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When thinking about skills for your resume, it’s important to know which will be the most important to employers. From technical skills to interpersonal skills, here’s how to figure it out.
Top 20 Must-Have Skills to Put on Your Resume
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills in Your Resume
Top skills to list in your resume, top soft skills for your resume (examples), – problem solving skills, – critical thinking skills, – flexibility, – communication skills, – teamwork, – organization skills, – creativity, – emotional intelligence, – attention to detail, – responsibility, top hard skills for your resume (examples), – digital skills, – design, – data analysis, – negotiation, – mathematics, – project management, – marketing, – administrative, – writing skills, – foreign languages, look for target keywords, how to list skills in your resume, sort skills by r elevance, add a highlights section, categorize by skill.
- Process Improvements: information of responsibilities and/or achievements that relate to creating and implementing processes to improve operational efficiencies.
- Customer Service Skills: content that illustrates how you maintain or improve the customer experience at your company.
- Change Management: information that can relate to restructuring staff, developing training programs for employees, and coaching individuals or groups on company best practices.
Perfecting Your Resume
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- Resume Help
Skills to Put on Resume (List of Good Examples for All Jobs)
You have ideas about which skills to put on a resume, but they seem out of place? Give this article a read to find the know-how with a list of skills for your job application.
As seen in:
Are you qualified to be hired?
So how do you list skills on a resume to have recruiters invite you for an interview? What should you do so that recruiters actually believe you?
Learn exactly what with this article.
It’ll show you:
- Examples of the best skills to put on a resume for all jobs.
- What soft and hard skills to include on a resume to get noticed.
- How to list skills on your resume to confirm your qualifications and get interviewed for your dream job.
You’ve been tinkering with that skills list for hours, even though you didn’t need to. Instead, you could use the Zety resume builder and simply drag & drop the skills onto your resume template . So go ahead. Pick one and create a resume that’ll get you the job you actually want.
Sample resume made with our builder— See more examples and create your resume here .
Skip to the following parts of the guide:
Best Skills to Put on a Resume
- Office and Administrative Jobs
- Sales, Retail, and Customer Service Jobs
- Nursing and Healthcare
- Engineering & Technical Jobs
- Advertising and Marketing
- General Management and Project Management
How to List Skills on a Resume
So you must’ve been wondering whether there are universally good skills to put on a resume that every hiring manager would love to see before making their shortlist. Indeed, they’re a mix of soft and hard skills . See the following list of the key skills for a resume to get wind of them all:
- Computer Skills
- Communication Skills
- Leadership Skills
- Organizational Skills
- People Skills
- Customer Service Skills
- Collaboration Skills
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Creative Thinking Skills
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Management Skills
- Teamwork Skills
- Active Listening Skills
- Adaptability
- Negotiation
- Conflict Resolution
- Decision Making Skills
- Time Management Skills
- Language Skills
- Administrative Skills .
The soft skills listed above are very much transferable skills . Such abilities are universal and not associated with a particular job or industry—they’ll make fantastic employment skills no matter the job title .
This means you should add a few of your most relevant personal skills to a resume, whatever job you’re applying for. That’s especially important if you’re a recent graduate writing an entry-level resume .
Studies have shown that the most important things to put on a resume for entry-level candidates are soft skills:
- problem-solving (83% of employers)
- teamwork (83%)
- written communication (80%)
- and leadership (72%).
See more examples of soft skills and step-by-step instructions for how to list them on a resume: The Best Soft Skills to Put on a Resume
Hard skills are abilities you learn on the job, through formal education, or additional training. They are teachable, measurable, and related to a specific job. For instance, if you work in customer service, your hard skills include Zendesk, data entry, and product knowledge.
On resumes, hard skills show what you can do. Soft skills indicate how you’ll perform your duties.
Let's have a look at examples of key skills employers look for in candidates for the most popular professions:
Skills Examples: Office and Administrative Jobs
- Answering Phones
- Microsoft Office Skills
- Office Equipment
- Welcoming Visitors
- Calendar Management
Skills Examples: Sales, Retail, and Customer Service Jobs
- Product Knowledge
- Lead Qualification
- Lead Prospecting
- Customer Needs Analysis
- Referral Marketing
- Contract Negotiation
- Self Motivation
- Increasing Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
- Reducing Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
- CRM Software (Salesforce, Hubspot, Zoho, Freshsales)
- Cashier Skills
- Good Communication Skills
Skills Examples: Nursing and Healthcare
- General Nursing Skills
- Patient Assessment
- Taking Vital Signs
- Patient Care
- Recording Patient Medical History
- Wound Dressing and Care
- Urgent and Emergency Care
- Record-Keeping
- Patient Education
- NIH Stroke Scale Patient Assessment
- Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
- Medicine Administration
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Rehabilitation Therapy
- Hygiene Assistance
- Use of X-Ray, MRI, CAT Scans
- Glucose Checks
- Electronic Heart Record (EHR)
Skills Examples: IT Jobs
- Programming Languages
- Web Development
- Data Structures
- Open Source Experience
- CodingJava Script
- Machine Learning
- Front-End & Back-End Development
- Cloud Management
- Agile Development
Skills Examples: Engineering & Technical Jobs
- STEM Skills
- Prototyping
- Troubleshooting
- Project Launch
- Lean Manufacturing
- Workflow Development
- Technical Report Writing Skills
- Technical Skills
Skills Examples: Advertising and Marketing
- A/B Testing
- Social Media Marketing and Paid Social Media Advertising
- Sales Funnel Management
- Graphic Design Skills
- Email Marketing Skills
- Email Automation
- Data Visualization
- Print Design
- Photography and Branding
Skills Examples: General Management and Project Management
- Managing Cross-Functional Teams
- Performance Tracking
- Financial Modeling
- Ideation Leadership
- Feature Definition
- Forecasting
- Profit and Loss
- Scope Management
- Project Lifecycle Management
- Meeting Facilitation
- Managerial Skills
Hungry for more hard skills examples and expert tips for how to list them for the greatest impact? See our article: Hard Skills: Definition & List of Best Examples for Any Resume
Don’t know what skills are best for you? Tired of overthinking what to include? Our builder will do the job for you.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a professional resume template here for free .
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
1. Tailor your resume skills to the job description you’re targeting
If there’s one takeaway here, it’s this:
Customize the skills list on every resume you send to match the job offer requirements.
You’ll show recruiters that you’re made for this job specifically and beat resume-screening bots that scan resumes for relevant keywords.
How to make a resume skills list tailored to the job ad?
- Start with a master list of all your professional skills. List everything that makes you good at your job, both hard and soft skills.
- Read the job description carefully. Pay attention to the “Requirements” or “Key Skills” section of the job ad.
- Look for skills-related words and phrases such as “meticulous time-management,” “knowledge of XYZ software,” “proficient in Lean management,” and so on. Jot them down.
- Compare your master list of skills with those you see in the job ad. All those that match have to go on your resume.
- Don’t stop there! If the job ad calls for other skills you think you have but forgot to enter on your master list, mention those on a resume, too.
- Tell the truth, though. If you exaggerate your qualifications on a resume, recruiters will find out at some point.
Let’s see how that works in practice. Below, you’ll find a sample job ad for a customer service representative.
See those keywords marked in yellow? Those are the key skills and qualifications successful candidates will have to list and prove on their resumes.
Job Summary:
- Present a professional image with a positive demeanor daily
- Initiate customer interactions and engage with prospects
- Educate customers about our clients and the value of their products
- Provide support and resources that solidify the interest of customers
- Establish rapport to pinpoint customer preferences and adapt accordingly
- Become an expert in the characteristics of the products and services offered
- Collaborate with the Customer Service Team to complete objectives
Desired Skills:
- You’re able to make decisions and solve problems
- You are able to empathize with customers in a genuine way that lets them know you care about their issues
- You’re a team player that can follow and lead as situations dictate
Requirements:
- 2-5 years of experience working with customers in a technical role
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Experience with JIRA, Zendesk, Salesforce, or other support tools
Now that you know what’s expected of you show you have the skills they need.
2. Include relevant skills in a separate skills section
This way, you’ll help recruiters spot strengths on your resume in a flash.
Use a standalone skills section where you put your most important qualifications. Make sure to:
- Be specific and precise (“Written and verbal communication,” instead of “good communicator”).
- Divide the skills into “Hard Skills” and “Soft Skills.”
- Use no more than ten skills in total.
See how it should look in an example below:
Hard Skills:
- Providing customer support
- Product knowledge
Soft Skills:
- Decision-making
- Written and verbal communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
You can also indicate how advanced your abilities are using descriptive words, such as “Advanced,” “Intermediate,” or “Basic.”
3. Add your work-related skills to the experience section
That’s right, your work history section with descriptions of past jobs is evidence of the skills list you’ve just made. That is where you have to prove you can apply your skillset in real-life professional situations.
I’ll use the following sample work history section to respond to the customer service job ad’s requirements that you read a moment ago:
Customer Service Representative
XYZ Corp Long Island, NY
April 2018–Present
- Displayed expertise in the characteristics and features of 100+ flagship products .
- Provided support to clients in highly technical roles .
- Worked with a team of 20+ CSRs and Sales Reps, applying Agile frameworks to solving unexpected problems such as new complaint types.
- Trained new hires to use JIRA, Zendesk, and Salesforce support tools .
- Commanded by supervisors for quick and efficient decision-making .
To learn more about how to include skills and abilities in a resume work experience, see: Work Experience on a Resume: Duties, Skills, Achievements
4. Weave the most relevant skills into your resume profile
Yes, you guessed it—for the best resume , you need to mention a few of your most relevant skills in the profile, too. After all, you don’t just tell recruiters about your skills. You show them.
Let’s stick with our example of a customer service job. The job ad calls for skills in:
- Supporting customers in technical positions.
- Problem-solving
- Support tools and software.
See how this candidate shows their skills in the below resume summary:
Customer service specialist with 2+ years of experience working with clients in highly technical roles (1) seeking a Customer Service Associate position with ABC Company. Applied Agile frameworks to facilitate problem-solving procedures (2) for new complaints, slashing ticket resolution time by 40%. A power user of JIRA, Zendesk, and Salesforce (3) .
What makes it so great?
Upon reading a 50-word-long paragraph, the recruiter already knows the candidate is skilled in everything that counts for this job.
See tips for making the most of your skills for a job in a resume summary or objective. Read: Resume Summary Samples and Professional Resume Objectives
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key Takeaway
Here’s how to list skills on a resume for a job:
- Be relevant to the position you’re after: pay attention to the required skills mentioned in the job ad and list those on your resume.
- Create a legible, separate skills section: list up to ten key job skills, optionally adding descriptions of your proficiency level.
- Refer to your top skills in your resume’s work experience section to show how you put your abilities to use.
- Add 2–3 most relevant skills to your resume summary or objective.
Thanks for reading my article!
Now, I’d love to hear from you!
What are the biggest challenges when putting skills on resumes? What skills do you think are the most crucial? Do you need further assistance with your resume skills list?
Drop me a line in the comments. Let’s chat!
Frequently Asked Questions about What Skills to Put on a Resume
What are the top skills employers are looking for.
The top skills that employers look for on a resume are:
- Technical skills : computer skills, programming languages, social media, and enterprise software
- Problem-solving skills : creativity, critical thinking, and analytical skills
- Customer-service skills : active listening, time management, and prioritization
- Interpersonal skills : communication, teamwork, and empathy
- Leadership skills : decision making, stress management, and organization
What are good skills to add to a resume?
There’s no definitive answer to this question because there are no universally good skills. It depends on what you know and can do and what skills employers are looking for. To hit the nail on the head, read the job description and mark the keywords you’ll later match with your resume .
If you’re writing a resume to change your career , go for transferable skills that are equally relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you’re writing your first resume without much work experience , do the same but with a mix of top-notch employability skills .
What kind of skills to put on a resume?
Include soft and hard skills to respond to every aspect of the job description—desired qualities AND competencies. You need to have both soft skills and hard skills to succeed in virtually every profession, no matter how technical. For example, even for a typical technician job, engineering knowledge is not enough: you also need good communication skills to explain the problem and present viable solutions.
How do I list my skills on a resume for 2023?
Give yourself more credit and weave the skills in your resume in a number of ways:
- Make sure to include your best skills in a resume summary or objective. It’s the most important and first section of your resume. Recruiters pay attention to every detail there, so do yourself a favor and be explicit.
- When you write your work experience section , use the PAR formula to build your accomplishment statements. That way, you’ll mention how you brought the results, which gives away your skillset.
