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

20 min read · Updated on June 13, 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

Why a Simple Resume Layout is a Successful Resume

See how your resume stacks up.

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What to Put on a Resume in 2023 [Checklist, Tips & Examples]

Tick-tock. You’re applying for what looks like a damn great opportunity and you’re spiraling —  What should I put on my resume? Did I miss something? Am I including the right information? Do I really need the hobbies part?

No need to sound the alarms just yet, we’re sending help.

So here are the key elements to include in a resume (works for all career situations and jobs).

What to Include on a Resume Depending on the Format?

Depending on the  resume format  you pick, you’ll structure your resume a bit differently, but the key resume components you’ll need to include are pretty much the same. Here’s what needs to be on a resume in each of the three most popular formats:

Reverse-chronological resume format: standard sections

This is the most common resume format in which  you focus on showcasing your work experience . The jobs you’ve done, courses you took, and degrees you obtained are all listed starting with the current or the most recent one first and working your way backward. In 90% of cases, hiring managers expect you to submit this kind of resume.

Its main elements are (from top to bottom):

• Contact information
• Resume summary  or  resume objective
• Work experience
• Additional sections (This is where you list your certifications, publications, awards, projects, conferences, volunteer work, etc.)

Functional resume format: standard sections

A common resume format  for applicants with little or no relevant experience , the functional resume focuses on your skills and education rather than work experience.

Here’s what to include in it:

• Skills summary

Combination (hybrid) resume format: standard sections

Finally (and pretty much self-explanatory), the combination resume combines the parts from the previous two types. This format is  a good pick for candidates with a lot of relevant experience  or  experienced candidates targeting a very specific position . Potentially, this could also work for those of you who are going through a career change (but, again, only if you’re experienced).

And here are the resume components to include and in which order:

• Summary of qualifications

Additional sections

Expert advice:  If you’re not sure which format to choose, you can get more info and tips in  this article on resume formats .

In this guide, we’ll focus on the most popular (reverse-chronological) resume format and its elements.

Sections to Put on a Resume

Contact information on the resume header.

This is easy — you’re adding basic contact details so that recruiters can get back to you and find out more. Make sure to include:

• Your full name
• Your email address
• Your phone number (if applying internationally, don’t forget to add your country code)
• The link to your LinkedIn profile*
• The link to your portfolio or relevant social media profiles**

*Expert tip 1:  LinkedIn is a big deal. It’s the largest global professional network and most hiring managers expect you to be there. Your LinkedIn profile is supposed to complement your resume, so it pays to take some time and add a professional photo and cover image, and make sure all the information is well-organized and up to date.

**Expert tip 2:  The same goes for your social media profiles.  Hiring managers will look you up online.  Most of the time they’re just trying to verify the information and see how you’d fit into the company culture, but for some roles (think Social Media Manager or Customer Service), your online presence and personal branding are crucial aspects of the job.

And now the answer to that million-dollar question — Which social media profiles to include?

A single piece of advice here — only the ones most relevant to your work. So it might be Behance if you’re a graphic or interior designer, GitHub for devs, Twitter for an investment banker (if you tweet about finance), or Instagram for a landscaper (if you post your projects there).

And this is what a typical resume header with contact information looks like:

Resume summary or objective

A  resume summary  is a short paragraph placed right under your contact information. It’s an introduction where, in 3–4 sentences, you give an overview of your top skills and career achievements. Basically, this serves as a sales pitch (or “the greatest hits”) that shows the hiring team what they’ll get by hiring you.

You can learn how to write a compelling resume summary in this article:  40+ Resume Summary Examples [and How to Write One] .

A  resume objective  is an alternative to a resume summary, a bit more suited for candidates with little or no experience. It focuses on what you want to achieve in the new role and how you’d like to build your career in the future.

Get an example for your job and career situation and learn how to craft a good resume objective in this article:  60+ Resume Objective Examples (with Writing Guide and Tips) .

Here’s an example resume summary by a Data Entry Specialist looking for a new opportunity.

Together with the sharp resume summary, your work experience is where you should score some serious points. It’s really not that difficult — it’s not so much about what you did in your previous job but how well you can organize and present your accomplishments in the role.

So here’s what needs to be on a resume in your experience section:

• Your position (this is typically written in bold for clarity and to attract attention)
• Dates worked
• Company name
• A bullet-pointed list detailing 3–4 of your main duties and achievements

🔑  Key tip:  Remember to list your jobs in reverse-chronological order. Start from your current (or most recent) job, then list the one before that, and so on.

If you’re experienced, include only relevant jobs (chances are your retail assistant job from 10 years ago doesn’t mean much for your application for Head of Marketing at a SaaS company) and limit yourself to the past 15 years.

Conversely, if you’re lacking in the experience department, absolutely include stuff like:

• Internships
• Volunteer work
• Part-time jobs

🧙‍♂️  Wizard tip:  You can structure your bullet points describing your experience like this:  [Strong verb]  +  [Job duty]  +  [Impact] . It pays off to keep your bullet points as consistent as possible, and this approach will serve as guidance.

Let’s take a look at this well-crafted work experience section that gets a checkmark for all of the tips above:

Let’s run a quick quality assurance test to see why this works:

Format:  The candidate lists their present position first, and places the previous one below Information placement:  The must-have information for the work experience section is all there: the position, dates worked and the company name. Everything is clearly laid out and formatted appropriately. Consistent bullet points:  The bullets all start with a strong verb (check out this ultimate list of 800+ power words to use in your resume) and focus on the candidate’s duties and accomplishments, often using numbers and tangible results to reinforce the examples.

All in all, a solid work experience section.

If you think this is easier said than done and need more help, check out this dedicated guide on  How to Write the Work Experience Section (with 20+ examples) .

Place your education section right under your work history, and, again, use reverse-chronological order. Some basic rules here:

If you’re an experienced candidate , include just the basic information in the following order:

• Your degree
• University/school name
• The year of graduation

If you’re very new to the workforce , it’s fine to add details such as your:

• Relevant coursework
• Academic achievements
• Thesis/dissertation title

🔑  Key tip:  If you have both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, absolutely include them both (just mind the reverse chronological order). If you have a university or college degree of any kind, there’s no need to include your high school (unless it’s super relevant to the role you’re applying for, or was a vocational high school that gave you skills specific to the role).

Here’s how our Data Entry candidate handled in it her resume:

Read this full guide on  How to List Education on a Resume  (with samples for all kinds of education scenarios).

Next, the Skills section. It’s a resume must-have and yet, so many people mess it up. How? They either end up with a list of generic skills not relevant to the position or (worse yet) go for meaningless buzzwords that show no real value.

Essentially, the Skills section is supposed to be the key supplement to your Summary and Work Experience. How can you best handle this?

• Include a mix of soft and hard (technical) skills, ideally in two separate sub-sections. For certain jobs, your technical skills will mostly be software skills, so it’s okay to name that sub-section differently.
• Focus on relevant skills only (the ones that matter in this particular job)
• While there are a few ways you can format your Skills section, it’s crucial to choose one and stay consistent throughout the section: – List skills as single items (e.g.  Detail-oriented, Attentive , etc.) – List skills alongside star or bar ratings (e.g.  Italian:  ★★★☆☆) – List skills with a short description of your proficiency level (e.g.  Italian: Intermediate , or  Microsoft Excel: Advanced ) – List skills and provide a bit of context (e.g. someone applying for the role of an Email Marketing Specialist could write something like this:  Creating automated email campaign flows and providing reports in tools like Sendgrid, HubSpot, MailChimp, and AutoKlose )

And again, if this is giving you a headache, there’s a beast of a guide to help you write a kick-ass Skills section:  Skills to Put on a Resume for Any Job  (with post-covid examples!)

Now, to the fun part!

All of the sections above are considered standard. But are you going for standard or outstanding?

Having only the mandatory sections is totally fine, but remember that every single candidate will have them too. So if there’s anything else you can add to prove your value and stand out from the rest, then absolutely include it.

The optional (but recommended) resume sections can include:

• Certifications
• Publications
• Foreign languages
• Hobbies and interests

Now let’s see how each of these can add some slay vibes to your resume.

