How to List Skills on a Resume (With Examples)
The skills section is one of the most scanned — and most wasted — parts of a resume. Done well, it tells a recruiter in three seconds that you're a fit and helps you pass keyword-matching software. Done badly, it's a meaningless list of buzzwords. Here's how to do it right.
Hard skills vs soft skills
A strong resume shows both:
- Hard skills are specific, teachable, and measurable — Excel, Python, SEO, bookkeeping, a second language, a particular machine or tool.
- Soft skills are how you work with others — communication, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability.
Hard skills get you past the ATS keyword filter; soft skills (proven through your bullets) win the interview.
How many skills to list
Aim for 6 to 12 relevant skills. More than that and the important ones get diluted. Quality and relevance beat quantity every time.
Only list skills the job actually wants
This is the step most people skip. Read the job description and pull out the skills it names, then list the ones you genuinely have using the same words. If the posting says "data visualization," write "data visualization," not "making charts." ATS match on exact phrases, and recruiters look for them too.
An AI resume builder can suggest the most relevant skills for your specific role and industry, so you're never guessing what to include.
Prove your most important skills
A list alone is weak — anyone can type "leadership." Back up your top skills with evidence in your experience bullets:
- Skill listed: Project management
- Proof in experience: "Managed a 5-person team to deliver a website redesign two weeks ahead of schedule."
The list flags the skill for the scanner; the bullet convinces the human.
Where to put the skills section
If you have solid work experience, place skills after your experience. If you're a student, recent graduate, or career changer, move it higher — near the top — so your strengths lead the page.
Skills to avoid
- Obvious basics: "Microsoft Word," "email," "internet" — these are assumed.
- Vague clichés with no proof: "hard worker," "team player" on their own.
- Skills you can't back up if asked in an interview.
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Get it on Google PlayFrequently asked questions
How many skills should I list?
6 to 12 relevant skills, prioritizing those named in the job description.
What's the difference between hard and soft skills?
Hard skills are measurable abilities (Excel, Python); soft skills are interpersonal traits (communication, leadership). Show both.
Where should the skills section go?
After experience for seasoned candidates; near the top for students and career changers.