- Create a skills list in resume bullet points tailored to the job description.
Where to put skills on a resume?
It depends on the resume format you choose when making your resume:
- Chronological resume : write your skills list under the work experience section.
- Functional resume : make room right under the career objective to write a skills sum-up. Give a short description of each skill to explain how you used it at a job.
- Combination resume : group your skills right under the header and list several achievements underneath to showcase your qualifications.
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Resume Example With a Key Skills Section
Alison Doyle is one of the nation’s foremost career experts.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/ADHeadshot-Cropped-b80e40469d5b4852a68f94ad69d6e8bd.jpg "my bio with key skills")
Studies have shown that recruiters and hiring managers spend as little as seven seconds reviewing a resume before deciding whether to move forward with a candidate. To get their attention, you need to make a good impression right away.
A key skills section at the top of the page shows the hiring team what you can do without making them weed through a page of work experience, educational credentials, and other qualifications.
Done well, the skills section of your resume emphasizes your ability to do the job and persuades the reader to learn more about you.
Review the type of skills to include and how to write a resume skills section, get a resume template to download, and review a list of the best skills to highlight in your resume.
What to Include in a Resume Key Skills Section
Your skills section includes your abilities related to the job you're applying for . You should include both " hard skills "—specific, quantifiable attributions such as proficiency in a foreign language, typing speed, or computer software knowledge—and " soft skills " like flexibility, patience, and time management.
Make sure the work experience listed on your resume reflects your skills. Then, when it comes time for an interview, be prepared to provide anecdotes, examples, or additional details supporting these skills.
Resume Example with Key Skills Section
Review this resume example with a key skills section to get ideas for writing your resume. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) and adapt this template to your own experience – or read the example below and create your own.
Resume With a Key Skills Section (Text Version)
Jane Applicant 123 Main St. Sarasota, Florida 12345 (123) 456 -7890 jane.applicant@email.com
Skills Summary
- Communication : Award-winning customer service skills. Deals with internal and external customers at all levels via telephone and email to ensure successful communication through active listening and thoughtful questions.
- Problem Solving : Resolves in-depth queries in a methodical manner independently and with internal and external business partners to find appropriate resolutions and efficiencies, all with a high level of quality.
- Team Player : Enjoys sharing knowledge and encouraging the development of others to achieve specific team goals.
- Planning and Organizing : Refined planning and organizational skills that balance work, team support, and ad-hoc responsibilities in a timely and professional manner.
- Systems Knowledge : Peoplesoft and Oracle. Experience in preparing and analyzing reporting data for management accurately and to timescales.
Professional Experience
Asebeth Medical Services, Sarasota, FL HR Coordinator , March 2021-Present
Collaborated with each office territory and developed processes to enable compliance and recruitment of national field employees following medical client guidelines and contracts.
- Processed background checks, coordinated drug screenings, and expedited preparation and compliance of files to ensure seamless accreditation of health organization.
- Proactively monitored employee files for monthly compliance requirements by utilizing the computer system to generate reports.
Borders Books, Music and Café, Sarasota, FL Interim Operations Manager , November 2020-March 2021
Supervised, coached, and counseled staff of 50 employees.
- Recruited and scheduled staff to ensure balanced coverage at the information desks, on the floor to restock merchandise, and at the cash registers.
- Adapted and revised the weekly schedule to consist of maximum 1400 hours as regulated by the Home Office.
Education & Credentials
Human Resources Certificate, 2019 Sarasota City College, Sarasota, FL
Systems Experience: Advanced skill in Peoplesoft and Oracle
Tips for Creating a Skills Section That Stands Out
When you're crafting your resume, impeccable attention to detail always makes a difference. Taking the time to write compelling but concise descriptions will give you a leg up on the competition. Those targeted descriptions will show you're a fit for the position.
The keywords and terms you use in your resume also make it easier for the employer to review your resume as a potential match for the job.
Match Your Skills Section to the Job Description
Analyze the job listing, paying particular attention to the keywords used to describe the job requirements. Look for the hard and soft skills, experience, and educational background that the employer is looking for and that you possess, and feature those prominently on your resume.
Review these tips for matching your qualifications to a job .
Review Resume Examples
Learn how to craft a skills section that will get the hiring manager’s attention by looking at resume samples and templates . You’ll see how to make your qualifications and experience stand out from the competition while using the limited space above the fold to your advantage.
Pay Attention to Small Details
Make sure your formatting choices are both aesthetically pleasing and consistent in terms of font choice, font sizes, and spacing. Proofread your resume before you send it, and ask a family member or trusted friend to review it for errors and typos, as well.
Best Skills to Include on Your Resume
When you're applying for a job, the best skills to include on your resume will be those that are the closest match to the position for which you're applying. They should also be current and in-demand skills that will be an asset to your resume.
Here's a list of the top skills for resumes , how to include them on your resume, and more examples of resumes with featured skills.
Ladders. " You Have 7.4 Seconds to Make an Impression: How Recruiters See Your Resume ." Accessed July 18, 2021.
CareerOneStop. " Skills and Abilities ." Accessed July 18, 2021.
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Best Skills To Put On Your Resume in 2023 (For All Jobs)
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101 Essential Skills to Put on a Resume in 2023 [For Most Jobs]
Listing skills on your resume is fairly easy.
Listing the right skills in the right way is a little bit trickier.
Are you mentioning the right skills for the job, or are you boring the HR manager with irrelevant information?
The hiring manager for the software development team couldn’t care less about your expertise in marketing. What they’re dying to know, though, is your skill level in Python and how you get along with the team.
In this guide, we’re going to walk you through the process of putting skills on your resume from start to finish. We’ll explain how to identify the right skills and how to list them in a way that catches the hiring manager’s attention!
Here’s what you’re going to learn:
Hard Skills Vs Soft Skills - What’s the Difference?
- Why Should You List Your Skills on a Resume?
- 8 Best Skills to Put on a Resume
- How to List Skills on a Resume
- 120+ Skills to Put on Your Resume (For 10+ Fields)
New to resume-making? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!
Skills are divided into hard skills and soft skills .
To create an effective job application, catch the hiring manager’s attention, and land your next job, you should mention both hard and soft skills in your resume.
But what exactly is the difference?
Hard skills involve the technical knowledge or know-how one can gain through experience, training, or education. For example:
- Machinery skills. E.g., operating a road roller, pallet-stalker, forklift, etc.
- Software skills. Depending on the field, you need to know how to use different software, such as the Adobe Creative Suite for graphic designers or the Ableton Live Suite if you’re a DJ.
- Tools. Say you’re a digital marketer . You’ll need to know how to use tools like Stethoscope, Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs, and the sorts.
- Multilingualism. The more customers you can communicate with, the more valuable you are as an employee. Some sought-after languages today include German, Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic.
- Computer skills . If you’re a web developer, your hard skills will likely include coding languages such as Python, C++, etc. Even if you’re not though, most jobs will require that you have at least some basic computer knowledge in MS Office and G-Suite, emailing and presentations, etc.
- Techniques. E.g. frequency analysis, Crystallization.
- Mathematics. Many professions, such as accounting and finance, require mathematical skills.
- Data analysis. Businesses are always looking for professionals who can gather and analyze data for various stakeholders, which makes data analysis a very in-demand hard skill.
…and just about any field-specific skill. While hard skills are essential to complete tasks in about any job, they’re also teachable and easily measurable.
Soft skills , on the other hand, are attributes and habits that describe how you work individually or with others. They are typically not job-specific but rather transferable skills that indirectly help you adapt to the work environment and company culture.
Some examples of the most in-demand soft skills include:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Organization
- Adaptability
Like hard skills, you can also learn how to develop soft skills, although it’s significantly harder.
While you can acquire computer skills through a technical course, you’ll need to work much harder to develop, say, your communication skills.
In the workplace, for example, you’d need to practice active listening , learn how to notice nonverbal cues, and practice your oral communication skills as much as possible.
What’s the Difference Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills
Here are the two main differences between hard skills and soft skills:
- How you obtain them. You can obtain hard skills through work experience , education, training, and certification. Soft skills, on the other hand, can be gained through life experience, both on and off work.
- How you use them. You apply hard skills directly to the job, whereas soft skills 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.
Why Should You List Skills on Your Resume?
The skills section is one of the 3 most important resume sections , with the other two being work experience and education sections.
If written correctly, the skills section looks something like this:
By now, you’re probably thinking “ how hard can this be, right? All I have to do is list all my skills and call it a day! ”
Well, not exactly. The process of putting skills on your resume is a bit more nuanced than that, and we’re going to tell you why.
Most companies nowadays use Applicant Tracking Systems 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 software automatically rejects the resume.
Say, for example, the job you’re applying to requires an Expert level in Java. If you haven’t mentioned Java as a skill on your resume, your resume can automatically get discarded.
In fact, 70%+ of resumes are rejected at this stage, never having even been seen by an HR professional.
And, even if the company doesn’t use an ATS, there’s a good chance that the HR manager is going to skim through your resume looking for the right skill set.
So, whether you’re doing this for the ATS or the HR, it’s important to mention the right skills .
Below, we’re going to explain just how to do this in the best way possible.
But first, let’s cover some of the best skills to mention in any resume, regardless of your profession.
8 Best Skills to Put on a Resume
Every profession requires some role-specific hard skills if you want to do it properly. An accountant, for example, needs to know math to do their job right, just like a photographer needs to know how to use photo editing software like Photoshop.
In most cases, it’s easy to identify such skills and understand whether you’re qualified enough for the job.
The right soft skills for a job may be harder to point out, but they’re just as essential in today’s job market - 93% of employers say “ soft skills play a critical role in their decision about whom they want to hire. ”
To give you an example, if you’re a project manager, you will need to have excellent organizational skills in addition to your project management skills. Or, if you’re a developer, you need to also be an apt problem solver.
You can find lists of field-related, relevant soft and hard skills later in the article, but for now, here are the top soft and hard skills valued by hiring managers in most professions :
#1. Communication skills
There are very few, if any, jobs out there that don’t require at least some level of 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 office worker who must communicate with a colleague 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. Computer skills
By 2016, over 70% of US jobs required 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. As such, 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
#3. Management skills
Management skills are usually associated with management positions, but in reality, that’s not usually the case. Any type of professional can benefit from strong management skills.
In a nutshell, management skills involve being able to effectively handle people, resources, and processes, including your time, plans, projects, and so on.
Here are some of the most in-demand management skills:
- People management
- Project management
- Time management
- Risk management
- Action planning
- Conflict Resolution
#4. Problem-solving skills
Problem-solving means you’re able to identify problems successfully, 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. When it comes to managerial, professional, and technical positions , problem-solving skills are essential.
Problem-solving is a set of skills that includes:
- Research skills
- Analytical skills
- Critical thinking
- Decision-making skills
- Attention to detail
#5. Organizational skills
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
#6. Leadership skills
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’re 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
#7. Customer service skills
A big part of jobs out there involve dealing with customers.
From customer support representatives to cashiers, customer service skills are a great asset to have in 2023. Particularly, that’s because it encompasses a number of other valuable skills, such as:
- Persuasion skills
- Product knowledge
#8. Interpersonal skills
Interpersonal skills refer to how well you can understand and get along with other people.
It goes without saying that they’re extremely useful for team-oriented or customer-facing roles, as a big chunk of the work involves communicating with other people.
Such skills, however, are also useful for roles where you don’t get to interact as much with people.
Take, for example, writers. To be a really good writer, you need to be able to:
- Understand and communicate with your audience
- Collaborate with your publishing team
- Understand what people are like
Just like most other transferable skills on our list, interpersonal skills are multi-faceted. Here is what they consist of:
How to List Skills on a Resume (And Stand Out)
Now that you have a clear understanding of how important skills are - and how some are more relevant than others - let’s talk about how you should list them on your resume.
There are several things you need to do to stand out:
#1. Tailor Your Skills to the Job
Relevance is key; the customer service skills you acquired working as a server during college won’t come in too handy when you start work as, say, a data analyst .
So, the first thing you should remember is to only list skills that are useful for the job you are applying for . To find out what these skills are, you should scan the job listing.
Job ads usually list a set of requirements or skills they expect a good candidate to have. Make sure you don’t leave any of those out on your resume.
For example, imagine you are applying for a line cook position in a restaurant:
- “Here at ‘ABCD’ we are committed to creating a one-of-a-kind experience for our guests . Our French restaurant is looking for a professional line cook for the summer season to work directly under the supervision of our chef. Responsibilities include prepping and cleaning food, creating and cooking meals, and cleaning up the working area . Impeccable attention to detail in food cooking and presentation is needed.”