You’re certified, which means you made an effort, took a course, passed a test, and this adds tons of credibility. When I got my HubSpot certifications in Content Marketing and Inbound, I added them to my resume without much thought. You know what happened? Every single interviewer asked me about those certifications.

As usual, list only the certifications which are relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you’re not gonna be driving, then most definitely don’t include your driver’s license as a certification.

These are most common in academic settings, but if you’re applying for the position and have a relevant publication, then by all means, add it. Publications send strong signals that you’re an expert in your field and that you know the industry.

There are two super solid reasons why recruiters love seeing the volunteer section in a resume. One, it means you’re a purpose-driven (rather than money-driven) person who believes in a cause and is ready to support it. Two, your choice of volunteer work implicitly tells the hiring manager a lot about your interests, soft skills, where you’re passionate, etc. Adding it is a win-win.

🔑  Key tip:  That being said, remember to only include your volunteer work as a separate section if you have a proper Work Experience section. If you’re a student or an entry-level candidate with no work experience, then your volunteer work goes in the experience section.

It’s not only about how proficient you are in a language. Sure, if you’re applying for the position of an Account Manager and know that your clients will be French, then your Advanced level of French is a guaranteed asset. But even if that’s not the case, foreign languages get included as they also show how you’re willing to learn something new and serve as proof that you can  communicate and think interculturally  (a really big deal in most companies).

You can add projects right under your Work Experience or Education section to highlight some experiences or initiatives that you’ve led or participated in that go beyond your day-to-day.

If a project was still in a way part of your day job, it’s best to include it in the Work Experience section, just give it more prominence (e.g. make it a subheading in a given entry).

If it’s a freelance project or something you otherwise did outside of your full-time employment, a separate section would make more sense.

I’ll just say it — hobbies on a resume are fine, but  only if they’re really cool and specific . They’re typically there for the hiring team to check how you’d fit into the company culture. While some companies seem to prefer “the crazier, the better” (let’s just say there are crazy-good cyclists, cellists, sommeliers, actors, and hikers in this company), it’s not your hobbies that’ll get you the job, but your experience and skills.

There are two ways the Hobby section can come back to haunt you.

Number one, you do some gentle stalking and find out that your potential manager is an avid tennis player. Then you go and add tennis to your list of hobbies and skills. Then you end up in the interview clueless as to who’s topping the ATP list or how many basic strokes there are. Bottom line: don’t lie on your resume.

Number two, you write something horribly non-specific like “Travel”, “Music”, “Reading” or “Arts”. You’re not 6, you gotta do much better than that.

Will you be considered a freak if you don’t add a hobby? It may not be that big of a deal, actually. Check out this article on  why (and why not) to include hobbies in your resume .

One Tip to Rule Them All: Customize Every Section

Even if you follow this advice and include all the mandatory and optional resume elements, your resume is going to be bland, bad, and botched if you create one general version and keep using it for all the job openings out there.

It’s like going on dates with five different people, dressing the same, and speaking a script you memorized. Needless to say, there’ll be no second dates.

The pros do it like this — you’ll need a separate resume for every job application because you’ll need to base your resume on the actual job ad.

This sounds like a lot of work, but it’s not actually that difficult.

To align your resume with the job ad, you’ll need to break down the job description into actual skills the employer’s looking for and scan for important, eye-catching keywords.

If the requirements state that a new Product Manager needs to have “ experience using agile development methodologies with globally distributed teams ” and notes the “ ability to triage and manage backlog ”, then make sure to include your experience with Agile and provide specific results like “ Built, managed and grew an AWS-based product and an Agile team of 12 developers ”.

Also, look at the words they use to describe personality and adapt it to soft skills or strengths. If the ad says “ meticulous person with a high bar for quality ”, “ humble, be willing to learn ”, or “ you will not be here just to tell other people what to do ”, this tells a lot about the company culture and the personal qualities they’re looking for. Make sure to include these exact words —  meticulous, humble, willing to learn  — in your resume.

What Not to Include on a Resume

Now that you’ve learned what needs to be on a resume, let’s go over the elements that you should 100% omit.

Here’s what you don’t want to include in a resume:

• Date of birth
• Your brick-and-mortar address
• Unprofessional email address
• First person narrative
• Buzzwords and jargon
• Irrelevant information not tailored to the specific job application

And here’s why:

• Date of birth:  Since it’s illegal for the interviewer to ask about your age, having the info on your resume is like an invitation to be ageist. Your age tells nothing about your skills, and can create bias, so it’s best to just drop it.
• Photo:  There are anti-discriminatory laws and employment policies that make it illegal to discriminate against applicants based on race, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, age (40 or older), and disability. Many hiring teams will simply reject applicants with photos in order to avoid being accused of bias or discrimination. Take this seriously if you’re applying for a job in the US, UK, or Canada.
• Your brick-and-mortar address:  Firstly, it’s 2023 and many companies are hiring remotely, which makes your street address unnecessary. Secondly, your street address is considered sensitive information — there are many other ways an employer can contact you.Finally, including your physical address can get you rejected if the job is advertised in another city or state. The employer may not be willing to provide a relocation bonus or they could be looking only locally. If you’re open to moving for the job, it’s best to omit the street address or include a line stating your intent to relocate.
• Unprofessional email address:  Let’s start with the email client — if you’re still using Hotmail or AOL, you’ll come across as old-fashioned and inflexible. Opt for something more current (and professional) like Gmail or Outlook.Next, if you’re still going by  coolboy@  or  millie98@ , ditch it for something more professional. A flirtatious, silly, or inappropriate email address is a red flag across the board and a rookie mistake that shows a lack of effort. A refined email address, on the other hand, signals to the hiring team that you’re taking work seriously and that you’re informed about the professional world.As a general rule, you want to use your first and last names and avoid numbers, if possible. If the classic name + surname option is taken ( [email protected] , try other options like:  [email protected] ,  [email protected] , or  [email protected] .
• First-person narrative:  This is a really simple tweak that makes a world of difference! Drop full sentences in your resume (all sections, not just the summary) and avoid both the first and third-person narrative. Employers value result-oriented writing and concise statements. Instead of using pronouns ( I generated 52 weekly SEO reports ), focus on the action (the verb) by excluding the subject ( Generated 52 weekly SEO reports ).
• Buzzwords and jargon:  If you read through your resume and you don’t remember anything, you may have fallen into the trap of using empty words or trendy buzzwords that have little actual meaning. Avoid cliches and overused phrases like “hard-working”, “team player”, “synergy” and “streamlined”. Instead, refer back to the job description and replace these empty words with keywords from the ad.
• Irrelevant or general information:  Let your common sense guide you. There’s no such thing as a general resume — you’ll lose points if your resume is not aligned with the actual job ad. Always ask yourself: Is this really necessary? Is it relevant to the job? You don’t need to add links to irrelevant social media profiles, your references (the employer will ask for references if they need them), or salary history.

If this still looks a bit complicated or if you aren’t sure how to organize your sections, you could try using an online tool like BigInterview’s Resume Builder.

This tool comes with a resume-writing course with 8 video lessons where our co-founder and an HR authority,  Pamela Skillings , takes you through the resume sections and teaches you how to write and what to include in each. Simultaneously, you can work on your resume in the Resume Builder.

Once you’re in, the system will guide you through resume sections. You just need to provide your info and follow the instructions. The end result is a polished resume that you can complete in less than an hour.

Once done, you’ll be able to use the  ResumeAI feature  to assess your resume in terms of readability, credibility, and ATS-fit.

What to Put on a Resume: Checklist

Finally, here’s a quick checklist to guide you on what to put on a resume:

Mandatory sections to include:

• Resume summary of resume objective

Optional sections to include:

Don’t include:

• Street address
• Irrelevant or general information

Pamela Skillings

Turn interviews into offers

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How to Write Your First Job Resume [For 2024]

So there you are, sitting in front of a screen, staring at a blank Word page for hours, with one task at hand: writing your first job resume.

Where do you even start?

And most importantly: How do you fill those 1-2 pages when you have no work experience?

We feel your struggle and we’re here to help!

