101 Essential Skills to Put on a Resume in 2024 [For Most Jobs]

19 June
24 min read
Background Image

Skills make a huge chunk of a potential employer’s decision to hire you.

You might think this section of your resume is easy - you just list your skills and you’re good to go.

But listing your skills the right way is a bit trickier.

How do you know if you’re mentioning the necessary skills for the job or if you’re just giving the hiring manager irrelevant information?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, we’re going to walk you through the process of putting skills on your resume from start to finish.

You’re going to learn:

  • What Are the Different Types of Skills?
  • Why Should You List Your Skills on Your Resume?
  • How to List Skills on a Resume
  • 12 Best Skills to Put on Any Resume
  • 400+ Skills to Put on a Resume for Different Professions

Let’s dive in!

What Are the Different Types of Skills?

Skills are the various abilities and attributes that you bring to the table when you’re applying for a job.

Your skills can be your ability to do a specific task or solve a problem with some level of proficiency, and they’re typically divided into hard skills and soft skills.

If you want tocreate an effective resumethat catches the hiring manager’s attention, you need to mention both hard and soft skills.

Let’s break down what each means:

Hard Skills

Hard skills involve the technical knowledge or know-how one can gain through experience, training, or education.

While hard skills are essential for completing tasks in just about any job, they’re also teachable and easily measurable.

For example:

  • Machinery skills.Some fields require operating specialized machinery or equipment. (E.g., operating a road roller, pallet-stalker, forklift, or others.)
  • Software skills.Depending on the field, you need to know how to use different software, such as the Adobe Creative Suite for designers or the Ableton Live Suite if you’re a DJ.
  • Tools.If you’re adigital marketer, you’ll need to know how to use tools like Stethoscope, Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.
  • Languages.Being able to communicate in more than one language is an extremely useful skill. The more customers or teams you can communicate with, the more valuable you are as an employee. Some of the most sought-after languages today include German, Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic.
  • Computer skills.Most jobs will require that you have at least some basic computer knowledge in MS Office and G-Suite, emailing, and presentations. If you’re aweb developer, your hard skills will likely include more specialized software knowledge or proficiency in coding languages such as Python, C++, or PHP.
  • Techniques.Different specialized techniques you’ve learned can be listed as individual skills. (E.g.: frequency analysis, crystallization, gamification, or even CPR and first aid.)
  • Mathematics.A lot of professions, such as accounting and finance, require mathematical skills. If you’re applying for a position in a field that uses advanced mathematics, such as aresearch assistant, you should be more specific with the types of mathematical skills you have. (E.g.: statistics, trigonometry, calculus, algebra, etc.)
  • Data analysis.Businesses are always looking for professionals who can gather and analyze data for various stakeholders and help make strategic decisions, making different types of data analysis a very in-demand hard skill.

…so, just about any field-specific skill is a hard skill you can list on your resume.

Soft Skills

The attributes and habits that describe how you work individually or with others are known assoft skills.

Generally speaking, soft skills aren’t job-specific, so they’retransferable skillsthat indirectly help you adapt to the work environment and company culture.

Some examples of the most in-demand soft skills include:

  1. Time management
  2. Communication
  3. Adaptability
  4. Problem-solving
  5. Teamwork
  6. Creativity
  7. Leadership
  8. Interpersonal skills
  9. Work ethic
  10. Attention to detail
  11. Emotional intelligence
  12. Conflict resolution
  13. Stress management
  14. Critical thinking
  15. Organization
  16. Openness

Soft skills are essential for just about any job out there.

While some soft skills can be critical to doing your job well, such as communication with acustomer support representative, others ensure that you get along with your coworkers and foster a positive work environment.

Like hard skills, you can also learn how to develop soft skills, but it’s significantly harder.

While you can acquire computer skills through a technical course, you’ll need to put in a lot more effort to develop your communication skills.

For example, you would need topractice active listeningin the workplace, learn how to notice nonverbal cues and practice your oral communication skills as much as possible to improve.

What’s the Difference Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills?

There are three main differences between hard skills and soft skills.

  1. How you obtain them.You can obtain hard skills throughwork experience, education, training, and certifications. Soft skills, on the other hand, can be gained through life experience, both in and out of work.
  2. How you use them.While you apply hard skills directly to the job, soft skills usually come into play indirectly and may often complement your hard skills. For example, you may be a communicative marketer or anoffice managerwith great leadership qualities.
  3. How you list them.Hard skills and soft skills should be listed separately on your resume, but unlike soft skills, hard skills can include your level of proficiency. You can say you’re an advanced user of Adobe Photoshop, but you can’t measure how creative you are in the same way.

When it comes to your employability, both sets of skills are crucial for your resume.

If a hiring manager is on the fence about two candidates with the same hard skills, it’s the soft skills that are going to tip the scales in someone’s favor.

