In this article

  1. What kind of skills should you list?
  2. How to choose the right skills
  3. How many skills should you include?
  4. Where to put skills on your resume
  5. How to phrase your skills
  6. Skills section examples by role
  7. Mistakes to avoid

What kind of skills should you list?

A strong resume skills section contains two types of skills working together: hard skills (specific technical abilities) and soft skills (interpersonal traits). Most roles need both, though the balance shifts depending on the position.

  • Hard skills: Software, tools, languages, certifications, methodologies — things you can demonstrate or prove (Excel, Python, OSHA 30, Google Analytics, CPR)
  • Soft skills: Communication, leadership, adaptability, critical thinking — traits that determine how you work with others

The key principle: only list skills you genuinely have and can discuss confidently in an interview. Padding your skills section with things you barely know is a common mistake that backfires fast.

How to choose the right skills

The most effective approach is to match your skills to the specific job posting. Here's how:

1
Read the job description carefully

Highlight every skill, tool, qualification, and attribute mentioned in both the requirements and responsibilities sections.

2
Match what you have

From your highlighted list, identify every skill you genuinely possess. These are your priority inclusions — the exact language employers and ATS systems are looking for.

3
Add relevant extras

Skills you have that weren't mentioned but are closely related to the role. These show breadth without padding.

4
Use the Skills Matcher

Paste the job description into our Skills Matcher to automatically identify which skills from our database appear in that specific posting.

How many skills should you include?

Most resume experts recommend 8–15 skills in the dedicated skills section. Fewer than 8 looks sparse; more than 15 starts to look like a keyword dump rather than a genuine skill set.

The right number also depends on your experience level:

  • Entry-level / student: 6–10 skills (focus on software, transferable skills, academic tools)
  • Mid-career: 10–15 skills (balance of technical tools and demonstrated soft skills)
  • Senior / executive: 8–12 skills (fewer but stronger — leadership, strategic, high-value technical)

Where to put skills on your resume

Skills appear in two places on a well-structured resume:

1. A dedicated Skills section

Usually placed after your summary and before or after work experience (depending on experience level). This is where ATS systems scan most aggressively for keywords.

2. Woven into your Experience bullet points

This is where skills become credible — because you're showing them in action. "Advanced Excel" in a skills section is fine; "Built automated forecasting model in Excel that reduced monthly reporting time by 6 hours" in an experience bullet is far more compelling.

Recommended resume structure
  • Contact Information
  • Professional Summary
  • Skills (keyword-rich, scannable)
  • Work Experience (skills evidenced through bullets)
  • Education
  • Certifications (optional)

How to phrase your skills

The exact wording of your skills matters more than most people realise. ATS systems match keywords literally — "MS Excel" and "Microsoft Excel" may both pass, but obscure abbreviations might not.

  • Use the same terminology as the job posting where possible
  • Be specific: "Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Power Query)" beats just "Excel"
  • Don't rate yourself with stars or percentages — they add no information
  • Group related skills: "CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive" is cleaner than three separate bullets

Skills section examples by role

Marketing Manager

Skills section

Digital Marketing: SEO, Google Analytics 4, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, HubSpot
Content: Copywriting, Content Strategy, Email Marketing (Mailchimp, Klaviyo)
Analytics: A/B Testing, Conversion Optimisation, Data Studio
Soft Skills: Project Management, Stakeholder Communication, Team Leadership

Software Developer

Skills section

Languages: Python, JavaScript (TypeScript), SQL
Frameworks: React, Node.js, FastAPI
Infrastructure: AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions
Practices: Agile/Scrum, TDD, Code Review, REST APIs

Registered Nurse

Skills section

Clinical: IV Insertion, Phlebotomy, Wound Care, Medication Administration, BLS/ACLS
Systems: Epic EMR, Cerner, CPOE, HIPAA Compliance
Specialisation: ICU, Cardiac Monitoring, Triage, Discharge Planning
Soft Skills: Patient Advocacy, Empathy, Critical Thinking, Team Collaboration

Recent Graduate (No Experience)

Skills section

Software: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Excel (Pivot Tables), Canva
Research: Data Analysis, Report Writing, Literature Review, Statistical Analysis (SPSS)
Interpersonal: Teamwork, Communication, Time Management, Event Organisation

Mistakes to avoid

  • Listing skills you can't back up — If you put it on your resume, be ready to discuss it in detail at interview
  • Using rating systems (4/5 stars, "intermediate") — vague and easy to dismiss
  • Listing obvious basics for senior roles — "Microsoft Word" on a director's resume looks thin
  • One giant list with no grouping — hard to read and easy for recruiters to skim past
  • Not tailoring to the job — generic skills lists miss the keywords ATS is actually scanning for
  • Forgetting certifications — if you're certified (AWS, PMP, CPA), make sure it's visible in both Skills and a Certifications section

Ready to find your skills?

Browse 42 skill pages or paste your job description into the Skills Matcher.