In this article, we’re going to guide you through the entire process of creating a first job resume from start to finish.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

How to Write Your First Job Resume

• Pick the right resume template
• Write down your contact information (correctly)
• Include a resume objective
• List your education (in detail)
• Instead of work experience, focus on…
• Highlight your skills
• Mention optional sections
• Stick to the one-page limit
• Get inspired by a first-job resume example

Don’t worry, we’re going to cover all of the above in detail!

Starting with the first step:

#1. Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template

There are 3 main resume formats you can pick from. Each of them highlights a different part of your resume.

• Reverse-Chronological Resume - In this format, your work experiences and education are listed in reverse-chronological order. 
• Functional Resume - Instead of work experience, this format focuses on your skills and achievements.
• Combination (or Hybrid) Resume - This format focuses on both your skills and work experience.

For 99% of job-seekers, we recommend sticking with the reverse-chronological format.

While a functional resume can sometimes help for career changers or recent graduates, it’s still nowhere near as common as the reverse chronological one.

Plus, recruiters world-wide are familiar with the reverse-chronological format, making it a safer bet.

A reverse-chronological resume looks as follows:

Once you’ve picked the format, the next step is to perfect your layout, font, and the like. Here’s what we recommend for that:

• Use a Two-Column Layout. A two-column resume layout allows you to fit a lot more content into your resume.
• Pick a Common Font. We recommend Ubuntu, Overpass, or Roboto.
• Use Bullets to Describe Your Experiences.
• Don’t Go Over One Page. Unless you’re a professional with a decade of work experience, we recommend sticking to the one-page resume limit.

Want to avoid all the hassle of formatting your resume layout? We don’t blame you - if you wanted to build a good-looking resume from scratch, it would take you hours before you could even start filling it in.

Thankfully, there’s an easier way out: using a resume builder.

With Novoresume, all you have to do is pick a template, and fill in the contents. It’s that simple.

And on top of that, Novorésumé resumes are ATS-friendly . Meaning, your resume won’t be swallowed up by an applicant tracking system just because it can’t read it.

Want to get started with Novorésumé? Browse our resume templates .

#2. Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly)

It’s important for the recruiter to have at least two ways of reaching back to you.

Meaning, you should always provide your contact information in your resume . That includes: 

• First and last name
• Phone number

Apart from these must-haves, you can also provide:

• LinkedIn URL - This is a good way to complement your resume. It also makes the recruiter’s life easier since they usually check your LinkedIn profile anyway. Make sure all information is updated and consistent with your resume, though.
• Relevant social media (like Quora or StackOverflow) - Any social media that is related to the job position and puts you in good light should be included in your resume. In most cases. If you’re a developer, it could be projects on GitHub. Writer? Personal blog.
• Website or blog - Again, this should be something related to the job. It shows your interest and dedication to the industry and how you spend some of your free time.

When it comes to your contact information, the key is to write everything correctly . Double-check you’ve spelled your name and email right, make sure the phone number you’ve listed can be reached, and that the accounts you have linked to are up to date . 

Something else you should know regarding location is how much detail you should be providing. 

The reason recruiters want to know your location is so that they have an idea of whether you’re in the vicinity of the company or not (and if you’ll need to relocate for work). 

That means, providing the city and country where you live will be enough. No need for your full home address. 

#3. Include a Resume Objective

Recruiters spend on average 7 seconds scanning each resume before deciding if it’s worth more consideration or not. 

That means your resume has about 7 seconds to leave a great first impression and convince the recruiter you’re the person they’re looking for.

A good resume objective does that for you. 

A resume objective is a 2-3 sentence snapshot of your skills, achievements, and career goals . Its purpose is to communicate your motivation for getting into the field and your interest in this particular position. 

This makes it ideal for the first job resume of a recent graduate or somebody who’s changing careers. Basically, any resume with no work experience . 

Your resume objective should be tailored to the position you are applying for and highlight skills that will help the company achieve its goal. Use as many facts and numbers as you can to back up any statements or achievements. 

• Creative and motivated recent graduate with a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Michigan. Seeking permanent employment in the field of marketing after completing successful internships in 2 major media companies. Looking to further develop my market analysis skills and contribute to future marketing strategy developments at XY Company.
• I am looking to put my marketing skills into action by initially working for the marketing department of a well-known company until I can finally get to an executive position.

#4. List Your Education (In Detail)

For starters, you should know how to list your education entries correctly in the following format:

• Program Name e.g.: B.A. in Information Systems
• University Name e.g.: University of Chicago
• Years Attended e.g.: 07/2013 - 05/2017
• GPA (only if really high)
• Honors (If applicable) e.g. Cum Laude

Exchange Program (If applicable) e.g. Exchange program in Berlin, Germany

Apart from your skills, your education is the biggest selling point in your first job resume. This is not the place to be humble and play down your achievements!

Write down your GPA (if it’s something impressive), emphasize your honors, and most importantly, highlight your academic achievements by describing them in detail.  

What you can also do is list specific courses that you have taken that are relevant to the position you are applying for. 

Here’s an example of what an entry on the education section should look like:

B.A. in English Literature (Cum Laude)

Boston University

07/2014 - 05/2018

• Courses: Advanced Topics in Literature: Shakespeare’s Work 
• Clubs: Boston University Drama Club
• Exchange program in London, UK

#5. Instead of Work Experience, Focus On This

As a recent graduate, the recruiter knows you don’t have any work experience - and that’s OK. As long as you’re applying for a junior or entry-level position, the experience isn’t something expected from you.

Instead, the recruiter will be looking for other experiences that enrich your profile, like:

• Internships
• Extracurricular Activities

When talking about these experiences, format them just like you’d format your work experience. 

Business Analyst Internship

AAA Company

Milan, Italy

05/2019 - 12/2019

• Ran weekly and monthly analysis on diverse areas of the business
• Created insightful reports of the analysis to present to managers and teams
• Defined strategic KPIs, in order to monitor the efficiency of commercial operations

When possible, try to focus on listing your achievements and not your responsibilities. This will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Haven’t done any internships? Include extracurricular activities.

More often than not, an applicant with extracurricular activities and an average GPA will impress the recruiter much more than a 4.0 GPA student with nothing else to show. When listing your extracurricular activities, each entry should have the following format:

Moot Court Club Member

2017 - 2019

• Participated for two years in a row at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, making it to the finals in 2019
• Researched and prepared written pleadings, called memorials addressing timely issues of public international law
• Helped train the new club members in topics of international law

Finally, you can also list independent projects, if you have any. Think, something you did on the side just for yourself. This can be a personal project, small business or startup, side-gig, blog, etc.

Amy’s Book Club Blog

2018 - Present

• Created my own book club website for reviewing and discussing the latest books.
• Curated a monthly book calendar for my followers to follow, combining trending, relevant, and classic books.
• Created over 40 book review articles.
• On average, received 2000 visitors per month to the blog.

#6. Highlight Your Skills

The two types of skills you can mention on your resume are soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills are attributes that help you adapt to work environments, work in a team, and apply your hard skills effectively. They are related to your personality, social skills, communication, attitude, etc.

Hard skills refer to technical knowledge and specific tools. They are skills that one learns and applies directly to the job. Some examples of hard skills include:

• Financial accounting
• Adobe Illustrator

Although soft skills are becoming more and more in demand by employers , for your first job resume, we recommend sticking to hard skills. 

Sure, attributes like “teamwork” or “critical thinking” are much appreciated by just about any employer. 

The thing is, though, the recruiter can’t really tell if you actually have critical thinking skills, or just listed it on your resume to fill space.

Hard skills, on the other hand, are very easy to test.

Tailor Skills to the Job Ad

Not sure which skills to mention in your first job resume?

The simplest way to find the essential ones is to check the job ad.

The recruiter themselves mentioned the skills they’re looking for - the only thing you need to do is mention them in your resume (as long as you have them, anyway).

Let’s say you’re applying for a graphic designer position that wants the following qualifications and skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat; XD, Animate and/or After Effects are a plus
• Working knowledge of presentation software (Canva, PowerPoint and/or Keynote)
• Ability to work under pressure, manage work on multiple projects daily, manage a large workload and meet deadlines.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized

Based on that, your skills section should include the following:

• Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat
• After Effects and Cinema4D
• Canva and Keynote
• Time management
• Detail-oriented

If the job ad isn’t too descriptive, you can also check out these 101+ most in-demand skills for 2024 . 