Why Should You List Skills on Your Resume?

The skills section is one of the twomost important resume sections, with the other being your work experience.

In fact,41% of hiring managers notice skillson your resume first.

Let’s look at an example of a well-written skill section:

At first glance, listing some skills on your resume looks easy.

In reality, though, putting skills on your resumethe right wayis a bit more nuanced than that, and here’s why:

Most companies nowadays use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to help them go through the hundreds and thousands of resumes they receive every day.

This software scans yourresume for keywordsrelevant to the job you’re applying for, and if it doesn’t find them, the ATS automatically rejects your resume.

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a job as asoftware engineer, and the job requires an expert level of proficiency in Javascript.

If you focus on other programming languages and don’t mention Java as a skill on your resume, the ATS will probably discard it immediately.

Resume statistics show that nearly 75% of resumes are rejected at this first screening stage, and they nevermake it to a hiring manager.

But let’s assume the company doesn’t use an ATS, and your resume ends up on a hiring manager’s desk.

There’s a good chance the hiring manager is only going toskim through your resume in less than six seconds, looking for the right set of skills.

So, regardless of whether you’ll need to breeze past the ATS or the hiring manager, you have to mention the right skills.

How to List Skills on a Resume (And Stand Out)

Now that you have a clear understanding of how important skills are, let’s talk about how you should list them on your resume.

We’ve divided the process into a step-by-step guide you can follow, starting with:

#1. Tailor Your Skills to the Job

The key to an effective skills section is making sure the skills you list are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as a backend developer, thecustomer service skillsyou gained working as a server during college don’t belong on your resume.

So, only list skills that are useful for the job you are applying for.

Start by thoroughly reading the job advertisement to find out what skills to include on your resume.

Job ads usually list a set of requirements or skills they expect from candidates. Take note of which skills and experiences you have, and remember to write them down on your resume.

Let’s look at an example of a job ad for a line cook position in a restaurant:

Job Description:

At Restaurant X, we are dedicated to delivering an exceptional dining experience that reflects the heart of French cuisine. We are currently seeking a skilled Line Cook to join our team for the summer season. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced, prestigious environment under the mentorship of our acclaimed chef.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Efficiently prep ingredients for service, ensuring high standards of quality and freshness.
  • Execute recipes to exact standards, contributing to the creation of signature dishes that delight our guests.
  • Maintain meticulous attention to detail in the plating and presentation of each dish.
  • Uphold the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen before, during, and after service.

Requirements:

  • Proven experience as a line cook in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
  • A passion for French cuisine and a strong desire to learn and grow within the culinary field.
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure.
  • Knowledge of best practices for food handling, safety, and sanitation.

From this job description, we can see that the restaurant is looking for someone who:

  • Is committed to excellence and is highly professional
  • Works well under supervision and as part of a team
  • Has experience working in a fast-paced kitchen environment
  • Pays great attention to detail when it comes to cooking and presentation

Based on this, some of the skills you should definitely mention in your resume include:

  • Culinary Expertise
  • Food Preparation
  • Knife Skills
  • Plating Techniques
  • Time Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Safety and Sanitation
  • Teamwork
  • Stress Management
  • Communication

Don’t mention skills that aren’t directly related to the job. For example, a line cook doesn’t need to list computer skills on their resume, even if those skills are relevant for most other jobs.

#2. Create a Skills Section

Once you’ve identified all the right skills to add to your resume, create a dedicated “Skills” section to list them under.

A dedicated section will help you pass the ATS, and it makes it easier for hiring managers to find the skills they’re looking for.

Here’s an example of what a skills section can look like on a resume:

We recommend keeping your resume skills section somewhere near the top of the page so that the hiring manager can see it quickly. Usually, they should go either next to or after the work experience section, depending onyour resume layout.

Next, here are a few tips you should keep in mind when listing your skills:

  • Be specific.“Verbal and written communication” sounds significantly better than just “communication.”
  • Sort your skills by relevance.Order your skills based on how crucial they are for the role. The more important skills should go at the top, and the nice-to-have ones should go after them.
  • Format skills accordingly.Not everyone has dozens of skills they can show off on their resume, and that’s okay. If you don’t have a lot of skills, you can list both your hard and soft skills in a single section, just like the example we used above.
  • Don’t lie or exaggerate.If you don’t have one of the required skills for the role or you’re not very experienced, just be honest. It goes without saying that you should never lie about what you can do. The employer will find out you lied eventually, your professional reputation will bear the consequences, and you could even lose your job.

#3. Match Each Skill With Your Proficiency Level

While some skills are hard to measure, others can be put on aproficiency scale.

We recommend only using a proficiency scale for some hard skills, such as specific tools or software programs. Soft skills are difficult to measure objectively, so there’s no point in putting them on a scale.