The underlined bits in this job description are the role’s responsibilities. By paying a closer look, you can understand that ABCD is looking for someone who:
- Is committed to excellence and is highly professional
- Works well under supervision, and with others
- Can prep, clean, and cook food
- Pays great attention to detail in cooking and presentation
Based on this, some of the skills you should definitely mention in your resume can include teamwork, attention to detail, communication, food prepping, and culinary skills.
As a given, you wouldn’t mention anything that isn’t directly related to the job. As a line cook, you’re not going to be using a lot of tech, so you wouldn’t include your computer skills in your resume (even though such skills are relevant for a ton of other jobs).
#2. Create a Skills Section
Once you’ve identified all the right skills to add to your resume, create a “Skills” section to list them under. This way, the hiring manager will be able to check whether you have the right skills more easily and the ATS software won’t disqualify your resume.
Here’s what you should remember while making this section:
- Be specific. “Verbal and written communication” sounds significantly better than “communication.”
- Sort your skills by relevance. Order your skills based on how critical they are for the role. More important skills go on top, and the nice-to-have ones go on the bottom.
- Don’t lie or exaggerate. It goes without saying that you should never, ever, lie about your skills. The employer will know you lied the moment you have to work on a task that requires that very skill.
#3. Match Each Skill With Your Proficiency Level
For each skill that you list on your resume, use the competencies proficiency scale to show your proficiency level:
- Beginner. You are just starting to learn or have not practiced the skill through experience (usually fresh graduates that only understand concepts through theories or classroom experience).
- Intermediate. You have applied the skill in practice, and require assistance with it on rare or special occasions. You still have room to grow.
- Advanced. You know your stuff! You don’t need help with the skill anymore. You can also teach beginners how to use it.
- Expert. You are a recognized authority on this skill, the go-to person if anyone has any questions. You have consistently proved to be excellent in this skill. You could even write a whole book about it!
#4. Back-Up Your Skills in Other Resume Sections
Listing your skills in a separate section will only get you so far. After all, everyone else is also doing exactly the same thing.
To take your resume from good to great, you want your most critical skills to “pop” from the get-go and to prove to the hiring manager that you actually possess them.
Here is where the resume summary and work experience sections come in.
The resume summary is a short, 2-3 sentence-long summary of your resume that, done right, shows hiring managers your strongest points as a candidate the moment they lay eyes on your resume.
Positioned right under your contact information section , this is the first place where you can mention that you possess one or two of the most role-critical skills listed in the job description.
Here’s how the resume summary of the line cook example we mentioned above would look in practice:
- Detail-oriented line cook with over 5 years of experience prepping and cooking over 200 Mediterranean cuisine recipes. Collaborative professional who puts the needs of the team first. In my last position, was able to help the chef handle rush hour work of over 100 tables with 100% accuracy and approval rate from our customers.
Once you’ve grabbed the hiring manager’s attention by including your top skills on your resume summary, it’s time to prove that you have them .
The best way to do that? List some accomplishments in your work experience section and explain how utilizing a particular skill helped you achieve them.
Here’s how that would look like in practice:
- Prepped and helped cook food for over 500 customers in the past two years, receiving high praise and positive recommendations for the restaurant continuously.
- Helped restaurant to receive positive reviews for 3 years in a row from Gastronomica magazine for attention to detail and food aesthetics and presentation.
#5. Put Transferable Skills to Use
If you’re an entry-level candidate or if you’re switching careers , you should definitely put transferable skills to use. Transferable skills are not directly related to the job you are applying to but are still useful, as well as relevant to most jobs.
Let’s say, for example, that you’re going for a career change from sales to copywriting. You can benefit from listing at least some of the skills acquired in sales in your copywriter resume , such as:
- Written communication. Both roles involve communication via text. A salesperson needs to send cold 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 knowledge. For a salesperson, that’s using Customer Management Software, while for a copywriter, that’s publishing content online.
150+ Must-Have Skills (for Every Field)
Are you 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 2023, 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. Soft Skills
Soft skills are essential for just about any job out there. While they’re not necessarily critical to doing your job well, they ensure that you get along with your coworkers and foster a positive work environment.
When evaluating two candidates with equal hard skills, the hiring manager is always going to pick the one that has better soft skills.
So, it’s very important to mention your soft skills in your resume.
Here are some of the most in-demand soft skills today:
- Effective communication
- Emotional intelligence
- Conflict management
- Teamwork skills
- Stress management
- Productivity & Organization
#2. Marketing Skills
With new technologies developing faster than ever, it becomes essential to move beyond the basics of traditional marketing. Here are some of the most relevant marketing skills these days, including both cutting-edge online tools, as well as classic marketing skills:
- Data analysis
- Web analytics
- Email marketing
- Web scraping
- CRO and A/B Testing
- Data visualization & pattern-finding through critical thinking
- Search Engine and Keyword Optimization
- Project/campaign management
- Social media and mobile marketing
- Paid social media advertisements
- B2B Marketing
- The 4 P-s of Marketing
- Consumer Behavior Drivers
- Brand management
- Copywriting
- Storytelling
#3. Management Skills
As a manager , you need to have the right mix of soft and hard skills.
Below are the management skills needed to not only get the job but to also enhance employee and company productivity in the long run.
- Six Sigma techniques
- The McKinsey 7s Framework
- Porter’s Five Forces
- Emotional Intelligence
- Dealing with work-related stress
- Task delegation
- Technological savviness
- Business Development
- Strategic Management
- Negotiation
- Proposal writing
#4. Sales Skills
The art of selling has stayed the same despite technological advancements. Humans still strive for contact with other humans. Despite channels of communication becoming digital, communication and empathetic skills take priority in the sales industry.
A comprehensive must-have skill list for salespeople includes:
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Cold-calling
- Public speaking
- Lead generation
- Buyer-Responsive selling
- Buyer engagement
- Effective communication and sociability
- Social media/digital communication
#5. Design Skills
Today, knowing the basics of design does not suffice anymore. To get hired as a designer, you must know how to create killer branded content for the web and for social media channels.
Some of the most important design skills for your resume are:
- Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop
- Dreamweaver
- Infographics
- 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 & aesthetics
- Interactive media design
- Color sense & theory
- Active listening
#6. Basic Technical Skills
These are skills that almost everyone working in an office should know. You can put these skills on your resume if you are applying as a secretary, office clerk, or any other type of office employee.
The basic technical office skills include:
- Microsoft Office Pack: Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, Outlook, Powerpoint
- Filing and paper management
- Bookkeeping through Excel or TurboTax
- Research and data analysis
- Basic knowledge of user interface communication
- Technical writing
- Cloud networking and file sharing
#7. Accounting & Finance Skills
Goodbye, filing by hand. Hello, countless platforms and apps. Accountants and financial specialists should familiarize themselves with these skills in order to have a successful career:
- Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Big Data Analysis & SQL
- Know Your Customers (KYC)
- Cognos Analytics (IBM)
- Visual Basic
- Accounting Software
- Revenue recognition
- Anti Money Laundering
- Clear communication
- General business knowledge
- Numerical competence
#8. Education Skills
How many times have you witnessed a 50-year-old honorary doctor with three PhDs struggle to play a YouTube video during undergrad or grad school? Teaching methods have evolved, and so have the required skills to be part of the education industry.
Some of the most essential educational skills are:
- Updated curriculum knowledge
- Research & Data analysis
- Educational platforms (software like Elearn)
- Technological & digital literacy
#9. Web Development Skills
It seems like there’s new technology popping up every other second now, a good enough reason for web developers to keep updating their skills.
That said, if you are proficient in HTML, CSS, and Java, you pretty much have a leg up on the competition. All other skills on this list derive from or build upon the three basic programming languages. You can learn or improve your web development skills here.
- CSS preprocessors
- Graphic User Interfaces (GUI)
- Git/Version control (Github, GitLab)
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Application Programming Interface (API)
- Adobe Photoshop, InDesign
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Testing/Debugging
- Responsive design principles
#10. Business Analytics
BAs are very in demand right now by businesses, and for a good reason! They perform an almost magical task of analyzing past and present data to give future predictions. To perform their magic, they need some analytical spells:
- SQL (a must) and Hive (optional)
- Programming language (R, Python, Scala, Matlab)
- STATA, SPSS, SAS
- Data Mapping
- Entity Relationship Diagrams
- Big Data tools
- Microsoft Visio
- Agile Business Analysis
- Machine learning
- System Context Diagrams
- Business Process Modeling
- Technical and non-technical communication
#11. Nursing & Healthcare Skills
More than any other profession, healthcare professionals need to stay constantly updated with new technologies, medicine, and techniques. The skills nursing requires are countless and specific, but the most basic ones boil down to:
- Mathematics
- Patient care and assistance
- Paperwork/record-keeping abilities
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Physical endurance
- Infection control
- Surgery preparation
Bonus Infographic: Skills to Put on a Resume
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have some questions about what skills you should put on your resume (and how)? Check out the answers below:
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, multilingualism, public speaking, SEO, etc.
Meanwhile, examples of soft skills are communication, creativity, leadership, teamwork, time management, conflict resolution, etc.
2. What top skills do employers look for?
The top hard skills recruiters 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 , on the other hand, are creativity, collaboration, persuasion, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.
3. How can I identify my skills?
Some effective ways to identify your skills before adding them to your resume include:
- Consider your achievements. Did you ever get recognized for a specific achievement? What skills helped you do it? You are probably still skilled in those areas.
- Ask friends and coworkers. Sometimes, it’s easier for others to recognize the strengths that you don't see. Colleagues can definitely be of help but if you’re fresh into the professional world, former professors and classmates can also give you some insight.
4. Where do skills go on a resume?
Skills go under a separate ‘Skills’ section on a resume, typically placed right below, or on the side, of the work experience section.
That said, you can further prove that you possess the skills you list in this section, by weaving the most relevant skills for the job in other resume sections, such as the resume summary and the work experience sections.
5. How many skills to 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 work-related skills, you should definitely include them in your resume. Also, if the job you’re applying for requires a number of skills you possess, it’s safe to include them all 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 2 .
6. What are the best skills for a candidate with no experience?
Candidates with no experience and few job-specific skills can benefit from adding transferable skills to their resumes. 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, work ethic, and computer skills.
7. What’s the best way to list skills on a resume in 2023?
To really impress with your skills in 2023, 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 on your resume summary or resume objective .
- Using your achievements to explain exactly how you used your skills to your advantage.
Key Takeaways
Let’s sum up everything we’ve learned about putting skills in your resume:
- You must have a section in your resume devoted entirely to your skills. This helps you pass through applicant tracking systems and get noticed by the HR manager.
- The differences between hard skills and soft skills are in the way they are applied (directly vs. indirectly) and the way they are obtained (through education and practice vs. personality traits and experience)
- On your resume, list only skills that are relevant to the job, scan the job listing for must-have skills and list those (if you have them), pair each skill with a responding proficiency level, back up your skills with other resume sections, and mention transferable and universal skills.
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112+ Job Skills for Your Resume: List & Examples
Wondering what skills to put on your resume? We list all the best skills for 2023 and explain how to list skills on a resume (with examples) so you can impress hiring managers and land a job.
When you apply for a job, one of the first things employers look for is that you have the right skills to do that job properly.
The skills you highlight and the way you structure the skills section of your resume can make or break your job application. It’s essential you clearly and effectively communicate your skills on your resume if you want to land work soon.
To help you write the best resume possible (one that showcases your most relevant job skills), this article will:
- Highlight some of the best resume skills for 2023
- Explain the difference between hard and soft skills
- Show you how to list skills on your resume the right way
- List some essential industry-specific skills
- Answer your most frequently asked questions about resume skills
The best skills to put on a resume in 2023
The best skills to list on your resume are the skills you have that are relevant to the job you want. For example, if you’re applying for a position in marketing, you should clearly showcase your marketing-related technical skills and any personality traits that make you well-suited for the job.
However, while it’s important to tailor your resume to the job, there are some skills that are universally valued by employers.
The following skills are strong additions to any resume, no matter the industry:
- Analytical skills – Your ability to think critically about problems and analyze information to find data-driven solutions will make you a more attractive candidate to any employer.
- Communication skills – No matter what job you’re applying for, you’ll need to communicate with others in some form – whether in giving presentations, writing emails, or listening to coworkers in meetings. Employers are always looking for good communicators.
- Computer skills – As technology becomes an increasingly integral part of how we work, and hybrid and remote models of work continue, employers want to know that you have the technological skills you need to do the job well.
