Quick answer: The best skills for a resume are the ones the job ad asks for that you can prove. List 8 to 15 hard and technical skills (tools, methods, certifications) in a skills section, using the ad's exact wording. Show soft skills such as communication or leadership through results in your experience bullets instead of listing them. Add skill levels only for languages and key tools.
Choosing skills for a resume sounds simple until you try it. Do you list "communication"? How many is too many? Should you rate yourself out of five? And why does every list online look the same?
This guide answers those questions with a clear method. You'll learn the three types of skills employers look for, get more than 120 examples sorted by industry, see how to choose the right ones from a job ad, and learn how to prove each one so a recruiter believes it.
What skills should you put on a resume?
Put the skills that meet two tests:
- The employer asked for them in the job ad, or they're standard for the role.
- You can prove them with an example, a result, a qualification or a tool you've used.
MIT's career office calls skills "a great category to include" and suggests tailoring it to show technical abilities such as software or language proficiency (MIT CAPD). Recruiters also search applications for specific skills: the applicant tracking system Greenhouse, for example, lets recruiters filter applications by keywords found in the full text of resumes (Greenhouse Support). For the step-by-step method of pulling terms from an ad, see our guide to resume keywords.
Hard skills vs soft skills vs technical skills
| Type | What it is | Examples | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard skills | Teachable, measurable abilities specific to a job | Bookkeeping, phlebotomy, forklift operation, contract drafting | Skills section and bullets |
| Technical skills | Hard skills involving tools, software or equipment | Python, SAP, AutoCAD, Epic EHR, Google Ads | Skills section, grouped by type |
| Soft skills | How you work with people and problems | Communication, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability | Proved in bullets and summary |
| Transferable skills | Any skill that carries over to a new role or industry | Project coordination, training others, budgeting | Highlighted for career changes |
The US Department of Labor's O*NET OnLine lists essential skills, transferable skills and software skills for more than 900 occupations. Look up your target job to find standard terms you may have missed.
120+ skills for a resume by industry
Use these tables as a starting point, then keep only what matches the job ad and your experience.
Technology and IT
| Hard and technical | Tools |
|---|---|
| Software development | Python, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript |
| API design | React, Node.js |
| Cloud infrastructure | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud |
| Database design | SQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB |
| CI/CD and DevOps | Git, Docker, Kubernetes |
| Cybersecurity | SIEM tools, CompTIA Security+ |
| IT support and troubleshooting | Active Directory, Microsoft 365 admin |
Data and analytics
Data cleaning · Statistical analysis · A/B testing · Data visualization · Forecasting · Excel (Power Query, pivot tables) · Power BI · Tableau · R · Machine learning basics
Healthcare
Patient assessment · Medication administration · Wound care · Phlebotomy · Infection control · Telemetry monitoring · EHR documentation (Epic, Cerner) · BLS / ACLS certification · Patient education · Triage
Sales and customer service
Consultative selling · Lead generation · Pipeline management · Negotiation · Account management · CRM software (Salesforce, HubSpot) · Upselling and cross-selling · Complaint resolution · Cash handling · Point-of-sale systems · Zendesk
See how these appear on a full page in our customer service representative resume example.
Finance and accounting
Financial reporting · Month-end close · Reconciliations · Budgeting and forecasting · Financial modeling · IFRS / US GAAP · Accounts payable and receivable · Payroll · VAT and tax returns · SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, Xero · Audit support
Marketing and design
SEO · Paid search (Google Ads) · Social media management · Content writing · Email marketing · Marketing analytics (GA4) · Brand strategy · Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign · Figma · Video editing
Administration and operations
Calendar management · Minute taking · Travel coordination · Records management · Data entry (speed and accuracy) · Vendor management · Inventory control · Process improvement · Microsoft 365 · Google Workspace
Project management
Project planning · Scheduling · Risk management · Budget control · Stakeholder reporting · Agile / Scrum · Change management · Jira, Asana, MS Project, Primavera P6 · PMP or PRINCE2 certification
Our project manager resume example shows how to balance methodology and tools.
Engineering and trades
Technical drawing · AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks · Site supervision · Quality control · HSE compliance · Electrical installation · Preventive maintenance · PLC programming · Blueprint reading · Welding (MIG, TIG)
Hospitality, education and logistics
Food safety (HACCP) · Menu costing · Guest relations · Event coordination · Lesson planning · Classroom management · Curriculum design · Route planning · Fleet management · Warehouse management systems
Soft skills employers value
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) defines eight career readiness competencies: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork and technology (NACE). Other soft skills that appear often in job ads:
Problem-solving · Adaptability · Time management · Attention to detail · Coaching and mentoring · Conflict resolution · Customer focus · Decision-making · Cross-cultural communication · Presenting to senior leaders
How do you choose the right skills for each job?
- Highlight every skill in the job ad, separating "required" from "preferred".
- Match each one to your experience. Write down where you used it.
- Use the ad's exact wording. "Accounts payable", not "paying suppliers".
- Rank by importance to the employer, not by how much you like the skill.
