Resume · 3 min read
What to put in the skills section of your resume (with examples)
How to list technical and non-technical skills so they are accurate, easy to scan and match the jobs you want, with examples by field.
The skills section is the part recruiters and software scan first. A good one is short, honest and organised. A poor one is a long list of everything you have ever touched. This guide shows how to build a clear skills section and gives examples for several fields.
The rules
- List skills by their usual name: "Microsoft Excel", "Python", "Google Ads", "Tally", "Figma".
- Group them under small headings so the list is easy to scan.
- Keep only skills you could talk about in an interview.
- Put the ones the job asks for first.
- Skip vague words such as "hard-working" or "team player" in this section. Show those through your bullets instead.
- Keep the section to around 8 to 15 items. A very long list looks unfocused.
Hard skills and soft skills
Hard skills are specific abilities and tools: Python, SQL, Tally, SEO, Photoshop, cold calling, GST filing. They are easy to list and easy to test. Soft skills are habits and traits: communication, teamwork, time management. They are valuable but hard to prove with a single word. The best approach is to list hard skills in the Skills section, and show soft skills through your achievements, such as "Coordinated a team of 8 volunteers for the annual fest".
Examples by field
Data analyst: Languages: Python, SQL. Tools: Excel, Power BI, Tableau. Libraries: pandas, NumPy. Methods: data cleaning, dashboards, A/B testing.
Web developer: Languages: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Python. Frameworks: React, Flask. Tools: Git, Docker, REST APIs, PostgreSQL.
Sales executive: Lead generation, cold calling, negotiation, CRM tools (such as Zoho or HubSpot), pipeline management, client presentations.
Digital marketing: SEO, Google Ads, Meta Ads, content planning, email marketing, Google Analytics, Canva.
HR: Recruitment, resume screening, interview scheduling, onboarding, payroll basics, HRMS tools.
Accounts and finance: Tally, GST, Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables), bank reconciliation, financial reporting.
Customer support: Ticketing tools, email and chat support, CRM, communication in English and Hindi, de-escalation.
Design: Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, wireframing, prototyping, typography.
Operations: Inventory tracking, vendor coordination, process documentation, MS Excel, reporting, ERP basics.
How to group skills
If you have more than eight skills, split them into groups. For example:
- Languages: Python, SQL, JavaScript
- Tools: Git, Docker, Excel
- Concepts: REST APIs, data structures, testing
Groups let a recruiter find the one thing they are looking for in a second.
Should you rate your skills?
No. Bars, stars and percentages are subjective, and software cannot read them. "Excel 80%" means nothing to anyone. If you want to show depth, add a project or result that uses the skill, or write "Advanced: pivot tables, lookups, macros".
How to choose which skills to keep
- Read three to five job posts for the role you want.
- Write down the skills that appear again and again.
- Check which of those you truly have, and put them first.
- Remove skills that are outdated or unrelated to your goal.
See what we can detect
Upload your resume to the resume check. It lists the skills it finds, grouped by area, so you can see whether your important skills are visible. If a skill you listed does not show up, check the spelling and the common name for it. For more help matching skills to a role, try the tailor tool.