skills and competencies examples in resume

Core Competencies on Resume: Examples & Guide

In This Guide:

What are resume core competencies, strengths & achievements: a modern take on core competencies, why resume core competencies are important, how to develop a core competencies section, examples of core competencies for your resume, takeaways: core competencies on resume.

The goal of every resume out there is to give you a better chance of getting the job you want.

But when you are creating a resume, you have two major problems -very limited space and the urge to make the best out of it.

You don’t know what core competencies are, and you have no idea how to use them on your resume?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we are going to go through a few very important points:

• What are core competencies?
• Why are core competencies important?
• How to develop a core competencies' section on your resume?
• How to choose core competencies for your resume?

Once we are done, you will have some serious knowledge, as well as some confidence in the matter.

If you are interested not only in this section but the overall impression your resume gives, we can show you How to make your resume stand out .

Don’t worry, we won’t give you just plain theory, we have some examples as well.

So let’s not waste any more time and dive into the topic.

The first step we have to take is understanding what core competencies are.

In simple terms, your core competencies are fundamental skills and abilities that you want to show your potential employer.

They should always be directly related to the position you are applying for, don’t just write anything.

The main goal of this section is to get the attention of the hiring manager.

That’s why it is usually positioned front and center on your resume, right beneath your name and contact information in your Resume Header .

And another thing - make sure you list your core competencies as bullet points, rather than sentences.

While listing relevant skills in a core competency section is perfectly acceptable, employers nowadays look for concrete examples of the impact of your work. A more modern approach would be to have sections on your Strengths & Achievements. Open the editable template below to see an example.

There are two major reasons for including core competencies on your resume, and you shouldn’t ignore any of them.

Each one of them gets you one step closer to getting the job you want.

Winning the battle with ATS

Often when you apply for a job, your resume gets preselected not by a human being, but via software.

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) scans, searching for keywords on your resume , set by your potential employer.

If it decides you are a good enough match, depending on the keywords you used, it would forward your application to the hiring manager.

But getting through that software is not an easy task.

A great deal of resumes get rejected before a human being gets their hands on them.

But, knowing this, you can make sure you pass the ATS test without too much effort.

Read the position you are applying for carefully and find the perfect balance between your core competencies and what the employer is looking for.

And step 1 is complete.

Catching the hiring manager’s attention

But just getting through the ATS doesn’t get you the job.

Not even close, the fight is just beginning.

As we said earlier, the main goal of the core competencies' section is to catch the attention of the hiring manager.

And at this point, that is crucial.

Even after the ATS preselection, the hiring manager would still have to go through tons of resumes.

What you would want to achieve here is to quickly tell the hiring manager that you are qualified.

This is your opportunity to make a lasting impression and get your shot to get to the interview.

Furthermore, it shows the hiring manager some thoughtfulness on your part, as you value their time and show them what they need to see right away.

So, if you do this right, you should be one step closer to getting your interview.

Is your resume good enough?

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

So, let’s get to the main point.

You already know what core competencies are, but how are you supposed to develop that section for your resume?

There are 4 steps that you need to follow to do this right.

Make a list of your strongest skills and abilities

The first step to developing your core competencies' section is to make a list of all your strongest skills and abilities, relative to the position you are applying for.

The list should include anything that you would include in your Resume skills section , but focus only on the strongest ones.

The list should consist of between 10 and 30 skills or abilities and have a variety of hard and soft skills.

They may be skills you obtained while in school, during your past work experience , or learned by mentors.

Ideally, the list should make you the perfect candidate for the position, when the hiring manager opens your resume.

While making your list, read the job description for any keywords that you might be able to use, and try to make each ability unique and different to demonstrate your diverse skill set.

You need to show that you are a multifaceted and adaptable employee.

Everyone has a different list of core competencies, but some common examples include:

• Strategic planning
• Customer service
• Organizational communication
• Team leadership
• Project management
• Creative thinking
• Risk assessment
• Attention to detail

Change it according to the job position

Secondly, you would want to tailor your core competencies section according to the job position.

Doing so shows your interest in the position and helps you pass the ATS and get to the hiring manager.

What you need to do is take the list you created in the previous step and choose between 10 and 12 skills and abilities that are directly related to the job position specifications.

Featuring no more than 12 items helps you maintain the hiring manager’s attention and increases your chances for an interview.

Your core competencies' section should highlight the skills and abilities required for the specific position. Quality word choice is key.

Keep it short, but not too short

Once you have shortened your list according to the job position, you need to modulate it.

In the core competencies section, you would want to use no more than two words to describe each skill or ability.

Use descriptive language and make sure it is directly related to the job position specifications.

Its good practice to organize your core competencies in bullet points.

Another thing you might want to consider is adding them in a row, instead of a column, in order to use as little space as possible.

Choose the right place

Last, but not least, you need to choose the best place for your core competencies' section on your resume.

As we said earlier, the most popular place to add your section is right below your name and contact information - in the Resume Header .

But there are a few other possibilities that are just as good and may be more fitted to your resume design.

• Below the Resume Objective Section
• Above or below the qualifications section
• Adjacent to the Work Experience Section
• Above the References Section

It may still be a little muddy, so we got you covered by a few example core competencies.

You can use any of them, if they are applicable, or develop your own, using the same principles.

Once again, make sure you make the balance between the skills and abilities you possess, and those which are needed for the job you are applying for.

So, here is our list with both the core competencies and why they would be of value to your potential employer.

• Leadership - shows your skills for assembling, leading and strengthening a team
• Organization and time-management - shows you can keep up with timelines and complete your tasks on deadline
• Communication - shows your ability to work with clients, co-workers and managers
• Problem-solving - shows that you can step on your feet in tough situations and find effective solutions
• Teamwork - shows you work well with others to achieve goals and help each other grow professionally
• Detail-oriented - shows that you pay attention to details to complete tasks effectively
• Responsibility - shows that you can be trusted to complete your tasks on time
• Career-focused - shows that you are focused on your professional growth
• Ambition - shows that you are goal-oriented and make sure your work is the best it can be
• Result-oriented - shows that you always strive to provide the best result possible
• Life-long learner - shows you are always looking for new ways to improve yourself

Another option for highlighting your core competencies, especially if your skillset is really large, is to choose a different resume format, like a Functional Resume Format .

Don’t forget your other options for a resume format either:

• Reverse chronological Resume Format
• Hybrid Resume Format

We are all done.

Now you know what core competencies are and how to use them effectively

You are now ready to get through the ATS and the hiring manager and get straight to your big interview.

Don’t forget - keep it short and to the point, you shouldn’t include information that is not relative to the position you are applying for.

Think about the positioning of your core competencies' section, depending on the resume format you have chosen.

Keep our examples in mind and make your section perfect for the job you seek.

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100 Good Skills to Put on a Resume [Complete Guide]

Jeff Gillis 0 Comments

By Jeff Gillis

Updated 6/4/2022.

When you’re adding skills to a resume, you don’t just want to focus on what you’re good at. Instead, relevancy has to be part of the equation. After all, every job you’re trying to land requires a very specific skill set, one that you need to show that you have.

Choosing the skills to put on a resume when you’re applying to a role isn’t something you should do haphazardly. Instead, you want to use the job description, company mission, and company values as a guide, creating a sense of alignment.

Additionally, it never hurts to have a handy list of skills by your side, making it easier to explore your options. So, if you’re on the hunt for good skills to put on a resume, here’s what you need to know.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

There are two basic types of skillsets that a job seeker can have and include on their resume: hard skills or soft skills.

Hard skills are the skills or abilities for a resume that are easily quantifiable…that can be learned through classroom work, apprenticeships, or other forms of learning. These include things like operating tools, computer programming, speaking foreign languages, or different kinds of technical prowess.

Soft skills are more subjective and harder to quantify and are often grouped together by what we know as “people skills.” Some examples of soft skills include communication, relationship building, self-awareness, and patience.

Which Skills Are More Important?

The debate rages on about which of these two types of skills is more important.

According to executive consultant and Forbes contributor Naz Beheshti , “…There is an ongoing debate about the relative importance of soft and hard skills that imply a competition between the two. However, they are both necessary and complementary to one another.”

On the one hand, job seekers with proficiency in a specific hard skill may get hired more quickly. Many employers want to hire people that can deliver value with fewer resources (ex., the need for training, etc.), making hard skills their priority.

However, we are also seeing that many hiring managers are choosing to hire candidates with highly developed soft skills.

In the end, as Indeed puts it, “soft skills are necessary to create a positive and functional work environment.” Plus, hiring managers feel that they can always train the candidate in the hard skill that is required to complete the job, but soft skills are often skills that cannot necessarily be taught.

So, what does this mean for you? Mainly that you can’t simply just pick one or the other and cross your fingers. Instead, the best strategy is to take a balanced approach and make sure that your resume contains both hard and soft skills.

How Do You Choose the Skills to List on a Resume?

Here’s the deal; there’s a good chance you know what you’re good at in a professional sense. Often, you can use your experience, duties, training, and education as a guide, giving you a strong foundation. Then, it’s about diving a bit deeper, looking at traits that could help you stand out, and comparing it all to the job description.

By using a simple process, you can make progress faster. Here’s a quick way to get started.

1. Make a List of the Skills You Know You Have

As mentioned above, the easiest way to get a grip on your current skills is to reflect on your academic and professional experiences. Consider the tasks you’ve taken on, the training you’ve completed, and the courses you had in school. In most cases, that’ll give you some solid ideas about your hard skills.

After that, it’s time for soft skills. Here, you want to think of traits or capabilities that help you engage with others and navigate professional relationships. Often, these are reflections of your personality, so use that as a jumping-off point.

2. “Mine” the Job Descriptions for Must-Have Skills

The next step is to take a look at the job description for the position you are applying for and make a list of the required skills it includes. Then, compare it to your capabilities. Are any of the skills on both of the lists you just created? If so, these are must-haves for your resume.

Now, notice if there are any skills on the job description that you don’t have. If there aren’t any, great!

But if there are…don’t panic. There are things you can do, which we’ll dig into shortly.

If you’re dealing with a vague job description, you aren’t stuck either. Here is a link to a ton of job descriptions that can give you an idea of the skills needed.

3. Tailor Your Skills to the Company/Position

As you may have read in our other blog articles, it is always very important to “tailor” your resume to the company and position you want to land. For an in-depth look into how to make that happen, check out our Tailoring Method article. 

If you want a quick overview, the idea is to focus on capabilities the company wants to find. Every job requires a unique skill set, and you want to show you have it. As a result, it is absolutely essential that skills from the job description make an appearance on your resume.

However, you also want to dig deeper. Spend some more time researching the company, including going through all of their various web properties, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.

Why? Because they will leave clues about the types of people they hire. That gives you more ideas about the best skills to put on a resume to land a job there, particularly when it comes to soft skills you may not find in a job description.

100 Resume Skills Examples

If you’re struggling with coming up with a list of skills based on your past experience, it can be easier if you have existing resume skills lists to work with. You don’t have to think up every possible skill; you can simply review the list and find the matches.

Here is a list of resume skills examples, divided into hard skills and soft skills, that you can use when applying for a job.

Hard Skills for a Resume

• Advanced Bookkeeping
• Appointment Setting
• Automotive Repair
• Cold Calling
• Computer Programming
• Conversion Testing
• Copywriting
• Customer Engagement
• Customer Service
• Data Analysis
• Digital Marketing
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Cleanup
• Forklift Operating
• Graphic Design
• Heavy Machinery Operation
• Installation
• Landscaping
• Mathematics
• Medical Coding
• Paid Online Traffic
• Patient Care
• Photo Editing
• Picking and Packing
• Project Management
• Schedule Management
• Search Engine Optimization
• Server Maintenance
• Social Media
• Spanish Fluency
• Statistical Analysis
• Systems Analysis
• Technical Support
• Telecommunications Systems
• Travel Booking
• Video Editing
• Website Design
• Word Processing

Soft Skills for a Resume

• Accountability
• Active Listening
• Adaptability
• Brainstorming
• Business Etiquette
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Contextualizing
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Emotional Intelligence
• Flexibility
• Goal-Setting
• Handling Pressure
• Influencing
• Insightfulness
• Interpreting
• Negotiation
• Open-Mindedness
• Organization
• Prioritization
• Problem Solving
• Relationship Building
• Reliability
• Resource Management
• Responsibility
• Self-Confidence
• Strategical Thinking
• Strong Work Ethic
• Time Management

What If I Don’t Have the Required Skill?

