Quick answer: Technical skills are the tools, software, equipment and specialized methods you use to do a job, such as SQL, AutoCAD, Epic, Xero or PLC programming. On a resume, list the ones the job posting names in a grouped Technical Skills section, add a plain-word proficiency level where it matters, and prove the most important ones in your experience bullets and certifications.
Recruiters searching for technical skills for resume screening are usually looking for one thing: proof that you can use the exact tools their team uses on day one. A Skills section that says "proficient in computers" tells them nothing. One that says "SQL (joins, window functions), Power BI, Python (pandas)", backed by a bullet showing what you built, gets you through the first screen.
This guide is for anyone writing or updating a resume or CV in a hands-on field: software and IT, engineering, healthcare, finance, the skilled trades and marketing. By the end you will have a list of technical skills for your field, a way to label your level without overclaiming, and a finished Technical Skills section you can adapt.
If you mainly want help with Office, Google Workspace and everyday software, our guide to computer skills for a resume goes deeper on that slice.
What are technical skills on a resume?
Technical skills are the specialized, practical abilities you need to use particular tools, software, equipment or methods. You learn them through training, study or practice, and an employer can test them.
They are a subset of hard skills. "Hard skills" covers anything teachable and measurable, including languages, bookkeeping or a driving license. "Technical skills" narrows that to the know-how of tools and technical procedures: the programming language, the CAD package, the patient monitor, the PLC, the ad platform.
| Technical skills | Other hard skills | Soft skills | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What they are | Using specific tools, systems, equipment or technical methods | Teachable knowledge that is not tool-specific | How you work with people and situations |
| Examples | Python, AutoCAD, Epic EHR, SAP FI, MIG welding, Google Ads | Spanish, contract law, bookkeeping principles | Teamwork, adaptability, leadership |
| How employers check | Technical tests, portfolios, certifications, practical assessments | Exams, certificates, interviews | Behavioral interview questions, references |
| Where they show | Skills section, bullets, certifications, projects | Skills, education, certifications | Bullets and summary |
A quick test: if you could be handed the tool and asked to show what you can do with it, it is a technical skill.
Why do technical skills matter so much?
Many employers manage applications in an applicant tracking system (ATS), software that stores applications and lets recruiters search them. Recruiters often filter on the tools named in the posting, so a missing technical skill can mean a missing match. Our ATS-friendly resume guide explains how that screening works.
To see what employers ask for, the US Department of Labor's O*NET database publishes a Hot Technologies list, which ranks the software most often named across employer job postings using Lightcast posting data. As of October 2026, the top of the list is Microsoft Office tools, followed by Python, SQL, Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, SAP, Microsoft Azure, R, Power BI, Java and Epic.
For a field-specific view, search your job title on O*NET OnLine. Each occupation page has a Software Skills list where tools are flagged as "Hot Technology" or "In Demand" for that occupation. It is US data, but the tools travel well to most markets.
Technical skills examples by field
Use these as a menu, not a list to copy. Keep only what you can genuinely do, then add the exact tools named in your target postings.
