Best Skills to Put on a Resume

Understanding the Difference Between Hard and Soft Skills

Before listing your top skills, it’s important to understand the distinction between hard and soft skills:

• Hard Skills: These are technical, job-specific abilities that are often learned through formal education, training programs, or on-the-job experience. Hard skills are typically measurable and easy to quantify. For example, if you’re applying for a data analyst position, proficiency in Excel, SQL, or data visualization tools would be considered hard skills.
• Soft Skills: These are interpersonal and behavioral traits that are more about how you work and interact with others. They are often harder to measure but can be extremely valuable in the workplace. Examples include communication, leadership, time management, and problem-solving abilities.

In essence, hard skills show what you can do, while soft skills show how you’ll do it. If you are not sure which of yours to lead with, our guide to strengths to put on a resume ranks the ones recruiters look for. Broad labels need the same test, so check how to frame multitasking on a resume as managing competing priorities. Senior candidates often group their top strengths into a core competencies resume section placed right under the summary.

Why Are Skills So Important?

Employers sift through numerous applications for every open position. By highlighting the best skills to put on a resume, you give them a shortcut to understanding your value. Skills can differentiate you from other candidates with similar backgrounds. An effective combination of hard and soft skills demonstrates that not only can you perform the job’s technical aspects, but you can also excel within the team and company culture. Skills backed by a credential carry more weight, so check how to list certifications on a resume before you group them. For a delivery or leadership role, a project manager resume objective shows how to lead with those skills. For a front-line support role, a customer service resume objective puts the same skills into the opening line. Problem solving is a good test case, and these resume problem solving skills examples show how to prove it.

Examples of Hard Skills

When selecting hard skills, focus on those that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. For a longer list grouped by field, see these hard skills examples for a resume. Some common hard skills include: If your hard skills were earned in the service, translating military experience into civilian resume language is the step that makes them readable to a recruiter. Spoken languages count as hard skills too, and how to list languages on a resume explains the ACTFL, ILR and CEFR levels recruiters recognise. If you work in two languages day to day, see how to put bilingual on a resume.

• Technical Proficiency: Expertise in programming languages (e.g., Python, Java), software tools (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD), and industry-specific platforms.
• Data Analysis: Mastery of Excel, SQL, data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and statistical software.
• Project Management: Familiarity with project management software (e.g., Trello, Asana, Jira), budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Digital Marketing: Knowledge of SEO strategies, Google Analytics, social media management, and email marketing platforms.

Examples of Soft Skills

Soft skills showcase your personal attributes and working style. For a deeper guide on proving them rather than just listing them, see soft skills for a resume. Consider including the following when relevant:

• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, active listening, and the ability to convey complex ideas clearly.
• Leadership & Teamwork: Experience guiding teams, delegating tasks, and collaborating effectively with colleagues.
• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: The ability to identify issues, develop creative solutions, and apply logical thinking.
• Adaptability & Time Management: Flexibility in adjusting to changing priorities, meeting deadlines, and juggling multiple responsibilities.

Tailoring Your Skills to the Job

Always review the job description before finalizing your skills section. Incorporate keywords mentioned by the employer. If a company values certain technical capabilities or places a strong emphasis on collaboration, make sure you highlight those skills prominently. Tailoring your resume to each position ensures you’re showing employers exactly what they’re looking for. For a profession-specific example, see the skills to put on a teacher resume that classroom hiring panels scan for. For a marketing role, pair those keywords with a tight opener — our marketing resume objective examples show the pattern.

Presenting Your Skills Effectively

• Use Bullet Points: This makes your skills easy to read at a glance.
• Categorize Your Skills: Separate hard and soft skills into clear categories or integrate them with job-specific headers (e.g., “Technical Skills,” “Marketing Skills,” “Leadership Skills”).
• Provide Context: Whenever possible, back up your skills with concrete achievements. For instance, instead of just listing “Project Management,” mention “Managed a team of five to complete a six-month project ahead of schedule.”