A resume’s key function is demonstrating to potential employers that you have the proper skills to fulfill a particular job’s responsibilities. But how do you know what skills an employer values, and how do you show off your skills on your resume in a tangible way?
This article reviews some of the most in-demand soft skills applicants should develop to qualify for various jobs, with examples of how to include them on your resume. It also includes insights from Huy Nguyen, Intelligent.com’s chief education and career development advisor, about listing skills on resumes, especially for recent graduates who may not have extensive work experience.
According to Nguyen, “Employers increasingly value candidates who can adapt and learn new skills on demand, thrive in uncertainty, and creatively solve challenges.”
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills
The skills a job-seeker lists on their resume typically fall into two categories: hard skills or soft skills.
Hard skills are industry specific.
Individuals typically learn industry-specific hard skills through formal education, like degree programs, certificate programs, or trade schools, or on-the-job training in internships, clinical rotations, or apprenticeships. Most hard skills are measurable and quantifiable. As such, your resume should include specific examples that demonstrate your proficiency in these areas, either in past jobs, internships, or coursework. For example, web developers must know programming languages like JavaScript and Python, while nurses must know how to read medical charts and draw blood.
Soft skills apply to many roles and industries.
Also known as transferable skills, soft skills are often personality-based, such as time management, leadership, and adaptability. While these skills aren’t usually taught directly in post-secondary education like hard skills, students can develop their soft skills in school, work, and most aspects of life. For example, if you attended college and earned a high GPA while working a full-time job and raising a family, this can demonstrate that you have good time management and organization skills, which are necessary for successfully juggling these responsibilities.
How to List Skills on Your Resume
Before adding skills to your resume, review the job post to determine which skills are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. The job posting should detail the hard and soft skills required or preferred for a particular job. Some postings may explicitly list skills candidates must have. For example, for an office administrator position, an employer might require proficiency in software programs like Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint. Other postings may be more nuanced, so reading job postings carefully is important.
If you haven’t already, create a master list of all your hard and soft skills, with at least one concrete example for each that demonstrates that particular skill. If you can’t think of an example that shows you using a skill, reflect on whether you should include it on your resume. Based on the job posting requirements, select the skills to include on your resume for the application.
There are various ways to list skills on your resume, and a strong resume demonstrates your skills in multiple ways. Many job seekers include a “Key Skills” section listing their strongest and most relevant abilities. The placement of this section can vary depending on what type of resume format you’re using, but including this can be an easy way for hiring managers to see what relevant skills you possess quickly.
You should also incorporate information about your hard and soft skills into the descriptions of your current and past job responsibilities. For example, if you’re a web developer, note the programming languages you frequently used to create websites and applications at a current or previous job.
In your resume’s education section, include coursework or certifications that demonstrate your proficiency with hard skills. If you list volunteer experience on your resume, consider how you may have used soft skills, like leadership or teamwork, in that capacity.
The 10 Best Soft Skills for Resumes
Communication
Most, if not all, jobs require some degree of communication, which is why this is one of the most in-demand soft skills. Communication encompasses a range of skills, including communicating information clearly and effectively through verbal and written methods; public speaking and presentation skills; managing conflict, and understanding how communication dynamics vary depending on audience and context. It can also mean proficiency with different telecommunications software, like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Examples of listing communication skills on a resume include:
- Wrote training materials reviewing office protocols for new staff members
- Provided courteous and attentive customer service in person and via phone in the doctor’s office
- Prepared and delivered regular presentations in person and via Zoom to 100+ company employees
Teamwork
Similar to communication, most jobs require teamwork and collaboration, which is why employers want to know how job candidates work with others. Ideal job candidates understand that, while they may bring individual strengths to a role, they must also work alongside others with different skills and personalities. Teamwork skills include interpersonal communication, the ability to manage and resolve conflicts, active listening, and a willingness to share and hear ideas with a team.
You can demonstrate your aptitude for teamwork in the following ways:
- Served as a member of the School Activities Committee to plan, promote, and host on-campus events attended by 50-60% of the student body
- Worked as part of a five-member team of healthcare professionals to develop and implement care plans for 10-12 patients in a hospital setting
- Served as assistant editor of the school newspaper with a team of student editors and journalists to produce a weekly newspaper read by roughly 5,000 students and faculty members
Leadership
Even if the position you’re applying for isn’t specifically in management, many employers want candidates with leadership experience because it implies self-motivation, confidence, and the ability to delegate responsibilities. If you haven’t had a specific leadership role, consider when you took the initiative and helped guide others toward a common goal.