Here’s how to show your proficiency level:

  • Beginner.You are just starting to learn this skill, or you haven’t practiced the skill through experience. This usually applies tostudents with no experiencewho only understand concepts through theories or classroom experience.
  • Intermediate.You have applied this skill in practice, and you rarely need help with it, but you still have room to grow.
  • Advanced.At this level, you know your stuff. You don’t need help with this skill anymore, and you can teach beginners how to use it.
  • Expert.You’re a recognized authority when it comes to this skill, and you’re the go-to person if anyone has any questions.

#4. Back-Up Your Skills in Other Resume Sections

Only listing your skills in their dedicated section will get you so far. After all, everyone else is doing the exact same thing.

If you want to take your resume from good to great, you need your most critical skills to make an impression from the get-go.

This is where theresume headlineand work experience sections come in.

Resume Headline

Your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

Theresume summaryis a short, two to four-sentence-long paragraph that summarizes your resume. When done right, it shows the hiring manager your strongest selling points as a candidate right from the start.

Here’s an example in action:

But if you don’t have a lot of experience, you can use aresume objectiveinstead.

The resume objective is a two to three-sentence statement of your career intent that goes at the top of your resume. It can include a snapshot of your professional experience, skills, achievements, and professional goals.

Here’s what it looks like:

Both the resume summary and resume objective go at the top of your resume, either before or after yourcontact information section.

Regardless of which resume headline you go for, the goal of this section is to pique the hiring manager’s curiosity and make them want to read your whole resume. You should always add one or two of the most necessary skills from the job description here.

Work Experience

Once you’ve mentioned some of your top skills in your resume headline, you have to prove you actually have them.

The best way to do that is by listing someimpressive achievementsin your work experience section and explaining how your skills helped you.

Let’s look at what the work experience section could look like for thedata entry specialistfrom our resume summary example:

Work Experience Example:
  • Achieve a 99% accuracy rate, surpassing departmental accuracy goals by 15%.
  • Leveraged advanced organizational abilities to streamline data entry processes, reducing task completion times by 20%.
  • Employed superior communication and interpersonal skills to resolve 95% of customer inquiries on the first contact, earning an Employee of the Month award.
  • Managed and maintained a complex database of over 10,000 records, ensuring data integrity and accuracy through effective office management practices.

Hobbies and Interests

Another section where you can back up your skills is yourhobbies and interests section.

If you have leftover space on your resume, you can use this optional section to list a couple of hobbies or areas of interest that relate to your skills.

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a job as a writer, and the ad says you need to be creative, collaborative, and familiar with pop culture.

In that case, if one of your hobbies is playing a popular tabletop role-playing game with your friends, like Dungeons and Dragons, make sure to list it.

A hobby like that shows that you are genuinely creative, like writing for fun, and are capable of organizing with multiple people for a mutual goal.

#5. Put Transferable Skills to Use

If you’relooking for your first jobor if you’remaking a career change, transferable skills are something you should make use of.

Transferable skills are skills that aren’t directly related to the job you are applying for, but they’re still useful and likely relevant for most jobs.

For example, if you're writing acareer change resumeand you’re going from a role as asales associateto a copywriter, there are several transferable skills you can list on your resume.

Some of them include:

  • Written communication.Both roles involve communicating through text. A salesperson needs to send cold outreach emails, while a copywriter has to write newsletter emails.
  • Persuasion.A copywriter needs to create copy that drives sales, while a salesperson needs to be persuasive in person.
  • Computer skills.Both jobs require some degree of computer literacy. For a salesperson, that might mean using Customer Management Software, while for a copywriter, that’s publishing content online.

12 Best Skills to Put on Any Resume

Now that you know how to put skills on your resume, it’s time to talk about which skills you should add.

Every profession requires some role-specific hard skills. For example, aphotographerneeds to know how to use photo editing software like Photoshop.

But when it comes to soft skills, a lot of them are universal across different industries.

Soft skills are the skills that define your approach to work, how well you cooperate with others, and if you can fit into a company’s culture.

And while the right soft skills for a job may be harder to point out, they’re just as essential in today’s job market. In fact,93% of employers saythat soft skills play a critical role in the hiring decision.

There are very few, if any, jobs out there that don’t require at least some level ofcommunication skills.

So, let’s look at some of the most highly valued skills for any resume:

#1. Communication skills

Whether you’re a writer who needs to communicate a message to your readers, amarketing specialistwho needs to communicate an advertising campaign to your client, or an employee who needs to communicate with a coworker to complete a task, communication skills are vital.

Communication is a multi-faceted skill that includes several skills, such as:

  • Oral and written communication
  • Non-verbal communication
  • Active Listening
  • Presentation
  • Public-speaking
  • Negotiation
  • Persuasion
  • Feedback
  • Discussion

#2. Problem-Solving

Problem-solving means you’re able to identify problems, find the root cause behind them, and come up with creative solutions.

