The 23 Best Skills To Put on a Resume in 2024 (With Examples)

The first step to landing your dream job is a well-crafted resume. 

A strong resume that’s tailored to the job description is key to capturing a Recruiter’s attention. Recruiters scan hundreds of resumes per week, so customizing your resume skills can help ensure your resume gets noticed. 

When selecting the best skills to put on your resume, prioritize those relevant to the job description while showcasing a balance of soft and hard skills that position you as a well-rounded candidate.

In this article, you’ll learn examples of soft and hard skills, as well as some recommendations for building and showcasing them effectively. Let’s set you on the path to landing your dream job!

Examples of Soft Skills for a Resume

Soft skills are the personal traits, or interpersonal skills, that determine how you engage in work. To identify your strengths when it comes to soft skills, ask for feedback from a mentor, career coach, or colleague based on your experiences in school and work situations. For additional insight, you can use self-assessment tools such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or What Type of Learner Are You? quiz. 

Soft skills are transferable, meaning they can be applied to many different jobs. They’re good skills to have on your resume after graduation or if you have limited professional experience.

Below are examples of soft skills for a resume:

• Communication: One of the best skills to put on your resume is strong communication skills. Valuable in any role or industry, the ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively is essential for teamwork and collaboration.
  • Resume example: Delivered monthly presentations on quarterly financial performance to senior stakeholders
• Problem-solving: Problem-solving means you can identify issues or challenges and come up with creative, actionable solutions. Highlight this skill on your resume with action-oriented language like “Resolved technical issues” or “Identified and reduced errors.”
  • Resume example: Implemented a project management solution to streamline workflows and reduce turnaround time by 5%
• Time management: Especially helpful for administrative professionals or project management roles, time management means you can prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain productivity under pressure. 
  • Resume example: Managed a portfolio of 15+ clients while consistently meeting project deadlines
• Leadership: Leadership skills means you can guide and inspire others, making strategic decisions when needed. To build this skill, enhance your leadership with our Effective Decision-Making online course. Including this soft skill on a resume is essential for coaches, mentors, managers, and executives. 
  • Resume example: Led a team of five employees, mentoring and coaching them to achieve quarterly goals
• Teamwork: A highly valuable skill in any workplace, teamwork is collaborating with others to work toward a common goal. Possessing this skill means you can contribute to group efforts and drive collective success.
  • Resume example: Collaborated cross-departmentally to launch a new e-commerce product within three months
• Adaptability: In any career, adaptability means you can adjust to changing environments, new challenges, and shifting priorities. It’s one of the best skills to put on your resume to highlight a flexible and resilient approach to work.
  • Resume example: Quickly adapted to new software, reducing transition time for the team by 15%
• Creativity: Do you love to think outside the box? A key skill for design, marketing, and product development roles, creativity means you can come up with innovative solutions to problems. 
  • Resume example: Showcase a portfolio of innovative campaigns, visually appealing websites, and print designs
• Attention to detail: A keen attention to detail is a valuable skill in finance, legal, engineering, and architecture, where even a small oversight can lead to costly mistakes. Highlight this on your resume with phrases like: minimized errors, increased efficiency, or improved outcomes. 
  • Resume example: Reduced documentation errors by 15% through development of rigorous review processes
• Empathy: Empathy reflects your ability to understand and share the feelings of others, which is important in customer relations or leadership roles. It can also indicate you have emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
  • Resume example: Exceeded customer satisfaction targets by 12% by developing personalized solutions to customer concerns
• Organization: Do you live by your Google Calendar? Organization is the ability to plan, structure, and prioritize tasks. This skill is essential for project management, human resources, customer service, and admin resumes. 
  • Resume example: Organized and maintained a detailed schedule for an executive team of 15, resulting in 100% on-time attendance
• Responsibility: To emphasize accountability and reliability as a candidate, weave skills examples of responsibility into your resume experience. List recurring tasks or successful projects you led to demonstrate to employers that you’ll take ownership of your work.
  • Resume example: Accurately reconciled monthly financial records, ensuring compliance with regulations

Examples of Hard Skills for a Resume

Hard skills are technical abilities you learn through education or hands-on experience, like coding or managing projects. To figure out what hard skills you have (or should develop), look at hard skills examples and job postings in your field to find commonalities in what employers are asking for. 

