Skills to Put on a Resume (With Examples)
Updated October 2026 · Best Resume Studio
The skills section helps both recruiters and ATS software see quickly whether you fit the job. Choose skills that are true, relevant and specific.
Hard skills vs. soft skills
Hard skills are teachable and measurable: software, tools, languages, certifications and methods (e.g., SQL, QuickBooks, Spanish, Six Sigma). Soft skills are how you work: communication, leadership, problem solving. List hard skills in the skills section and prove soft skills in your bullet points.
How to pick the right skills
- Highlight the skills mentioned in the job description.
- Keep the ones you genuinely have.
- Add 2–3 related tools or methods you use often.
- Group them (e.g., Tools, Languages, Methods) if you have many.
Skip the skill bars
Percent bars and star ratings look nice but don't tell a recruiter much, and an ATS can't read them. A plain list is clearer. In Best Resume Studio you can switch skills between a plain list and levels.
Examples by field
- Technology: Python, Java, AWS, Kubernetes, SQL, CI/CD
- Healthcare: Patient assessment, Epic, BLS/ACLS, care planning
- Business: Financial modeling, Excel, stakeholder management, roadmapping
- Sales: Salesforce, prospecting, negotiation, pipeline management
- Operations: Lean, inventory control, scheduling, vendor management
Find more job-specific lists in our resume examples.