Considering there isn’t a single job where you won’t face problems in one way or another, problem-solving skills are a great asset to have.

Throughout your career, you might have to troubleshoot technical glitches, resolve customer complaints, streamline processes, or drive strategic initiatives. In any of these cases, strong problem-solving skills will be crucial to your success.

Butproblem-solvingis a broad set of skills that can include:

  • Analytical thinking
  • Root cause analysis
  • Data gathering and evaluation
  • Creative thinking
  • Decision making
  • Strategic planning
  • Risk assessment and management

Whether you’re an IT professional debugging code or amanagerimplementing operational improvements, problem-solving skills let you tackle challenges head-on.

#3. Conflict Resolution

When working with diverse groups, disagreements are bound to happen. So, having the skills to resolve conflicts in a constructive manner is extremely valuable in any organization.

Conflict resolution skillsare essential for managers addressing performance issues, HR professionals mediating workplace disputes, sales teams negotiating contracts, or coworkers with clashing personalities.

This multifaceted skill involves:

  • Impartiality and objectivity
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Assertive communication
  • Creative problem-solving
  • Persuasion and influence
  • Patience and composure

#4. Computer Literacy

Over 70% of jobsrequire medium-to-high-level digital skills.

This means that computer and technical skills are priceless assets, even if your job isn’t centered around technology. So, computer skills are almost always a great addition to any resume.

Here are some valuablecomputer skillsfor every professional:

  • Office suites (MS Office, iWork)
  • Social media
  • Database management
  • Web (Internet savviness, basic HTML, CMS)
  • Troubleshooting
  • Equipment installation and configuration
  • Fast Typing

#5. Research

Effective research abilities are essential for making informed decisions and driving successful outcomes across any industry.

Whether you’re conducting market research to identify consumer needs, gathering data to explore a scientific hypothesis, or investigating to build a legal case, strong research skills are invaluable.

Some research skills include:

  • Finding credible sources
  • Evaluating information objectively
  • Organizing data
  • Identifying patterns
  • Documenting and reporting findings

#6. Teamwork

Teamwork skills enable you to work effectively with others towards a common goal.

Since teams tend to drive most major projects and workplace initiatives, learning how to work well with others is essential to most jobs. You might be part of a project team, a committee, or just coordinate across departments someday.

What you need for strongteamwork skillsis:

  • Communication
  • Active listening
  • Reliability
  • Flexibility
  • Conflict resolution
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Motivating others

#7. Project Management

Project management skills are usually associated with dedicatedproject managerroles, but in reality, that's not usually the case. Any type of professional can benefit from strong project management skills.

In a nutshell, project management skills involve being able to effectively handle resources, timelines, deliverables, and processes for driving projects to successful completion.

Here are some of the most in-demand project management skills:

  • Resource allocation and management
  • Project planning and scheduling
  • Risk identification and mitigation
  • Logistics and coordination
  • Action planning
  • Task planning and prioritization
  • Stakeholder management

#8. Leadership

Leadership includes both the ability to manage and inspire others. Managers are not always great leaders, but leaders almost always make good managers.

People who are good at leading are emotionally intelligent, good communicators, and natural-born influencers. They can motivate others to reach their full potential and work together towards common goals. This makesleadership another great skillto have for many professions out there.

Some important soft skills related to leadership include:

  • Relationship-building
  • Motivation
  • Creativity
  • Commitment
  • Strategic thinking
  • Coaching

#9. Organization

Organizational skills are a set of soft skills that help you keep track of information, materials, and even your time in such a way that you can tackle short and long-term tasks efficiently.

Organizational skillsare among the top skills recruiters are looking for in 2022, primarily because they help employees be more productive, save companies time and money, and facilitate a more positive work environment.

Here is what organizational skills consist of:

  • Physical organization
  • Planning
  • Scheduling
  • Prioritization
  • Goal setting

#10. Time Management

Time managementis the ability to effectively prioritize and organize your tasks and responsibilities.

Needless to say, it’s a crucial skill in nearly every job, since being able to manage your time well allows you to increase productivity, meet deadlines, and maintain a healthywork-life balance.

Time management includes:

  • Task prioritization and planning
  • Goal setting
  • Scheduling
  • Task delegation
  • Focusing
  • Avoiding and Ignoring distractions
  • Adapting to changing priorities
  • Stress management

#11. Customer Service

A lot of the jobs out there involve dealing with customers.

From customer support representatives to cashiers, customer service skills are a great asset to have in 2024. Particularly, that’s because it encompasses a number of other valuable skills, such as:

  • Persuasion skills
  • Positivity
  • Product knowledge
  • Adaptability
  • Attention to detail

#12. Networking

Networking skillsrefer to how well you can build professional relationships and connections.

It goes without saying that they're extremely useful for roles like sales, business development, or entrepreneurship, as a lot of the work involves meeting and engaging new people.

