Many people stall when it comes to the skills section of a CV. Listing a job title or a diploma is easy enough, but turning everyday experience into something an employer recognises is harder. EURES, the European job mobility network, says the problem usually isn't a lack of skills — it's a lack of guidance on how to spot and describe them.
If you're young and haven't built up much work experience yet, start with things you've already done outside a job. Did you organise a university event, a sports team outing or a student association activity? EURES points out that's project management. Did you tutor a classmate? That's communication and mentoring. Being a quick learner or working well in a team are also skills employers look for, even without a certificate attached.
If you're changing careers or going back to work after a break, think about abilities that carry across any job. EURES notes that things like managing a difficult situation calmly, or negotiating with people who see things differently, stay valuable no matter the industry or country you work in.
One simple way to find skills you've stopped noticing in yourself: ask a former colleague or manager what they think your biggest contribution was. EURES suggests this because people often undersell the things that come naturally to them.
You don't have to work this out alone, either. EURES highlights several public employment services across Europe that help people put their skills into words. Austria's Vocational Information System helps jobseekers describe and build on their skills as part of a personal action plan. France folds validation of prior experience into its counselling, turning informal experience into a recognised qualification. Portugal's employment service works with Qualifica centres for the same purpose. EURES itself offers access to advisers and labour market information, and Europass has tools to test digital skills and build a CV and cover letter.
Showing your skills clearly matters, because employers are shifting too. EURES reports that public employment services across Europe are encouraging businesses to focus more on what candidates can actually do, rather than only the qualifications on paper. Many employers, especially small businesses, are still unfamiliar with skills-based recruitment, or find it too complex to define clearly what a role really needs.
A few examples EURES gives: France's employment service runs simulation exercises, developed together with employers, that test abilities such as attention to detail and teamwork — this has opened up jobs in sectors like logistics, hospitality and retail to candidates without formal credentials. Belgium's and Finland's employment services use AI-assisted matching that looks for similar skills rather than identical job titles. In Ireland, Regional Skills Fora bring employers and training providers together so training stays aligned with what workplaces actually need.
To start today: write down two or three things you've done in the past year, inside or outside work, and ask yourself what skill each one shows. Then ask someone who's worked with you what they'd say your strongest quality is. Small steps like these, EURES suggests, can help build a CV that truly reflects your value — whatever role you're applying for.
Sources
EURES – eures.europa.eu/struggling-list-your-skills-cv-you-have-more-you-think-2026-07-29_en
EURES – eures.europa.eu/could-skills-based-recruitment-help-solve-labour-shortages-2026-08-12_en