Resume Skills: What to Include on a Resume With Examples

Why Resume Skills Matter More Than You Think

Skills are the heartbeat of your resume. They tell employers what you bring to the table beyond your job titles or educational background. While experience shows what you’ve done, skills reveal what you’re capable of doing—a subtle but powerful distinction.

Increasingly, recruiters lean on skills to quickly assess candidate fit, often before reading every detail of your work history. In fact, many companies now base their initial candidate screening almost entirely on keyword matches from skills.

Yet, this doesn’t mean stuffing your resume with buzzwords; a strategic and honest approach wins the day.

Types of Resume Skills: Hard vs. Soft

Understanding the difference between hard and soft skills—and knowing when to highlight each—can elevate your resume significantly.

Hard Skills: The Technical Foundations

Hard skills are the quantifiable, teachable abilities gained through education, training, or specific experience. Think programming languages, software proficiency, foreign language fluency, or specific certifications. These are often role-specific and easy for systems and recruiters to verify.

Example: For a graphic designer, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is a key hard skill; for a financial analyst, expertise with Excel models is essential.

Soft Skills: The Interpersonal Edge

Soft skills, on the other hand, refer to your personality traits and how you interact with others. These include communication, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership abilities. While tougher to quantify, soft skills often distinguish a good candidate from a great one.

In our experience, a balanced resume that demonstrates both is far more compelling.

How to Choose the Right Skills for Your Resume

Worried about which skills to include? A good rule of thumb is to listen closely to the job description and sift through what the employer values most.

• Analyze the Job Posting: What skills are repeated or emphasized? Those are your priorities.
• Focus on Relevance: Only list skills directly applicable to the role you want.
• Don’t Oversell: Avoid including skills you have only superficial knowledge of.
• Mix Technical and Interpersonal: Showcase a rounded skillset.

Remember, quality beats quantity every single time.

Top Hard Skills to Include on a Resume (With Examples)

Depending on your field, the right hard skills will vary greatly. Below are some of the most sought-after hard skills across industries, with examples you can adapt.

Technology & IT

• Programming Languages: Python, Java, C++, JavaScript
• Cloud Platforms: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud
• Data Analysis Tools: SQL, Tableau, Excel, R
• Cybersecurity: Network Security, Penetration Testing

Marketing & Sales

• CRM Tools: Salesforce, HubSpot
• SEO & SEM: Google Analytics, Google Ads
• Content Management: WordPress, CMS platforms
• Social Media Advertising: Facebook Ads Manager

Healthcare & Scientific Professions

• Patient Care: Phlebotomy, Clinical Documentation
• Laboratory Techniques: PCR, Spectrophotometry
• Regulatory Knowledge: HIPAA, Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

Pro Tip: Whenever possible, include metrics or certifications alongside your hard skills to add credibility.

Top Soft Skills to Include on a Resume (With Examples)

Soft skills complement your hard skills, offering a fuller picture of how you operate in a professional environment.

Communication

Clear, persuasive communication is gold in virtually every role. Whether it’s managing team meetings or crafting client emails, demonstrate your verbal and written skills concisely.

Teamwork & Collaboration

Employers value people who work well with others. Highlight scenarios of cross-functional collaboration or leadership.

Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking

How do you approach challenges? Examples where you identified efficiencies or resolved conflicts stand out here.

Adaptability

In fast-changing industries, your ability to pivot is a skill recruiters prize.

Time Management

Showcasing how you prioritize and meet deadlines can boost your appeal, especially in roles where multitasking is essential.

Example phrasing: “Led a team to reduce project turnaround time by 20% by implementing agile workflows.”

How to Effectively List Skills on Your Resume

Simply listing skills won’t get you far. It’s all in the presentation.

Dedicated Skills Section

Create a distinct section titled “Skills” or “Core Competencies,” typically placed right after your summary or work experience. Keep it concise — a well-organized bullet list or a few columns are best.

Integrate Skills Into Work Experience

Illustrate your skills with concrete examples in your professional history. For example, rather than just “Project management,” say:

“Managed cross-departmental projects using Jira and Trello, delivering six projects on time over 12 months.”

Include Certifications & Training

Relevant certifications reinforce hard skills and add authority. Place these near your skills or education sections accordingly.

Our advice: Avoid vague buzzwords like “hardworking” or “team player” in your skills list—demonstrate those traits in action stories instead.

Common Resume Skills Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced candidates can slip up here. Watch for these pitfalls:

• Too Generic: Using broad terms like “good communication” without context feels hollow.
• Skill Overload: Listing 20+ skills dilutes impact. Focus on 8–12 relevant ones.
• Outdated Technologies: Mentioning obsolete software or tools can raise red flags.
• No Matching to Job: Ignoring the job description leads to mismatched keywords and missed interviews.
• Typos and Errors: Sloppy formatting or spelling mistakes hurt your credibility.

Ensuring your skills section is tight, relevant, and error-free pays dividends.

Optimizing Resume Skills for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

Most companies use ATS to scan resumes for keywords before any human lays eyes on them. So, how can you get past this digital gatekeeper?

• Use Exact Keywords: Incorporate skills exactly as they appear in the job listing.
• Mix Variations When Appropriate: For example, use both “Microsoft Excel” and “Excel” if the job listing uses both.
• Mind The Formatting: Avoid complicated tables or graphics that ATS can’t parse.
• Repeat Where Natural: Skill keywords should appear in your skills section but also embedded in experience bullets.

Getting this right can significantly increase your chances of making the shortlist.

Real-World Examples: Resume Skills Section Samples

Example 1: Digital Marketing Specialist

Skills- SEO & SEM: Google Analytics, Google Ads Certified- Content Management: WordPress, HubSpot- Data Analysis: Excel (PivotTables), Tableau- Social Media Advertising: Facebook Ads Manager, Instagram Campaigns- Strong communication and cross-team collaboration

Example 2: Software Engineer

Technical Skills- Programming Languages: Python, Java, JavaScript (Node.js)- Frameworks & Libraries: React, Angular, Django- DevOps Tools: Docker, Jenkins, AWS- Database Management: MySQL, MongoDB- Agile methodologies and team leadership

Example 3: Administrative Assistant

Core Competencies- Office Software: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)- Calendar and Email Management- Customer Service and Communication- Time Management and Multitasking- Basic Bookkeeping (QuickBooks)

These samples combine specificity with actionable detail—something every resume should strive for.

Additional Tips and Takeaways

• Customize Every Time: Your skills section should be tailored to each job application.
• Stay Honest: Never inflate your skills; recruiters often verify skill claims during interviews.
• Be Prepared to Discuss: Whatever you list, be ready to elaborate on in the interview.
• Keep Skills Updated: Continually build new skills and remove outdated ones.

If you want to dive deeper into crafting a resume that works for your industry, check out our detailed guides and templates at cvowl.com.

Conclusion: Make Your Skills Resonate

At the end of the day, your resume skills are more than a checklist—they're your professional story told through capabilities. Recruiters aren’t just scanning for keywords; they’re seeking evidence of your potential impact. By carefully selecting relevant hard and soft skills, presenting them thoughtfully, and backing them with real achievements, you give yourself a clear advantage in the competitive job market.

Remember, a resume that effectively communicates your skills speaks louder than one loaded with generic terms. Invest time in understanding the role, customizing your skillset, and showing the recruiter why you are the solution they’re searching for.