However, these skills are also useful for roles where you don't expect to rely onprofessional networkingas much.

Take, for example, project managers. To be really effective, they need to:

  • Understand the needs of stakeholders
  • Collaborate with various teams across the organization
  • Build rapport with people at all levels

Just like most other skills on our list, networking skills are multi-faceted. They include:

400 Must-Have Skills for Different Professions

Still not sure which skills to mention in your resume? We’ve got you covered.

We compiled a list of some of the most relevant skills on the market in 2024, for all sorts of different fields!

If you happen to possess some of these skills, make sure to mention them in your resume. If not, it’s never too late to learn something new!

#1. Retail and Sales Skills

Retail and sales are at the heart of successful business interactions.

Despite the rise of technology, the essence ofsales hasn’t changed much. People still need contact with each other, and even with channels of communication becoming digital, communication skills and empathy still take top priority in this industry.

So, here’s a list of must-have skills for salespeople andretail workers:

  1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  2. Cold-calling
  3. Negotiation
  4. Merchandising
  5. Product demonstration
  6. Public speaking
  7. Inventory management
  8. Closing
  9. Lead generation
  10. Buyer-Responsive selling
  11. Buyer engagement
  12. Product knowledge
  13. Persuasion
  14. Point of Sale (POS) proficiency
  15. Effective communication and sociability
  16. Empathy
  17. Social media and digital communication
  18. Teamwork
  19. Time management
  20. Conflict resolution
  21. Listening skills
  22. Personalized selling
  23. Service-based selling
  24. Problem-solving
  25. Patience
  26. Follow-up techniques
  27. Up-selling and cross-selling
  28. Knowledge of return and exchange policies
  29. Organizational skills
  30. Multitasking capabilities

#2. Customer Service Skills

Customer service requires a specialized skill set centered around excellent communication and problem-solving. Success in this field relies on effectively managing various communication platforms and maintaining customer satisfaction through attentive service.

Some skills crucial for any customer service representative include:

  1. Conflict resolution
  2. Active listening
  3. Telephone etiquette
  4. Data entry proficiency
  5. Customer needs assessment
  6. Crisis management
  7. Multitasking
  8. Time management
  9. Empathy
  10. Patience
  11. Persuasion
  12. Ticket tracking systems
  13. Scripted responses
  14. Technical troubleshooting
  15. Product knowledge
  16. Complaint resolution
  17. Record-keeping
  18. Stress management
  19. Team collaboration
  20. Adaptability
  21. Decision making
  22. Understanding of privacy and confidentiality
  23. Customer education techniques
  24. Feedback collection
  25. Call center operations
  26. Email Etiquette
  27. Live chat management
  28. Help desk support
  29. Client retention strategies
  30. Cultural sensitivity

#3. Hospitality Skills

Hospitality is all about making guests feel welcome and appreciated, no matter the setting - whether it’s a bustling hotel, a serene resort, or a cruise ship. Professionals in this field need to create memorable experiences for guests by providing impeccable service and making sure their every need is met with a smile.

Some of the most sought-after hospitality skills are:

  1. Customer service excellence
  2. Effective communication
  3. Foreign languages
  4. Problem-solving
  5. Flexibility
  6. Time management
  7. Organizational skills
  8. Attention to detail
  9. Reservation management
  10. Event planning
  11. Specialized software proficiency
  12. Front desk operations
  13. Tour and activity coordination
  14. Guest Relations
  15. Guest information management
  16. Concierge services
  17. Cashiering
  18. Conflict resolution
  19. Cultural sensitivity
  20. Personalized guest experiences
  21. Safety and security protocols
  22. Marketing and upselling
  23. Teamwork
  24. Health and hygiene standards
  25. Loyalty programs management
  26. Quality control
  27. Emergency response handling
  28. Environmental sustainability practices
  29. CPR
  30. Check-in and check-out procedures

#4. Food and Beverage Skills

The food and beverage industry is one of the most dynamic and fast-paced environments you can work in. Here, professionals have to continually adapt to customers’ changing preferences, stay updated on culinary trends, and provide exceptional service.

Here are some skills that would look great on any food and beverage worker's resume:

  1. Menu planning and design
  2. Recipe development
  3. Food safety and hygiene
  4. Culinary arts
  5. Plate presentation
  6. Portion control
  7. Inventory management
  8. Cost control and budgeting
  9. Wine pairing
  10. Bartending
  11. Beverage service
  12. Detailed menu knowledge
  13. Customer service excellence
  14. Order taking and processing
  15. Table setting and arrangement
  16. Conflict resolution
  17. Food preparation techniques
  18. Dietary restrictions and allergen awareness
  19. Staff training
  20. Quality assurance
  21. Health and safety regulations compliance
  22. Event catering management
  23. Customer feedback management
  24. Upselling techniques
  25. Point of sale (POS) system operation
  26. Kitchen equipment operation and maintenance
  27. Scheduling
  28. Organizational skills
  29. Communication skills
  30. Teamwork

Looking for more skills? Check out ourserver resume examplehere.

