write skills for resume

100 Good Skills to Put on a Resume [Complete Guide]

Jeff Gillis 0 Comments

By Jeff Gillis

Updated 6/4/2022.

When you’re adding skills to a resume, you don’t just want to focus on what you’re good at. Instead, relevancy has to be part of the equation. After all, every job you’re trying to land requires a very specific skill set, one that you need to show that you have.

Choosing the skills to put on a resume when you’re applying to a role isn’t something you should do haphazardly. Instead, you want to use the job description, company mission, and company values as a guide, creating a sense of alignment.

Additionally, it never hurts to have a handy list of skills by your side, making it easier to explore your options. So, if you’re on the hunt for good skills to put on a resume, here’s what you need to know.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

There are two basic types of skillsets that a job seeker can have and include on their resume: hard skills or soft skills.

Hard skills are the skills or abilities for a resume that are easily quantifiable…that can be learned through classroom work, apprenticeships, or other forms of learning. These include things like operating tools, computer programming, speaking foreign languages, or different kinds of technical prowess.

Soft skills are more subjective and harder to quantify and are often grouped together by what we know as “people skills.” Some examples of soft skills include communication, relationship building, self-awareness, and patience.

Which Skills Are More Important?

The debate rages on about which of these two types of skills is more important.

According to executive consultant and Forbes contributor Naz Beheshti , “…There is an ongoing debate about the relative importance of soft and hard skills that imply a competition between the two. However, they are both necessary and complementary to one another.”

On the one hand, job seekers with proficiency in a specific hard skill may get hired more quickly. Many employers want to hire people that can deliver value with fewer resources (ex., the need for training, etc.), making hard skills their priority.

However, we are also seeing that many hiring managers are choosing to hire candidates with highly developed soft skills.

In the end, as Indeed puts it, “soft skills are necessary to create a positive and functional work environment.” Plus, hiring managers feel that they can always train the candidate in the hard skill that is required to complete the job, but soft skills are often skills that cannot necessarily be taught.

So, what does this mean for you? Mainly that you can’t simply just pick one or the other and cross your fingers. Instead, the best strategy is to take a balanced approach and make sure that your resume contains both hard and soft skills.

How Do You Choose the Skills to List on a Resume?

Here’s the deal; there’s a good chance you know what you’re good at in a professional sense. Often, you can use your experience, duties, training, and education as a guide, giving you a strong foundation. Then, it’s about diving a bit deeper, looking at traits that could help you stand out, and comparing it all to the job description.

By using a simple process, you can make progress faster. Here’s a quick way to get started.

1. Make a List of the Skills You Know You Have

As mentioned above, the easiest way to get a grip on your current skills is to reflect on your academic and professional experiences. Consider the tasks you’ve taken on, the training you’ve completed, and the courses you had in school. In most cases, that’ll give you some solid ideas about your hard skills.

After that, it’s time for soft skills. Here, you want to think of traits or capabilities that help you engage with others and navigate professional relationships. Often, these are reflections of your personality, so use that as a jumping-off point.

2. “Mine” the Job Descriptions for Must-Have Skills

The next step is to take a look at the job description for the position you are applying for and make a list of the required skills it includes. Then, compare it to your capabilities. Are any of the skills on both of the lists you just created? If so, these are must-haves for your resume.

Now, notice if there are any skills on the job description that you don’t have. If there aren’t any, great!

But if there are…don’t panic. There are things you can do, which we’ll dig into shortly.

If you’re dealing with a vague job description, you aren’t stuck either. Here is a link to a ton of job descriptions that can give you an idea of the skills needed.

3. Tailor Your Skills to the Company/Position

As you may have read in our other blog articles, it is always very important to “tailor” your resume to the company and position you want to land. For an in-depth look into how to make that happen, check out our Tailoring Method article. 

If you want a quick overview, the idea is to focus on capabilities the company wants to find. Every job requires a unique skill set, and you want to show you have it. As a result, it is absolutely essential that skills from the job description make an appearance on your resume.

However, you also want to dig deeper. Spend some more time researching the company, including going through all of their various web properties, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.

Why? Because they will leave clues about the types of people they hire. That gives you more ideas about the best skills to put on a resume to land a job there, particularly when it comes to soft skills you may not find in a job description.

100 Resume Skills Examples

If you’re struggling with coming up with a list of skills based on your past experience, it can be easier if you have existing resume skills lists to work with. You don’t have to think up every possible skill; you can simply review the list and find the matches.

Here is a list of resume skills examples, divided into hard skills and soft skills, that you can use when applying for a job.

Hard Skills for a Resume

• Advanced Bookkeeping
• Appointment Setting
• Automotive Repair
• Cold Calling
• Computer Programming
• Conversion Testing
• Copywriting
• Customer Engagement
• Customer Service
• Data Analysis
• Digital Marketing
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Cleanup
• Forklift Operating
• Graphic Design
• Heavy Machinery Operation
• Installation
• Landscaping
• Mathematics
• Medical Coding
• Paid Online Traffic
• Patient Care
• Photo Editing
• Picking and Packing
• Project Management
• Schedule Management
• Search Engine Optimization
• Server Maintenance
• Social Media
• Spanish Fluency
• Statistical Analysis
• Systems Analysis
• Technical Support
• Telecommunications Systems
• Travel Booking
• Video Editing
• Website Design
• Word Processing

Soft Skills for a Resume

• Accountability
• Active Listening
• Adaptability
• Brainstorming
• Business Etiquette
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Contextualizing
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Emotional Intelligence
• Flexibility
• Goal-Setting
• Handling Pressure
• Influencing
• Insightfulness
• Interpreting
• Negotiation
• Open-Mindedness
• Organization
• Prioritization
• Problem Solving
• Relationship Building
• Reliability
• Resource Management
• Responsibility
• Self-Confidence
• Strategical Thinking
• Strong Work Ethic
• Time Management

What If I Don’t Have the Required Skill?

Whether you need to possess a specific skill depends on the job and the skill in question. Usually, here’s where you have to be honest with yourself. If the skills required are part of the core competencies of doing the job, you may want to reconsider your application.

For example, if a golf course posts a job posting for a golf pro, you probably shouldn’t apply if you’ve never swung a golf club.

However, you will come across situations where what you bring to the table is close. In this case, moving forward might be okay.

You need to be able to demonstrate, using examples from your past, that you are capable of doing the required skill, even if you haven’t specially done it. So, go over your work history with a fine-tooth comb and try to come up with a few examples of you doing something in the right ballpark.

They are going to ask about it in your interview, so don’t think you can just wing it, and everything will be fine.

Also, many job descriptions have “nice-to-have” skills on the list. If you happen to possess them, great. But if not, don’t assume you shouldn’t apply if you have the must-have skills. In the end, those capabilities aren’t outright requirements, so don’t screen yourself out based on them.

How To List Skills on a Resume

There are a few different schools of thought when it comes to deciding where to put (or how to list) the skills on your resume.

According to our friends over at online resume-builder Zety.com , “…skills are so very, very important that they should show up all over your resume. Not just in the resume skills section.” In other words, it is imperative that there are elements of your skills throughout your resume, including your resume objective/summary and experience sections.

In addition, there isn’t one right answer for where to include your skill section because that depends on the industry, company, and position you’re trying to land. For example, for a job where technical competencies are of the utmost importance, it is often beneficial to list the skills closer to the top of the resume, right underneath the resume objective or resume summary statement.

However, if through your research you determine that the hiring manager will put more weight into your experience, you may want to lead with your experience. Then, put the skills section further down your resume.

At the end of the day, the selection of the skills themselves is the most important thing. After all, most hiring managers will easily find your skill section regardless of where it is on your resume.

What About Skills for My Job Application?

When you’re looking for skills to put on a job application, you do have to treat it a little differently than skills for a resume. Usually, you’re working with a finite amount of space on an application, not just in an overall sense but in each applicable section.

Since that’s the case, you need to lean heavily on the job description. Look for any capabilities that are listed as must-haves or that are repeated through the job ad. Then, make sure those skills are featured prominently in several areas, including in work history descriptions and skills areas.

If you have to answer essay questions, discuss those skills there, too, whenever possible. Use any other relevant capability as a supplement, treating it as supporting information instead of the primary point you’re sharing.

However, if an essay question asks about a skill that’s not in the job description, feel free to dig in a bit. It’s a capability that’s clearly on the hiring manager’s mind, so touch on it occasionally to show you shine in that area.

Putting It All Together

If you were wondering, “What are some good skills to put on a resume?” you should now have a solid answer. The most important thing to remember is to select skills that are relevant to the position you are interviewing for and, more important than that, skills that your company puts a tremendous amount of value in.

Once you get your skills straightened out, you should make sure that the rest of your resume is congruent with the skills you just selected, namely, that your experience shows that you both used those skills in a work environment and developed the skill with on-the-job tasks.

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site , with his work being featured in top publications such as INC , ZDnet , MSN and more.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Jeff gillis.

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site , with his work being featured in top publications such as INC , ZDnet , MSN and more. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

Copyright © 2024 · TheInterviewguys.com · All Rights Reserved

• Our Products
• Case Studies
• Interview Questions
• Jobs Articles
• Members Login

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

• Resume and Cover Letter
• 17 Best Skills to Put on Your...

17 Best Skills to Put on Your Resume (with Examples)

20 min read · Updated on July 30, 2024

Everything you need to know about adding the right skills to your resume

Whether your resume has been through 19 revisions lately or you're just revisiting it for the first time in years, spending some time taking stock of your skills section can generate more interest in your candidacy and be the key to winning interviews. 

However, there's a lot of conflicting information online and in books about maximizing the effectiveness of this section. 

Do you simply list all of your key skills on the resume? 

What are the right skills to put on a resume? 

What order is best? 

How will a jumble of technical qualifications help you stand out? 

And what about those  soft skills ?

Let's tackle those questions one at a time and learn the 17 best skills to put on your resume – starting at the beginning.

Why is the resume skills section there in the first place?

The number one reason to spend a fair amount of time crafting your skills list is employability. Being employable means that you have the right skills – academic skills, applied knowledge, technology skills, vertical and lateral thinking abilities, and interpersonal skills – that employers value and are willing to pay you for. 

When the hiring manager picks up your resume to determine whether you're a fit for the role they have open, one of the first things they'll look at is your skill level. Having the right skills on your resume is also important to ensure your CV pops up in recruiter searches. 

There are three key reasons to include the skills section in your resume and to organize it well:

To list your skills and abilities in one place for easy reference and scanning

To highlight the match between your background and the job requirements for the position you're interested in

To get your well-crafted resume through keyword screening by applicant tracking systems

The right mix of resume skills will get you past the first hurdle and towards a conversation. Here's a blueprint for making the most out of your skills section:

Relevancy is critical

Including a jumble of skills on your resume, beefed up with some basics that pretty much everyone knows (like Microsoft Office, as an example) won't help you to stand out. In fact, listing out skills that are considered to be a common baseline can actually hurt your candidacy by making you look like you're scrambling to establish credibility. 

PRO TIP: As a general rule, basic user-level proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email applications is  assumed to be a given . However, if you have advanced Excel skills (expert-level proficiency with macros and advanced analysis capabilities, for example), you should list those.  

Rather than go back to basics, you'll want to focus only on skills that look good on a resume.

So how can you tell that a skill is relevant? That's easy! Read the  job description . 

Interpret the job description

As you dissect the job description to learn what will be required of you if you're hired for the position, pay special attention to the “requirements” and “qualifications” bullets, as that's where you'll find the majority of the keywords your resume will need. Again, the goal is to ensure that your resume speaks to that particular job so you can impress the hiring manager. 