Whether you need to possess a specific skill depends on the job and the skill in question. Usually, here’s where you have to be honest with yourself. If the skills required are part of the core competencies of doing the job, you may want to reconsider your application.

For example, if a golf course posts a job posting for a golf pro, you probably shouldn’t apply if you’ve never swung a golf club.

However, you will come across situations where what you bring to the table is close. In this case, moving forward might be okay.

You need to be able to demonstrate, using examples from your past, that you are capable of doing the required skill, even if you haven’t specially done it. So, go over your work history with a fine-tooth comb and try to come up with a few examples of you doing something in the right ballpark.

They are going to ask about it in your interview, so don’t think you can just wing it, and everything will be fine.

Also, many job descriptions have “nice-to-have” skills on the list. If you happen to possess them, great. But if not, don’t assume you shouldn’t apply if you have the must-have skills. In the end, those capabilities aren’t outright requirements, so don’t screen yourself out based on them.

How To List Skills on a Resume

There are a few different schools of thought when it comes to deciding where to put (or how to list) the skills on your resume.

According to our friends over at online resume-builder Zety.com , “…skills are so very, very important that they should show up all over your resume. Not just in the resume skills section.” In other words, it is imperative that there are elements of your skills throughout your resume, including your resume objective/summary and experience sections.

In addition, there isn’t one right answer for where to include your skill section because that depends on the industry, company, and position you’re trying to land. For example, for a job where technical competencies are of the utmost importance, it is often beneficial to list the skills closer to the top of the resume, right underneath the resume objective or resume summary statement.

However, if through your research you determine that the hiring manager will put more weight into your experience, you may want to lead with your experience. Then, put the skills section further down your resume.

At the end of the day, the selection of the skills themselves is the most important thing. After all, most hiring managers will easily find your skill section regardless of where it is on your resume.

What About Skills for My Job Application?

When you’re looking for skills to put on a job application, you do have to treat it a little differently than skills for a resume. Usually, you’re working with a finite amount of space on an application, not just in an overall sense but in each applicable section.

Since that’s the case, you need to lean heavily on the job description. Look for any capabilities that are listed as must-haves or that are repeated through the job ad. Then, make sure those skills are featured prominently in several areas, including in work history descriptions and skills areas.

If you have to answer essay questions, discuss those skills there, too, whenever possible. Use any other relevant capability as a supplement, treating it as supporting information instead of the primary point you’re sharing.

However, if an essay question asks about a skill that’s not in the job description, feel free to dig in a bit. It’s a capability that’s clearly on the hiring manager’s mind, so touch on it occasionally to show you shine in that area.

Putting It All Together

If you were wondering, “What are some good skills to put on a resume?” you should now have a solid answer. The most important thing to remember is to select skills that are relevant to the position you are interviewing for and, more important than that, skills that your company puts a tremendous amount of value in.

Once you get your skills straightened out, you should make sure that the rest of your resume is congruent with the skills you just selected, namely, that your experience shows that you both used those skills in a work environment and developed the skill with on-the-job tasks.

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site , with his work being featured in top publications such as INC , ZDnet , MSN and more.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Jeff gillis.

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site , with his work being featured in top publications such as INC , ZDnet , MSN and more. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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101 Essential Skills to Put on a Resume in 2024 [For Most Jobs]

Skills make a huge chunk of a potential employer’s decision to hire you. 

You might think this section of your resume is easy - you just list your skills and you’re good to go.

But listing your skills the right way is a bit trickier.

How do you know if you’re mentioning the necessary skills for the job or if you’re just giving the hiring manager irrelevant information? 

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, we’re going to walk you through the process of putting skills on your resume from start to finish.

You’re going to learn:

What Are the Different Types of Skills?

• Why Should You List Your Skills on Your Resume?
• How to List Skills on a Resume
• 12 Best Skills to Put on Any Resume 
• 400+ Skills to Put on a Resume for Different Professions

Let’s dive in!

Skills are the various abilities and attributes that you bring to the table when you’re applying for a job.

Your skills can be your ability to do a specific task or solve a problem with some level of proficiency, and they’re typically divided into hard skills and soft skills.

If you want to create an effective resume that catches the hiring manager’s attention, you need to mention both hard and soft skills.

Let’s break down what each means:

Hard Skills

Hard skills involve the technical knowledge or know-how one can gain through experience, training, or education. 

While hard skills are essential for completing tasks in just about any job, they’re also teachable and easily measurable. 

For example: 

• Machinery skills. Some fields require operating specialized machinery or equipment. (E.g., operating a road roller, pallet-stalker, forklift, or others.)
• Software skills. Depending on the field, you need to know how to use different software, such as the Adobe Creative Suite for designers or the Ableton Live Suite if you’re a DJ.
• Tools. If you’re a digital marketer , you’ll need to know how to use tools like Stethoscope, Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.
• Languages. Being able to communicate in more than one language is an extremely useful skill. The more customers or teams you can communicate with, the more valuable you are as an employee. Some of the most sought-after languages today include German, Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic.
• Computer skills. Most jobs will require that you have at least some basic computer knowledge in MS Office and G-Suite, emailing, and presentations. If you’re a web developer , your hard skills will likely include more specialized software knowledge or proficiency in coding languages such as Python, C++, or PHP.
• Techniques. Different specialized techniques you’ve learned can be listed as individual skills. (E.g.: frequency analysis, crystallization, gamification, or even CPR and first aid.)
• Mathematics. A lot of professions, such as accounting and finance, require mathematical skills. If you’re applying for a position in a field that uses advanced mathematics, such as a research assistant , you should be more specific with the types of mathematical skills you have. (E.g.: statistics, trigonometry, calculus, algebra, etc.)
• Data analysis. Businesses are always looking for professionals who can gather and analyze data for various stakeholders and help make strategic decisions, making different types of data analysis a very in-demand hard skill.

…so, just about any field-specific skill is a hard skill you can list on your resume.

Soft Skills

The attributes and habits that describe how you work individually or with others are known as soft skills .

Generally speaking, soft skills aren’t job-specific, so they’re transferable skills that indirectly help you adapt to the work environment and company culture. 

Some examples of the most in-demand soft skills include: 

• Time management
• Communication
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Emotional intelligence
• Conflict resolution
• Stress management
• Critical thinking
• Organization

Soft skills are essential for just about any job out there.

While some soft skills can be critical to doing your job well, such as communication with a customer support representative , others ensure that you get along with your coworkers and foster a positive work environment.

Like hard skills, you can also learn how to develop soft skills, but it’s significantly harder. 

While you can acquire computer skills through a technical course, you’ll need to put in a lot more effort to develop your communication skills. 

For example, you would need to practice active listening in the workplace, learn how to notice nonverbal cues and practice your oral communication skills as much as possible to improve.

What’s the Difference Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills?

There are three main differences between hard skills and soft skills.

• How you obtain them. You can obtain hard skills through work experience , education, training, and certifications. Soft skills, on the other hand, can be gained through life experience, both in and out of work.
• How you use them. While you apply hard skills directly to the job, soft skills usually come into play indirectly and may often complement your hard skills. For example, you may be a communicative marketer or an office manager with great leadership qualities.
• How you list them. Hard skills and soft skills should be listed separately on your resume, but unlike soft skills, hard skills can include your level of proficiency. You can say you’re an advanced user of Adobe Photoshop, but you can’t measure how creative you are in the same way.

When it comes to your employability, both sets of skills are crucial for your resume.

If a hiring manager is on the fence about two candidates with the same hard skills, it’s the soft skills that are going to tip the scales in someone’s favor.

Why Should You List Skills on Your Resume?

The skills section is one of the two most important resume sections , with the other being your work experience.

In fact, 41% of hiring managers notice skills on your resume first.

Let’s look at an example of a well-written skill section:

At first glance, listing some skills on your resume looks easy.

In reality, though, putting skills on your resume the right way is a bit more nuanced than that, and here’s why:

Most companies nowadays use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to help them go through the hundreds and thousands of resumes they receive every day.

This software scans your resume for keywords relevant to the job you’re applying for, and if it doesn’t find them, the ATS automatically rejects your resume.

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a job as a software engineer , and the job requires an expert level of proficiency in Javascript.

If you focus on other programming languages and don’t mention Java as a skill on your resume, the ATS will probably discard it immediately.

Resume statistics show that nearly 75% of resumes are rejected at this first screening stage, and they never make it to a hiring manager .

But let’s assume the company doesn’t use an ATS, and your resume ends up on a hiring manager’s desk.

There’s a good chance the hiring manager is only going to skim through your resume in less than six seconds , looking for the right set of skills.

So, regardless of whether you’ll need to breeze past the ATS or the hiring manager, you have to mention the right skills.

How to List Skills on a Resume (And Stand Out)

Now that you have a clear understanding of how important skills are, let’s talk about how you should list them on your resume.

We’ve divided the process into a step-by-step guide you can follow, starting with:

#1. Tailor Your Skills to the Job

The key to an effective skills section is making sure the skills you list are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as a backend developer, the customer service skills you gained working as a server during college don’t belong on your resume.

So, only list skills that are useful for the job you are applying for.

Start by thoroughly reading the job advertisement to find out what skills to include on your resume.

Job ads usually list a set of requirements or skills they expect from candidates. Take note of which skills and experiences you have, and remember to write them down on your resume.

Let’s look at an example of a job ad for a line cook position in a restaurant:

At Restaurant X, we are dedicated to delivering an exceptional dining experience that reflects the heart of French cuisine. We are currently seeking a skilled Line Cook to join our team for the summer season. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced, prestigious environment under the mentorship of our acclaimed chef.

Key Responsibilities:

• Efficiently prep ingredients for service, ensuring high standards of quality and freshness.
• Execute recipes to exact standards, contributing to the creation of signature dishes that delight our guests.
• Maintain meticulous attention to detail in the plating and presentation of each dish.
• Uphold the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen before, during, and after service.

Requirements:

• Proven experience as a line cook in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• A passion for French cuisine and a strong desire to learn and grow within the culinary field.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Knowledge of best practices for food handling, safety, and sanitation.

From this job description, we can see that the restaurant is looking for someone who:

• Is committed to excellence and is highly professional
• Works well under supervision and as part of a team
• Has experience working in a fast-paced kitchen environment
• Pays great attention to detail when it comes to cooking and presentation

Based on this, some of the skills you should definitely mention in your resume include:

• Culinary Expertise
• Food Preparation
• Knife Skills
• Plating Techniques
• Time Management
• Attention to Detail
• Safety and Sanitation
• Stress Management

Don’t mention skills that aren’t directly related to the job. For example, a line cook doesn’t need to list computer skills on their resume, even if those skills are relevant for most other jobs.

#2. Create a Skills Section

Once you’ve identified all the right skills to add to your resume, create a dedicated “Skills” section to list them under.

A dedicated section will help you pass the ATS, and it makes it easier for hiring managers to find the skills they’re looking for.

Here’s an example of what a skills section can look like on a resume:

We recommend keeping your resume skills section somewhere near the top of the page so that the hiring manager can see it quickly. Usually, they should go either next to or after the work experience section, depending on your resume layout .

Next, here are a few tips you should keep in mind when listing your skills:

• Be specific. “Verbal and written communication” sounds significantly better than just “communication.” 
• Sort your skills by relevance. Order your skills based on how crucial they are for the role. The more important skills should go at the top, and the nice-to-have ones should go after them.
• Format skills accordingly. Not everyone has dozens of skills they can show off on their resume, and that’s okay. If you don’t have a lot of skills, you can list both your hard and soft skills in a single section, just like the example we used above.
• Don’t lie or exaggerate. If you don’t have one of the required skills for the role or you’re not very experienced, just be honest. It goes without saying that you should never lie about what you can do. The employer will find out you lied eventually, your professional reputation will bear the consequences, and you could even lose your job.

#3. Match Each Skill With Your Proficiency Level

While some skills are hard to measure, others can be put on a proficiency scale .