If you notice gaps, acquire the hard skills that are in demand by completing certifications, gaining hands-on experience through internships, or enrolling in online programs. Over time, as you build up your hard skills, you will develop expertise in your field and increase your value to potential employers. 

Below are examples of hard skills for a resume:

• Data analysis: A valuable skill for technology, finance, and government roles, data analysis involves digging into data to uncover trends and make informed decisions. On your resume, highlight any experience with industry-specific tools and languages like Excel, SQL, or Python and how your analysis has driven results.
  • Resume example: Utilized Python to clean and analyze a dataset of 65,000 customer records, identifying key insights and trends 
• Project management: One of the best skills to put on your resume is project management, or the ability to plan, execute, and oversee projects from start to finish. It combines technical expertise with soft skills like organization and time management. Consider highlighting relevant certifications, such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or CAPM, to further enhance your credentials.
  • Resume example: Directed a cross-functional team of 15 to successfully launch a new product, meeting deadlines and staying within budget
• Language proficiency: If you are fluent in multiple languages, this is a valuable skill to put on your resume. Specify your level of proficiency, whether it’s conversational, fluent, or native, and how this skill adds value to the job you’re applying for, such as a customer service role at a global company. 
  • Resume example: Fluent in Spanish and English, with experience providing technical support to Spanish-speaking customers 
• Writing and editing: Do you have a way with words? Writing and editing skills mean you can communicate ideas clearly, demonstrating an attention to detail. On your resume, list any copywriting or editing roles you’ve held, showcasing times you’ve crafted effective messaging for different audiences.
  • Resume example: Produced high-quality editorial content that drove a 30% increase in website traffic and improved user engagement 
• Technical proficiency: Look for requirements around industry-specific software or technology in the job description. List the software or platforms you’re skilled in, and highlight examples of when you worked efficiently with those tools to achieve goals.
  • Resume example: Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud, with experience designing marketing materials that increased brand awareness by 15%
• Accounting and financial management:If you enjoy crunching numbers, accounting involves managing financial records and budgets and staying up-to-date on financial regulations. If the job description calls for it, be sure to list any experience you have with accounting software like QuickBooks or SAP.
  • Resume example: Developed accurate financial reports and yearly budget that reduced company spend by $50,000
• Public speaking: The ability to present in front of a large audience requires strong communication skills and an ability to engage with others. On your resume, highlight presentations or speeches you’ve given, mentioning the topics, audience size, and the outcomes of your talks.
  • Resume example: Delivered industry trends presentation to an audience of up to 200 people 
• Research: Gathering and analyzing data for decision-making is a key hard skills example to include on your resume that’s relevant in many fields. Highlight school or work research projects where you conducted in-depth research, using tools like databases or surveys, and the results of your findings. 
  • Resume example: Conducted in-depth research on market trends to identify new business opportunities
• Marketing: If you’re seeking a career in marketing, highlight examples of when you used your creativity and strategic thinking to reach an audience. This can include media campaigns, content marketing skills examples, or personal projects, and how your efforts drove engagement or sales.
  • Resume example: Developed and executed a successful cross-channel marketing campaign that increased brand awareness by 30%
• Sales: Salespeople have the ability to build relationships, understand customer needs, and close deals. On your resume, highlight any sales achievements such as targets you’ve exceeded or revenue driven. 
  • Resume example: Consistently exceeded quarterly sales targets by 25% using consultative sessions to build strong customer relationships
• Design: Show off your creative eye as a Designer. Mention any projects where your designs made a difference, and consider including a design portfolio to showcase visuals of your work. Many job descriptions also require experience with software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.
  • Resume example: Designed a new product packaging that contributed to a 10% increase in retail sales
• Programming: Writing code to create software or applications requires technical know-how and problem-solving skills. If you’ve completed programming courses, learned skills at home with personal projects, or gained experience through internships, highlight them on your resume. List any programming languages or frameworks you’ve worked with, such as Python or JavaScript. 
  • Resume example: Developed a custom application using Python, improving operational efficiency by 25% 

How To List Skills on a Resume

Once you’ve narrowed down your soft and hard skills, you might be wondering about the best skills to put on a resume and how to list skills on a resume. 

