How to List Skills on a Resume (With 50 Examples)
List 8–12 skills in a dedicated "Skills" section near the top of your resume, mix hard and soft skills, and mirror the exact wording from the job post — then prove the most important ones inside your experience bullets. That combination of a scannable skills list plus skills shown in context is what gets you past both the screening software and the recruiter. Here's how to do it.
Hard skills vs. soft skills
Hard skills are teachable and measurable (Python, financial modelling, SEO). Soft skills are how you work (communication, leadership). You need both — but hard skills and tools carry the most weight in screening, so lead with them.
| Hard skills (what you can do) | Soft skills (how you work) |
|---|---|
| Python, SQL, Excel | Communication |
| SEO, paid advertising | Leadership |
| Accounting, financial modelling | Problem-solving |
| Figma, AutoCAD, Salesforce | Adaptability |
Where to put your skills
- A dedicated Skills section, near the top (right after your summary) — easy to scan and keyword-rich.
- Woven into your experience bullets, so they're shown in action, not just claimed.
- One or two in your summary, framing your strongest selling point.
How to choose which skills to list
- 1Open the job post and highlight every hard skill and tool it names.
- 2List the ones you genuinely have (the keyword gets you found; the interview has to back it up).
- 3Add 2–3 relevant soft skills — not ten.
- 4Cut generic filler nobody searches for ("Microsoft Word", "email").
Mirror the posting's exact phrasing. If it says "customer relationship management (CRM)", write that — not just "CRM" — since recruiters and software search for both the term and the acronym.
50 resume skill examples by category
Technical & data
Python, SQL, JavaScript, advanced Excel, data analysis, Tableau, Power BI, machine learning, A/B testing, Git.
Tools & software
Salesforce, HubSpot, Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Jira, Google Analytics, QuickBooks, AWS, Notion, SAP.
Marketing & business
SEO, content marketing, paid social, email marketing, copywriting, lead generation, CRM, market research, account management, budgeting.
Soft skills
Communication, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, time management, conflict resolution, critical thinking, collaboration, attention to detail.
Languages & extras
Spanish (fluent), French (conversational), project management, public speaking, event planning, customer service, negotiation, technical writing, scheduling, data entry.
Skills to leave off
- Obvious basics — "Microsoft Word", "email", "internet research".
- Anything you can't back up in an interview.
- A wall of soft skills with no hard skills to anchor them.
- Outdated tech that signals you haven't kept current.
ResumeCraft puts your skills in a clean, ATS-readable section and suggests role-specific ones as you build.
Add my skillsFrequently asked questions
How many skills should I list on a resume?+
Around 8–12 in your dedicated Skills section. Enough to cover the job post, few enough that each one matters.
Where do skills go on a resume?+
In a dedicated Skills section near the top, and again woven into your experience bullets so they are shown in context.
Should I list soft skills on a resume?+
Yes, but only two or three of the most relevant ones. Lead with hard skills and tools, which carry more weight in screening.
How do I match my skills to a job?+
Pull the hard skills and tools straight from the job posting, list the ones you truly have, and use the same wording (including acronyms).
What skills should I not put on a resume?+
Obvious basics like Microsoft Word or email, anything you cannot back up, and outdated technology.
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