Resume skills and abilities examples by profession
Pick the row closest to your field. Then look at the job post and keep only the skills it mentions that you can truly show. The bold left column is the field, and the others show hard and soft skills that often appear.
| Field | Hard skills | Soft skills |
|---|---|---|
| Customer service | Ticketing tools, CRM, live chat, call handling | Patience, active listening, de-escalation |
| Healthcare | Patient assessment, charting systems, medication safety | Compassion, teamwork, communication under stress |
| Software and IT | Programming languages, cloud, testing, version control | Problem solving, clear writing, curiosity |
| Sales and retail | Point of sale, CRM, product knowledge, upselling | Persuasion, resilience, friendliness |
| Office and admin | Spreadsheets, scheduling, typing, records | Organization, discretion, time management |
| Marketing | SEO basics, analytics, content, email tools | Creativity, storytelling, collaboration |
| Finance and accounting | Reconciliation, reporting, accounting software | Accuracy, integrity, deadline focus |
| Project management | Scheduling, budgets, risk logs, Jira or similar | Leadership, negotiation, calm under pressure |
| Trades and operations | Equipment use, safety rules, inventory | Reliability, teamwork, attention to detail |
| Education | Lesson planning, classroom tools, assessment | Patience, clear explanation, adaptability |
Role pages with deeper wording: customer service resume, registered nurse resume and software developer resume. Browse all resume examples.
Best hard skills to put on a resume
Hard skills are teachable abilities you can test or measure, such as tools, methods and languages. They are what applicant tracking software usually searches for first.
- Software and tools: Excel, Google Sheets, Salesforce, QuickBooks, Photoshop, and so on.
- Technical methods: data analysis, bookkeeping, coding, CAD drawing.
- Certifications and licenses: first aid, forklift, nursing license, project management credentials. Check your region and employer for rules.
- Languages: name the language and your level, such as conversational or fluent.
Best soft skills to put on a resume
Soft skills show how you work with others. List fewer of them, and prove each with a result.
| Soft skill | Show it with a bullet like |
|---|---|
| Communication | Wrote weekly updates that kept [number] stakeholders informed. |
| Teamwork | Worked with [number] colleagues to finish [project] on schedule. |
| Time management | Handled [number] tasks a day while meeting every deadline. |
| Leadership | Trained [number] new hires and checked their progress for [period]. |
| Problem solving | Found the cause of [problem] and fixed it, which [real result]. |
Special and unique skills worth listing
What makes a skill worth adding
A skill is worth listing if it is rare, relevant or both. Good examples are a second language, public speaking, volunteer leadership, a niche tool or a license. Ask yourself if the reader would care and whether you can answer a question about it.
What to leave off
Skip basic skills everyone has (like using email) unless the job posts them. Skip skills you do not use. Skip personal hobbies that do not link to the role.
Where to put skills on a resume
| Place | Use for |
|---|---|
| Summary | Two or three of your strongest skills. |
| Skills section | A short, scannable list of tools and methods. |
| Experience bullets | Proof: how you used a skill and what happened. |
| Certifications | Licenses and credentials that act as skills. |
For wording ideas, see action verbs for a resume and skills-based resumes if you are changing careers.
How to choose skills from a job description
- Copy the job post into a document and underline each skill, tool and duty.
- Match each one to something you have really done, and write that down.
- Use the post's exact wording for skills you have, such as Microsoft Excel.
- Put the top five matches in your summary or first bullets.
- Cut skills that appear nowhere in the post unless they set you apart.
Paste the post into the job analyzer to compare it with your resume, then run the ATS checker on the final PDF. A good match raises your chances but cannot promise an interview.
Resume skills FAQs
What are good skills to put on a resume?
Good skills are the ones the job asks for and you can honestly show. For most jobs that means a mix of hard skills, such as software, tools or technical methods, and soft skills, such as communication or teamwork. Read the job post, pick the matching skills, and back them up with examples in your bullets.
How many skills should I list on a resume?
Between six and twelve is a good range for most people. Fewer than that can look thin and more than that can look unfocused. Put the most relevant ones first, group them if the list is long, and cut anything the job does not need. Quality matters more than the count.
What are unique skills to put on a resume?
Unique skills are real abilities that set you apart and still help the job: a second language, a rare software tool, public speaking, data storytelling or a license. Add them only if they connect to the role or show something useful about how you work. Skip hobbies that have no link to the job.
Should I list soft skills on a resume?
Yes, but sparingly, and with proof. Words like team player mean little alone. Choose two or three soft skills the job values, then show each in a bullet, such as leading a project or training new staff. This turns a claim into evidence that a reader can believe.
Where do skills go on a resume?
Most people add a Skills section below the summary or after experience. The strongest skills should also appear inside your experience bullets and your summary. If you are a career changer, you can put skills higher on the page. Keep the heading plain: Skills.
How do I list skills for ATS?
Copy the exact skill names from the job post when they are true for you, such as Microsoft Excel instead of spreadsheets. Spell out an abbreviation once, then use it. Use plain text in one column rather than charts or icons. Then run your resume through an ATS checker to look for gaps.
What skills can I put on a resume with no experience?
Use skills from school, volunteering, clubs, projects and part-time jobs: communication, time management, basic software, teamwork, or a language. Show each with a short example. Pair your skills with a clear summary, and list education near the top if it is your strongest section.