- Add 2–4 extras that make you stand out, such as a language or a rare tool.
- Cut anything generic that every applicant would list.
How to list skills on a resume
Option 1: a simple list (most people)
Skills: Financial reporting · Month-end close · IFRS · Reconciliations · SAP · Advanced Excel (Power Query, XLOOKUP) · Budgeting · Team supervision
Option 2: grouped skills (technical or senior roles)
Languages: Python, TypeScript, SQL
Frameworks: React, Django, Node.js
Cloud and DevOps: AWS (EC2, Lambda), Docker, GitHub Actions
Option 3: skills with proof (career changers)
Training and coaching: Onboarded 40+ new staff and built a 2-week training plan used across 3 stores.
Budgeting: Managed a $250K annual store budget, finishing under budget 3 years running.
How to prove skills in your experience bullets
A skill listed once is a claim. A skill shown in a bullet with a result is evidence. Use this pattern: action verb + skill in use + measurable result.
| Skill claimed | Bullet that proves it |
|---|---|
| Communication | Presented monthly sales results to a 20-person leadership team; recommendations adopted in 4 of 6 quarters. |
| Problem-solving | Diagnosed recurring printer network failures and fixed the root cause, cutting IT tickets by 30%. |
| Leadership | Led a night-shift team of 14, reducing overtime costs by 18% through better rota planning. |
| Attention to detail | Processed 1,200 invoices a month with a 0.2% error rate in SAP. |
| Teamwork | Partnered with design and engineering to ship a checkout redesign two weeks early. |
Use these in your summary too; our resume summary examples show how to fit one proven skill into the opening lines.
How should you show skill levels?
Only rate skills where levels mean something to the employer, mainly languages and core tools.
| Skill type | How to show level | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Languages | CEFR levels (A1–C2) used across Europe, or plain words | French (B2), Arabic (Native), English (C1) |
| Software | Plain words with a detail | Excel (Advanced: macros, Power Query) |
| Technical | Years or context | Python (3 years, production code) |
| Certifications | Name, issuer, year | PMP, Project Management Institute, 2026 |
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) runs from A1 (beginner) to C2 (mastery) and is widely recognized by employers in Europe, the Gulf and beyond. Avoid stars, bars and percentages; they're vague, and graphics can be hard for applicant tracking systems to read, as our ATS-friendly resume guide explains.
Do skills sections differ by country?
- US and Canada: concise skills section; certifications listed separately.
- UK and Ireland: "Key skills" sections are common on CVs, often near the top for graduates.
- Gulf: languages (especially Arabic and English) and GCC-specific certifications or licenses are often listed prominently.
- India and Pakistan: "Technical skills" sections are standard for IT and engineering roles, often with tools grouped.
- Europe: Europass CVs include dedicated language and digital skills areas.
Common mistakes with resume skills
- Listing 30+ skills with no proof anywhere in the resume.
- Generic soft skills only ("hard-working, team player, good communicator").
- Out-of-date tools that suggest your skills have stalled.
- Skill bars and star ratings instead of words.
- Skills that don't match the job ad's wording.
- Claiming expert level in something you used once.
Build it in EZProCV
Pick one of EZProCV's ATS-friendly resume templates, add your skills as plain text with optional groupings, and see them in a live preview that matches the downloaded file. You can adjust fonts and spacing so a longer skills list stays readable, then download a free, text-based PDF. For job-specific skill lists, browse our resume examples.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine, US Department of Labor
- NACE: Career readiness competencies
- MIT CAPD: Crafting an effective resume
- Greenhouse Support: Talent Filtering
- Council of Europe: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Frequently asked questions
How many skills should I put on my resume?
Around 8 to 15 in a skills section is a good range for most jobs. Fewer looks thin; more starts to look like a keyword dump that no one believes. Choose the skills that match the job ad first, then add your strongest extras. Senior candidates can group skills under two or three short headings to keep a longer list readable.
Should I include Microsoft Office on my resume?
Only if the job relies on it or the ad mentions it, and be specific. "Microsoft Office" alone is assumed for most office roles. "Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, Power Query)" or "PowerPoint for board presentations" tells the reader something useful. For technical roles, drop it entirely and use the space for tools that set you apart.
Where should the skills section go on a resume?
For most people, after the summary or after the experience section. Put it higher, just below the summary, if you're a graduate, a career changer or applying for a technical role where tools are screened first. Experienced candidates usually lead with experience because their bullets already prove the skills, so the list can sit lower.
Can I list skills I'm still learning?
Yes, if you're honest about the level. Write "Python (basic, completing online course)" or put it under a "Currently learning" line. Don't list a skill at the same level as ones you use daily. Interviewers often ask about every skill on the page, and being caught out on one can make them doubt the rest.
Are skill bars and star ratings a good idea?
Usually not. Bars and stars are graphics, so an applicant tracking system may not read them, and they're vague: three out of five stars in Excel means nothing to a recruiter. Use words instead (Advanced, Intermediate) or, better, a short proof such as "Excel: built monthly forecasting model for 40 stores".
