From this article you will learn:
- Why is it important to list skills on a resume?
- Where to place skills on a resume?
- How to list skills on a resume? Tips for what skills to add to your resume
- Hard and soft skills: how to write these skills on a resume + 15 must-have soft skills in a resume
- Top 16 skills on a resume that is important to most employers
- How to mention language skills on a resume?
- 3 common mistakes in writing skills on a resume
- 50+ skills examples for resume in various areas
Why is it important to list skills on a resume?
The skills section is the first thing recruiters look at when rating your resume. It is the skills on a resume that will tell the recruiter in 5 seconds if you are the right person for the position and if your resume is worth reviewing further.
Where to place skills on a resume?
There is a separate section for skills on a resume.
If you have skills in different areas, separate them. For example, you can part computer skills and your language skills.
The way you present your knowledge is only up to you.
Also, write about your greatest strengths in the profile section. Recruiters pay attention to this section, so take the opportunity to make a good impression.
How to list skills on a resume? Tips for what skills to add to your resume
Tip №1. Mention only the knowledge that is relevant to the desired position.
No doubt you have many strengths, but you don’t need to list all of your skills on a resume that won’t be useful for the job.
Tip №2. Read the job description carefully and write down all the necessary knowledge and skills that apply to you.
In addition to the requirements for the specific position, also pay attention to the company description and its culture. If you don’t see a link to company culture in the job posting, check Indeed’s company profile or company website.
To form a skill list on a resume for the particular position, check the requirements of 3-5 other job postings and highlight common and recurring items. As a result, you’ll understand what’s important to most recruiters.
Tip №3. Include both hard skills and soft skills on your resume.
Even if you are applying for a remote job, you will be communicating with other employees. Without the ability to resolve conflicts and work as part of a team, the corporate culture will “push” you out. Toxic professionals will destroy the team, so show the recruiter on your resume that you have both hard skills and soft skills.
Read how to represent hard and soft skills properly on a resume in the next paragraph.
Tip №4. List no more than 10 skills on a resume.
Employers don’t want to see long lists. If you name too much of your knowledge, important skills won’t take notice and will be lost.
Tip №5. Write about skills specifically on your resume.
Tip №6. Don’t mention obvious skills.
Don’t list skills that are taken for granted, as it may raise doubts about your qualifications.
On the other hand, if you are applying for a job as an editor, mention your skills in word processing programs.
Hard and soft skills: how to write these skills on a resume + 15 must-have soft skills in a resume
Skills on a resume are divided into hard skills and soft skills.
Hard skills include all the technical and specialized skills you have in practice in a particular area.
For example, for a software developer, hard skills include knowledge of the Python programming language, and for a web designer, knowledge of Adobe Photoshop.
Usually, a recruiter is looking for an employee with actual experience in order to spend minimum investment in their training. That’s why hard skills are a higher priority than soft skills. However, if you list soft skills on your resume, you will have an advantage over other candidates.
Soft skills include social, personal, and methodical skills.
A list of 8 main soft skills required for most vacancies:
- teamwork
- ability to resolve conflicts and negotiate
- stress resistance
- flexibility
- organizational skills and independence
- intercultural competence
- desire to learn and get new knowledge
- communication skills and politeness
For example, if you’re an engineer applying for a leadership position, it’s not enough to simply write that you have leadership skills. Back that up with a short description about how you’ve led a department, delegated tasks to your colleagues, implemented new processes, and improved the quality of the company performance.
Look at the picture. What wording would convince you?
Top 16 skills on a resume that is important to most employers
The skills put on a resume depend on the position, experience, and industry. However, there are skills that employers will be looking for regardless of the position requirements.
Keep a list of skills so you know what area to develop in yourself!
A driver’s license is your achievement, which we suggest you also include in the skills section, even if they are not related to the position.
How to mention language skills on a resume?
Foreign language skills can be important for most jobs, so include the “Languages” section on your resume.
There are 2 rules to mention language fluency correctly on your resume.
- First, list the languages you know best.
