Choose the Best Skills for Your Resume: Expert Tips and Examples

Selecting the best skills to put on a resume can make the difference between being noticed and overlooked by hiring managers. 

This guide will help you navigate the process, identify the most in-demand skills for your resume, and effectively showcase your strengths to stand out in today’s competitive job market. 

There are so many skills that you can mention on your resume. When you are looking at the list of skills for your specific profession and role, you will need to make sure that you choose the right blend of soft and hard skills, along with technical skills and even the specific skills for your profession.

The importance of professional skills on your resume is much greater than what you might have imagined because the skills section of your resume will contain a list of skills, and that simple list alone will make all the difference for you. This means you need to choose all the proper relevant skills, professional skills, and essential skills for the skills section of your resume. 

There are various categories of skills required for different professions. While some jobs may only demand expertise in a single category, most roles require a combination of multiple skill types. These categories include:

• Communication Skills
• Technical Skills
• Soft Skills
• Hard Skills
• Professional Skills for Design
• Analytical Skills
• Transferable Skills
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Each of these skills contributes to the versatility and effectiveness of individuals in their respective fields.

Understanding these categories can help you with the decision of how many skills you need to pick and from which categories. The simple list of skills to mention in your resume can make a big difference because it will be a brief reflection and evidence of your capabilities and competency. Let's learn more in detail. 

How Many Skills Should You Include on Your Resume?

There is no set number of skills one should mention on the resume. However, there should be a couple of them in case your resume is small, and it should be a manageable list when your resume is covered with your experiences.

Therefore, given that there is no ideal number, it should be around four to six. These four to six should be the core skills that you have developed through your experiences and hard work.

For example, if you are skilled in project management and are a fresher entering the industry, consider including experiences such as managing university festivals, leading club projects, or organizing events. These types of activities can help corroborate your skills and show evidence of your abilities.

If you’re looking to enter a consultancy role, project management itself can be a core skill. To make this stand out, demonstrate in your resume how you’ve managed projects, communicated effectively, and delivered successful outcomes in your past experiences.

You should always focus on quality over quantity for skills. However, there are a few pieces to keep in mind.

The relevance to the job matters.

Here, we talk about your catering or making a custom list of skills based on the job you are applying for. You should research the position you are applying for on various social media websites like LinkedIn or Glassdoor to understand the kinds of skills people have developed or are gaining while on the job. 

The list here might contain between four and seven items. The list might depend on, extend, or be shortened based on the nature of the job you are applying for.

The skills should be relevant to the core competencies.

Core skills for the job you are applying for. For example you are applying for the position of a business analyst, then you should have the core competency of Microsoft Excel, and if you are a proficient business analyst looking for a bump to the next level, then Microsoft Power BI.

You should always segregate your soft skills and hard skills from the list itself.

For example, your soft skills are communication, team building, and leadership and your hard skills are your technical abilities, i.e., excel.

While you are mentioning your skills you should always show your progression.

This means that, for example, for the role of business analyst, if you are listing Excel as a complex skill, you should show at what level you are, i.e., beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc. This allows the recruiter or the hiring manager to know what growth potential you have and what you are. This can help determine how many skills you want to include on your resume.

The skills you mention should be keywords that can be used to pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

The system can catch on to your keyword relevant to the job you are applying to, thus the research you do is essential.

Now that we’ve covered how many skills to include let’s dive into the types of skills that deserve your focus.

Best Job Skills to Put on Your Resume

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Types of Skills for a Standout Resume
Highlighting the right skills on your resume can grab the attention of hiring managers. Below are key skill categories:

Soft skills on your resume

Soft skills are not technical or intangible and enhance your personality in the work or personal environment. They include

• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Conflict resolution
• Creativity
• Emotional intelligence
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Critical thinking
• Interpersonal skills
• Collaboration
• Active listening
• Empathy
• Persuasion
• Stress management
• Attention to detail
• Strategic thinking
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Hard skills on your resume

Hard skills are those that are more technical and can be tangible in the work you do.

