Why Skills Are Critical on a Resume

Skills highlight your qualifications for the job. When your resume gets quickly scanned, your skills quickly highlight how you’d be a good fit for the job. 

Your capabilities act as a bridge between your qualifications and the job you’re applying for. Employers use skills to quickly gauge your fit for a role, making them one of the most scrutinized sections of your resume.

First impressions matter: A skills section allows recruiters to scan for job-specific qualifications in seconds.

Applicant Track Systems (ATS) optimization: Most resumes are initially screened by ATS software, which ranks resumes based on keywords related to required skills. 

Recruiters can also pull up older resumes (that weren’t previously selected) by using keywords.

Proof of competence: Listing relevant skills gives employers confidence in your ability to perform tasks and deliver results.

By carefully curating your skills, you’re showing what you know — and aligning yourself with what the employer needs.

Types of skills employers look for

What are hard skills?

Hard skills are job-specific, measurable abilities often acquired through training, education, or on-the-job experience. They’re essential for technical roles or specialized industries.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills focus on interpersonal and emotional intelligence. These skills are often transferable across industries and are equally important in determining workplace success.

Examples of soft skills:

  • Adaptability (thriving in fast-paced environments)
  • Communication (public speaking, writing, active listening)
  • Leadership (mentoring, conflict resolution)
  • Solution-seeking (critical thinking, creativity)
  • Teamwork (collaboration, emotional intelligence)

Combining hard and soft skills

The key to a standout resume is balancing both hard and soft skills. For example, a project manager might pair “budget management” (a hard skill) with “team leadership” (a soft skill) to paint a complete picture of their expertise.

It’s important to not solely focus on soft skills and hone in on measurable accomplishments, as most soft skills can be subjective. Keep a rounded mix of both hard and soft skills throughout your resume, with a bigger emphasis on hard skills. 

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: Understanding the Difference

Hard skills are job-specific, measurable abilities often acquired through training, education, or on-the-job experience. They’re essential for technical roles or specialized industries.

Examples of hard skills:

  • Data analysis (Excel, SQL, Python)
  • Project management (Agile, Scrum, budgeting)
  • Graphic design (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator)
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Workspace
  • Foreign languages (fluent in Spanish)
  • Digital marketing like search engine optimization (SEO), Google Analytics, Meta, and Google Ads

Soft skills mostly focus on interpersonal and emotional intelligence. Soft skills are often transferable across industries and are equally important in determining workplace success. These can be learned throughout life, school, and career. They are mostly subjective and should be limited throughout your resume, as they aren’t measurable and self-perceived. Soft skills are also presumed in the professional workplace, like “hard-working, excellent communication skills, team player” and don’t need to be highlighted.

Combining hard and soft skills for a balanced profile

You can blend hard and soft skills on your resume but use caution rather than overdoing it. To avoid subjectivity, focus on measurable accomplishments mostly.

If you want to add some throughout your resume, do so sparingly. Here are some ideas on examples of resume soft skills you can add. 

How To Choose the Best Skills for Your Resume

Researching the job description

Read the job posting carefully to identify the required skills. Focus on repeated or emphasized keywords, as they’re likely critical for the role.

Prioritizing industry-specific skills

While general skills are important, employers often prioritize those relevant to their field. For example, a graphic designer’s resume should highlight technical proficiency in design software like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

Using keywords for ATS compatibility

ATS scans resumes for specific keywords. To pass this initial screening, use exact phrasing from the job description when listing your skills. For example:

  • Instead of “customer service experience,” write “customer relationship management (CRM).”

Top Skills To Include on Your Resume (With Examples)

Communication skills

Whether verbal or written, communication is critical for nearly every role.

  • Examples: Written communication, public speaking, active listening, and negotiation
  • Example of phrasing: “Led cross-departmental meetings and improved team alignment”

Technical skills

These are your role-specific, measurable abilities.

  • Examples: Proficiency with software (e.g., Excel, SQL, Salesforce), technical writing, and data analysis

Leadership and management skills

Great leaders don’t just direct — they inspire. These are places you’ve managed others or showcased leadership.

  • Examples: Team leadership, strategic planning, decision-making, and delegation
  • Example of phrasing: “Managed a team of 10 and increased project efficiency by 20%”

Solution-seeking skills

Employers value candidates who can think on their feet.

  • Examples: Analytical thinking, research, troubleshooting, and creativity
  • Example of phrasing: “Developed a customer complaint resolution process, reducing response time by 50%”

Customer service skills

These skills are crucial for roles in hospitality, retail, sales, account management, and beyond.

  • Examples: Customer support, conflict resolution, CRM proficiency, and empathy

Project management skills

These skills are the backbone of many industries, from technology to construction.

  • Examples: Project scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and task delegation
  • Example of phrasing: “Led a project with a $100,000 budget, completing it within scope and on time”

How To Present Skills on Your Resume

Using a dedicated “skills” section

A technical skills section near the bottom of your resume, close to your education section, can provide an area to list all your hard skills quickly. Great examples are the software, Software as a service (SaaS), social media, programs, and coding language you’re familiar with.

Here is an example of a skills section:

Entry-Level Resume Outline:

Systems/Tools

Marketing Automation and CRM: Hubspot, Salesforce CRM, Customer.io
SEO and Analytics: Ahrefs, Semrush, Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Google Search Console
Content Management Systems (CMS): Strapi, WordPress, Webflow
Data and Reporting Tools: Metabase, Zoominfo, Outreach.io, RB2B
Productivity and Collaboration: Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace
Advertising Platforms: Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Campaign Manager
Direct Marketing and Gifting Tools: Sendoso

Integrating skills into the work experience section

Blend your skills into job descriptions using quantifiable examples. Here’s how you do it:

  • “Implemented automated reporting in Excel, reducing data analysis time by 40%”

Quantifying skills wherever possible

Your bullet points should include a measurable accomplishment; think in terms of time, money/budget, and scope. It’s important to include numbers so an employer can envision you in their role. All roles have metrics.