Let's say you're applying for a job as an Account Manager. You may see these bullets under the “requirements” part of the job description:

Build lasting relationships with new and existing clients

Maintain client records, including contract renewals 

Develop sales plans to meet key performance indicators

Understand product offerings to meet customer needs and upsell when available

The keywords you need to focus on in each bullet are:

Client relationships

Client records and contract renewals

Sales plans and KPIs

Product offerings, customer needs, and upsell

The question you then need to ask yourself is, “Do I have the skills to back up these keywords?” If the answer is “Yes,” then these skills should appear on your resume. 

This is called  tailoring your resume  and should be done with every job that you apply to. For example, if you are applying to be a Floor Manager at a store that sells musical instruments, your proficiency with inventory management and your ability to play guitar would both be relevant for the job.

The four main types of skills for your resume

As a human being, you have technical and interpersonal skills in a broad range of areas. You might be an expert whitewater rafter, or maybe you have advanced a World of Warcraft character all the way to level 80. Both of those accomplishments require dedication, practice, and technical proficiency, but they're probably not going to help you land a job. 

The general recommendation on standout skills for a resume is to only list skills that will, directly or indirectly, help you to be more effective in your job. 

To do this, you have to understand the different types of skills that employers look for. 

1. Hard skills for a resume

These are learned abilities that you've picked up during your career, either through education, training, or experience. They can be honed over time. When you add hard skills to your resume, you'll want to include numbers –   measurable accomplishments  – as often as possible. 

2. Soft skills for a resume

Soft skills are characteristics you possess that improve your ability to get along with others, solve problems, and communicate effectively. You'll find that hiring managers love soft skills. 

No matter how technical your position is, it will require interacting with people, dealing with deadlines, and adapting to change. It's not as easy to quantify soft skills as it is hard skills, but employers still want you to prove that you possess these traits.

While most skills can be categorized as hard or soft skills, there are other types of skills, too!

3. Transferable skills for a resume

In addition to hard and soft skills, you might consider whether you have any transferable skills. This becomes especially important if you're changing careers, as they allow you to provide tangible proof of your ability to adapt to new circumstances and use lateral or vertical thinking to apply knowledge about one thing to something else. 

When you're leaning on  transferable skills to sell your qualifications  to the hiring manager, you must take the time to relay how those skills will benefit them and their new team. So, rather than saying that you have good time management skills, prove it by demonstrating what you do to manage time and how this has benefitted previous employers. 

4. Adaptive skills for a resume

You can also show resiliency through skills in your resume if you're not changing careers. Let's face it, if there's one thing that's certain in life and work, it's that things change. If you're the type of person to leverage change as a learning opportunity, then you should definitely be highlighting your adaptability on your resume. 

The 17 best skills to put on your resume

Now that we've defined what types of skills you can use on your resume, let's explore some specific examples of different skills you can include.

1. Computer skills and programming languages

When the job description wants you to prove that you possess programming skills, you can add “ Proficiency in Python, Java, or HTML, ” for example. This signals to employers that you can do everything from coding to automation and makes you a valuable candidate in the tech space.

Some roles that require an understanding of computer languages include:

Software Engineer

Computer Scientist

2. Data analysis

Saying that you possess data analysis skills allows you to demonstrate that you can interpret raw data and draw actionable insights to fuel change. It's adaptable across industries and can be easily backed by quantifiable data. 

Some roles that require an understanding of data analysis include:

Data Scientist

Marketing Consultant

Senior Accountant

3. Project management

You don't have to be a Certified Project Management Professional to include an ability to manage projects on your resume. If you're good at leading, organizing, and delivering successful outcomes, then you should add that you know how to manage projects. 

Some roles that require an understanding of project management include:

Construction Contractor

Industrial Engineer

IT Project Manager

4. Creativity

Creativity is one of the most highly sought-after skill sets. Not only can you leverage it to create tangible marketing pieces that connect with target audiences, but it can also be used to solve problems and bring fresh perspectives to projects. Creativity also signals that you're adaptable to dynamic environments. 

Some roles that require you to be creative include:

Graphic Designer

Digital Marketing Manager

Brand Manager

5. Languages

The world gets smaller every day, so being able to speak more than one language is a skill that you should definitely include on your resume. Adding multiple languages to your application makes you highly valuable in a globalized, connected working world.

Some roles that require you to be speak other languages include:

International  HR Director

Foreign Exchange  Investment Banker

Some  Teacher  roles

6. Communication

Every job everywhere requires employees to have good communication skills. But instead of simply saying that you are a good communicator, be prepared to demonstrate that you understand the value of everything from active listening to properly articulating complex concepts. 

Some roles that require great communication include:

Sales Representative

Public Relations

Nurse Practitioner

7. Teamwork

A lot of people will throw the word “teamwork” into the skills list on their resume without giving it much thought. However, given the vast amount of hybrid and remote working environments, teamwork is more important than ever. A happy team that works together reduces burnout and increases morale. 

Some roles that require good teamwork include:

Sports Fitness Coach

Product Manager

Scrum Master

8. Leadership

If you're applying for a role that will involve guiding others, then including leadership skills is a must. When you add leadership to your resume, you highlight that you're not afraid to take the initiative to make decisions that drive outcomes. 

Some roles that require you to be a leader include:

Director of IT

Sales Manager

9. Critical thinking

When you're known for making well-informed decisions by analyzing information and evaluating situations objectively, you possess critical thinking skills. You may see this pop up in job descriptions where the employer is seeking someone with high emotional intelligence. Basically, if you can navigate your way logically through problems, then critical thinking is probably something you should add to your resume.

Some roles that require critical thinking include:

Data Engineer

Telecommunications Professional

10. Cultural competence

Diversity, equity, and inclusion have become buzzwords in today's workforce. People want a voice and value having a psychologically safe place in which to get things done. This is even more true when you have people coming together from different cultures. 

Some roles that require you to have cultural competence include:

Military-to-Civilian

11. Quality assurance

Quality assurance has implications across a number of fields, including software development and cybersecurity. There is an emphasis on quality assurance in roles that require you to maintain compliance with regulations or particular guidelines and best practices. 

Some roles that require an understanding of quality assurance include:

Aviation Mechanic

Cyber Security Specialist

12. Time management

Ranking right up there with creativity as far as top-rated skills go, being able to properly manage time is critical in today's workforce. It's not only something that's found in professional settings, but across industries and jobs worldwide. A simple search of job descriptions will reveal that the majority of them want people who can meet deadlines, at the minimum. 

Some roles that require good time management include:

Administrative Office Assistant

Finance Director

Project Manager

13. Conflict resolution

Being able to de-escalate situations with irate clients by demonstrating empathy and clearly defining options for a resolution means you're probably good at conflict management. However, conflict management isn't only demonstrated in client interactions. You may also be able to showcase conflict resolution skills if you've solved problems within team environments, too. 

Some roles that require conflict resolution skills include:

Retail Merchandising

Insurance Agent

Information Technology

14. Sales and upselling

Sales is all about employing active listening to ascertain customers' needs, to sell the right product or service at the right time. Whether you're connecting with target audiences to get them to buy something through a digital marketing campaign or you're trying to sell someone a product, meeting client needs is critical to demonstrating that you're good at sales and upselling. 

Some roles that require you to be able to sell and upsell include:

Marketing Manager

Consulting Manager

Real Estate Manager

15. Data entry

As you progress in your career, showcasing that you're good at data entry will become less and less important, however, there are still some roles that value candidates who can quickly and accurately input data into a system. 

Some roles that require data entry include:

Recent Graduate

Mid-Career Professionals

16. Tech-savviness 

Being tech–savvy means that you're always on the cutting edge and consistently keep up with emerging technologies. It helps you to deliver innovative solutions that help your company remain competitive in the ever-changing IT landscape.

Some roles that require candidates to be tech-savvy include:

DevOps Engineer

Technical Project Manager

Senior Software Engineer

17. Continuous learning

Today's employers value job seekers and employees who are fastidiously committed to ongoing education and skill development. Most even provide some sort of knowledge bank or in-house professional development courses to allow you to engage in continuous learning. 

Some roles that value a commitment to continuous learning include:

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Electrical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

How to add skills to your resume

Keep your skills specific and clear.

A common pitfall when it comes to resume skills is to list broad categories of abilities without going into sufficient detail. The problem with that approach is that it won't get your resume found in keyword searches, because they are looking for specific proficiency statements.

So, instead of writing “familiarity with accounting software,” list “Quickbooks, Quicken, Sage, and Xero.” 

Use numbers and descriptive words where appropriate – 

How many projects have you managed using Teamwork Projects? 

How many people have you trained to use Salesforce? 

A few well-placed quantifiers can position you as a serious candidate with supported qualifications.

Organize your skills list

When creating a long list of skills for a resume, consider how you organize everything. Ordering your skills strategically will make your resume easier to read and call the right attention to the right skills in the right place. 

This is especially true considering that our brains look for patterns. A well-organized skill section on your resume will improve the aesthetics and help the hiring manager to skim through it to find just what they're looking for. 

PRO TIP: There isn't a hiring manager alive who is reading your resume. They're  scanning through it in just a few seconds . This makes keeping things organized all the more important.

Another organizing tip is to list the most important skills for the job first. Specifics will vary by industry, but think through the critical technical skills that will drive your effectiveness and success in the role and put them at the top.

When you're starting to group your skills list together, deciding which is most important depends on the job description. While most employers want employees who are good communicators and can solve problems, you have to take the industry and employer preferences into consideration. 

Job relevance: This goes back to tearing the job description apart to find the relevant keywords

Industry trends: Stay on top of things that may be changing in your industry and highlight any new skills that come into demand

Employer preferences: Take some time to research the company and learn what they do, why they do it, and for whom – this will help you to get a feel for their company culture, so you'll know which soft skills will impress them the most

The best place to put skills on your resume

The placement of the resume skills section itself on the page is up to you. Many people prefer to have it positioned near the top of their resume, but it works at the bottom too.

PRO TIP: If you have a lot of skills to list, consider breaking them up (for example, technical skills at the top and additional skills at the bottom).

No matter where you place the skills section, the layout is critical in catching the eye of hiring managers and showcasing your qualifications in a way that helps you to stand out from the crowd. 

At the top of your resume

Technically speaking, your skills list shouldn't be at the top. The first things on your resume should be your  contact information ,  headline , and  summary paragraph . So, when we say “at the top of your resume,” we mean beneath the summary paragraph. 

When you put your skills list at the top of your resume, you call immediate attention to some key selling points. It's an effective technique if you have a strong set of skills that directly align with the job requirements. 

Here's what a skills list at the top of your resume would look like:

FIRST NAME, LAST NAME

City, ST 12345 • LinkedIn URL • [email protected] • 111-222-3333

REGIONAL MANAGER

Operations Management | Project Management | Sales Management | Business Analysis

Innovative and ambitious executive-level management professional offering extensive experience and an accomplishments-driven career in sales, marketing and operations, and key account management. Leverages an entrepreneurial spirit to orchestrate tactical business plans that challenge the status quo, allowing for reformation of process. Intuitive business acumen and skilled strategist who uses the most up-to-date business practices to create, implement, and oversee business continuity. Naturally assumes leadership roles to oversee and achieve organizational success.

Business Development • Executive Leadership • Strategic Business Planning • Data Analysis • Team Training & Development • Policy & Procedure Development • Marketing & Territory Expansion • Procurement, Sourcing, & Negotiation • Relationship-Selling • Customer Relations

This resume example actually has two skills lists. One just beneath the title and then the regular one beneath the summary paragraph. It's an effective way to separate out the skills that are most important – the specialized abilities that you want to call immediate attention to. However, if you do it like this on your resume, the skills listed beneath the title should only be one to two lines max!

At the bottom of the resume

If you've reached a point in your career where your work history and career achievements outshine your skills, then it's a good idea to place the skills list at the bottom of your resume. 

