The Top Skills To Put On A Resume: Examples and Guide

What skills to include, where to place them on your resume, and how to write them.

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Reviewed by

Lauren Hamer

Career Expert

Updated on September 30, 2025

Written by

RC Team

Resume and Cover Letter Experts

ResumeCoach » How To Write a Resume » The Skills Section on a Resume

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The skills you put on your resume are vital for showing employers your knowledge quickly. Knowing how to write one also helps incorporate vital keywords into your resume naturally and organically.

The following guide explains the difference between hard and soft skills. It also includes tips on how to write the skills section of a resume, resume skills section examples, what to avoid, and meaningful skills to include on your resume that will help you land your dream job.

With these tips and our AI-powered resume builder, you can figure out the perfect skills that will impress the hiring manager in your sector. Your resume will be a perfect fit thanks to ResumeCoach’s AI resume builder’s clever skills generator.

Keep reading!

Resume Skills Section Examples

Let’s start with the basics. Take a look at the following examples to get an idea of what skills to put on a resume.

General skills section example

This resume skills section example will help you understand how to list your best qualities and make them align with your position.

Skills

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in Python, Java, and JavaScript
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experienced in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
• Skilled in using project management tools like Trello and Asana

Languages:

• Fluent in English and Spanish
• Basic proficiency in French

Soft Skills:

• Strong verbal and written communication
• Team player and ability to collaborate effectively
• Proven adaptability and problem-solving abilities
• Resilient organization and time management skills
• Excellent customer service and client relations

Industry-Specific Skills:

• Experience with CRM software, such as Salesforce
• Knowledge of digital marketing tools, such as Google Analytics, for marketing jobs
• Familiarity with editing software, such as Final Cut Pro
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and SketchUp

New graduate skills section example

If you’re a recent grad or finishing university without a lot of work experience, you can include skills you’ve gained through school, projects, clubs or internships. Here’s an example of how a new graduate might format their skills section to highlight both hard and soft skills.

Skills

Technical & Tools:

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Experienced Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)

Soft & Transferable Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication
• Presentation skills
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking 
• Time management and organization
• Teamwork and collaboration 
• Adaptability and quick learner

Language & Other Relevant Skills:

• Fluent in English and Mandarin
• Basic proficiency in Spanish

It’s likely that you’ll have gained many of these skills throughout your studies, and they can be helpful to include when applying for entry-level positions.

Employers are always looking for employees that can bring transferable skills to the job, so think about any other skills you’ve gained through your studies, volunteering, or participating in clubs or sports.

How To Write The Skills Section of a Resume

Presenting your skills on a resume effectively requires thought, precision, and a bit of strategy. 

Essentially, the key is to emphasize relevance. This begins with a keen study of the job description. It’s there where you’ll find a dictionary of keywords that should resonate through your skills section. 

The idea is not to echo these skills verbatim, but to filter them through your own experiences and proficiency. Each skill should reflect a facet of the job role. 

Adapting your skills section for ATS

Every time you apply for a job, you should adapt your skills section to match the job description. This can help you get past ATS filters.

You should always make sure to mirror the exact phrasing used in the job ad. For example, if the job ad specifically asks for “Microsoft Excel skills,” make sure you include this word-for-word, instead of something like spreadsheets or Microsoft Office.

Keep your section title simple with “Skills,” use plain text formatting, and combine acronyms with full terms so that both humans and ATS software pick them up.

To make sure that your professional and personal (hard and soft) skills are relevant, you can do the following:

1. Analyze the job description
2. Research industry-specific skills 
3. Highlight relevant experience
4. List transferable skills that can be used from your previous sector
5.  Prioritize soft skills if you don’t have transferable skills

Remember, the more precise your skills are, the more they resonate with employers.

How many skills should be on a resume?

If you’re asking yourself, “How many skills should I include on my resume?” it’s important to understand that there is such a thing as too many. 

Finding the perfect balance is key. Too few skills could appear unimpressive, while an abundance of skills might be irrelevant and do more harm than good.

The objective is to feature your most relevant skills tailored to the job you’re targeting. For most job seekers, listing 10-15 skills throughout your resume is generally adequate.

Top 7 Skills To Add to Your Resume

If you’re unsure which abilities will have the most impact on your resume, here’s a list of the top skills recruiters consistently look for across industries.

Skill	Description
Communication	This is the top soft skill employers seek. Strong verbal and written communication helps you collaborate, present ideas clearly, and build trust with clients and colleagues.
Digital & AI literacy	Employers increasingly expect comfort with digital platforms and emerging AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot). According to Forbes, this is the most in-demand skill in 2025. Highlighting this shows you stay current and leverage technology effectively.
Problem-solving	The ability to identify issues, think critically, and propose workable solutions. Employers value professionals who can handle unexpected challenges with confidence.
Leadership & teamwork	Even if you’re not a manager, showing leadership (mentoring, coordinating, guiding) combined with teamwork proves you can work well with others and drive results.
Adaptability	Change is constant in the modern workplace. Demonstrating flexibility, resilience, and a willingness to learn new systems or tools is essential for long-term career success.
Data literacy	From spreadsheets to dashboards, being able to interpret and use data in decision-making is critical in nearly every field today. Excel, Tableau, or basic analytics skills add credibility.
Project management	Organizing tasks, meeting deadlines, and coordinating resources efficiently. Even basic project management skills (using Trello, Asana, or similar) signal reliability and structure.

