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Meet Jane. She’s a secretary by day, but her true calling? Excel wizard. In her free time, Jane creates detailed spreadsheets for organizing her home life—everything from chores to budgeting to grocery lists. To top it off, she documents her creations across social media, sharing her passion for organization with a growing audience. She tried a few different ideas on her social platforms, but it was the one video showing her meticulously designed chore chart that caught fire. She dove into her analytics, saw the engagement skyrocket, and decided to focus her content on organizing and charting. Today, she has over 100,000 followers across various platforms. Along the way, Jane has utilized AI tools, social media content managers, and engagement trackers to grow her platform.

 

The kicker? Jane has never listed these skills on her resume.

 

This is a common story. Many of us, like Jane, have developed technical skills that we don’t even realize could translate into a more attractive resume. Whether it’s mastering a new software program at work or tinkering with tech in our personal lives, we’re often more tech-savvy than we give ourselves credit for.

 

So, how can you identify these hidden skills and use them to your advantage? Let’s explore.

 

From Job to Job: How Learning Software Builds Your Resume

 

Every job you take on offers a learning opportunity, especially when it comes to software. Often, employees bounce from one employer to another, learning various tools and systems along the way. For example, a secretary might start with basic data entry software, move to advanced scheduling systems, and eventually master project management tools. Each time you move to a new job, there’s a good chance you’re picking up valuable technical skills—even if they seem small at the time.

However, many of us overlook the opportunity to showcase these skills on our resumes. Why? It could be mere oversight, or maybe you never knew the name of the software in the first place! Sometimes, we become proficient in systems without realizing their formal names or the potential value they bring.

 

Here are just a few examples of commonly used software in different industries:

• Administrative/Office Work: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace, Microsoft Outlook
• Customer Service: Zendesk, Salesforce, LiveChat, HubSpot
• Marketing/Social Media: Hootsuite, Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Analytics
• Project Management: Trello, Asana, Monday.com, Microsoft Project

 

If you’ve used any of these programs in your job, you already have technical skills that are marketable. Make sure to document and highlight them on your resume.

 

How to Build and Document Your Technical Skills

 

So, how can you go from being "just another employee" using basic software to becoming someone who stands out in a crowded job market?

 

1. Learn the Names: When you’re using new software at work, take a moment to learn the name of the program and what it does. For example, instead of just saying, "I use an app to log customer interactions," be specific. Did you use Salesforce? Zendesk? Trello? Knowing the formal names of these tools can make a huge difference.
2. Explore Beyond the Basics: Once you’ve mastered the basic functions of a program, push yourself further. Learn the ins and outs of the software, explore features that go beyond your daily tasks, and challenge yourself to become more proficient than required. This level of mastery makes you much more valuable to future employers.
3. Document as You Go: Make it a habit to document the software you’re learning and the skills you’re developing as soon as you start using them. Don’t wait until you’re updating your resume; keep a running list of your skills in a document so you don’t forget what you’ve learned.
4. Transferable Skills: If you’ve become proficient in certain software, think about how those skills can transfer to other industries or jobs. For example, if you’re an administrative assistant who’s mastered Excel, those skills could be valuable in finance, marketing, or operations roles.

 

Remember, it’s not just the software you use at work that counts. Your personal use of technology can also boost your resume. Are you a spreadsheet enthusiast like Jane, organizing your home chores or budget in Excel? Do you create and edit documents, analyze data, or design content for your social media?

 

Here’s how these personal tech skills could translate into valuable resume points:

• Spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets): Budgeting, data analysis, organizing information, tracking household projects.
• Content Creation: If you’re using tools like Canva, Adobe Photoshop, or even basic video editing programs for personal projects or social media, these are highly sought-after skills.
• Email Management (Gmail/Outlook): Scheduling, creating email campaigns, organizing contacts.
• Internet Research: If you’re known as the go-to person for finding information online, this is an important skill! “Internet sleuths” can tout their investigative skills and research abilities on their resumes.

 

So, how do you take these non-employer skills and present them on your resume or in an interview?

 

1. Be Honest, But Confident: When discussing your personal tech skills in an interview, make sure to be honest about how you developed them, but don’t downplay their value. For example, “I’ve been managing my family’s budget using advanced Excel formulas for over five years” sounds far more impressive than “I just use Excel for fun.”
2. Use Professional Language: Research the professional terms that align with your skills. If you’re creating charts and graphs in Excel, use terms like “data analysis,” “financial forecasting,” or “spreadsheet management” to make your skills sound more professional.
3. Focus on Results: When discussing personal projects, focus on the results. Did your spreadsheets save time or money? Did your social media content increase engagement? These measurable outcomes can be valuable selling points in an interview.

 

How Employers Can Uncover Hidden Talents

 

For employers, uncovering these hidden talents can be as simple as asking the right questions during an interview. Consider adding questions like:

•  “Do you use technology outside of work?”
•  “Are there any non-work-related skills you’d like to share with us?”

 

These questions can reveal skills that candidates may not have thought to include on their resumes but could be valuable to your organization. The potential for untapped talent is endless, and your future star employee could be sitting right in front of you with skills they’ve developed in surprising places.

 

Skill Building Goes Beyond the Workplace

 

Technology isn’t the only skill you gain outside the workplace. If you’re organizing events at church, the PTA, or in your community, you’re building leadership and project management skills. If you balance your home budget, you’re honing your financial skills. If you set and manage schedules for your family, you’re mastering time management. 

 

These are all valuable skills, and employers should be open to considering them in a professional context.

 

The Power of Continuous Learning

 

Once you’ve identified potential skills, you can take it a step further by researching how to discuss them professionally. You can also take free courses online to refine and expand your expertise. There are endless opportunities for continuous learning, and by investing in your skills, you open yourself up to new career opportunities.

 

 

Whether you’re like Jane, balancing your Excel passion and social media influence, or you’re someone who’s picked up new software skills from job to job, you’re more tech-savvy than you think! Identifying, developing, and documenting these skills can take your resume—and your career—to the next level. Employers, don’t overlook the hidden talents your candidates may possess outside of traditional work environments. Skills are built everywhere, and when properly discussed, they can make a world of difference.

 

If you’re ready to refine your resume, showcase your hidden talents, or need help with recruiting and hiring initiatives, ACR Culture Consulting is here for you. Visit our website at [www.acrcultureconsulting.com](http://www.acrcultureconsulting.com), follow us on social media, or give us a call today for personalized assistance. Let’s make sure your skills shine where they matter most!

 

**Disclaimer:**  
This blog is the detailed creative product of Anise Roberson, brought to life with the power of AI. Every insight, story, and example was shaped by Anise's expertise, using AI as a tool to enhance the final product.

 

Anise Roberson offers personalized AI prompting training through ACR Culture Consulting. Interested in learning how to harness AI to bring your creative ideas to life? Contact us for more information, and be sure to follow us for updates on upcoming training classes!