• Excel
• Power BI
• Python
• JavaScript
• HTML/CSS
• CAD software
• SQL
• Tableau
• Financial modeling
• CRM software (e.g., Salesforce)
• Agile methodologies
• Data analysis
• Machine learning
• SEO optimization
• Video editing software
• Graphic design tools (e.g., Adobe Photoshop)
• Project scheduling tools (e.g., MS Project)
• Network troubleshooting
• Mobile app development
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Technical skills on your resume

Technical skills come under the purview of hard skills. As mentioned above, they could be the skills required without which you may not even get the job. For example:

• Database management (SQL, MongoDB)
• Coding in Python, Java, C++
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)
• Google Cloud Platform
• Version control (Git, GitHub)
• Network security protocols
• API integration
• Cybersecurity measures
• Linux administration
• Web development frameworks (React, Angular)
• Mobile app development (Swift, Kotlin)
• CRM tools (HubSpot, Zendesk)
• System analysis
• Hardware configuration
• Load balancing
• Big data analysis
• Robotics process automation (RPA)
• Artificial intelligence algorithms
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Interpersonal skills on your resume

Interpersonal skills are soft skills but are very important. The word means how you can behave around people and how you interact with them. This refers to the emotional bandwidth or the emotional intelligence you carry and how you can tackle problems that involve conflict and confrontation. Examples of interpersonal skills

• Active listening
• Empathy
• Collaboration
• Mediation
• Negotiation
• Rapport building
• Mentoring
• Conflict management
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Communication skills on your resume

Communication skills come under the purview of soft skills. The word itself is used so commonly, but without it, we would not be able to express anything. Therefore, it is an important skill, and if you have it, you should be prepared with examples that you can elaborate on to the recruiter or the hiring manager. There should be an apparent problem that is solved using communication, which was done efficiently and effectively. 

• Public speaking
• Report writing
• Active listening
• Presentation skills
• Non-verbal communication
• Feedback delivery
• Cross-cultural communication
• Consensus building
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Customer service skills on your resume

Customer service also falls under soft skills, but it is an important skill to have, like communication skills. The skill involves dealing with clients and customers, communicating their needs to the proper parties, listening to them, and conveying your messages to them in a manner that allows them to understand without being taken aback neutrally. Examples:

• Client relationship building
• Issue resolution
• Active listening
• CRM software proficiency
• Upselling techniques
• Effective communication
• Conflict de-escalation
• Customer feedback management
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Leadership skills on your resume

Leadership is a very broad term and also falls under the soft skill gambit. Leadership skills are a collation of multiple other soft skills:

• Strategic planning
• Decision-making
• Delegation
• Team motivation
• Crisis management
• Goal setting
• Innovation driving
• Performance monitoring
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Project management skills on your resume

Project management skills are important, regardless of what you do or where you go. The skill is the ability of the individual to plan, implement, and monitor the various tasks of a project. The skills require meticulous planning and noting the possible scenarios depending on the project, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, and then adapting to the changing requirements of the project.

• Task planning
• Risk management
• Budgeting
• Stakeholder coordination
• Timeline creation
• Resource allocation
• Deliverable tracking
• Adaptability in dynamic scenarios
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Problem-solving skills on your resume

Problem-solving skills are also soft skills, and as previously mentioned, they can also be sub-skills under leadership as well. However, problem-solving is a crucial skill in all professions. It shows the recruiter that you are a capable individual who can deal well under pressure, use analytical skills to identify problems, and implement solutions. Some of the problem-solving skills:

• Analytical thinking
• Creative problem-solving
• Root cause analysis
• Decision-making
• Process optimization
• Logical reasoning
• Contingency planning
• Troubleshooting
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Design skills on your resume

Design skills are also soft skills but can also be called hard skills, as tools might be involved. It requires the individual to create art appealing to one, some, or all senses. These skills are critical to graphic designers, web designers, architects, interior designers, etc.

• Graphic design
• Web design
• Interior design
• UX/UI design
• CAD modeling
• Branding
• Illustration
• Animation
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Beyond these core categories, there are additional skills that can further strengthen your resume. Let’s explore these options.

Additional skills in your professional skills section

There can be any number of additional skills you can have on your resume; there is no shortage of these in the world, and as we progress, new skills are being created as well. However, the additional skills you want to include on your resume should be relevant to the field you are entering. Examples:

• Multilingual proficiency
• Training development
• Event coordination
• Market research
• Compliance knowledge
• Negotiation
• Content writing
• Editing
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Relevant skills on your resume

Common relevant skills on your resume will include a mix of soft and hard skills, a mix of personal and professional skills, and technical and leadership skills. The relevancy of the skills will be based on the job you are applying for, the nature of the position, background, and experience. Keeping all of this in mind, create a list.

Why Skill Categories Are Essential for Your Resume

A skills category in any resume is crucial because it allows recruiters and hiring managers to quickly understand your capabilities and the experience that supports them. Your skills reflect your professional identity and indicate your ability to perform in a specific role. Additionally, they help hiring managers assess whether you align with the job description and expectations outlined in the posting.

When choosing skills for your resume, avoid listing only soft skills or only hard skills. A one-sided focus can give the wrong impression about your versatility as a professional. Instead, aim for a balanced blend of hard skills, soft skills, and other specific abilities relevant to your role and profession.

