14 skills every professional should have

Flickr / University of Exeter

Every professional field has a distinct set of competencies required for success.

But there are certain skills that are absolute must-haves, no matter what type of career you pursue.

Unfortunately, no one tells you what those skills are until they realize you don't have them — like when you fumble through your first presentation at work because you never learned the art of public speaking.

To help you out, we rounded up 14 skills that every professional should develop, if they haven't already. Some of them are easier than others, but all of them will help you stand out and advance in your career.

1. Networking

Handing out business cards at an industry event and telling people how much you'd love to "connect" over coffee? Ugh. Gross.

Unfortunately, networking is crucial to your success in pretty much any field, at any stage of your career. One way to make it less off-putting is to think of yourself as someone with something to give — as opposed to someone who just wants to feed off others' expertise and experience.

Start by asking people how you can help them, as opposed to how they can help you.

And if you're afraid you'll get stuck talking about the weather forecast with every new acquaintance, learn to get better at small talk by sharing anecdotes and showing interest in your conversation partner.

2. Communicating via email

These days we're all bombarded with email, meaning if you want someone to open (and read) your message, you've got to craft it carefully.

If you're emailing a really busy person, you'll want to write a short subject line and send your message sometime between Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

If you're emailing a potential employer, be sure to address your message to the appropriate person and tailor it to the specific job you're applying for.

In many cases, your email will be the first impression someone has of you — so make it a stellar one.

3. Writing a resume

Many of us have been writing and sending out resumes since high school — but that doesn't necessarily mean we're doing everything right. And when a hiring manager is only spending a few seconds scanning each resume they receive, every detail counts.

Amanda Augustine, career-advice expert for TopResume, told Business Insider it's important to include some of the keywords from the job posting in your resume — without making it look like you copied and pasted.

Meanwhile, experts say you definitely shouldn't include information about your hobbies or time off from work.

Learn more about the ideal resumes for people at different career levels here.