We recommend only using a proficiency scale for some hard skills, such as specific tools or software programs. Soft skills are difficult to measure objectively, so there’s no point in putting them on a scale.

Here’s how to show your proficiency level:

• Beginner. You are just starting to learn this skill, or you haven’t practiced the skill through experience. This usually applies to students with no experience who only understand concepts through theories or classroom experience.
• Intermediate. You have applied this skill in practice, and you rarely need help with it, but you still have room to grow.
• Advanced. At this level, you know your stuff. You don’t need help with this skill anymore, and you can teach beginners how to use it.
• Expert. You’re a recognized authority when it comes to this skill, and you’re the go-to person if anyone has any questions.

#4. Back-Up Your Skills in Other Resume Sections

Only listing your skills in their dedicated section will get you so far. After all, everyone else is doing the exact same thing. 

If you want to take your resume from good to great, you need your most critical skills to make an impression from the get-go.

This is where the resume headline and work experience sections come in.

Resume Headline

Your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

The resume summary is a short, two to four-sentence-long paragraph that summarizes your resume. When done right, it shows the hiring manager your strongest selling points as a candidate right from the start.

Here’s an example in action:

But if you don’t have a lot of experience, you can use a resume objective instead.

The resume objective is a two to three-sentence statement of your career intent that goes at the top of your resume. It can include a snapshot of your professional experience, skills, achievements, and professional goals.

Here’s what it looks like:

Both the resume summary and resume objective go at the top of your resume, either before or after your contact information section .

Regardless of which resume headline you go for, the goal of this section is to pique the hiring manager’s curiosity and make them want to read your whole resume. You should always add one or two of the most necessary skills from the job description here.

Work Experience

Once you’ve mentioned some of your top skills in your resume headline, you have to prove you actually have them.

The best way to do that is by listing some impressive achievements in your work experience section and explaining how your skills helped you.

Let’s look at what the work experience section could look like for the data entry specialist from our resume summary example:

• Achieve a 99% accuracy rate, surpassing departmental accuracy goals by 15%.
• Leveraged advanced organizational abilities to streamline data entry processes, reducing task completion times by 20%.
• Employed superior communication and interpersonal skills to resolve 95% of customer inquiries on the first contact, earning an Employee of the Month award.
• Managed and maintained a complex database of over 10,000 records, ensuring data integrity and accuracy through effective office management practices.

Hobbies and Interests

Another section where you can back up your skills is your hobbies and interests section .

If you have leftover space on your resume, you can use this optional section to list a couple of hobbies or areas of interest that relate to your skills.

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a job as a writer, and the ad says you need to be creative, collaborative, and familiar with pop culture.

In that case, if one of your hobbies is playing a popular tabletop role-playing game with your friends, like Dungeons and Dragons, make sure to list it.

A hobby like that shows that you are genuinely creative, like writing for fun, and are capable of organizing with multiple people for a mutual goal.

#5. Put Transferable Skills to Use 

If you’re looking for your first job or if you’re making a career change , transferable skills are something you should make use of.

Transferable skills are skills that aren’t directly related to the job you are applying for, but they’re still useful and likely relevant for most jobs.

For example, if you're writing a career change resume and you’re going from a role as a sales associate to a copywriter, there are several transferable skills you can list on your resume.

Some of them include:

• Written communication. Both roles involve communicating through text. A salesperson needs to send cold outreach emails, while a copywriter has to write newsletter emails.
• Persuasion. A copywriter needs to create copy that drives sales, while a salesperson needs to be persuasive in person.
• Computer skills. Both jobs require some degree of computer literacy. For a salesperson, that might mean using Customer Management Software, while for a copywriter, that’s publishing content online.

12 Best Skills to Put on Any Resume

Now that you know how to put skills on your resume, it’s time to talk about which skills you should add.

Every profession requires some role-specific hard skills. For example, a photographer needs to know how to use photo editing software like Photoshop. 

But when it comes to soft skills, a lot of them are universal across different industries.

Soft skills are the skills that define your approach to work, how well you cooperate with others, and if you can fit into a company’s culture.

And while the right soft skills for a job may be harder to point out, they’re just as essential in today’s job market. In fact, 93% of employers say that soft skills play a critical role in the hiring decision.

There are very few, if any, jobs out there that don’t require at least some level of communication skills .

So, let’s look at some of the most highly valued skills for any resume:

#1. Communication skills

Whether you’re a writer who needs to communicate a message to your readers, a marketing specialist who needs to communicate an advertising campaign to your client, or an employee who needs to communicate with a coworker to complete a task, communication skills are vital. 

Communication is a multi-faceted skill that includes several skills, such as: 

• Oral and written communication
• Non-verbal communication
• Active Listening
• Presentation
• Public-speaking
• Negotiation

#2. Problem-Solving

Problem-solving means you’re able to identify problems, find the root cause behind them, and come up with creative solutions.

Considering there isn’t a single job where you won’t face problems in one way or another, problem-solving skills are a great asset to have.

Throughout your career, you might have to troubleshoot technical glitches, resolve customer complaints, streamline processes, or drive strategic initiatives. In any of these cases, strong problem-solving skills will be crucial to your success. 

But problem-solving is a broad set of skills that can include:

• Analytical thinking
• Root cause analysis
• Data gathering and evaluation
• Creative thinking
• Decision making
• Strategic planning
• Risk assessment and management

Whether you’re an IT professional debugging code or a manager implementing operational improvements, problem-solving skills let you tackle challenges head-on.

#3. Conflict Resolution

When working with diverse groups, disagreements are bound to happen. So, having the skills to resolve conflicts in a constructive manner is extremely valuable in any organization.

Conflict resolution skills are essential for managers addressing performance issues, HR professionals mediating workplace disputes, sales teams negotiating contracts, or coworkers with clashing personalities.

This multifaceted skill involves:

• Impartiality and objectivity
• Assertive communication
• Creative problem-solving
• Persuasion and influence
• Patience and composure

#4. Computer Literacy

Over 70% of jobs require medium-to-high-level digital skills.  

This means that computer and technical skills are priceless assets, even if your job isn’t centered around technology. So, computer skills are almost always a great addition to any resume.

Here are some valuable computer skills for every professional: 

• Office suites (MS Office, iWork)
• Social media
• Database management
• Web (Internet savviness, basic HTML, CMS)
• Troubleshooting
• Equipment installation and configuration
• Fast Typing

#5. Research

Effective research abilities are essential for making informed decisions and driving successful outcomes across any industry.

Whether you’re conducting market research to identify consumer needs, gathering data to explore a scientific hypothesis, or investigating to build a legal case, strong research skills are invaluable.

Some research skills include:

• Finding credible sources
• Evaluating information objectively
• Organizing data
• Identifying patterns
• Documenting and reporting findings

#6. Teamwork

Teamwork skills enable you to work effectively with others towards a common goal.

Since teams tend to drive most major projects and workplace initiatives, learning how to work well with others is essential to most jobs. You might be part of a project team, a committee, or just coordinate across departments someday.

What you need for strong teamwork skills is:

• Active listening
• Reliability
• Flexibility
• Motivating others

#7. Project Management

Project management skills are usually associated with dedicated project manager roles, but in reality, that's not usually the case. Any type of professional can benefit from strong project management skills.

In a nutshell, project management skills involve being able to effectively handle resources, timelines, deliverables, and processes for driving projects to successful completion.

Here are some of the most in-demand project management skills:

• Resource allocation and management
• Project planning and scheduling
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Logistics and coordination
• Action planning
• Task planning and prioritization
• Stakeholder management

#8. Leadership

Leadership includes both the ability to manage and inspire others. Managers are not always great leaders, but leaders almost always make good managers. 

People who are good at leading are emotionally intelligent, good communicators, and natural-born influencers. They can motivate others to reach their full potential and work together towards common goals. This makes leadership another great skill to have for many professions out there. 

Some important soft skills related to leadership include:

• Relationship-building
• Strategic thinking

#9. Organization

Organizational skills are a set of soft skills that help you keep track of information, materials, and even your time in such a way that you can tackle short and long-term tasks efficiently.

Organizational skills are among the top skills recruiters are looking for in 2022, primarily because they help employees be more productive, save companies time and money, and facilitate a more positive work environment. 

Here is what organizational skills consist of: 

• Physical organization
• Prioritization
• Goal setting

#10. Time Management

Time management is the ability to effectively prioritize and organize your tasks and responsibilities.

Needless to say, it’s a crucial skill in nearly every job, since being able to manage your time well allows you to increase productivity, meet deadlines, and maintain a healthy work-life balance .

Time management includes:

• Task prioritization and planning
• Task delegation
• Avoiding and Ignoring distractions
• Adapting to changing priorities

#11. Customer Service

A lot of the jobs out there involve dealing with customers. 

From customer support representatives to cashiers, customer service skills are a great asset to have in 2024. Particularly, that’s because it encompasses a number of other valuable skills, such as:

• Persuasion skills
• Product knowledge

#12. Networking

Networking skills refer to how well you can build professional relationships and connections.

It goes without saying that they're extremely useful for roles like sales, business development, or entrepreneurship, as a lot of the work involves meeting and engaging new people.

However, these skills are also useful for roles where you don't expect to rely on professional networking as much.

Take, for example, project managers. To be really effective, they need to:

• Understand the needs of stakeholders
• Collaborate with various teams across the organization
• Build rapport with people at all levels

Just like most other skills on our list, networking skills are multi-faceted. They include:

400 Must-Have Skills for Different Professions

Still not sure which skills to mention in your resume? We’ve got you covered.

We compiled a list of some of the most relevant skills on the market in 2024, for all sorts of different fields!

If you happen to possess some of these skills, make sure to mention them in your resume. If not, it’s never too late to learn something new!

#1. Retail and Sales Skills

Retail and sales are at the heart of successful business interactions.

Despite the rise of technology, the essence of sales hasn’t changed much . People still need contact with each other, and even with channels of communication becoming digital, communication skills and empathy still take top priority in this industry.

So, here’s a list of must-have skills for salespeople and retail workers :

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Cold-calling
• Merchandising
• Product demonstration
• Public speaking
• Inventory management
• Lead generation
• Buyer-Responsive selling
• Buyer engagement
• Point of Sale (POS) proficiency
• Effective communication and sociability
• Social media and digital communication
• Listening skills
• Personalized selling
• Service-based selling
• Follow-up techniques
• Up-selling and cross-selling
• Knowledge of return and exchange policies
• Organizational skills
• Multitasking capabilities

#2. Customer Service Skills

Customer service requires a specialized skill set centered around excellent communication and problem-solving. Success in this field relies on effectively managing various communication platforms and maintaining customer satisfaction through attentive service.

Some skills crucial for any customer service representative include:

• Telephone etiquette
• Data entry proficiency
• Customer needs assessment
• Crisis management
• Multitasking
• Ticket tracking systems
• Scripted responses
• Technical troubleshooting
• Complaint resolution
• Record-keeping
• Team collaboration
• Understanding of privacy and confidentiality
• Customer education techniques
• Feedback collection
• Call center operations
• Email Etiquette
• Live chat management
• Help desk support
• Client retention strategies
• Cultural sensitivity

#3. Hospitality Skills

Hospitality is all about making guests feel welcome and appreciated, no matter the setting - whether it’s a bustling hotel, a serene resort, or a cruise ship. Professionals in this field need to create memorable experiences for guests by providing impeccable service and making sure their every need is met with a smile.

Some of the most sought-after hospitality skills are:

• Customer service excellence
• Effective communication
• Foreign languages
• Reservation management
• Event planning
• Specialized software proficiency
• Front desk operations
• Tour and activity coordination
• Guest Relations
• Guest information management
• Concierge services
• Personalized guest experiences
• Safety and security protocols
• Marketing and upselling
• Health and hygiene standards
• Loyalty programs management
• Quality control
• Emergency response handling
• Environmental sustainability practices
• Check-in and check-out procedures

#4. Food and Beverage Skills

The food and beverage industry is one of the most dynamic and fast-paced environments you can work in. Here, professionals have to continually adapt to customers’ changing preferences, stay updated on culinary trends, and provide exceptional service.