#7. Mention Optional Sections

Still have some space on your resume?

That’s not a bad thing! You can use this space to your advantage and add some other useful sections.

Here are some ideas:

• Volunteering - If you have some volunteering experience, make sure to include it in your first job resume. Such a section shows commitment, dedication, and a sense of purpose, something most recruiters will appreciate.
• Languages - With companies becoming more and more international, additional languages are always appreciated.
• Hobbies - You can show your genuine interest in the industry or field by listing some relevant hobbies/interests.
• Awards & Certifications - Whether it’s an award from an essay competition in college or a certificate from an online course, anything that flatters your profile should be added.

#8. Stick to the One-Page Limit

“ How long should a resume be? ” seems like an eternal dilemma at this point. 

Generally, the answer is: it depends. 

Since you’re making a first job resume, the answer is: definitely one page . 

Unless you have an extensive employment history that can’t fit into one page, there’s no need to go over that limit. 

It’s unlikely that the recruiter will want to look at two pages of extracurriculars and hobbies. 

#9. Get Inspired by This First-Job Resume

Need some inspiration for your resume? Check out the resume examples below.

First Job Resume FAQ 

Still have some questions on how to write a convincing first job resume?

We’ll answer them here.

1. What do I put on my no-experience resume?

There’s plenty of other things you can include in your resume instead of work experience. For starters, you should:

• Focus on your education, making sure the entries are formatted correctly.
• Pick the right skills that match what the employer is looking for.
• Talk about internships, personal projects, or extracurricular activities. Describe your achievements in detail.

If you still have some space left, you could use it to your advantage and add extra sections like volunteer work, languages, awards & certificates, or hobbies.

2. Is a resume necessary for a first job?

Depending on the region, a resume or CV is always necessary for a job application, be it the first or the 20th. 

Before deciding if they should call you for an interview, the recruiters need to have some insight into you and your skills.

3. Do I need work experience to land my first job?

Short answer: You don’t! 

If you’re a recent graduate, it’s a given that you won’t have any work experience. Most employers don’t actually expect years of work experience for an entry-level or junior position. 

Instead, they’ll be looking at your other types of experiences (internships, extracurricular activities, etc.) to decide on whether you’re a good fit for the job or not.

4. How do you write a resume for your first job?

The process is quite similar to the one for writing a regular resume, but with a few tweaks.

The exact steps for creating a first job resume are:

• Instead of work experience, focus on extracurricular activities, internships, projects, etc.

Key Takeaways

Writing your first job resume doesn’t have to be stressful!

Remember the following tips and you’ll do just fine:

• Pick the right format and template to avoid the hassle of formatting your resume. Make sure to pick an ATS-friendly resume template.
• Write a concise and attention-grabbing resume objective. Show the recruiter that you’re relevant for the role and that they should read the rest of your resume.
• Instead of work experience, include information on your internships, projects, and extracurricular activities.

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How To Write A Resume Objective Statement (Examples Included)

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

UPDATED 5/18/2022

Resumes. We all know what they are. We all know how important having a good one is…and how much a bad one can hurt your ability to get your dream job. That’s why reviewing different resume objective examples is essential, ensuring you can create well-crafted, carefully targeted resumes for hiring managers.

So, how do you make sure your resume objective – and entire application – stands out? We’ll tell you. Come with us as we explore some resume objective statement examples, as well as tips on how to ensure yours shines.

What is a Resume Objective?

“My objective? Well, that’s easy. My objective is to get the job.”

Absolutely, we couldn’t agree more. But an objective on your resume is so much more than just writing, “Hey, hire me. I’m super awesome.”

So, what is an objective for a resume?

Well, according to the Marquette University College of Business Administration , “an objective statement is a concise, position-centered statement describing the value you can add and the needs you can fulfill.”

Our friends over at Indeed.com take it a step further, saying: “A well-written resume objective statement can be customized for the job you’re applying for and add value to your resume that sets it apart from other applicants.”

Essentially, a resume objective is a targeted snippet that clearly outlines your career direction while simultaneously positioning you as someone who fits what the employer is looking for exactly.

Sounds pretty ingenious, right? So why don’t more people have them on their resumes?

Resume objectives can be a bit controversial. Some people think they can make you look amateurish…which, if you don’t do it correctly, is absolutely true. But that can be said for any section of your resume.

Other schools of thought think that the objectives should be taken out entirely and replaced with the more popular “ resume summary statement .”

You may be wondering, “What if I use a resume objective and the hiring manager looks at it and laughs? Are they going to throw out my resume…or worse, put it on the wall of shame?”

Now, nobody is going to laugh at your resume objective as long as you use the right approach. Additionally, if your career is moving in certain directions, using a resume objective makes more sense than the alternatives.

When Should You Use a Resume Objective?

Are you relatively new to the job search market or lack work experience?

Are you changing industries?

Are you targeting a specific job or position?

If you answered “YES” to any of these above questions, then the resume objective is potentially perfect. If you answered “NO” to all of the above questions, you might be better off with a “Resume Summary Statement.”

For those of you in the middle of a career change or who might just be starting out, a resume objective statement allows you to define your goal to a potential employer…something that your work history might not otherwise be able to do for you.

Imagine how confused a hiring manager would be if they were looking for candidates to fill an office coordinator position and you sent in a resume with ten years of experience in marketing. Without an objective statement, the hiring manager might just assume your resume has been accidentally sent to them and simply discard it.

With an objective statement, you can not only let the hiring manager know that your resume IS in the right spot but also explain that you’re making the switch and show that your skill set does align with this new career path.

If you’re targeting a specific job or position, a resume objective statement can help reinforce that idea that you know EXACTLY what you’re after. That can work in your favor, too.

Overall, and most importantly, the biggest reason to put an objective on your resume is…it’s better than having nothing. Remember, your goal is to catch the hiring manager’s eye and stand out from the rest of the paper in that pile.

Common Mistakes

There are several common mistakes job seekers can make when writing their statement with the number one being using the same objective for every job application.

1) Using the Same Objective For Every Job Application

To obtain a job within my chosen field that will challenge me and allow me to use my education, skills and past experiences in a way that is mutually beneficial to both myself and my employer and allow for future growth and advancement.

Your goal is to be the ideal candidate and that means making sure you’re exactly what the hiring manager is looking for…and unless you’re applying to a cookie cutter factory in a cookie cutter job town where every job every employer is listing is exactly the same then I guarantee you 100% that your statement will NOT be a “one size fits all” statement.

2) Making It All About You

This is a trap that many job seekers fall into, as they can’t resist to use the objective to list off all of the things that they want to get out of the position.

Hi, I’m Joe Jobseeker and I really want a job in a company where I make a ton of money doing as little as possible. Oh, and a corner office. A company car would be nice too. While we’re at it, let’s talk benefits, retirement…and the company vacation policy.

Yes, we’re being over the top with this one, but we need you to look at this and laugh…because even a slightly toned down one where you list only what YOU want is going to come off just as ridiculous to the hiring manager as the one we’ve blown out of proportion.

3) Being Too Vague

Mistake number three is being vague. Like we said, this isn’t a one size fits all so by being ambiguous in the hopes of somewhat fitting what they’re looking for is going to get your resume sent directly to the circular file. (In case you don’t know, the circular file is the trash can. It just sounds fancier but the end result is the same…no job.)

Looking for a long term full time job where I can apply my extensive skills and knowledge to the position for which I am hired.

Blah. Who is this person? All we know by reading this statement is that they have skills and knowledge…but other than that, not much else. What skills do they have? Do they really apply to the job? And what knowledge can they draw from that will benefit the company? See what we mean? It’s so generic you could literally fit anything into those blanks…it’s like Resume Mad Libs!

4) Going On… And On… And On… And On… and zzzzzzzzzzzzz….

Mistake number four is being too long. This isn’t a novel. It’s a quick little blurb to catch their attention so they can bring you in for an interview…then you can get into more detail!

Not going to put one here. Why? Because the example we were going to do was going to be so long and ridiculous that you and everyone else reading this post would just get bored and move onto another article. Just remember, it’s all about short and sweet. Anything over a sentence or two is TOO LONG. Remember that.

