Skills and attributes examples can make all the difference in a competitive job market. A professional CV is more than just a list of past roles — it’s a strategic showcase of your professional strengths, especially the skills and attributes that make you the ideal fit for a role. Hiring managers often sift through hundreds of applications, spending just seconds on each one. The CVs that stand out? They highlight exactly what the employer is looking for — and they do it with clarity, confidence, and relevance, using a well-chosen list of skills and qualities.

But there’s a common mistake many job seekers make — they don’t know how to distinguish between skills and attributes, or worse, they list generic buzzwords without any proof to back them up. For example, understanding the difference between what are personal skills — like adaptability and communication — and what are professional skills — such as project management or data analysis — can help you present yourself far more effectively.

This blog will help you avoid that mistake by walking you through the key skills and personal attributes that matter most, how to present them effectively, and how to tailor your CV to make a strong impression. Along the way, we’ll also look at skills and qualities examples to ensure you’re highlighting the most relevant ones for the role you’re targeting.

Whether you’re a fresh graduate, an early-career professional, or someone looking to switch industries, this guide will help you craft a CV that genuinely represents your capabilities — and gets results.

Understanding the Difference Between Skills and Attributes

Before you start building or revising your CV, it’s important to know what skills and attributes actually mean in a professional context — and how to present them effectively with strong skills and attributes examples.

What Are Skills?

Skills are the learned abilities that enable you to perform tasks or functions. These are often acquired through training, experience, or education. In the context of your CV, showcasing the right mix of personal skills and professional skills is essential.

There are two broad types of skills:

• Hard Skills: These are measurable, teachable abilities like using Excel, writing SQL queries, operating machinery, or fluency in a second language.
  
• Soft Skills: These are interpersonal or behavioural traits such as communication, teamwork, or time management. These are often referred to as personal skills, which shape how you work and collaborate with others.
  

Skills and qualities that employers commonly look for include:

• Microsoft Excel
  
• Copywriting
  
• Customer service
  
• Budget management
  
• Public speaking
  
• Data analysis
  
• Project coordination
  

These are just a few personal skills examples and technical abilities that can be tailored to suit the role you’re applying for. The key thing to remember is that skills are often role-specific and can be learned, practised, and tested.

What Are Attributes?

Attributes, on the other hand, are inherent qualities or personal traits — the kind of things that define how you behave, work, and interact with others. They’re usually more difficult to measure or teach, but are just as important. Including relevant skills and attributes examples on your CV helps employers see both your capabilities and your character.

Common professional attributes include:

• Reliability
  
• Patience
  
• Integrity
  
• Positivity
  
• Resilience
  
• Initiative
  

For example, being “punctual” or “having a strong work ethic” is an attribute. You don’t go to a course to learn punctuality — it’s a reflection of your personal discipline and professionalism. These skills and qualities help define your working style and show how you contribute to a team.

Attributes are often what employers look for when assessing if you’ll fit into the company culture or if you’ll handle responsibility well.

Why Both Matter on a CV

Your CV shouldn’t only say what you can do (skills) but also show what kind of person you are (attributes). Including strong skills and attributes examples gives a fuller picture of your employability.

Let’s compare:

• A skill shows you can perform a task.
  
• An attribute shows how you’ll perform it — your attitude, your approach, your consistency.
  

Imagine two candidates applying for a customer service role:
One lists “CRM software, phone handling, complaint resolution.”
The other lists the same professional skills but also highlights personal skills and attributes like “calm under pressure, patient listener, motivated by customer satisfaction.”

Who do you think stands out?

The right combination of skills and attributes:

• Shows you’re competent and dependable
  
• Proves you’re not only qualified — you’re also employable
  

Employers are always on the lookout for people who not only have the technical know-how but also the right attitude. So when writing your CV, you need to make room for both categories — and make sure they align with the role you’re applying for. Including well-selected skills and qualities — both personal and professional — can significantly boost your chances of being noticed.

Skills vs. Attributes – At a Glance

Understanding this distinction will help you write your CV more purposefully and avoid sounding vague or clichéd.