Here are some skills that would look great on any food and beverage worker's resume:

• Menu planning and design
• Recipe development
• Food safety and hygiene
• Culinary arts
• Plate presentation
• Portion control
• Cost control and budgeting
• Wine pairing
• Beverage service
• Detailed menu knowledge
• Order taking and processing
• Table setting and arrangement
• Food preparation techniques
• Dietary restrictions and allergen awareness
• Staff training
• Quality assurance
• Health and safety regulations compliance
• Event catering management
• Customer feedback management
• Upselling techniques
• Point of sale (POS) system operation
• Kitchen equipment operation and maintenance
• Communication skills

Looking for more skills? Check out our server resume example here.

#5. Marketing and Advertising Skills

With new technologies developing faster than ever, it’s essential to move beyond the basics of traditional marketing and advertising to succeed in the industry. New skills keep popping up, and even the biggest marketing executives out there need to stay up to date on the latest developments.

So, here are some  of the most important marketing and advertising skills for any level:

• Data analysis
• Web analytics 
• Email marketing
• Web scraping
• CRO and A/B testing
• Data visualization
• Pattern-finding through critical thinking
• Project/campaign management
• Social media and mobile marketing 
• Paid social media advertisements
• B2B Marketing
• The four P-s of Marketing
• Consumer Behavior Drivers
• Brand management
• Copywriting
• Storytelling
• Digital advertising
• Multichannel marketing
• Public relations
• Content strategy
• Market research
• Budget management
• Compliance and legal considerations
• Affiliate marketing

#6. Administrative Skills

If you work in an office setting, there are some skills you should know, regardless of your job. Whether you’re a secretary, office manager, or executive assistant , you can put these skills on your resume.

Some basic administrative skills include:

• Microsoft Office
• Google Suite
• Filing and paper management
• Bookkeeping
• Research and data analysis
• Office management
• Technical writing
• Cloud networking and file sharing
• Prioritization and task management
• Customer service skills
• Meeting planning and coordination
• Event management
• Travel management
• Document preparation
• Confidentiality and data protection
• Minute taking
• Report generation
• Problem-solving skills
• Calendar management
• Expense reports
• Reception duties
• Correspondence handling
• Presentation skills
• Project management skills

#7. Human Resources Skills

Human Resources is a field that needs a strategic blend of soft and hard skills.

HR specialists are essential for managing diverse workforce needs and enhancing employee and company productivity in the long run.

Here are some examples of HR skills that always come in handy:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Motivation techniques
• Technological savviness
• People management
• Business development
• Strategic management
• Negotiation skills
• Recruitment and selection
• Training and development
• Performance management
• Knowledge of compensation and benefits
• Employee relations
• Labor law compliance
• Succession planning
• HR analytics
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Change management
• Employee engagement strategies
• Workplace safety
• Talent acquisition strategies
• Policy formulation and implementation
• Employee counseling and support
• HR information systems (HRIS)
• Cross-cultural communication

#8. Business Skills

Business professionals are increasingly vital to organizations since they offer operational support and strategic insights that can drive growth.

Experts in the business industry need a broad set of skills to analyze trends , optimize processes, and predict future outcomes so their companies remain competitive and responsive to changes in the market.

Here are some examples of skills any business professional could add to their resume:

• Financial forecasting
• Profit and loss management
• Market analysis
• Trend identification
• Competitive analysis
• Risk management
• Project management
• Operations management
• Leadership and team building
• Stakeholder engagement
• Supply chain management
• CRM software proficiency
• ERP systems
• Business reporting
• Compliance and ethics
• Sales and marketing strategies
• Customer service
• Business writing
• Analytical reasoning
• Cloud computing
• E-commerce management
• Social media strategy
• Digital marketing
• Innovation management

#9. Finance and Accounting Skills

The days of filing financial data and taxes by hand are long behind us, and now there are countless digital platforms and apps you can use instead.

So, it goes without saying that anyone working in finance or accounting should be familiar with the most popular skills and tools in the industry.

Some examples include:

• Microsoft Excel
• Enterprise Resource Planning 
• Big Data Analysis
• Know Your Customers (KYC)
• Cognos Analytics (IBM)
• Visual Basic
• Accounting Software
• Revenue recognition
• Anti-money laundering
• Clear communication
• General business knowledge
• Numerical competence
• Financial reporting
• Cost accounting
• Tax preparation and planning
• Financial modeling
• Investment analysis
• Credit analysis
• Cash flow management
• Portfolio management
• Compliance and regulatory management
• Audit coordination
• Project financing
• Mergers and acquisitions

#10. IT Skills

New technology is popping up every other day, and that’s a great reason for anyone working in IT to keep their skills updated.

That said, if you are proficient in a programming language or two, you pretty much have a leg up on the competition.

Here’s a list of some of the most useful skills for any IT professional out there:

• Programming languages (Python, Java, C#)
• Web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js)
• Mobile app development (iOS, Android)
• Database management (SQL, NoSQL)
• Cloud computing services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
• DevOps practices (CI/CD, automation)
• Containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Network security protocols
• Cybersecurity best practices
• Data analysis and visualization
• Machine learning and AI algorithms
• Version control systems (Git, SVN)
• Agile and Scrum methodologies
• Software testing and debugging
• System architecture design
• API design and development
• Performance optimization
• IT project management
• IT support and troubleshooting
• Operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Scripting (Bash, PowerShell)
• IT infrastructure management
• Virtualization technologies
• IT compliance and governance
• UX/UI design principles
• SEO and web analytics
• Blockchain technology

#11. Nursing and Healthcare Skills

More than any other profession, healthcare professionals need to stay updated on the latest technologies, medicines, and techniques.

While the skills a registered nurse or other healthcare professional needs are countless and can be extremely specific to their specialization, the most basic skills boil down to:

• Mathematics
• Paperwork/record-keeping abilities
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Physical endurance 
• Infection control
• Surgery preparation
• Medication administration
• Emergency room care
• Psychiatric support
• Geriatric health
• Pediatric nursing
• Oncology knowledge
• Patient education
• Medical software proficiency
• Phlebotomy skills
• Vital signs monitoring
• Palliative care
• Obstetric and neonatal care
• Medical terminology
• Ethical decision-making
• Team coordination
• Cultural competency

#12. Art and Design Skills

Today, knowing the basics of art and design isn’t enough. To get hired as part of a creative team, be it as a designer or illustrator , you need to know how to create content with different tools and for different channels, like the web and social media.

Some of the most important art and design skills for your resume include:

• Graphic design
• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
• Dreamweaver
• Infographics
• Web and app development (HTML, CSS, UX/UI)
• Photo Editing 
• Typography (spacing, line height, layout, choosing fonts)
• Storyboarding
• Targeting and marketing through visual communications
• Logo creation
• Digital printing
• Integration of visual communication in social media platforms
• Attention to detail and aesthetics
• Interactive media design
• Color sense and theory
• 3D modeling and animation (Blender, Autodesk Maya)
• Video editing (Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro)
• Motion graphics (Adobe After Effects)
• Print design
• Packaging design
• Branding and identity design
• Environmental graphic design
• Exhibition design
• Illustration
• Sketching and conceptual visualization
• User interface design
• User experience design
• Prototyping (digital and physical)
• Content management systems (WordPress)
• Accessibility standards for design
• Composition
• Crafting and use of traditional media
• Client relations and communication
• Augmented reality (AR) design
• Virtual reality (VR) design

#13. Education Skills

You might have three PhDs and still struggle to get the latest educational programs to work in front of your classroom. You’re likely missing some crucial skills for your field.

Teaching methods have evolved, and so have the skills you need to be a teacher or professor at the top of your game. So, here are some essential skills if you want to work in education:

• Updated curriculum knowledge
• Educational platforms (Elearn)
• Technological and digital literacy
• Lesson planning
• Classroom management
• Student assessments
• Differentiated instruction
• Educational theory and practice
• Parent and community engagement
• Child psychology
• Educational policy knowledge
• Student safety and welfare
• Career counseling
• Technology integration in the classroom
• Remote learning management
• Curriculum adaptation
• Educational software proficiency

Looking for a job in academia? Learn how to write an academic CV to get started.

Bonus Infographic: Skills to Put on a Resume

FAQs About Putting Skills on Your Resume

Do you still have some questions about what skills you should put on your resume and how? Check out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions here:

#1. What kind of skills should I include in my resume?

Your resume should include a combination of two types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills involve job-specific skills that are acquired through education, training, or work experience, while soft skills involve personality traits that can be indirectly useful at the workplace and help you adapt to the company culture better.

Depending on your industry, some examples of hard skills you can list on your resume include copywriting, database management, graphic design, foreign languages, public speaking, and more.

Examples of soft skills include communication, creativity, leadership, teamwork, time management, and conflict resolution.

#2. What top skills do employers look for?

Currently, some of the top hard skills hiring managers are on the lookout for include blockchain development, SEO, virtual reality development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, business analysis, Java development, affiliate marketing, UX design, machine learning, project management, video production and editing, sales, and business development .

The top soft skills hiring managers are looking for include creativity, collaboration, persuasion, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

#3. How can I identify my skills?

If you want to identify your skills, start by considering your greatest accomplishments . Have you been recognized for a specific achievement? What skills helped you do it? You’re probably still skilled in those areas.

Next, consider asking friends and coworkers. Sometimes, it’s easier for others to recognize your strengths . If you’re new to the job market, you can ask former professors and classmates to give you some insight, too.

#4. Where do skills go on a resume?

Your skills should go under a separate ‘Skills’ section on your resume, typically placed right below or next to your work experience section.

That said, you should further prove that you have the skills you list in this section. Weave the most relevant skills for the job in other resume sections, such as the resume summary and your work experience sections, to show the hiring manager how those skills are put to use.

#5. How many skills should I include in my resume?

The number of skills to add to your resume depends on the job you’re applying for, as well as your level of expertise and work history.

If you’re a seasoned professional with plenty of job-related skills, you should definitely include them in your resume.

As a rule of thumb, listing up to ten skills on your resume is typically a safe choice, as long as they don’t make your resume spill over to page two .

#6. What are the best skills for a candidate with no experience?

If you’re a student with no experience and few job-specific skills, you can benefit from adding transferable skills to your resume. These are skills that can be applied to many jobs across several industries.

Some examples of good skills for a no-experience resume include communication, organization, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, and computer skills.

#7. What are the top 12 skills to put on your resume?

There are several skills that could go on just about any resume, regardless of your targeted job. These include both hard skills and soft skills that can be used in any industry.

We recommend including skills like communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, computer literacy, research, teamwork, project management, leadership, organization, time management, customer service, and networking.

#9. Does a CV need skills?

There are a few differences between a CV and a resume . But for the most part, if you’re writing a CV for a job application, the structure should be similar to a resume.

So, you should add a skills section to your CV and list skills relevant to the job you’re applying for. The only exception to this rule is when you’re writing an academic CV, in which case skills are optional or even discouraged.

#10. What’s the best way to list skills on a resume in 2024?

To really impress with your skills in 2024, don’t just list some random skills under a separate section and call it a day!

Instead, make them more credible by finding out more about the company culture, tailoring your skills to the job description, mentioning the most critical skills in your resume summary or resume objective, and using your achievements to explain exactly how you used your skills to your advantage.

Key Takeaways

And that’s all there is to putting skills on a resume!

By now, we’re sure you’re a pro and ready to impress the hiring manager with the skills on your resume.

But before you go, let’s sum up the most important things we mentioned in this article:

• One of the most important sections on your resume is the skill section, and over 41% of hiring managers check it first.
• The skill section is crucial for making it past the ATS because some of the most important resume keywords are skills you should list on your resume.
• Skills are divided into hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are technical skills you can gain through experience, training, or education, while soft skills can be attributes or habits related to how you work.
• Your resume should only list skills that are relevant to the job. Find out which skills these are by scanning through the job ad picking out the required skills that you have, and adding them to your resume.
• Some skills are universally useful across different professions, like adaptability, communication, and teamwork.

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The Right Way to Add Skills to Your Resume in 2023 (With 250+ Example Skills)

Stripped down to the core, the most important thing to show employers in any job search is your skills.

