Skills to Put on a Resume in 2026 (Examples by Job)
Put the skills on your resume that the job post asks for and that you can prove with real work: a mix of hard skills (tools, methods, certifications) and a few soft skills (how you work with people). List them in a short skills section, then show the most important ones in your work bullets.
This guide explains the difference between hard and soft skills, how to pick skills from a job post, where they go on the page, and example skills for 12 common jobs. It also covers what to leave off.
The short version
- Start from the job post, not from a generic list.
- Keep 6 to 12 skills you can prove in an interview.
- Lead with hard skills; show soft skills in your bullets.
- Use the employer's exact words for tools and methods.
- Change the list for each job you apply to.
What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills?
Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities you can test, like SQL, bookkeeping, or forklift operation; soft skills are how you work with others and handle tasks, like communication, patience, or problem solving. Most job posts ask for both. Hard skills usually decide whether you pass the first screen, and soft skills often decide the interview.
| Hard skills | Soft skills | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Tools, methods, and technical knowledge | Habits and ways of working with people |
| How you learn them | Classes, training, certifications, practice | Work, school, life experience |
| How you prove them | Certificates, projects, numbers, tests | Examples and results in your bullets |
| Examples | Excel, Python, GAAP, Adobe Illustrator, Spanish | Communication, teamwork, adaptability, leadership |
Some guides also talk about transferable skills. These are hard or soft skills that carry over from one job to another, such as scheduling or customer service. They matter most when you change careers.
How do you pick the right skills from a job post?
Pick the skills the job post names that you can back up with an example, and use the post's own wording for them. Five steps:
Step 1: Copy every skill the job post names
Read the requirements and the duties, not just the bullet list. Write down each tool, method, certification, and trait it mentions.
Step 2: Mark the must-haves
Skills under "required," skills named more than once, and skills in the first lines of the post usually matter most. "Preferred" or "nice to have" skills come second.
Step 3: Keep only the skills you can prove
For each skill, ask: could I give an example from a job, class, or project? If not, leave it off.
Step 4: Use the employer's words
If the post says "Microsoft Excel," write that, not "spreadsheets." If it says "customer relationship management," add the tool name too, such as Salesforce.
Step 5: Put the top skills in two places
List them in your skills section, then show each must-have in at least one bullet with a result.
For a deeper method that also shows which skills you are missing, see the skills gap analysis guide. To rewrite the rest of the resume for the same post, follow how to tailor a resume to a job description.
No job post yet? Two free US government sources list the skills for most occupations. O*NET OnLine shows the skills, knowledge, and software used in each job, and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook lists the important qualities for each occupation. Use them to build a starting list, then trim it to each real post.
ElevateAI can do this match for you: it reads a job post and highlights the skills it asks for that you actually have, and leaves out the ones you don't.
Where do skills go on a resume?
Skills go in two places: a short skills section near the top, and inside your work bullets where you show how you used them. The section helps a recruiter or applicant tracking system find the keywords fast. The bullets prove you can do the work.
- Skills section:place it under your summary, or after experience if you have many years of work. Group long lists by type, such as "Tools" and "Languages."
- Work bullets: name the skill, what you did with it, and the result.
- Summary: mention your two or three strongest skills for this job. See these professional summary examples.
- Certifications: licenses like RN, CPA, or a forklift certification get their own section.
Example: the same skill in both places
Skills section: SQL · Tableau · Excel (pivot tables) · Data cleaning · Stakeholder reporting
Work bullet:"Wrote SQL queries and a Tableau dashboard that replaced a weekly manual sales report for the regional team."
If you want to build the whole resume around skills instead of job titles, read the skills-based resume guide.
What skills should you put on a resume for your job?
The right skills depend on the job, so the table below shows common hard and soft skills for 12 jobs that employers often ask for. Treat it as a starting point and keep only the ones that match your post and your experience.