- Customer service skills – Even if you’re not working in a customer-facing position, understanding the customer and possessing these skills can make you a better employee.
- Interpersonal skills – Employers want to know that you’ll be able to engage and interact with others in a positive way and make social contributions in the role.
- People skills – If you’re good with people and adept at building strong relationships with others, employers will be able to count on you to help foster a positive work environment.
- Leadership skills – Being able to motivate, guide, and inspire others is a valuable trait in any employee, and ultimately makes the employer’s job easier.
- Management skills – If you’re looking for career advancement, you need to be able to show employers that you have the skills to manage others.
- Organizational skills – Organization is a critical skill in any job, even if you’re just using it to manage your own schedule and workload.
- Technical skills – For any position, there will be specific technical skills that make you more qualified. Employers definitely want to see these on your resume.
- Time management skills – If you can manage your time well, you’ll be a much more productive and efficient employee, which is what hiring managers want to see.
- Language skills – Your language skills set you apart from other candidates by giving you the unique ability to tap into global markets and connect with a wider audience or customer base.
Hard skills vs soft skills
There are two types of job skills for a resume that hiring managers are looking for on your application. They’re called hard skills and soft skills . It’s important to include both skill types if you want to come off as a well-rounded candidate.
Your hard skills are the abilities required to do the basic tasks of your job. On the other hand, soft skills help you interact with customers and your colleagues more effectively, and make you a stronger addition to any team.
12 examples of good hard skills for your resume
Employers like to see hard skills on your resume because it tells them you already have a solid foundation of industry knowledge and experience to draw from, and won’t require as much in the training and onboarding process.
Here are twelve of the most in-demand hard skills to list on your resume that’ll help get you hired:
Companies in nearly every industry need creatives with a strong sense of design to help them develop attractive products and content. Whether you specialize in graphic design, UI/UX design, or illustration, you should clearly list your design expertise on your resume to attract the attention of employers.
Specific examples of design-related hard skills include:
- UI/UX design
- Photography
- Graphic design
- Industrial design
- Interior design
An employee with strong marketing skills can take a struggling product and make it successful. That’s what makes marketing one of the most sought-after skills across nearly any industry.
Even if you don’t work in marketing, knowing how to pitch products and promote services effectively is a valuable skill for many different careers.
Here are some specific examples of marketing-related hard skills for your resume:
- Advertising
- Campaign management
- Consumer research
- Social media outreach
- Email outreach
- Data analysis
Data is more valuable than ever – more valuable than oil according to some experts – and with all that data comes the need for people experienced in data analysis. Candidates who are able to inspect, model, and pull useful insights from data are in high demand right now, especially in the tech industry.
If you have strong data analysis skills, you should list your expertise on your resume to grab the attention of employers. Additional examples of data analysis-related skills include:
- Microsoft Excel
- Data visualization
- Data cleaning
- SQL & NoSQL
Computer technology & software
Today nearly every job requires some level of computer literacy. Companies highly value candidates who have a range of technical skills relevant to their profession.
However, being tech-savvy in general is also valuable for many different jobs because it helps you adapt to new software as it’s introduced.
Here are some specific examples of basic computer skills to list on your resume:
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Microsoft Office Suite
- G Suite (Google Docs, Drive, & Google Sheets)
- Knowledge of operating systems (MacOS, Windows, Linux)
- Communication platforms (Skype, Slack, Microsoft Teams)
- Team management software (Jira, Trello, Monday)
Project management
Knowing how to guide a project from conception to completion effectively is essential for nearly any position. Even if you’re not seeking a job as a project manager , strong project management skills are still valuable for many different careers and should be highlighted on your resume.
Some examples of project management-related skills are:
- Methodologies like Scrum, Agile, and Waterfall
- Kanban boards
- Risk assessment
- Budget management
Mathematics
Whether you work in software development or retail , having at least a basic understanding of math is a valuable hard skill for most industries. Even in more traditionally “creative” fields like marketing, strong math skills can help with specific tasks like A/B testing or running surveys.
If math is highly relevant to the job you’re applying to, go into detail about the types of mathematics you have experience with.
Here are some specific math-related skills to put on your resume:
- Mental arithmetic
- Trigonometry
Knowing how to conduct research efficiently and find information (no matter how obscure) is an important hard skill for many different jobs. Especially if you work in journalism, market research, or business analysis, you’ll want to prominently display your research skills on your resume.
Some specific research-related skills include:
- Data collection
- Scientific experimentation
- Survey tools (Pollfish, Qualtrics, Toluna)
- Critical thinking
- Data interpretation
- Interviewing
Writing & editing
Being a strong writer isn’t only helpful if you work as an editor. Being able to write clear, effective emails, papers, presentations, and messages is a valuable skill for many different jobs, especially those in business and marketing.
Here are some writing-related skills to include on your resume:
- Grammatical knowledge
- Style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style)
- Email drafting
- Copywriting
- Proofreading
- Blog writing
- Storytelling
Scientific expertise
If you work as a lab researcher or another field in the hard sciences, your resume needs to highlight your relevant scientific skills. The skills you need will differ depending on your position, but they should always be displayed prominently because they’re one of your key qualifications for the job.
Here’s some general scientific expertise that you might list on your resume:
- Experimental design
- Qualitative observation
- Classification
- Scientific software (SciNote, Quartzy, Bio-Protocol)
Social media
Social media has become an essential method for companies – both big and small – to promote and market themselves. Today, employers are always on the hunt for applicants with strong social media skills — hoping to find effective brand ambassadors to cast their businesses in the most positive light.
Having good social media skills is especially important if you’re writing a social media marketing or brand ambassador resume . Specific social media-related skills include:
- Social media management software (Hootsuite, Sendible)
- Video editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro, Movavi Video Editor)
Foreign language skills
Whether you work in retail or in finance, knowing how to speak multiple languages makes you a valuable asset to any company. Being able to fluently communicate in a foreign language helps you immediately connect with people from other countries, and gives you an advantage over other similarly qualified candidates when applying for a job.
Some of the most in-demand languages (aside from English) include Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, French, and German.
Here are some specific resume language skills to highlight when applying to jobs:
- Translation
- Verbal fluency
- Written fluency
- Conversational skill
- Language proficiency level (based on formal test scores for that language)
Accounting & finance
Companies always need employees who can handle their finances and perform accurate bookkeeping. Even if you don’t work as an accountant , being able to handle basic finance tasks is helpful for a variety of jobs in business and fundraising.
Some accounting and finance-related skills include:
- Advanced modeling techniques
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- General business knowledge
12 of the best soft skills to list on your resume
While hard skills are what make you qualified for a job, your soft skills are the qualities that set you apart from other candidates. For many jobs, having strong soft skills is essential, particularly in customer-facing positions.
Here are some of the most valuable soft skills to include on your resume:
Verbal and written communication
Being able to convey your ideas clearly is an important skill for nearly any job. Even if you don’t regularly work with people face-to-face, having strong communication skills can help you present your ideas to colleagues and even negotiate for raises or promotions.
If you have good communication skills, you should highlight them prominently on your resume, especially if you’re writing a resume for a customer service job .
There are very few jobs that don’t require you to work with other people. Even remote work usually requires some form of online collaboration. Employers want to be sure that you can function effectively on a team before hiring you.
Show them you’re able to thrive in a team setting on your resume. Showcase examples of work you accomplished thanks in part to your excellent teamwork skills , and employers will be more confident in hiring you.
Adaptability
Since a massive shift toward remote and hybrid work, adaptability has become one of the most valuable soft skills for candidates to possess in 2023.
It’s increasingly important to show employers that you can keep up with rapid changes and be flexible in the way you work. Impress potential employers by demonstrating how you’ve adapted to new situations or work requirements and managed to thrive amidst these changes.
Problem solving
No matter your industry, problem solving skills are useful to tackle any obstacles you face while working. If employers know you’re a good problem solver and capable of handling issues on your own (whether small or large), then that’s less for them to worry about.
Emphasize your problem solving skills on your resume by including points in your work experience section that discuss issues you encountered at work, and how you solved them.
Patience is a desired soft skill in a wide range of contexts. From interacting with customers and training new employees to performing long and complex tasks like video editing or negotiating business deals, being patient simply makes work easier.
Demonstrate your patience on your resume by showcasing projects or tasks that require a high level of persistence, consideration, or understanding.
Creativity isn’t only a useful skill for people working in creative fields. The ability to think creatively will make you a more effective problem solver and allow you to offer innovative ideas at work.
Employers are looking for creative solutions to new challenges, so candidates who can bring fresh perspectives are highly valued.
Showcase your creativity on your resume by highlighting instances at work where you spearheaded a new project, innovated a method, strategy, or product, or discovered a creative solution to a company problem.
Strong work ethic
If there’s one thing all employers prize, it’s a strong work ethic. Candidates with a strong work ethic are more likely to excel in their role, achieve highly, and grow into managerial positions. Employers can also rest easy knowing that you’re doing your work without the need for much supervision or micromanagement.
Show employers your strong work ethic by mentioning extra responsibilities you took on at work, projects you directed, or how you achieved a specific goal.
Interpersonal skills
Interpersonal skills help you build positive relationships with colleagues and the people you encounter at work. Your interpersonal skills determine your ability to cooperate within a group and contribute to a healthy and productive workplace.
Interpersonal skills include many different social skills, such as:
- Emotional intelligence
- Communication
- Reliability
- Negotiation
- Openness to feedback
By demonstrating these skills on your resume, you show employers that you have the interpersonal skills needed to be a successful employee.
- Time management
Having good time management skills helps you complete your work effectively, meet deadlines, and stay organized. Employers love to see that candidates have time management skills because it means you’ll be able to contribute to the smooth operation of the business.
Show employers you have good time management skills by demonstrating your:
- Flawless track record of meeting deadlines
- Ability to multitask effectively
- Effective organizational skills
Multitasking
Being able to handle multiple tasks at once is a valuable soft skill to have for many different jobs. From office work to food service , employers are always interested in candidates who have strong multitasking skills.
To grab the attention of employers, list your ability to multitask clearly on your resume. You should also show them you’re able to handle tasks efficiently and juggle the demands of a busy day with examples in your work experience section.
Whether you work in management or just want to be a valuable member of your team at work, good conceptual skills such as leadership skills are essential for advancing your career.
Candidates who demonstrate their ability to lead others are highly valued by companies because they can help guide the whole team to success. Plus they make ideal managers.
If you have experience leading people, make sure to highlight these skills on your resume to help your job application stand out.
Attention to detail
Having an eye for detail is a skill you can apply to nearly any job. Employees with strong attention to detail produce reliable work and require less micromanagement, which makes your coworkers’ lives easier.
If you have exceptional attention to detail, you should highlight it with examples on your resume to strengthen your application.
How to list skills on a resume
Now that you know some of the most in-demand job skills, we’ll show you how to put them on your resume.
In the video below, our career expert Eva breaks down how to put skills on your resume with a stand-out skills section:
When adding skills to your resume, make sure to follow these 6 steps:
1. Identify what skills employers are looking for
Before you begin writing your resume, familiarize yourself with the hard and soft skills associated with the job you want.
The best way to identify these important job skills is to analyze job openings in your industry. Take this job ad for a nursing position, for instance. For your convenience, we’ve highlighted soft skills in green and hard skills in yellow :
In this ad, you can quickly pick out several good skills to put on your resume. For instance, there’s a range of technical skills needed for the position in the bullet points, as well as many soft skills that help define the ideal candidate.
Once you’ve looked at several job ads, you’ll have a clearer idea of what job skills hiring managers are looking for.
If you still need some ideas, it can help to do some research on the company you’re applying to. Start by checking out the company website for its mission and vision statements as well as goals. Here’s an example from the Meals on Wheels About page :
If you’re applying to work with Meals on Wheels, you’ll want to highlight the skills that tie into its values, mission, and strategy.
For example, are you skilled at creating community, building strong relationships, hospitality, or advocacy? Are you compassionate, or is empathy one of your key strengths?
Highlighting relevant skills like these on your resume can help employers see what makes you a great match for the role.
2. List your skills in a dedicated skills section
Your resume skills section is the most important place to list your relevant skills. This section is one of the first places on your resume employers will look to make sure you’re qualified to do the job, so make sure you’ve listed the appropriate job skills here.
If you have a mix of hard and soft skills and no advanced technical expertise, simply title your section “Skills” or “Additional Skills” and list your skills using bullets.
Here’s what a basic skills section looks like:
However, if you have numerous technical skills, it’s better to use a technical skills section that organizes each skill into a general category.
