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Partnering with SME companies throughout East Anglia, Michelle Denny Recruitment is a recruitment agency which specialises in personalised recruitment consultancy services in Norfolk and Suffolk to help you discover that elusive new member of staff at a budget that suits you.

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With different campaign options to meet your requirements and innovative marketing strategies to captivate worthy candidates, we'll present you with a refreshing, no-fuss approach to recruitment. Whether you need a comprehensive recruitment drive with full support, or a simple campaign to find you candidates to review in-house, we'll work with you as an extension of your team, to understand your business and the people within it. 

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We'll introduce you to companies with job opportunities across Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond that share your values and understand your career aspirations so you can feel confident in your job search. With guidance, support, constructive feedback and consistent communication as standard throughout our approach, Michelle Denny Recruitment Consultancy looks beyond your CV to discover what makes you, you!

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With a clear direction, straightforward application process and ongoing recommendations, we’ll provide you with the ultimate match-making service to help you find the right job, in the right company, with the right team. Learn more, view our current vacancies and upload your CV to register for upcoming roles too.

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How to Present Your Soft Skills on Your CV - With Credibility and Impact

  • Michelle Denny
  • Jun 2
  • 3 min read

In a competitive hiring market, technical experience alone rarely seals the deal.


Increasingly, employers are making decisions based on something less tangible - but just as critical: soft skills. The ability to communicate clearly, adapt to change, manage competing demands or work effectively with others can often be what differentiates one strong candidate from another.


But while most people bring these skills to the table, very few present them well on their CV.

Here’s how to do that - with credibility, clarity, and without sounding like a cliché.



Why soft skills are under the spotlight


Hiring managers are looking beyond what you’ve done - they want to understand how you operate. That includes how you work with people, respond to pressure, manage your time, or navigate uncertainty.


Some of the soft skills most in demand right now include:


  • Adaptability - navigating change, ambiguity, and evolving priorities

  • Communication - writing, listening, and speaking clearly across audiences

  • Collaboration - contributing in cross-functional or team-based settings

  • Problem-solving - proactively identifying solutions, not just raising issues

  • Emotional intelligence - reading a room, responding thoughtfully, building trust


These are rarely listed under job titles - but they’re often the reason someone succeeds in a role.


Why listing soft skills isn’t enough


You’ve seen it before:

“Excellent communicator. Team player. Strong work ethic.”


These phrases are everywhere. But on their own, they’re not persuasive because they’re unproven. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see these qualities in action.


Instead of stating traits, demonstrate them through the way you describe your experience.


Where to show soft skills on your CV


Obviously, you don’t need a separate section labelled “soft skills.” Instead, make sure they’re embedded where it matters - so the reader doesn’t have to guess what you bring beyond your job titles.


1. Your personal summary

This is your chance to introduce how you work, not just what you’ve done.


Instead of: “Motivated individual with excellent problem-solving skills.”


Try: “A commercially aware operations lead, known for identifying process gaps and building practical, people-led solutions that improve workflow and communication.”


Lead with value, not adjectives.


2. Experience and achievement bullet points

Use your professional history to illustrate soft skills in action.


A few examples:

  • “Chaired weekly cross-functional team meetings to prioritise resources and manage project risk.”

  • “Resolved client onboarding bottlenecks by coordinating feedback from sales, ops and compliance teams.”

  • “Adapted service delivery processes in response to regulatory changes, maintaining high standards under pressure.”


These examples show adaptability, collaboration, initiative - without ever naming them directly.


3. Tailored alignment with the role


When reading a job description, note the soft skills it emphasises. If the employer highlights “clear communication” or “resilience,” reflect those (honestly) in your tone and examples.

This isn’t keyword stuffing - it’s about alignment.

 

Reflect before you write


Most people use soft skills daily - but don’t stop to label or frame them.

Before you update your CV, consider:


  • Where have I had to work across departments or with conflicting priorities?

  • How do I manage situations where decisions are unclear or change quickly?

  • When have I had to influence others, manage expectations, or navigate resistance?

  • How do I adapt my approach based on the people I’m working with?


Answering these questions will help you shape real examples that feel authentic - not generic.


What strong soft skills say about you


Demonstrating soft skills on your CV is not about padding. It’s about signalling how you show up - not just what you’ve done.


When done well, it suggests:


  • You can manage yourself and others

  • You think beyond your own remit

  • You’ll contribute to the culture as well as the output


These are often the reasons candidates are hired - or progress further in the process.


The CV sets the tone - the interview brings it to life


You don’t have to tell the whole story on your CV.What you need is enough clarity and relevance to spark confidence - and set up a meaningful conversation at interview stage.

We’ll be covering how to do that in the next blog: how to talk about your soft skills in person.

 

Need a second opinion?


If you're unsure whether your CV reflects the way you work - or if you're relying too heavily on tired phrases - we can help you sharpen the message.


📩 Get in touch for honest, constructive feedback.

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