise directly related to your job or industry.
• Interpersonal or core strengths are personal qualities, attributes, and soft skills that enable effective communication, collaboration, and relationship-building.
• Analytical and critical strengths encompass your ability to analyze complex problems, emphasize your critical thinking skills, and ability to think logically, and make informed decisions.
• Leadership strengths emphasize your ability to guide and inspire others, take charge of projects, and effectively manage teams to drive results.

What makes a good resume strength?

A good resume highlights whatever strengths are relevant to the job you're applying for. It's also backed by specific examples or achievements and demonstrates your ability to contribute value to an organization. Whenever possible, quantifying your strengths to provide measurable results or outcomes further highlights your impact—showing the incredible things you've done and are capable of.

Crafting effective resume strengths

You know what they are and how they're different from skills, so now it's time to explore how to craft effective resume strengths that differentiate you from other job candidates to land that job interview.

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1. Tailor them to the job description

You have a lot of strengths that make you an extraordinary professional. But tailoring those strengths to a job description demonstrates how well you align with the role you're applying to.

Tailor your resume to a job to help you showcase specific qualifications and attributes a prospective employer seeks—highlighting the most relevant and positioning you as an exceptional fit.

For example, let's say a job posting is looking for someone to "Build and automate solutions to monitor and enhance security controls across many AWS accounts."

In that case, a tailored accomplishment could be "Implemented a centralized security monitoring system for 50+ customer accounts, reducing incident response time by 30%, and enhancing overall security posture."

A professional summary could include, "Proficient in designing and automating security solutions for cloud environments to continuously monitor and strengthen security controls."

And a "Skills" section bullet could be "Automated Security Monitoring."

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2. Highlight experience-backed strengths

Are you a hard worker with strong communication skills? Do past employers say you successfully build positive relationships? How about your strong writing skills? Organizations thrive with employees who excel in these areas, but it's going to take more than a bulleted list to show them how you use these skills as professional strengths.

In short? You're going to need to show your credibility.

Your resume accomplishments (also known as achievements) and professional summary offer an opportunity to support your skills and communicate them as objective examples of strengths.

Let's take a look at some examples!

Strength: Excellent interpersonal skills

Accomplishment: Collaborated with cross-functional teams to successfully launch a high-priority project, resulting in a 20% reduction in project timeline by fostering effective communication and building strong relationships among team members.

Strength: Successful front-end software development

Professional Summary: Front-end software developer with 15 years of experience developing and implementing responsive user interfaces for web applications.

Strength: Detailed attention to customer satisfaction

Accomplishment: Implemented a customer feedback system and analyzed customer feedback data, leading to a 25% increase in customer satisfaction scores within six months by identifying pain points and implementing tailored solutions to address customer needs and concerns.

Strength: Highly successful in a fast-paced environment

Corresponding Skills: Adaptable, flexible

Pro Tip: Feeling stuck when creating your achievements? Teal's Achievement Assistant within the free Resume Builder can help you craft strength-based accomplishments in seconds. Use it as a guide for communicating what you did, what metric you improved when, and how your skills connect to your strategy—making them key strengths.

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3. Include metrics and quantifiable results

Similar to "experience-backed" strengths, using data, numbers, or metrics to support your strengths is a highly effective way to communicate them to a prospective employer.

Quantifying your resume, specifically in your "Professional Summary" and "Work Experience" sections, provides concrete evidence of your capabilities.

By incorporating data, numbers, or metrics, you vividly showcase the extent of your experience and the tangible impact you've made in previous roles—bolstering your credibility and enabling recruiters and hiring managers to grasp the depth of your expertise and value.

For example, a strength-based number with a quantifiable result for a senior copywriter would be "increased website traffic by 3x through the implementation of targeted SEO strategies and creation of compelling content resulting in a 36% increase in overall website conversions."

How to identify your unique resume strengths

Identifying unique strengths to put on a resume is crucial for differentiating yourself from other candidates. So what strategies can you leverage to identify personal strengths to potentially include on your resume?