#5. Marketing and Advertising Skills

With new technologies developing faster than ever, it’s essential to move beyond the basics of traditional marketing and advertising to succeed in the industry. New skills keep popping up, and even the biggestmarketing executivesout there need to stay up to date on the latest developments.

So, here are some  of the most important marketing and advertising skills for any level:

  1. Data analysis
  2. Web analytics
  3. SEO/SEM
  4. HTML & CSS
  5. WordPress
  6. Email marketing
  7. Web scraping
  8. CRO and A/B testing
  9. Data visualization
  10. Pattern-finding through critical thinking
  11. Project/campaign management
  12. Social media and mobile marketing
  13. Paid social media advertisements
  14. B2B Marketing
  15. The four P-s of Marketing
  16. Consumer Behavior Drivers
  17. Brand management
  18. Creativity
  19. Copywriting
  20. Storytelling
  21. Sales
  22. CMS Tools
  23. Digital advertising
  24. Multichannel marketing
  25. Public relations
  26. Content strategy
  27. Market research
  28. Budget management
  29. Compliance and legal considerations
  30. Affiliate marketing

#6. Administrative Skills

If you work in an office setting, there are some skills you should know, regardless of your job. Whether you’re a secretary, office manager, orexecutive assistant, you can put these skills on your resume.

Some basicadministrative skillsinclude:

  1. Microsoft Office
  2. Google Suite
  3. Filing and paper management
  4. Data entry
  5. Bookkeeping
  6. Research and data analysis
  7. Office management
  8. Technical writing
  9. Cloud networking and file sharing
  10. Time management
  11. Organizational skills
  12. Prioritization and task management
  13. Communication skills
  14. Customer service skills
  15. Meeting planning and coordination
  16. Event management
  17. Travel management
  18. Inventory management
  19. Document preparation
  20. Confidentiality and data protection
  21. Minute taking
  22. Report generation
  23. Multitasking capabilities
  24. Problem-solving skills
  25. Calendar management
  26. Expense reports
  27. Reception duties
  28. Correspondence handling
  29. Presentation skills
  30. Project management skills

#7. Human Resources Skills

Human Resources is a field that needs a strategic blend of soft and hard skills.

HR specialistsare essential for managing diverse workforce needs and enhancing employee and company productivity in the long run.

Here are some examples of HR skills that always come in handy:

  1. Emotional Intelligence
  2. Stress management
  3. Motivation techniques
  4. Task delegation
  5. Technological savviness
  6. People management
  7. Business development
  8. Strategic management
  9. Negotiation skills
  10. Planning
  11. Recruitment and selection
  12. Training and development
  13. Performance management
  14. Knowledge of compensation and benefits
  15. Employee relations
  16. Labor law compliance
  17. Organizational skills
  18. Succession planning
  19. HR analytics
  20. Diversity and inclusion initiatives
  21. Conflict resolution
  22. Change management
  23. Employee engagement strategies
  24. Workplace safety
  25. Talent acquisition strategies
  26. Policy formulation and implementation
  27. Employee counseling and support
  28. HR information systems (HRIS)
  29. Problem-solving
  30. Cross-cultural communication

#8. Business Skills

Business professionals are increasingly vital to organizations since they offer operational support and strategic insights that can drive growth.

Experts in the business industry need a broad set of skills toanalyze trends, optimize processes, and predict future outcomes so their companies remain competitive and responsive to changes in the market.

Here are some examples of skills any business professional could add to their resume:

  1. Strategic planning
  2. Financial forecasting
  3. Budget management
  4. Profit and loss management
  5. Market analysis
  6. Trend identification
  7. Competitive analysis
  8. Risk management
  9. Project management
  10. Operations management
  11. Leadership and team building
  12. Stakeholder engagement
  13. Negotiation
  14. Supply chain management
  15. CRM software proficiency
  16. ERP systems
  17. Change management
  18. Business reporting
  19. Compliance and ethics
  20. Sales and marketing strategies
  21. Customer service
  22. Business writing
  23. Presentation skills
  24. Data visualization
  25. Analytical reasoning
  26. Cloud computing
  27. E-commerce management
  28. Social media strategy
  29. Digital marketing
  30. Innovation management

#9. Finance and Accounting Skills

The days of filing financial data and taxes by hand are long behind us, and now there are countless digital platforms and apps you can use instead.

So, it goes without saying that anyone working in finance oraccountingshould be familiar with the most popular skills and tools in the industry.

