Qualifications refer to professional achievements, certifications, and licenses, while key skills are specific abilities and proficiencies relevant to a person’s job or profession. These sections of your profile provide a comprehensive picture of your expertise to prospective employers.

Qualifications

The Qualifications section is your trophy cabinet of professional achievements. You can present any high-impact accomplishments, milestones, or certifications that validate your expertise and set you apart from other players.

These achievements are distinct from the education section, which primarily centers on your academic history, such as formal degrees, minors, and relevant college coursework. Qualifications, on the other hand, often demonstrate expertise gained through practical experience:

• Certifications or licenses: Any industry-related specialized training or certifications enhancing your professional standing.
• Years of experience: Any significant number of years in a specific industry, field, or skill speaking volumes to your expertise.
• Awards or acknowledgments: Recent accolades, honors, and recognitions underscoring the quality of your work.

See below for examples:

Junior-level Developer

• Certified Java Developer – Oracle Certification Program
• 3 years experience in full-stack development
• 2 years in Agile and Scrum methodologies

Senior HR Manager

• SHRM Certified Professional – Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• 5 years in talent acquisition and diversity program enhancement
• 3 years of experience in employee relations and conflict mediation
• 2018 Rising Star in HR – National HR Awards

Seasoned CFO

• 20 years in financial leadership roles.
• 12 years dedicated to international finance, mastering the subtleties of global markets.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
• Key recognitions: 2020 Financial Executive of the Year Award for innovative financial strategies and the 2018 CFO Thought Leader Award acknowledging my role in advancing financial best practices.

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Key skills

Key skills is like your professional tool belt, to showcase your most valuable and transferable abilities that contribute to your success in your daily work:

• Soft skills: Your interpersonal strengths, like leadership, time management, or communication.
• Hard skills: The technical skills you’ve acquired, like program languages (Python coding) or proficiency in specific software (Adobe Photoshop).

You can utilize this section to distill your experiences into core competencies and abilities, demonstrating your potential beyond the specific responsibilities outlined in your work experience. Completing this section also ensures your profile appears in search results when employers seek individuals with these specific skills.

Check out this example for a Marketing Strategist: