Skills to Add to Resume that Employers Will Read

Table Of Contents

Introduction: Why Your Skills Section Matters

Identifying Skills That Align with the Job Description

Analyze the Job Posting

Relevance over Quantity

Essential Skills Every Employer Looks For

Soft Skills That Make a Difference

Soft skills demonstrate that you can interact effectively with a variety of people in different situations and efficiently manage your workload. These skills are crucial for catching the attention of recruiters while also helping you decide what skills to put on a resume with no experience.  Skills like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving are highly valued in a wide variety of professions. Here are some examples of soft skills: 

• Interpersonal Skills: These skills show you can build relationships, communicate effectively, and handle a variety of situations. Basic traits like motivation, flexibility, and empathy show that you can work well with a team and have a strong ability to collaborate.  
• Self-Management Skills: Employers like to know you can be self-sufficient and productive, so skills like time management, organization, and prioritization show you have the capacity for efficiency, growth, and success. 
• Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving: Demonstrating that you can think rationally and come up with creative solutions to problems will let employers know they can trust you to determine the best courses of action to resolve complex problems. 
• Effective Communication: Being able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing is important in any role, and employers seek out candidates who can articulate their ideas clearly, actively listen, and tailor their message to different audiences.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: Because the modern work environment experiences frequent changes, being able to adapt easily to new situations or methods of doing things is a great way to demonstrate growth potential and versatility.  
  

Technical Skills and Proficiencies

Hard skills are more specific skills, including technical skills, that are required for particular positions. Here are some examples of the primary technical skills employers are seeking:

• Digital and Specific Analytical Skills: In today’s high-tech environment and the focus on online content and data-driven decision-making, many employers are looking for skills in Google Analytics, Keyword Planner, and other data analysis software. Writing and Editing: Many industries require strong writing and editing skills, as polished and engaging content becomes ever more crucial for both internal communications and external publications. 
• Typing and Data Entry: Some roles might even require specific typing speeds or accuracy levels, and these skills are important in areas like medical coding, transcription, or other administrative work. 
• Project Management and SEO: While general project management might often be considered a soft skill, proficiencies in SEO, SEM, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and other content creation tools are more specific hard skills that can make you stand out for related roles. 

Choosing which hard and soft skills to mention on a resume is a crucial step in preparing your application that enhances your chances of drawing the attention of employers and demonstrating you are a good fit for the role. It’s always good to have a mix of both your industry-specific technical abilities and your own unique skills for your resume.

Strategically Positioning Your Skills on the Resume

Placement and Formatting

• Use a Clear and Concise Format: Create a clearly labeled skills section to allow recruiters to easily identify your list, even if they just glance at your resume quickly.
• Positioning the Skills Section: It’s ideal to place your skills section near the top of your resume, just below your summary or objective statement, so that it is one of the first things recruiters see. It can also be helpful to include a “technical skills” section near the bottom to list specific software or other computer skills.
• Avoid Clutter: Make sure to use white space effectively so that each skill is easily distinguishable from the next and that your reader can quickly identify individual skills with a glance.

Using Active Language and Examples

• Action Verbs: Instead of passive language like “was responsible for project management,” use verbs that convey action, such as “managed multiple projects” or “developed and implemented project plans.”
• Quantify Your Achievements: Wherever you can, try to provide tangible evidence of your skills, such as "increased customer satisfaction by 25% through effective communication and problem-solving skills" or "analyzed data to reduce costs by 15%."
• Integrate Skills into Work Experience: While you want a dedicated skills section to quickly list off those that are most relevant, it’s important to give examples in other sections of how you used those skills. Use bullets to highlight key skills in each role, like "utilized Excel to analyze sales data" or "employed strong communication skills to lead a team project."

Conclusion: Making Your Skills Stand Out

Frequently Asked Questions

How many skills should I list on my resume? Is it possible to include too many?

Aim to include between 8 to 20. More than 20 can dilute relevance and raise credibility questions. Keep the focus on skills targeted to your desired job, taking keywords from the job posting. 

Depending on your field, you may choose to list technical/software skills separately. If they are in a separate section of the resume, these don’t have to “count” toward your total. If you have a significant number of tech-related skills to list, group related items (e.g., “Data: SQL, Excel, Tableau”) to enhance readability.

Where on my resume is the best place to put the skills section?

Place a concise Skills section near the top (below the Summary) for keyword alignment, then use them within your Experience bullets to show them in action. If early career or switching fields, consider a short ‘Core Skills’ callout above Experience; for senior roles, a slimmer skills line works if the body bullets carry the depth.

How can I demonstrate my soft skills (like "teamwork" or "problem-solving") instead of just listing them?

Prove soft skills by quantifying results in your Experience bullets.

• Teamwork: “Led 5‑person cross‑functional team to ship 3 releases on time and with  −28% post-launch defects.”
• Problem‑solving: “Diagnosed the root cause of churn in a cohort of employees and redesigned onboarding to reduce churn by 6 pts.”
• Communication: “Built an executive‑level dashboard to reduce weekly status meeting time by 40%.”

Should I indicate my proficiency level for certain skills (e.g., "Advanced," "Intermediate," "Basic")?

Only indicate proficiency levels when it’s meaningful. If levels are required (or for language fluency, frameworks, or certifications), be specific (e.g., “SQL—window functions, CTEs; 5 yrs” or “Spanish—professional working”).

Should I remove skills that might be considered outdated, even if I have extensive experience with them?

Yes, remove or de‑emphasize obsolete tech unless the role specifically requires it or if they strengthen your story (e.g., migrations, backward compatibility).