Are you trying to demonstrate that you’re familiar with software or working procedures in your resume? It’s great to highlight that, but is “familiar with” the best phrase?
This article has gathered the best synonyms for “familiar with” to show you what else you can say.
Familiar With Synonyms
- Knowledge
- General experience in
- Acquainted with
- Understanding
- General knowledge of
- Familiarity
- Keen understanding
- Extensive experience
- Well-versed in
- Learned in
- Studied
- Trained
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Familiar with” works well in CVs, making it a useful option.
- You could say “knowledge” if you want a slightly more comfortable alternative.
- “General experience in” shows you have a good understanding of something.
Keep reading to learn more about the best synonyms from the ones mentioned above. We’ve explained more about them and how to use them appropriately.
You can also skip to the final section to learn more about “familiar with.” We’ve explained whether it’s correct to include it in your resume.
Knowledge
“Knowledge” is a great alternative for “familiar with.” It works well in many formal capacities, allowing you to use it in your resume to show someone what you understand.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “knowledge” as “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.”
Generally, knowledge comes from experience in the workplace. The more experience you have with something, the more knowledge you’ll bring with you when applying for a new job.
So, to impress an employer, you should talk about what you know. The more knowledge you possess, the more experienced an employer will see you. The more experienced you are, the more desirable you become.
We recommend using “knowledge” and “familiar with” in similar situations. They are both effective phrases that allow you to mix your language up between CVs and cover letters.
Perhaps these examples will help you learn more about it:
I have vast knowledge regarding this subject. There are many areas that I could learn more about, though.
My knowledge of the software groups used here helps me to be one step ahead of my colleagues.
General Experience In
“General experience in” shows an employer what you’ve learned. It’s a great alternative because it suggests you’ve picked up experience over time from another workplace.
It works well because “general” suggests you did not deliberately choose to learn something. Instead, you simply learned it from your role, meaning you can easily pick things up when they happen around you.
Having general experience makes you very effective and desirable for employers. They will see it as an easy option because you’ll require less training when you have more experience with something.
You can use either “general experience in” or “familiar with” on your resume. Both are useful and allow you to mix things up.
Here are some great examples to show you what we mean:
I have general experience in Microsoft Word, which helps me create documents easily. This experience came from my previous role.
My general experience in these types of software correlates to what you’re looking for with this new role.
Should You Say “Familiar With” on Your Resume?
“Familiar with” is acceptable on your resume. It’s a very useful option that shows you have learned about something over time, especially if you’ve dedicated a lot of time to it.
The phrase is also quite professional. Therefore, many employers will look at “familiar with” positively. It adds more to your resume than you realize, so it’s worth including.
Here’s a quick demonstration of how the phrase works on your resume.:
- I am familiar with many different mediums.
You don’t have to worry about using this phrase on your resume or in cover letters. While there are other alternatives, it’s still one of the best options out there.
You can always bookmark this page to remind yourself of some of the synonyms. That way, you’ll always find something to say instead of “familiar with” when you want to be unique.