Resume writing
How to List Skills on a Resume (With Examples)
Updated · 6 min read · By the CareerDesks team
A skills section helps recruiters and search filters spot your fit quickly. But a long list of buzzwords proves nothing. The best resumes list a focused set of relevant skills and then show them in action.
Hard skills vs soft skills
- Hard skills are teachable and measurable: languages, software, tools, methods, certifications. Examples: SQL, Figma, financial modelling, Spanish (fluent).
- Soft skills are how you work: communication, leadership, problem solving. They are more convincing inside bullet points than in a list.
How to choose which skills to list
- Copy the job description into a document and highlight every skill, tool, and qualification.
- Mark the ones you genuinely have and could discuss in an interview.
- Order them by how prominently the job mentions them.
- Keep the list to roughly 8 to 15 items, grouped by type.
Data: SQL, Python (pandas), Excel (Power Query), Tableau
Methods: A/B testing, cohort analysis, forecasting
Languages: English (native), French (professional)
Prove your skills in your experience
Every important skill should appear at least once in context. Instead of listing "leadership", write "Led a team of six analysts through a reporting migration completed two weeks early".
Tip: Skip skill bars and star ratings. They are hard to interpret and screening software cannot read them. Use plain words such as "fluent" or "advanced" if you need a level.
Skills employers ask for often
- Data literacy and spreadsheet skills
- Understanding how AI is changing your field (follow the latest AI news)
- Project and stakeholder management
- Written communication
- Customer focus
- Industry-specific software and certifications
Frequently asked questions
How many skills should I put on my resume?
About 8 to 15 relevant skills, grouped by type. Fewer, stronger skills beat a long generic list.
Where should the skills section go?
Usually after experience. Career changers and technical candidates often place it just below the summary.
Related guides
- How to Make an ATS-Friendly ResumeApplicant tracking systems read and sort resumes before people do. Learn how they work and the formatting and keyword rules that keep your resume readable.
- How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job DescriptionA repeatable 15-minute routine to tailor your resume for each job: find the key requirements, match your experience honestly, and save a version per application.
- How to Write a Resume: A Step-by-Step GuideLearn how to write a resume that gets interviews: what to include, how to order sections, how to write bullet points, and how to format it for any job.