Top Skills to Include in a Professional CV (With Examples)

Now that you understand what skills and attributes are and how they differ, it’s time to explore the top skills and attributes examples that truly make an impact on a CV. These aren’t just generic buzzwords — these are the personal and professional skills hiring managers actively seek, and we’ll show you how to present them with real-world examples that stand out. Whether you’re updating your personal resume or tailoring your application for a specific job, the following skills and qualities for a CV can significantly strengthen your chances.

Let’s explore the most in-demand professional skills examples for today’s job market.

1. Communication Skills

Regardless of the industry, communication skills remain one of the most sought-after CV skills and qualities in the UK job market.

Why it matters: Employers want people who can express themselves clearly — both in writing and speaking — and collaborate effectively.

Examples for your CV:

• “Drafted internal communications and customer emails, improving response rates by 30%.”
  
• “Delivered weekly project updates to stakeholders across three departments.”
  

2. Teamwork and Collaboration

Whether you work in an office or on a construction site, being able to work effectively with others is essential personal and professional skill.

Why it matters: Businesses run on cooperation. Employers look for candidates who thrive in teams, not just solo workers.

Examples for your CV:

• “Collaborated with marketing and design teams to launch a product campaign that generated £120,000 in revenue.”
  
• “Actively contributed to a team of six on a cross-functional project, delivering ahead of deadline.”
  

3. Problem-Solving

A core example from any good skills and qualities list, problem-solving demonstrates initiative and capability.

Why it matters: Employers want proactive professionals who can troubleshoot, improve processes, and stay calm under pressure.

Examples for your CV:

• “Reduced customer complaints by 18% by analysing service bottlenecks and proposing changes to the support process.”
  
• “Diagnosed and fixed bugs in client code, resolving delivery issues and improving customer satisfaction.”
  

4. IT and Digital Skills

Digital fluency is one of the most essential professional skills examples today.

Why it matters: Digital tools are central to how businesses operate. Whether it’s data entry or using CRM software, these skills and qualities for a CV are critical.

Examples for your CV:

• “Advanced Excel user: pivot tables, formulas, and financial modelling.”
  
• “Used Salesforce to manage customer leads and follow-up communication.”
  

5. Leadership and Management

Leadership potential should be part of any strong CV personal skills section, even if you’re not applying for a leadership role.

Why it matters: Employers value self-starters who can eventually grow into leadership roles or manage projects independently.

Examples for your CV:

• “Managed a small team of interns, assigning tasks and providing weekly feedback.”
  
• “Led meetings with senior stakeholders, presenting performance metrics and solutions.”
  

6. Time Management

A top entry in many examples of skills and qualities, time management is especially relevant for fast-paced roles.

Why it matters: Time efficiency translates directly into productivity. Employers want candidates who can deliver reliably without constant supervision.

Examples for your CV:

• “Organised and delivered five simultaneous client campaigns, all completed on time.”
  
• “Implemented a personal scheduling system, reducing missed deadlines by 40%.”
  

7. Critical Thinking

This is one of those personal and professional skills that supports innovation, strategy, and better decision-making.

Why it matters: Businesses need thinkers, not just doers. Critical thinking helps avoid mistakes and optimise performance.

Examples for your CV:

• “Assessed customer feedback data to identify trends and recommended process improvements.”
  
• “Evaluated vendor contracts and proposed renegotiations that saved £15,000 annually.”
  

8. Customer Service Skills

An essential part of both CV personal skills and professional skills, customer service is more than being friendly.

Why it matters: Every business, whether B2B or B2C, relies on strong customer relationships.

Examples for your CV:

• “Resolved 50+ customer queries weekly with a 95% satisfaction rating.”
  
• “Handled difficult client interactions while maintaining brand reputation.”
  

9. Organisational Skills

A staple of any skills and qualities list, organisation shows reliability and control over your workload.

Why it matters: Organisation is key for maintaining consistency and reducing workplace chaos.

Examples for your CV:

• “Created a shared document library to centralise client materials and streamline access.”
  
• “Coordinated weekly team calendars, ensuring no meeting clashes.”
  

10. Analytical Skills

Part of the most highly valued professional skills examples, analytical skills power better business decisions.

Why it matters: Analysis underpins most modern decisions — especially in roles involving marketing, sales, finance, or operations.

Examples for your CV:

• “Analysed website traffic and advised on SEO strategy that increased organic leads by 40%.”
  
