FresumeResume skills
Hard skills for a resume: 70+ examples by industry
Hard skills are the teachable, measurable abilities a recruiter screens for first. Use this categorized list of 70+ hard skills to match your resume to the job description — then see exactly where to put them.
What are hard skills on a resume?
Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities you can measure and prove — like Python, financial modeling, welding, or Spanish fluency. They are learned through school, training, or on the job, and each one is either something you can do or you can’t. On a resume, hard skills are the concrete qualifications a recruiter and an applicant tracking system screen for before anything else.
Because hard skills are objective, they carry more weight in the first screen than any adjective you could write about yourself. A hiring manager can verify that you know SQL or hold a CPR certification; they cannot verify that you are “detail-oriented.” That is why the skills section is one of the highest-value parts of your resume: it is where you list the exact tools, systems, and certifications the job requires, in the same words the posting uses.
List only hard skills you can actually demonstrate. Recruiters ask about them in interviews, so inflating your skills section is the fastest way to get caught. The free ATS resume checker shows which of your skills match a job description and which are missing.
Hard skills vs. soft skills: what’s the difference?
Hard skills are technical and job-specific; soft skills are interpersonal and transferable across roles. A strong resume needs both, but they belong in different places and get proved in different ways.
| Hard skills | Soft skills | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Measurable, teachable abilities | Personal traits and work styles |
| How you learn them | School, courses, certifications, practice | Experience and self-awareness |
| Examples | Python, accounting, welding, Spanish | Communication, teamwork, adaptability |
| How to prove them | Certifications, portfolios, tests | Stories and measurable results |
| Where they go | Dedicated skills section & bullets | Shown through experience bullets |
The mistake most applicants make is stuffing a skills section with soft-skill clichés — “team player,” “hard worker,” “go-getter.” Those belong in your experience bullets, backed by a result, not in a list. Keep the skills section for hard skills the job actually asks for, and let your action verbs and accomplishments carry the soft skills.
70+ hard skills examples by industry
The strongest resumes list hard skills that appear in the target job description, named exactly the way the posting names them. Find your field below, then pull the specific tools, systems, and certifications you genuinely have.
Technology & software development
Python · JavaScript · SQL · Java · Git & version control · HTML/CSS · React · Cloud computing (AWS, Azure) · API integration · Cybersecurity
Data & analytics
Data analysis · Advanced Excel · Tableau · Power BI · Statistical analysis · Data visualization · A/B testing · SQL reporting · Machine learning
Digital marketing & SEO
SEO · Google Analytics · Google Ads · Content marketing · Email marketing · Social media management · PPC advertising · Copywriting · HubSpot CRM
Design & multimedia
Adobe Photoshop · Adobe Illustrator · Figma · UX/UI design · Adobe InDesign · Video editing (Premiere Pro) · Motion graphics · Wireframing
Finance & accounting
Financial modeling · QuickBooks · Accounts payable/receivable · Budgeting & forecasting · GAAP compliance · Payroll processing · Auditing · SAP
Project management
Agile & Scrum · Jira · Kanban · Microsoft Project · Risk management · Budget management · Gantt charts
Healthcare & clinical
Phlebotomy · EMR/EHR software (Epic) · Patient care · CPR certification · Medical coding (ICD-10) · Vital signs monitoring · Medication administration
Skilled trades & technical
Welding · HVAC repair · Blueprint reading · CNC machining · Electrical wiring · Forklift operation · Preventive maintenance
Administrative & office
Microsoft Office · Data entry · Bookkeeping · Calendar scheduling · Typing (60+ WPM) · Records management
Languages
Spanish · Mandarin · French · German · American Sign Language (ASL)
Not every skill on this list belongs on your resume — only the ones the job posting names. Copy the exact wording from the description (for example, “Power BI,” not “data dashboards”), then match the keywords so the ATS reads them correctly.
How do you list hard skills on a resume?
A skills section works best when it mirrors the job and stays easy for both software and a recruiter to parse. Follow these five steps:
- Mirror the job description. Read the posting and list the exact hard skills it names — software, certifications, methods — using the same wording. This is what the applicant tracking system matches against.
- Group them in a dedicated skills section. Use simple, comma-separated or bulleted lines under a clear “Skills” heading. Skip charts, star ratings, and skill bars — many ATS parsers cannot read them.
- Prove the top skills in your bullets. Do not just list “SQL” — show it: “Built SQL reports that cut month-end close from 5 days to 2.” A proven skill beats a listed one.
- Add proficiency or certification where it matters. For languages and licenses, note the level (“Spanish — professional working proficiency,” “CPR certified, 2026”). Leave it off for everyday tools.
- Check it against the ATS. Run the finished resume through a checker to confirm the skills the job wants are present and readable.
Building from scratch? The resume builder keeps your skills section ATS-readable and exports a clean PDF, and the free ATS checker flags any required skill you left out.
Which hard skills should you put on your resume?
Prioritize the skills that appear in the job description, then the ones most central to the role, then supporting tools. Six to twelve well-chosen hard skills usually beat a long, generic list. These guides help you choose and place them:
- Resume skills hubHard skills, soft skills & how to list both→
- Resume keywords & ATS filtersGet the right skills past the scanner→
- Tailor your resume to the jobMatch your skills to each posting→
- Resume action verbsOpen every bullet with impact→
- Resume examples by roleSee which skills each field lists→
Once your skills are chosen, drop them into an ATS-friendly template and confirm the match with the free checker.
Questions
Hard skills FAQ
01What are hard skills on a resume?
Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities you can measure and prove — like Python, financial modeling, welding, or Spanish fluency. They are learned through school, training, or on the job, and they are the concrete qualifications a recruiter and an applicant tracking system screen for before reading anything else.
02What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills?
Hard skills are technical and job-specific, such as SQL or accounting, and can be objectively verified. Soft skills are interpersonal traits, such as communication or teamwork, that transfer across roles. List hard skills in a dedicated skills section; demonstrate soft skills through the results in your experience bullets rather than as a list.
03How many hard skills should you list on a resume?
Six to twelve is a good target for most roles. Prioritize the hard skills named in the job description, then the ones most central to the position. A short, relevant list reads better and scores higher with the ATS than a long, generic one that dilutes your strongest qualifications.
04Where should hard skills go on a resume?
Put them in a clearly labeled skills section — usually near the top for technical roles or after your experience for others — and reinforce your top skills inside your experience bullets. Use plain text rather than skill bars or charts, which many applicant tracking systems cannot read.
05Do hard skills help you pass the ATS?
Yes. An applicant tracking system ranks resumes largely on how well your skills and keywords overlap with the job description, so listing the exact hard skills a posting requires is one of the most direct ways to rank higher. Run your resume through the free ATS checker to confirm the required skills are present and readable.
Match your hard skills to the job.
Upload your resume for a free ATS score that shows which skills match the job description and which are missing — then add them in the builder.