- For each language, write your proficiency level – from A1 to C2.
If the job application requires a language level test, attach a certificate confirming that you have passed it.
3 common mistakes in writing skills on a resume
Mistake №1. Lack of structure
A lot of information without structure makes text confusing. To make your resume understandable, divide your information into sections. For example, include hard skills in the skills section, and create a separate column for foreign language skills, titled “languages”.
Mistake №2. Wrong choice of skills
Quality is more important than quantity in the skill list on resume. Listing all competencies that are not relevant to the position will not convince the recruiter. Instead, list only those competencies that are suitable for the job posting.
Mistake №3. No skills evaluation
For instance, without specifying language proficiency, there is no point in mentioning it.
50+ skills examples for resume in various areas
Examples of skills on a resume for a designer:
For a graphic designer resume, you should create a designer portfolio and insert your cases. In addition to creating a portfolio, you can mention hard skills on your resume:
- Knowledge of design principles
- Knowledge of color theory and typography
- Brand development
- Storytelling
- Attention to detail
- Collaboration with clients
- Project management
- Meeting deadlines
- Time management
- Verbal and presentation skills
- Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop
- Infographics
- HTML AND CSS
- Photo editing
- Targeting and marketing through visual communications
- Logo design
- Interactive media design
- Advertising design
Examples of skills on a resume for a developer:
For front-end or back-end developers, hard and soft skills are needed. Technical skills are needed to complete tasks, and soft skills are needed to organize work with the client and within the development department.
Before describing skills on your resume, look carefully at the requirements in the job posting. Make a list of skills on your resume with the employer’s needs in mind.
Hard skills for a developer on a resume:
- Coding languages
- Troubleshooting and testing skills
- Knowledge of operating systems
- Database software
- UX and UI design
- Project Management
- Web frameworks
- API design
- Web development skills
- HTML/CSS
- CSS preprocessors
- Javascript
- WordPress
- Graphic user interfaces (GUI)
- Git/Version control (Github, gitlab)
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Programming Interface (API)
- Adobe Photoshop, InDesign
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Testing / Debugging
- Principles of responsive design
Examples of skills on a resume for a marketing scientist:
Jobs in marketing cover a wide range of professionals. If you’re building a resume for any marketing field, show a combination of analytical skills and soft skills.
Examples of skills on a resume for a marketing scientist include:
- Content creation
- Marketing research
- Web analytics
- SEO/SEM
- PPC
- CRO
- A/B testing
- Content management
- Social media management and strategy development
- Sales funnel management
- CMS tools
- Graphic design skills
- Email automation
- Data visualization
- Typography
- Branding
- Email marketing
- Web Scraping
- Paid Social Media Advertising
- B2B Marketing
- Storytelling
- Project Management
- Creativity
- Advertising and marketing
Examples of skills on a resume for a IT specialist:
In the profession of an IT specialist the key skills are knowledge of special programs, operating systems and programming languages. To make it easier for the employer to choose a specialist and you do not waste your time, we advise you to note the level of skills in your resume.
Some skills on a resume for an IT specialist:
- Web Development
- Open Source Experience
- Coding Java Script
- Programming Languages
- Machine Learning
- Debugging
- Data Structures
- UX/UI
- Security
- Front-End & Back-End Development
- Agile Development
- Cloud Management
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Ucanremote allows you to create a resume that differentiates you from others through:
- background checks with standardized tests from employers;
- feedback about you as a professional from your friends, acquaintances, former colleagues and managers;
- rating system based on your competencies.
Ucanremote will allow you to create a professional profile and compare your resume to that of your competitors, provide salary recommendations based on your knowledge, skills and experience.
Why Ucanremote is what you need now?
The skills list on your resume will help the recruiter know if you’re right for the job, so pay special attention to the skills section. Match the requirements of the job to your strengths, and you’re sure to get the job.
Do you have questions about what skills to mention on your resume? Or maybe you would like to share your tips and experiences about the job search? We’d be interested to hear what you have to say in the comments.