Here's what your skills could look like at the bottom of your resume:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

[List your career history in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent and working backward about 10 years]

[List the degrees you've earned and the schools where you obtained your degrees. You can also mention any professional development classes you've taken and certifications or licenses you possess]

Core proficiencies:

Project Management | Lean Management | Change Management | Operations Management | 3PL | Inventory Management | Inventory Control | Inventory Planning | Logistics Management | Distribution & Processing | Budgeting | Procurement | Purchase Orders

Soft skills:

Team Leadership | Coaching | Persuasion | Creative Problem Solving | Negotiation

Technical skills:

Epicor | PeopleSoft | XAL(Concorde) | HighStage | Deltek (Costpoint) | KBM | Syteline | Kinaxis | Glovia (Oracle-based) | Oracle | Adept | Workflow | Data Vault (Oracle-based) | Intralink

English |  Spanish |  French

Throughout your resume

Since your resume is more than a list of skills, you should know that your master list of abilities and the keywords you've culled from the job description aren't limited to being placed only in a skills list. You can – and should – include hard, soft, adaptive, and transferable skills throughout your entire resume. 

After your contact information, the first thing that should appear on your resume is a headline. A lot of people will simply put a title, but if you take a moment to spruce it up and turn it into a headline, you'll be able to inject a few keywords on the top line of your resume. 

For example, if you're applying for a role as a Real Estate Broker, here's the difference between a title and a headline:

Title: Real Estate Broker

Headline: Real Estate Broker with Expertise in Property Valuation and Team Management

Put yourself into the shoes of a hiring manager and ask yourself, which of those would give you more information about the job seeker? The headline not only indicates which role you want, but also includes two keywords – property valuation and team management. 

Summary paragraph

As you move on to write your career summary, that appears just beneath the headline, you'll want to continue adding relevant skills from your career that are mirrored in the job description. Doing this will ensure that your resume presents a cohesive and powerful message that your experience and achievements will serve the new company well. 

In sticking with the example of Real Estate Broker, perhaps you find that the new company wants you to coordinate marketing events and client activities, write weekly reports, and have a solid understanding of the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) platform for listing properties. 

The keywords to include in your profile paragraph would be:

Marketing events

Client activities

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Thus, your profile paragraph could look like this:

Veteran real estate professional with a strong background in orchestrating impactful marketing events for single and multi-family residences. Specializes in managing client activities that turn passive consumers into active clientele. Proficient in maximizing MLS to enhance property visibility and streamlining documentation and reporting processes. Known for creating a culture of excellence and client satisfaction by maintaining an open-door policy that encourages communication among team members.

As you can see, the profile paragraph isn't a long and drawn-out diatribe of things you've done in your career. Rather, it's a short paragraph that matches your skills to the job you're applying for. 

Work experience

Let's move on to the meat of your resume - the part the hiring manager is going to spend the most time on – your  career history . You may be wondering how you can put future-facing keywords into the historical part of your resume, but all it takes is a bit of finesse. 

For example, if you have a history of closing multi-million-dollar deals in high-end neighborhoods, you could work a few keywords into an achievement bullet like this:

• Closed 5 multi-million-dollar property sales per month by leveraging MLS for property exposure

While you could stop after you say how many multi-million-dollar deals you closed, because that's a great achievement statement, expanding the bullet to include a keyword makes your overall resume all the more compelling. 

TopResume wants to do more than write your resume. We want to give you the tools you need to succeed in your job search and career. Click on the following link for more  resume and career advice .

Stand out from the crowd

When you master including the best skills in your resume, you reach a level of job search preparedness that propels your resume to the top of the pile. The whole idea is to make it easy for potential employers to see how you'll fit within the folds of their organization and team. That's where tailoring the skills on your resume comes in – wherever you include them. 

Want to see how your resume stacks up? Try out our  free resume review  today!

Recommended reading:

How to Write a Powerful LinkedIn Summary

How to Format a Resume for Multiple Jobs at One Company

The Best Resume Format to Get Hired  

Related Articles:

7 Signs Your Resume is Making You Look Old

Don't “Snowplow” Your Kids' Job Search — Set Them Up for Success Instead

What Kind of Job Candidate Are You?

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

100+ Key Skills for a Resume in 2024 (Examples for any Job)

Learn how to professionally and efficiently list your skills on a resume.

How to List Skills on a Resume 

Your skills are just as important as your work experiences. Skills show a recruiter what you can do for the company -- without taking up too much space in your resume. 

Skills can be anything from “creativity” (a soft skill) to “JavaScript” (a hard skill). It’s important to include a mix of both on your resume.

Don’t know what skills you have? Read on to learn the difference between “soft” and “hard” skills, or skim our 250+ skills for each industry to jump right into the resume writing process. 

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

Soft Skills vs Hard Skills

“Soft” skills are those that are not quantifiable, such as leadership. These skills also cannot be learned, but  are rather a facet of your personality. Nevertheless, soft skills are still critical to have, for they demonstrate that you are personable and competent.

‍ Tip: Use some of the soft skills as adjectives when writing your profile summary . For example, try “enthusiastic entrepreneur,” “empathic childcare worker,” “organized nurses’ aid,” “supportive administration assistant” or “detail-oriented sales associate.”

The resume below is for a Childcare Worker and includes many soft skills that companies look for, including Creativity and Organizational skills.

In contrast, “Hard” skills are those that are learned -- either in school or through a certification program. These skills are quantifiable and can be continuously expanded upon through further education. Today, most hard skills have to do with computer technology, such as SEO, CSS/HTML, or Microsoft Suite. Even if you aren’t tech-savvy, chances are you still have a few hard skills.

Tip: Be specific about your hard skills. Instead of listing “Programming Languages,” specify which ones you know -- Python, Java, C, etc. Same with photo editing software and any other platforms you are familiar with.

The resume below is for a Content Marketing Associate, and includes manyhard skills that companies in the marketing industry look for, including experience with Social Media tools. Remember, it's important to be specific in terms of defining and listing what softwares you know.

How to List Your Skills

Whether you’re a jack of all trades or a master of one, you absolutely must list some skills on your resume. Skills offer additional insight into what you can offer the company as an employee, and may just push your resume over the edge and into the interview pile. 

• Only list relevant skills . If you’re applying for a position as an engineer, don’t brag about your marketing abilities. Instead, save the space to list the software and programming languages that you know. 
• List around 5 Skills . Writing too many skills on your resume can be an overwhelming experience for the recruiter. He or she may not fully register your skills, and instead just blankly skim the long list. Conversely, listing too few skills is only selling yourself short. You definitely have more than two skills -- no matter your experience level! So shoot for around 5 skills, with a little wriggle room. 
• Include both hard and soft skills . Even if your profession seems to rely on soft skills more than hard skills -- or vice versa -- including both makes your resume stronger. For example, if you’re applying to work as a laboratory assistant, list soft skills such as “teamwork,” “problem-solving,” “time management,” or “organization.” If you’re in a more creative field, hard skills include softwares such as “Adobe Creative Suite” and talents such as “photography,” “writing & editing,” or “videography.” 
• Note your experience level . With each skill, specify whether you are a “beginner,” “expert,” or somewhere in between (using words like “intermediate” and “moderate”). Our resume templates have bars beneath each skill that you can toggle to reflect your expertise. 

The resume below is for a Human Resources Manager, and includes all of the above tips.

250+ Skills for Each Industry  

Although we’ve split these skills up by industry, please note that many skills are applicable to a variety of careers. For example, someone working in marketing might find knowledge of JavaScript just as useful as someone working in the computer science field. 

Let’s jump in!

Office and Administrative Job Skills

• Answering Phones
• Bookkeeping (Excel, Turbotax)
• Office Equipment
• Welcoming Visitors
• Calendar Management
• Organization 
• Time Management 
• Problem Solving
• Attention To Detail
• Adaptability 
• Written Communication 
• Email Platforms (E.G., Gmail And iCloud Mail)
• Word Processing Software (E.G., Google Docs)
• Spreadsheet Software
• Digital Calendars
• Prioritization 

Sales, Retail, and Customer Service Job Skills

• Product Knowledge
• Lead Qualification
• Lead Prospecting 
• Customer Needs Analysis
• Referral Marketing
• Contract Negotiation
• Self Motivation
• Increasing Customer Lifetime Value (Clv)
• Reducing Customer Acquisition Cost (Cac)
• CRM Software (Salesforce, Hubspot, Zoho, Freshsales)
• Cashier Skills
• Knowledge Of Products And Services 
• Customer Service
• Communication (More Specifically -- Verbal Communication Skills, Listening Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Written Communication Skills, Public Speaking Skills, Presentation Skills)
• Math Skills
• Negotiation 
• Persuasion  
• Diplomacy  
• Cold Calling
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Lead Generation
• Buyer-responsive Selling
• Buyer Engagement

Nursing and Healthcare Job Skills

• Patient Assessment
• Taking Vital Signs
• Patient Care
• Recording Patient Medical History
• Wound Dressing And Care
• Urgent And Emergency Care
• Record-keeping
• Patient Education
• NIH Stroke Scale Patient Assessment
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Medicine Administration
• Blood Pressure Monitoring
• Rehabilitation Therapy
• Hygiene Assistance
• Use Of X-ray, MRI, Cat Scans
• Glucose Checks
• Electronic Heart Record (EHR)
• Decision-Making Ability 
• Critical Thinking
• Leadership 
• Thorough Understanding Of HIPPA And Privacy Policies
• Ability To Take And Record Vital Signs
• CPR And First-Aid Certifications
• Perform And Evaluate Diagnostic Tests
• Maintain Patient Charts

IT Job Skills

• Programming Languages
• Web Development
• Data Structures
• Open Source Experience
• Machine Learning
• Front-End & Back-End Development
• Cloud Management
• Agile Development
• CSS Preprocessors
• Graphic User Interfaces (GUI)
• Git/Version Control (Github, gitlab)
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Application Programming Interface (API)
• Adobe Photoshop, InDesign
• Content Management Systems (CMS)
• Testing/Debugging
• Responsive Design Principles
• Mobile and Web Development (e.g. iOS, Android)

Engineering & Technical Job Skills

• STEM Skills
• Prototyping
• Troubleshooting
• Project Launch
• Lean Manufacturing
• Workflow Development
• Computer Skills
• Technical Report Writing
• Programming Languages HTML, CSS, CRM tools

Advertising & Marketing Job Skills

• SEO (SEMRush, WordPress, and Ahrefs)
• SEM (i.e., Google Adwords)
• CRO and A/B Testing
• Social Media Marketing and Paid Social Media Advertising
• Sales Funnel Management
• CMS Tools (WordPress, Weebly)
• Graphic Design Skills (Adobe Creative Suite)
• Email Marketing (MailChimp, Constant Contact)
• Email Automation
• Data Visualization
• Print Design
• Photography and Branding
• Communication 
• Creativity 
• Data Analytics (Google Analytics )
• Web Analytics
• Email Writing 
• Google Adwords
• Social Media And Mobile Marketing 
• Paid Social Media Advertisements
• Consumer Behavior Drivers
• Brand Management
• B2b Marketing
•  Writing Advertising Copy
• Soliciting Feedback From Customers
• Cutting Costs
• Leadership skills
• Task Delegation 
• Strategic Management
• Proposal writing
• Problem-solving
• Problem solving
• Website Management
• Social Media Outreach
• Video Production
• Campaign Management
• Photo Editing
• Logo Creation
• Digital Printing
• Interactive Media Design 
• Color Sense & Theory
• Social Media Publishing
• Storytelling
• Financial Analysis
• Consumer Research
• Statistical Analysis
• Videography 
• Technical Writing 

General Management and Project Management Job Skills

• Agile Project Management (Kanban)
• Managing Cross-Functional Teams
• Scrum Management
• Performance Tracking
• Financial Modelling
• Ideation Leadership
• Feature Definition
• Forecasting
• Profit and Loss
• Scope Management
• Project Lifecycle Management 
• Meeting Facilitation
• Risk Management 
• Cost Management 
• Data Analysis 
• Collaborative 
• Collaborative Programs (Slack, WhatsApp, Dropbox)
• Adobe Creative Suite

Browse more resume templates that fit your role

Get inspired with more resume examples

Read our how-to guides on making your resume perfect, how to choose the correct resume format in 2024 (with examples).