Leadership resume examples may include:
- Supervised a team of five employees as shift lead at a clothing retail store
- Served as board president of a community volunteer organization for two terms
- Directed theater department production featuring a cast of eight actors and a 15-member production crew
Critical thinking
Regardless of their position, all employees must decide how to handle problems, interact with clients and coworkers, prioritize tasks, and more. Critical thinking is objectively analyzing and evaluating an issue to make an informed decision. This skill is valuable because it shows employers they can trust you to make wise choices, especially in challenging circumstances. Critical thinking skills are essential to solving complex problems, creating or improving processes, and developing strategies to help meet an organization’s goals.
Examples of critical thinking include:
- Reviewed customer feedback surveys and implemented new systems based on responses, improving customer satisfaction by 75%
- Created a new communication strategy for incoming first-year students of a first-year residence hall to address move-in day questions and concerns proactively
- Analyzed the organization’s spending and developed a new budget strategy, leading to a 30% reduction in overhead costs
Problem-solving
Problems arise regardless of your industry or job. Employers seek workers who can address issues calmly and find effective solutions that work for all affected parties. Creativity and innovation are often components of problem-solving, so feel free to show how out-of-the-box thinking helped you resolve problems in previous roles. Problem-solving typically goes hand in hand with critical thinking and adaptability.
Demonstrate your problem-solving skills with examples of how you addressed challenges in work or other settings:
- Organized monthly training sessions to address gaps in employee knowledge in the tech support department
- Developed rewards program to address behavioral issues in elementary school classroom
- Resolved community center budget shortfall by planning and hosting an additional fundraising event
Adaptability
In the professional world, as in life, individuals must be flexible enough to adapt to unexpected situations and changes. Whether learning a new filing system or responding to an emergency, employers want to know that their employees can adapt quickly and calmly. Adaptability means being open to new ideas or shifting priorities to accommodate different tasks.
Examples of adaptability include:
- Assisted in the implementation of new document scanning and filing process, including training other employees in the new system
- Supported staff during the pivot to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including shifting meetings and workshops from in-person to virtual settings
- Redistributed responsibilities among event staff when personnel were absent due to illness
Organization
Most employers want workers who can prioritize tasks, maintain systems that aid optimal workflow, and handle responsibilities without being micromanaged. Organization is necessary, so you’ll want to provide examples of your self-motivation and efficiency on your resume. Highlight systems you use or implement on a larger scale to manage workflow, streamline tasks, and meet deadlines.
Ways to highlight your organizational skills on your resume include:
- Developed digital workflow for reviewing and approving documents among an eight-person team
- Worked with the project manager to establish achievable deadlines for meeting monthly content production goals
- Coordinated calendars for a seven-member production team, including scheduling virtual and in-person meetings and sending calendar invites and reminders
Time management
Time is a finite resource, so managing it efficiently is a crucial skill most employers value. Even if you haven’t worked a full-time job yet, you’ve likely developed time management skills by balancing schoolwork, a part-time job, extracurricular activities, and family responsibilities. Time management also means understanding how long tasks take to complete and being aware of and meeting deadlines.
Examples of demonstrating time management skills include:
- Finished projects on time or ahead of schedule consistently
- Maintained a 3.7 GPA while working 20 hours per week at an on-campus job and serving as secretary for the Student Government Board
- Oversaw caseload of 8-10 clients, including weekly client sessions, reporting, and follow-ups
Computer/technical skills
While specific technical skills, like knowledge of coding languages, are considered hard skills, a basic proficiency with computers and technology is required for most positions nowadays. In addition to being able to operate computers, printers, copiers, and phones, individuals should be familiar with basic computer applications like word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, email, cloud-based communication programs, and videoconferencing.
Computer and technical skill examples include:
- Maintained Microsoft Outlook calendar for an academic department consisting of 10 faculty members and three graduate assistants
- Created, edited, and shared Google Docs with a six-member content production team
- Designed presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote
Customer service skills
Often associated most closely with specific roles like receptionist, restaurant server, or cashier, customer service skills are useful in any role that requires interaction between an employee and a client. Strong customer service includes the ability to communicate clearly, solve problems, and maintain a positive demeanor in various circumstances. Employers seek workers who can engage with a range of different constituencies and help customers have a satisfying experience.
Examples of customer service experience include:
- Performed hosting duties at a busy fast-casual chain restaurant, including greeting and seating customers and addressing customer concerns
- Scheduled appointments for patients via phone and email in busy primary care physician’s office
- Provided campus tours to 10-15 prospective students and their families per week and answered questions about the campus, student life, and academics
AI skills
Although artificial intelligence (AI) is in its infancy, proficiency with the technology is becoming a baseline expectation in many sectors, especially those in which data analysis and automation play crucial roles, according to Nguyen. “Technical AI skills are great, but understanding how it can be used to impact businesses and the ability to talk about it is crucial,” he adds. “Many industries are interested in how they can implement and leverage AI in their businesses to increase capabilities, productivity, and reduce operating costs.”