Everything in your application and candidacy comes down to your skills: Your past experience shows how you’ve used your skills to help other employers, your interview shows you understand what skills an employer is looking for and proves you have both the hard and soft skills needed to work well as part of their company, and your skills test…well it’s right in the name. Even checking your references—that’s just asking other people to vouch for how you’ve used your skills in the past.

If you’ve heard that employers care about all your interactions throughout the hiring process—like how you’ve greeted receptionists, how you’ve answered emails, and whether or not you sent that thank you note —that’s true, and it’s because these things show off your communication , interpersonal , and other professional skills.

Skills matter. And your first encounter with most employers is going to be via your resume. So how you put skills on your resume can make or break your job search.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Hard vs. soft skills

There are two major categories of skills:

• Hard skills are the abilities or knowledge you need to complete specific work tasks. For example writing software code, driving a specific kind of vehicle, and scheduling social media posts are all hard skills.
• Soft skills are the traits and qualities that categorize how you work and relate to the people you work with. For example, managing your time well, motivating others, and being curious are all soft skills.

For any job, you’ll need a mix of soft and hard skills—and you’ll want to show them both on your resume. Hard skills are fairly clear cut: You either have them or you don’t. They’re also easier than soft skills to prove that you possess—and to add to a resume. Meanwhile, soft skills are a bit more open to interpretation—for example, everyone’s definition of a good leader is different. But you can still show them on your resume if you use the right techniques.

Read More:   Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What the Heck Is the Difference?

Top skills for your resume

Every resume will need skills that are specific to the job you want. For example, to be a software engineer you’ll need coding skills. But here are some of the types of skills that can be valuable for any job or industry:

1. Communication skills

Whether you’re a teacher interacting with students all day, a copywriter making sure you understand the needs of a given project, or an employee working in any other role, you’re going to need to give and receive information. Employers are always looking for those who can communicate clearly and effectively—in writing , in person, or over the phone, email, or any other platform.

Read More: Your Communication Skills Matter for Every Job—Here’s How to Use, Improve, and Show Off Yours

2. Time management skills

Time is a social construct, but unfortunately it’s one we’ve all more or less agreed on. Every job will require you to get tasks done on time, show up for scheduled meetings and events, and organize your schedule effectively. If you’re applying to a role with many different responsibilities or one where you’ll be managing or collaborating with a team, time management skills are even more vital to ensure that you’re hitting goals.

Read More: These Time Management Skills Can Make You a Better Employee—and Improve Your Work-Life Balance

3. Organizational skills

Organization is more than just making sure a physical area is well arranged and clean—though it is that too! Organization skills also encapsulate ensuring digital files are accessible, teams are well coordinated, events and projects are efficient, your work is on schedule, and a lot more. Though the type of organization you’ll be doing will vary from job to job, the need to logically arrange and plan is universal.

Read More: Your Guide to Organizational Skills on the Job—and During the Job Hunt

4. Technical skills

Technical skills are the knowledge you need to use a certain piece of technology, equipment, or technique. They’re a subset of hard skills and most jobs will require specific technical know-how to complete core tasks. However, there are also broader technical skills that are useful for all or many jobs such as the ability to use email, office suite software, and common communication programs like Zoom.

Read More: What Are Technical Skills and How Should You Include Them On Your Resume? (Plus a List of Examples)

5. Computer skills and literacy

Technology is constantly changing, and of course you can’t know how to use any new feature or piece of software immediately after it comes out. But if you can show employers that you have digital literacy, they’ll be confident in your ability to quickly adapt to new technology and troubleshoot basic computer issues.

Read More: Computer Skills You’ll Need in the Workplace—and How to Show Them Off on a Job Search

6. Management and leadership skills

You don’t need to be an executive or anyone’s boss to need management and leadership skills. These are the skills that help you plan, coordinate, motivate (both yourself and others), and complete any project or initiative. They also help you hit long-term goals and allocate resources well.

Read More: How to Improve Your Management Skills (and Show Them Off in a Job Search)

7. Analytical skills

Lots of jobs have the word “analyst” right in the title, but these skills aren’t just for them. Analytical skills cover any of the skills you need to take in or gather information, organize and synthesize it, and use it to make decisions or predictions.

Read More: No, Analytical Skills Aren’t Just for Analysts—Here’s How to Show Yours Off in a Job Search

8. Interpersonal skills

These are the skills that help you work, communicate, and build relationships with others. Employers are always looking for people with strong interpersonal skills like empathy, persuasion, and conflict resolution because it allows them to work well as part of a team. Employees with good interpersonal skills are better at resolving and avoiding issues with others, which helps keep companies working efficiently. For jobs where you’d be working with clients or customers, interpersonal skills are especially important to help drive business and uphold a company’s reputation.

Read More: How Strong Interpersonal Skills Can Help You at Work—and in Your Job Search

9. Problem-solving skills

Most roles are created to solve a problem the company is facing—whether it’s broad like “we need more business” or specific like “we need an expert in Javascript who has experience boosting page-load speed to make our web pages more appealing to the Google algorithm.” Even if a job feels like it’ll follow a set daily routine, issues are still going to pop up, and employers are more likely to hire people who can spot and identify potential or ongoing problems, communicate those problems, look for causes, brainstorm solutions, and/or implement them. 

Read More: How to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills (and Show Them Off in Your Job Hunt)

10. Decision-making skills

Many jobs require you to make choices all the time. For example, picking a new vendor for office supplies, making cuts to a budget, deciding to bring other people in to solve an issue, or prioritizing work tasks on your to-do list all require decision-making skills. Employers want to know you can identify options, weigh the pros and cons, and choose a path in a logical way.

Read More: You’ll Need Decision-Making Skills in Any Job—Here’s How to Get Them, Use Them, and Show Them Off

11. Other transferable skills

Broadly speaking, your transferable skills are any abilities you gained or used in one context that are also helpful in another. Some transferable skills, like the ability to communicate in a second language, pay attention to detail , or manage a project can be useful in almost any job or workplace. But others might be transferable in only certain situations.

For example, maybe you managed the budget for a club in college and now you’re applying to a position where you’d be managing a budget for freelancers. Or maybe you’ve used Excel to do data analysis in the past, but the company you’re applying to uses Excel to track project progress.

As you’re making your resume, don’t discount any of your skills just because you haven’t used them in exactly the same way and context this job opening calls for.

Read More: Transferable Skills: The Key to Landing Your Dream Job

How to list skills on a resume

Here are some tips for making sure anyone who reads your resume comes away with the right impression of what you can do for them if they hire you.

1. Identify which skills belong on your resume.

Recruiters and hiring managers don’t necessarily have a lot of time to devote to looking at your resume for the first time—about 7.4 seconds, according to the most recent data . So your resume has to make it very clear very quickly that you’re qualified for any job you apply to. The best way to do this is to tailor your resume —or change your resume for every application to match the specific requirements and language of the job description . Take a good look at any posting you’re applying to and note any mentions of skills you have. Also, think about any experience or skills you have that might be transferable to the role. These are the skills that belong on your resume.

For soft skills, you might need to read between the lines a bit. Some postings might mention that they’re looking for a skilled multitasker, but you’re not necessarily going to get an explicit list of all the qualities the employer is looking for in a hire. So think about which of your soft skills can help you accomplish the duties of the job. If there’s a lot of mentions of other teams you’ll be working with, for example, you’ll want to emphasize your collaboration abilities in your resume. Or if you’ll be giving a lot of presentations, you might want to highlight your public speaking chops.

And don’t feel like you need to include every skill you have. Scuba diving is a hard skill, but only relevant to very specific jobs. Remember, hiring managers are reviewing your resume with the job you applied for in mind, so keep your skills at least tangentially relevant to avoid a “Wait, why did they apply for this?” reaction.

2. Don’t oversell or undersell your skills.

Before you add skills to your resume, be honest with yourself (and companies you’re applying to) about your ability level. A hiring manager in the finance industry once told Muse writer Lily Zhang that he hated it when people listed skills in their resume and then added the word “basic” in parenthesis next to it. If you only have a basic understanding of something, it may not belong in your skills section. But if you’re saying your skill level is basic just to be modest, maybe don’t do that. Your future employer can’t pick up how humble you are from this document—you’ll just look less qualified than you are.

Hiring managers might also use your skills section to judge how truthful a candidate has been in their application. If a candidate lists a string of 20 programming languages, but only has done projects in one, it’s not a good look. In general, a good rule of thumb is to only include skills you’re comfortable talking about in an interview.

3. Create a skills section.

A skills section is one of the most important parts of your resume. Remember that 7.4-second initial look that you get from recruiters? That’s why the skills section exists. If you’re applying for a role where a certain skill or skill set is absolutely required for consideration, it’s not unusual for the reader to take a little shortcut and scan the skills section of all the resumes submitted to see if they’re there—and only look at those more intently.

Generally, your skills section is a list of the skills you have without any additional context. If you have a lot of skills to list, consider grouping your skills to make the section even easier to scan. For example, a web developer may have a “design skills” and a “coding skills” subheading within their skills section.

Note that your skills section is usually reserved for hard skills over soft skills.

4. Put your skills section in the right place.

Most commonly, you’ll place your skills section after your work experience section, toward the bottom of the page. But in certain situations , you may decide to put it elsewhere—most commonly near the top of the page just after your heading or your summary (if you have one). You might do this if:

• You’re using a hybrid resume format. As opposed to the more common chronological resume , a hybrid resume puts your skills at the top of the page along with some additional context around how you’ve used your skills.
• You’re in a career where skills sections commonly go at the top of the page. For example, product management resumes often list skills before experience. Look for example resumes for your field to see if they have any specific quirks
• You’re changing or pivoting careers. If your previous job titles might make someone reading your resume assume you applied to the wrong position, consider putting your skills section first. Career pivots and transitions are often dependent on transferable skills or skills you’ve picked up outside of your main work experience. (For career changes, you should probably also lead with a resume summary to help clear up any confusion.)
• You’re in any other situation where your skills boost your qualifications more than your past work experience. For example, if you’ve recently graduated, you may choose to put your skills ahead of your experience (though often after your education section) rather than have a reader comb through your internships, part-time jobs, and extracurriculars looking for what you can do.

5. Show how you’ve used your skills in your bullet points.

Anyone can list skills in a skills section. To really prove that you have them, you need to show how you’ve used your skills in the past—and that you’ve gotten results. Your skills section should actually be rather redundant. Ideally, a close read of your experience section should get across all your hard and soft skills.

Rather than just listing job duties under your past positions, phrase your bullet points as accomplishments . Then, add in the skills you used to achieve those accomplishments and what the results were. Inserting numbers when possible will also show anyone reading your resume just how much your skills have done for your past employers.

Tuck soft skills into your bullets rather than adding them to your skills section. Making the first word relate to your soft skills is particularly effective. For example, instead of, “Assisted with annual corporate retreat,” you could write, “Collaborated in a group of four to plan and facilitate annual corporate retreat for 200 employees.” While both bullets describe the same task, only the second one shows that you’re a team player. Instead of, “Attended monthly sales meetings,” you could write, “Presented product insights to 12 clients in monthly sales meetings,” to demonstrate strong communication skills.

For example, here’s a solid bullet point for your resume with the skills bolded:

• Produced and edited three 10-minute “Day in the Life” videos for different jobs at the company; running initial brainstorming meetings for each over Zoom ; coordinating and communicating with 10+ employees for each video using Airtable, Google Calendar, email and Slack ; arranging shot composition, lighting, and sound and overseeing shoots ; editing using Final Cut Pro and Adobe Creative Suite ; and uploading to YouTube resulting in 200K views and a 10x boost in job applications for focus jobs.

All your bullet points don’t need to be this hefty, of course. But it shows just how many skills can go into one professional accomplishment.

6. Include your skills in other resume sections.

Your work experience isn’t the only place you can drop in those skills. You can also weave them into your:

• Resume summary
• Education section (especially if you’re a recent graduate)
• Volunteer section
• Activities section
• Projects section
• Awards section

7. Add certificates, classes, and certifications that prove your skill set.

If you’ve gotten certifications that prove you’re skilled at something, like project management, don’t forget to put that on your resume. If you’ve taken courses to further your professional development, you can add those too—particularly if you haven’t gotten the chance to use all the skills you learned in your day job yet.