Here’s an example:
This is most applicable if you’re applying for work in tech or engineering because it makes your skills section easier to read and allows you to highlight a wide variety of software and coding languages.
If you have a blend of technical skills and other relevant skills to highlight, you can use a section like the following, taken from our Fresh resume template , which divides skills into categories:
3. Specify your level of proficiency (when appropriate)
Employers want to know how experienced you are with certain skills before they interview you. To communicate this information, you should specify how proficient you are in the skills you list on your resume.
For example, if you list Spanish as a skill on your resume you should include a metric that indicates your level of proficiency, such as “Intermediate”, “Fluent”, or “Basic.”
Here’s an example of a resume skills section that includes proficiencies:
Additionally, if you want to give your resume a more creative look, you can list your proficiency using skill bars (or skill levels).
Here’s an example of skill levels on a resume:
4. Highlight your skills in other parts of your resume
If you really want to highlight certain skills on your resume, just listing them in a skills section isn’t enough. You also need to provide concrete examples of how you put your skills to work.
The first thing employers look at is your resume summary , so you should use this section to showcase your top skills for the job.
Here’s an example of a resume summary that effectively highlights the candidate’s relevant skills:
Senior Customer Service Representative with 7+ years of experience communicating with customers and maintaining customer records. Adaptable professional recognized by peers for my effective analytical and communication skills. Looking to apply my experience with sales force automation software and Oracle PeopleSoft in your office. CompTIA Network+ certified.
In this example, the candidate highlights their customer service hard skills (sales force automation software, Oracle PeopleSoft, CompTIA Network+ certification) as well as their relevant soft skills (communication, adaptability, analytical skills). This resume summary lets employers know that the candidate is qualified for a senior customer service position.
Once you’ve introduced your most relevant skills in your resume summary, you should demonstrate them in your work experience section.
Here’s an example of a work experience section that demonstrates customer service skills:
Answer 60+ customer calls a day, responding to inquiries, complaints, return requests, and providing product information Received a 93% customer satisfaction rate, 10% higher than the company average Effectively use PeopleSoft CRM to resolve 95% of customer issues Transitioned to hybrid work model while maintaining productivity levels and integrating new communication software including RingCentral and Zoho Meeting
These bullets are effective because they demonstrate the skills the candidate mentioned in their resume summary (communication, adaptability, Oracle PeopleSoft, and analytical skills) using specific context.
5. Demonstrate your skills by quantifying your experience
One of the best ways to showcase your skills on a resume is by writing resume work experience bullet points that feature your professional accomplishments. To write an effective skills-focused bullet point, focus on your accomplishments and back up your achievements with hard numbers .
For example, here’s a bullet point that highlights the candidate’s skills in SEO. Notice how they cite an achievement and use hard numbers to provide extra context:
Increased conversion rates by 47% on a client’s web-based service offering through SEO/SEM campaigns
This example works because it not only shows that the candidate knows SEO/SEM — it provides a concrete demonstration of what they were able to accomplish with those specific skills.
Writing your bullet points with quantified achievements shows that you possess relevant skills and proves you’ve used them to produce results for previous employers.
6. Use your transferable skills
If you don’t have professional experience that’s directly related to the position you’re applying for, then you should focus on showcasing your transferable skills . These are skills you’ve developed that you can apply in the role to boost your performance.
For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level position as an office assistant, some good transferable skills to highlight are:
- Organization
- Prioritization
- Computer skills
Including these skills on your resume will show employers that you’re equipped to perform the duties of an office assistant effectively.
If you’re applying for a customer-facing or service industry position, be sure to highlight any interpersonal skills that will help you excel at work, like the following:
- Perceptiveness
- Self-management
- Active listening
- Verbal communication
Lacking professional experience doesn’t mean you don’t have any skills to include on your resume. Including your transferable skills like these can help convince employers that you’re the right candidate for the job.
Top job-specific skills to put on a resume (by industry)
The best skills for your resume are always the ones that are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you’re not sure what kind of skills to list on your resume, here are some of the top hard and soft skills for a variety of industries:
Administration and office support
Here are some key administrative assistant skills that can be listed on the resume of anyone working in an office. You can also list project management skills if you take the lead on projects.
Customer service
If you work in a call center or handle customer issues, you can add these customer service skills to your resume. CSR skills show hiring managers you’re good at dealing with clients and know how to use software to track customer issues:
Add some of these skills to your delivery driver resume to demonstrate your skill at handling packages and keeping to a schedule:
Marketing skills such as the ones listed below are perfect for marketing resumes because they show you’re comfortable using industry-specific tools:
Here are some common nursing skills to note in your application to prove you can effectively care for patients:
Sales/retail
Sales skills (also known as sales associate skills ) are vital for anyone in diverse retail jobs. Hiring managers want to know you can help them keep profits up.
You’ll also need great cashier skills if you’ll be ringing up items:
Include these skills in your teacher resume to show you’re capable of teaching people new skills and information:
Waiter/barista
Add some of these skills to your server resume to show you’re great at looking after customers and keeping orders straight:
Business analyst
Here are some skills for your business analyst resume to show employers that they can count on you to collect and interpret data to inform important business decisions:
Web developer
Include these skills on your web developer resume so employers know you have the technical and soft skills it takes to be a pro developer:
Frequently asked questions about resume skills
Here are answers to some of the most common questions job seekers have about resume skills:
What are the best skills for resumes in 2023?
The best skills for resumes in 2023 are skills that make you look qualified for the specific job you’re applying for. However, it also helps to take into account recent changes to how companies operate.
Showcasing your knowledge of remote working software and emphasizing that you’re self-sufficient is a great way to prove to employers that you’re ready for the modern workplace.
What skills should I put on my resume if I have no work experience?
You most likely developed some hard skills in school, such as research or presenting. You can also put soft skills on your resume. For example:
- Positive attitude
- Assertiveness
Additionally, listing language skills on your resume (if you have any) is a great way to set yourself apart from other more experienced applicants in the U.S.
How do you organize skills on a resume?
You organize skills on a resume by listing your most job-relevant abilities at the beginning of your skills section.
You can also feature your best skills in your resume introduction to help catch the attention of employers right away.
Additional FAQs
- How many skills should you list on a resume?
- How do I describe my skills on a resume?
- What are secondary skills on a resume?
- What do you put in the skills section of a resume?
- How do you categorize skills on a resume?
Hard skills
- How do you list hard skills on a resume?
- How do you write technical skills on a resume?
- How do you list computer skills on a resume?
- What computer skills should I put on my resume?
- How do you list Microsoft Office skills on a resume?
Soft skills
- What is a soft skill on a resume?
- How do I describe my management skills on a resume?
- How do you list soft skills on a resume?
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Written by Corissa Peterson
Corissa is a Career Advisor and Staff Writer at Resume Genius, where she loves equipping others with the tools they need to pursue their dreams. She graduated from the... more
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What Is a Professional Bio?
How to write a professional bio, example professional bios for inspiration, template for a professional bio, tips for writing a professional bio, professional bio faq.
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Summary. A professional bio will be a few paragraphs of full sentences outlining your skills and accomplishments. A professional bio is meant to attract more than just possible employer, it’s meant to intrigue the public and gain potential clients and followers.
A bio is a short piece of writing that advertises who you are as a professional to potential employers and clients. It demonstrates your strengths , motivations, and why you’re an expert in your field. Most people are familiar with the concept of creating a bio for their social media page, but developing your professional bio includes a more detailed explanation of your career.
Fitting all the details of your professional life into a few measly paragraphs is a difficult feat, but doing it well can lead to improvements in your customer base, increase calls for interviews, and more.
Key Takeaways:
A professional bio helps personalize your story to attract potential employers, clients, and the general public.
A professional bio should highlight your profession or brand, as well as describe your accomplishments, responsibilities, passions, and interests.
Professional bios should be concise, personable yet professional, and updated regularly.
Professional bios are great for social media profiles, professional websites, and portfolios.
Make sure your professional bio is appropriate for your goals.
Similar to how a 140 character resume is a brief description of your work experience , skills, and education , your professional bio will articulate the same information. They both serve as introductions to a specific audience. However, a professional bio is formatted differently.
Instead of writing out bullet points of your accomplishments and skills, a professional bio has a few paragraphs of full sentences outlining these qualities. Additionally, a bio on your website or an employee page will explain further what makes you passionate about your job.
It’s meant to attract the attention of more than just possible employers to whom you send your resume in the hopes of landing a job. It’s about intriguing the public. Potential clients and followers on social media are more responsive to hearing a person’s story in the form of a professional bio than reading off lists of skills on a resume .
The first draft of a professional bio is tough for most. Cramming in all the information about yourself that you want to share with your audience is a difficult task.
To help you through the process a little more, read through the following steps to write an effective professional bio.
Introduce yourself in the third person. The first thing you want to do when writing a professional bio is to introduce yourself with your full name. The reader has to know who they’re learning more about from the start.
State your position or brand. Now that your reader understands who they’re learning about, you can get into the details of your professional title or brand. Consider who you’re catering your bio to and what actions you want them to take after reading it.
If your goal is to bring in new clients to improve your business’s sales, focus on establishing a brand for your name and role.
If you want to get an interview with a potential employer, emphasize your job title and the company you work for currently or in the past.
Explain your professional responsibilities. A reader of your professional bio might not know what exactly someone with your job title does. Giving a brief overview of your job or business provides a more well-rounded description of what your work entails. Try to keep this part of your professional bio under a sentence long.
Why are you passionate about your job? One of the biggest conditions that set a bio’s contents apart from a resume is including the motivations for why you do your job.
Describe accomplishments in your career. This is the spot in your website bio when a little bragging about your accomplishments , in a professional way, can actually help you connect with your audience.
Close with your hobbies or personal interests. It’s common for a strong professional bio to give a closing blurb about what the person enjoys doing when they’re not working.
Professional Bio For A Contract Freelancer’s Website Example
Wendy Martin is a professional freelance photographer whose primary goal is to capture the best days of your life. Her specialty is shooting portraits and event work, with the majority of her clients being wedding parties. Wendy loves shooting people’s special moments on camera because she enjoys helping people cherish their memories for years to come. She’s a long time believer of the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In the ten years that she has been working as a freelance photographer , Wendy has had her work featured in Bridal Magazine three times. She has proudly worked with over 500 clients. When she’s not shooting, organizing, and editing photos, Wendy enjoys participating in winter sports, like snowboarding. She currently lives in Aspen, Colorado with her husband and two kids.
Professional Bio For Company Team Page Example
Erick Lane has been working for Thrive Media Company as a marketing specialist for the past seven years. Most of his duties involve developing project strategy and outcome analysis. Recently, Erick has taken on more management tasks and is currently leading two campaign creation teams. When Erick was still in college at New York University, he was interested in two things: business and psychology. When he learned about the field of marketing, he knew this is where his professional future would take him. Erick has worked on successful marketing campaigns that have brought clients a profit margin improvement of more than 10%. He’s been recognized within Thrive Media Company by being given the “Most Effective Marketer of 2017” award. In his spare time, Erick enjoys reading historical adventure novels and cooking. He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his Dachshund named Patsy.
Professional Bio For Owner Of A Small Business Example
Jason Smith is the founder and CEO of Pilot Portable Chargers, a company specializing in bringing your technology to life wherever you go. After graduating from Cincinnati University in 2015, Jason wanted to start a business that helped the people around him. He began Pilot when he saw a need for people to keep their phones, computers, and tablets constantly charged. He understands that whether you work remotely, travel frequently, or simply can’t afford to go offline, we all need our technology to function wherever we are. The Pilot Portable Chargers brand went live in 2017, and in the past three years has sold upwards of 1.2 million portable chargers. A business that began with sketching ideas in a bedroom has blossomed into employing more than 150 employees. Pilot was also acknowledged as “Startup of The Year 2018” in Tech News Weekly. Jason currently lives in Detroit, Michigan , and uses his free time to improve his golf game, work on home renovation projects, and spend time with his family of five.
[Full Name] is a [Job Title] who works at [Company Name] . For the past [Years Working There] , [Pronoun] has worked on [Description of Work Responsibilities] . [Name] is passionate about [Career Field] because [Why Are You Passionate About Your Job?] . [Name] has been recognized in their field for [Professional Accomplishments] and graduated from [University if applicable] . In their spare time, [Name] enjoys , [Hobbies] . [Pronoun] currently lives in [Where You Live ].
Be concise. A professional bio’s objective is to pique your audience’s interest enough to draw them into contacting you. A mistake a lot of people make in their bio is making it too long. Both consumers and employers have short attention spans. A professional bio that drones on forever will result in them losing interest.