To start, use a resume template to organize your skills. Once your template is ready, consider the following best practices to craft an impactful resume.

1. Reference the Job Description

Before organizing your resume, scan the job description for the required skills and qualifications. Some job postings will explicitly list required skills, while others will specify certification or education qualifications. Once you identify the job requirements, you can tailor your resume to highlight those skills and demonstrate how you’re the best fit. 

Recruiters often use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes for specific keywords, so consider incorporating important keywords into your resume. For example, if the job requires a PMP certification or Microsoft 365 experience, include those exact terms on your resume.

• Pro Tip: Use variations of the keywords to ensure your resume passes through ATS filters.

Keep in mind that a resume is not one-size-fits-all and every company has unique needs, so it’s important to tailor your resume to each job description. 

2. Do Your Research

Before applying, take some time to research the company so you can customize your resume accordingly. 

Start by researching: 

• Company website: Browse the about us, product, and news pages to gain insight into the company’s mission and values. 
• Social media: Look up the company’s social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or YouTube for recent updates and company culture insights.
• Industry news: Search for news stories about the company to learn more about recent initiatives or industry happenings. 

Insight into the company’s mission, values, and goals will help you identify the skills and experiences that are most valuable to them. You can also tailor your accomplishments to specific initiatives relevant to the company’s goals (or overall industry), making your resume more impactful.

3. Use a Bulleted List

A simple and effective way to display skills on your resume is with a bulleted list. Prioritize six to eight relevant skills for a resume and present them in a clear and organized way. 

A list is also easy to scan, which is helpful for Recruiters or Hiring Managers browsing through hundreds of resumes to quickly spot your qualifications or strengths. 

• Pro Tip: Bold your strengths so they stand out on the page and to highlight their importance.

4. Include Real-Life Examples and Results

Unsure how to list skills on a resume in an impactful way? 

To effectively showcase skills on your resume, weave them into your experience and accomplishments sections. Use specific and quantifiable metrics, such as percentages or dollar amounts, to illustrate the impact of your work. Here’s an example: 

Experience: Sales Analyst at Company XYZ, 2023-Present

• Leveraged data analysis techniques to identify untapped market segments, resulting in a 20% increase in sales pipeline

By highlighting tangible results in your resume experience, you can contextualize your skills and show potential employers how they translate to practical success.

• Pro Tip: Use strong action verbs, like achieved, leveraged, or developed to make your resume more compelling.

FAQ

What Is the Best Skill To Put on a Resume?

The best skill for a resume is one that aligns with the job you’re applying for. Tailor your skills to the job description by highlighting the specific qualifications or technical expertise the employer is looking for.

What Are the Top Six Skills?

The top six skills for a resume are communication, problem-solving, time management, adaptability, teamwork, and leadership. These six skills are transferable and show that you can work well within a team and manage your work effectively.

How Many Skills Should You List on a Resume? 

List six to eight key skills that are directly related to the job. This keeps your resume focused and relevant, ensuring Recruiters can quickly scan your resume to see if you’re qualified for the position.

What Skills Should You Not Put on a Resume?

It’s best to avoid listing outdated or irrelevant skills on your resume, such as proficiency in obsolete software or personal hobbies like knitting or gaming. Instead, focus on current, job-specific skills that will add value to the role you’re applying for.

Build Hard Skills With Robertson College

Incorporate both soft and hard skills on your resume to highlight your unique experience and position yourself as a fit for the job. Whether you’re just starting your career, looking to upskill, or ready to reskill, our Workforce Team is here to help you achieve your career goals — from resume and interview support to networking and community connections. 

Ready to elevate your skills? Explore Robertson’s career-focused programs to learn how you can build the hard skills employers are looking for.