COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCES

Communicative competences  correspond to the ability to convey information effectively from one person to another. For this reason, they are considered important by human resources and often represent a distinctive element that can win a job interview. Given their importance, communication skills are often present in CVs. But what to write and how to present them to the reader? On this page, we will look at what to write in your CV about communicative skills, various examples, and how to improve them.

Surely a mistake to be avoided is to confuse one’s communication skills with simply “knowing how to speak”, as one must also know how to write and be able to use non-verbal language in order to make a difference and be able to use all these skills to one’s advantage. The world of work is constantly changing: new markets, new companies, and new professional figures are born every day at an unceasing pace.

This digital revolution has pushed many professionals to specialize in the digital sphere and to train in the field of teaching, through a course in Digital Coaching to improve their communication skills and digital competencies.

Curriculum with communicative competences

Knowing what communicative competences one possesses is crucial. Talking and communicating are not the same thing, even more so in today’s working world.

Possessing the ability to transmit information is equivalent to possessing a series of skills that go beyond mere “dialogue”. These are always transversal skills, linked to the naturalness of creating empathy with those in front of you, establishing a relationship of serenity and mutual trust. These qualities also reflect fundamental leadership in managing relationships in one’s environment, both personal and work-related.

Being able to work in a team, in harmony with people, is an aspect that is often underestimated, when in fact it is precisely thanks to such harmony that one collaborates further, elaborating ideas and strategies that lead to concrete results. Having certain communication skills in one’s CV implies, as a consequence, a proactive image and openness to confrontation, which is very important for a professional.

Here are some examples of how to include communication skills in the curriculum:

• Propensity to listen acquired thanks to…
• Excellent customer contact management, acquired during the…
• Communication and interpersonal skills developed in the…
• Communication-relational skills acquired through experience at the company…

Care must be taken in the placement to make the right connections between work or training experiences and the type of communication competence developed.

Take the test and find out what communicative competences competences you possess that you can put on your resume

The importance of communicative competences

Being able to convey information effectively can be a trump card in so many situations. Businesses, negotiations, or simple conversations take place through confrontation, involving so many factors of human behavior: dialogue, posture, dealing with the public, or simple handshakes tell who you are, so it is of paramount importance to learn how to communicate your image.

Communication skills are always a welcome calling card in the working world, as they denote confidence and self-assurance. A self-respecting CV cannot deprive itself of certain knowledge, especially since knowing how to relate to people is basic, both at work and in everyday life.

Communication skills examples

All communication skills have specific characteristics, which can suggest situations in which these skills can prove useful and effective. Below we see some situations in which soft skills are crucial for success.

Public Speaking

Knowing how to speak in public is definitely not a skill for everyone, as you are totally exposed in many ways. Aspects such as body language, the words you use, or the tone of your voice are all details that define the effectiveness of a speech for the audience listening to you, be it a large one or one person. Of all the communication skills, this is certainly the one where you demonstrate the level of your emotional stress management, a detail on which companies are very demanding.

Good public speaking skills can be useful in various situations: a speech at a conference, a business meeting, a lecture, or even an interview.

Listen

Listening is the first step to really understanding the other person’s condition, and here again, there is a huge difference from simply “hearing”. Sometimes one pretends to immediately expound one’s own point of view, convinced that this is the best way forward, without caring what the other person really thinks. This is an unforgivable mistake, as it prevents you from getting to know the true needs of the person or company in front of you. Listening is a quality that brings out patience and the ability to empathize, two key characteristics in leaders and successful people.

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Writing

How often does one prefer to send a voice message rather than write? This is natural, as it is more challenging to write a concept well than to explain it in words. Even if reading is not the most tiring thing in the world for the recipient, it still requires attention. Nevertheless, transcribed information is a permanent record and can be found by everyone, which is why good, simple, and effective summarising skills will certainly be appreciated and taken into consideration.

The content of a business meeting is, of course, not comparable to that of a promotional message, so knowing how to write means choosing the most appropriate words according to the reader in question, which is also among the rarest of communication skills. One of the digital fields in which excellent writing skills are required is web content, where it is necessary to produce clear and effective text for the user to read.

Non-verbal language

The English call it “body language”, referring to the body gestures that, intentionally or unintentionally, signal intentions, emotions, and character. Effective non-verbal language is often crucial in job interviews, where one needs to be able to convey self-confidence and command of the situation. It is not uncommon for anxiety to get the upper hand in such cases, so it is important to maintain control and remain clear-headed, without appearing impulsive or awkward.

