It’s one thing to list your degrees and past roles. It’s another to show what you can do. That’s where hard skills come in - and too often, that’s also where resumes fall short. 

Most of the time, applicants HAVE  what a recruiter is looking for, but if it’s not showing up clearly on your resume - or worse, not worded in a way the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can recognize - it’s almost like it's not there at all. That's the part many people miss. 

So, let’s talk about how to list your hard skills in a way that actually gets you seen - and makes sense to both machines and humans.

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What Are Hard Skills?

Hard skills are the teachable, measurable things you bring to the table - the kind you usually learn through school, training, or just getting hands-on in work or projects. 

For example, coding, using Excel like a pro, speaking a second language, working with design software, or managing tasks in tools like Trello or Asana. They’re the specific “how-to” abilities that help you do a job, not just fit into a team.

They’re different from soft skills, which are more about how you work with others, like being a good listener, solving problems under pressure, or keeping things organised. Both matter, but hard skills are usually what hiring managers (and those resume-scanning bots) look for first to check if you're even in the right ballpark for the role.

Why Hard Skills Matter More Than Ever

Nowadays, most companies don’t have a person going through every single resume. Instead, they use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to help them sort and filter applications. One of the main things these systems look for is hard skills that match the job description.

For example, if the listing says they're after someone with experience in Python, and you haven’t listed that exact skill clearly in your resume, your application might not even make it past the ATS filters - no matter how relevant the rest of your background is. Sad, but true.

These filters are set up to spot specific keywords, not to read between the lines.

In the past, maybe a recruiter would’ve taken a chance on someone who didn’t tick every box, but now, that first step often comes down to whether your resume mentions the exact skills they’re scanning for.

So if you want to make it through that first filter, you NEED to match the hard skills in your resume to the language used in the job ad. It’s a small detail, but it can have a big impact on whether or not your application gets seen at all.

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Where to Add Hard Skills on a Resume

When you think about where to list your hard skills, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the good old “Skills” section. And yes - you're right. That's where they belong.

But if you really want to make sure your skills get picked up by both the ATS and the person reviewing your resume, you’ll want to weave them into a few more places too. This way, you're not just telling them you’ve got the skills, you're showing how and where you’ve actually used them.

Here’s how you can do that, section by section:

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Skills Section

This is your straightforward list of tools, systems, or techniques you’re familiar with. Keep it relevant to the job you’re applying for, and try to use the same terms they’ve mentioned in the description.

Examples:

•  JavaScript, React, GitHub
•  Financial modeling, Excel (Advanced), QuickBooks
•  Adobe Illustrator, Motion Design, Brand Identity
  
  

Resume Headline

The resume headline is a short line near the top of your resume that can help set the tone and give a quick sense of your strengths. It’s a small space, but it’s powerful - especially when you include one or two hard skills that really define your work.

Examples:

• Full-Stack Developer | React, Node.js, MongoDB
• Business Analyst | Excel & SQL Expert with 3+ Years in Finance
•  Graphic Designer | Specializing in Branding, Layout, and Adobe Suite
  
  

Skills Summary

This section gives you space to connect your skills with a bit of real-world context. It’s like a short intro where you show how you’ve applied those skills, not just that you have them.

 Example:

•  “Marketing specialist skilled in Google Ads, email automation, and CRM systems. Increased qualified leads by 28% in six months through data-driven campaign strategies and A/B testing.”
• “SEO writer experienced in keyword research and content planning, helped grow blog traffic 3x within a year.”
• “Data analyst with strong Excel and SQL skills, helped reduce reporting time by 40% by building automated dashboards.”
  
  

Work Experience

When you’re writing about your previous roles, hard skills can be easily framed as part of the results you delivered. You can keep it simple - start with what you did, how you did it, and what changed because of it. 

To do so, try this formula:

 [action verb] + [what you did] + [result]

 Here are a few examples we’ve created using the same format (as above):

•  Tech: Developed and deployed a customer support chatbot using Python and Dialogflow, reducing first-response time by 45%.
• Business: Built automated dashboards in Excel and Power BI, helping leadership track KPIs and cut reporting time in half.
• Creative: Designed visual brand guidelines using Adobe InDesign and Figma, improving brand consistency across 30+ client assets.
  