Choosing the best resume format will be the first step you'll need to get right in order to lay the groundwork for your entire resume.

How to Write a Resume Summary: 10+ Examples

Get your resume to stand out to hiring managers for longer than the average of 6 seconds with these secrets.

How to Write a Two-Page Resume (with Examples & Tips)

Don't know whether you should write a one-page or two-page resume? Find out when it is appropriate to write a two-page resume and learn how to write it correctly.

How to Correctly List Certifications on a Resume in 2024 (With Examples)

Follow our step-by-step guide and resume examples to learn how to correctly include certifications on your resume. Make your candidacy stand out and land the interview.

More advice that will accelerate your career path

How long should a resume be in 2024 (with tips to fit on one page).

Keeping your resume on a single page keeps it focused and straight to the point. But sometimes it might not be easy to fit it all on one page. When should you use two pages versus trying to fit it all on a single page?

Should I Add My GPA On My Resume in 2024? (Tips & Examples)

Learn essential tips from resume examples to make the right decision on including your gpa in your resume, especially if you have a low GPA.

20+ Key Computer Skills to List on Your Resume in 2024 (With Examples)

With the world becoming more digitally focused, having strong computer skills is more important than ever. In this guide, we will cover what computer skills are and which ones are best to include on your resume.

20 Best Resume Writing Tips and Tricks 2024 (with Free Checklist)

Knowing the best ways to write a resume with efficiency and legibility goes a long way. These simple tips and tricks can be the driving factor towards successfully landing a job interview.

Professional resume templates to help land your next dream job.

Facebook • Twitter • Linkedin • Pinterest • Crunchbase

Press Enter to search

How to Effectively Show Writing Skills on Your Resume (with Examples)

Want to add writing skills to your resume but aren’t sure how? We have recruiter-backed suggestions & recommendations for how to talk about it on your resume!

8 months ago   •   7 min read

It's normal to feel unsure about how to talk about writing on your resume. Are you overstating your skills? Are they even relevant to the job you want? And how do you make sure the hiring manager sees your writing as a good thing on your resume?

The key to successfully showcasing your writing skills is keep it clear, concise, and relevant. You’ll want to mention specific writing skills that fit the job requirements, and prove that you have these skills.

Why is it important to include your writing on your resume in 2024? Whether it's crafting emails, reports, or online content, writing significantly influences how effective you’ll be in your job. Even though AI has the ability to write huge pieces of content for you, it still takes someone who knows what they’re doing to make sure the writing is easy to understand and free of errors.

Also, with remote work on the rise, written communication plays a key role in your ability to communicate with team members and get the job done. Not to mention, it often helps leave a positive first impression with potential employers.

Let’s dive into how to effectively showcase your writing skills on your resume, tailor these skills for different job applications, and avoid common pitfalls in the process.

How to put writing skills on your resume: a step by step guide

• Figure out what kind of writing is required in this job. You may moonlight as a poet, but if you’re applying for a marketing position, they’re going to be more interested in your expertise with SEO writing. Research the company and role, and use the job description as your guide for what types of writing to highlight on your resume.
• Tweak your resume. In most cases, you’ll want to highlight your writing in the “Work Experience” section . If writing is a big part of the job or if you don’t think your work experience demonstrates it plainly enough, you may want to also list it in the “Skills” section .
• Keep it short. Since you’re a writer, this shouldn’t be a problem... But make sure you edit your resume to keep it concise. Think bullet points, not paragraphs.
• Be specific. As much as you can, highlight specific projects you’ve worked on and talk about their results in concrete terms, using numbers . For example, you could say something like, “Wrote emails that increased sales by 15% among new list subscribers”
• Don’t use jargon. It may be tempting to flex your expertise by using industry-standard terms (cold traffic, anyone?), but remember the person reading your resume may get confused and push your resume aside. Unless the job description specifically uses the jargon in question, keep things easy to read.
• Include examples with your resume , whenever possible . In your application, try to link to a portfolio or personal blog that has samples of your best writing pieces. That way, you don’t have to rely solely on describing your skills— you can show the manager what an amazing writer you are!

To determine if you've effectively showcased your writing skills on your resume, upload it to the tool below . It will provide feedback on whether your document effectively highlights your specific type of writing skills.

Where to put writing skills on your resume

Writing exists in a weird middle ground between soft and hard skills— depending on the job, your writing skills may be a nice plus, or they may be essential.

Generally speaking, you want to demonstrate your writing skills with accomplishments in the bullet points of the “Work Experience” section of your resume.

Here’s an example of what that could look like:

If it’s essential to the job, consider also putting it in the skills section, like this:

It’s much more powerful to show the results of your writing than to simply say you can write. If you’re wondering how to describe your writing skills on a resume, default to giving an example with measurable results.

Now, let’s talk about the specific kinds of writing you might want to put on your resume:

Specific writing skills to put on your resume

Different jobs require different types of writing skills. Here are some you might include on your resume:

Technical writing

Technical writing is about making complex information accessible to everyone. If you’ve ever used an instruction manual, that’s an example of technical writing. So are other manuals, reports, and internal reference documents.

When listing this skill on your resume, make sure to include any specific projects you’ve worked on in the past. For example, if you created the repair manual for a specific type of engine, you could say something like, “Wrote the repair manual for the V7000 engine downloaded by 600+ readers.”

Technical writing is best included on resumes for jobs in: IT, engineering, and science.

Creative writing

If you’re a creative writer, your ability to craft compelling stories and capture the hearts of audiences is invaluable. Creative writing in business isn't just about weaving a tale; it's about connecting with your audience in a way that resonates and persuades.

So should you include your novelist aspirations on your resume? Maybe not, but if you have proof that you can write content that gets people’s attention, you should highlight that. For instance, you might say, "Conceived and wrote a viral advertising campaign that increased brand engagement by 40%."

Creative writing is best included on resumes for jobs in: marketing, advertising, and content creation.

Business writing

This may not be the first thing you think of when you’re applying for a job, but writing is a huge asset in business. Emails, reports, proposals, memos... Corporate employees do a lot of writing every single day. And companies run better when their employees understand how to write clearly and concisely.

Business writing is direct and persuasive, with a professional tone. If you have this skill, a good example to list on your resume could be, "Authored comprehensive project proposals leading to a 30% increase in client acquisition."

Business writing is best included on resumes for jobs in: administration and management, especially in corporate environments.

SEO writing

SEO writing involves creating content that ranks well on search engines and gives readers helpful information. You could illustrate this skill with a statement like, "Wrote SEO-optimized blog posts that doubled the organic traffic to the company website within six months."

SEO writing is best included on resumes for jobs in: digital marketing

Copywriting

Copywriting is the art of persuasive writing that prompts action, whether it's a purchase, a sign-up, or engagement.

If you have this skill, don’t just talk about it— show specific ways that your copy has encouraged people to take action. For example, "Crafted product descriptions that increased online sales by 25%."

Copywriting is best included on resumes for jobs in: advertising and marketing

Editing and proofreading

Editing and proofreading aren’t just about grammar and spelling. They’re about creating clarity and consistency for readers. In many jobs that require a significant amount of writing, it’s crucial that you’re able to self-edit or help your coworkers

A line such as "Edited and proofread a monthly magazine with a circulation of 50,000, maintaining a high standard of accuracy and readability" can demonstrate you know what you’re talking about when it comes to editing.

Editing and proofreading are best included on resumes for: any jobs that require a significant amount of writing.

Grant writing

Grant writing is laser-focused on creating proposals to secure funding.

If that job involves grant writing, highlighting your success rate in the past will make your resume awesome. For example you could include a bullet point that says something like: "Successfully wrote and submitted grant proposals that secured over $1 million in funding for various community projects."

Grant writing is best included on resumes for jobs in: non-profits and research.

Common mistakes to avoid

Finally, let's walk through how to avoid some common pitfalls when it comes to putting writing skills on your resume:

Avoid irrelevant skills

Tailor your writing skills to the job you're applying for. Instead of listing every writing project you've ever done, focus on ones that relate to the position.

Example: if you're eyeing a role in digital marketing, emphasize skills like SEO writing and content creation over technical writing.

Be honest about your skill level

If your experience in a particular style of writing is basic, don't oversell it as advanced. Misrepresenting your skills might mean you end up in a job that’s over your head.

However, if you are working on that skill through workshops or online courses, include this on your resume. It shows you’re willing to do what it takes to do the job right.

What to do if you have limited writing experience

If your professional writing experience isn’t what you’d like it to be, you can always draw attention to relevant skills from other areas. Research, editing, or strong organizational abilities can help you make a case for why you’d be a good fit for a job that requires writing.

Also, don't underestimate the value of personal projects. Blog posts, volunteer writing you’ve done, or freelance gigs can show potential employers you have the writing chops required for the job. And the good news is— it’s not too late to write a blog post or write something for your favorite charity so that you can mention it in your application!

If you’d like personalized feedback on your resume before you apply, check out score my resume . It’s our free AI-powered resume checker that will give you specific feedback on how to improve your resume so that recruiters and hiring managers can see what an awesome fit you are for the job!

• Career Advice

Spread the word

How to revise a resume, how (and when) to mention maternity leave on your resume, keep reading, how to name drop in a cover letter (without sounding pretentious), how to show bilingualism on your resume (with examples), why the job you interviewed for was reposted: the complete 2024 guide, subscribe to our newsletter.

Stay updated with Resume Worded by signing up for our newsletter.

🎉 Awesome! Now check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription.

Please enter a valid email address

Oops! There was an error sending the email, please try later

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

Privacy preference center

We care about your privacy

When you visit our website, we will use cookies to make sure you enjoy your stay. We respect your privacy and we’ll never share your resumes and cover letters with recruiters or job sites. On the other hand, we’re using several third party tools to help us run our website with all its functionality.

But what exactly are cookies? Cookies are small bits of information which get stored on your computer. This information usually isn’t enough to directly identify you, but it allows us to deliver a page tailored to your particular needs and preferences.

Because we really care about your right to privacy, we give you a lot of control over which cookies we use in your sessions. Click on the different category headings on the left to find out more, and change our default settings.

However, remember that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of our website. Finally, note that we’ll need to use a cookie to remember your cookie preferences.

Without these cookies our website wouldn’t function and they cannot be switched off. We need them to provide services that you’ve asked for.

Want an example? We use these cookies when you sign in to Kickresume. We also use them to remember things you’ve already done, like text you’ve entered into a registration form so it’ll be there when you go back to the page in the same session.

Thanks to these cookies, we can count visits and traffic sources to our pages. This allows us to measure and improve the performance of our website and provide you with content you’ll find interesting.

Performance cookies let us see which pages are the most and least popular, and how you and other visitors move around the site.

All information these cookies collect is aggregated (it’s a statistic) and therefore completely anonymous. If you don’t let us use these cookies, you’ll leave us in the dark a bit, as we won’t be able to give you the content you may like.

We use these cookies to uniquely identify your browser and internet device. Thanks to them, we and our partners can build a profile of your interests, and target you with discounts to our service and specialized content.

On the other hand, these cookies allow some companies target you with advertising on other sites. This is to provide you with advertising that you might find interesting, rather than with a series of irrelevant ads you don’t care about.

Resume Skills: How to Write a Skills Section in 2024? [+Examples]

No matter the job and no matter the experience level, skills are essential to a resume.