8. Use the same language as the job description.

Most employers use applicant tracking systems (ATSs) to parse and organize candidate’s resumes. Hiring managers and recruiters will search ATSs for the most relevant resumes using skills as their search terms. So whenever possible, use the same language as a job description to describe your skills to increase your chances of landing an interview. For example, if a job listing wants experience with project management software, say “project management software” on your resume, not just “Trello.”

List of skills for different jobs

Below are some examples of specific roles you might be applying for and skills that could be appropriate to list, but remember that a job posting is always the best place to find the skills you need for a specific role. To get a more robust list for your specific industry, you can check out O*NET , a resource developed by the U.S. Department of Labor that breaks down occupations by skills, tasks, and activities.

Accountant resume skills

• Accounting software
• ADP Workforce Now
• Analytical software
• Budget forecasting
• Cash flow analysis
• Cost accounting
• Credit/debt management
• Estate planning
• Financial accounting
• Financial compliance
• Financial reporting
• Forensic accounting
• Google Sheets
• Income tax planning
• Intuit QuickBooks
• Management accounting
• Microsoft Excel
• Payroll management
• Reconciliation
• Revenue forecasting
• SPSS Statistics
• Tax preparation

Administrative assistant resume skills

• Administrative support
• Booking travel
• Calendaring
• Customer service
• Google Workspace
• Meeting coordination
• Meeting minutes recording
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Office support
• Proofreading
• Social media management
• Video conferencing software

Back-end developer resume skills

• Application scaling
• Back-end framework
• Back-end programming languages
• Database administration
• Front-end web technologies
• Hosting environment
• Load changes
• Security compliance
• Version control (e.g. Git)

Customer service resume skills

• Account management
• Chat support
• Language skills (spoken and/or written)
• Phone support
• Resolutions

Data scientist resume skills

• Apache Hadoop and Spark
• AWS software
• Data analysis
• Data cleaning
• Data modeling
• Data sampling
• Data structure
• Git and GitHub
• Key libraries
• Scikit-learn
• The MathWorks MATLAB
• UNIX command line

Executive assistant resume skills

• Corporate communications
• Editing and proofreading
• Preparing agendas
• Report generation
• Reviewing contracts

Financial analyst resume skills

• Microsoft Dynamics
• Montgomery Investment Technology FinTools
• Montgomery Investment Technology Utility XL
• Oracle Business Intelligence
• S&P Capital IQ
• SAP software
• SAS Financial Management

Front-end developer resume skills

• Back-end data display
• Dynamic web page design
• Framework templates
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Software workflow
• Styling and color design
• Web page creation
• Website content display
• Website navigation optimization

Full-stack engineer resume skills

Graphic designer resume skills.

• Adobe Creative Cloud
• After Effects
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Data visualization
• Design principles
• Dreamweaver
• Illustrator
• Product Design

Human resource manager resume skills

• Applicant tracking systems (ATS)
• Benefits administration and management
• Benchmarking
• Candidate screening
• Climate surveys
• Conducting background and reference checks
• Conflict resolution and management
• Contract negotiations
• Human resource information systems (HRIS)
• Interviewing
• Legal and regulatory compliance
• Organizational development
• Orientation
• Payroll administration and management
• Performance improvement and management
• Recruitment
• Vendor negotiation
• Writing and posting job descriptions

Marketer resume skills

• Audience building
• Blog writing
• Brand management
• Content creation
• Content marketing
• Conversion rate optimization
• Customer acquisition
• Copywriting
• Demand generation
• Digital marketing
• Email marketing
• Facebook management
• Google Analytics
• Instagram management
• Lead generation
• LinkedIn management
• Marketing automation and technology
• Market research
• Marketo marketing automation
• Power editor
• Project management
• Search engine marketing (SEM)
• Social media
• TikTok management
• Twitter management

Office manager resume skills

• Billing software
• Document management
• Executive support
• Expense reporting
• Facilities management
• Inventory management
• Office supply management
• Payroll processing
• Reports generation
• Vendor management

Product designer resume skills

• Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• ADA compliance
• Crashlytics
• Google Design Sprint Method
• Omnigraffle
• Story mapping
• Style guides/Pattern libraries for React
• Ubertesting

Product manager resume skills

• A/B Testing
• Beta testing
• Customer analysis
• Data analytics
• Financial analysis
• Forecasting
• Quality assurance
• Release management
• Risk management
• Roadmapping
• Scrum management
• SWOT analysis
• Troubleshooting
• User research
• UX/UI design

Project manager resume skills

• Change management
• Client communication
• Deployment management
• Development and testing
• Impact assessment
• Microsoft Project
• Process development
• Process improvement
• Project life cycle
• Project management software
• Quality control
• Resource allocation
• Scheduling and planning
• Scope management
• Stakeholder management

Sales resume skills

• Business analysis
• Business development
• Cold calling
• Consultative selling
• Customer relations
• Executive relationships
• Prospecting
• Relationship management

Teacher resume skills

• Blended learning
• Character education
• Classroom management
• Collaborative environments
• Data-driven instruction
• Inclusive classroom
• Interactive classroom
• MAP Testing
• Mystery Math
• Personalized learning
• Remote instruction
• Social-emotional learning
• Student-guided learning

Web developer resume skills

• Application coding
• Command line tools
• Google Angular
• LAMP development
• Object-oriented design
• Responsive design
• Server-Side scripting
• Writing modules

Lily Zhang  also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• 11 Best IT Skills for Your...

11 Best IT Skills for Your Resume + Examples

14 min read · Updated on April 22, 2024

Do you know which IT skills to include in your resume?

Are you an information technology professional in the market for your next fantastic job opportunity? If so, then you know how important it is to demonstrate your core IT skills on your resume. To do that, you need to know which skills employers are looking for in today's jobs market and the best way to highlight those abilities in an IT resume. 

Fortunately, we have you covered!

In this post, we'll examine IT skills as core competencies and explore eleven key IT abilities that can help your resume stand out from the crowd. We'll also consider some tips you can use to effectively display those skills and provide some examples you can refer to as you create your own resume .

What are IT skills?

Information technology skills include an array of hard, technical abilities related to computers, networks, and similar areas of knowledge. IT professionals also need to possess certain soft/interpersonal skills that enable them to effectively work with others to communicate information and achieve common goals. The information technology field is continually evolving, so IT experts need to constantly update those skills to ensure they're keeping pace with those changes.

It's always important to remember the essential role that information technology plays in our lives. Throughout nearly every area of society, IT professionals maintain the informational and communication systems society needs to function in an orderly and efficient manner. Indeed, this technology is vital for everything from banking operations and investments to social media, communications, and everyday business activities.

Eleven of the top IT skills for your resume

Qualified information technology specialists and managers are in great demand, so you can expect to encounter tremendous competition when you're applying for a job in this field. To effectively compete, you need to ensure that you have the right computer skills in your resume. 

To help you overcome that challenge, we've compiled a list of eleven IT skills that today's employers want to see on IT resumes.

1.     Network and information security

As technology has advanced, the need to protect networks and data has grown with each passing year. To prevent bad actors from bypassing security systems, IT professionals need to be proficient in a wide array of cybersecurity-related skills – including risk analysis, digital forensics, access management, incident response best practices, and more. It's important to highlight these types of critical IT skills on your resume to demonstrate your competency in information security.

2.     Cloud computing

Companies are increasingly moving their data operations to the cloud, and many of the larger firms are relying on in-house talent to manage those efforts. Make sure that you demonstrate your cloud computing skills in your resume to convey your knowledge about cloud service platforms, data migration, cloud security, and distributed systems. 

Pro Tip: If you possess those critical skills, chances are that you have certification from Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, so list those credentials in your resume, too.

3.     Full-stack web development

Skills related to full-stack web development can also increase your value to prospective employers. IT experts who possess these skills are proficient in both back-end and front-end web development and have competencies in both frameworks and database languages. Employers who are looking for the best IT talent will appreciate knowing that your skills enable you to work on every aspect of their applications and websites.

4.     Data analysis

You'll also want to demonstrate that you're proficient in all types of data management. Whether it's data mining, analysis, modeling, or migration, IT professionals are on the front lines of any organization's efforts to maximize the organization, use, and security of the data it relies on for success. You can include proficiency in Apache Spark, SQL, and other data analysis systems in your resume to highlight those abilities.

5.     Project management

Project management is another vital IT skill for your resume. Whether you're setting up a new network system, engaging in major troubleshooting, or migrating data to the cloud, you need to possess the skills needed to manage that project. These skills can include abilities like task management, project forecasting, planning, execution, monitoring, and more. Leadership roles often require additional skills like delegation, scheduling, and budgeting.

6.     Coding languages

You can also include coding IT skills on your resume to ensure that employers understand your proficiency in software languages, program design, and execution. These skills can include specific programming languages, logical thinking, knowledge of data structures and algorithms, web development, debugging, and problem-solving abilities.

7.     AI integration

If you're familiar with artificial intelligence and machine learning, you can include those IT skills on your resume, too. As more companies turn to AI to remain competitive in today's marketplace, the need for skilled AI professionals is growing with each passing year. IT professionals who have knowledge of things like natural language processing, artificial intelligence integration, big data, neural networks, and deep learning will always have the skills they need to differentiate themselves from their competition.

8.     Network architecture

Even if your job doesn't involve designing a company's network architecture, your employer will still expect you to have some expertise in that area of concern. Network architecture abilities include proficiency in network infrastructure, design, and security. You should highlight important knowledge about everything from routers, firewalls, and switches to the use of dynamic and static routing protocols.

9.     Data migration

IT professionals are often responsible for managing data migration as companies look to take advantage of emerging technologies and new systems. There are many types of data migration, of course, encompassing everything from moving data from one storage system to another. Data can also be moved from database to database, between applications, or to a cloud-based framework. Expertise in data migration requires keen problem-solving abilities, as well as project management, data analysis, and other core technical skills.

10.  Troubleshooting

IT professionals spend a vast amount of time troubleshooting problems ranging from network-related concerns to computer issues. When something goes wrong with the company's technology, it's the IT expert's job to quickly diagnose the challenge, create a solution, and resolve the problem. To successfully troubleshoot these issues, you need to have a deep understanding of hardware components, software systems, and your network's operations.

11.  Systems analysis

Another notable set of IT resume skills involves those related to analyzing your organization's technology systems. You should use your resume to highlight core systems analysis skills that focus on your ability to assess and evaluate information, quickly identify patterns, and create solutions that resolve any challenges confronting the organization. These skills can identify you as a true agent of positive change.

How to include IT skills on your resume

Of course, it's unlikely that you'll want to include all your IT skills on your resume. Instead, you'll need to tailor your resume to align with the specific job that you're seeking. Fortunately, there's a straightforward process that you can use to achieve that goal. 

Below, we've outlined an uncomplicated three-step approach that you can use to determine which skills to include:

• Begin by focusing on the role description in the job posting. Employers typically mention the required qualifications they expect you to possess. Make a list of all those requirements, as well as any others that you recognize as essential for the position.
• Compare that list to your own list of IT skills to identify the most relevant skills you'll need to include in your resume. Note the terms the company uses to describe those abilities and make sure that you use those exact words when you describe those IT skills on your resume. There's a good chance that those terms are keywords that the company's applicant tracking system may be looking for as it scans your resume. Related post : How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume - Tips for ATS 2024
• Flesh out your IT skill list with other relevant skills so that you have a complete list of between twelve and fifteen IT abilities. Once you have that complete list, you can start adding them to your resume.

There are three places in your IT resume that you should focus on when you're highlighting skills:

Your resume summary

Your core competencies section

Your work experience section

Highlight IT skills on your resume summary

You only have several seconds to capture an employer's attention, so it's important to make an immediate impression. The best place to do that is in your resume summary, of course. This brief paragraph typically contains no more than three or four sentences and can be used as an elevator pitch to sell your qualifications. By including your most in-demand IT skills in this summary, you can more easily earn the reader's interest and inspire them to continue reading.

When writing your resume summary, focus on including sentences that contain the following information:

Your job title, years of experience, and any specialization

One or two of your most relevant IT skills

At least one quantifiable achievement

For example:

Solutions-driven IT specialist with six years of experience in network management, user support, and troubleshooting. Proficient in communication network installation, maintenance, and problem resolution. Dedicated team player focused on quality control, responsive solutions, and operational analysis. Managed six-person team of support personnel, with 99+% reported satisfaction.

