Skills to Put on a Resume
The right skills, matched to the job description, are what ATS software and recruiters scan for first. Here’s what to include — and how.
List a mix of hard skills (tools, languages, software) and a few relevant soft skills, and mirror the exact terms from the job description. Group them so they’re easy to scan.
Hard skills by role (examples)
- Software engineering: Java, Python, C++, data structures, REST APIs, Git, unit testing, system design
- Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, TypeScript, Tailwind, responsive design, web accessibility
- Backend / DevOps: Node.js, Spring Boot, SQL, MongoDB, Docker, AWS, CI/CD, Linux
- Data & analytics: SQL, Python, Excel, Power BI, Tableau, statistics, ETL, data cleaning
- Digital marketing: SEO, Google Analytics 4, Google Ads, Meta Ads, content strategy, email marketing, keyword research, conversion tracking
- Finance & accounts: Tally ERP, advanced Excel, GST filing, TDS, bank reconciliation, accounts payable, financial modelling, budgeting
- Design: Figma, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, prototyping, design systems, user research, wireframing
- Human resources: recruitment, sourcing, onboarding, payroll, HRMS tools, employee engagement, performance reviews, labour compliance
- Sales & business development: lead generation, CRM (Salesforce/Zoho), cold calling, negotiation, pipeline management, upselling, client onboarding, target achievement
- Operations & supply chain: inventory management, vendor coordination, logistics, SAP, demand planning, process documentation, cost control, quality checks
- Customer support: ticketing tools (Zendesk/Freshdesk), CRM, escalation handling, SLA management, product knowledge, live chat, call handling, complaint resolution
- Teaching & education: lesson planning, curriculum design, classroom management, student assessment, digital teaching tools, parent communication, remedial teaching, record keeping
- Nursing & healthcare: patient care, vital monitoring, medication administration, IV insertion, infection control, EMR documentation, emergency response, patient counselling
- Civil & mechanical: AutoCAD, SolidWorks, project estimation, site supervision, quality assurance, BOQ preparation, safety compliance, MS Project
Soft skills that matter
- Communication — writing clearly, explaining technical work to non-technical people, running a meeting
- Problem-solving — breaking a vague problem down and choosing between imperfect options
- Teamwork & collaboration — code reviews, handovers, working across departments
- Ownership & accountability — following a task to completion without being chased
- Adaptability — picking up a new tool or process quickly when priorities shift
- Time management — prioritising when everything is marked urgent
- Attention to detail — catching the error before it reaches the customer
- Leadership — mentoring juniors, coordinating a small team, driving a decision
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QuickResume suggests the right skills for your role and checks them against the job.
Create my resume →Frequently asked questions
What skills should I put on my resume?
A mix of hard skills (tools, languages, software) and a few relevant soft skills, all matched to the specific job description.
How many skills should a resume have?
Around 8–15 relevant skills, grouped for easy scanning — quality and relevance beat a long, generic list.
Should I list soft skills?
A few, yes — but only ones you can demonstrate with examples in your experience. Recruiters value proof over buzzwords.