What Are Domain Skills? (With Examples And Ways To Improve)

Updated 24 February 2023

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Domain skills refer to skills and abilities which are unique to a particular industry. For instance, if you work as an automobile designer to create the exterior aesthetics of a vehicle, your domain skills may differ significantly from another automobile expert working on improving engine safety. Understanding domain skills can help you identify which technical abilities to highlight on your resume when applying for jobs. In this article, we answer, 'What are domain skills?', discuss some examples and techniques to improve these skills and explain the process of highlighting them in job applications.

What Are Domain Skills?

If you are creating a resume for a specialised job in a niche industry, knowing the answer to, 'What are domain skills?' can help you showcase your expertise effectively. Candidates typically develop these skills by practising and training under the supervision of teachers or experts while working in a professional setting. As domain skills are industry-specific, companies might expect candidates only with high technical knowledge to join them.

For example, if you are a cinematographer, your domain skills can include knowledge of managing filming cameras and lighting equipment. When applying for the role of a cinematographer in the movie industry, these domain skills can become an indispensable part of your job application.

Examples Of Domain Skills

Domain skills can differ depending on your industry and level of expertise. Here are some common examples of domain skills in different industries:

Marketing

Marketing can include a broad range of activities that help improves a brand's interaction with customers, increase sales and enhances visibility amongst the desired target audience. Though soft skills are essential in the marketing industry, some basic technical skills involve digital advertising, social media management, website development, web analytics and content development related to copywriting or designing. Specialising in these marketing domains can make you a preferred candidate for jobs in the marketing industry.

Programming

This domain skill can enable you to work in multiple industries, such as application development, website optimisation or network architecture management. As organisations shift to technology-based operations, programming has become a coveted skill. Learning different coding languages can prepare you to build and use analytical software specific to a company's projects. Highlighting your professional experience working on programming projects can help demonstrate your expertise to prospective employers when applying for senior roles.

Data management

Learning to use data management software and tools can enable you to collect and analyse large datasets. Practising the usage of functions and analytical tools on different data management software can also make you capable of making forecasts and helping businesses make smarter decisions. This domain skill allows you to work in research or database teams and assist your employer in planning short and long-term goals. You can complement this skill by improving your knowledge about data security and data auditing.

Computer engineering

Computer engineering usually requires domain skills that include technical knowledge regarding computer-automated design, probability and statistical models and data modelling techniques. Finding a job in this domain can be simpler if you have strong mathematical skills and knowledge of machine learning and other artificial intelligence concepts. Try developing expertise in computer science and debugging or troubleshooting methods to enhance your suitability for the job description. Additional domain skills in this industry may include assembling hardware, testing software and creating multiple prototypes of a physical product or digital service.

How To Improve Your Domain Skills?

Here are some ways to improve your domain skills regardless of your industry of employment:

1. Apply for internships

Look for internships which can help in enhancing your skills in your preferred domain. You can find such internships through your college's placement cell or on job search websites. If you know which industry and company you wish to work for, you can also contact their hiring department through the company website. Another option is to contact your friends and acquaintances to enquire about opportunities in their company. Such internships can help you develop expertise, assess your skill level, identify a specialisation and work under the guidance of experts.

2. Work on diverse projects

Job candidates looking to upgrade their domain skills can benefit from working on personal or group projects. Collaborate with other industry professionals to determine your level of competency and use your team working experiences to pursue new topics of interest. When working on such projects, take detailed notes to create your own reference and knowledge materials. For jobseekers actively applying for jobs, doing some pro-bono work may help you grow connections and work with diverse professionals.

3. Acquire certification through courses

Acquiring deeper knowledge in your industry can help distinguish your application from other candidates. Research and apply for certification courses which specialise in subjects related to your domain. For example, if you wish to learn how to become a counsellor, find a short-term certification course that includes all the fundamental subjects in this domain. If possible, find a course which allocates passing certificates after clearing an assessment test or project, as this can help you demonstrate your skills when applying for jobs.

4. Research complex terminologies

As different industries use varying terms and complex jargon specific to their domain, recognising their meaning and significance can improve your awareness and expertise. Try creating a list of common industry acronyms and maintaining your knowledge of domain terms. This is particularly important for your professionals and students who are starting their careers and performing technical roles that require strong compliance and collaboration. Learning about standard industry terminology before joining the workforce can make you more efficient and productive.

Domain Skills At The Workplace

Here are some ways in which professionals can display their domain skills in the workplace:

Get involved in multiple projects. Participating in various projects can show your comfort in multi-tasking and contributing to the company through your extended knowledge. Request your manager to involve you in projects that require more focus and effort and can benefit from your contribution.
Share industry updates. If you frequently read research papers and follow entrepreneurs or industry leaders in your domain, sharing this information with your team members can display your willingness to share your knowledge. You can share such developments during team meetings or informal discussions with colleagues.
Identify and correct mistakes. Identifying and correcting errors in submissions or generic work material can show your attention to detail and domain knowledge. So, always review your work before submission and invite feedback from team members on how to improve your performance.

Highlighting Domain Skills In A Job Application

Here are three ways to highlight your domain skills during a job application:

Resumes

After reading the duties in the job description, you can highlight your key domain skills in the 'Professional Summary' statement. If you have relevant internship or full-time job experience, mention how your domain skills enabled you to complete your responsibilities. You can also dedicate two sections to showcase your attempts at improving your domain skills. First, use a 'Technical Skills' section to mention five to six such domain skills. Then, use a 'Certification' section to add any relevant certifications you have completed.

Cover letters

Cover letters allow you to highlight your core expertise and describe how your domain skills helped your career development. You can state examples of how you applied these skills and completed projects for personal, college or corporate tasks. Mention what steps you took to improve these skills and how they impacted your performance. Another point you can highlight is how your specialised skills can help the company and generate value.

Job interviews

As interviews allow you to converse directly with the hiring manager, you can use this opportunity to elaborate on your domain skills by giving examples of experiences where you successfully applied them to achieve specific project goals. Discuss the technical aspects and abilities in detail to demonstrate your awareness of the industry and your role. Try to highlight at least one skill or learning in every question you answer to make a positive impression on the hiring manager.