Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - What is the Difference and is it Important?

Knowledge, skill and abilities are the three essentials to any employee, employer and organisation. Recruiters seek out specific knowledge, skills and abilities during the hiring process, managers consider the knowledge, skills and abilities of certain employees when suggesting individuals suitable for promotion and organisations are constantly referring back to the core knowledge, skills and abilities they believe are necessary to thrive and survive in the business environment.

These three important terms are often used interchangeably. Even though the difference between them can be subtle, it is imperative to know the difference in order to understand what you expect of your current and future employees.

Knowledge is the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. For example, an employee might have knowledge of a particular model used in instructional design. This doesn’t mean the employee knows how to be an instructional designer. It means they know the model.

Skills are the proficiencies developed through training or experience. Using the model design example, the employee has demonstrated skills in applying the model when designing training programs. Skills are usually something that has been learned. So, we can develop our skills through the transfer of knowledge.

Abilities are the qualities of being able to do something. There is a fine line between skills and abilities. Think of abilities such as organization and prioritization as attributes that can help an employee develop their instructional design skills.

In business we often refer to the ‘skills’ gap and if your organisation is trying to fill this gap, then we must be clear on what exactly needs a solution- is it employees knowledge about a particular product? Or do their skills in how they sell the product need fine tuning? Or do they need to work on their ability to prioritise and better manage their time?  

Understanding the subtle differences between the terms can make obvious improvements to your work force!

Cover Letters: Get their attention!

Creating a strong and accomplished resume is crucial in order for your job application to be successful.  However, many job seekers underestimate the importance of a well accompanied cover letter. Employers receive large numbers of applicant resumes and each are scanned through in a matter of seconds. In all cases they are swiftly examining whether your experience and skills match what they have outlined as requirements in the position description.

In order to maximise potential success it may be useful to consider these rudimentary yet often unheeded guidelines.

Customise and stylise

Your cover letter should be tailored for the specific position you are applying for rather than a generic recycled template. Explain why you are interested in that company and how your skills are applicable and relevant. If possible find a specific contact to address it to so you can avoid standard greetings such as “To whom it may concern.”

Mention referrals

If you were connected or introduced to the company through an employee at the company or mutual contact you should include this in your cover letter. Make sure, however, that you seek permission from that person before name dropping.

Don’t repeat your resume

While you should be referencing and highlighting applicable strengths on your resume it should not be a direct copy. Instead expand and discuss your experience to tie-in with what you believe to be the vision, strategy and operation needs of the organisation. 

 

Address potential weaknesses

Address any items on your resume that may be considered ‘red flags’ and give explanations to avoid any issues that may give potential employers pause in considering your application. For example, gaps in employment due to maternity leave.

 

Keep it brief & proof read

Employers  and professional recruiters are busy and often have many applications to filter through. Having a concise and succinct cover letter will increase the likelihood of it being read. As a general rule, keep cover letters to one A4 page.

It goes without saying that proof reading is essential, as poor spelling and grammar will deter any employer, no matter how skilled you might be. It demonstrates carelessness in that you didn’t proof-read the letter, nor do you know how to use Spellcheck. Beware of misspellings that will not be picked up by Spellcheck, such as “Exiting New Development." Take the time to read through your cover letter, edit as necessary and maybe ask a friend to review it before submitting!

10 Things Employers Never Read in a Resume

The average employer spends around six seconds reading over your resume before they make the decision whether to read on, or to throw it out. Even after they decide to read further through your resume, there are some sections that are unnecessary and won’t be read over. Here are the ten things an employer won’t read in your resume, and why keeping your resume short is better.   

1. A lengthy promotional paragraph

This will not attract an employer to read further as this will take much longer than six seconds. Instead, aim this section at the specific job you are hiring for.  For example, include the name of the company that was listed on the job description, how you would fit into that company, and what benefits you would bring them.

2. An ‘objective’ section

Employers generally aren't interest in reading what you want to do or where you want to go, but they want to know how you will fit into the job role and what relevant skills you can bring. If you do include this section, ensure that it is tailored correctly to the job you are applying for. 

3. Irrelevant experience/skills

An extremely detailed and extensive work experience or skills list might look amazing, but an employer will not commit the time to carefully examine this. Aim to only include those skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for to attract the employer’s attention. As an example, four years of labouring work experience will not help if you’re applying to become a podiatrist.

4. Unrelated and detailed responsibilities

Try to keep your responsibilities at previous jobs to a minimum (four dot points max per role) so you don’t discourage the employer from reading on. In addition, don’t include any responsibilities that are not related to the current job you are applying for.

5. Paragraphs

Although you may find it easier to express yourself in paragraph form and demonstrate your vocabulary skills, avoid using them. Dot points will attract interest to your resume as it is easier to read and the relevant information they are looking for is clearer. 

6. Extensive past work experience

An extensive work history looks fantastic if you’ve worked in a number of industries over a long period of time. However, unconnected past experience (especially those over ten years ago) do not need to be on a resume. This just adds more bulk and creates a less appealing read for an employer.

7. Chronological work experience

As a potential employer will only glance briefly at your resume, don’t put your previous work experience in chronological order. They have no interest in what you did over ten years ago and will not read this. Instead, present your work history in reverse chronological order showing your most recent role on the front page. 

8. An over share of personal information

It is always nice to include a small section at the end of a resume detailing your interests so that potential employers have a brief personal touch, but too much information is not wanted. As a rule, keep this information to no more than four hobbies. Sharing on a resume your favourite TV show or your passion for yoga will not help you get the job. 

9. Long cover letters

Some employers don’t even read cover letters, but it can be a worthwhile addition alongside your resume. Like your resume, short and simple is better. As a guide, aim for a cover letter no longer than one A4 page. A long cover letter is unlikely to get a second glance from an employer, so keep it concise and make sure it contains information that is specific to the job you are applying for. 

10. High school information

For anyone who has graduated from high school, this is unnecessary information. An employer doesn’t care what high school you attended, or how talented you were there. Avoiding this section will save space and make your resume smaller.

Writing a resume can be daunting, but following these ten tips will help to make it clear and concise. Keeping your resume short means an employer is more likely to read through it, and increases your chance of earning the role you are applying for. If you would like further information and advice on resume writing, please see our Resume Tips.