Related post : Resume Profile Explained (with Examples)

Include IT skills in your core competencies section

As you've probably already guessed, you'll also need to include your IT skills in your resume's core competencies section – otherwise known as the skills section. You have two options here: 

• You can either include all your relevant IT skills – including essential hard skills, soft skills, and computer-related – in one core competencies section
• You can split those skills into two separate sections

If you choose the second option, simply list all your core hard and soft skills in a core competencies section and then create a second section titled “Software skills.” 

Whichever option you choose, make sure that you include soft skills to go along with the IT skills on your resume. While those hard skills are necessary qualifications for any IT position, your soft skills can be the deciding factor in many job search efforts.

It's also worth mentioning the importance of formatting the skills section for maximum impact. Always use bullet points to list these skills and format the entire section (or sections) into two or three columns. That will make it easier for hiring managers to skim this part of your resume and increase the likelihood of them taking note of your qualifications.

Demonstrate IT skills in your experience section

The third place you need to highlight IT skills on your resume is in your work experience section. Here, you will want to demonstrate how those skills helped you achieve value for past employers. That can be accomplished by creating measurable achievement statements for each of the jobs you list as experience. 

Add the company name, dates of employment, and job title for each previous position you've held, and then include four to six bullet-point achievement statements beneath each job listing.

ABC Technologies, Anytown, Anystate

IT Specialist, January 2018 to Present

Led network management for six departments, providing troubleshooting and related support to a 200-person team

Managed more than 20 client application projects, debugging and overseeing new code development with 100% project deadline success

Oversaw three-phased network installation project that replaced previous systems, resulting in 22% reduction in reported user issues

Managed projects for 27 clients' data migration efforts as they moved data operations to the cloud

Related post : 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

How to improve your IT skills

No matter how skilled you might be, you know that there's always room for improvement. Indeed, emerging technologies and rapid innovation throughout the economy are forcing everyone to continue to develop their abilities to keep pace with the changes. The good news is that you have many available opportunities for continual development of critical IT skills.

Take more courses

One of the best ways to add new IT skills to your skill set is to take formal courses from places like IBM , Cisco , and other providers. A simple internet search can provide you with a host of different learning options. If you're serious about expanding your abilities and willing to invest in your future, there are plenty of options available.

Be active in your industry

Another fantastic way to continue your IT education is to become more active in your industry. Join online forums where tech pros gather, visit information technology shows to stay abreast of the latest developments, and make new contacts. Build your online network to ensure that you remain in communication with other IT professionals.

Use online resources

These days, there are also a host of online resources that you can use to sharpen your skills. That includes online videos, websites that provide tech updates and insights, and places like GitHub where you can share projects and get a closer look at what others in the industry are currently doing.

Find opportunities to use your skills

Of course, it's also important to use your skills in areas outside of your comfort zone. One of the best ways to improve your abilities is to take on challenges that you wouldn't ordinarily encounter. Make yourself available to friends and family who need network or other computer assistance. Check out some freelancer sites to see if you can pick up a gig assignment or two. If all else fails, start your own project at home. Create a new network. Develop an app. Start a website.

IT skills example: resume template

Creating your own IT resume can be a daunting task, but that challenge can be lessened when you have a great template for guidance. With that in mind, we've created this IT resume template that you can use to craft your own compelling resume. Simply fill in the relevant sections with your own resume information and then tailor it to the specific job you're seeking.

[Your Full Name]

[Phone number] | [email address] | [City, State] | [LinkedIn URL]

Resume headline (the job title and a few descriptive words to highlight your expertise

Professional Summary (as we discussed earlier in the post)

Core competencies

[A mix of nine to twelve hard and soft skills, in bullet point form]

Work Experience

[Company Name], [Location]

[Job Title], [Start date to End date]

[Measurable achievement, using real numbers to show value]

Education Section

[Degree earned] | [College name], [Graduation year]

Certifications

[Certification, with date received or renewed]

Related post : Seven Key Resume Sections and How to Organize Them

Choose the best IT skills for your resume to increase your job search success

To be competitive in today's jobs market, you need to make sure that your resume highlights the information technology skills that employers want to see. By including some of these top IT skills on your resume, you can ensure that every hiring manager recognizes your qualifications and ability to add value to their enterprise. Happy job hunting!

Need more help ensuring that the IT skills on your resume make the best possible impression on employers? Get your free resume review today!

Recommended reading:

Hard Skills Explained (and the Top 8 for Your Resume

11 Best Technical Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

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21 Best Customer Service Resume Examples to Boost Your Hiring Chances

Zuzanna Bocian

Do you need help creating a resume that stands out among many applicants? What makes a hiring manager stop and take notice?

Crafting the perfect resume is a must to secure your dream job. It isn’t just a list of your experiences. It’s your first impression, your foot in the door, and often, your only chance to show why you’re the ideal candidate.

Let’s explore the best customer service resume examples that are eye-catching and strategically designed to boost your hiring chances.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to refresh your current resume, these examples will help you showcase your skills, experience, and dedication to exceptional customer service.

Customer service resume examples

As you craft your resume, remember that it’s more than just a document — it’s your opportunity to make a powerful first impression. Your resume should showcase your qualifications and highlight your commitment to exceptional customer service.

Here are some examples illustrating the progression of customer service roles from entry-level to managerial positions, highlighting the skills and achievements required to advance in a career.

1. Entry-level customer service representative resume example

This resume is designed for a newly graduated individual eager to enter the customer service field. It highlights the individual’s enthusiasm and willingness to learn, which is crucial for entering the workforce.

Passion for customer service: Emphasizing a solid desire to deliver excellent customer service sets a positive tone for the resume and showcases the candidate’s commitment to the role.

Technical skills: Listing technical skills like CRM software, operating systems, and POS systems reflects the candidate’s ability to adapt to various customer service platforms , which is increasingly essential in a tech-driven environment.

Education and certifications: Including relevant certifications, such as Microsoft Office Specialist and Certified Customer Service Specialist, adds credibility to the candidate’s qualifications, showing a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Soft skills: Including soft skills such as communication, empathy, and problem-solving can further enhance this resume. These skills are vital in customer service roles, where understanding and resolving customer issues is critical.

Education: Since this is an entry-level resume, including educational qualifications with relevant coursework or projects can add value, especially if they align with the job requirements.

Projects and volunteering: By including projects like the Impact Analysis of Customer Service Technologies, the resume will showcase the candidate’s proactive interest in industry trends and their ability to contribute meaningfully to the company’s goals.

2. Customer service representative resume example

This example is for a mid-level professional with a few years of experience in a fast-paced tech environment. The resume focuses on their ability to solve problems and improve customer service processes.

Solution-oriented approach: Emphasizing a solution-oriented mindset shows that the candidate is proactive in resolving customer issues, a crucial trait for a customer service representative.

Technical proficiency: Listing technical skills reflects the candidate’s capability to handle various customer service tools and technologies, making them a valuable asset to the company.

Achievements: Highlighting leadership in projects, such as a 5% decrease in cancellations with new tactics, demonstrates the candidate’s ability to contribute to efficiency and innovation within the company.

Customer-centric mindset: Adding a section on how the candidate consistently delivers high customer satisfaction or has received positive customer feedback can make this resume stand out.

Continuous learning: Including certifications or ongoing training relevant to customer service can show a commitment to professional growth and stay updated with industry trends.

3. Customer service manager resume example

This resume is for an experienced professional manager with experience leading customer service teams. It highlights the manager’s strategic approach to managing customer relations and driving team success.

Leadership skills : It’s important to show leadership abilities and experience in managing customer service departments. This showcases the candidate’s capacity to lead teams, make strategic decisions, and drive customer service excellence.

Strategic achievements : Highlighting achievements like exceeding the annual revenue target by 30% shows the candidate’s effectiveness in driving business growth.

Process improvement : Including examples of how the candidate has improved processes, such as reducing customer complaint resolution time or enhancing service quality, can add significant value to the resume.

Team development : Mentioning how the candidate has mentored and developed their team, leading to higher performance levels, can showcase their ability to build and maintain a strong customer service team.

4. Retail customer service representative resume example

The resume is tailored for a retail representative, specifically in a virtual support environment. It emphasizes energy and empathy, traits for providing excellent customer service in retail.

This role involves being the primary point of contact between the company and its customers. You’ll represent the company with a friendly demeanor and be available to address any inquiries or concerns they may have.

Energetic and empathetic approach : Highlighting these qualities reflects the candidate’s ability to connect with customers, making them feel valued and understood. It’s particularly important in retail, where customer interactions can directly impact sales and brand loyalty.

Virtual support expertise : Mentioning experience in a virtual support environment showcases the candidate’s adaptability to online and remote customer service platforms. It’s increasingly relevant as more retail operations move online, requiring staff to handle customer inquiries and issues without face-to-face interaction.

Product knowledge : Adding a section highlighting a deep understanding of the retailer’s products or services can further strengthen this resume. Demonstrating that candidates can provide informed and accurate customer advice can set them apart.

Sales skills : Including examples of how the candidate has successfully upsold products or enhanced the customer’s purchase experience can demonstrate their contribution to revenue growth, a critical aspect of retail customer service.

5. Call center customer service representative resume example

This resume is designed for a call center customer service rep in a fast-paced online retail environment. It highlights the dedication and the ability to maintain high customer satisfaction rates.

Dedication to customer service : Focusing on dedication underscores the candidate’s commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality service. This trait is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction in a call center environment, where interactions are often brief and numerous.

Achievements : Remarkably, the candidate can achieve a customer satisfaction rate and handle 700+ calls, exceeding the team average. It shows that the candidate can meet expectations and set a high standard for customer service within the team.

Communication skills : A section emphasizing strong verbal and written communication skills can enhance this resume. Communication is crucial in a call center role, where clarity and the ability to convey information accurately are vital to resolving customer issues.

Team collaboration : It can be beneficial to highlight the candidate’s ability to work well within a team, perhaps by mentioning any involvement in team projects or initiatives that improve overall performance. Teamwork is often vital in a call center environment to ensure consistency in service quality.

Multitasking abilities : Including points about the candidate’s proficiency in multitasking, such as handling multiple customer inquiries simultaneously or managing various communication channels (such as phone, email, chat), can demonstrate their efficiency and capability in a demanding role.

Customer retention : If applicable, adding a point about how the candidate has contributed to customer retention by resolving issues promptly or offering solutions that satisfied customers and encouraged repeat business can further showcase their value to potential employers.

Crafting a winning customer service representative resume

Creating a customer service job resume involves several key elements that can help you stand out to potential employers. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each component:

1. Start with a strong summary or objective

Purpose: Begin your resume with a summary or objective statement that quickly captures the hiring manager’s attention. This section should briefly highlight your key achievements and demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the company’s needs.

Strong summary: A summary should focus on your most significant accomplishments and the unique value you bring to the role. For example, “ Experienced Customer Service Professional with over five years of expertise delivering exceptional support in high-volume call centers. Proven track record in achieving a customer satisfaction rate of 98% and improving response times through innovative solutions .”

Objective statement: An objective statement might be more suitable if you’re new to the field or changing industries. It should outline your career goals and how they align with the company’s mission. For example, “ Motivated individual seeking to leverage strong communication skills and a customer-centric approach to contribute to [Company’s Name] as a Customer Service Representative .”

2. Target your resume to each job description

Tailor your experience: Customize your resume for each job application by aligning your work experience with the specific requirements of the job description. Highlight relevant tasks and achievements that match the employer’s needs.

Keywords and phrases: Carefully read the job description to identify keywords related to the role. Incorporate these keywords throughout your resume, especially in your summary, skills section, and work experience. This can help your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catch the attention of hiring managers.

3. Showcase your customer service skills

Skills section: Create a dedicated skills section listing your hard and soft skills relevant to customer service. Hard skills include proficiency with CRM software, data entry, or conflict resolution techniques, while soft skills involve communication, empathy, and active listening.

Examples: Include specific examples of how you’ve used these skills in past roles. For instance, “ Utilized CRM software to track customer interactions and resolve issues, leading to a 20% reduction in average response time .”