So much so, that amongst recruiters there's a new saying brewing — “ the future is skill-based ”.

And it makes sense, as mundane jobs get automated, those with a strong skill-set are able to shift focus and remain relevant in a fast-evolving job environment.

In this article, we'll not only show you how to write a skills section for your resume but also show you the differences between soft and hard skills and when to apply them. Moreover, you'll also learn some of the most sought-after skills by recruiters in today’s job market.

TL;DR Video Guide: How to List Skills on a Resume

Learn to write a great skills section for your resume in under 60 seconds. Watch our quick video guide, save time, and skip straight to the most important takeaways. 

What is considered a skill?

In broad terms, a skill is an ability to perform certain tasks well. Some skills can be measured and acquired through deliberate effort, while other are related to your personality traits.

In other words, not all skills are created equal. That’s why we call some of them “hard” and others “soft”.

• Hard skills . These are the skills that you’ve acquired through deliberate effort. They can be learned, taught, and measured. Examples of hard skills include: English, Spanish, HTML, Python, copywriting, data analysis, SEO, SEM, and others.
• Soft skills , on the other hand, are closely tied to one’s personality traits. They arise from your previous experiences and the environment you grew up in. These could be your leadership, communication, or other interpersonal skills . As opposed to hard skills, soft skills cannot be easily taught. Examples of soft skills include: problem-solving, negotiating, multitasking, time management, presenting, and others.

Both types of skills are highly valued by employers and have an important role to play in your job search.

You can think of your hard skills as a foundation upon which your entire application is built. They give you a fighting chance to score the job you want.

Your soft skills, on the other hand, are something extra that can make your application stand out. They give you an edge over other equally capable candidates.

Why do I need a skills section on my resume?

A well-put-together skills section can help a recruiter figure out whether you have what it takes for the job — and do it quickly . Speed is of the essence here.

Why? Because most recruiters only have about six seconds to decide whether a resume is worth reading in full. That means you only have a very limited time to get the most important, most impressive points across. Otherwise, your resume ends up in the bin.

With that in mind, having an entire section designated to your skills makes a lot of sense. After all, it’s through your skills that you can be useful to a company. By devoting an entire section to them you help the employer quickly assess if you can bring something to the table.

Get through the applicant tracking system (ATS)

What’s more, your resume isn’t for human eyes only. Every larger company nowadays uses an applicant tracking system (ATS) to weed out weak candidates. Because of that, most resumes never get to a human reader.

Fortunately, your resume’s skills section can help you punch through the ATS wall.

How? One way an ATS flags a resume for closer (human) review is by scanning it for relevant keywords. Luckily, by definition, any good skills section contains a relatively large number of these keywords and can help you get invited for a job interview .

As you can see there are also resume qualifications and a well-constructed skills section will help you make your resume more attractive both to human and computer eyes.

Finally, you should know that a large majority of your skills should already be shown in the work experience section of your resume. In other words, the skills section will always be a bit redundant. Don’t worry about that. For the reasons described above, it’s still worth it even if it comes at the cost of little redundancy.

How to write a skills section for your resume?

Although, at a first glance the skills resume section might seem straightforward. Once you start getting into the nitty-gritty of it, you will soon realize that you have a pile of practical questions that will require some research –– both about you and the job at hand.

A good way to start preparing for writing the skill section of your resume is by researching the job listing, the company, and its work culture and asking yourself these 4 questions:

• What are the skills needed for this job?
• Do my skills align with the job?
• Am I proficient in such skills?
• Is it essential to add these skills to my resume?

Once you’ve answered these questions, you can begin adding the skills that meet your requirements.

How to format skills on a resume?

Formatting your skills on your resume will depend on a few factors such as your choice of resume template and resume style. With the style of resume bearing the most weight; will it be a chronological, functional, or a combined resume?

• Chronological resume : This style of resume is the standard. It adds your work experience to the top of the resume and lists your jobs in chronological order from newest to oldest. Though anyone can use this style, those with greater experience benefit the most.
• Functional resume : If you want your resume to highlight your skills then picking a functional resume is the way to go, as it prioritizes them by adding them to the forefront of your resume. This is a great choice for those working in the tech industry or if you’re new to the workforce.
• Combined resume : As the name suggests, this is a mix of both a functional and chronological resume. This style of resume is a good way to go if you’re someone with a large gap in your employment or if you are switching careers. Where to put skills on a mixed resume depends on what you want to emphasize to your employer. If your skills are unique and in demand, put them at the top.

As for your resume template, you have more freedom and can pick from a variety of templates that meet your needs. However, not all resume templates are created equal and some are more suitable than others depending on the occupation.

If you’re having a hard time deciding what kind of resume template to use, go through resume examples to gauge what kind of templates are typically used for certain jobs.

Best skills to add to your resume in 2024

The rule of thumb is: stay relevant . What does it mean in practice?

First, it’s advised to limit the length of your resume to no more than two pages. This shouldn’t be a problem, as nowadays resume builders make it really simple to keep things concise.

Basically, by having a long resume you risk the hiring manager losing interest.

Hence, you need to provide only the most relevant information, and because things move so fast in today’s day and age you also need to make sure the information is up to date.

But how can you tell which of your skills are up to date and relevant for the job you want?

Easy, by following these 3 tips:

• Study the job advertisement.
• Print it out.
• Highlight skills that are essential for the job.

These skills are the keywords that both the hiring managers and the ATS will be looking for.

Once you’ve done that, see how many of those skills you already have and list them in your skills section.

Best hard skills to put on a resume in 2024

Like we said earlier on, the job landscape is evolving, and we don’t mean your typical slow pace Darwin-type of evolution. Nope. This is a fast computer-age evolution, and you’re going to have to put in some effort and come up with some great resume ideas for skills if you don’t want to be left in the dust.

This is especially true for careers that depend heavily on hard skills, such as those in the tech, industrial, and construction industries. So, just like bringing the right tool for the job, it’s important to bring the right set of hard skills.

With that said, these 10 hard skills are in huge demand in 2024:

• Cybersecurity
• Business analysis
• Sales processing
• Product Marketing
• Clinical research
• Creative writing
• Video editing
• Web development

Now, we don’t mean for you to just go jotting down as many hard skills as you can on your resume just because they’re in demand. No, unique skills for a resume or any additional skill for a resume should only be added if you can at least perform the skills with some proficiency.

Another good way to decide what skill to add to your skill summary is by asking yourself this question, “ Would I be able to answer a hiring manager’s in-depth questions about such skill ?”. If not, then scrap it from your resume and cover letter .

Best soft skills to put on a resume in 2024

It doesn’t matter how technical your profession is. At the end of the day, you’ll have to interact with people in some form or another. That’s where soft skills come into play.

Think about it, if you were a recruiter, who would you rather hire? A programmer who’s also emotionally intelligent and has a way with people? Or someone equally skilled but who is anti-social?

If you’d prefer the former candidate, you wouldn’t be alone. In fact, 67 percent of HR managers said they’d hire a candidate with strong soft skills even if his or her technical abilities were lacking. On the contrary, only 9 percent would hire someone with strong technical credentials but weak soft skills. Even when it comes to hard-to-fill positions, the candidate’s soft skills still amount to about 25 percent of the hiring decision .

Having said that, here are 10 of the most marketable soft skills in 2024:

• Time management
• Communication
• Conflict resolution
• Problem-solving
• Negotiation
• Attention to detail
• Flexibility
• Analytical thinking
• Collaboration

Most companies understand that efficiency alone doesn’t make an organization stand out. They need to be innovative too — and create an environment where talented workers want to come and stay.

Pro tip:  If you have a LinkedIn profile filled with all the important details, including your skills, work experience, academic background, and qualifications, you can  turn it into a polished resume with just one click.

Top skills by career field to add to a resume

Some general skills can be a plus for nearly any job out there, particularly soft skills.

However, the number one rule on how to write a resume applies here, too, always tailor your resume with skills that align with the job. Also, keep in mind that sometimes skills that don’t seem relevant actually are, you just have to learn how to describe skills on a resume. Here are a few soft and hard skill examples for popular career fields you can add to your resume (assuming you possess such skills).

Skills to put on an art and design resume (examples)

For those who want to work in a creative field, it's imperative to understand that a blend of both soft and hard skills are needed. Few jobs out there require you to be a lone wolf and because of this, regardless of how good you're at your craft, it's equally important to hone your soft skills.

• Soft skills: creativity, communication, collaboration, flexibility, planning, multitasking, troubleshooting, independence, perceptivity, accuracy
• Hard skills : basic HTML, print knowledge, Adobe Create Suite, Dreamweaver, typography knowledge, photo editing, logo creation , marketing, storyboard creation, layout

Get inspired by this stylish resume example for an illustrator .

Best skills to put on a marketing resume (examples)

As someone in the marketing field, you're likely very aware of how fast the world is changing, especially if you’re into digital marketing. Hence, it’s important for you to highlight that you’re keeping up with the latest trends.

• Soft skills : collaboration, intuitive, creativity, problem-solving, multitasking, curiosity, innovation, networking, quantitative thinking, forward-thinking
• Hard skills : content marketing, WordPress, mobile marketing, social media, email marketing, lead nurturing, SEO, Mailchimp, Adobe Photoshop, video production

Check out this well-researched resume example from an online marketing specialist for inspiration.

Best project manager skills (examples)

Since the start of the pandemic, project management skills have been in high demand, according to research from McKinsey . Keeping up with the competition means that project managers need to continually upskill themselves. To make the most of your resume, here are the best project management skills to include.

• Soft skills: problem-solving, negotiation, leadership, effective communication, organization, prioritization
• Hard skills: Project Management Methodologiesdata analysis and visualization, programming (in relevant fields), marketing, use of AI 

If you want to learn more about these skills, have a look at the article we dedicated to the top skills for a project manager that includes an example of a project manager resume .

Skills to put on a finance resume (examples)

There’s a rule (hopefully a joke) amongst those working in finance –– always put your job ahead of your personal life. Now, whether that’s hyperbole or not, it should tell you a bit about what’s expected in the field.   

• Soft skills : Leadership, presentation skills, compliance, diligence, being focused, initiative, thick-skinned, communication, execution, patience
• Hard skills : SQL, VBA, Python, index matching, Excel, pivot tables, advanced charting, financial modeling, CFA, C++

Take a look at this well-presented and executed resume example for an equity analyst for inspiration.

Skills to put on an IT resume (examples)

Many think that working in IT means you don’t really need soft skills and honestly, they couldn’t be more wrong. Soft skills are just as important as hard skills when it comes to IT, so make sure that your IT resume contains both sets of skills.

• Soft skills : Communication, attention to detail, logical thinking, adaptability, prioritizing, decisive, deadline management, problem-solving, collaboration, accuracy
• Hard skills : AI, data science, cloud services, blockchain, VR, Cyber security, python, AWS, CSS, cyber security

Start your resume strong, get inspired with this in-depth and well-formatted resume example for an IT analyst , or just watch the video below: 

Skills to put on a sales resume (examples)

Salespeople are "people people" and should definitely emphasize their soft skills on their resumes. However, many sales roles like B2B are becoming more tech-dependent and should also include hard skills on their resumes.

• Soft skills : Persuasion, negotiation, confidence, public speaking, active listening, responsibility, written communication, flexibility, intuition, business acumen
• Hard skills : Powerpoint, SEO, data analysis, SaSS, content writing, cold calling, CRM, email management, pitch creation, product knowledge

Have a peek at this persuasive resume example for a sales representative if you're in need of inspiration.

Skills to put on a hospitality resume (examples) 

Do you like to be surrounded by people? Does it bring you joy to make someone's day (or week) better by being able to accommodate their needs and create unforgettable experiences?