Don’t be too uptight. Even though a bio on your website or networking profile is supposed to sound professional, that doesn’t mean it needs to be boring. The purpose of a website or LinkedIn bio is to interest the reader. Give your professional bio some personality, and show who you are beyond your career history.
Update your bio regularly. The purpose of a bio is to tell your audience where you are in your career at that moment. When things change in your professional life, such as getting a promotion or accomplishing a project goal, update your bio. It’s important to keep your professional bio relevant and current.
Consider a headshot. While including a professional headshot to accompany your bio may not always be necessary, it can be a nice touch. Visual representations are often more impactful than written ones. Putting a face to the details of your professional story can help build a connection with the reader.
Put yourself in the shoes of your audience. One way to write a professional bio that resonates with the reader and makes them reach out to learn more is by considering your audience’s point of view. Think about what you would think as a consumer or employer if you read your bio objectively. This can help you make edits and give more clarification when needed.
How do I write a professional bio?
To write a professional bio, start by knowing your audience. Some professional bios are used to promote a brand to clients, while others are used to list qualifications to attract potential employers. It is important for you to distinguish your needs.
It is also important to know where your bio will be presented. Shorter bios are more appropriate for social media and company pages, while a longer bio can be written on a personal website. In all cases, it is important that the language of your bio is direct and approachable. You want to highlight your responsibilities, qualifications, and accomplishments without losing the reader’s attention.
Do I need a professional bio?
It depends on your profession, but it can’t hurt to have a professional bio. Professional bios are extremely helpful for those who want to build strong connections with clients or employers. This is usually the case for freelance workers such as photographers and consultants.
Is a professional bio the same as a resume?
No, a professional bio is not the same as a resume. A professional bio acts as a more personable way to tell your story. The bio still retains elements of resume, particularly in its language and list of accomplishments. However, the bio, unlike the resume, should give a clear, concise picture of who you are and what you can do in a captivating manner.
Fremont University – Building Your Professional Bio
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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.
Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.
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Bio data sample with professional skills and key qualities
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More About Resumes
What is a resume, what to put on a resume, how to write a resume with no work experience, is there a standard format for a resume, what is the appropriate length for a resume, how to write a resume summary statement, what skills should one include in a resume.
- Which Resume Template Is the Best to Follow?
Resume is a one- or two-page living document that lists your work experience, education, skills, achievements, interests, and more for the jobs you are interested in. For job seekers, resume is a marketing tool that they use to communicate their accomplishments and values to employers. Job recruiters or hiring managers are most likely to ask you for your resume and cover letter along with a job application as a resume contains all the essential information that an employer needs to weigh in to decide whether you are the best fit for a job or not. The best part is you can create as many resumes as you want.
You can fill out all the key information in every section in every resume, just make minor changes and customize it to a particular job opportunity as each job opportunity is different.
Every individual’s resume is tad different. Nevertheless, there are a few important sections that should be included in every resume. These common sections are Contact Information, Resume Summary or Objective, Education, Professional History, Key Skills, and Achievements. Arrange these sections and put them in order as per your need. It depends how relevant certain sections are to the job you are applying to. Arrange them accordingly.
Some may not have any work experience, so they can put their qualifications and other volunteer work at top. Some can list their current job at top and older jobs at the bottom of the work experience section. A few other important things that you should consider putting on your resume are your interests, hobbies, certifications, etc.
As freshers, writing your first resume can be intimidating as you do not have any or enough work experience to show in your resume. However, you can still create compelling resume by emphasizing your skills and experiences if done in the right way. Graduates or postgraduates should put the education section on the top of their resume, highlighting not only the course and degree name but any other achievements related to their education such as high scorer of the semester, highest GPA, Student of the Month, and more.
Also, include any internship or field work you had done as a part of your course. These all are practical experiences that you must share in your resume. Mention important school or college projects or any other activities that might have helped you hone your skills.
A well-written and formatted resume opens doors to many job opportunities. You need to choose the format wisely to suit your current situation. There are three main types of formats: Chronological, Functional and Hybrid.
Chronological: It is the most commonly used and standard resume format. It displays the companies you have worked with at the top. It is apt for those who want to remain in the same industry. List your recent work at the top followed by the previous companies moving backwards.
Functional: This format focuses on skills rather than experience. If you are looking to apply for a skills-based jobs, then incorporate this format since it allows you to emphasize more on skills and accomplishments. Hybrid or Combination: This is the format which gives equal weightage to both skills and experience. Every format is different and is used for a specific purpose. Each highlights different professional history. So, it is recommended to choose your resume format wisely.
For students, it is recommended to create a resume of one page maximum. People who have a work experience of five to ten years can create a resume of two pages. But do not go beyond this. Hiring managers may skim your resume in just seconds. It is advisable to keep your resume on point and precise to leave a great first impression.
A resume summary statement gives you an opportunity to showcase your uniqueness through your skills and accomplishments. It is a short paragraph, consisting of 50 words at the beginning which demonstrates job seeker’s experience of work and professional skills.
The summary statement comes right below the contact information of a job seeker. Make the resume summary so compelling that it entices the recruiters before he delves into the details.
There are two types of skills that an employer looks in an applicant. These are hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are teachable and are easy to evaluate. These are often technical skills such as programming, language skills, etc. On the other hand, soft skills are subjective skills and cannot be measured. These skills include communication, leadership, flexibility, teamwork, etc.
You can choose to include both hard skills and soft skills in your resume. At times, you may not have the hard skills relevant to the job, but you can highlight your ability to work in a team which makes you a great team player.
You can either combine both the skills or create a different section for each skill. But do list the skills.
Resume Template
Is the best to follow.
There is no such thing called as “best resume template or suitable resume template”, as every employer or recruiter has his or her own preferences.
But you can certainly do your research on the company or industry you want to apply to. Analyze the job and industry type and then choose a resume template. Go for a resume layout that suits a specific job position. For instance, you cannot put your resume on a bright colored and loud layout if you are applying for the position of a computer programmer. You would want to keep it simple and easy-to-understand. Always go for a neat and formatted resume layout. We have provided you professionally designed resume templates to help you put your best foot forward before the employers. Best of luck!
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Resume Skills Employers Will Actually Read (With Examples!)
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As you carefully craft a resume that’s tailored for the specific role you’re applying for, know that the way you report your skills for a job can determine how far you advance in the hiring process. If you want your resume to show you have what it takes to justify an interview, you need to show off your job skills.
The skills on your resume can differentiate you from the competition so you can land the position you want. And if a hiring panel does decide to offer you the job, your resume skills section can easily influence the salary figure they settle on .
So, where do you start? Click on the links below to skip to the resume writing tips that interest you most. Or start from the top and read through to the end for a comprehensive review of the job skills for a resume any professional should consider.
- What are the best job skills to put on a resume?
How to match your resume skills to the job description
What are examples of soft skills for a resume.
- What are technical, or hard skills, on your resume?
How to discover skills the company values
How to create a resume skills section.
- Ways to weave your skills for a job into the rest of the resume
What shouldn’t you do with job skills on your resume?
What are the best job skills on a resume.
It’s no secret that many hiring managers spend only a short amount of time looking at a resume before deciding whether to pass on a job candidate or add them to the shortlist. What you may not know is, employers today are looking for both hard and soft skills for a job. Read any job posting, for example, and you might see the following requests:
- Computer proficiency
- Leadership experience
- Communication skills
- Organizational know-how
- People skills
- Collaboration talent
- Problem-solving abilities
These skills and attributes, and others we discuss in this post, are essential for today’s workplace. Hard skills are the technical skills required to accomplish the tasks and responsibilities associated with the job. They’re acquired through practice, education and training. They’re measurable and easy to advertise: You either have the desired technical skills and experience, or you don’t. Your work history and certifications will speak to them.
Soft skills, or interpersonal skills, reflect one’s personality and personal attributes. They can relate to an ability to fit into a company’s work culture, handle stress, communicate clearly or play well with others, for example. They may be “soft,” but they’re important skills for a resume: When job candidates possess comparable experience levels and technical skills, soft skills can tip the balance.
See later sections for tips on how to showcase soft and hard skills on your resume. But let’s talk first about which job skills employers are looking for.
Many companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS), which acts as an electronic filter, to collect, scan, sort and rank resumes to narrow applicant pools to the most qualified candidates. That’s why you need to customize your resume and cover letter using keywords and phrases that match the job listing (so long as you possess the skills you’re listing, of course).
If an employer is looking for a graphic designer with mastery in Adobe Creative Suite, for example, you wouldn’t just claim “experience with software for creative professionals.” List the software by name, give your expertise level, and — if you have it — highlight your Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) certification. Likewise, if an employer is searching for an accountant with “experience processing daily invoices and credit,” then use similar language in your resume. Simply listing “gathering receipts” as a duty won’t likely score well with an ATS.
Repeat common words and phrases from other postings of the same role, too. But remember, every job description is different. Tailor the keywords and skills on your resume and in your cover letter for each position.
Make no mistake, the soft skills on your resume can be of as much interest to a hiring manager as the technical skills you offer. Smart managers know that an experienced, highly trained new hire who doesn’t fit into the office culture, communicates poorly with clients and colleagues, or freezes under deadline pressures can take a heavy toll on the workplace. Your resume — and, later, how you present at the interview — should assure the employer that you not only can do the job, but you’ll help the team thrive.
Unsure which soft skills can send that message? Remember, every job application should get a tailored resume. So review the duties of the position you’re applying for, and determine which of your personal strengths would help you be a success at the job and in the work environment.
Consider these 15 soft skills and personal attributes, and why employers value them:
- Adaptability — Whether you’re a new hire learning the ropes, a long-time staff member adjusting to shifting company priorities, or a manager adopting transformative technologies in the workplace, you’re going to face some disruption in your career. Companies want employees who can quickly acclimate to different environments and are open to new processes and technologies.
- Attention to detail — Mistakes are expensive to businesses in terms of time and money. To show prospective employers that you are careful and deliberate in all you do, submit a tailored, proofread resume and cover letter with work history highlights that exemplify diligence and conscientiousness.
- Collaboration — How well you work with others, both team members and across departments, is going to be critical to your career success. Give examples in your work history — or if you’re a new college grad, examples from your labs, seminars and coursework — that demonstrate successful teamwork and partnerships.
- Communication — No matter the industry, no matter the position, verbal, writing and presentation skills are an increasingly important soft skill in the workplace. Employers are looking for candidates who can interact with different audiences, from interns to the C-suite, without resorting to jargon, and can present to an audience with confidence.
- Creativity — Businesses grow with the infusion of fresh ideas and new approaches to old problems. Hiring managers will give a careful look at someone whose resume skills show they think creatively, challenge the status quo and offer novel solutions.
- Customer service — A company’s prosperity — and an employee’s career prospects — is tied to good customer service. Employers want staff to be dedicated to meeting the expectations of both internal stakeholders and external clients.
- Decision making — Most savvy managers want to give staff a measure of autonomy so leadership can focus on the bigger picture (they also know it can improve employee happiness and performance). That’s why they value employees who can assess a situation and determine the next steps to take, rather than continually ask for guidance.
- Empathy — Understanding the emotions of others is important if you want to effectively engage with coworkers, managers, direct reports, customers and clients. Whether for a senior leadership or staff-level role, the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes is a valuable trait.
- Leadership — Even when they’re not hiring for a managerial role, employers look for candidates who can inspire and motivate team members, and act with integrity, fairness and a strategic mindset. Where possible, highlight the professional experience and skills on your resume that show you can lead.
- Multitasking — Today’s workplace is in many ways busier and more complicated than in the past. A strong resume will demonstrate a job candidate’s ability to juggle projects and competing priorities.
- Positivity — No, this doesn’t mean “excessively cheerful or optimistic.” Rather, show that you approach difficulties with a can-do attitude. Resilience and determination, not a negative mindset, are what gets a job done. Employers want that.
- Problem solving — What job doesn’t involve challenges and problems? And what employer wants to handhold staff when those challenges and problems arise? An ability to resolve conflicts and come up with creative solutions to challenges big and small are prized skills on a resume.
- Self-motivation — No boss wants to keep lighting a fire under their workers. Give instances of how you’ve taken the initiative to solve problems and get the job done.
- Time management — Whatever role you’re seeking, time management is a prime skill to include on your resume. Employers want to know you have the discipline to tune out distractions, meet deadlines and get the most out of the workday.
- Work ethic — Honesty, punctuality, responsibility and reliability are all integral to a strong work ethic. Draw out those qualities in the examples you give in your professional history and resume skills sections.
