Skills Section on a Resume: How to Write it | ResumeCoach (2024)

The skills you put on your resume arevital for showing employers your knowledgequickly. Knowing how to write one also helps incorporate vital keywords into your resume naturally and organically.

The following guide explains thedifference between hard and soft skills. It also includes tips on how to write a skills section, what to avoid, and examples of meaningful skills to include on your resume that will help you land your dream job.

Keep reading!

Example of a Skills Section in a Resume

Let’s start with the basics. Take a look at the following skills section of a resume to get an idea.

Skills

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in Python, Java, and JavaScript
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experienced in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
• Skilled in using project management tools like Trello and Asana

Languages:

• Fluent in English and Spanish
• Basic proficiency in French

Soft Skills:

• Strong verbal and written communication
• Team player and ability to collaborate effectively
• Proven adaptability and problem-solving abilities
• Resilient organization and time management skills
• Excellent customer service and client relations

Industry-Specific Skills: (Tailor according to the job role)

• Experience with CRM software, such as Salesforce
• Knowledge of digital marketing tools, such as Google Analytics, for marketing jobs
• Familiarity with editing software, such as Final Cut Pro
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and SketchUp

Hard skills vs. soft skills

Skills are typically categorized into two different types: soft and hard. Both categories encompass the broad range of technical or social abilities that are relevant to a working environment.

Soft Skills

Soft skills are capabilities that are eithernaturally present in peopleor are developed over time through relations and experience, but hey can also be learned. As stated by MIT Management, thereturn on soft skill trainingis roughly 250%. Don’t hesitate to get training if you need it. The payback is well worth it.

Also known as social skills, these abilities are considered personal attributes which are positive for jobseekers to bring to a professional situation.

Think of your character and choose some of your best personal traits. Consider how these attributes have either helped you to achieve something or have benefited your career in some way.

• Are you a people person?
• Have colleagues or friends described you as having great social skills?
• Are you able to mediate conflict or conversations between groups?
• Are you a natural-born leader?

Soft skills are advantageous in a wide variety of professions regardless of the industry or level of position.

Now that you have an idea of how important soft skills are, follow andstudy professionals in your desired industryto pinpoint skills they possess, or check out a similar job posting and take note of the desired or emphasized soft skills mentioned in the ad.

How to Identify Soft Skills

Soft skills are ofteninherent or cultivated over timeand experiences. They are yourinterpersonal skills, your ability to lead, adapt, cooperate, and communicate well with others.

To identify these, introspect about times you’ve found success in team projects, received praise for your communication skills, or leaned on your organization abilities to sail through a challenge. All these situations imply invaluable soft skills.

Hard Skills

Hard skills refer tomore technical, accumulative abilities specific to certain positions or industries. These skills are tangible and usually developed through studies, courses, or on-the-job experience. Hard skills can be qualified (or proven) via a certificate, diploma, or demonstration.

Good examples of hard skills for your resume are IT skills or the ability to speak a foreign language. Think about what skills are needed to do your job effectively and your level of proficiency for each.

• Do you have any specific computing abilities?
• Can you create a project budget or write up bidding contracts?
• Are you bilingual or proficient in a second language?

Hard skills can be quantified by your level of expertise in the subject or years of experience using a certain technique or program. It is important to use a common,general range for measuringyour level that all employers understand such asbasic,intermediate, oradvanced.

Make your resume stand out by using anonline resume builderto help you with the skills section of your resume.

How to Identify Hard Skills

They are the skills you’ve acquired andsharpened through formal education,professional courses, or on-the-job experiences.

Have proficiency in a foreign language? Can you code fluently in Java or Python? Are you skilled in using Photoshop or Excel? Each of these denotes a hard skill— concrete, demonstrable, and indispensable.

Reflect on your education, past jobs, and certifications to identify these skills.

The Importance of Balance Between Hard and Soft Skills

When it comes to skills for a resume, achieving a fine balance between hard and soft skills is crucial.

In the vast professional landscape, we find that technical proficiency (hard skills) works in harmony with interpersonal aptitude (soft skills) to paint the mostholistic picture of an individual. This magical combination of know-how and know-when ensures you bring value to any role, blending technical mastery with social savvyness.

Personal Skills Vs Professional Skills

Personal skills are also referred to as “soft skills. As mentioned previously, these are generally innate or acquired through one’s experiences and include abilities such as problem-solving, adaptability, and interpersonal communication.