Some examples include:

  1. Microsoft Excel
  2. Enterprise Resource Planning
  3. Big Data Analysis
  4. SQL
  5. Know Your Customers (KYC)
  6. Cognos Analytics (IBM)
  7. Visual Basic
  8. Accounting Software
  9. Revenue recognition
  10. Anti-money laundering
  11. Clear communication
  12. General business knowledge
  13. Numerical competence
  14. Accuracy
  15. Attention to detail
  16. Financial reporting
  17. Cost accounting
  18. Tax preparation and planning
  19. Financial modeling
  20. Risk management
  21. Investment analysis
  22. Credit analysis
  23. Cash flow management
  24. Portfolio management
  25. Compliance and regulatory management
  26. Audit coordination
  27. Strategic planning
  28. Project financing
  29. Mergers and acquisitions
  30. Financial forecasting

#10. IT Skills

New technology is popping up every other day, and that’s a great reason foranyone working in ITto keep their skills updated.

That said, if you are proficient in a programming language or two, you pretty much have a leg up on the competition.

Here’s a list of some of the most useful skills for any IT professional out there:

  1. Programming languages (Python, Java, C#)
  2. Web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
  3. Frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js)
  4. Mobile app development (iOS, Android)
  5. Database management (SQL, NoSQL)
  6. Cloud computing services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
  7. DevOps practices (CI/CD, automation)
  8. Containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
  9. Network security protocols
  10. Cybersecurity best practices
  11. Data analysis and visualization
  12. Machine learning and AI algorithms
  13. Version control systems (Git, SVN)
  14. Agile and Scrum methodologies
  15. Software testing and debugging
  16. System architecture design
  17. API design and development
  18. Performance optimization
  19. IT project management
  20. IT support and troubleshooting
  21. Operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  22. Scripting (Bash, PowerShell)
  23. IT infrastructure management
  24. Virtualization technologies
  25. IT compliance and governance
  26. UX/UI design principles
  27. SEO and web analytics
  28. Blockchain technology
  29. Communication skills
  30. Problem-solving skills

#11. Nursing and Healthcare Skills

More than any other profession,healthcare professionalsneed to stay updated on the latest technologies, medicines, and techniques.

While the skills aregistered nurseor other healthcare professional needs are countless and can be extremely specific to their specialization, the most basic skills boil down to:

  1. Mathematics
  2. CPR
  3. Paperwork/record-keeping abilities
  4. Compassion
  5. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  6. Telemetry
  7. Attention to detail
  8. Physical endurance
  9. Acute care
  10. Infection control
  11. Surgery preparation
  12. Medication administration
  13. Emergency room care
  14. Psychiatric support
  15. Geriatric health
  16. Pediatric nursing
  17. Oncology knowledge
  18. Patient education
  19. Medical software proficiency
  20. Phlebotomy skills
  21. Vital signs monitoring
  22. Wound care
  23. Palliative care
  24. Obstetric and neonatal care
  25. Medical terminology
  26. Ethical decision-making
  27. Leadership
  28. Team coordination
  29. Stress management
  30. Cultural competency

#12. Art and Design Skills

Today, knowing the basics of art and design isn’t enough. To get hired as part of a creative team, be it as a designer orillustrator, you need to know how to create content with different tools and for different channels, like the web and social media.

Some of the most important art and design skills for your resume include:

  1. Graphic design
  2. Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
  3. Dreamweaver
  4. Infographics
  5. Web and app development (HTML, CSS, UX/UI)
  6. Photo Editing
  7. Typography (spacing, line height, layout, choosing fonts)
  8. Storyboarding
  9. Targeting and marketing through visual communications
  10. Logo creation
  11. Digital printing
  12. Integration of visual communication in social media platforms
  13. Creativity
  14. Attention to detail and aesthetics
  15. Interactive media design
  16. Color sense and theory
  17. Ad design
  18. Active listening
  19. 3D modeling and animation(Blender, Autodesk Maya)
  20. Video editing (Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro)
  21. Motion graphics (Adobe After Effects)
  22. Print design
  23. Packaging design
  24. Branding and identity design
  25. Environmental graphic design
  26. Exhibition design
  27. Illustration
  28. Sketching and conceptual visualization
  29. User interface design
  30. User experience design
  31. Prototyping (digital and physical)
  32. Content management systems (WordPress)
  33. Accessibility standards for design
  34. Composition
  35. Crafting and use of traditional media
  36. Project management
  37. Client relations and communication
  38. Data visualization
  39. Augmented reality (AR) design
  40. Virtual reality (VR) design

#13. Education Skills

You might have three PhDs and still struggle to get the latest educational programs to work in front of your classroom. You’re likely missing some crucial skills for your field.