Reflect on your experiences and accomplishments

Consider your achievements and projects you excelled at and the elements of your past roles you thoroughly enjoyed.

What brought you joy? What are you truly good at? Where did you have the most positive attitude and impact? Think about your goals, how you were recognized, and what strengths you used to succeed.

Use Teal's Resume Builder to identify strengths

How do you know if what you have listed are good strengths to put on a resume for a particular role?

Using Teal's free Resume Builder is an excellent way to help you quickly identify which experiences closely match your target position's requirements. 

Teal's Matching Mode within the Resume Builder analyzes your work history and grades your resume with a Match Score to help you identify and select key strengths that matter most to the job.

You want your Match Score to be as close to 80% as possible. To improve your score, incorporate more keywords from a job listing as part of your strengths.

Ask for feedback

Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or managers and ask for their input on your strengths. Outside input can provide valuable insights and perspectives you may not have considered.

If you aren't sure where to start, ask for three or four specific examples of where they observed you excelling or making a significant impact and how they saw you accomplishing this.

How to include strengths in your resume

Choose strengths that are relevant to the job

Including only the most relevant strengths for a particular job application ensures that you grab the attention of hiring managers and recruiters from the moment they scan your resume.

Read the job listing carefully to identify keywords, job skills, and strengths to ensure that your offerings match what they're seeking in a candidate.

Pro Tip: Teal makes this process quick and effective by selecting the right mix of strengths and skills as keywords. Teal’s Job Application Tracker & AI Resume Builder extract the top keywords to quickly customize your resume to show exactly how you're qualified for a specific position.

Use strong action verbs

Using strong resume action verbs communicates your strengths in a way that captures attention and conveys impact.

By strategically selecting powerful action verbs, you can paint a clear picture of your abilities and accomplishments, making your resume more engaging and compelling during the hiring process.

So what are some examples of the best action verbs you can use?

• Achieved
• Spearheaded
• Implemented
• Streamlined
• Generated
• Orchestrated
• Exceeded
• Revitalized

Strategically place strengths in your resume

Ideally, you want to use strengths for a resume as a holistic view of your professional experience. In fact, you want to include them throughout the entire document.

Let's go through the best resume sections for your strengths and the best practices for incorporating them in a natural but strategic way. 

"Professional Summary" section

Your professional summary or resume "About Me" section is a brief statement that appears at the beginning of your resume. It summarizes your background and qualifications in a concise but appealing way to grab attention and drive a recruiter or hiring manager to dig deeper.

Highlighting your strengths in this section immediately shows how you're different from other candidates. In the example below, the candidate draws attention to their own strengths as a backend developer who increases website traffic, has a strong understanding of data processing, and excels in working with new data management systems.

"Work Experience" section

Your "Work Experience" resume section showcases your professional background and employment history with a comprehensive overview of your relevant work experiences. Including strengths with metrics, numbers, and quantifiable results in this section adds a layer of credibility to your claims.

In the following example, the candidate's effective communication skills, proficiency in developing creative solutions, interpersonal skills, and ability to enhance employee experience are clearly identified as metric-based strengths.

"Skills" section

Skills and strengths are different, but the Skills section in your resume plays an important role in tying everything together with a concise snapshot of your expertise, technical proficiencies, and relevant competencies that align with your strengths and the requirements of the job you are applying for.

Below, the candidate's skills coincide with the work experience of someone who's executed an AI-driven marketing strategy, increased customer engagement, and improved sales in an efficient and solutions-oriented way.

Use Teal to Check Your Resume Score:

Teal offers a personalized analysis that allows you to check your resume score to quickly find ways to strengthen your resume.

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200 excellent examples of resume strengths

Looking for inspiration? Check out 200 resume strengths examples below!

Examples of technical strengths on resumes

Strength: Troubleshooting expertise

Effective because: It demonstrates the ability to identify and resolve complex technical issues—showcasing problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and a systematic approach to finding solutions.

Strength: Systems integration proficiency 

Effective because: Demonstrates the ability to seamlessly integrate diverse platforms, enhancing collaboration, streamlining workflows, and driving organizational growth. 