Where To List Skills on Your Resume

Listing skills on your resume strategically grants potential employers insight into your assets at the right time.

For most professionals with solid, relevant experience in their field, it’s standard to place the work experience section before the skills section. This approach highlights your achievements and career context right away, while still allowing recruiters to scan your key abilities further down the page.

If you are an entry-level candidate, a recent graduate, or switching industries, placing the skills section after the resume summary or objective and before the work experience section is deemed effective. 

This placement guarantees employers can swiftly acknowledge your skills at a glance. It can emphasize your relevant skill set and also diminish the focus on the lack of directly related experience. This is known as a functional resume, and is often used when you’re embarking on your career journey or transitioning industries.

In addition to a dedicated skills section, weaving in your skills alongside your experiences or achievements can accentuate the practical application of these abilities.

The key is not to merely list your skills in a dedicated section, but to substantiate them through real-life examples and scenarios throughout your experience section and professional objective or summary.

Skills for Different Job Roles

First and foremost, start by carefully studying the job description. Chase the keywords you find there and modify your skills section to resonate with the job.

For instance, if you’re applying for a graphic design role, emphasize your proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and layout design, alongside soft skills like attention to detail and effective communication.

The secret ingredient to making your skills section shine when addressing different job roles is specificity and relevance. For every job you apply to, let your skills section speak the language of the role, echoing its unique keywords and requirements.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Skills are typically categorized into soft and hard. Both categories encompass the broad range of technical or social abilities that are relevant to a working environment.

Soft skills

Soft skills are developed over time through relations and experience. The return on soft skill training is well worth it as 85% of career success comes from soft skills according to a LinkedIn report.

Also known as social skills, these abilities are considered personal attributes which are positive for jobseekers to bring to a professional situation.

Think of your character and choose some of your best personal traits. Consider how these attributes have either helped you to achieve something or have benefited your career in some way.

Soft skills are advantageous in a wide variety of professions, regardless of the industry or level of position.

How to identify soft skills

Soft skills are often inherent or cultivated over time and experiences. They are your interpersonal skills, such as your abilities to: 

• Lead 
• Adapt 
• Cooperate
• Communicate

Apart from adding soft skills to a specific section, you can add them throughout your resume. Here’s an example of how you can add them to your experience section:

Marketing Manager
ABC Corporation | New York, NY
June 2018 – Present

• Led a cross-functional team to develop digital marketing strategies, improving lead generation by 25%.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills by collaborating with different departments to streamline campaign execution.
• Utilized problem-solving abilities to address client feedback and optimize campaigns, resulting in a 15% increase in customer satisfaction.

Hard skills

Hard skills refer to more technical, accumulative abilities specific to certain positions or industries. These key skills for your resume are tangible and usually developed through studies, courses, or on-the-job experience.

Good examples of hard skills for your resume are IT skills or the ability to speak a foreign language. Think about what skills are needed to do your job effectively and your level of proficiency for each.

• Do you have any specific computing abilities?
• Can you create a project budget or write up bidding contracts?
• Are you bilingual or proficient in a second language?

It is important to use a common, general range for measuring your level that all employers understand such as basic, intermediate, or advanced.

How to identify hard skills

Hard skills are acquired and sharpened through formal education, professional courses, or on-the-job experiences. 

Some types of hard skills include:

• Technical
• Language
• Software knowledge
• Financial
• Engineering

Reflect on your education, past jobs, and certifications to identify these skills. Adding hard skills throughout your resume will also help you land an interview in no time.

Here’s an example of how you can add hard skills to your summary statement if you were a teacher:

Dedicated and compassionate elementary school teacher with 8 years of experience fostering a positive learning environment. Skilled in curriculum development, classroom management, and differentiated instruction to meet diverse student needs. Proficient in using educational technology tools, such as Google Classroom and Smartboards, to enhance learning experiences.

What Not To Do When Writing Skills For Your Resume

Certain pitfalls must be dodged to present a stellar skills profile:

• Avoid vagueness and ambiguity: The skills section of your resume is no place for generalities or undecipherable jargon.
• Don’t present an exhaustive list of skills: Keep the list concise and focused, preventing it from becoming a bloated endorsement of every single skill you’ve ever acquired.
• Keep a balance between hard skills and soft skills: While hard skills demonstrate your technical prowess, soft skills are often the deciding factor for recruiters.