IT and software
| Area | Technical skills to consider |
|---|---|
| Software development | JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, C#, React, Node.js, REST and GraphQL APIs, Git, unit testing, CI/CD pipelines |
| Cloud and DevOps | AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Linux administration, monitoring and logging |
| Data | SQL, Python (pandas), R, Power BI, Tableau, data modeling, ETL, Excel (Power Query) |
| IT support and networks | Active Directory, Microsoft 365 admin, TCP/IP and DNS, VPN setup, ServiceNow or Jira Service Management, endpoint management |
| Cybersecurity | SIEM tools, vulnerability scanning, incident response, firewall rules, identity and access management |
Engineering
| Area | Technical skills to consider |
|---|---|
| Civil and structural | AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, ETABS, SAP2000, surveying, quantity take-off, Primavera P6 |
| Mechanical | SolidWorks, CATIA, ANSYS, GD&T, finite element analysis, HVAC load calculations, 3D printing |
| Electrical | ETAP, power system studies, PLC programming (Siemens, Allen-Bradley), SCADA, cable sizing, protection relays |
Healthcare
| Area | Technical skills to consider |
|---|---|
| Nursing | Patient assessment, IV cannulation, medication administration, wound care, telemetry monitoring, Epic or Cerner EHR |
| Allied health | Phlebotomy, ECG, specimen handling, sterilization procedures, radiography equipment, lab information systems |
| Pharmacy | Dispensing systems, compounding, medication reconciliation, drug interaction checking |
Finance and accounting
| Area | Technical skills to consider |
|---|---|
| Accounting | IFRS or US GAAP reporting, reconciliations, SAP FI, Oracle NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, Tally (India), VAT or GST returns |
| Analysis | Financial modeling, DCF valuation, Excel (advanced formulas, Power Query), Power BI, Bloomberg Terminal |
Skilled trades
| Area | Technical skills to consider |
|---|---|
| Electrical | Installation to local wiring regulations, fault finding, testing and inspection, reading schematics |
| Mechanical and HVAC | Refrigerant handling, chiller and split unit servicing, preventive maintenance, CMMS software |
| Fabrication | MIG and TIG welding, blueprint reading, CNC operation, precision measuring tools |
Marketing and creative
| Area | Technical skills to consider |
|---|---|
| Digital marketing | Google Analytics 4, Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, SEO tools, email automation (Mailchimp, HubSpot), A/B testing |
| Design and content | Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, WordPress, basic HTML and CSS |
For how a full page looks in a technical field, see the software engineer resume example, or browse every resume example by job title.
How do you show proficiency levels for technical skills?
A level helps when the gap matters ("basic" versus "advanced" SQL). It adds noise when every skill says "advanced."
Use words, not graphics. Skill bars and star ratings are subjective, and parsing software may not read them. DePaul University's College of Communication resume content guide recommends descriptive terms such as proficient, functional, familiar or fluent over numeric or bar-chart ratings.
| Level | What it should mean | Example wording |
|---|---|---|
| Familiar | Used in a course or with guidance | "Docker (familiar: containerized two course projects)" |
| Proficient | Use independently at work | "SQL (proficient: joins, CTEs, window functions)" |
| Advanced | Solve hard problems, others come to you | "Excel (advanced: Power Query, dynamic arrays, VBA)" |
| Expert | Design systems in it, train others | "Revit (expert: built firm-wide templates, trained 10 drafters)" |
The strongest version skips the label debate and says what you can do in brackets. That is more convincing than any level word.
How to format a Technical Skills section
Group skills into two to four labeled lines so a reader can scan them in seconds. Put the section below your summary for technical roles, where tools are the first thing a hiring manager checks.
Here is a section for a junior data analyst:
Data and analysis: SQL (PostgreSQL, BigQuery), Python (pandas, matplotlib), Excel (Power Query, pivot tables) Visualization: Power BI, Tableau, Looker Studio Practices: Data cleaning, A/B test analysis, dashboard design, Git
A section for a registered nurse:
Clinical: Patient assessment, IV cannulation, medication administration, wound care, telemetry monitoring Systems: Epic EHR, Pyxis medication dispensing, infusion pumps Certifications: BLS, ACLS (current)
And one for an electrical technician:
Installation and testing: LV installations, fault finding, insulation resistance testing, cable sizing Controls: PLC programming (Siemens S7), HMI configuration, SCADA monitoring Software: AutoCAD Electrical, CMMS work orders
Three formatting rules hold for every field:
- Use the posting's exact wording. If it says "Microsoft Dynamics 365", do not write "ERP systems."
- Write the full name and the abbreviation once when both are common: "Computer-Aided Design (CAD)."
- Keep the section as plain text in a single column so it reads correctly in any system.
How to prove technical skills in your bullet points
A skill in a list is a claim. A skill inside a bullet with a result is evidence. Use this pattern: action verb + tool + what you did + result.
Before: Responsible for database queries. After: Wrote SQL queries in BigQuery to merge three sales data sources, cutting monthly report preparation from two days to four hours.
Before: Used SolidWorks. After: Modeled 25 sheet-metal parts in SolidWorks and ran tolerance checks that reduced rework requests from the workshop.