These skills are critical for successful interactions on a day-to-day basis, regardless of the specific professional context. They provide the groundwork for effective team collaboration in the workplace.

On the other hand,professional skills, often called “hard skills”,are more industry-specific and job-related. These skills are usually developed through formal training, education, and on-the-job experience.

As long as they’re relevant and can beproven using real-life examples, most skills can be consideredwork-related skills.

On a different note,a LinkedIn survey showsthatnearly 80% of employers search for mostly personal skillsover more technicalprofessionalskills.This is especially important onstudent resumesandentry-level resumesand includes such skills asleadershipand theability to work in a team.

The reason for this is that many applicants are likely to have the same professional skills if they’re applying for the same job and coming from similar academic or career backgrounds.

How to Present Your Skills Effectively

The skills section of a resume is more than just a list— It’s a snapshot of your talents. Presenting it effectively requires thought, precision, and a sprinkle of strategy.

Essentially, the key is toemphasize relevance. This begins with a keen study of the job description. It’s there where you’ll find a dictionary of keywords that should resonate through your skills section.

The idea is not to echo these skills verbatim but tofilter them through your own experiences and proficiency. Each skill should reflect a facet of the job role.

The more precise your skills are, the more they resonate with employers.

How Many Skills Should I Include on My Resume?

Finding the perfect balance is key. Too few skills could appear unimpressive, while an abundance of skills might overwhelm the recruiter.

The objective is to feature your most relevant skills tailored to the job you’re targeting. For most job seekers,listing 10-15 skills is generally adequate.

Where to List Skills on Your Resume

Listing skills on your resume strategically grants potential employers insight into your assets at the right time.

Placing the skills section after the resume summary or objective andbefore the work experience sectionis deemed effective. This placement ensures employers can swiftly acknowledge your skills at a glance.

If you’re just embarking on your career journey or transitioning industries, including the skills section before your work experience may emphasize your relevant skill set and also diminish the focus on the lack of directly related experience.

In addition to a dedicated skills section, weaving in your skills alongside your experiences or achievements can accentuate the practical application of these abilities.

The key is not to merely list your skills in a dedicated section but tosubstantiate them through real-life examples and scenariosthroughout your experience section and professional objective or summary.

Skills for Different Job Roles

First and foremost, start bycarefully studying the job description. Chase the keywords you find there and modify your skills section to resonate with the job.

For instance, if you’re applying for a graphic design role, emphasize your proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and layout design, alongside soft skills like attention to detail and effective communication.

The secret ingredient to making your skills section shine when addressing different job roles isspecificity and relevance. For every job you apply to, let your skills section speak the language of the role, echoing its unique keywords and requirements.

What Not To Do When Writing Skills For Your Resume

Certain pitfalls must be dodged to present a stellar skills profile:

• Avoid vagueness and ambiguity: The skills section of your resume is no place for generalities or undecipherable jargon. For instance, don’t state you’re ‘good with computers.’ Specify if this means you’re proficient in a particular software or IT concept.
• Don’t present an exhaustive list of skills: Ensure the skills you list are pertinent to the job description. Keep the list concise and focused, preventing it from becoming a bloated endorsem*nt of every single skill you’ve ever acquired.
• Keep a balance between hard skills and soft skills: While hard skills demonstrate your technical prowess, soft skills are often the deciding factor for recruiters. It’s crucial not to neglect either.

70+ example skills to add to your resume

It is important to include a range of abilities into your resume that encompass general skills as well job-specific skills or sector-specific skills.

The following is a list of skills that are general and transferable. Use this list as inspiration to write your own skills section, but be sure to tailor your list according to your career goals and your professional experience.

IT skills or computer-based program knowledge are highly favorable among employers today and they should be listed prominently in your resume.Examples of technical skills to include on your resume are:

• Microsoft Office
• PowerPoint
• Access
• QuickBooks
• Photoshop
• Social media management software
• Graphic design software
• iOS / Android
• AutoCAD
• Java
• CMS
• CSS
• Google Drive
• HTML
• MySQL
• Ruby
• PHP
• UI/UX

Also, any languages you speak, write, and read are an essential aspect to include in your resume skills section. Remember, to indicate the level or any qualifications you have to support your claim of a second language.

You can use theResumeCoachonline resume maker to optimize your resume and tailor it for each vacancy using examples of job-specific and general skills, as well as advice on how to complete each resume section according to your background and experience.

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