Skills to put on a resume

150+ hard and soft skill examples organized by job — plus how many to list, where to put them, and how to match them to the job description so they pass the ATS.

Quick answer:List 8–12 skills the job posting actually asks for that you genuinely have — mostly hard skills (tools, software, measurable abilities) plus a few soft skills. Put them in a plain-text “Skills” section the ATS can read, and mirror the job's exact wording.

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Hard skills vs soft skills

Hard skillsare specific and measurable — software, programming languages, certifications, financial reporting. They're the keywords an applicant tracking system matches against the job, so they belong in a clear skills section. Soft skills — communication, leadership, adaptability — are how you work. List a few, but prove them inside your experience bullets rather than just naming them.

The golden rule for both: take the skills straight from the job posting (for things you genuinely have) and use its exact wording. That's what gets you matched.

Hard skills examples by job

Copy the ones you genuinely have, then add the specific tools named in your job posting.

Software & IT

Python, JavaScript, SQL, React, Node.js, Git, AWS, Docker, REST APIs, CI/CD, Agile

Data & Analytics

SQL, Python, Excel, Tableau, Power BI, statistical analysis, data visualization, A/B testing, ETL

Marketing

SEO, Google Analytics (GA4), HubSpot, content marketing, Google Ads (PPC), email marketing, social media, CRO

Sales

Salesforce (CRM), lead generation, prospecting, negotiation, pipeline management, account management, B2B sales

Finance & Accounting

QuickBooks, Excel, GAAP, financial reporting, accounts payable/receivable, budgeting, forecasting, auditing

Healthcare & Nursing

Patient assessment, EHR (Epic/Cerner), medication administration, BLS/ACLS, care planning, HIPAA compliance

Design & Creative

Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, UI/UX design, prototyping, wireframing, typography, branding

Project Management

Agile, Scrum, Jira, MS Project, risk management, stakeholder management, budgeting, roadmapping (PMP)

Administrative

Microsoft 365, calendar management, data entry, scheduling, bookkeeping, travel coordination, minute-taking

Customer Service

Zendesk, CRM, conflict resolution, live chat support, product knowledge, multitasking, complaint handling

Human Resources

Recruiting, onboarding, HRIS (Workday), employee relations, compliance, payroll, performance management

Education

Lesson planning, classroom management, differentiated instruction, curriculum development, Google Classroom, assessment

Soft skills examples

Pick 2–4 that the role needs — and prove each one with a result in your experience section (“show, don't tell”).

CommunicationLeadershipTeamwork & collaborationProblem-solvingAdaptabilityTime managementCritical thinkingAttention to detailCreativityConflict resolutionEmotional intelligenceDecision-makingActive listeningWork ethic

How to choose (and place) your skills

  • Mine the job posting — list the hard skills and tools it names that you genuinely have. These are your highest-priority keywords.
  • Lead with hard skills — they're what the ATS matches. Keep the section to ~8–12 items.
  • Plain text only — a comma-separated list under a standard “Skills” heading. No tables, columns, or graphical skill bars; parsers can't read them.
  • Prove the soft skills — instead of “great communicator”, show it: “Presented quarterly results to 50+ stakeholders.”
  • Be honest — only list skills you can speak to in an interview. Keyword-stuffing skills you don't have backfires fast.

Are your skills matching the job?

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Frequently asked questions

What skills should I put on a resume?

Put the skills the specific job posting asks for that you genuinely have — split into hard skills (tools, software, measurable abilities like SQL, Salesforce, financial reporting) and a few soft skills (communication, leadership). The single best source is the job description itself: mirror its exact wording for skills you possess, because that's what the ATS and the recruiter search for.

What's the difference between hard skills and soft skills?

Hard skills are specific, teachable and measurable — programming languages, software, certifications, financial reporting. Soft skills are how you work with people and problems — communication, leadership, adaptability. A strong resume lists hard skills prominently (they're keyword-matched by the ATS) and proves soft skills through achievements rather than just naming them.

How many skills should I list on a resume?

A dedicated skills section of roughly 8–12 is the sweet spot — enough to cover the job's key requirements without becoming a keyword dump. Prioritize the hard skills and tools named in the job posting; weave soft skills into your experience bullets where you can show evidence of them.

Where do skills go on a resume?

Use a clearly labeled 'Skills' section (a standard heading the ATS recognizes) near the top or just under your summary, listed as plain comma-separated text — not in a table, columns or graphical skill bars, which parsers can't read. Then reinforce your most important skills inside your experience bullets with proof.

What skills do I put on a resume with no experience?

Lead with transferable hard skills from coursework, projects, internships or part-time work (e.g. Excel, a programming language, a design tool, a language) and the soft skills you can demonstrate (communication, teamwork, reliability). Match them to the job posting, and back each up with a concrete example wherever possible.

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