What are technical or hard skills on your resume?
When listing hard skills on your resume, include specific proficiencies and certifications. Front-end web developers, for instance, would report their level of expertise in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and other technologies the company lists in its job posting. A financial controller, meanwhile, might claim a strong foundation in GAAP or SEC reporting, and an administrative professional’s resume skills could advertise a CAP or MOS certification.
Here are some hard resume skills for 15 in-demand fields:
- Accounting or bookkeeping — Basic abilities include invoicing, collections, payments, account reconciliation and proficiency in software such as QuickBooks, FreshBooks and Xero.
- Data analysis — Businesses need professionals who can gather and interpret technical data for various stakeholders. Hard skills in this area range from a thorough knowledge of relational database theory and practice to strong writing and verbal skills.
- Data privacy — Cybersecurity is top of mind for any organization that deals with sensitive or proprietary client information. Specific in-demand skills will depend on the position and field.
- Enterprise resource planning — ERP systems such as Oracle, NetSuite and SAP help employers manage their business and automate functions. Professionals in this area will want to talk up their coding expertise and project management skills.
- Human resources — Companies rely on HR specialists to assess and hire job candidates, help onboard new employees and develop retention efforts . These professionals might also handle employee engagement, create wellness initiatives and develop training and team-building programs. If this is your area, you’d want to promote your strong communication and project management skills on your resume.
- Mathematics — It’s not just the accounting world that requires workers to figure percentages, calculate margins and create accurate data charts. A marketing professional and a copy editor, for instance, will likely work with survey results from time to time. For roles that need a more extensive mathematics background, see the business systems consultant role listed in our blog post on financial consulting jobs .
- Multilingualism — The more customers and clients you can serve, the greater value you are to an employer. Sought-after second languages depend on the industry and city, but Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, French and German are among the most in demand. Even if you’re applying for a position that doesn’t require interacting with an international clientele, fluency in another language is an important asset to mention. Unique skills on your resume will make you stand out among the competition.
- Process automation — Businesses can save resources and improve accuracy by using smart software and artificial intelligence to take over rote tasks. At the same time, companies rely on humans to set up and oversee those systems. Spotlighting your professional experience in this area, or completion of one of the many certification programs, can make you markedly more appealing to employers.
- Product design — Form and function are rolled into one in this field, which optimizes both user friendliness and visual appeal. Even if you have a degree in product design, you’d want to talk up your specific skills on your resume.
- Project management — In your work history and resume skills sections, show your familiarity with the software and best practices required for seeing a project through from beginning to end. (A Project Manager Professional [PMP] certification, offered by the Project Management Institute, would display a highly desired endorsement of your skills.)
- Research skills — Whether for eDiscovery, competitor intelligence or internal data collection, employers are looking for job candidates who know how to use the right research tools and methodologies. Hard research skills on your resume might include experience interviewing, planning and scheduling, and analyzing and interpreting collected data to help stakeholders reach a solution. Proficiency with relevant technologies should also be given on your resume.
- Software proficiency — Almost every office job today requires at least a baseline knowledge of Microsoft Office and G Suite apps for word processing, spreadsheets, email, presentations and collaboration. Many roles will require a far deeper knowledge of technologies. Jobs in the IT and creative fields are obvious examples, but tech proficiency is highly valued in many other sectors and roles. Consider the legal field: 62% of lawyers said in a Robert Half survey that their hiring decisions are influenced more by job candidates' technical abilities than their soft skills.
- Search engine optimization — SEO and its cousin, search engine marketing (SEM), are key aspects of any role that deals with online content — from writers and editors to publicists and HR professionals. SEO/SEM hard skills for a resume would include work experience with (or knowledge of) Google Analytics and Keyword Planner, keyword optimization, content creation, data analysis tools, and HTML/CSS and JavaScript.
- Typing skills — Medical coders, transcribers, schedulers, clerks, data entry specialists and administrative professionals should have fast and accurate keyboarding abilities. How fast is fast? That depends on the industry and the job, but the job description should give you a clue. To check your speed and accuracy, go to one of the many free typing speed testing websites. Then for consistency, check them again on a different website.
- Writing and editing — Just as polished verbal and presentation skills are prized people skills in today’s workplace, strong writing and editing are highly valued hard skills in almost any field. Clearly written, persuasive cross-departmental written memos, emails and other internal communication keep an organization humming. And no organization wants any external-facing content — website text, press releases, printed matter or even company emails — marred by incorrect grammar and diction or poor sentence structure and organization.
Keep in mind that your resume should provide examples of how you’ve used the hard skills that are most relevant to the job you’re seeking. Whenever possible, note specific, quantifiable achievements for each position you’ve held. If you’re a digital marketer, give conversion and click-through rates. If you’re a project manager, showcase projects that came in on time and on budget — and report their impact. As we discuss below, you want to demonstrate you’re a results-driven professional.
You need to use the job description to customize your resume skills and work history sections. But don’t stop there. Research the employer to gain insight into the workplace culture and company values. You may discover additional qualities that would be prized by the employer.
If you know someone who works at the company, or has in the past, reach out to ask about the workplace culture and what the employer considers important in its workers. Also check websites such as Glassdoor and Fairygodboss for company reviews by employees and former employees. (You might even get an idea there about the employer’s interviewing process.)
The company’s website can tell you a lot, too. Reading the About Us page is typically a good place to begin.
For instance, in a section called “Living our values,” IBM includes the following:
- Dedication to every client’s success
- Innovation that matters — for our company and for the world
- Trust and responsibility in all relationships
If you were applying for a job at IBM, you would want to consider what soft skills you possess that fit this framework — customer service, attentiveness, initiative and loyalty — and weave them into your resume.
Here at Robert Half , we focus on and promote our four LEAD principles. They are:
- Leadership by Example
- Ethics First
- An Openness to New Ideas
- Dedication to Excellence
If you’re applying for a job at Robert Half, you might highlight skills that speak to your leadership, drive and diligence, as well as your confidence and ability to collaborate.
Bottom line: Pay close attention to how the company says it operates and the workplace environment it promotes, and emphasize your most pertinent strengths.
Think you’d make a great fit at Robert Half? Search our corporate jobs or our open recruiting positions.
When you write a resume , it’s important to organize the content so it’s succinct and easy to read. A three-column, three-row highlights section near the top of your resume, just above your professional experience, is a helpful way to list the nine soft and technical skills that speak directly to the posting’s required qualifications. It’s also a good place to add keywords you’ve identified.
You don’t need more than a couple words here to show what you bring to the table. This should be a bulleted list a reader can quickly scan. Complete sentences will come in your work history.
Here are some examples of what professionals from different industries could list in this section:
1. Accounting jobs
Accountants are expected to crunch numbers, but also to make data-driven conclusions and communicate them to people outside of their department. You might include skills in these areas:
- Analytical and problem solving
- Microsoft Excel
- Enterprise resource planning software
- Business and leadership
- Verbal and writing skills
- Data analytics
- Revenue recognition
- Risk and compliance
- Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
Send us your resume for roles in accounting , from clerks to accountants to controllers .
2. Customer service jobs
When customers have issues or concerns about a company, they turn to customer service departments to get their problems solved. Dealing with the public in these roles often requires skills in these areas:
- Attentive listening, empathy
- Troubleshooting and research
- Speed and efficiency
- Positive attitude
- Time management
Search customer service jobs to see job descriptions for various roles from representatives to managers.
3. Business analyst jobs
A business analyst wears many hats: data specialist, finance professional and problem solver. Skills for the resume of a business analyst might include:
- Business acumen
- Data mining
- Client relations
- Strategic thinking
- Verbal and presentation skills
- Project management
- Collaboration
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
Check out all our business analyst jobs !
4. Marketing jobs
Marketing jobs can run the gamut from social media or email marketing specialist to product manager and brand manager. But in general, candidates applying for marketing jobs need to show a mix of soft and hard skills that reflect the creative yet analytical nature of the career. Some examples include:
- Content creation
- Market research
- Web analytics
- SEO and SEM
- Content management systems
- Social media (strategy, campaigns, etc.)
Job hunting in the marketing arena? Check out our available marketing and creative jobs now!
5. Web developer jobs
Web developers need both the tech skills to accomplish their tasks and the soft skills to work with clients and internal stakeholders. Whether you’re looking at a front-end or back-end position, you’d want to carefully review the tech stack that the job posting describes, then tailor your resume to address the employer’s needs and work environment. Some soft and hard skills for a web developer’s resume might include:
- Coding languages
- Troubleshooting and testing skills
- Operating systems
- Database software
- UX and UI design
- Web frameworks
Search our open web developer jobs !
6. Graphic design jobs
Graphic designers need to possess a combination of creative flair and technical mastery. In addition to creating a digital portfolio that wows, you could mention these hard and soft skills on your resume:
- Design principles, such as color theory and typography
- Brand development
- Storytelling
- Attention to detail
- Collaboration with clients
- Commitment to deadlines
Browse all our graphic designer jobs !
If you’re in a specialized field, such as legal or technology, another option would be to create a skills column on the side of your first page. This would give you more space to list all skills, divided by technical and interpersonal, that pertain to the job you’re applying for.
The important thing is to make the skills section an attention-grabbing part of your resume. Not every employer uses an ATS, so you want this section to stand out to the reader.
Ways to weave in your skills for a job
Keep in mind that skills should be highlighted in your work history and other resume sections, such as volunteer activities or professional certifications. There, you’d be less likely to name a specific skill than to show it — for example, you “led a team project” to successful completion, not you “have leadership skills” or “project management skills.”
Here, you would also give concrete examples of the impact you made at your current or past employer. Impressive skills on your resume will get you careful consideration. Impressive results on your resume can get you the interview — and possibly the job offer.
Here are some tips and examples on how to present your resume skills:
Communication — Focus on your verbal, writing and presentation skills, but also your collaborative and customer service skills. In your work history, show how your track record of strong communication with your colleagues, manager, clients or customers delivered solid results.
- Wrote a monthly email newsletter to customers that increased website traffic by 35%
- Presented in eight company webinars that reached an audience average of 5,000 per session
Multitasking — It might be more challenging to show quantifiable results for multitasking. But you can still give the employer an idea of the competing tasks and situations you've handled regularly — and how you did so calmly and efficiently.
- Smoothly and calmly prioritized multiple web design projects for a team of 20 people in a fast-paced environment
- Managed competing editorial deadlines for the company’s annual report and corporate citizenship report, while delivering weekly new content to the organization’s email marketing team that improved click rates by 20%
Leadership — You don’t have to be in a managerial role to show leadership. Taking charge on an important deliverable of a larger team project, working in an entrepreneurial manner independent of a team, burrowing deep into a problem above and beyond expectations to reach a solution all demonstrate leadership and an ability to inspire colleagues. Outside of your official duties, stepping up for volunteer roles within the company can also create opportunity to demonstrate leadership by action.
- Led a 10-person task force that worked together to reduce firm operating expenses by 15%
- Organized and chaired a six-member employee volunteer task force that researched corporate philanthropic practices and recommended new beneficiaries for senior management consideration
Problem solving — Show the essential role you’ve played for current and past managers by spotlighting examples of when you’d double-down on resolving longstanding team problems or show creativity when faced with a challenge.
- Implemented new consolidation procedures for monthly and quarterly close, reducing closing time by 30%
- Closed 92% of desktop support tickets on the first call without escalation
Dependability — Hiring managers want people on their teams who’ll do what they say they’re going to do. Dependability can be particularly important if you’re working with outside clients, when missing a deadline can mean lost business and a damaged reputation.
- Completed all projects on time or before deadline, leading to a promotion to account manager after 12 months of service
- Twice awarded CEO’s “Perfect Attendance” commendation at the company’s annual employee recognition event
Technology — The technology skills on your resume should be relevant to the job you’re pursuing. If you’re looking for an administrative assistant role, you don’t need to fit in that coursework in data logic you took before switching majors. And if you’re a UX designer or computer programmer, there won’t be much call to advertise your familiarity with Word or Google docs.
- Created monthly PowerPoint presentations to support supervising manager’s report of social media/email campaigns, client engagement and conversion rate to executive team
- Provided training to other support staffs after managers recognized the success of the presentations
- Optimized more than 300 blog posts, increasing organic traffic by 33% and conversion rate by 15%
We’ve said it all above in one place or another. But now that you have a sense of what you should be doing, here’s a recap of things to avoid doing with your resume:
Don’t exaggerate or lie about your skills — or anything else . Never give in to the temptation to inflate a job title, add a certification or skills you don’t have, or embellish a job tenure that didn’t last as long as you say it did. Making false claims or stretching the truth isn’t worth the risk. Most companies conduct background checks and call references , and falsehoods will severely damage your trustworthiness — and likely cost you the job.