Strength: Programming aptitude 

Effective because: Demonstrates a strong grasp of programming languages and the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex business challenges. 

Strength: Cybersecurity expertise 

Effective because: Demonstrates expertise in safeguarding critical assets, implementing robust security measures, and protecting against cyber threats. 

Examples of interpersonal strengths on resumes

Strength: Effective communication

Effective because: It facilitates a clear and concise exchange of information, ideas, and feedback—enabling individuals to convey their thoughts and intentions accurately, fostering understanding and collaboration among team members.

Strength: Empathy

Effective because: It allows individuals to understand and relate to the emotions, experiences, and perspectives of others. By demonstrating empathy, individuals can build trust, show support, and foster positive connections.

Strength: Active listening

Effective because: It's a powerful interpersonal strength that involves fully engaging with and understanding the speaker's message. It demonstrates respect, attentiveness, and a genuine interest in others' viewpoints.

Strength: Collaboration

Effective because: It promotes teamwork, synergy, and the pooling of diverse perspectives and expertise. Collaboration allows for exchanging ideas, problem-solving, and innovative thinking to maximize productivity and foster a positive work environment.

Strength: Conflict resolution

Effective because: It involves effective communication, active listening, empathy, and problem-solving skills. Effectively managing conflicts improves teamwork and enhances overall productivity.

Examples of analytical and critical thinking strengths on resumes

Strength: Analytical insight

Effective because: It allows individuals to approach problems and situations with a critical eye, ensuring thorough evaluation, careful consideration, and accurate decision-making.

Strength: Logical reasoning

Effective because: It enables individuals to assess complex situations, identify cause-and-effect relationships, and make sound judgments based on evidence and rational thinking.

Strength: Problem-solving acumen

Effective because: Individuals with this strength excel at breaking down complex problems, identifying creative solutions, and implementing them to achieve desired outcomes.

Strength: Analytical judgment

Effective because: It enables individuals to evaluate multiple perspectives, weigh evidence, and arrive at well-reasoned conclusions.

Examples of leadership and management strengths on resumes

Strength: Inspirational leadership

Effective because: Individuals with this strength possess the charisma and vision to influence and guide their teams, fostering a sense of purpose and driving exceptional performance.

Strength: Strategic planning

Effective because: It enables individuals to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and create roadmaps for success.

Strength: Team empowerment

Effective because: Leaders with this strength create an environment where team members feel valued, encouraged, and supported, resulting in improved collaboration, increased productivity, and enhanced employee satisfaction.

Strength: Relational leadership

Effective because: It allows leaders to establish trust, inspire loyalty, and create a positive work environment based on mutual respect and collaboration. Relational leaders excel in communication, empathy, and interpersonal skills, contributing to effective teamwork, employee engagement, and overall organizational success.

Examples of resume strengths by job function

Strengths for administrative resumes

• Organizational skills
• Time management
• Attention to detail
• Calendar and schedule management
• Meeting coordination and facilitation
• Document and file management
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Prioritization and multitasking
• Data entry and analysis
• Office software proficiency (e.g., MS Office)
• Travel and expense management
• Confidentiality and data security
• Record keeping and reporting
• Office equipment operation
• Vendor and supplier management
• Budgeting and financial tracking
• Event planning and coordination
• Customer service orientation
• Adaptability to changing environments

For more administrative strengths, check out these administrative assistant resume examples.

Strengths for customer success resumes

• Relationship building
• Excellent communication skills
• Customer onboarding and training
• Account management
• Customer retention strategies
• Cross-selling and upselling
• Customer satisfaction measurement
• Customer feedback analysis
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving
• Proactive customer support
• Data-driven decision-making
• Product knowledge and expertise
• Project management
• Customer success metrics and KPIs
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Team collaboration
• Technical skills for product support
• Conflict resolution
• Change management
• Empathy and customer advocacy

See more examples of strengths in these customer success manager resumes.