• “Monitored budget variances and reported discrepancies to the finance manager.”
  

11. Creativity and Innovation

These are sometimes overlooked in personal resumes, but they’re vital for staying competitive and adaptable.

Why it matters: Employers love people who can look beyond the obvious and offer fresh ideas.

Examples for your CV:

• “Developed a new onboarding presentation, improving new staff satisfaction scores.”
  
• “Suggested an alternative layout for digital ads, boosting click-through rate by 25%.”
  

12. Attention to Detail

One of the most trusted personal skills for CV writing — and often one of the most underestimated.

Why it matters: Especially in law, finance, and data roles — small mistakes can have big consequences.

Examples for your CV:

• “Proofread 100+ pages of policy documentation with zero factual errors.”
  
• “Checked expense reports for accuracy before monthly submission.”
  

Including these skills and attributes examples not only strengthens your CV but gives hiring managers a clear picture of your value. Use this skills and qualities list as a guide to highlight your personal and professional skills, tailor your CV to the role, and show employers why you’re the right fit.

Powerful Personal Skills and Attributes Examples to Highlight (With Real-Life Phrasing)

We’ve already explored the essential professional skills for CVs — the tasks you can perform and the tools you know how to use. But what about the kind of person you are at work? That’s where personal attributes for CV writing come in.

Attributes are your default behavioural qualities — the traits that shape how you communicate, collaborate, and carry out responsibilities. These are part of your broader personal skills and qualities, and employers care about them just as much as your technical know-how. Why? Because they impact how well you’ll fit into the team, handle challenges, and represent the company. The strongest CVs include both skills and attributes examples to present a complete picture of a candidate.

Let’s explore some of the most valuable personal qualities for CV success, along with real-world phrasing to help you showcase them with professionalism and subtlety. These are excellent examples of skills of a person that employers are actively looking for.

1. Reliability and Trustworthiness

Employers want people they can depend on — people who do what they say they will, meet deadlines, and keep sensitive information confidential. This is a foundational personal attribute for CV strength.

How to express it on your CV:

• “Consistently met project deadlines across five major campaigns, receiving commendation for reliability.”
  
• “Trusted with confidential client data and internal communications, maintaining discretion at all times.”

2. Initiative

Taking ownership and going beyond your job description shows you’re proactive and committed to adding value — an excellent example of skills of a person that employers value.

How to express it:

• “Volunteered to lead the onboarding of new team members, streamlining the training process.”
  
• “Identified inefficiencies in workflow and proposed a new documentation process that cut admin time by 30%.”

3. Emotional Intelligence

This refers to your ability to understand, manage, and respond to your own emotions and those of others — a vital personal quality for CV inclusion, especially for leadership and team-based roles.

How to express it:

• “Handled client complaints with empathy and composure, consistently resolving issues without escalation.”
  
• “Recognised and addressed team morale issues during a high-pressure period, boosting productivity.”

4. Adaptability

Workplaces evolve. Tools change. Projects shift. Being able to adapt without drama is one of the most valuable personal attributes for CV impact.

How to express it:

• “Quickly adapted to hybrid work structure, maintaining output and team collaboration during transition.”
  
• “Learned new software within two weeks to support project delivery under changing requirements.”

5. Positivity and Enthusiasm

A positive attitude contributes to a better work culture and makes people want to work with you — a soft skill that belongs in any strong personal skills and qualities list.

How to express it:

• “Maintained a constructive and upbeat approach during challenging deadlines, keeping the team motivated.”
  
• “Recognised for consistently bringing a solution-oriented mindset to cross-departmental meetings.”

6. Resilience

Resilience is your ability to bounce back from difficulties and persist through challenges without losing momentum — a must-have personal quality for CV entries, especially in high-pressure roles.

How to express it:

• “Delivered key milestones despite sudden resource cuts, showing strong resilience under pressure.”
  
• “Received positive feedback for maintaining client relationships during a product recall crisis.”
  

7. Integrity

Being honest, ethical, and aligned with company values is non-negotiable — particularly important in roles that involve financial responsibility or data access. A core part of both personal attributes for CV writing and general skills and attributes examples.

