What Are 21st Century Skills: List for a Resume + Examples

Each job has a specific set of skills. Mastering those makes you a specialist in your field. And you might be one of those experts who’ve spent years perfecting their skill set. You feel confident in your abilities, and you’re sure they will help you find your dream job.

But you’ve heard people talking about other skill types… Like the 21st century skills. They sound so fresh. So modern. And you started wondering… What are they? Do I have any of them?

This guide will show you:

• Which are the three 21st century skills everyone must have.
• How to list 21st century skills on a resume or CV.
• How 21st century skills can help boost your job application.

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21st Century Skills in a Resume: Example

Declaration: The information stated above is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

1. What are 21st Century Skills?

21st century skills are a set of abilities needed to achieve success in a 21st-century workplace. They are usually divided into three 21st century skills categories: learning and innovation, information and media literacy, and life skills. These abilities are separate than job-specific hard skills.

 
The three 21st century skill categories include:

• Learning and Innovation skills: such as creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.
• Information and Media Literacy skills: these include accessing and evaluating information, applying technology, and utilizing media tools.
• Life skills: these include flexibility, time management, interaction with others, and managing work.

You’ve probably heard about some of those before. There’s been a lot of buzz around those skills in recent years. Teachers are expected to develop those abilities in their students, and many progressive teaching methodologies include specific activities related to 21st century skills in the classroom.

But is that all there is to 21st century skills?

Of course not. Read on to find out what else fits into each 21st century skill category.

Want to speed up and write your job application quickly? See here: Resume Writing Guide with Samples

2. 21st Century Skills Examples

It really doesn’t matter what field you work in. You might be a front-desk receptionist, an HR manager, a software engineer, or a taxi driver—you still need to have at least some 21st century skills.

The good news is that they come naturally to many people. And even if they don’t, they can be learned!

Let’s see each 21st century skills category in more detail:

Learning and Innovation Skills

Modern life requires us to learn new things all the time. Setting up a brand-new smartphone. Installing apps on a new smart TV. Even using self-checkout lanes at supermarkets. It’s no wonder that workplaces also expect employees the ability to learn quickly.

Here’s a list of the key learning and innovation skills:

• Creative thinking
• Communicating ideas
• Learning from mistakes
• Critical thinking
• Decision-making
• Analytical thinking
• Interpreting information
• Problem-solving
• Effective communication
• Active listening
• Teamwork
• Collaboration
• Negotiating 

Information and Media Literacy Skills

We can access any information we want at any given moment. With such power comes the responsibility to distinguish between facts and opinions, as well as fake news and clickbait content.

The key information and media literacy skills include:

• Accessing information
• Evaluating information
• Interpreting media messages
• Using digital technologies

Life Skills

Many life skills haven’t changed much over decades—the ability to drink enough water and feed yourself is still on top of the list for most people. But the 21st century also brought new challenges. And those require new ways to adapt. 21st century life skills are also workplace skills, as they are needed pretty much at all times.

Examples of life skills include:

• Adaptability
• Flexibility
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Prioritizing
• Time management
• Keeping deadlines
• Setting strategic goals
• Managing workload
• Self-reflection
• Cultural sensitivity
• Open-mindedness
• Managing projects
• Multitasking
• Accountability
• Leading others

That’s a lot to choose from!

Now, let’s see how to add 21st century skills to your resume.

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3. How to List 21st Century Skills in Your Resume

Now when someone asks “What are 21st century skills?”, you’ll know the answer! But hey—it’s all well and good knowing the theory, but we should try putting it into practice. For instance, by using 21st century skills on your resume. 

You might be tempted to just copy and paste them into your resume as a long list. Hold on—that’s not going to help your application. Anyone can do that, but it doesn’t mean they have really mastered those abilities.

Instead of adding a list of skills with nothing to back them up, include 21st century skills in all sections of your resume.

How?

It’s easy.

First, scan the job offer you’re interested in. Note down the required skills. These are the ones you must have.

Now it’s time to add them to each section of your resume.

Add 21st Century Skills in Your Summary

Innovation. Creativity. Setting goals. Leading others. That’s a nice mix of 21st century skills, cleverly inserted into the summary.

Mention 21st Century Skills in the Work Experience

This person doesn't just follow the leaders. They make their own informed decisions, approach problems in a creative way, and communicate effectively. They collaborate with others to achieve common goals, such as raising funds to purchase school equipment. And creating engaging online lessons shows that they are proficient with modern technologies.

Having little work experience to show off? Remember that you can always add information about internships or academic projects you’ve done.

If you’re a fresher who’s applying for an internship, you can use some advice. Check here: Internship Resume Format and Guide

Show 21st Century Skills in the Education Section

Great employees often develop their first big ideas while at college. Doing extracurricular projects is a great way to develop 21st century skills for students. Participating in academic contests and working with others strengthens collaboration, boost innovation, and sparks creative thinking.

Education section is especially important in a fresher’s resume. Learn more: Sample Fresher Resume with Tips

List 21st Century Skills in the Skill Section

You can divide the skill section into different skill categories. Instead of just adding simple keywords, use more specific information. For example, don’t write “Digital technologies” but list the software you use frequently instead.

Need more info about digital skills? Check this guide on Computer and Software Resume Skills

Highlight 21st Century Skills in Extra Resume Sections

21st century skills are all about constant development and learning. By adding certifications and mentioning attended workshops, you can show that you’re open-minded, and you set career goals for yourself. Learning foreign languages shows cultural sensitivity and communication skills.

Additional resume sections are especially important in a fresher’s job application. Need guidelines for writing a resume with little work experience? Check here: Fresher Resume Format with Samples

4. How to Develop Your 21st Century Skills

Now that you know what 21st century skills are, you might feel a bit self-conscious. They’re not easy to measure in any objective way. There are no exams you can pass. But there are still many ways you can work on developing your 21st century skills.

Here’s your action plan:

• Select skills to work on: You can’t work on everything at the same time. And you probably have some of those skills already. Are you a creative thinker, but it’s not easy for you to explain your ideas to others? Then work on your communication skills. You’re great at organizing work and setting goals, but you hate it when people criticize your plans? Work on giving and receiving feedback.
• Find learning opportunities: You can try online courses such as Coursera’s Creative Thinking or Teamwork Skills, listen to helpful YouTube videos, try self-help books, or read online articles on boosting your 21st century skills. Many workplaces also organize soft-skills workshops for their employees.
• Practice your skills: Skills are like muscles—the more often you practice them, the more they develop. Be patient with yourself. Start with easier things. If you work on creativity, don’t start with trying to invent a groundbreaking renewable energy source—instead, try to come up with an idea to simplify your morning routine, or to save money on weekly shopping trips.

Pro Tip: The best way to learn about yourself is… to ask others about you. True, it can be very uncomfortable. But other people see you from a different perspective. They can help you notice areas to work on as well as identify your strengths. You can also learn from them. Do you know someone who’s great at negotiating? Or someone who is a natural leader? Ask them for advice!

And that’s it!

As you can see, it’s easy to spark your resume with 21st century skills. But remember—that’s not the end! You should also keep them in mind when writing your cover letter. No job application is complete without a neat cover letter that proves you’ve got the skills needed for the job. Not only the hard, job-related skills, but also 21st century skills.

Read more: How to Format a Cover Letter: Tips & Examples

A great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Thank you for reading! Are you ready to add 21st century skills to your resume? Are any of them unclear to you? Let us know in the comments below!

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