Then you were born for the hospitality industry! However, it's also important to demonstrate these qualities on a resume. Make sure that these hard skills and soft skills are included in your hospitality CV. 

• Soft skills : Multi-tasking, empathy, teamwork, problem-solving and conflict-resolution, active listening, flexibility, adaptability, resistance to stress;
• Hard skills : POS systems, front desk management, basic computer skills, event planning, knowledge of multiple languages, bartending course, social media marketing, and networking, vendor relations.

Are there any skills I should NOT include on a resume?

Sure, most skills you have might come in handy at some point. But that doesn’t mean that every skill belongs on a resume. In fact, the number of unsuitable skills is so large we had to split them into five categories:

• Skills you DON’T have . Remember, most skills take a lot of effort to acquire. Don’t fabricate them just to get hired. It will come back to haunt you in the long run — probably as soon as you get to the job interview. It’s bad enough to look incompetent but far worse to be seen as a liar.
• Obsolete skills. Do you know how to back up files on a floppy disk? Good, but don’t put it on your resume. You don’t want to look as obsolete as floppy disks. The same goes for other outdated technologies and skills related to them.
• Skills that have nothing to do with the job. Scuba diving is an impressive skill to have. But it’s also completely irrelevant if you’re applying for a job on dry land. Remember, hiring managers only have a limited attention span. Make sure they focus on those of your skills that can actually get you the job.
• Overused buzzwords. Are you a flexible quick learner? Are you passionately creative, always motivated, and focused on the strategic vision? Even if it’s true, don’t mention it. These are some of the most overused words on resumes, and hiring managers are tired of seeing them. What’s more, these buzzwords don’t really mean anything.
• Skills everybody should have. Never list skills like Microsoft Word, email, or web searching. It’s a given that anyone applying for an office job nowadays has these skills. Would you hire someone who considers the ability to browse the internet an achievement?

One more thing. If you’re struggling to fit your resume on a single page, consider shortening your skills section. Leave only the key skills on a resume, relevancy is what matters the most here. Prioritize the hard skills mentioned in the job advertisement and ditch anything less relevant. 

What are professional skills?

Professional skill is a hard or soft skill that was learned with the intention (either at school, job, or certifications) of applying it in an employment setting. Examples of such skills are computer languages, machine skills, and writing skills.

What to put under skills on a resume?

When deciding what to put under skills on a resume, it's advised to research the job ad. Once that is done, then you can list the skills you possess that align with the job ad description.

You can add hard skills, such as: Microsoft Word, Photoshop, and Excel. You can also add soft skills, such as: punctuality, teamwork, and problem solver.

How to list soft skills on a resume?

Listing soft skills can be done in multiple ways, you can sprinkle them through your work experience section of your resume, you can add them under the skills section, or create an independent section titled “Soft Skills”.

Martin Poduška

Martin is a resume expert and career advice writer at Kickresume. In his five years at Kickresume, he has written hundreds of in-depth, painstakingly researched resume advice articles and, as chief editor, he has also edited and revised every single article on this website. Tens of thousands of job seekers read Martin’s resume advice every month. He holds a degree in English from the University of St Andrews and a degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Amsterdam .

Hungry for more?

How to write a professional resume summary [+examples], how to put your education on a resume [+examples], how to describe your work experience on a resume [+examples], let your resume do the work..

Join 5,000,000 job seekers worldwide and get hired faster with your best resume yet.

How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide

For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.

If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.

So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that gets you an interview straight up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume, including:

• The 8 Essential Steps to Writing a Resume
• 11+ Exclusive Resume Tips to Up Your Resume Game
• 27+ Real-Life Resume Examples for Different Professions

….and more!

So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
• Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
• Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
• Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
• Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
• Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
• Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
• Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

• Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
• Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
• Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

• Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
• Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
• Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
• Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
• Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

• Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
• Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
• Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

• Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
• LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
• Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
• Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
• Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
• Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Your job title and years of experience.
• A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
• Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

• Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
• Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
• Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

• Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
• Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
• Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
• Generated leads through cold-calling
• Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

• Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
• Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
• Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

• Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
• Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
• Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

• In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
• Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
• In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

• No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
• Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
• Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

• Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
• Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
• Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
• Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

• Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
• University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
• Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
• Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
• GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
• Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
• Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
• Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

• If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
• You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
• If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
• Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
• Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
• Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

• Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
• Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

• Agile Methodology
• SCRUM Framework
• Waterfall Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Risk Management

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
• Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
• A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
• Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

• Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
• Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
• Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
• Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

• Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

• Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
• Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
• Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
• Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
• Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
• Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
• Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
• Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
• Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
• Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
• Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
• Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
• Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Bartender Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

• Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
• Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
• Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
• Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

• Open MS Word
• Click “file” from the menu bar 
• Select “new”
• Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

• Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
• Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
• Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
• Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
• Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

How to showcase your social media skills on your resume

With billions of people currently using social media, businesses that want to grow need to build a presence on major platforms to connect with a wider audience. As a job seeker, you should showcase how you can help businesses accomplish that goal. Learning how to highlight social media skills like paid advertising and customer care can help you show your value as a candidate and stand out to potential employers.

Understanding social media skills 

Social media skills are a specific set of capabilities that allow people to successfully engage with and market to an audience across social media platforms. Because of the broad nature of social media skills, they can typically fall under the categories of hard and soft skills. 

For example, social media marketing involves data analytics, which is considered a technical skill. However, it also involves communication, which is a soft skill.

Both technical and soft social media skills are important for landing a job because they show employers that you know how to use updated technology and engage with a target audience. Some key skills that many employers value and look for in candidates include:

• Creating organic content for social media feeds
• Writing captions that capture the audience’s attention
• Setting KPIs and reporting on analytics data
• Managing social media communities
• Answering inquiries and providing customer service
• Executing paid advertising strategies to increase sales

When they feature social media skills, resumes for marketing, public relations, and customer service jobs can stand out as particularly competitive . However, these skills can also be highly relevant in a number of other industries — such as human resources, hospitality, and retail — because they signal an ability to attract customers and connect with an audience.

Identifying your social media skills 

Before you can showcase social media skills on your resume , you must be able to identify what skills you have. Conduct a self-assessment of your own skills based on your past professional experience. For example, if you’re an experienced customer service agent, you may be great at engaging customers via direct messages or responding to queries in the comments. 

If business analysis is more your speed, you may be excellent at evaluating social media analytics and understanding how KPIs are affecting business outcomes. Those in the marketing and public relations industry may deeply understand how to create attractive content that brands the business and attracts engagement and sales.

Once you understand what social media skills you already have, it’s time to gather evidence of those skills so you can share this information in your cover letter and resume. You might include case studies of successful social media campaigns, analytics reports that show how social media activity positively impacted the business, or a portfolio of content that drew lots of likes and engagement.

Expert Tip:

If you have already built a social media following of your own, you can add this information to your resume. Consider adding the profile page URL to showcase your content as well as some information about the results you have achieved on each platform.

How to list social media skills on your resume

If you want to bring attention to your social media skills, resumes are the best place to do it. However, the way you list social media skills on your application will depend on the resume format you use. 

If you’re using a reverse chronological format with a separate skills section, you can easily place them there. You can use terms like social engagement, content creation, social media analytics, online community management, social media branding, or paid social advertising. 

Still, when you are highlighting expertise in social media, resume skills sections aren’t the only place you can put this information. You might also want to incorporate it into your work experience section using bullet points under the positions in which you used those skills.

When considering how to put social media skills on resumes, try altering the bullet points on your resume sample using the X-Y-Z method . Touted by former Google executives as the easiest way to land an interview at the tech giant, this method follows a simple formula: “Accomplished [X], as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]. (1) For example:

• Grew followers by 25% this year by launching user-generated content campaigns that encouraged fans to create and share Duet videos on their TikTok profiles
• Improved engagement with 32% more likes and comments using “sneak peek” posts and giveaways during new product launches
• Increased brand awareness as measured by a 14% rise in branded search volume and a 22% rise in the share of voice by incorporating lifestyle imagery in paid social ads

This method highlights the importance of quantifying achievements when sharing social media skills on resumes. Being able to discuss your accomplishments with concrete numbers truly shows that you are aware of how your skills contribute to business outcomes. This is what will help you stand out from the pack, get interviews, and eventually land the job you want.

"Social media skills are important for landing a job because they show employers that you know how to use updated technology and engage with a target audience."

Tailoring your social media skills for the job

Any resume or cover letter templates you use should always be customized for the job you’re applying for. One simple way to do this is to read the job description. When listing social media skills, resumes should use the same terms listed by the company. This will help you customize your document, and it may also help you get past electronic ATS resume systems that are looking for those keywords.

You can also tailor your social media skills for the job by researching the job title and considering how social media skills can contribute to success in the role. 

For example, if you’re looking for a job in sales, how have you used social media to increase conversions? If the role is in human resources, how have you tracked and increased candidate engagement that led to more qualified hires?

Customizing your resume this way ensures that your application materials include only relevant information. It also makes it easier for the recruiter or hiring manager to see why you’re the right person for the job.

Enhancing your LinkedIn profile with social media skills

The use of LinkedIn is increasingly becoming a hot topic in resume articles as more people are recognizing the power of social media in the job search process. Because more recruiters are on LinkedIn looking for their next hire and the platform makes it so easy to electronically apply for jobs, it’s a good idea for you to be ready with a full profile and details about your past experience and skills.

Fortunately, LinkedIn has several ways for you to show off your social media skills. The first is optimizing your profile, which is like your LinkedIn resume . It’s best to highlight your social media skills in your Headline, “About” section, and “Experience” section using the same language you used for the bullet points on your resume. Make sure to enhance these sections with relevant keywords that make your profile easy to find.

Additionally, LinkedIn allows you to add a list of skills to your profile and have your connections endorse your possession of those skills. The platform also allows others to write recommendations for you. 

These endorsements and recommendations can make your profile more attractive. For example, if you list social media manager skills, resume recommendations on LinkedIn can show a recruiter that the content and engagement strategies you employ have gotten tangible results for others and can do the same for their business.

Gain recruiters’ attention with standout social media skills

Showcasing social media skills like content creation, analytics, customer service, and paid advertising on your resume helps you stand out as someone who understands modern technology and can use it to grow the business. 

When highlighting social media skills, resumes (including those on LinkedIn) should include quantified results and use keywords similar to those on the job description.

Because the world of social media moves fast, regularly update your application materials with new skills and achievements to stay competitive. Using resume and cover letter examples and templates as a starting point can make this process a breeze. With some simple tweaking, you can show off your skills in a way that grabs attention and helps you move your career forward.

(1) Inc. Magazine: Google Recruiters Say Using the X-Y-Z Formula on Your Resume Will Improve Your Odds of Getting Hired at Google

Get ahead of the competition

Make your job applications stand-out from other candidates.

How To Write a Targeted Resume: Tips and Examples

Using Resume Icons — An Introductory Guide

Including Reasons for Leaving a Job on Resumes

10 Essential Software Testing Skills to Put on a Resume

In the competitive world of software testing, having a well-crafted resume is key to standing out among a sea of talented candidates.

Recruiters often spend just a few seconds skimming through resumes, so it’s important to highlight the most relevant skills to catch their interest and show why you’re a great fit for the role.

Software Testing Skills You Should Highlight On Your Resume

#1. manual testing.

Manual testing is a core skill every software tester should master, involving the art of carefully examining software applications to identify bugs and ensure a smooth user experience.

By carefully going through each test case, testers can effectively validate functionality and usability while spotting any discrepancies that might affect performance.

A skilled tester uses clear, concise language and precise steps to reproduce the defect, ensuring that developers have everything they need to fix the issues swiftly.

#2. Test Automation

Mastering test automation is essential for any tester looking to enhance their skill set.

When it comes to scripting languages, proficiency in languages like Python and Java is invaluable.

Java , being widely used in enterprise environments, is another strong choice, particularly for those working with Selenium.

Here are few ways to effectively highlight your test automation skills on your resume:

#3. API Testing

Familiarity with these concepts empowers testers to ensure that APIs function correctly and efficiently, providing a reliable backend for applications.

