Resume Skills Section: What to Include + 200+ Examples by Industry (2025)
Your skills section can make or break your ATS score. Here's exactly what to include, what to skip, and 200+ skills examples for every industry.
⚡ Quick Answer
How Many Skills: 8-12 skills (6 minimum, 15 maximum)
What to Include: 70% hard skills, 30% soft skills
Where to Put It: After experience or below summary
Format: Bulleted list or clean columns
Critical Rule: Match job posting keywords EXACTLY
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What's the Difference?
Hard Skills
Technical, teachable abilities that can be measured and tested. These are what ATS systems look for.
Examples:
- • Python, JavaScript, SQL
- • Adobe Photoshop, Figma
- • Project Management (PMP)
- • Data Analysis (Excel, Tableau)
- • SEO, Google Analytics
- • Salesforce CRM
💡 Pro Tip: Hard skills should make up 70-80% of your skills section because they're ATS-scannable and industry-specific.
Soft Skills
Interpersonal abilities and personality traits. Harder to measure but important for cultural fit.
Examples:
- • Leadership
- • Communication
- • Problem-solving
- • Collaboration
- • Time management
- • Adaptability
💡 Pro Tip: Don't just list soft skills—prove them in your experience section with concrete examples.
How Many Skills Should You List?
Sweet Spot: 8-12 Skills
This shows you're specialized without being overwhelming. Enough to match job keywords without looking padded.
Minimum: 6 Skills
Any fewer and you might not match enough job requirements. Fine for entry-level roles only.
Too Many: 20+ Skills
Looks desperate and unfocused. If you list everything, you're an expert at nothing.
How to Format Your Skills Section
✅ Format Option 1: Simple Bullet List (Most Common)
RecommendedSKILLS
- • Python, JavaScript, SQL
- • React, Node.js, PostgreSQL
- • AWS, Docker, Kubernetes
- • Git, CI/CD, Agile/Scrum
- • Data Analysis & Visualization
Best for: Tech, engineering, most corporate roles. ATS-friendly and scannable.
✅ Format Option 2: Categorized Skills
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Languages: Python, JavaScript, Java
Frameworks: React, Django, Node.js
Tools: AWS, Docker, Git, Jira
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Agile/Scrum, Technical Leadership, Code Review, Cross-functional Collaboration
Best for: Senior roles, when you have 10+ years experience and many diverse skills.
✅ Format Option 3: Two-Column Layout
SKILLS
• Python & Data Science
• Project Management
• Machine Learning (TensorFlow)
• Agile/Scrum
• SQL & Database Design
• Technical Leadership
Best for: Fitting more skills without taking up too much space. Works well for mid-level roles.
❌ Formats to AVOID
Skill Rating Bars/Circles
ATS systems can't read graphics. Also, who rates themselves 3/5 at something?
Vague Proficiency Levels
"Expert," "Advanced," "Proficient" mean nothing without context. Skip them.
Paragraph Format
"I have skills in Python, JavaScript, SQL..." is unreadable and not ATS-friendly.
200+ Skills to Include by Industry
Software Engineering & Tech
Programming Languages:
Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C++, C#, Ruby, Go, Rust, Kotlin, Swift, PHP, Scala
Frontend Development:
React, Vue.js, Angular, Next.js, HTML5, CSS3, Tailwind CSS, Material-UI, Redux, Webpack
Backend Development:
Node.js, Django, Flask, Spring Boot, Express.js, FastAPI, Ruby on Rails, .NET, GraphQL, REST APIs
Database:
SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch, DynamoDB, Firebase, Cassandra
DevOps & Cloud:
AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, CI/CD, Terraform, Git, GitHub Actions
Methodologies:
Agile/Scrum, Test-Driven Development (TDD), Microservices, System Design, Code Review
Data Science & Analytics
Programming & Tools:
Python, R, SQL, Jupyter Notebooks, Git, VS Code
Machine Learning:
TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Keras, XGBoost, Neural Networks, Deep Learning, NLP
Data Visualization:
Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib, Seaborn, D3.js, Looker, Google Data Studio
Big Data:
Spark, Hadoop, Kafka, Airflow, ETL Pipelines, Data Warehousing
Statistical Analysis:
A/B Testing, Hypothesis Testing, Regression Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Forecasting
Digital Marketing
SEO & Content:
SEO, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Google Analytics, Search Console, Keyword Research, Content Strategy
Paid Advertising:
Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, PPC Campaign Management, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
Social Media:
Social Media Marketing, Community Management, Instagram Marketing, TikTok Marketing, Influencer Marketing
Email & Automation:
Email Marketing, Marketing Automation, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Marketo
Analytics & Strategy:
Google Analytics, Tag Manager, Marketing Strategy, Customer Journey Mapping, Attribution Modeling
Business & Management
Project Management:
PMP, Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Jira, Asana, Microsoft Project, Stakeholder Management, Risk Management
Financial Skills:
Financial Analysis, Budgeting, Forecasting, Excel (Advanced), Financial Modeling, QuickBooks, SAP
Sales & CRM:
Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Sales Strategy, B2B Sales, Negotiation, Pipeline Management, Lead Generation
Strategy & Operations:
Business Strategy, Operations Management, Process Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, Change Management
Design & Creative
Graphic Design:
Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma, Sketch, Canva, Brand Identity, Typography
UI/UX Design:
User Research, Wireframing, Prototyping, Figma, Adobe XD, Usability Testing, Information Architecture
Video & Motion:
Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Motion Graphics, Video Editing
3D & Web:
Blender, Cinema 4D, WebFlow, WordPress, HTML/CSS, Responsive Design
Healthcare
Clinical Skills:
Patient Care, Clinical Documentation, HIPAA Compliance, Electronic Health Records (EHR), Epic, Cerner
Medical Specialties:
Diagnosis & Treatment, Medication Administration, Medical Terminology, Patient Assessment, Triage
Healthcare Admin:
Medical Billing & Coding, Healthcare Management, Insurance Verification, ICD-10, CPT Coding
Soft Skills (Use Sparingly)
⚠️ Warning: Don't just list these. Everyone claims to have "excellent communication skills." Prove them in your experience section instead.