5) Adding Absolutely No Value

Mistake number five is probably the worst…and the easiest to fall into (outside of mistake number two, the “all about me” statement.) Mistake number five is writing a statement that basically fills space but doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything about the value you bring to the table. This can also be confused with the too vague statement…

To obtain a position within my chosen field where I can utilize my skills as a hard-working, well-educated employee in exchange for a steady market-fair paycheck.

Congratulations. You’re educated and you’re hard working and you want to make money. So what? So are 90% of the people you’re going up against. Why are YOU the ideal candidate? What makes the hiring manager want to bring YOU in over everyone else? See what we mean?

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:

How are you going to fulfill the needs of the company?

When writing your resume objective, you should always have the intention of answering this question.

How To Write An Effective Resume Objective

So how do you write a GOOD resume objective?

One thing every one of these bad examples has in common is the fact that not a single one of them is tailored to the position you’re looking for. Any hiring manager who looks at a resume with objectives like those is going to immediately move on to the next candidate.

Because whoever those potential hires are, they’re not ideal candidates. You need to not only catch the hiring manager’s eye; you must make sure that they look at your statement and say, “Here’s the perfect fit!”

So, how do you make it happen? Well, a really good place to start is by looking at the job description. According to Indeed.com , “…when you include an objective that’s specific to the job role, the recruiter is more likely to dig deeper and learn more details about your professional experience.”

After that, make sure it’s tailored to not only the position but the company as well. By incorporating a few tidbits that speak to the company’s mission and values, you can take that quick statement up a notch.

Nice, right?

Additionally, focus on how you’re a benefit to the company, not how the company can benefit you. Showcase value, ensuring you point out what you bring to the table.

Keep it short and sweet, too. Skip overblown adjectives in favor of action verbs, which will help “raise the energy levels” of your objective and ensure that it is more dynamic and interesting.

If you’re someone who is changing careers, demonstrate how your past experiences relate to your future tasks. The same goes for those who are just starting out or who are relatively inexperienced.

Resume Objective Examples

In some cases, nothing makes the points above clearer quite like a few resume objective examples. Here are a handful of samples, each targeting different situations.

New to Workforce, No High School Diploma

“Diligent, dedicated individual looking to apply communication and collaboration skills in a fast-paced customer service role. A self-motivated team player with an outgoing personality who’s ready to learn the ins and outs of a new industry and provide ample value to a retail employer.”

New to Workforce, No College

“Well-organized high school honor graduate with exceptional problem-solving and collaboration skills seeking opportunities in the office administration field where strong communication, time management, and research skills can provide excellent value to an employer.”

College Student, Aspiring Intern

“Current accounting student with an emphasis on accounts payable and accounts receivable seeking developmental opportunities with a local firm. Diligent, focused, and tech-savvy, looking to provide value to a skilled team.”

Recent College Graduate

“Hard-working business administration graduate with proven leadership and organizational skills. Looking to leverage knowledge or operational processes, emerging commercial trends, and supply machine management to increase efficiency and support broader productivity goals.”

Recent College Graduate with Internship Experience

“Honor graduate with a Bachelor’s in Human Resources and one year of experience at a leading staffing firm looking to leverage a deep understanding of leading ATS solutions, modern interview techniques, and conflict resolution strategies to support the goals of an enterprise-level HR department.”

Career Change

“Ambitious professional looking to leverage 5+ years of customer service experience and exceptional communication skills in the fast-paced field of real estate. Proven ability to build lasting, long-term relationships, understand client needs, and find solutions designed to ensure customer satisfaction.”

Career Change with New Education

“Experienced accounting professional and recent college graduate with a Bachelor’s in IT looking to leverage mathematical and analytical capabilities in a data analyst role with an enterprise-level employer. Impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills, as well as strong desire to learn and grow on the job.”

Targeting Specific Role

“Skilled software developer with 7+ years of experience with Java, Python, and C++ seeking out opportunities in team-oriented environments that prioritize Agile methodologies, Lean strategies, and DevOps principles to accelerate timelines and achieve challenging goals.”

Speaking of specific roles, we thought that it might be prudent to dig deeper into a couple careers that we get the most questions about (in terms of resume objectives). Here are our deep-dive articles into Teacher Resume Objectives , Customer Service Resume Objectives and Nursing Resume Objectives . Enjoy!

Putting It All Together

So, there you have it. We’ve covered what a resume objective statement is, who should use one, and how to properly execute it. Plus, there are some handy resume objective examples that can serve as inspiration.

While some people might claim that the objective statement for a resume is outdated, if done properly, it can make a difference. Use all of the information above to your advantage. That way, you’ll be one step closer to your dream job.

FREE : Resume Objective PDF Cheat Sheet

Ok the next thing you should do is get our handy Resume Objective Cheat Sheet PDF .

In it you'll get word-for-word sample resume objectives covering a variety of scenarios you can use right away .

CLICK HERE TO GET THE RESUME OBJECTIVE CHEAT SHEET

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

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

About The Author

Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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How To Write Resume For Job Application? A Step-By-Step Guide

Writing a resume for job applications can be challenging, especially with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filtering candidates. This article explores crafting a tailored resume to match job requirements and optimize for ATS. Understanding the job description is crucial for showcasing suitability. Resume Forrest specializes in creating ATS-optimized resumes, guiding strategic keyword placement and effective resume structuring to increase your chances of success in a competitive job market. Additionally, using an ATS resume checker can help ensure your resume for job application meets the specific requirements of these systems.

In this article we will discuss:

Choosing the perfect resume format for you.

• structuring of resume for job application 

The Importance of ATS Score Checker for Resume Job Applications

• Why is Resume Forrest the top destination for successful resume job applications?
• Purpose of resume for job application 

Selecting the right resume format is a crucial step in crafting a compelling resume for job application . The format you choose will depend on your specific circumstances, including your work experience, career goals, and the industry or job you are targeting. Here are three common resume formats to consider:

• Reverse Chronological Format
• Best for: Individuals with extensive work experience.
• Showcases: Work history in reverse chronological order, focusing on your most recent jobs.
• Advantages: Easy to understand, organized, and preferred by many employers.
• Functional Format:
• Best for: Career changers or individuals with gaps in their resume.
• Showcases: Skills and abilities rather than work history.
• Advantages: Useful for highlighting your skills and accomplishments regardless of your career path.
• Combination Format:
• Best for: Individuals who want to highlight both their skills and experience.
• Showcases: A mix of the reverse chronological and functional formats.
• Advantages: Provides flexibility to showcase your strengths effectively.

Select the appropriate resume format based on your experience and career goals, such as reverse chronological for extensive experience or functional/combination for limited experience or a career change. Research online examples and use an AI resume builder like ResumeForest to create a tailored resume that effectively showcases your strengths.

Structuring of resume for job application

When structuring your resume for job application , include the following sections:

• Contact Information
• Summary/Objective
• Work Experience
• Additional Sections

Let’s discuss each part in detail:

• Contact Information: Your full name, phone number, email address, and optionally, your LinkedIn profile.

example of this on your resume for job application:

• Full Name: Emily Williams
• Phone Number: +1 (555) 321-9876
• Email Address: [email protected]
• LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/emilywilliams789
• Summary/Objective : A concise statement summarizing your skills, experiences, and career objectives.

Example of this for fresh graduates:

Summary/Objective:

A diligent and enthusiastic recent graduate with a strong academic background in [Field of Study]. Possessing excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving, I am eager to leverage my education and internship experiences to contribute effectively to a dynamic team. Seeking an entry-level position where I can apply my knowledge, learn new skills, and grow professionally in [Industry/Field].

Example of this for experienced person:

With [number of years] years of hands-on experience in [industry/field], I bring a wealth of knowledge in [specific skills or areas of expertise]. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently delivered results by [mention notable achievements or contributions]. I am now seeking a new opportunity to further advance my skills and make a meaningful impact within a collaborative team environment.

• Work Experience: Detailed information about your relevant employment history, including job titles, dates, and key responsibilities or achievements.

Work Experience:

Senior Software Engineer

Company: Tech Innovations Inc.