Professional skills amalgamate hard skills (like technical expertise), soft skills (such as communication and leadership), and job-specific competencies. Together, these skills are essential for excelling in your job and fulfilling expectations professionally. Including this balanced mix ensures you present yourself as a well-rounded candidate to hiring managers, supervisors, and decision-makers.

The skills section is where you will list skills that will not be more than 5 or 7 in number. This means your ability to reflect your capabilities in the skills section will be limited. This is why you should always include your professional skills in other sections, such as the resume summary, professional experience, education section, and even extra sections—in addition to the skills section on your resume.

In other sections of your resume, you should try to include as many relevant skills as possible so that the hiring managers get the correct and accurate idea of your capabilities. 

So when you are picking skills to list in the skills section, you should choose the most important skills that are inclusive of hard and soft skills and other specific skills for your role. But in the other sections, you can change things up a bit.

The resume summary section should include your most important skills that are also top skills in terms of relevancy and value. It will be the section that ensures that the hiring managers' attention is grabbed and then sustained for the rest of your resume.

The experience section of your resume should highlight various skills through specific instances and scenarios. These examples should showcase how your skills were critical in achieving success and meeting the expectations of your superiors, as well as contributing to the overall goals of the company or organization.

You can incorporate both hard and soft skills in this section. For example, include technical expertise like proficiency in software or tools alongside interpersonal abilities such as teamwork or leadership.

Since the experience section includes job descriptions from past roles, it provides ample opportunities to contextualize your skills. By linking skills to tangible results or key responsibilities, you can effectively demonstrate your professional value and relevance to the position.

You can also mention the skills in the education section because, while acquiring theoretical knowledge, chances are you also learned a few soft skills in addition to particular skills for the particular job and profession/industry. You can also include your hard and soft skills in the education section because it is possible and viable to have soft skills while still going through the educational journey.

How to Choose Good Skills to Put on a Resume

As previously mentioned and explained throughout this article, there is no one way to choose the skills for your resume. 

Follow these steps to choose the best skills for your resume:

While you are trying to choose the relevant skills for your resume, you should always do the right research. 

• Firstly, go through the job description provided to you by the recruiter or the company you are applying to thoroughly. 
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• Secondly, use LinkedIn to find more job descriptions for the same job title to enhance your view of the role. 
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• Third, connect that with your background. If you have the same background but this is a promotion, or the same job, or a different job in the same field, starting new, etc., these scenarios need to be tested against the skills you will include. 
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Categorizing means that you need to put them into soft skills and hard skills. 

• Include both hard and soft skills, and several other types of skills that fall under these two categories. 
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• Once you know what skills you want to include, put them into separate boxes based on your qualifications, experiences, and the nature of the job. 
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If it is a management job, then you need to emphasize more soft skills than hard skills; if it is a coding or finance role, then you need to emphasize more hard skills.

Prioritizing is equally important as finding the skills and categorizing them. 

• Once you know the list of skills with their progression levels defined, you should think about what should come first and then the chronological order of the remaining skills. 
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• The job and its nature will help you there.
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•  If the role is more technical, then your hard skills should come before soft skills; 
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• If it is a management role, then you should place your soft skills ahead of your hard skills. 
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• Be very careful; these details might not seem huge, but if missed, you miss your chance of creating the slight impact that even the placement of skills can have. 
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The hiring manager will want to know more about your soft skills than your hard skills if you're applying for the role of CEO.

Quantifying your skill does not mean elaborating on your skill in that particular space.

• When you are writing your experience section, you need to elaborate on your skills, your achievements, and any numerical metrics associated with them, if any, to corroborate your abilities. 
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• This enhances your resume tenfold since the hiring manager can consider you a more reliable candidate. 
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• This also adds value to your resume since you are trying to show that you have done this much work or achieved this much by actually giving it value. 
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• Always keep in mind that you can back up that number with evidence.‍
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It is very important to clear the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The keywords are also the skills. These keywords will be picked up by the system, and then your resume can get noticed. You can also use these keywords in your other sections. 

It is very important to customize your resume according to the job you are applying for. You may have a broad list of skills, but you need to customize it according to the role and the company you are applying to. If you are applying to multiple places, you need to customize the keywords and the skills according to the company and their job description; this gives your resume a personal touch.

Skills are an essential part of creating your resume. You need to know what categories can go inside and make a broader list of these skills for your resume; then, you need to customize it as per the application. 

You should always look at your resume from the perspective of the recruiter or the hiring manager. That way, you can recognize the strategic approach to choose which category will go well with your resume and then which skills under it will go with your resume.

You are now ready to write your resume! Good luck!