12 Best Skills to Put on Your CV for Part Time Work in Sheffield

Your CV is your ticket into part time work, and it’s a lot more powerful than you might think! Sheffield is home to tons of cafes, restaurants, shops and more - so there’s lots of opportunity to work part-time alongside your studies. Whether you’re funding your coffee at the Steam Yard or a weekend trip to the Peaks, in this blog, we’ve compiled a list of 12 skills to tick off when you come to write your CV.

1. Customer service skills

Words to mention: Communication, patience, conflict resolution, active listening

If you’ve ever volunteered at an event like Tramlines Fest, served someone a coffee or even sold something on Vinted, you’ve got customer service experience. Employers love this as it shows that you can handle people, even the Karens of the world. If you’ve ever had to solve a complaint, write that down for bonus points.

2. Teamwork

Words to mention: Collaboration, coordination, reliability, supportive

Part time jobs often require you to work closely with other people, so you need to show you’ll fit right in with the squad. From retail floors on the Moor to restaurant kitchens near West Street, teamwork keeps everything running smoothly. Make sure to mention if you’ve ever been part of a sports team!

3. Adaptability

Words to mention: Problem-solving, flexibility, quick learner, initiative

Everything rarely runs smoothly, especially when it comes to part time work. Employers want someone who doesn’t panic when the printer breaks, or when it’s suddenly ‘Black Friday’ levels of chaos at Meadowhall. Tell them about any time that you’ve had to quickly cover a shift or create a new system.

4. Technical skills

Words to mention: Microsoft Office, social media management, point of sale systems, basic data entry 

By studying at university, you’re already a technical whizz. You’ll likely have used Microsoft Office for essays and presentations, as well as trawling the web for nuggets of research. If you’ve ever helped manage an Instagram page or taught yourself how to use Canva, that’s definitely worth including.

5. Attention to detail

Words to mention: Accuracy, proofreading, record keeping, data entries

Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, but often these can be prevented. Sometimes small issues can lead to bigger problems, so showing that you’re thorough and careful can be a major win. Whether you’ve handled customer cash or managed stock, make sure to include it in your CV.

6. Time management

Words to mention: Prioritisation, organisation, meeting deadlines, multitasking

By balancing deadlines, classes, and your social life in a city full of gigs and cheap eats, you’re already a time-management guru. Employers want people that can juggle responsibilities without dropping the ball or anything. It’s great if you can include in your CV that you’ve balanced study with working part time previously, even if it was in the summer.

7. Sales skills

Words to mention: Persuasion, product knowledge, negotiation, goal achievement

If you’ve ever encouraged someone to buy something, even if it’s just a raffle ticket, you’ve got sales skills. This can include raising money for a charitable cause, for example if you’ve got people to sponsor you for an event or activity. When you can, talk about times that you’ve met a sales target or boosted sign-ups. 

8. Leadership

Words to mention: Decision-making, motivation, mentoring, responsibility

Leadership is about more than just being the boss. It’s to do with stepping up, guiding others, and taking responsibility. Mention if you’ve ever taken the lead on a group uni project, taught someone how to do something, or helped a new team member settle in.

9. Creativity

Words to mention: Vision, innovation, campaign creation, design thinking

At uni you’ll be used to thinking creatively and outside of the box on different projects, to stand out from the crowd. Creativity is useful in any part time job, from solving unexpected problems to suggesting cool, new ways to promote a product. When writing your CV, talk about any projects, campaigns or solutions you’ve been part of.

10. Work ethic

Words to mention: Reliability, dedication, professionalism, initiative

You choose what to study at university based on your interests and passions, and employers want you to have that same energy towards your work. They need someone that shows up, works hard, and actually cares about doing a good job. In your CV, mention a time where you’ve been credited for your work.

11. Interpersonal skills

Words to mention: Empathy, relationship building, verbal communication, conflict management

Being a people person is important in any role, especially with part time work. You might be tasked with working with a range of different personality types, but you need to get along with everyone. This also includes customers, who you can build relationships with by chatting and being friendly. Any experiences in volunteering or mentoring can really highlight this skill.

12. Self-motivation

Words to mention: Independence, enthusiastic, inspired, determined

Being trustworthy is one of the most important skills to have in the world of work. Employers want to be able to leave you to complete your job without being constantly supervised. You should be able to go away and take the initiative to get things done. If you’ve ever gone above and beyond, now is the time to mention it.

Put these skills on your CV and you’ll be sorted! Believe in yourself, stay ambitious, and go and smash it. With lots of part time work available in Sheffield, it's no wonder that students choose to work and study here. Reserve your room or arrange a viewing at our luxury student accommodation today: true student Sheffield