• Spearheaded the development of innovative software solutions for diverse clients, specializing in web application development using cutting-edge technologies such as React.js and Node.js.
• Lead a team of developers in the design, implementation, and testing phases of projects, ensuring adherence to project timelines and quality standards.
• Collaborate closely with clients to understand their requirements, provide technical guidance, and deliver customized solutions that exceed expectations.
• Mentor junior team members, conducting code reviews, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Drive process improvements and best practices adoption within the development team, resulting in increased efficiency and code quality.

Software Engineer (Internship)

Company: Software Solutions Co.

• Contributed to the development and enhancement of software products, focusing on front-end and back-end development using JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL.
• Participated in all stages of the software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering and design to implementation, testing, and deployment.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot issues, resolve bugs, and optimize application performance.
• Assisted in the documentation of technical specifications, user manuals, and release notes to ensure clear communication and support for end-users.
• Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail in identifying and addressing technical challenges to deliver high-quality software solutions.
• Education: Information about your academic background, including degrees earned, institutions attended, and relevant coursework or honors.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

University of Technology

Graduated: May 2018

Relevant Coursework:

• Software Engineering
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Database Management Systems
• Web Development
• Operating Systems
• Dean’s List for Academic Excellence (2016-2018)
• Outstanding Capstone Project Award (2018)
• Skills: A comprehensive list of your skills, categorizing them into technical skills, soft skills, and language proficiency, tailored to the job requirements.

Example of this on your resume for job application

Technical Skills:

• Programming Languages: Proficient in Python, Java, and JavaScript
• Web Development: Experienced in HTML5, CSS3, React.js, and Node.js
• Database Management: Skilled in SQL and MongoDB
• Version Control: Familiar with Git and SVN
• Cloud Technologies: Knowledgeable in AWS and Azure services
• Software Development Methodologies: Experienced in Agile and Scrum frameworks
• Data Analysis: Proficient in Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib for data manipulation and visualization

Soft Skills:

• Effective Communication: Clear and concise communication skills, both verbal and written
• Team Collaboration: Proven ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to tackle complex issues
• Adaptability: Flexible and adaptable to new challenges and environments
• Time Management: Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively
• Leadership: Experience in leading small teams and guiding them towards project success

Language Proficiency:

• English: Fluent (Native proficiency)
• Spanish: Proficient (Conversational proficiency)
• Additional Sections : Optional sections to showcase any additional qualifications, such as certifications, awards, volunteer work, or professional affiliations.

Additional Sections:

Certifications:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
• Scrum Master Certification (CSM)
• Google Analytics Certification
• Employee of the Month, Tech Innovations Inc. (2020)
• Best Poster Presentation, International Conference on Computer Science (2019)

Volunteer Experience:

• Volunteer Web Developer, Habitat for Humanity (2018-present)
• Mentor, Girls Who Code program (2017-2019)

Professional Affiliations:

• Member, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software programs used by many companies to scan and filter resumes submitted for job openings. ATS uses algorithms to match keywords and phrases in resumes with the requirements listed in job postings.so, resume for job applications that do not contain the right keywords or are not formatted correctly may be rejected by the ATS, never reaching a human recruiter.

An ATS score checker is a tool that can help you assess how well your resume matches the requirements of a particular job posting. By entering your resume into an ATS score checker, you can receive a score that indicates how likely your resume is to be selected by the ATS.

Resume Forrest is a leading provider of ATS score checker tools. Resume Forrest’s ATS score checker is easy to use and provides accurate results. In addition to providing an ATS score, Resume Forrest also provides feedback on your resume, highlighting areas that can be improved to increase your chances of being selected by an ATS.

Some benefits of using an ATS score checker:

• Increased chances of getting your resume noticed: By using an ATS score checker, you can ensure that your resume is optimized for ATS and has the best chance of being selected by a recruiter.
• Save time and effort: ATS score checkers can save you time and effort by quickly and accurately assessing your resume’s ATS score.
• Receive valuable feedback: ATS score checkers can provide valuable feedback on your resume, highlighting areas that can be improved to increase your chances of being selected by an ATS.

If you are serious about your job search, using an ATS score checker is a must. Resume Forrest’s ATS score checker is the best tool available to help you improve your resume and increase your chances of getting hired.

Resume Forrest: Your Top Destination for Successful Resume Job Applications

Discover why Resume Forrest reigns supreme as the ultimate platform for ATS score checking:

• Accuracy: Resume Forrest’s ATS score checker is highly accurate and uses the latest ATS technology to assess your resume.
• Ease of use: Resume Forrest’s ATS score checker is easy to use and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
• Affordability: Resume Forrest’s ATS score checker is affordable and offers a variety of pricing plans to fit your budget.
• Customer support: Resume Forrest offers excellent customer support and is available to answer any questions you may have.
• Resume Forrest is an AI resume optimizer   that helps you tailor your resume to specific job requirements, increasing your chances of being selected by ATS and getting noticed by recruiters. It’s easy to use, affordable and provides valuable feedback on your resume. Sign up for a free trial today and boost your job application!

If you are looking for a reliable and accurate Ai resume builder , Resume Forrest is the best option available. With Resume Forrest, you can be confident that your resume is optimized for ATS and has the best chance of being selected by a recruiter. Sign up for a free trial of Resume Forrest today and see how it can help you improve your resume and land your dream job!

Optimize your resume for free now ( resume optimizer)

Understanding the Purpose of resume for job application 

Your resume is a potent marketing tool in the job market, offering a concise yet compelling summary of your professional background. Tailored to specific job requirements, it highlights relevant achievements and capabilities. Serving as your gateway to employment, your resume reflects your experience and competence, underlining the importance of careful crafting for accessing suitable job opportunities.

1. What is the primary purpose of a resume for job application?     

 A resume serves as a snapshot of your professional life and acts as your advertisement to employers. Its main purpose is to grab the attention of hiring managers, demonstrate your suitability for the job, and secure an interview opportunity.

2. Why is it important to tailor your resume to the specific job requirements?

Tailoring your resume shows employers you understand their needs and are a serious candidate, boosting your chances of landing an interview.

3. How can you tailor your resume for job application effectively?

To land the interview, craft a targeted resume by carefully reviewing the job description and identifying the key skills, qualifications, and experiences they seek.  Then, seamlessly weave these desired elements throughout your resume, highlighting relevant experiences, achievements, and skills that perfectly match their requirements.

4. What are the benefits of tailoring your resume?

Tailoring your resume is a triple win: it grabs the hiring manager’s attention by showcasing the exact skills they need, highlights your most relevant strengths for perfect job fit, and demonstrates your valuable professional adaptability.

When it comes to writing an impressive resume for a job application, you can rely on Resume Forrest. Resume Forrest offers services such as AI Resume Optimizer, ATS Score Checker, and ATS Resume Checker to help you enhance your resume, increase your chances of passing through ATS, and outshine other applicants. By utilizing their innovative tools and features, you can craft a standout resume that aligns with industry requirements and attracts the attention of employers. 

Interesting Related Article: “ Beyond the Resume: How Pre-employment Tests Can Help Employers Identify Hidden Talent “

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• Renewable Energy
• Artificial Intelligence
• 3D Printing
• Financial Glossary

50+ Best Hard Skills for a Resume & How to Write About Them

How to find out what the best hard skills for you are and how to prove them on a resume. Top general hard skills include programming, copywriting, software…

The best hard skills for a resume depend on your profession. What’s essential for a digital marketer may not matter for a software engineer. Another key consideration are the company’s specific needs (which you can identify via the requirements from the job description). When writing about hard skills on a resume, you can simply list them in the skills section. What matters more is how you prove them, and the most effective strategy is to mention skill-related achievements using quantifiable data. Bulleted lists of skills don’t hold much value. Highlighting the impact you made does. 

No job can be done properly without certain hard skills. 

Employers check your work history to see if you have the right job-specific expertise to carry out the core duties advertised on their job description. But they’ll also glance at the skills list, in particular to see if you tick all the “must-have” boxes.

If you’re not sure what matters and what doesn’t and how to strike that balance between “showing” and “telling,” you’ve come to the right place.

This guide walks you through it all, including some of the top hard skills by industry, as well as how to find and showcase them on your resume. 

