Not sure which skills to put on resume? Here are the hard and soft skills recruiters look for, plus how to list them the right way.
Skills to Put on Resume: What Recruiters Actually Want to See
The most suitable skills to include in a resume are those that fit the job description and are backed by experience. For the majority of people, this will be 6 to 10 hard skills and 3 to 4 soft skills, which should be mentioned where the recruiter can quickly find them.
Recruiters take very little time when reviewing resumes. The skills section will be one of the first things they look at, so it should be well-prepared.
What Counts as a Skill on a Resume?
A skill is any ability that a person has and can be proven. There are two types of skills.
Hard skills are teachable and measurable. Some of the examples are working with Excel, programming, managing paid advertising campaigns. Soft skills describe the ability of a candidate to cooperate with others and manage challenges, for instance, communication and time-management skills.
Both types of skills are important, yet hard skills will help you pass the initial screening.
Best Hard Skills to Put on a Resume
Choose the right skills for your industry. Here is a list of good ones to consider:
Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets
Data analysis and reporting
Project management platforms such as Trello, Asana, Jira
Social media management
SEO and content writing
Graphic design (Canva, Photoshop)
CRM software (HubSpot, Salesforce)
Best Soft Skills to Put on Resume
The following soft skills are constantly asked by employers:
Excellent writing and oral communication
Problem-solving
Time management
Working as part of a team
Adaptability
Leadership
How to Choose the Right Skills for Your Resume
Read through the job offer. Highlight all the skills and tools mentioned there.
Be honest. Include the ones you have and remove the rest.
Use the same terminology. The employer said “content marketing,” do not say “blogging.” There are many companies who use software to scan for specific words.
Start with the most important. Put the skills required for that position upfront.
Prove a couple. Repeat the skills in your job description.
It will take you no more than ten minutes per application, and this is why customized resumes get more calls back.
Where to Place Skills on Your Resume
Here are your three perfect places to add skills:
Skills section – typically found right after the summary or at the bottom of your resume (if you are an experienced candidate)
Summary section – here you can name
Skills You Should Leave Off
Here are some skills that just eat up space:
Old skills like “Microsoft Word” for the vast majority of office work, because everyone expects it.
Wording such as “hard worker” or “team player,” which isn’t backed by anything
Skills that cannot be brought up during interviews
Anything that isn’t relevant to the position
If you can’t talk about something during an interview, it doesn’t belong in your resume.
FAQs
1. How many skills should I put on a resume?
Aim for 6 to 10 relevant skills, so the section stays focused and easy to scan.
2. What are the best skills to put on a resume with no experience?
Communication, teamwork, time management, basic computer skills, and any tools you learned in school or courses.
3. Should I list soft skills on my resume?
Yes, but keep them to 3 or 4 and support them with examples in your experience section.
4. Where do skills go on a resume?
Place them in a dedicated skills section below your summary, and repeat key ones in your job bullets.
5. What skills should I not put on my resume?
Skip vague phrases, outdated or obvious skills, and anything you can’t confidently talk about in an interview.