Teaching methods have evolved, and so have the skills you need tobe a teacheror professor at the top of your game. So, here are some essential skills if you want to work in education:

  1. Updated curriculum knowledge
  2. Research and data analysis
  3. Communication
  4. Educational platforms (Elearn)
  5. Stress management
  6. Technological and digital literacy
  7. Patience
  8. Critical thinking
  9. Enthusiasm
  10. Motivation
  11. Lesson planning
  12. Classroom management
  13. Student assessments
  14. Differentiated instruction
  15. Educational theory and practice
  16. Conflict resolution
  17. Time management
  18. Leadership
  19. Team collaboration
  20. Problem-solving
  21. Parent and community engagement
  22. Child psychology
  23. Educational policy knowledge
  24. Student safety and welfare
  25. Career counseling
  26. Technology integration in the classroom
  27. Remote learning management
  28. Curriculum adaptation
  29. Educational software proficiency
  30. Feedback

Looking for a job in academia? Learnhow to write an academic CVto get started.

Bonus Infographic: Skills to Put on a Resume

FAQs About Putting Skills on Your Resume

Do you still have some questions about what skills you should put on your resume and how? Check out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions here:

Q — 

#1. What kind of skills should I include in my resume?

Your resume should include a combination of two types of skills: hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills involve job-specific skills that are acquired through education, training, or work experience, while soft skills involve personality traits that can be indirectly useful at the workplace and help you adapt to the company culture better.

Depending on your industry, some examples of hard skills you can list on your resume include copywriting, database management, graphic design, foreign languages, public speaking, and more.

Examples of soft skills include communication, creativity, leadership, teamwork, time management, and conflict resolution.

Q — 

#2. What top skills do employers look for?

Currently, some of the top hard skills hiring managers are on the lookout for include blockchain development, SEO, virtual reality development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, business analysis, Java development, affiliate marketing, UX design, machine learning, project management, video production and editing, sales, andbusiness development.

The top soft skills hiring managers are looking for include creativity, collaboration, persuasion, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

Q — 

#3. How can I identify my skills?

If you want to identify your skills, start by considering yourgreatest accomplishments. Have you been recognized for a specific achievement? What skills helped you do it? You’re probably still skilled in those areas.

Next, consider asking friends and coworkers. Sometimes, it’s easier for others torecognize your strengths. If you’re new to the job market, you can ask former professors and classmates to give you some insight, too.

Q — 

#4. Where do skills go on a resume?

Your skills should go under a separate ‘Skills’ section on your resume, typically placed right below or next to your work experience section.

That said, you should further prove that you have the skills you list in this section. Weave the most relevant skills for the job in other resume sections, such as the resume summary and your work experience sections, to show the hiring manager how those skills are put to use.

Q — 

#5. How many skills should I include in my resume?

The number of skills to add to your resume depends on the job you’re applying for, as well as your level of expertise and work history.

If you’re a seasoned professional with plenty of job-related skills, you should definitely include them in your resume.

As a rule of thumb, listing up to ten skills on your resume is typically a safe choice, as long as they don’t make yourresume spill over to page two.

Q — 

#6. What are the best skills for a candidate with no experience?

If you’re astudent with no experienceand few job-specific skills, you can benefit from adding transferable skills to your resume. These are skills that can be applied to many jobs across several industries.

Some examples of good skills for a no-experience resume include communication, organization, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, and computer skills.

Q — 

#7. What are the top 12 skills to put on your resume?

There are several skills that could go on just about any resume, regardless of your targeted job. These include both hard skills and soft skills that can be used in any industry.

We recommend including skills like communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, computer literacy, research, teamwork, project management, leadership, organization, time management, customer service, and networking.

Q — 

#9. Does a CV need skills?

There are a fewdifferences between a CV and a resume. But for the most part, if you’re writing a CV for a job application, the structure should be similar to a resume.

So, you should add a skills section to your CV and list skills relevant to the job you’re applying for. The only exception to this rule is when you’re writing an academic CV, in which case skills are optional or even discouraged.

Q — 

#10. What’s the best way to list skills on a resume in 2024?

To really impress with your skills in 2024, don’t just list some random skills under a separate section and call it a day!

Instead, make them more credible by finding out more about the company culture, tailoring your skills to the job description, mentioning the most critical skills in your resume summary or resume objective, and using your achievements to explain exactly how you used your skills to your advantage.

Key Takeaways

And that’s all there is to putting skills on a resume!

By now, we’re sure you’re a pro and ready to impress the hiring manager with the skills on your resume.

But before you go, let’s sum up the most important things we mentioned in this article:

  • One of the most important sections on your resume is the skill section, and over 41% of hiring managers check it first.
  • The skill section is crucial for making it past the ATS because some of the most important resume keywords are skills you should list on your resume.
  • Skills are divided into hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are technical skills you can gain through experience, training, or education, while soft skills can be attributes or habits related to how you work.
  • Your resume should only list skills that are relevant to the job. Find out which skills these are by scanning through the job ad picking out the required skills that you have, and adding them to your resume.
  • Some skills are universally useful across different professions, like adaptability, communication, and teamwork.