(e.g., “Managed over 50 client accounts, increasing retention by 30%”)

How To Tailor Skills for Different Job Types

Entry-level positions

Focus on transferable skills and those acquired through internships or coursework. For instance, highlight teamwork or software proficiency learned in college projects.

Mid-level and experienced roles

Demonstrate mastery of advanced skills and showcase your growth over time.

Executive or management roles

Highlight strategic thinking, leadership, and high-level project management abilities.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Listing Skills on Your Resume

  • Listing Too Many Skills

Avoid overwhelming recruiters with a long list. Stick to the most relevant for the role you hope to be in next. Keyword stuffing is a major turnoff to employers, less is more. 

  • Using Vague or Overused Terms

 Replace generic phrases like “good communication” with concrete examples. If you’d like to showcase your communication skills, write a bullet point about how many speeches you’ve done, how many “Toastmasters” events you’ve attended, or how many blog posts you wrote.

  • Including Outdated or Irrelevant Skills
    • Advice on keeping skills updated and relevant to the job and industry.

Resume Examples With Good Skills

Marketing Specialist Resume Example

[Your Name]
[Your Email] | [Your Phone Number] | [LinkedIn Profile]

Professional Summary

Results-oriented Marketing Specialist with over five years of experience in creating data-driven marketing strategies and executing campaigns that enhance customer engagement. Skilled in digital marketing, content creation, and analytics with a proven ability to drive revenue growth and brand visibility.

Skills

  • Digital Marketing: SEO, Google Ads, Facebook Ads
  • Analytics: Google Analytics 4, Tableau
  • Tools: HubSpot, Salesforce CRM, Canva
  • Content Management: WordPress, Webflow
  • Project Management: Trello, Asana

Professional Experience

Marketing Specialist
XYZ Corporation, City, State
January 2018 – Present

  • Developed and implemented SEO strategies that increased website traffic by 40% over a six-month period.
  • Managed $200,000 in digital ad spend, achieving a 25% ROI improvement year-over-year.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to launch new product campaigns, resulting in a $1M revenue increase.

Marketing Coordinator
123 Solutions, City, State
June 2015 – December 2017

  • Created and scheduled social media content that boosted engagement rates by 35%.
  • Analyzed campaign performance data to optimize email marketing, increasing open rates by 15%.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing
University Name, City, State
Graduation Date: Month, Year

Software Engineer Resume Example

[Your Name]
[Your Email] | [Your Phone Number] | [LinkedIn Profile] | [Portfolio Website]

Professional Summary

Innovative Software Engineer with seven years of experience developing scalable web applications and optimizing performance. Proficient in full-stack development and cloud services with a track record of delivering high-quality solutions on time and within budget.

Skills

  • Programming Languages: Python, JavaScript, Java
  • Frameworks: React, Node.js, Django
  • Cloud Services: AWS, Azure
  • DevOps Tools: Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins
  • Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB

Professional Experience

Software Engineer
Tech Innovators Inc., City, State
March 2017 – Present

  • Designed and implemented a scalable microservices architecture, reducing deployment times by 30%.
  • Led a team of developers to build a cloud-native web application, increasing user retention by 20%.
  • Automated CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and Docker, improving release efficiency by 50%.

Junior Software Engineer
CodeMasters LLC, City, State
July 2015 – February 2017

  • Developed and maintained backend APIs for e-commerce platforms, ensuring 99.9% uptime.
  • Conducted code reviews and mentored junior developers, enhancing team productivity by 15%.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University Name, City, State
Graduation Date: Month, Year

Customer Service Manager Resume Example

[Your Name]
[Your Email] | [Your Phone Number] | [LinkedIn Profile]

Professional Summary

Dedicated Customer Service Manager with over a decade of experience leading customer support teams and improving customer satisfaction rates. Skilled in conflict resolution, team leadership, and CRM tools to enhance operational efficiency and customer retention.

Skills

  • Customer Relationship Management: Salesforce, Zendesk
  • Leadership: Training, Team Building, Conflict Resolution
  • Data Analysis: Excel, Google Sheets
  • Communication: Public Speaking, Active Listening
  • Process Improvement: Workflow Automation

Professional Experience

Customer Service Manager
Retail Solutions Group, City, State
January 2013 – Present

  • Managed a 20-member customer support team, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate for three consecutive years.
  • Developed a new training program that reduced employee onboarding time by 30%.
  • Implemented a feedback system to track customer pain points, resulting in a 15% decrease in complaints.

Customer Service Specialist
QuickHelp LLC, City, State
May 2009 – December 2012

  • Resolved customer issues efficiently, maintaining a 90% first-call resolution rate.
  • Assisted in automating ticketing workflows, reducing response times by 20%.

Education

Bachelor of Business Administration
University Name, City, State
Graduation Date: Month, Year

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Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Outlines

How many skills should I include on my resume?

Aim for five to 10 skills, depending on your job description and experience level.

What skills do employers look for most?

In-demand skills include solution-seeking, technical proficiency, management, and leadership.

Should I include both hard and soft skills?

Yes. Combining both shows that you’re a well-rounded candidate. However, use them sparingly to avoid being subjective.