How to Choose Which Skills to Include
The 3-Step Skills Selection Process
Step 1: Extract Keywords from Job Posting
Copy the job description and highlight every skill mentioned. Look in the "Requirements," "Qualifications," and "Responsibilities" sections.
Example: If the job says "Python" 5 times and "Java" once, Python is more important.
Step 2: Match Your Skills to Their Keywords
Use the EXACT same wording as the job posting. If they say "JavaScript," don't write "JS."
Example: Job says "Project Management" → You write "Project Management" (not "PM" or "Managing Projects")
Step 3: Prioritize by Relevance & Proficiency
List your strongest, most relevant skills first. Put skills you used in the last 2 years at the top.
Rule: Only include skills you'd be comfortable discussing in an interview.
Common Skills Section Mistakes
❌ Mistake #1: Including Outdated Skills
"Microsoft Word," "Email," "Internet Research" are assumed in 2025.
Fix: Only include skills that are either (1) technical/specialized or (2) explicitly requested in the job posting.
❌ Mistake #2: Using Different Keywords Than the Job Posting
Job says "Salesforce CRM" but you write "CRM Software" → ATS misses the match.
Fix: Copy exact wording from the job posting. ATS systems look for exact matches.
❌ Mistake #3: Too Many Generic Soft Skills
"Team player, hard worker, detail-oriented, excellent communicator" tells recruiters nothing.
Fix: Replace generic soft skills with hard skills. Prove soft skills in your experience bullets.
❌ Mistake #4: Listing Skills You Don't Actually Have
Took one Python class in college? Don't claim "Python Expert."
Fix: Only list skills you've used in real projects or jobs in the last 2 years.
❌ Mistake #5: No Skills Section at All
Some candidates skip it thinking "it's all in my experience." ATS systems disagree.
Fix: ALWAYS include a dedicated skills section. ATS systems specifically scan for it.
Skills Section by Career Level
🎓 Entry-Level / New Grad
You have fewer professional skills, so include relevant coursework, certifications, and projects.
SKILLS
- • Python, SQL, Data Analysis
- • Excel (Advanced), Tableau
- • Statistical Analysis & Hypothesis Testing
- • Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager
- • Agile/Scrum (Coursework)
💼 Mid-Level (3-7 Years)
Focus on proven technical skills and any leadership/management experience.
SKILLS
- • Python, Django, PostgreSQL, React
- • AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda), Docker, Kubernetes
- • CI/CD Pipelines, Git, Jenkins
- • System Design & Architecture
- • Technical Leadership, Code Review, Mentoring
🚀 Senior-Level (8+ Years)
Emphasize architecture, strategy, leadership. Technical depth + business impact.
TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP
System Architecture, Microservices, Cloud Infrastructure (AWS/Azure), Technical Strategy
CORE TECHNOLOGIES
Python, Go, Distributed Systems, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, Terraform
LEADERSHIP
Engineering Management, Cross-functional Collaboration, Stakeholder Communication
Where Should the Skills Section Go?
Best Placement: After Experience, Before Education
Most common and ATS-friendly. Shows your experience first, then summarizes skills.
Alternative: After Summary, Before Experience
Good for tech roles where skills matter more than company names. Helps pass ATS quickly.
Don't Put: At the very bottom
Skills are too important to hide at the end after education and interests.
Final Checklist
Before submitting your resume, verify:
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