Complete your resume immediately with Rezi AI Resume Builder . Watch your resume write itself and highlight your strongest skills that are relevant to the job description. And the design and layout? It will always stay perfect. Just pick one of the 15+ resume templates and build your resume in minutes.

What Are Hard Skills for a Resume?

Hard skills are the technical abilities and know-how that you must have to carry out the main responsibilities of a job. These are specific skill sets that are measurable, teachable, and directly applicable to the job you’re applying for. 

Hard skills are obtained through education, training programs, certifications, and hands-on experience. 

Here are a few examples of hard skills: 

• Curriculum development: creating structured lesson plans and educational content for students (this is a typical hard skill for teachers). 
• Phlebotomy: drawing blood for medical tests and donations, and analyzing results (this is a typical hard skill for nurses and medical professionals). 
• Carpentry: building and repairing structures using wood and other materials (this is a typical hard skill for carpenters).
• Bookkeeping: recording financial transactions and maintaining accurate financial records (this is a typical hard skill for finance professionals).
• Robotics: designing, building, and programming robots for various applications (this is a typical hard skill for engineers). 

All of these are hard skills because they’re the specific components that translate to the ability to perform core job duties.

The difference between hard skills and soft skills

Hard skills are learned and developed through formal training, education, and practical experience. Soft skills are more about personal attributes that help you carry out your responsibilities. 

Although soft skills aren’t usually specific to any particular field, they’re valuable across all professions. These affect how you work and interact with others. 

Unlike hard skills, soft skills are harder to measure because they usually pertain to your behavior and approach to work rather than specific tasks. For example, being an effective communicator means you can convey ideas clearly and listen actively — crucial in any job but that easy to test.

Sure, a software developer might need hard skills to succeed in their role like coding. But, their success also depends on soft skills like collaboration and time management.

Hard skills vs. technical skills 

All technical skills are hard skills, yet not all hard skills are technical. 

Hard skills cover a broad range of competencies that are directly tied in with job performance. Technical skills are more like a category under the umbrella term of hard skills, specifically focusing on the technological aspects of a job. 

Technical skills and hard skills are often used synonymously. 

Though the two terms are often used synonymously, “hard skills” are more general. Think of technical skills as a subset of hard skills—these refer to abilities related to technology, tools, and processes used in certain fields. For example, proficiency in using Adobe Photoshop, understanding of computer networks, or the ability to write code in Java are all technical skills.

To illustrate the differences, let’s look at a marketing professional. Their hard skills might include data analysis, market research, and proficiency in using tools like Google Analytics. Within this set of skills, technical skills would be the ability to use and understand analytics software or digital marketing platforms. 

The Best General Hard Skills to Put on a Resume 

Here’s a list of some of the top resume hard skills that are valued across most industries: 

• Software proficiency: knowledge of using industry-specific software.
• Writing: everything from writing reports and emails to copywriting and technical writing is valuable.
• Data analysis: the ability to interpret and analyze data using tools like Excel or SQL.
• Financial analysis: knowing how to analyze the finances of an organization to make informed decisions. 
• Project management: managing projects using methodologies like Agile or software such as ClickUp.
• Programming languages: understanding languages like Python, CSS, or JavaScript.
• Foreign languages: fluency in another language, like Spanish or Mandarin.
• Graphic design: skills in using design software like Adobe Creative Suite to create visual content.
• Customer relationship management (CRM): being capable of managing customer interactions, often via dedicated software.
• Accounting: basic accounting skills or familiarity with software like QuickBooks for managing financial records.
• Digital marketing: knowledge of digital marketing strategies and tools.

However, take these with a grain of salt. 

The actual “best” hard skills for your resume depend on the company’s job description and your current career level. Tailor your skills to align with the job description and industry standards.

Top Resume Hard Skills to Focus on Based on Job Levels

• Entry-level: focus on foundational hard skills in your field such as basic technical proficiency, data entry, and introductory programming. Make it clear that you have a strong grasp of essential tasks, tools, and technologies for carrying out the basic job responsibilities.
• Mid-level: emphasize specialized skills and technical abilities. Show that you can handle the more complex tasks that require specific industry knowledge. Go beyond “operational” skills such as software or hardware knowledge and add details about your knowledge of strategic frameworks.
• Seniors: showcase strategic technical skills and industry-specific expertise. At this stage, it becomes more about “knowledge” than just “skills.” Having a solid grasp of industry skills is the bare minimum. What can set you apart is your ability to innovate.

Examples of the Best Resume Hard Skills Based on Industry

These are some of the top tech skills for a resume, but if you’re looking for an easier way to find more relevant skills in your field, use Rezi AI Skills Explorer . This lets you instantly generate a list of relevant skills in your field. All you have to do is: 

• Select the category of skills you’re after—in this case, hard skills. 
• Enter the field of skills you’re interested in, e.g., digital marketing, SEO, and so forth (list as much as you like). 
• Hit the “enter” key on your keyboard. 

And happy browsing! 

Below, you’ll see examples of the most popular hard skills across different industries. Use these lists as inspiration, but don’t mindlessly copy and paste them into your resume. Double down on skills important for the job you’re targeting. And never claim you have skills you actually don’t (I really hope I didn’t even need to say that).

Tech, IT, and data

Top hard skills:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): developing and implementing AI algorithms.
• Big Data: handling and analyzing large data sets with tools like Hadoop or Spark.
• Cloud Computing: proficiency in cloud services such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
• Cybersecurity: knowledge of security protocols, firewalls, and encryption techniques.
• Data analysis: using tools like Excel, SQL, and Tableau to interpret and analyze data.
• Database management: managing databases with systems like MySQL, Oracle, and MongoDB.
• Machine learning: developing and applying machine learning models and algorithms.
• Networking: understanding and managing network infrastructure and protocols.
• Systems administration: maintaining IT systems and servers.

Sample resumes for relevant jobs in the tech, IT, and data industries:

• Data Analyst
• Data Scientist
• IT Support Specialist
• Network Administrator
• Systems Analyst
• AI Specialist
• Cloud Engineer

Development and engineering

• CAD Software: using computer-aided design software for drafting and designing (AutoCAD, SolidWorks).
• Civil engineering: knowledge of structural analysis, construction materials, and geotechnical engineering.
• DevOps: expertise in continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices.
• Electrical engineering: circuit design, power systems, and proficiency with simulation software (MATLAB, SPICE).
• Mechanical engineering: proficiency in mechanical design, thermodynamics, and manufacturing processes.
• Mobile development: developing applications for mobile platforms (iOS, Android) using Swift, Kotlin, or React Native.
• Programming languages: expertise in languages like Python, Java, C++, and JavaScript.
• Project management: handling engineering projects using methodologies like Agile, Scrum, or tools like Microsoft Project.
• Software development: proficiency in software development methodologies (Agile, Scrum) and tools (Git, Jira).
• Systems engineering: systems integration, requirements analysis, and lifecycle management.
• Web development: building and maintaining websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Sample resumes for relevant jobs in the dev and engineering industries:

• Civil Engineer
• DevOps Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Front-End Developer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Software Engineer
• Web Developer
• Clinical documentation: accurately recording patient information in medical records.
• Diagnostic testing: performing and analyzing medical tests and diagnostic procedures.
• Electronic health records (EHR): managing patient information using EHR systems like Epic and Cerner.
• HIPAA compliance: ensuring all practices comply with healthcare privacy regulations.
• Medical coding: proficiency in ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS coding systems.
• Medical terminology: understanding and correctly using medical language and terms.
• Medication administration: safely administering medications and understanding pharmacology.
• Patient care: providing direct patient care and following care plans.
• Phlebotomy: drawing blood and preparing specimens for laboratory testing.
• Radiology: operating imaging equipment such as X-rays, MRI, and CT scanners.
• Surgical assistance: assisting in surgical procedures and maintaining sterile environments.
• Vital signs monitoring: measuring and interpreting vital signs like blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.

