Resume Builder guide
Skills to Put on a Resume: Hard Skills, Soft Skills and How to Prove Them
By Muhammad Shahid Khan · · 4 min read
Quick answer
Put 6 to 12 skills on your resume, chosen from the job advert and true for you. Focus on hard skills (software, tools, languages, certifications), which are easy to check and match keyword searches. Show soft skills such as leadership or communication through results in your experience section, not as a bare list.
Resume BuilderAI Resume, Cover Letter PDF · Free on the App StoreDownload free →| How many | 6 to 12 in the skills section |
|---|---|
| Where to find them | The job advert, then your own experience |
| Hard skills | Software, tools, languages, certifications, methods |
| Soft skills | Prove them in experience bullets |
| Avoid | Skill bars, star ratings and percentages |
The skills section is where many resumes get matched, or missed. Recruiters search applicant tracking systems for specific skills, and hiring managers scan the section to see if you fit. The trick is not to list everything you can do, but the right things, in words the employer uses.
I build Resume Builder – CV Maker AI, a free iPhone and iPad app for résumés, CVs, cover letters, biodata and resignation letters, and the screenshots here come from it. If you want to follow along on your phone, get Resume Builder on the App Store.
What is the difference between hard and soft skills?
| Type | What it is | Examples | Where to show it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard skills | Teachable, checkable abilities | Excel, Python, SAP, forklift licence, Arabic, bookkeeping | Skills section and experience |
| Soft skills | How you work with people and problems | Leadership, communication, problem solving, time management | Experience bullets, with a result |
Hard skills belong in the list because they are specific and searchable. Soft skills are claimed by everyone, so a list of them proves nothing. "Led a team of 6 through a system migration with no downtime" proves leadership. "Leadership" does not.
How do I choose the right skills?
- Read the job advert and highlight every skill, tool and qualification.
- Tick the ones that are true for you. Never list a skill you could not discuss in an interview.
- Use the advert's exact words. If it says "Microsoft Excel", do not write only "spreadsheets".
- Add your strongest extras that are relevant to the field.
- Order by importance to this job, not alphabetically.
Examples of hard skills by field
- Office and admin: Microsoft 365, Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP), diary management, minute-taking, CRM systems.
- Tech: programming languages, frameworks, cloud platforms, SQL, Git, testing tools.
- Finance: bookkeeping, Xero, QuickBooks, reconciliations, VAT returns, financial modelling.
- Marketing: SEO, Google Analytics, Meta Ads, copywriting, Canva, email marketing tools.
- Healthcare: clinical procedures, patient record systems, BLS or ACLS certification.
- Trades and logistics: licences (HGV, forklift), health and safety certificates, equipment.
- Languages: with a level, such as "Urdu (native), Arabic (conversational)".
Which soft skills do employers value most?
Communication, teamwork, problem solving, adaptability, time management and leadership come up again and again. Pick the two or three the advert stresses, and make sure at least one experience bullet proves each, with a number where possible.
How should I format the skills section?
- A simple list or two or three short grouped lines, such as "Software:", "Languages:" and "Certifications:".
- No skill bars, stars or percentages. They are meaningless to a reader ("80% Excel"?) and invisible to most ATS software.
- Put it near the top for technical roles, or after experience for others.
- Spell out acronyms once: "Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)".
For more on how software reads skills, see ATS-friendly resume guide. If you have little experience to prove skills with, see resume with no experience, and to work your top skills into the opening lines, see resume summary examples.
How Resume Builder helps
- Unlimited résumés, CVs, cover letters, biodata and resignation letters, free.
- Professional templates with a live preview that matches the exported PDF.
- An ATS check that shows how employer software reads your resume.
- Writing help that works on-device, or with your own AI key.
- Import an old CV from PDF or Word, or scan a printed one with the camera.
- No account: your documents stay on your iPhone unless you share them.
Download Resume Builder free on the App Store and have a clean PDF ready to send in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What skills should I put on my resume?
Skills from the job advert that are true for you, mainly hard skills such as software, tools, languages and certifications.
How many skills should I list on a resume?
6 to 12 in the skills section is usually right.
What is the difference between hard and soft skills?
Hard skills are teachable and checkable, like Excel or a language. Soft skills are how you work, like communication or leadership.
Should I list soft skills on my resume?
Prove them in your experience bullets with results rather than listing them on their own.
Where does the skills section go?
Near the top for technical roles, otherwise after experience. Either is fine if it is easy to find.
Should I use skill bars or ratings?
No. They mean little to recruiters and most ATS software cannot read them.
How do I know which skills an employer wants?
Read the job advert and highlight every skill, tool and qualification it mentions.
Should I include languages as skills?
Yes, with a level, such as native, fluent or conversational.
Can I list skills I am still learning?
Only if you can discuss them honestly. Say "basic" or "learning" where appropriate.
What are the top skills employers want?
Communication, problem solving, teamwork, adaptability and digital skills appear in most job adverts, plus the hard skills specific to the role.
Does Resume Builder check my skills against the job?
Its ATS check shows how employer software reads your resume, so you can see whether your skills come through clearly.
Resume BuilderDownload free