Before: Experience with Epic. After: Documented assessments for a 28-bed surgical ward in Epic and trained four new nurses on charting workflows.
Before: Knowledge of Google Ads. After: Rebuilt Google Ads campaign structure for 40 product lines, lowering cost per lead quarter over quarter.
Only use numbers you can explain in an interview. If you do not have exact figures, honest approximations ("about", "roughly", "25+") are fine.
Which certifications back up technical skills?
Certifications are third-party proof of a skill at a defined level. When a posting names one (CompTIA Security+, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft Azure Administrator, Autodesk Certified Professional, a nursing or trade license), list it in a Certifications section and echo it in your skills line or summary.
Many expire. CompTIA's certification renewal policy says its certifications are valid for three years from the certification date, and AWS says renewing a certification adds three more years of validity. Check your own credential's rules, include the expiry date if it is close, and never list a lapsed certification as current.
No certification yet? A project can do the same job. "Built a personal finance dashboard in Power BI (GitHub link)" proves the skill in a way a list cannot.
How to choose the right technical skills for each application
- Highlight every tool in the posting. Mark the required and preferred tools separately.
- Match what you have. Put matching tools first in each skills line, written exactly as the posting writes them.
- Check for proof. For each top-five skill, make sure one bullet, project or certification shows it in use.
- Cut what is irrelevant. A data role does not need your Photoshop skills unless the posting asks.
- Save versions. Keep a master list of every tool you know and copy the relevant ones into each tailored resume.
Common mistakes with technical skills
- Vague labels. "Computer skills", "IT knowledge" or "software proficiency" says nothing. Name the tool.
- Listing everything. Thirty tools bury the six the employer cares about.
- Skill bars and percentages. "Python 85%" invites the question: 85% of what?
- No proof. If a key skill appears only in the list, add a bullet that shows it at work.
- Outdated tools. Drop discontinued software and tools you have not touched in years, unless the employer still runs them.
- Overclaiming. Calling yourself "expert" in five languages often leads to a technical test that exposes the gap.
- Skills in images or tables with icons. Logos and icon grids may not be read by an ATS. Write the names as text.
Build it in EZProCV
EZProCV's resume templates include a Skills section you can rename to "Technical Skills", group into labeled lines and reorder, with a live preview that matches the downloaded file. The download is a text-based PDF that applicant tracking systems can read, and building and downloading is free. If you already have a resume, import the PDF or DOCX and update your skills in place.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor: Hot Technologies and occupation search
- DePaul University College of Communication: Resume Content Guide
- CompTIA: Certification renewal policy
- Amazon Web Services: AWS Certification recertification
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between technical skills and computer skills?
Computer skills are a subset of technical skills: they cover software and digital tools, from Excel to Python. Technical skills are broader and also include equipment, instruments and specialized methods that may not involve a computer at all, such as phlebotomy, TIG welding, surveying or reading electrical schematics. A nurse or electrician can have a long technical skills list and only a few computer skills.
How many technical skills should I list on my resume?
Most resumes work well with 8 to 15 technical skills grouped into two to four labeled lines. Software and data roles can go higher because tools stack up quickly. Below that, the test is relevance and honesty: every item should match the posting or your target field, and you should be comfortable answering detailed interview questions about each one.
Should I list technical skills I learned in a course but never used at work?
Yes, if the job needs them and you label them honestly. Write "Python (coursework and personal projects)" or add a "Currently learning" line with the course name. Then back the skill with a project, a lab or a portfolio link so the reader can see real output. Avoid calling a course-only skill "advanced" or "expert."
Do I need to list software versions on my resume?
Only when the version changes the skill. "Revit 2026" or "SAP S/4HANA" tells an employer you know the current system, which matters when a company is migrating. For most everyday tools, such as Excel or Jira, versions add clutter. If a posting names a specific version or platform, mirror that exact wording.
Where do technical skills go on a CV for the UK or the Gulf?
The same logic applies. UK CVs often call the section "Key skills" or "Technical skills" and place it after the personal statement for technical roles. Gulf CVs for engineering, IT and healthcare roles usually put technical skills and licenses high on the first page, because recruiters screen for specific systems, codes and credentials before reading the rest.
