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What skills to put on a resume: examples and method

Hard skills, soft skills, languages: how to pick the ones that matter for the job, prove them and present them on your resume.

By The CVticket team 6 min read

The skills section is one of the most-read parts of your resume, by recruiters and recruiting software alike. Done poorly, it becomes a list of empty words; done well, it shows at a glance that you fit the job.

The three kinds of skills

  • Hard skills: tools, software, languages, methods, certifications. Examples: cost accounting, advanced Excel, SQL, TIG welding, payroll.
  • Soft skills: how you work with others and organize yourself. Examples: organization, communication, adaptability, teamwork.
  • Languages, with a clear level: ideally on the European scale (A1 to C2), or “native”, “fluent”, “professional”, “basic”.

Choose the right skills

A good list is not the longest one, but the most relevant to the job.

  1. List the skills requested in the job offer, especially those mentioned several times.
  2. Keep the ones you genuinely have, using the same wording as the offer.
  3. Add two or three strong skills that set you apart, even if the offer does not mention them.
  4. Remove anything obvious or outdated (“Internet”, “Word” for an office job).

Prove, don’t just claim

Writing “leadership” convinces no one. Show it in your experience:

  • Instead of “organized”: “Scheduled routes for 14 technicians, cutting delays by 30%”.
  • Instead of “great communicator”: “Ran a monthly workshop for 40 colleagues”.

The skills section is the summary; your experience is the proof.

Skill levels: useful, in moderation

Bars, stars and percentages look nice but say little: what does “80% in Excel” mean? If you use them, also write the skill name in words so ATS software can read it. For languages, prefer an explicit level (B2, C1).

Examples by job

  • Administrative assistant: calendar management, business correspondence, Excel (pivot tables), filing and records, phone reception.
  • Web developer: JavaScript, React, Node.js, SQL, Git, automated testing, agile methods.
  • Sales representative: prospecting, negotiation, CRM (Salesforce), account management, sales analysis.
  • Nurse: clinical care, emergency response, patient education, electronic health records, interdisciplinary teamwork.

Check your list

CVticket’s ATS analysis compares your resume with the job offer: it flags the offer’s skills missing from your resume, suggests grouping your skills by theme, and never keeps a skill your resume does not already mention. The levels you entered always stay yours.

Also read: how to make your resume ATS-friendly and how to write a resume with no experience.

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