4. Highlight soft skills in addition to hard skills

Importance of soft skills: Soft skills are critical in customer service roles as they involve interpersonal interactions that are challenging to teach. Employers value candidates who possess these skills naturally and can apply them effectively in various situations.

Descriptive keywords: Use descriptive keywords such as “customer-centric,” “problem-solving,” “communication,” “adaptability,” and “empathy” to highlight your soft skills. Provide examples or brief anecdotes to demonstrate how these skills have been applied in your previous roles.

Consider including other relevant soft skills like patience, resilience, and teamwork. For example, “ Demonstrated patience and resilience while handling difficult customer interactions, resulting in improved customer satisfaction scores .”

5. Use action verbs and keywords

Action verbs: Employ a variety of action verbs to keep your resume dynamic and engaging. Words like “executed,” “facilitated,” “resolved,” “addressed,” and “coordinated” can make your accomplishments stand out.

Avoid repetition: Vary your verbs and phrases to avoid repetitiveness and keep the resume interesting. For example, instead of repeatedly using “managed,” you might use “oversaw,” “led,” or “directed” to describe different aspects of your responsibilities.

ATS optimization: Ensure your resume is optimized for ATS by incorporating relevant keywords from the job description. This will help your resume pass through initial screenings and reach human recruiters.

5. Format and proofread

Quantify achievements: Quantify your achievements to provide concrete evidence of your success. Numbers, percentages, and specific metrics can make your accomplishments more impactful. For example, “ Increased customer retention by 15% through targeted follow-up strategies .”

Professional formatting: Your resume should be in a clean, professional style with clear headings, bullet points, and a consistent font style. This will make it easy to read and navigate.

Proofread: Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. A well-proofread resume reflects attention to detail and professionalism.

Essential customer service skills

1. customer centricity.

Customer centricity is fundamental to building strong relationships and ensuring customer satisfaction. Customer service representatives are the front line of this effort, responsible for creating positive interactions and addressing customer needs.

Highlight your ability to understand and meet customer needs by sharing specific examples. For instance, describe how you identified a customer’s unique requirements and changed your service approach accordingly. Mention instances where your efforts led to customer loyalty or positive feedback.

2. Excellent communication skills

Communication makes customers feel heard and understood. It involves answering questions accurately and conveying information clearly and empathetically.

Provide examples that showcase your communication skills. It can include handling complex queries, resolving misunderstandings, or managing difficult conversations. Highlight instances where your communication led to positive outcomes or resolved challenging situations.

3. Problem-solving skills

Solving problems creatively is essential in a dynamic customer service environment . This skill involves analyzing issues, developing solutions, and implementing them efficiently.

Showcase examples of how you’ve tackled unique or complex issues. Describe your thought process, the solutions you implemented, and the results of your efforts. Emphasize your ability to think critically and find innovative solutions to problems.

4. Time management skills

Prioritizing tasks and managing time efficiently ensures that all customer needs are addressed promptly.

Highlight your ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively by sharing examples of how you balanced multiple responsibilities. Describe how you organized your workload, met deadlines, and maintained productivity in a fast-paced environment.

5. Adaptability skills

Representatives must be flexible and responsive to new challenges and evolving customer expectations.

Provide examples of how you’ve adapted to new situations or changes in customer behavior. Highlight your ability to embrace change, learn new processes quickly, and adjust your approach as needed.

6. Leadership skills

For those in managerial or supervisory roles, leadership skills are important for motivating and guiding a team. Influential leaders inspire their teams, manage conflicts, and drive performance.

Showcase your leadership abilities by describing how you’ve led and managed teams. Provide examples of how you motivated team members, handled challenges, and achieved team goals.

7. Teamwork skills

Collaboration and teamwork are crucial in customer service, where representatives often work together to resolve issues and provide support. Effectively working with others enhances the overall customer experience.

Share examples of successful team projects or initiatives to highlight your ability to collaborate and work well in a team environment. Emphasize your role in fostering a positive team dynamic and achieving collective goals.

Resume sections for customer service representatives

Structure your resume with these sections and focus on relevant details. It’ll showcase your qualifications and make you a strong candidate for a customer service position. Tailoring each section to the specific job you’re applying for will further enhance your resume’s impact.

The header is the first section of your resume and serves as an introduction to your professional identity. It should present your name and contact information so potential employers can easily reach you.

Name : Use a bold, larger font for your name to make it stand out.

Contact information : Include your phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn or other relevant online profiles. Ensure that your contact information is up-to-date and professional. Avoid using informal or personal email addresses.

Phone: (123) 456-7890

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janedoe

The summary section provides a snapshot of your qualifications and professional background. It’s optional but highly recommended, and it can make your resume more engaging by quickly showcasing your most relevant skills and achievements.

Overview : Briefly summarize your professional experience, key skills, and career accomplishments. Tailor this section to align with the job you’re applying for by including keywords and phrases from the job description.

Tone : Keep it concise, typically 2-3 sentences, and focus on your unique selling points.

• Results-driven customer service representative with over five years of experience managing high-volume customer interactions in fast-paced environments. Adept at problem-solving, maintaining high customer satisfaction rates, and leading initiatives to enhance service quality. Known for solid communication skills and a customer-centric approach.

3. Experience

The experience section is crucial as it details your work history and demonstrates your qualifications for the role. It should highlight your previous job responsibilities, accomplishments, and contributions to past employers.

Job title and company : List your job title, the company name, and dates of employment for each position.

Responsibilities and achievements : Use bullet points to describe your key responsibilities and achievements in each role. Focus on quantifiable accomplishments and specific examples of how you added value.

Tailoring : Customize this section to align with the job you’re applying for by emphasizing experiences and skills that match the job description.

Customer Service Representative

XYZ Tech Solutions, New York, NY

June 2019 – Present

Managed a high volume of customer inquiries and resolved issues promptly, achieving a customer satisfaction rating of 98%.

Implemented a new ticketing system that streamlined issue tracking and reduced resolution time by 25%.

Trained and mentored new team members, leading to a 15% improvement in team performance.

4. Education

The education section provides information about your academic qualifications. It’s important to highlight relevant educational achievements that support your qualifications for the customer service role.

Degree and institution : Include your degree, the institution’s name, and graduation year. If you have relevant certifications or coursework, include those as well.

Relevance : Customize this section to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you have completed any specialized training or courses related to customer service or communication, mention them.

Bachelor of Arts in Communications

University of XYZ, New York, NY

Graduated May 2018

Relevant coursework : Customer service management , Interpersonal Communication

The skills section highlights the specific abilities and competencies that make you a strong candidate for the customer service role. This section should include hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal traits).

Hard skills : Include technical skills relevant to customer service, such as proficiency with CRM software, data entry, or troubleshooting.

Soft skills: Highlight critical interpersonal skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Keywords : Use keywords from the job description to make your resume more likely to pass through ATS and catch the attention of hiring managers.

Customer-centric approach

Effective communication

Problem-solving and conflict resolution

Proficiency in CRM software (Salesforce, Zendesk)

Time management and multitasking

Adaptability and flexibility

Customer service resume templates

Choosing a suitable resume template can significantly impact how potential employers present and perceive your qualifications. Each template type serves a different purpose and suits different experience levels and career goals.

1. Chronological resume template

This template is ideal for customer service professionals with substantial field experience. It emphasizes your work history, showcasing your progression and achievements over time.

Header : Include your name and contact information.

Summary (optional) : A brief overview of your career highlights and key skills.

Experience : List your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position and working backward. Include job titles, company names, dates of employment, and detailed bullet points outlining your responsibilities and achievements for each role.

Education : Follow with your educational background.

Skills : Conclude with a list of relevant skills.

Advantages:

Demonstrates career progression : Clearly shows how you’ve advanced in your career, making it easy for employers to see your growth and accumulated expertise.

Highlights recent experience : Emphasize your most recent roles, often the most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Disadvantages:

Gaps in employment : May highlight gaps in employment or frequent job changes if they exist.

Less focus on skills : This approach places less emphasis on specific skills or competencies if they are not closely tied to your work history.

2. Functional resume template

This template suits customer service professionals with limited experience or those transitioning from another field. It focuses on skills and qualifications rather than a detailed work history.

Summary (optional ): A brief overview of your career highlights and key skills.

Skills : Group your skills into categories and examples or achievements for each skill category.

Experience : List your work experience briefly or as a summary, emphasizing the skills and accomplishments relevant to the job.

Focuses on skills : Highlights your capabilities and qualifications, which can be helpful if you have limited experience or are changing careers.

Minimizes gaps : Less emphasis on chronological work history can help reduce the impact of gaps or frequent job changes.

Less emphasis on experience : May need to provide more detail about your work history, which can be a drawback if the employer places a high value on experience.

May raise questions : This can raise questions about your work history.

3. Combination resume template

This template is best for customer service professionals who want to highlight their skills and experience. It blends elements of the chronological and functional formats, allowing you to showcase a balanced view of your qualifications.

Summary (optional): A brief overview of your career highlights and key skills.

Skills : List and describe your critical skills, emphasizing hard and soft skills.

Experience : Provide a chronological list of your work history with bullet points detailing your responsibilities and achievements.

Comprehensive view : Provides a well-rounded view of your skills and work history, appealing to employers who value experience and specific abilities.

Flexibility : You can highlight your strongest qualifications while presenting a clear career progression.

Complexity : It can be more complex to organize as it combines elements of both chronological and functional formats.

Potential redundancy : If the document needs to be carefully structured, it may be redundant, especially if the skills and experience sections overlap.Combination resume template

Tips for customer service managers

1. emphasize strategic thinking.

As a customer service manager, aligning your team’s efforts with the company’s broader objectives is crucial. It means understanding the company’s goals and ensuring that your customer service strategies contribute to achieving them. For example, if the company prioritizes customer retention, you should focus on strategies that enhance customer loyalty and satisfaction.

• Critical decision-making: Highlight your ability to think critically and make informed decisions that benefit both the customer and the company. It includes analyzing data, understanding customer behavior, and anticipating future trends. Showcasing examples of how you’ve successfully implemented strategic initiatives in past roles can reinforce your capability in this area.

2. Showcase customer service experience

Hands-on experience: Any manager must have extensive experience in customer service . This experience should include handling complex customer complaints, improving customer satisfaction scores, and leading a team of service representatives. Highlight specific accomplishments, such as resolving high-impact customer issues or implementing a new system that led to measurable improvements in service quality.

Continuous improvement: Customer service managers should also be committed to constant improvement. It could involve regularly assessing the team’s performance, identifying areas for enhancement, and implementing training programs or new technologies to boost efficiency and customer satisfaction.

3. Demonstrate leadership and team development

Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and customer service expertise are essential. As a manager, you guide your team, set performance standards, and ensure everyone is motivated to achieve their best.

Highlight your leadership style, how you manage your team, and any specific achievements related to team development, such as mentoring junior staff or leading successful team projects.

• Team building: Emphasize your ability to build and maintain a cohesive team. This includes fostering a positive work environment, encouraging collaboration, and ensuring all team members feel valued and supported.

By focusing on these areas, you can present yourself as a well-rounded and outstanding customer service manager, capable of driving success for your team and the company.

Average customer service salaries in the US

Customer service representative salary.

• The average salary for a customer service representative in the US is approximately $40,000 per year. This figure can vary depending on location, industry, and experience level. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with more experience or in specialized industries may earn higher salaries.

Customer service manager salary

• The average salary for customer service managers in the US is around $60,000 per year. Managers typically earn more due to additional responsibilities, such as overseeing teams, implementing customer service strategies, and ensuring overall customer satisfaction. Similar to representatives, salaries can vary based on experience, company size, and geographic location.

Crafting an impactful customer service resume is essential for standing out in a competitive job market. Highlighting relevant experience, showcasing key achievements, and demonstrating proficiency in customer-facing roles can significantly boost your hiring chances.

Leveraging tools like HelpDesk can enhance your effectiveness in customer service roles and your resume. It excels at managing customer inquiries through ticket management, allowing for organized tracking and resolution of cases. It facilitates seamless communication across various channels, automates repetitive tasks, and collects valuable feedback to drive improvements.

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