Essential Resume Skills: Examples for Any Job

You have the skills necessary for landing your next job, but it’s important to effectively showcase them in order to get notice and land that interview first. A winning resume highlights the abilities most relevant to the job, instantly capturing the attention of hiring managers.

We’ve curated an up-to-date guide featuring the top hard and soft skills to include on your resume in 2025, ensuring you make a lasting impression.

Best Skills for a Resume

Our research into resume skills shows that the following are the most in-demand skills in resumes today throughout all industries.

However, it’s important to note that the right skills for your resume will depend on both your experience and the employer’s requirements. 

See if any of these apply to you and set them aside to get your skill list started:

1. Interpersonal skills: Employers value candidates who can build strong working relationships. Interpersonal skills allow you to connect with others, collaborate effectively, and navigate team dynamics, which is essential in today’s workplace. 
2. Adaptability: A rapidly changing job market needs candidates who can handle ever-shifting demands and continue to excel at their jobs. Your ability to adapt to new surroundings is a plus in your resume skills section. Add examples of how you’ve been able to go with the flow and adapt to what companies need.
3. Digital literacy and AI proficiency:Today’s employers expect candidates to be comfortable with technology. Knowing how to use digital tools, safeguard your privacy, and navigate basic computer systems is essential. With AI transforming nearly every industry, showing how you’ve used it to improve workflow or spark innovation can set you apart.
4. Attention to detail: Catching mistakes and fixing them, ensuring all your job duties are handled correctly and delivering accurate, high-quality work are all hallmarks of great employees — and all stem from great attention to detail, making it a good skill to put on a resume. 
5. Time and workflow management: Employers seek candidates who can accomplish tasks efficiently and reliably. Strong time management skills show that you’re committed to your responsibilities, can meet deadlines, and handle multiple tasks without losing focus. 
6. Strong work ethic: How you approach your work is as important as the technical skills you add to your skills section. Employers will always appreciate a work ethic that shows you’re dedicated and committed to the job. 
7. Customer-centric thinking: Great customer service skills mean putting client and user needs first — whether you’re solving a problem, delivering a product, or shaping a service experience. On your resume, highlight how you’ve listened to feedback, built trust, or helped improve customer satisfaction to show your impact.
8. Innovation and creativity: Companies value employees who can think creatively and bring innovative ideas to the table. Whether you’ve improved a process, introduced a new way of doing things, or contributed to a creative project, show it on your resume. Highlight moments where your ideas made a difference or helped your team solve a tough challenge.
9. Project and operations management: Advancing your career relies heavily on showing you can oversee and manage work projects. Be sure to mention project management skills and any familiarity with Agile methodologies, such as Scrum, and project management software, such as Trello and Zoho, in the skills section of your resume. 
10. Cross-functional collaboration: Work today rarely happens in a silo. Employers look for candidates who can collaborate across teams, departments, and roles to get things done. On your resume, show how you’ve worked with people from different backgrounds or functions to solve problems, launch projects, or meet shared goals.

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Hard skills vs Soft skills

When writing your resume, it is best practice to list six to eight key skills, both soft and hard. This strategy enables you to showcase a well-rounded skill set that demonstrates your ability to perform job duties and integrate into the company culture. Here are the differences: 

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Top 10 Resume Hard Skill Examples for Popular Jobs

1. Data analysis

The world runs on data and the ability to analyze it, draw intelligent conclusions, and use your findings to improve business operations. Essential related resume skills include:

• Data visualization
• Programming
• Skills statistics
• Knowledge programming tools
• MATLAB

Related jobs:

• Salesforce Administrator
• Data Analytics Manager
• Backup Administrator

2. Cybersecurity

Nothing is worse for a business than stolen data, and cybersecurity professionals are the first vital line of defense against hackers. In addition to cybersecurity certifications, other highly sought-after computer skills for resumes include:

• Knowledge of security across different platforms
• Computer forensics skills
• Risk identification and management
• Scripting
• DevOps

3. Programming

Programming skills are valuable for working with websites, internal networks and mobile apps. Feature your knowledge of specific programming languages and other related skills in your resume skills section, such as:

• Java
• HTML5
• Cloud computing
• Web development
• Object-oriented programming (OOP)

Related jobs:

• SQL developer
• Computer Software
• Java Developer

4.Marketing

Marketing helps businesses reach out to consumers and increase sales, subscriptions, and overall engagement. Related job skills for a resume include:

• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Search engine marketing (SEM)
• Email and social media marketing
• Copywriting
• Google Analytics

