How to showcase good communication skills in your resume (with examples)

Communication skills are one of the most sought-after qualities in job candidates. Employers know that strong communication is critical for teamwork, client relations, and effective leadership. But knowing how to showcase these skills on your resume can be tricky.  

In this article, Remote walks you through what good communication skills look like, provide examples, and explain how to highlight them on your resume to make a lasting impression on recruiters. 

What are communication skills and why do they matter?

Communication skills encompass a wide range of abilities that allow you to exchange information effectively. These skills can be divided into four main categories: 

• Spoken communication: Speaking clearly and effectively. This is your ability to convey information, ideas, emotions, or thoughts through spoken words.

• Non-verbal communication: Conveying messages through body language, tone, and facial expressions. 

• Written communication: Exchanging information, ideas, or messages through written symbols like letters, words, and sentences. Effective written communication requires clear language, proper grammar and punctuation, appropriate tone, and consideration of the audience's needs and context.

• Listening skills: Actively engaging with others to fully understand their message.  

In the workplace, communication drives collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation. It’s no surprise that soft skills like communication skills matter more than ever for talent acquisition.

Examples of effective communication skills for your resume

Including specific examples of your communication abilities on your resume can showcase your ability to collaborate, convey ideas, and build relationships effectively. 

Here are examples of key communication skills employers value that you can include in your resume.

1. Active listening 

Active listening skills mean that you are fully concentrating on, understanding, and responding to a speaker in a way that demonstrates genuine interest and comprehension. It involves not just hearing the words being spoken but also interpreting the speaker's message, emotions, and intent. 

To demonstrate your active listening skills, you can include something like the below example in your resume. 

• Attended to client’s concerns on product interface, provided tailored solutions that increased client satisfaction by 80%.

2. Spoken communication

Show your future employer that you can effectively speak in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. Employers value spoken communication skills because it demonstrates your capacity to articulate messages, actively participate in discussions, and adapt your delivery to different audiences and situations.

Here are some examples to prove your spoken communication skills on your resume:

• Delivered persuasive presentations to executive teams, clearly communicating project updates and strategic recommendations, resulting in 80% successful stakeholder buy-in.

• Communicated product benefits to potential clients during sales calls, leading to a 30% increase in conversion rates.

3. Written communication

Written communication skills involve using appropriate language, tone, grammar, and structure to ensure your intended written message is accurately understood by the audience. Strong written communication skills demonstrate your ability to organize thoughts, convey information precisely, and adapt your writing style to different audiences and purposes.

Here’s an example to prove your written communication skills on your resume:

• Authored detailed project reports to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clarity and reducing follow-up inquiries by 15%.

4. Nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication skills involve using facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye contact, volume, and tone to enhance, support, and replace verbal communication. This skill is helpful for offering support, expressing emotions, and building rapport with other people. 

Here’s an example to prove your nonverbal communication skills on your resume:

• Led client pitches using positive body language to build trust and stronger relationships, resulting in a 15% increase in client retention.

5. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the ability to build and maintain positive relationships through effective interaction with others. Employers value interpersonal skills because they demonstrate your ability to work well with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, fostering teamwork and creating a productive workplace. 

Here’s an example to prove your interpersonal skills on your resume:

• Led a company of 50 people as a community leader to build strong relationships in a remote environment, resulting in a 30% increase in employee retention during 12 months.

6. Negotiation

Negotiation skills include the ability to engage in discussions with the goal of reaching agreements or resolving differences that benefit all parties involved. It requires clear communication, active listening, persuasion, problem-solving, and an understanding of mutual interests to achieve favorable outcomes.

Here’s an example of how to include negotiation skills on your resume:

• Successfully negotiated vendor contracts, reducing procurement costs by 15% while maintaining high-quality standards and fostering long-term partnerships.

7. Empathy 

Empathy is the ability to understand, share, and relate to the feelings, thoughts, and perspectives of others. It involves responding in a way that shows compassion, respect, and awareness of the other person’s emotional state or situation. 

As a communication skill, empathy fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and enhances collaboration by making others feel heard, valued, and understood. 

The below example can demonstrate your empathy as a communication skill in your resume. 

• Exhibited high emotional intelligence by addressing customer complaints empathetically, retaining 95% of dissatisfied clients.

How to highlight communication skills on your resume

Simply listing your communication skills isn’t enough for writing an effective resume. Here are some ways to weave your communication skills into your resume strategically.

1. Focus on the job description

Tailoring your communication skills on your resume to the job description is a powerful way to stand out to employers and pass an applicant tracking system. 

Start by analyzing the job posting to identify the specific communication abilities the employer values, such as "team collaboration," "client interaction," or "presentation skills." Then, integrate these keywords into your resume by aligning your experiences with the role's requirements. 

By mirroring the language of the job description and providing relevant examples, you demonstrate that your communication skills are not only strong but also directly applicable to the position.

2. Tailor your skills section

Don’t neglect your soft skills like communication skills in the skills section of your resume. Since recruiters are likely to scan the skills section first, make sure you include your communication capabilities.

Tailor your skills section to include the most relevant communication skill for the role, ensuring they complement the hard skills required for the role. For example, if the position involves client-facing responsibilities, highlight skills like "customer communication" or "negotiation."

3. Give examples through your work experience

Use action verbs and measurable outcomes to highlight communication skills in your job history. By focusing on specific achievements, you show potential employers how your communication abilities translate into real-world results.

For instance, you can include the below examples as part of your work experience to show your communication skills:

• Negotiated contracts with vendors, saving the company 15% annually.

• Facilitated cross-departmental meetings, improving project timelines by 20%.

Stand out with Remote Talent 

Communication skills are critical in landing and excelling in global roles. Exemplifying your strong communication skills on your resume is a good way to stand out to top employers.

Better yet, Remote Talent gives you the boost you need to get your next remote job. We connect top talent like you with verified remote companies that value communication skills. Whether you're a pro at collaborating in virtual environments or crafting persuasive proposals, Remote Talent can help showcase your skills to the right employers.   Filter for remote or hybrid roles, by location, and pay range in advance, so you can connect with employers that fit your unique needs. Find your next role through Remote’s job board and create your free profile today.

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