Meanwhile, SoapUI, with its robust capabilities for testing SOAP and REST APIs, provides advanced features such as service emulation, security testing, and load testing, helping you dig deeper into API functionality.

By highlighting your understanding of RESTful APIs along with your experience using tools like Postman or SoapUI on your resume, you not only showcase your technical skill set but also your ability to contribute to the overall quality and performance of software products.

#4. Analytical Thinking

Problem-solving abilities are crucial for a software tester.

By being careful and thorough, testers make sure that every part of the software works correctly.

#5. Communication Skills

Communication skills are crucial for software testers, especially when it comes to writing documentation and collaborating verbally with others.

Overall, strong communication skills allow testers to collaborate effectively, improving the quality of the software and the team’s success.

#6. Time Management

This skill allows testers to prioritise their tasks, focusing on the most critical testing first so that any issues can be fixed quickly.

#7. Agile Methodologies

Agile focuses on collaboration, quick feedback, and adapting to changes, which means testers need to be flexible and ready to communicate with developers and other team members.

Here are few ways to effectively highlight your knowledge on Agile methodologies on your resume:

#8. Security Testing

Mention any experience you have with security tools (like OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and Nessus) and techniques, like penetration testing or vulnerability assessments.

Here are few ways to effectively highlight your Security testing skills on your resume:

#9. Performance Testing

Here are few ways to effectively highlight your Performance testing skills on your resume:

#10. Proficiency with Testing Tools 

Automation testing tools , like Selenium or Cypress, enable testers to run tests automatically, which saves time and improves accuracy.

Here are few ways to effectively highlight your Testing tools proficiency on your resume:

Bonus Skill

#11. staying updated on industry trends.

By staying informed about the latest in testing tools and practices, you can boost your skills and bring fresh, innovative solutions to your projects!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between hard skills and soft skills, why should you list skills on your resume, where do skills go on a resume, what kind of skills should i include in my resume.

When deciding what skills to include in your resume, focus on both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Hard skills might include things like computer programs you know, languages you speak, or specific tools you can operate. Soft skills could be qualities like being a good communicator, being reliable, or having strong teamwork abilities. Make sure to choose skills that match the job description to show that you’re a good fit for the position.

What top skills do employers look for?

How can i identify my skills, how many skills should i include in my resume, what are the best skills for a candidate with no experience.

In summary, the top 10 software testing skills every software tester should highlight on their resume include technical proficiency in testing tools, strong analytical thinking, exceptional attention to detail, effective communication, collaboration skills, adaptability, problem-solving abilities, knowledge of Agile methodologies, programming fundamentals, and a customer-focused mindset.

Related posts:

Similar Posts

Cypress interview questions and answers, 50+ api testing interview questions & answers, what are your strengths – interview questions | software testing material, 40+ python interview questions & answers, 30+ database testing interview questions and answers (updated 2024), how to reverse a string in java, leave a reply cancel reply.

How to outline work experience in a resumé

You’ve got the job experience to back up your suitability for a role – but what’s the best way to add it to your resumé ? To stand out against other qualified applicants, it’s important that your work experience section highlights your strongest points. 

In this article, we explore how you can effectively display your professional journey, highlighting past positions, key responsibilities and relevant achievements. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, wording your resumé experience correctly can make all the difference in landing your next role.

How to include work experience in a resumé

How to format your resumé work experience section, resumé work experience examples, why is work experience in a resumé so important.

A well-written work experience section can be one of the most important elements of your resumé . It gives the hiring manager a quick look into your employment history, including previous employers, dates of employment, skills and responsibilities.

Detailing your work experience is important as it demonstrates how you use your qualifications, skills and level of experience handling various tasks. It can also help showcase your work ethic and commitment, and highlight your career progression. 

The work experience section should be the main focus of your resumé. Here are some quick steps on how to write experience in a resumé. 

Step 1. Identify your resumé format

The right resumé format depends on the job and what’s normal practice in your industry, so it’s worth taking time to decide which one best suits this application. Having a consistent format ensures your resumé looks professional and presents your information clearly,  while showcasing your attention to detail and organisation skills. 

The 3 most commonly used resumé formats for your work experience section are:

1. Reverse chronological format 

This is the most commonly used format, where you list your jobs in reverse date order. Start with your most recent job first, then the job before that second, and so on. It’s a great option if you’ve got at least a few years of job history in a related field.

2. Functional format

This format focuses on what you do rather than where you’ve worked. Your skills and abilities are grouped into categories (rather than spread out across different jobs) with quantitative examples of how you demonstrated these qualities in previous roles. The categories can be tailored to the role you’re applying for by using the keywords and skills listed in the job description. 

For example, categories could include:

• Complaint-resolution skills
• Management skills
• Leadership skills
• Sales skills

A skills-based resumé is a good format to consider if you have gaps in your work history, are changing careers, or have limited work experience. 

3. Combination format

A hybrid of chronological and functional formats, the combination format highlights both work history and relevant skills. Start with a summary of your most relevant skills first, before listing your work history. This format is useful for those who want to emphasise specific skills, while also showing a steady work history. 

Choose the format that best highlights your skills and experience for the job you’re applying for.

Step 2. Discuss achievements instead of responsibilities

To give insight into what makes you the best choice for an employer, highlight your achievements that had a positive impact on the business. This lets an employer know how well you performed your job, not just the mechanics of the role itself. When giving examples of your accomplishments, make sure to use action verbs and quantifiable achievements (backed by numbers) whenever possible.

Here are some examples of responsibility-based vs achievement-based sentences, so you can see the difference:

• Responsibility based : sales of travel products
• Achievement based: increased sales revenue by 20% in the first quarter
• Responsibility based:  managed customer enquiries and resolved issues in a timely manner
• Achievement based:  increased customer satisfaction by 20% through efficient issue resolution
• Responsibility based:  developed marketing campaigns for new product launches
• Achievement based:  lead marketing strategy, resulting in a 30% increase in product awareness year on year

Tip:  Don’t list every job duty you’ve had. Stick to transferable skills relevant to the role you want, and use bullet points to keep your resumé clear and concise.

Step 3. List relevant job titles 

When putting together an employment history , it’s common practice to start with the most recent position, following a reverse-chronological order. This puts your most recent experience upfront, while allowing your resumé to be easily read by ATS software used by hiring managers. 

You should also include:

• Specific job titles (especially ones relevant to the role you’re applying for)
• Company names
• Company locations (city and region)
• Dates of employment for each position

An example of this might look like:

01/2018–11/2023     Manager at ABC Company, Auckland

Always use the full name of each organisation, be as specific as you can regarding job title, and use the MM/YYYY format so the dates can be easily read by an ATS.

Step 4. Begin each bullet point with an action verb

Your accomplishments speak volumes about your work ethic, commitment and abilities. Make your accomplishments impactful by starting each bullet point with an action word. Use words like:

• Implemented
• Streamlined

Avoid industry jargon and overly complex terminology.

Instead of: Responsible for workplace safety  Say:  Implemented comprehensive safety protocols, reducing workplace incidents by 20%. 

The latter sounds more active and engaging, highlighting the impact you had on your company.

Step 5. Highlight quantifiable achievements 

Your resumé speaks on your behalf, so you want it to be as persuasive as possible. Using quantifiable achievements helps prove your successes by adding measurable results like numbers, percentages or other metrics. It’s a great way to clearly demonstrate your ability to deliver above and beyond the KPIs set. 

Instead of:   Video production and editing   Say:   Produced 25 x 2-minute videos per week

Here are more quantifiable achievements examples:

• Increased social media following by 30% by creating more engaging content.
• Decreased production costs by 15% by implementing new efficiency measures.
• Boosted sales revenue by 25% through a targeted marketing campaign.

Step 6. Tailor your bullet points to the job you want

Before submitting your resumé, read through the job description and make note of the specific skills and work experiences that are mentioned. With this in mind, tailor your work experience descriptions to highlight these same key skills and qualities, while choosing workplace achievements that demonstrate your ability to put these skills into action.

Here are some tips on how to format your work experience on your resumé.

1. Create a dedicated section for your professional experience

Create a clear section entitled Work Experience or Professional Experience underneath the Resumé Summary part of your resumé. This makes it easy for the hiring manager to quickly see where you’ve worked. You can also add a section called Additional Experience or Volunteer Experience if you have relevant knowledge or transferable skills from outside the workplace that you want to highlight.

2. List your most recent work experience first

While there are different ways you can format your resumé, most ATS and employers tend to prefer reverse chronological order. So list your most recent experience first, followed by your previous positions in descending order. This allows hiring managers to quickly see your most relevant and up-to-date experience.

3. Consistent formatting and clear concise points 

Maintain consistent formatting throughout your work experience section. This makes it easier for the hiring manager to read, while also making your resumé visually appealing. Use the same professional font , font size, spacing and bullet point style for each entry, and ensure your bullet points are clear and concise.

If you don’t know where to start, it can help to see how others in your line of work put together their work experience. To give you a head start, below are work experience resumé examples for a variety of different work backgrounds. Use this as a base to form your own work experience section in your resumé. 

Example resumé work experience for fresh graduates with no experience

As a graduate, you may not have any relevant work experience yet. If you’re applying for your first job, you can include things like volunteer roles or extracurricular roles you had at school. Below is an example of how you can list these roles on your resumé.

02/2023–present    Intern at The Bridge Company, Wellington

Organising events and meetings as assistant to the PR manager.

Analysing e-commerce data in the developer team.

07/2020–12/2022     Volunteer at Helping Hands Charity, Wellington

Managed social media accounts, boosting engagement by 20% on 6 months.

Organised fundraising events as assistant to team leader

Example resumé work experience for a mid-career switch 

If you’re making a career change from one industry to another, it’s important to focus on showing transferable skills. You can also highlight the parts of your previous experience that are relevant to the new role. For example moving from a career in sales to a role in human resources.

06/2021–present     Account Executive at Salesby Ltd, Christchurch

Develop marketing campaigns and promotions with ad sales team

Negotiate client contracts to consistently meet revenue targets

08/2017–03/2021     Business Development at Sei, Christchurch

Develop proposals and presentations to pitch products and services to potential clients.

Identify new business opportunities and partnerships, expanding the client base by 40%.

Example resumé work experience for professionals

If you’ve been working in your industry for awhile, you may have multiple relevant roles to add to your work experience section. Make sure you avoid adding too many previous roles , instead stick to the most relevant. 

02/2022–present     Marketing Manager, Biotech, Auckland

Develop and execute marketing campaigns to increase customer engagement by 25%.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to launch new products, driving a 15% increase in sales.

06/2019–02/2022      Communications Specialist, Treehill, Auckland

Managed internal communications, improving employee engagement by 20%.

Strategised content for the company website and newsletters, increased website traffic by 40%.

Example resumé work experience for managers 

Leadership and management roles will often require some level of management experience. It’s important to highlight your experience in similar roles, or skills that may be transferable from other roles. 

05/2023–present     Hotel Manager at Brydges Hotel, Wellington

Manage hotel budget and expenses, achieving a 15% cost reduction.

Implement training programs for staff, resulting in improved customer satisfaction scores by 20%.

08/2019–04/2023     Assistant Manager at Oaks Inn, Wellington

Co-managed day-to-day hotel operations, including guest check-in/check-out and room reservations.

Resolved guest complaints in a timely and professional manner.

Showcasing your work experience in your resumé is more than simply listing previous job titles. It’s highlighting your achievements, skills and career progression , relevant to the job you’re going for. Make a strong impression by using action verbs and including any quantifiable achievements, and choose a format that best highlights your skills and experience, keeping it consistent throughout. With the above in mind, you can create a work experience resumé that stands out and gets you to the next step in the hiring process.  