| Job | Hard skills | Soft skills |
|---|---|---|
| Software engineer | Python, Java, or JavaScript (as the post asks), Git, SQL, REST APIs, AWS or Azure, automated testing, CI/CD | Problem solving, clear code reviews, teamwork |
| Data analyst | SQL, Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP), Tableau or Power BI, Python or R, data cleaning, basic statistics | Attention to detail, explaining data to non-technical people, curiosity |
| Project manager | Scheduling, budgeting, risk management, Agile or Scrum, Jira, Asana, or MS Project, PMP if you hold it | Stakeholder communication, leadership, negotiation |
| Customer service representative | CRM and help desk tools (Zendesk, Salesforce), order and returns processing, typing speed, a second language such as Spanish | Empathy, patience, active listening, de-escalation |
| Sales representative | Prospecting, pipeline management, CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), product demos, contract negotiation, forecasting | Persuasion, resilience, relationship building |
| Marketing specialist | SEO, Google Analytics 4, email marketing (HubSpot, Mailchimp), paid social ads, content writing, A/B testing | Creativity, writing, working across teams |
| Registered nurse | Patient assessment, medication administration, IV therapy, care planning, EHR systems (Epic, Cerner), BLS and ACLS certifications | Compassion, communication with patients and families, calm under pressure |
| Teacher | Lesson planning, classroom management, differentiated instruction, assessment design, Google Classroom or another LMS, state teaching certification | Patience, communication with parents, adaptability |
| Accountant | GAAP, account reconciliation, month-end close, accounts payable and receivable, QuickBooks or NetSuite, advanced Excel, CPA if you hold it | Accuracy, integrity, meeting deadlines |
| Administrative assistant | Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel), calendar management, travel booking, data entry, record keeping, meeting minutes | Organization, discretion, prioritizing |
| Warehouse or operations associate | Forklift operation (certified), inventory control, RF scanners, warehouse management systems, shipping and receiving, OSHA safety rules | Reliability, teamwork, attention to detail |
| Graphic designer | Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, Figma, typography, layout, brand guidelines, print production | Taking feedback, creativity, time management |
To see these skills inside a full resume, open the resume examples, such as the software engineer, data analyst, and project manager examples. For more keywords by field, see resume keywords by industry.
Name the tool, not just the category."CRM software" is vague. "Salesforce" or "HubSpot" is what a recruiter searches for. Only list the tools you have actually used.
How do you show soft skills on a resume?
Show soft skills with a short example and a result in your bullets, instead of only listing the words. Anyone can write "great communicator." A bullet that shows you did it is more believable.
Instead of: "Strong leadership skills."
Write: "Led a team of 5 cashiers on weekend shifts and built the shift schedule."
Instead of: "Excellent communication."
Write: "Wrote the weekly project update for 3 departments and ran the Monday status call."
Instead of: "Problem solver."
Write: "Found the cause of repeat shipping errors and changed the packing checklist to fix it."
What skills should you leave off your resume?
Leave off any skill you cannot prove, any skill that does not fit the job, and basics every applicant is expected to have. They take space from the skills that win interviews.
- Skills you can't back up.If you can't give an example in an interview, cut it.
- Basic computer skills,like email, internet, or "Microsoft Word," unless the job post asks for them.
- Outdated tools, such as software that is no longer in use in your field.
- Empty buzzwords,like "hard worker," "team player," or "go-getter," with no proof.
- Skills unrelated to the job, such as hobbies, unless they show something the job needs.
- Skill ratings, like stars, bars, or percentages.
- Skills you don't want to use, even if you have them. If you never want to do data entry again, leave it off.
How do you check your skills match the job before you apply?
Compare your skills list with the job post one line at a time and count how many must-haves you can prove. If you miss most of the required skills, the job may not be the right fit yet. If you miss one or two, say how you are closing the gap, such as a course in progress.
ElevateAI gives a 0 to 100 job fit score that shows your strengths and gaps for a saved job before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
How many skills should I put on a resume?
Most resumes work well with about 6 to 12 skills in the skills section. Pick the ones the job post asks for that you can prove, and back the most important ones up in your work bullets. A long list of loosely related skills makes the strong ones harder to find.
Should I put soft skills on my resume?
Yes, but show them more than you list them. A bullet such as "Trained 4 new hires on the returns process" proves communication and leadership better than the words alone. If the job post names a soft skill, you can also add it to your skills section.
What skills should I put on a CV?
The same rules apply to a CV and a resume: list the skills the job asks for that you can prove. In the US the document is called a resume; in the UK, Europe, and academia it is usually called a CV. A CV often has room for a longer skills section, including language levels.
Can I list skills I am still learning?
Yes, if you label them honestly. Write "Python (basic)" or put the course under education, such as "Google Data Analytics Certificate, in progress." Do not list a skill as if you use it daily when you have only started learning it.
Should I rate my skills with stars or bars?
No. Star ratings and skill bars do not tell an employer what you can do, and some applicant tracking systems cannot read graphics. Use plain words like "advanced" or "conversational" only where the level matters, such as languages.
Is a core competencies section the same as a skills section?
Mostly, yes. Core competencies is a common heading on senior resumes and usually mixes skills with areas of expertise, such as budget planning or vendor management. Use whichever heading fits your level, and keep the items matched to the job post.
What skills should I put on a resume with no experience?
List skills from school, part-time jobs, volunteering, and projects, such as Excel, customer service, scheduling, or a programming language. Then prove each one with a short bullet under the project or role where you used it. Language skills and certifications also count.
Related guides
- → Resume keywords by industry
- → Skills gap analysis from a job posting
- → How to tailor a resume to a job description
- → Resume action verbs
- → Entry-level resume with no experience
- → Resume examples by role
Put the right skills on your next resume
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