5. Accounting

Handling financial matters is an essential part of any business, and the ability to parse numbers, analyze budgets and provide detailed, accurate account management is a crucial component of finance. Skills to add to a resume in this field include:

• Microsoft Excel
• Big data analysis
• QuickBooks
• Tally
• Financial statements

Related jobs:

• Accountant
• Internal Auditor
• Project Accountant

6. Design

Companies have a high need for polished design work, from multimedia to website layouts. Important skills to put on a resume for this type of job include:

• Knowledge of security across different platforms
• Computer forensics skills
• Risk identification and management
• Scripting
• DevOps

7. Writing

Even in today’s tech-heavy world, good writing skills are still necessary for communication, executing marketing campaigns, assembling documentation, and creating presentations. Good skills to put on a resume for this ability include:

• Content writing
• Editing
• Business report and proposal writing
• Creative storytelling
• Planning and outlining

Related jobs:

• Editor
• Technical Writer
• Copywriter

8. Cloud computing

Jobs in cloud computing will only increase as more companies move important data to the cloud or use it to manage employee tasks. Related skills to add to a resume for this career include:

• Cloud architecture
• Networking
• Cloud middleware technologies
• Data management
• Application programmer interfaces (APIs)

9. Specialized machinery

Whether licensed to drive large transport vehicles or operate heavy equipment, having training, or certification in machinery operation is something you can add to the skills section of a resume to open doors to jobs in many industries, from inventory to construction. These include:

• Forklift operation
• Backhoe
• Certified Equipment Manager (CEM)
• Loaders operation
• Physical stamina and strength

Related jobs:

• Certified Crane Operator
• Truck Driver
• Class B CDL Driver

10. Foreign languages

As the global economy becomes more integrated, employers increasingly need multilingual employees. People who speak more than one language also often have better memory and multitasking ability. Make sure to highlight your multilingual abilities in your resume skills section, such as:

• Spanish
• Italian
• Japanese
• German
• French

Top 10 Soft Skill Examples for a Resume

Soft skills are highly valuable to employers and can improve job performance while increasing your career advancement opportunities. The demand for soft skills is expected to continue to grow as the workplace evolves. These are the top 10 sought-after soft skills to include in your resume:

1. Communication

Employers count good communication skills as a prerequisite for most jobs, whether assisting a customer or interacting with your team members. In your resume, include achievements that involve interacting well with others and stress “verbal and written communication” in your resume skills section.

2. Teamwork

Even if you’re working remotely, collaborating with and supporting other team members remains an essential soft skill for your resume. Ensure you describe yourself as a team member by providing examples of how you’ve successfully worked alongside others and contributed to the successful operations of your team.

3. Problem-solving

Another soft skill for your resume that never goes out of style is solving problems: using creative thinking, experience and resourcefulness to overcome obstacles. Show off problem-solving skills in your resume’s work history section by sharing accomplishments in which you had to work through a challenge.

4. Empathy

Understanding and sharing the feelings of others helps build strong workplace relationships. Empathy improves communication, teamwork, and customer service by fostering respect and collaboration.

5. Leadership

One of the surest ways to advance in your career is to demonstrate strong leadership skills. Professionals with a talent for leading others toward success, whether by taking charge of a project, mentoring junior employees, or providing positive direction for a team or company, are highly valuable across industries. 

6. Dependability

Employers need team members they can count on to consistently deliver quality work and meet deadlines. Demonstrating dependability shows you’re responsible and trustworthy—qualities that make you a valuable asset.

7. Active listening

Focusing when interacting with and getting instructions from others will help you better connect with colleagues and clients and more quickly pinpoint work problems and solutions. Show that you’re present by including this ability in your job skills list.

8. Critical thinking

Employers don’t want automatons, they want employees who can make reasoned choices and adjustments depending on the situation, making this a great soft skill for your resume. Show your critical thinking skills by giving examples of times when you had to use good judgment to complete a project, improve a process, or achieve the desired result.

9. Conflict management

Let’s face it; not everything will run smoothly at work all the time. When friction arises with co-workers, a boss, between departments or clients, an even-keeled, calm and goal-oriented approach is a useful asset. Essential skills for a resume that fall under the conflict management category include facilitation, mediation and active listening.

10. Organization

Keeping a firm handle on all your duties and turning chaos into order is a crucial job skill, especially for positions requiring coordinating large amounts of paperwork or data or managing large events or groups. Display your organizational skills by calling out any experiences you have in which your ability to organize made a difference.