How to express it:

• “Handled financial reconciliation for quarterly reporting with full transparency and zero discrepancies.”
  
• “Praised for upholding company policy during a conflict of interest issue, ensuring procedural fairness.”
  

8. Curiosity and Willingness to Learn

This is an excellent example of skills of a person who stays relevant and competitive. Employers value lifelong learners with curiosity and initiative.

How to express it:

• “Completed five self-paced courses on UX design while working full time, showcasing ongoing learning.”
  
• “Regularly attend industry webinars to stay current with digital marketing trends.”
  

9. Confidence (Not Arrogance)

Confidence helps you take initiative and contribute meaningfully. It’s a subtle but effective personal attribute for CV inclusion when expressed properly.

How to express it:

• “Presented strategy pitch to senior executives with confidence and clarity, resulting in project approval.”
  
• “Comfortable leading meetings and contributing ideas in collaborative settings.”
  

10. Work Ethic

This all-encompassing trait includes discipline, accountability, and dedication — key components of personal skills and qualities that show long-term potential.

How to express it:

• “Known for arriving early, staying focused, and consistently going the extra mile in project delivery.”
  
• “Awarded ‘Employee of the Month’ for consistent high-quality output and team support.”

By showcasing these skills and attributes examples in your CV, you’re demonstrating that you offer more than just technical ability — you also bring the right mindset and values. These are not only excellent personal qualities for CV impact but also help you stand out as a well-rounded professional ready to contribute.

Putting Attributes in the Right Place on Your CV

Unlike technical skills, personal attributes for a job don’t always belong in a bullet list. Instead, they’re most effective when woven into your CV strategically. Here’s how to integrate skills and attributes examples that highlight both your technical abilities and your personality:

• Personal Profile Section: This is where you can include 2–3 strong attributes tied to what the employer is looking for, blending them with items from your list of professional skills.

Example:
“Reliable and self-motivated professional with strong organisational skills and a commitment to continuous learning.”

• Work Experience Descriptions: Use action-driven language to showcase these traits in context, combining examples of professional skills with the behaviours that supported your success.

Example:
“Adapted swiftly to new remote work systems, ensuring team connectivity and deadline adherence.”

• Cover Letter (optional): If space is tight on your CV, your cover letter is a great place to expand on personal attributes for a job through short anecdotes or measurable results. This also gives you the opportunity to reinforce your skills and attributes examples in a more narrative form.

How to Write These Skills and Attributes Examples in Your CV

Knowing your best skills and attributes examples is just the beginning — now it’s time to present them effectively. Your CV isn’t just a list of tasks you’ve performed. It’s a snapshot of what makes you valuable, and how you can help an employer succeed. Whether you’re focusing on a personal skill like adaptability or a technical area such as project management, communicating them the right way is what sets your application apart.

Let’s break down how you can structure and write these skills and attributes in a way that boosts your chances of getting noticed — and hired.

Create a Dedicated Skills Section

A clearly labelled ‘Skills’ section helps recruiters quickly see what you bring to the table. This should reflect both your personal skills CV content and your technical or professional skills for resume success.

Make sure to:

• Include both hard and soft skills. For example:
  Digital Marketing · Project Management · Time Management · Public Speaking · CRM Tools · Copywriting
  This gives a balanced view from your list of personal skills and technical capabilities.
  
• Keep it tailored to the job you’re applying for. Don’t copy and paste the same list for every application.
  
• Avoid generic fluff like “good communication” unless you back it up elsewhere with real examples of professionalism skills in action.
  

Weave Skills into Work Experience

Instead of listing duties, focus on what you achieved using those skills. This is the ideal place to show o

ff both your skills and attributes examples.

Less effective:
“Handled emails and customer inquiries.”

More effective:
“Managed daily customer service emails and resolved queries with a 94% satisfaction rate using effective written communication and CRM software.”

Tips:

• Begin bullet points with strong action verbs (e.g., led, coordinated, developed, implemented).
  
• Whenever possible, quantify your impact (percentages, revenue, satisfaction scores, deadlines met, etc.).
  
• Highlight how your skills added value — not just what you were “responsible for.”
  

This not only reflects your achievements but shows how you’ve demonstrated key professional skills for resume consideration.