By steering clear of these, you can craft a skills section that not only accurately represents your abilities but also resonates with potential employers.

Want to double-check if your skills section meets recruiter standards? Use our resume checker service to get feedback and make sure your resume is perfect.

70+ Example Skills To Add To Your Resume

Not sure what to add? 

Our resume editor with AI-powered suggestions. Simply type in the position you are interested in, and you’ll get a number of different skills that would beat Applicant Tracking Systems and catch a hiring manager’s attention. 

Below, you can check out a variety of specific keywords for various industries to help you get started.

IT skills or computer-based program knowledge are highly favorable among employers today and they should be listed prominently in your resume. Examples of technical skills to include on your resume are:

• Microsoft Office
• PowerPoint
• Access
• QuickBooks
• Photoshop
• Social media management software
• Graphic design software
• iOS / Android
• AutoCAD
• Java
• CMS
• CSS
• Google Drive
• HTML
• MySQL
• Ruby
• PHP
• UI/UX

Below are common categories of resume skills you can research and include in your resume to fit the job sector you want to work in, such as blue-collar jobs, management positions, administrative roles, and more.

Financial and analytical skills 📈

• Financial statement analysis
• Budget forecasting and management
• Business intelligence reporting
• Market trend analysis
• Cash flow management
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Data-driven decision making

Communication and interpersonal skills 🤝

• Stakeholder communication
• Client relationship management
• Conflict resolution and mediation
• Public speaking and presentations
• Persuasive writing and pitching
• Cross-cultural communication
• Active listening and empathy
• Negotiation

Problem-solving and strategic thinking skills 🧩

• Team building and motivation
• Performance management
• Mentoring and coaching
• Change management
• Delegation and task assignment
• Conflict management in teams
• Employee engagement strategies
• Agile project management

Administrative and organizational efficiency 🗂️

• Document management and filing systems
• Meeting coordination and minute-taking
• Calendar management and scheduling
• Travel arrangement and logistics
• Office supply management
• Data entry and database management
• Time tracking and productivity optimization
• Workflow automation

Marketing and creative content skills 🎨

• Brand strategy development
• Content creation and copywriting
• Social media marketing
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Email marketing campaigns
• Graphic design and visual communication
• Video production and editing
• Marketing analytics and reporting

Construction and trades skills 🛠️

• Carpentry and woodworking
• Electrical wiring and troubleshooting
• Plumbing installation and repair
• Welding and metal fabrication
• Masonry and concrete work
• HVAC installation and maintenance
• Roofing and waterproofing
• Blueprint reading and interpretation

Manufacturing and production skills ⚙️

• Assembly line operation
• Quality control inspection
• Forklift operation and material handling
• CNC machine programming and operation
• Inventory management and stocktaking
• Equipment maintenance and repair
• Lean manufacturing principles
• Occupational health and safety compliance

Key Takeaways

Using a template and builder can make adding relevant or transferable skills to your resume much easier.

However, adding your hard and soft skills needs to be done carefully, which is why it’s critical to remember: 

• Mix in your hard and soft skills throughout your resume
• Highlight the most relevant skills 
• Focus on 10-15 hard and soft skills
• Study the job description to know which skills to add

As the old saying goes, “skills pay the bills”, and with these tips and tools, you’ll know exactly what to add to your resume to land an interview for your dream job!

Resume Skills Sections FAQ

Still have some doubts? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions people have about the best ways to include their skills on their resume.

How do I decide which skills are most relevant for each application?

Start by carefully analyzing the job description and highlighting repeated keywords, tools, and competencies. Then cross-check these with your own experience.

Choose the skills that overlap directly and match the role’s requirements. Tailoring your list for each application increases your chances of getting past ATS filters.

Should I repeat the same skills in different parts of my resume?

Yes, strategically. List your key abilities in the Skills section, but also reinforce them in your experience or summary with examples of how you used them.

For example, listing “Project Management” under Skills and showing “Led a cross-functional project that reduced costs by 15%” in Experience highlights your strengths.

How do I include skills I’m still learning or not fully proficient with?

You can include emerging skills, but be transparent about your level. Use labels such as “Basic” or “Familiar with” to show you’re working on them. You can also mention them in context, like coursework or side projects, to demonstrate initiative without overstating your expertise.

Are certifications, licenses, or coursework part of the Skills section or separate?

It depends on how many you have. If a certification or course is directly relevant to the job, you can include it in your Skills section under a subheading like “Tools & Certifications.” If you have several, it’s better to create a separate section, so your skills list stays clear and focused.

Will using nonstandard section names or fancy formats (icons, charts, two-column layouts) hurt my chances with ATS?

Many ATS systems can’t read unusual headers or visuals. Stick to a standard heading like “Skills” and use clean text formatting. Avoid icons, graphics, or tables for this section to make sure your skills are picked up correctly and don’t get missed by automated systems.