Examples of AI skills and experience include:
- Utilized AI to edit and optimize content for student government website and social media channels
- Created a chatbot for the college’s admissions office to answer basic questions about application requirements and deadlines
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate AI solutions into current business practices
In-Demand Hard and Soft Skills for Fast-Growing Jobs
Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following jobs are predicted to experience faster-than-average job growth over the next decade. Job outlook, along with personal abilities and interests, is an important factor to consider when determining which career path might be right for you.
Nurse practitioners
Nurse practitioners, also known as advanced practice registered nurses, coordinate patient care and may provide primary and specialty healthcare.
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
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Information security analysts
Information security analysts help defend an organization’s computer network and systems by monitoring networks for security breaches, implementing software to protect sensitive information, and developing security standards and best practices.
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
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Financial managers
Financial managers oversee an organization’s financial health by creating financial reports, directing investment activities, and developing plans for long-term financial goals.
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
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Market research analysts
Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to help companies understand what products and services people want and at what price they should sell them.
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
|---|---|
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Social workers
Social workers help individuals, groups, and families cope with life challenges by connecting them with resources, diagnosing mental, emotional, and behavioral issues, and providing interventions.
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
|---|---|
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Resume Skills Frequently Asked Questions
How do I develop skills for my resume?
You’ve likely already been developing skills for your resume through your college degree program, work or internship experience, and extracurricular or volunteer activities. Once you enter the workforce, you’ll continue to develop skills through on-the-job training and experience. Take on new responsibilities whenever possible to help you gain more in-depth knowledge of your position and industry. Continuing education is one way to add new skills to your toolkit, whether through graduate programs, post-secondary certificates, online courses, or workshops.
Nguyen also encourages students to seek out opportunities beyond a workplace setting. “Get involved with local organizations where you can contribute and collaborate with others in your community,” he says. “In a volunteer organization, it may be easier for you to try different roles and see how each works independently and towards a collective goal. As you progress in the organization, you may be given more responsibilities and opportunities to be in a leadership role, which will help you develop new skills.”
Remember that learning is a lifelong process, and the more you learn, the more skills you’ll have.
How many skills should I include on my resume?
“There are no hard and fast rules about the number of skills to include on a resume, but I recommend between 10-15 skills listed in a standalone skills section,” Nguyen says.
For a standalone skills section, Nguyen recommends prioritizing hard, tangible skills to make it easy for a recruiter or ATS screening system to scan quickly and identify applicants as an appropriate candidate.
As for soft skills, he says, “Listing them alone in the skills section can appear intangible and hard to evaluate. Instead, include these soft skill keywords in your experience section to tie them back to how you demonstrated these skills in previous work experiences.”
Nguyen also cautions against including too many skills. “This can make an applicant appear too general and lacking in “standout” skills. Prioritize hard skills relevant to the position you are applying for, and don’t list any irrelevant skills, even though you may have advanced competencies in those areas.”
How do I list skills on my resume without work experience?
Even if you haven’t yet been formally employed, you’ve likely been developing soft skills through other life experiences, including attending school and internships, participating in extracurricular activities, and volunteering. For a recent college graduate with limited professional experience, using those experiences to highlight your skills is acceptable. In the education section of your resume, you can list any coursework you completed that helped you develop the hard skills necessary for your chosen field.
Nguyen also recommends creating a special ‘Projects’ section on your resume, saying, “This is where recent grads can highlight academic projects completed in school, especially outside of the classroom environment, with clubs or other organizations.”
Should I customize my skills section for each application I submit?
“Job-seekers should absolutely customize their skills sections for each application they submit,” Nguyen says. “This makes it easier for recruiters and ATS tracking systems to evaluate your skills and determine if you are a good fit for the position and helps you stand out from other applicants who may just be blasting their same resume to hundreds of jobs.”
You’ll want to ensure that your skills list aligns with the requirements and qualifications for a particular job and contains the proper keywords to pass any Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software an employer is using. If your resume is too generic and irrelevant, it can signal to employers that you’re not paying close attention to job descriptions, which may lead them to disqualify you from consideration.
Should I include professional certifications and training in my skills section?
“Yes, applicants should Include any relevant certifications and training courses completed in the skills section,” Nguyen says. “Certifications and training help validate students’ tangible skills and accomplishments.”
It is particularly important if you have certifications that are required to work professionally in your industry. For example, if you’re a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you’ll want to highlight that distinction on your resume, as most accounting jobs require this certification. The job posting is usually a reliable guide on whether a specific certification or professional credential is required to be eligible for the job. If you’re earning a certification, you can include that as well, with the anticipated date when you’ll be fully certified.