Incorporate Skills and Attributes Examples in Your Personal Profile

Your personal profile (the short intro at the top of your CV) is prime space to hint at who you are as a person, not just what you do. This is where your list of personal skills and personal attributes can really shine.

Here’s a structure you can follow:
“Reliable and adaptable marketing professional with over 4 years of experience in digital campaigns and SEO strategy. Known for a strong work ethic, collaborative nature, and the ability to thrive under pressure.”

This section should reflect:

• Your top 2–3 strengths (both skills and attributes)
  
• Your level of experience
  
• What makes you different or particularly suitable for the role
  

Including key professionalism skills such as work ethic or integrity, this helps shape a well-rounded first impression.

Tailor Every CV to the Job Description

Recruiters are often flooded with hundreds of CVs. Tailoring yours helps you rise to the top — especially if your personal skills CV content closely aligns with the job requirements.

How to tailor effectively:

• Highlight keywords from the job ad (e.g., “project management,” “analytical thinking,” “sales strategy”).
  
• Use these keywords verbatim in your skills list and work experience section — assuming they truthfully apply to you.
  
• Re-order your listed skills based on relevance to the specific job.
  

Why this matters:
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) used by many companies scan CVs for keywords before a human even sees it. No keyword match = no interview.//

Common Mistakes to Avoid skills

Even strong candidates lose out due to CV errors. Avoid these pitfalls:

❌ Listing too many vague or outdated skills. Stick to those relevant to the role and include current professionalism skills.
❌ Forgetting to update your CV for each job. Generic CVs rarely impress.
❌ Using buzzwords without evidence. Claiming you’re “hard-working” means little unless demonstrated through real skills and attributes examples.
❌ Underselling yourself. Don’t shy away from achievements — even small wins matter.

By thoughtfully integrating your personal skills list, measurable achievements, and carefully selected professional skills for resume success, you can create a CV that stands out — one that shows not only what you can do, but also who you are and how you work.

Bonus: Skills and Attributes Examples Clusters by Job Type

If you’re unsure which skills and attributes examples apply to your field, here are job-specific clusters to inspire your CV. These categories combine both technical strengths and personality skills to help you show up as a well-rounded candidate.

Customer Service

• Skills: Conflict resolution, multi-channel communication, product knowledge
• Attributes: Patience, empathy, resilience

These are great examples of personal skills that demonstrate how you handle client-facing roles.

Project Management

• Skills: Planning, budgeting, leadership, risk management
• Attributes: Strategic thinking, accountability, calm under pressure

A strong professional skills list in this area shows your ability to lead, while your personal qualities and skills reflect your ability to handle responsibility.

Tech & IT Roles

• Skills: Programming languages, debugging, systems analysis
• Attributes: Curiosity, adaptability, independence

Tech professionals benefit from combining problem-solving with good personal skills like adaptability and self-motivation.

Admin and Clerical

Skills: Data entry, calendar management, reporting
Attributes: Precision, time management, discretion

These roles often rely on a mix of process-based abilities and qualities for resume strength, like accuracy and professionalism.

Creative Industries

• Skills: Graphic design, content writing, branding
• Attributes: Creativity, initiative, versatility

Creative roles require you to highlight both your talent and your personal skills definition — how you approach collaboration, deadlines, and innovation.

Final Tips for Success

• Keep your CV to 1–2 pages if you’re in the UK — focus on relevance, not length.
• Use a clean format: professional font, clear headings, consistent layout.
• Ask for feedback from a colleague or career coach if you’re unsure.
• Save as PDF before sending to preserve layout.

Whether you’re building your first CV or refining an existing one, focusing on a combination of skills and attributes examples, a strong professional skills list, and the right personal qualities and skills will help you stand out to employers.

Conclusion

Crafting a powerful CV isn’t just about listing everything you’ve ever done — it’s about making smart choices. The right mix of skills and personal attributes tells employers: This is someone who will thrive here.

Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, take the time to:

• Identify your strongest skills and attributes examples and traits
  
• Tailor them to each job you apply for, focusing on a relevant list of key skills for a CV
  
• Back them up with real-world examples
  

Wondering what is a professional skill and how to develop it? Explore online courses and career development tools designed for UK professionals — and make sure your next CV truly reflects the best of you.