Can I just put years on my resumé?

Yes, you can just put years on your resumé. However, it’s best to also include the months, preferably in MM/YYYY format. This provides a clearer picture of your work history for the hiring manager, and matches the format that ATS software is programmed to read.

How long should a resumé be for a job?

Your resumé should be one page , or two pages at most, if you have a lot of relevant experience. If your resumé is in multi-page territory, consider whether you have gone for quantity over quality. Check if you’ve been clear and concise, removing experience not relevant to the role, and consider limiting quantified achievements to two to three bullet points per job or skill category.

What jobs should you put on a resumé?

Include relevant jobs and experience that showcase the skills and qualifications required for the position you’re applying for. Focus on roles that demonstrate your ability to perform the job you're wanting to get.

What order should work experience be listed on a resumé?

List your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backward. This format highlights your most recent and relevant experience first and is the most commonly used. Other format types include functional and combination formats.

Can you leave jobs off your resumé?

If they’re not relevant to the position you’re applying for, there’s no need to include every job you’ve ever had. If you have a long work history, only include the most relevant roles. If an employer wants an explanation about any employment gaps, then they may ask you this during the interview.

How to address maternity leave on your resumé?

Maternity leave can simply be included in the date range you worked for a company. If however you were not employed during your maternity leave, then the best approach is to list this in your work experience section as ‘Parental Leave’.  

How to overcome an employment gap in your work history?

Be upfront about gaps in your employment by including these as you would a jobs in the work experience section of your resumé. There can be many reasons for gaps in your work history, such as health problems, job loss, study, caring responsibilities, or taking time off to travel. You don’t need to give an explanation, but you can include any relevant skills or experience you gained during your employment break.

How many years of work experience should be on a resume?

You should include all work experience relevant to the job you’re applying for, but focus on the most recent 10–15 years unless earlier experience is highly relevant to the position. Highlight accomplishments and skills gained throughout your career, remembering to keep it clear and concise so your resumé is only a page or two long.

Top search terms

Explore related topics, subscribe to career advice.

Tableau Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Tableau Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)

• Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Tableau Resume

• Tableau Developer
• Tableau Business Analyst
• Tableau Data Analyst

Tableau Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

John Bergsen (123) 456-7890 [email protected] Seattle, WA 12345 LinkedIn | Portfolio

A results-driven Tableau developer with six years of experience, specializing in R, Python, SQL, data visualization, and business intelligence. A proven track record of executing complex technical projects to enhance data-driven decision-making for enterprise businesses.

Professional Experience

Lead Tableau Developer , Guardian Insurance Inc., Seattle, WA | February 2020 – present

• Develop and implement business intelligence solutions for a major insurance firm to support data-driven decision-making and drive automation of manual processes, contributing to a 19% increase in revenue growth over three years
• Run a team of seven junior developers to create, maintain, and optimize over 40 Tableau dashboards and reports to enhance data visualization across all departments
• Collaborate effectively with non-technical users to identify business needs and present data analytic findings in an engaging manner

Tableau Developer , Roland HR Solutions, Seattle, WA | June 2018 – February 2020

• Executed a wide range of technical projects to improve the integrity of data reporting for an HR software solutions company, including validating and auditing large data sets
• Developed Tableau dashboards and reports for internal business users to automate manual data entry, which saved over 120 work hours per month
• Data visualization
• Technical project management
• Business intelligence
• Process improvement

Certifications

• Tableau Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) | 2019
• Tableau Desktop Certified Professional (TDCP) | 2018

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Business Intelligence University of Washington, Seattle, WA | 2018

This Tableau resume example communicates the candidate’s professional achievements in a concise yet engaging manner. The bullet points clearly illustrate how they leveraged their technical knowledge to enhance data reporting and facilitate business growth.

Allison Rosenberg (123) 456-7890 [email protected] Miami, FL 12345 LinkedIn | Portfolio

A Tableau business analyst with seven years of experience building and developing dashboards for multi-million-dollar manufacturing companies. A strong history of collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify data analytic needs and uncover cost-saving opportunities.

Tableau Business Analyst , Coulthart Manufacturing, Miami, FL | May 2019 – present

• Design and build Tableau dashboards to provide real-time data reporting for a $15 million dollar supply chain and enhance data visualization for users, contributing to a 19% reduction in operating costs
• Coordinate cross-functionally with logistics, supply chain management, and manufacturing teams to evaluate data analytic needs and requirements
• Create and maintain comprehensive Tableau reports and perform queries on large data sets to gather actionable insights

Tableau Business Analyst , Garland Manufacturing, Miami, FL | June 2017 – May 2019

• Developed and implemented impactful Tableau dashboards and reports to aid business intelligence efforts and enhance data analytic capabilities for a large manufacturing firm
• Spearheaded initiatives to improve data visualization and uncover inefficiencies in supply chain management, which generated $1.2 million in cost savings
• Data science
• Data reporting
• Tableau Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) | 2018
• Tableau Desktop Certified Professional (TDCP) | 2017

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Data Science University of Florida, Gainesville, FL | 2017

This resume example demonstrates the candidate’s experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to support business intelligence efforts. It also makes good use of numbers and data to establish a sense of scope for the job seeker’s achievements.

Yaling Zhang (123) 456-7890 [email protected] New York, NY 12345 LinkedIn | Portfolio

A Tableau data analyst with 10 years of experience specializing in business intelligence, data visualization, and technical project management. A proven track record of building advanced dashboards to support data-driven decision-making for multi-million-dollar businesses and investment portfolios.

Senior Tableau Data Analyst , Highland Financial, New York, NY | February 2018 – present

• Develop Tableau dashboards and reports to transform data into actionable insights for a premiere financial consulting firm with client accounts valued at up to $3 million
• Perform comprehensive analysis of complex data sets to identify financial trends, improve data visualization, and facilitate data-driven decision-making for client businesses
• Manage and build a team of 10 Tableau analysts and developers, provide coaching and mentorship, and identify opportunities to enhance project workflows

Tableau Data Analyst , Roland Consulting Firm, New York, NY | June 2014 – February 2018

• Created scalable Tableau dashboards to facilitate business intelligence efforts and develop strategies to support long-term financial objectives for client accounts valued at $300,000 to $2 million
• Communicated data insights to both technical and non-technical client stakeholders using a wide range of data visualization strategies
• Data analytics
• Stakeholder management
• Tableau Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) | 2016
• Tableau Desktop Certified Professional (TDCP) | 2014

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Data Science University of Syracuse, New York, NY | 2014

This Tableau resume example captures the candidate’s capabilities as both a team leader and data science professional. The content effectively communicates the applicant’s ability to lead business intelligence initiatives and analyze complex data sets for high-value clients.

To pursue Tableau analyst and developer roles on the open market, you need an accomplishment-driven resume that highlights your comprehensive technical knowledge and career achievements. Show potential employers how you’ve successfully enhanced the way data is visualized and utilized for business intelligence. We’ll walk you through each step of the resume-building process and help you land your next big job opportunity.

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications

Grab the hiring manager’s attention with a powerful opening summary that provides a snapshot of your professional career. Start by listing your title, years of experience, and relevant skill sets that match the job description. Paint a concise yet compelling image of your experience executing complex technical projects to improve data reporting. Emphasize your unique ability to create value for clients, team members, and organizations.

Strong Profile Example

A results-driven Tableau developer with six years of experience specializing in R, Python, SQL, data visualization, and business intelligence. A proven track record of executing complex technical projects to enhance data-driven decision-making for enterprise businesses.

Weak Profile Example

A hard-working Tableau developer with years of experience analyzing complex data. Seeking a developer position with your company to continue to expand my technical knowledge and skill sets in a high-level company.

2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section

The professional experience section is a key component of your Tableau resume. This is your opportunity to demonstrate how your contributions have positively impacted previous organizations. As you craft your bullet points, provide appropriate context and eye-catching numbers to help the reader visualize your technical achievements.

For instance, you might mention that you led a business intelligence project to aid the marketing department in evaluating the success of digital advertising campaigns, resulting in a 30% increase in return on investment (ROI). By illustrating how you’ve generated value throughout your career, you’re also demonstrating that your expertise would be a strong asset to future employers.

Strong Professional Experience Example

Lead Tableau Developer, Guardian Insurance Inc., Seattle, WA | February 2020 – present

• Collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences to identify business needs and requirements

Weak Professional Experience Example

• Develop technical solutions and execute ad-hoc projects as needed in a timely manner
• Delegated responsibilities and tasks to junior developers and enforced policies and procedures
• Interface with various team members and departments to gather requirements

3. Include relevant education and certifications

Provide an overview of your education and industry certifications to show potential employers that you’re a qualified candidate. For Tableau developer or analyst positions, companies will usually require a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, such as business intelligence, data science, or information technology. Also, consider obtaining a Tableau Certified Data Management Professional or Tableau Desktop Certified Professional designation to demonstrate your comprehensive knowledge of the platform.

• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Data Science
• Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | 2020
• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
• Tableau Desktop Certified Professional (TDCP) | 2016

4. List pertinent key skills

In today’s job market, most companies rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to identify qualified candidates. To pass the initial screening process and get your resume into the hiring manager’s hands, you need to incorporate key skills that align with the job description. For example, if a company mentions Python multiple times in the posting, this would be a clear indicator to feature this keyword prominently in your profile, skills, and professional experience section. Below, you’ll find a list of skills you may encounter while pursuing Tableau analyst or developer roles:

How To Pick The Best Tableau Resume Template

To make a positive impression on the hiring manager, you need a professional resume template that is clean, well-organized, and easy to navigate. Avoid cluttering your resume with graphics and other distracting visual elements to keep the reader’s attention firmly fixated on your qualifications and experience. Select a template that captures your personal brand and tells your story in a compelling and engaging way.

Frequently Asked Questions: Tableau Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for tableau resumes -.

It’s easy to get stuck when building the professional experience section of your Tableau resume. Often a limited number of action verbs accurately describe your career achievements and experience. That said, diversifying your usage of action verbs is important so each bullet point feels fresh and distinct. We’ve compiled a list of verbs to craft your content:

How do you align your resume with a Tableau job description? -

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, positions for management analysts are expected to grow by 10% over the next decade. Financial analyst positions are also experiencing high growth rates, with over 29,000 new openings by 2032. Although these projections are encouraging, you still need to align your Tableau resume with each role you apply for to maximize your odds of landing the interview.

As an experienced analyst, you understand the importance of presenting relevant data and business insights in a compelling manner. The same is true for your resume. For example, say that a company is seeking an analyst with a strong background in business intelligence. In this situation, provide tangible examples of you leading complex projects to enhance data visualization and facilitate data-driven decision-making.

What is the best Tableau resume format? -

Reverse chronological is the most suitable format for Tableau resumes. This presents your most recent and relevant work history directly below the summary, allowing your professional experience to stand out more prominently. A combination format should only be considered at the entry level, as this approach prioritizes skills, education, and industry certifications over your work experience.

Craft your perfect resume in minutes

Get 2x more interviews with Resume Builder. Access Pro Plan features for a limited time!

After completing your Tableau resume, consider pairing it with a strong cover letter to further enhance your job application. The key is to craft an engaging document that conveys your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the company you’re targeting. For more insights, visit our business analyst cover letter guide .

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

Check out Related Examples

Business Analyst Resume Examples and Templates

Business Intelligence Analyst Resume Examples and Templates

Data Scientist Resume Examples and Templates

Build a Resume to Enhance Your Career

• How To Include Licenses and Certifications on Your Resume Learn More
• How To Show Technical Skills on Your Resume Learn More
• Top 10 Soft Skills Employers Love Learn More

Essential Guides for Your Job Search

• How to Write a Resume Learn More
• How to Write a Cover Letter Learn More
• Thank You Note Examples Learn More
• Resignation Letter Examples Learn More