Don’t leave out numbers . As we’ve discussed, don’t be vague. No matter what position you’re applying for, you should try to quantify your value. Did you reduce expenses for your company, increase sales or reach new target markets? Did you respond to customer inquiries or process orders X% faster than the previous year? All of those accomplishments involve numbers that you can use in your resume.
Don’t misuse words. Check your resume for wordiness. If you feel like a section is short, it can be tempting to get flowery with your language, but “owing to the fact that” is nowhere near as good as “because.” Also avoid using business jargon or clichés like “synergize” or “outside the box.”
Don’t forget to proofread. Before you send in your resume, go over it with a fine-toothed comb for spelling, grammar and formatting mistakes. Then ask someone who understands your job-search goals to look it over. Review a printed copy: Sometimes it’s easier to catch errors on paper than on a computer screen.
Your resume, and the skills on your resume, should be an accurate, truthful report of you, your work history and your abilities. But help out the hiring manager and recruiters by crafting it in a way that directly addresses their needs. That means, be thoughtful and be meticulous. The time and work you put into that will pay off when interview invitations come in.
It’s time to put your job skills to work for you!
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How to Write Soft Skills on Your Resume in 2023
Your resume should contain the right soft skills to land you a job. Here, we explain soft skills and how to add them to your resume. Plus, we’ve got the top 10 soft skills and 115+ examples by job type, experience level and resume format.
Some of our customers have been hired by:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What are Soft Skills?
- Top 10 Soft Skills
- How to Write Soft Skills Into Your Resume
- 4 Tips for Writing Your Skills Section
- Soft Skills Examples by Career Type
- Soft Skills Examples by Experience Level
- Soft Skills Examples by Resume Format
- 5 Ways a Resume Builder Can Help You Write Your Soft Skills
- Soft Skills FAQ
Related content
What are soft skills?
“Soft skills,” like communication, teamwork and motivation, are personal abilities necessary to do a job.
They are sometimes called “people skills” or “interpersonal skills.”
They differ from “hard skills” like data analysis, typing, car repair or computer programming because soft skills are trickier to prove, demonstrate or measure.
Hard skills refer to what you do to succeed in a role; soft skills refer to how you do it. This matters because you need a mixture of both soft and hard skills .
Check out these examples of each to better understand the difference:
Hard Skills
Teachable, technical abilities, easy to quantify.
- Machine operation
- Programming
- Database management
- Electrical skills
- Language competency
- Sales and marketing certification
- Bookkeeping
- Project management
Soft Skills
Interpersonal or ‘people-centric’ traits.
- Time management
- Organization
- Problem solving
- Adaptability
Why soft skills are important
Whether you’re a CEO or a cashier at a coffee shop, you use soft skills in your daily work to interact with customers, colleagues and business partners. Even in highly technical roles, soft skills are necessary to write a good resume .
Top 10 soft skills
Here are the 10 most sought-after soft skills across all industries:
1 Communication
Employers seek effective communicators because they make workplaces more efficient and friendly. Both oral and written communication are highly valued.
Communication skills examples:
- Following directions
- Active listening
- Giving feedback
2 Leadership/management
Thoughtful decision-making and the ability to guide and inspire others during stressful times are always in high demand. Good leaders create better workplaces.
Leadership skills examples:
- Conflict resolution
Clear written communication is a must-have for some jobs. Especially for remote work, it’s crucial to get messages across clearly and timely.
Writing skills examples:
- Taking notes
- Social media posts
4 Organization
Good organization can increase productivity and decrease confusion in the workplace. People with a knack for creating systems for better workflow are highly prized!
Organization skills examples:
- Calendar management
- Preparedness
5 Adaptability
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that business needs to be able to turn on a dime to survive surprise events. Your ability to adjust, pivot and grow is crucial.
Adaptability skills examples:
- Stress management
- Protocol adherence
- Fast learning
- Facing challenges
6 Positivity
Hiring managers want team members with a positive attitude because they work harder, get along better and overcome challenges.
Positivity skills examples:
- Friendly demeanor
- Can-do attitude
Customer service
- Determination
7 Efficiency
Your ability to get work done on time and make the most of your resources can save employers a lot. If the role demands fast-paced work, mention your efficiency.
Efficiency skills examples:
- Self-management
- Meeting deadlines
8 Strategic thinking
Thorough planning and strategy execution are essential for business success and help you deal with unexpected problems that may arise.
Strategic thinking skills examples:
- Problem-solving
- Troubleshooting
- Creative solutions
9 Collaboration/teamwork
Working with others professionally and productively is part of every industry. Being a great communicator who knows how to deal with stress is a huge asset.
Collaboration skills examples:
- Brainstorming
- Meeting suggestions
- Rapport building
10 Responsibility
Displaying honesty, compassion and respect to customers, peers and management is how effective solutions form and workplace conflicts decrease.
Responsibility skills examples:
- Trustworthiness
- Punctuality
Now, if you’ve got a handle on which soft skills you possess, skip straight to the writing process! You can use LiveCareer’s fastest tool, our Resume Builder . It will help you produce a resume in just 15 minutes!
That’s because our Resume Builder is automated. It walks you through the process of writing a resume step-by-step, like having an expert look over your shoulder.
It even suggests soft skills options that you can include on your resume. All you have to do is pick the ones that best apply to you!
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How to write soft skills into your resume
While every resume should have a dedicated skills section, soft skills also should appear in other parts of your resume.
Here are some ideas about where and how to write soft skills into your resume:
Professional summary
Summary of qualifications
Skills section
Work experience
Technical Skills
Soft skills examples by career type
Here are some examples of soft skills suited for each industry and career field:
- Clear communication
- Responsibility
- Prudent judgment
- Continuous learning
- Strategic planning
- Deductive reasoning
- Recordkeeping
Administration
- Taking initiative
- Attention to detail
- Executing commands
- Meeting contribution
- Assisting management
- Error proofing
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Project enhancement
- Focused listening
- Calming personality
- Sticking to script
- Depersonalization
- Professionalism
- Taking responsibility
- Relatability
- Telephone etiquette
- Imagination
- Decision making
- Accepting criticism
- Sharpening ideas
- Sense of harmony
- Anticipating reaction
- Client communication
Digital marketing
- Collaboration
- Trend awareness
- Positive suggestions
- Incorporating criticism
- Eagerness to improve
- Multitasking
- Straightforwardness
- Clear speaking
- Holding presence
- Social justice awareness
- Thought leadership
- Inspiring performance
- Clear explanation
- Student engagement
Health care
- Patient empathy
- Calm under pressure
- Following protocol
- Patient instruction
- Stress prevention
Management roles
- Executing ideas
- Emotional intelligence
- Team growth
- Project direction
- Sociability
- Identifying needs
- Self-motivation
- Following up
- Respectability
- Perseverance
Web development
- Puzzle-solving
- Team spirit
- Storytelling
- User understanding
- Visualizing
- Narrative flow
- Following instruction
- Mindfulness
Soft skills examples by experience level
The soft skills you choose can vary highly based on your experience level. While most employers are seeking great communicators at every level, here are some examples of how your soft skills on a resume might develop over time:
No experience
- Leadership roles
- Organization skills
Entry-level
- Critical thinking
- Strong communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Effective communication
- Active listening skills
Executive-level
- Culture building
- Excellent presentation skills
Career change
- Adaptive learning
Soft skills examples by resume format
The functional and combination resume types are skills-based, providing an excellent platform to show soft skills differently. The chronological resume is a better fit for job seekers with a relevant work history and career progression they want to highlight.
Chronological format:
The chronological resume has a shorter dedicated skills section but remains the resume standard for a reason. It draws attention to significant actions an employee has taken, as shown through short narratives in both the summary and work experience sections.
Who should use this resume format: Mid-career professionals and executive-level job seekers benefit from the chronological format. It provides the perfect layout for a long work history and instances of significant career progression.
How soft skills should appear on this resume format: The work history section is a great place to show the result of your soft skills. You can write a few sentences detailing an event or action that required great leadership, efficiency, or teamwork and then explain the outcome through a numerical metric, for example: “Increased productivity 30% through active involvement in more direct communication programs.”
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Combination format:
The combination resume is a good choice for job seekers, as it balances your skills next to your work history, giving them equal weight.
Who should use this resume format: Professionals who want to show off skills and experience should opt for a combination resume. It’s also great if you are an entry-level worker with relevant outside experience, a mid-career worker with transferable skills, an executive-level applicant displaying certifications and a long work history, or a career changer trying to highlight their impact in multiple fields.
How soft skills should appear on this resume format: Soft skills can appear in various ways in a combination format. You can highlight excellent communication and organizational skills in a bulleted list. Or, describe your team management abilities in your professional summary or work experience section. This will draw attention to a specific moment of innovative thinking in your summary of qualifications.
Functional format:
The functional resume is the best way to enhance your skill set for those new to an industry, entering the workforce, or returning to work after a long period of unemployment.
Who should use this format: People with no direct work experience and those making career changes can put their industry-relevant skills and educational background at the forefront of their resume in this format. It’s an excellent way to show employers that you have the qualifications they are seeking.
How soft skills should appear on this resume format: The Professional Skills section of this resume is where soft skills shine. By choosing your top soft skill, this section provides three or more instances where you can explain how you used “leadership” or “collaboration” in your experience and the positive results.
4 tips for writing your skills section
Even if you are new to the workforce, it’s possible to write a resume that provides examples of the soft skills you’ve developed in other areas of your life, such as school, sports or volunteering.
Take some time to think about it and ask your friends and family for their thoughts. Group interactions also provide a good source for figuring out what soft skills you already possess. Are you usually the group leader on projects? The one that reads the rules before starting a board game?
Here are four tips for writing soft skills into your skills section:
Target the right skills
Tell a story, self-interview, create special sections, 5 ways a resume builder can help you write your soft skills.
Our professional Resume Builder is a tool that can help you create the strongest resume possible.
That’s because our resume builder uses AI to target the most sought-after soft skills for your role!
It is an excellent way to ensure your “skills” section matches up with the examples of how you used soft skills in your “experience” section.
Here’s how a resume builder can help:
- Content suggestions The builder provides prewritten text you can select from to add the right phrases to your resume.
- Job-specific skills After answering a prompt about the job you’re applying to, our builder targets its suggestions to this role!
- Keyword recommendations Based on our internal research, our builder suggests keywords that will help you land the job.
- ATS-friendly resume templates Applicant tracking systems weed out candidates from the job hunt. Make sure you beat the bots by using an ATS-approved design!
- Customizable sections You can add custom sections or change the layout of your resume with just a single click.
Soft skills FAQ
Are soft skills the same as transferable skills.
Soft skills and transferable skills are similar. They refer to abilities that can easily carry from one industry to a completely different job.
For instance, if you work on a construction crew your skills in teamwork and communication are just as useful if you work in a restaurant or warehouse.
During the pandemic, due to the number of people changing careers, it became more common to call them transferable skills. However, both are appropriate and refer to the same universally needed abilities.
Can I improve my soft skills?
Yes, there are many ways to improve your soft skills.
You can read books or take classes online to improve your leadership, communication, and public speaking skills.
Or, put your skills into practice by participating in volunteer work or community events that interest you. Even joining a local sports team may help!
The basis of excellent soft skills is interacting and working well with others, so even something like working on a project with a close friend can improve your interactions and communication with others.
I work in a highly technical field. Do I still need soft skills?
Critical thinking and interpersonal skills rank high on an employer’s checklist across all industries. So even if you are the most experienced with a technological platform or have the proper programming knowledge, soft skills are key.
Most recruiters and potential employers want a candidate with the right soft and technical skills, someone who can perform the tasks at hand, work with their team, and fit in with the company culture.
How do I use soft skills to show an employer I can adapt to multiple situations?
Soft skills like “adaptability,” “attention to detail” and “attentiveness” already show through actionable demonstrations that you can adapt to change; it’s honing these skills that will set you apart.
See more on our FAQ page
Hard Skills: Definition, How to Write and Examples
How to Write a Resume Skills Section
How to Showcase Your Soft Skills in a Cover Letter
About the Author
Eric Ciechanowski • CPRW
Eric Ciechanowski is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), certified by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC). He graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with a B.A. double major in Creative Writing and Philosophy. His career background includes fields as diverse as education, hospitality, journalism, copywriting, tech and trivia hosting.
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