  

Projects and Achievements

This is the best place to highlight hard skills when, as a newbie or a career changer, you don't have a lot of real-world job experience to lean on. So think of anything you’ve done as a part of your learning, be it side projects, coursework, or a small freelance gig, and use that experience to highlight the hard skill(s) you used there.

 Examples:

•  “Built a responsive web app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as part of a capstone project. Implemented real-time data fetch via API and presented the project to a panel of instructors.”
• “Completed a UX case study where I analyzed a real app and designed improvements in Figma, based on user interviews.”
• “Built a recipe-sharing web app using MERN stack as part of a coding bootcamp.”
  
  

Certifications and Courses

Even for something self-paced or online, if you earned any certificates, mention them in this section and sneak in the keywords they used in the job ad. 

Examples:

• Coursera – Excel for Business (Advanced Excel, Pivot Tables, Macros)
• Google Digital Garage – Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (SEO, SEM, Google Ads)
• LinkedIn Learning – Illustrator for Graphic Design (Vector art, Typography, Logo creation)
  
  

Tailoring Hard Skills for Each Job Application

It’s tempting to apply to ten jobs in one go with the same resume, but that kind of approach rarely works in your favor.

To actually land interviews, your resume needs to speak directly to each job you’re applying for - especially when it comes to hard skills. 

And by speak, we mean quite literally speak their language. Or else, suffer exclusion from the ideal candidates’ pool. Frustrating, but that’s the reality of the modern job search.

Let’s consider a few examples for better understanding:

If the job ad mentions “Power BI” ( a data visualization tool)as a required skill and YOU ARE experienced with data visualization but only mention “dashboards” or “reporting tools” on your resume, the ATS won’t make the connection, even if you know exactly how to use Power BI. 

This applies across industries. For instance,

• A graphic designer might say “layout design” when the role mentions “Adobe InDesign.” 
• A project manager might highlight “team coordination” when the company is filtering for “Agile methodology” or “Jira.” 

As much as a perfect fit you might be,  if your resume doesn’t reflect the exact skills listed in the job post, the system won’t know it - and neither will the recruiter.

When you mirror the job description’s wording, two things happen: one, the ATS is more likely to move you through the filter. Two, the recruiter sees that you didn’t just bulk apply - you actually read the job post and showed up with intent.

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How to List Hard Skills for Maximum Impact

While listing hard skills on your resume, specificity makes all the difference.

Don’t just say “programming” - say “Python” or “JavaScript.” 

Don’t just say “design” - say “Figma” or “Adobe Illustrator.” 

The more clearly you name the tools and skills the job is asking for, the easier it becomes for both the ATS and the recruiter to recognize your fit.

So, try to move beyond vague claims. Instead of saying “skilled in project management,” it’s stronger to say something like “used Asana to manage a 6-month website redesign with a 4-person team.” That one line does a better job at proving your skills than any generic phrase could.

If it feels right, you can also include your proficiency level BUT only when it adds something meaningful. 

For example, “Advanced Excel user: built automated dashboards using pivot tables and macros” tells them both your level and how you’ve used it.

Examples of Hard Skills by Industry

To help you figure out what to include on your own resume, here’s a breakdown of common hard skills across different industries and roles.

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Tech and Development

If you’re applying to a role in tech, especially as a developer, software engineer, or DevOps specialist, here are some examples of skills worth listing:

• Programming Languages: Python, Java, JavaScript, C++, Ruby, Go
• Front-End Skills: HTML, CSS, React, Angular, Vue.js
• Back-End Tools: Node.js, Django, Flask, Spring
• Version Control: Git, GitHub, Bitbucket
• Cloud Platforms: AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
• Databases: SQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Firebase
• Testing & Debugging: Selenium, JUnit, Postman
• DevOps Tools: Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Terraform

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Data & Analytics

For roles like data analyst, business intelligence specialist, or data scientist:

• Data Analysis Tools: Excel (advanced), Google Sheets (with formulas), R, Python (Pandas, NumPy)
• BI Platforms: Tableau, Power BI, Looker, Google Data Studio
• Databases & Querying: SQL, BigQuery, Redshift
• Statistical Software: SPSS, SAS, Stata
• Data Cleaning & Wrangling: OpenRefine, Alteryx
• Machine Learning: Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch
• Data Visualization: Matplotlib, Seaborn, D3.js

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Business & Management

For business analysts, managers, and ops leads:

• CRM Platforms: Salesforce, HubSpot
• Planning & Budgeting Tools: Excel (pivot tables, macros), Oracle NetSuite, QuickBooks
• Project Management: JIRA, Asana, Monday.com, Trello
• ERP Software: SAP, Microsoft Dynamics
• Market Analysis: Google Analytics, SEMrush, Tableau
• Strategic Planning: SWOT analysis, business modeling, financial forecasting
• Operations Tools: Notion, Airtable, Slack integrations

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Creative & Design

If you’re in design, content, or visual branding, recruiters look for tools and platforms you're comfortable using:

• Design Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Figma, Sketch
• UI/UX: Wireframing (Figma, Balsamiq), prototyping (InVision), user research tools
• Video Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve
• Motion Design: After Effects, Blender
• Branding: Typography, color theory, visual hierarchy
• Web Design: Webflow, Squarespace, WordPress themes, CSS customization

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Project & Product Management

Whether you're managing products or projects, here's what counts:

• Frameworks: Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall
• Tools: Asana, Trello, Jira, ClickUp, Notion
• Roadmapping & Planning: ProductPlan, Aha!, Miro
• Documentation: Confluence, Notion, Google Workspace
• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Zoom, Loom
• Metrics-Driven Management: OKRs, KPIs, product analytics (Mixpanel, Amplitude)
  
  

Optimize for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

In addition to including the right keywords, there are a few more things to do to make your resume ATS-compliant. Let’s start with the basic one:

• Use exact keyword matches: Especially in your Skills section, match the phrasing from the job ad as closely as possible (assuming you actually have those skills). Don’t reword or paraphrase - save that creativity for the interview.
  
• Keep formatting clean and straightforward: ATS software can’t always read columns, graphics, or custom fonts. Stick to basic layouts. Use bullet points, standard section headers (like “Skills” or “Work Experience”), and clear job titles.
  
• Avoid vague or fluffy language: Replace phrases like “familiar with” or “knowledge of” with direct mentions of the tools or technologies.

• Save your file properly: Most ATS systems handle .docx and .pdf formats just fine, but some older ones prefer .docx. If you’re unsure, .docx  is the safer default.

OR you could always let a resume builder like ours handle it for you. It will take care of all the ATS stuff - clean formatting, proper keyword structure/density, and everything else you need to get past the filters.

Hands down, a MUCH faster (and less stressful) way to get a solid, clean resume out the door!

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Certifications that Back Up Your Hard Skills

Certifications act as the bridge between a hard skill you claim and proof that you actually know how to use it.

Let’s say you’re applying for a digital marketing role. You mention Google Ads in your skills section, but you’ve also completed the Google Ads Certification and listed it under “Certifications.” That one extra line signals that you’re not just familiar - you’ve been tested on it. 

Same goes for things like Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) if you're in design, or PMP if you’re heading toward project management roles.

If you haven’t done any of those big-name certifications yet, but you’ve completed a few courses on Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, those still count - especially if you’re applying to entry-level roles. Sure, they might not carry the same weight as a Google or Adobe credential, but they show initiative. And that’s something.

And if you don’t have anything at all right now, it’s worth looking into a certification you can knock out with a bit of time and a small budget. Something that matches the skill you’re trying to highlight. Because in a stack of resumes that all say “proficient in XYZ,” that one tangible credential can be the small push that gets yours noticed.

Maintaining and Improving Hard Skills

In fast-moving fields like tech, marketing, or design, what's relevant today might not be tomorrow. That’s why upskilling is not a choice anymore. To keep up, you must continue learning - bit by bit, whenever you can.

You don’t need to go back to school or spend a fortune either. Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy have plenty of solid, up-to-date courses you can take from home. 

Many are affordable, and some are even free. You just have to pick the ones that align with where you’re headed next.