What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills are skills and abilities that you acquire in one job or situation that can be applied to another job or situation. These skills are considered valuable to employers because they can be used across different industries or job functions. 

Some examples of transferable skills include:

Transferable skills are essential in today's job market, where many people change careers multiple times throughout their working lives. Having a strong set of transferable skills can make it easier to transition between jobs and industries. They can also make you a more attractive job candidate, as employers value employees who can bring diverse skills and experiences to their organization.

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Top Resume Skills for Popular Industries

Accounting skills

Business operations skills

Computer software skills

Customer service skills

Data administration skills

Finance skills

Fitness and nutrition skills

Food service skills

Health care support skills

Hospitality skills

Human resources skills

Information technology skills

Inventory management skills

Marketing skills

Medical skills

Nursing skills

Production skills

Sales skills

Teaching skills

Web development skills

How to List Skills on Your Resume

Now that you know which are the best skills to put on a resume, use our advice to put together a great work skills list:

1. Review the job posting and choose what skills to put on your resume

Read the job description thoroughly to understand what the employer is looking for, and note which key skills to add to your resume accordingly.

Depending on the job and industry, required skills may include personal qualities such as being a team player, a problem-solver or an excellent communicator, and hard skills like Photoshop, AutoCAD or budgeting. You can also visit the company’s website to learn more about its mission and goals, which are great places to discover the qualities its culture embodies and the goals they’re working toward.

2. Match your skill set to the job

Once you’ve pinpointed your skills that match the company's needs, create a master list of the 10 most critical hard and soft skills for your resume. Ensure you include a good mix of soft and hard skills.

Not every skill you possess needs to be—or should be—listed in your resume skills section. Instead, target your resume to the specific job by including only those directly impacting the job you’re applying for and will help you prove to be the best candidate for the role. 

If you’re making a career change, focus on transferable skills for your resume: qualities and abilities that can be transferred from one job to another and help you align your past experiences with your potential new job. For example, good soft skills for a resume like communication, teamwork and adaptability, are universal — all employers want to hire people they can depend on.

3. Choose the right resume format.

There are three main resume formats you can choose from, each one highlighting a different aspect of your career profile. Let’s dissect each resume format to help you understand which one is ideal for shining a light on your unique career level.

Functional resume format

Functional format: If you’re short on work experience but can feature skills and training that fit the job, go with a functional resume. This functional resume skills section example shows how you can provide a detailed snapshot of your best abilities by categorizing them.

Chronological resume format

Chronological format: If you have extensive experience in the career or field you’re interested in, go with a chronological resume. In the chronological format, your work history is followed by a list of six to eight key skills. Focus on your top soft and hard skills for your resume, and give examples of how you’ve applied your skills in past jobs under your work history entries.

Use this chronological resume example skills section to understand how to list your skills:

Combination resume format

Combination format: If you have years of experience in your field or are switching careers and want to display your most relevant skills alongside your experience, go with a combination resume.

This resume format provides a balanced view of your skills and work experience, allowing you to offer a detailed view of your qualifications. 

Look at this combination resume example’s skills section to see how skills are listed and organized:

 4. Show how you’ve used your skills in your work history

Don’t limit your skills to just your resume skills section. In your work experience section, include accomplishments that show how you’ve used your skills to complete a project or address a critical task. For example:

This work example demonstrates three good skills to put on a resume based on their experience: Microsoft Office knowledge, training and mentoring others, and facility for IT work.

Here’s another example:

This example shows that you know how to multitask (servicing a large team), and can handle administrative duties (such as phone call management), along with good communication abilities (receiving visitors and answering calls). All of these are excellent skills to put on a resume.

5. Select the best skills for your resume summary

Your resume summary statement is the first thing recruiters will read, so start it off with a bang by mentioning your top qualifications and skills. What’s the one trait or area of expertise you want employers to know most about? Mention it right off the bat in your summary. For example:

You've outlined your strengths in just a few sentences: office coordination, patient advocacy and a professional approach. Be sure to read the job description well to determine the best skills to put on a resume summary statement for the job you’re applying to.

 6. Emphasize your skills with a cover letter

Don’t just ask yourself, “What skills should I put on my resume?” Consider what skills to include or expand upon in your cover letter.

When writing your cover letter, structure each paragraph to highlight job-relevant skills. Here's how: 

In the introduction paragraph, include your strongest job-relevant skill.

In the body paragraphs, offer examples of your accomplishments to highlight. 

In the closing paragraph, reiterate your strongest skill and how it could be an asset to the potential employer. 

Key Takeaways