Empathy

Empathy is certainly among the most important communicative competences. Knowing how to speak, how to write, how to listen, or how to move, are all steps that have one main goal: to empathize with the other party. In the world of relationships, it makes little difference whether personal or professional, understanding the state of mind of others is essential. Empathy allows access to the primary needs of the person in front of you, creating a relationship not only of trust but of total understanding.

The knowledge, skills, and competencies described so far also make a difference in the digital world. Knowing how to communicate online and do personal branding is one of the keys to success, where the choice of content to be shown is crucial to establish a trusting relationship with users.

How to improve communication competences

But can these communication skills be improved or not? Of course yes, there are different ways to practice and train one’s communication skills.

Getting used to listening is a start, as it allows you to focus on the people in front of you and intercept their points of view. One needs to concentrate on the words being said, so as to listen actively and get a general picture of the situation. Beyond that, it is necessary to show interest in the interlocutor: ask questions, ask for clarifications and examples, and discuss different points of view.

Non-verbal language offers plenty of exercises to practice, e.g. maintaining a posture that is relaxed and open to confrontation, so as to convey a sense of openness to the other person. Another important detail is eye contact: looking into the eyes of the other person will facilitate understanding, as well as being a sign of strong self-confidence.

Practicing public speaking requires a lot of practice: first of all, it is advisable to prepare oneself for the speech, i.e. to know not only the main topic but also all related topics. This will help in the event of sudden or particular questions. Another fundamental point is to “personalize” your public speaking, perhaps by including sympathetic or everyday aspects of your own life, so as to keep the audience’s concentration high without boring them.

Transversal competences according to the type of work

Having seen some communication competencies in the previous paragraph, it is time to contextualize them within certain professional figures. What communication skills do various professions require? Here are some examples.

Communication skills of a lawyer: public speaking is certainly required, here knowing how to speak to judges and clients is a winner. An uncertain and confident lawyer could not do his job well. While other professions would focus on the excellent use of body language and friendliness to reassure those in front of you.

Nurse communication skills: in this profession, appropriate body language is of vital importance to reassure patients. Conveying tranquillity with cautious gestures will create a feeling of trust in the interlocutor.

Communication skills receptionist: friendliness and language property will hit the mark and make the reception a strong point.

Communication and interpersonal skills of the coach

There is a profession that is literally evolving hand in hand with all that digital platforms are offering: coaching. If one thinks of teaching as an easy practice, one is making a serious mistake. The teacher must excel in all communication skills, as he or she is often faced with a class of people who expect to learn something, of course. With a digital revolution taking place, can this professional figure be adequately updated? The answer is yes, thanks to digital coaching.

A digital coach passes on digital knowledge, especially when it comes to following and improving an online business. This professional figure is increasingly in demand in the business world, as he or she does more than just teach. A digital coach deals with the online channels and platforms of companies, making the most of everything the Internet offers in terms of marketing.

As you may have guessed, there are many emerging professions in the digital world, but how much do you know about them?

Here is a quick guide on digital professions for free download

Knowledge of a second language

Although the knowledge of other languages, as opposed to one’s native language, is part of the language skills on a CV, it is a cross-cutting competence. In fact, the written and spoken knowledge and use of a second language is definitely an extra card to play in one’s CV. And that English is one of the most dominant languages in the world is common knowledge.

Indeed, communication competences in English are increasingly in demand within companies: in addition to the classic ability to deliver a speech, many sectors are characterized by Anglo-Saxon terms and words.

The curriculum vitae itself consists of parts commonly described in English, such as problem-solving skills, teamworking, or so-called smart working (managing commitments and the business independently, usually via PC).

Knowing English or a second language is certainly an additional communication skill that can enhance one’s professional persona.

This page looked at which communication skills to include in the CV and their relative importance both at work and in interpersonal relationships. Rarely in today’s marketing does good communication fail to generate leads and acquire valuable contacts.

A professional cannot avoid possessing certain skills, as they are real shortcuts to simpler and more effective negotiations that enhance human relationships and communicate the reliability of one’s business.

If you would like to work online and acquire skills in this area, please contact us. We will help you make them your own and enhance them correctly in your CV