Tampa, Fla, March 17, 2025 — A new Hudson RPO survey shows that when it comes to resumes, both job seekers and recruiters believe it’s more important to highlight what you can do, versus what you have done. 

Nearly two-thirds (61%) of job seekers said a resume should focus on strengths/skills while 39% said the priority should be education/work experience. When asked the same question, 57% of recruiters/hiring managers said they focus on strengths/skills of the candidate, while 43% noted education/work experience as the main focus.  

“Skills and experiences are both important to highlight, but often we see resumes filled with laundry lists of past work experiences and education at the expense of key skills, such as problem solving and attention to detail,” said Hudson RPO CEO Jake Zabkowicz. “An important tip for job seekers is to back up examples of how they exemplify those skills, such as a time when attention to detail helped them avoid key mistakes.” 

Respondents cited matching roles with abilities as the top reason to highlight skills (40%) followed by growth potential (34%). The top skills to highlight, according to the survey, are soft skills (e.g. teamwork) at 58%. 

“Job seekers can be highly competent at a particular task, but if they can’t work with people, their effectiveness decreases exponentially,” said Zabkowicz. 

According to the survey, there are other benefits to skills-based hiring. Fifty-nine percent of respondents say it has had either a significant or transformative impact on their organization’s DE&I efforts. 

“There’s really no downside to focusing on a candidate’s strengths and skills as recruiters determine who will be the best person for a role and for their organization,” said Zabkowicz. 

About the Survey:

The February 2025 survey of professionals had 803 responses.

Survey results

As a recruiter or hiring manager, what is more important to see on an applicant’s resume?  

• Education/Work experience – 43% 
• Strengths/Skills – 57% 

As a job seeker, what do you think is more important to highlight on your resume?  

• Education/Work experience – 39% 
• Strengths/Skills – 61% 

What is the best reason to emphasize skills over education/work experience on your resume?  

• Remove gaps in work history – 9% 
• Changing career or field – 26% 
• Not enough work experience – 5%
• Focus on ability vs history – 61% 

To what extent can skills-based hiring support diversity, equity, and inclusion in your organization?

• Minimal or no impact – 17%
• Moderate visible impact – 24%
•  Significant measurable impact – 48%
• Transformational impact – 11%

Which skills are most important for a job seeker to highlight?  

• Technical certifications – 12% 
• Soft skills (e.g., teamwork) – 58% 
• Skills assessments – 10% 
• Portfolio/work samples – 21% 

Main advantage of focusing on skills over experience?  

• Shows immediate value – 22% 
• Highlights growth potential – 34% 
• Matches roles with abilities – 40% 
• Stands out in a competitive market – 4% 

Tampa, Fla., March 13, 2025 – Kurt Kappeler, CPA, is joining Hudson RPO as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective immediately. Kappeler is an accomplished finance professional, with a career spanning 25 years in both public and private equity companies. His experience includes significant roles in initial public offerings (IPOs), acquisitions, debt and equity market transactions, and a diverse range of finance and operational activities. 

As CFO of Hudson RPO, Kappeler will report dually to Jake Zabkowicz, Global CEO for Hudson RPO, and Matt Diamond, Global CFO of Hudson Global, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSON) which owns and manages Hudson RPO. Diamond will continue to focus on public company matters.

“I have every confidence that Kurt will be a key partner and successful strategist in elevating Hudson Global outcomes, as he helps steer Hudson RPO to the next level of success,” said Diamond.

“Kurt’s wide-ranging experiences across roles and industries makes him uniquely qualified to help Hudson RPO grow not only financially but also operationally as we continue to expand,” said Zabkowicz.

Most recently, Kappeler served as CFO for Motis Brands, a premier manufacturer and multi-channel reseller of loading, hauling, and transportation products. He also served as CFO for Amerimark Interactive and Sur la Table, and was the Chief Accounting Officer for publicly traded regional retail grocer Roundy’s Supermarkets.

Kappeler, who earned a Master of Accountancy degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, lives in southern Wisconsin with his family.