Strengths for data & analytics resumes

• Data analysis and interpretation
• Statistical modeling
• Data visualization
• SQL/database querying
• Data mining and cleaning
• Predictive modeling
• Machine learning algorithms
• Data storytelling
• Excel/Google Sheets proficiency
• Business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau)
• Data-driven decision-making
• A/B testing and experimentation
• Data privacy and security
• Data governance
• Statistical programming (e.g., R, Python)
• Data warehouse management
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Big data analytics
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Continuous learning and improvement

Check out these data analyst resume examples for more strengths.

Strengths for design resumes

• Creative thinking
• Visual storytelling
• User-centered design
• Typography skills
• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency
• Illustration skills
• Intentional design
• Attention to detail
• Brand identity development
• Color theory knowledge
• Print and digital design
• Prototyping and wireframing
• Motion graphics
• Design thinking
• User experience (UX) design
• Interaction design
• Web design
• Responsive design
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Art direction
• Graphic design trend awareness

Explore more design strengths in these graphic designer resumes.

Strengths for human resources resumes

• Strong interpersonal relationship building
• Employee relations expertise
• Employee retention strategy
• Talent acquisition and recruitment
• Team management
• HR policy development
• Performance management
• Conflict resolution
• Training and development
• Compensation and benefits administration
• HRIS proficiency
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Employee engagement
• Change management
• Employment law knowledge
• Coaching and mentoring
• Data-driven decision-making
• HR analytics
• Employee onboarding
• Succession planning
• Organizational development
• HR project management

For more strength inspiration, explore these example resumes for human resources.

Strengths for marketing resumes

• Strategic thinking
• Market research expertise
• Strong communication
• Brand management
• Creative problem-solving
• Digital marketing proficiency
• Campaign planning and execution
• Analytical mindset
• Data-driven decision-making
• Customer segmentation expertise
• Content creation and storytelling
• Strong negotiation skills
• Relationship building
• Public relations
• Copywriting
• Event planning and management
• Social media management
• Budget management
• Competitive analysis
• Marketing automation proficiency

See more examples of strengths in these marketing manager resume examples.

Strengths for product management resumes

• Product strategy
• Market research and analysis
• Product roadmap development
• Agile development methodology
• Requirements gathering and prioritization
• User feedback collection and analysis
• Data-driven decision-making
• Product lifecycle management
• Stakeholder management
• Competitive analysis
• Cross-functional collaboration
• UX/UI understanding
• A/B testing and experimentation
• Strategic partnerships
• Revenue forecasting
• Pricing strategy
• Product launch management
• Customer satisfaction management
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Continuous improvement mindset

For more product management strengths, check out these product manager resume samples.

Strengths for social media resumes

• Social media strategy development
• Content creation and curation
• Social media management tools proficiency
• Community management
• Trend awareness
• Audience engagement
• Data Analytics for social media
• Paid social media advertising
• Influencer marketing
• Brand voice development
• Crisis management on social platforms
• Content scheduling and planning
• Social media listening and monitoring
• Campaign performance tracking
• Customer support on social media
• Cross-platform social media management
• Social media ROI analysis
• Storytelling through social channels
• Creative thinking for social campaigns
• Understanding of social media algorithms

Explore these example resumes for social media managers for even more strengths.

Strengths for software engineering resumes

• Programming expertise (specific languages)
• Problem-solving skills
• Software architecture design
• Agile development methodology
• Version control proficiency (e.g., Git)
• Debugging and troubleshooting
• Continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD)
• Strong algorithmic skills
• Team collaboration
• Object-oriented design
• Test-driven development
• Documentation skills
• Performance optimization
• UX/UI design principles
• Cross-platform development
• Cloud computing proficiency
• Database management
• Technical leadership
• Code review expertise
• Adaptability to new technologies

For more software engineering strengths, dive into these software engineering resume examples.

The power of a strength-based resume

As a candidate, your strengths differentiate you. And they make you a valuable asset to prospective employers because they represent your unique combination of skills, experiences, and personal qualities.

Try the free Teal AI Resume Builder to highlight the right strengths for your resume (and cover letter) for every job search application—showcasing your value proposition and increasing your chances of landing an interview today.