Sample resumes for relevant jobs in the healthcare industry:

• Clinical Researcher
• Pharmacy Technician

Creative and design

• Adobe Creative Suite: proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and After Effects.
• Animation: creating animations using tools like After Effects, Blender, or Maya.
• Branding: developing and maintaining brand identity and guidelines.
• Content management systems (CMS): using platforms like WordPress or Joomla to manage website content.
• Copywriting: the ability to write in a way that leads to the reader taking action, usually to buy or sign up for a product or service. 
• Digital illustration: creating digital artwork using software like Illustrator or Procreate.
• Graphic design: designing visual content for print and digital media.
• Photography: skills in capturing, editing, and producing high-quality images.
• Print design: Designing materials for print such as brochures, posters, and business cards.
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): optimizing web content to improve search engine rankings.
• UI/UX design: designing user interfaces and enhancing user experiences with tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD.
• Video editing: editing and producing videos using software like Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.
• Web design: creating and maintaining website layouts and visual elements using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Sample resumes for relevant jobs in the creative and design industries:

• Art Director
• Brand Manager
• Digital Illustrator
• Graphic Designer
• Photographer
• Print Designer
• UX Designer
• Video Editor
• Web Designer

Business, finance, and operations

• Accounting: proficiency with accounting principles and software like QuickBooks or SAP.
• Business analysis: evaluating business processes and data to provide insights and recommendations.
• Customer relationship management (CRM): using CRM software like Salesforce to manage client relationships.
• Data analysis: analyzing business data using tools like Excel, Power BI, or Tableau.
• Financial modeling: creating financial models to forecast business performance.
• Inventory management: organizing inventory levels and processes using software like Oracle or SAP.
• Logistics: planning and managing the movement of goods and services.
• Marketing analytics: using data to inform marketing strategies and decisions.
• Project management: handling projects using methodologies like Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall and tools like Microsoft Project or Asana.
• Sales management: overseeing sales processes and teams to meet targets.
• Supply chain management: Coordinating and optimizing supply chain activities.
• Vendor management: managing relationships and contracts with suppliers and vendors.

Sample resumes for relevant jobs in the business, finance, and operations industries:

• Business Analyst
• Logistics Specialist
• Marketing Manager
• Procurement Manager
• Project Manager
• Sales Manager
• Supply Chain Manager
• Vendor Manager
• Warehouse Operations Manager

Construction and Manufacturing

Top hard skills: 

• Blueprint reading: interpreting and understanding construction blueprints and plans.
• Lean manufacturing: applying lean principles to optimize production processes.
• Machinery operation: using heavy machinery and equipment safely and efficiently.
• Project management: overseeing construction projects using tools like Microsoft Project or Primavera.
• Quality control: making sure products meet quality standards and specifications.
• Safety compliance: knowledge of safety regulations and procedures to ensure workplace safety.

Sample resumes for relevant jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries:

• Construction Manager
• Quality Engineer
• CAD Technician
• Site Supervisor
• Safety Manager

How to Find the Best Hard Skills to Put on a Resume

Here’s how to find the best hard skills to list that are relevant to the job you’re applying for: 

• Review the job description thoroughly.
• Check industry standards.
• Read through online reports and resources.
• Make a list of all the mandatory and nice-to-have skills.
• Match the skills from your list to the skills you’re confident in.
• Put those skills on your resume.

Although it’s essential to match your skills against a company’s job description, it’s a pretty tedious process. If you want to skip it by automatically getting a list of all the resume keywords from a job description, use Rezi AI Keyword Targeting —it finds all the top keywords for you. 

All you have to do is: 

• Enter the job title you’re applying for.
• Copy and paste the company’s job description into the provided field.
• Click “Save Job Description.”
• Add the top keywords and hard skills into your resume.

As you’re using our AI resume builder, you’ll also get suggestions on what to highlight based on what’s most important to the company. This was one of the features that made a huge difference for one of our users, as mentioned on Reddit : 

“The rating scale allowed me to focus on which skill sets and accomplishments to highlight that were the most relevant to the positions. Before I knew it, I had multiple callbacks and had two job offers that I was able to choose from.”

Want to give it a shot? Sign up here for free . 

If not, continue on with this guide, and I’ll show you how to find the best hard skills manually. 

Review the job description

Almost all job descriptions will make hiring expectations and standards clear. Employers want candidates with specific skills and qualifications, which you can find on the company’s job posting. 

• Go through key sections from the job description such as “qualifications,” “responsibilities,” and “required skills.” 
• Take note of specific hard skills, tools, and frameworks that have been mentioned, especially when they’ve been included more than once. 
• Understand what’s required to carry out your main tasks and responsibilities. 
• Determine the level of required experience and make sure you match this expectation. 
• Compare the skills included in the job posting with your own and see what aligns. 

Check industry standards

Knowing industry standards allows you to understand the general expectations. 

You can’t go wrong with adding common skills and qualifications that professionals in your industry are expected to have.

• Read job postings from the top companies in your industry for your position and take note of the types of skills that keep getting brought up. 
• See what certifications, achievements, and licenses are held in high regard in your particular field. 
• Participate in industry-specific forums and social media groups.  
• Talk to mentors, peers, and colleagues.

Read through online reports and resources 

You can research credible sources to understand the latest trends and find out what hard skills are currently in high demand. 

• First, make sure you’re looking at a credible source. The best starting points I’d suggest are Gartner , O*NET OnLine , and LinkedIn Learning . 
• Focus on resources that discuss emerging technologies, methodologies, and in-demand skills.
• See what skills or tools keep getting mentioned, and which is gaining the most popularity in your industry. 
• Pay attention to the soft and technical skills that complement the hard skills in your field. 

Make a list of all the mandatory and nice-to-have skills

From your research, list skills across two categories: mandatory and nice-to-have. 

Mandatory skills that the hard skills explicitly required for the role. You might also find these abilities mentioned in the job description as necessary for the job. On the other hand, the nice-to-have skills are those that aren’t essential, but are preferred or beneficial. 

Match the skills from your list to the skills you’re confident in

Review your list of mandatory and nice-to-have skills you created. 

Reflect on your own experiences and expertise, and identify the skills you’re most proficient in and confident about. Compare these against the list and highlight the ones where you have demonstrated competence. Focus on matching skills that align with your strongest areas.

Put those skills on your resume

Lastly, add the hard skills into your resume strategically. 

Place the most relevant skills in a “Skills” section, listing the mandatory skills first, followed along by the nice-to-haves. Next, highlight these skills in the work experience section and other sections (more on this later). 

Which Hard Skills Should You Prioritize?

Prioritize based on your proficiency level and essential job requirements. This means looking at not just what’s most relevant to the job description , but also what you’re actually good at and confident in. 

Follow these steps to determine the most important skills to showcase: 

• Reflect on the hard skills where you have substantial experience in and can prove your competence. 
• Out of your top hard skills, see which ones have been explicitly mentioned in the company’s job description. 
• Prioritize your most relevant hard skills. Work your way backwards based on the abilities you have that are most related to the job ad.

Signs That You’re “Good Enough” to List a Certain Hard Skill

These are the signs that you’re good enough to include a particular hard skill on your resume: 

• You have quantifiable accomplishments or successful projects that demonstrate your application of a skill. 
• You received recognition and positive feedback for your use of the skill. 
• You hold a certification and qualification or have completed formal training in the skill.
• You have practical, proven experience applying the said skill independently with little to no assistance in a work, academic, or volunteer setting. 

Here are a few signs to hold off on mentioning certain skills on your resume :

• You have minimal or no hands-on experience with the skill. 
• Your understanding is only theoretical or very basic. 
• You can’t provide examples of specific projects or achievements that prove your proficiency. 
• You’re not confident enough to perform tasks involving this skill independently with zero help.

How to Write About Hard Skills on a Resume

The most straightforward way to include hard skills on a resume is to list them in the skills section. For other sections, you can emphasize them by providing evidence and specific context related to the application of your skills. 

• Summary section : mention your areas of expertise and any career highlights or key achievements. 
• Work experience section : detail specific tasks, accomplishments, and quantifiable results involving your hard skills. 
• Education section : specify any particular minors or courses you completed that are directly related to abilities you want to showcase. 
• Projects, volunteering, and extracurricular activities: describe how you applied relevant hard skills in these contexts and any positive outcomes. 
• Certifications section : list any certificates that validate your proficiency in relevant hard skills.
• Skills section: provide a concise, organized list of your hard skills. 

We’ll dive into more of the specifics for each resume section below. 

And if you want examples for your particular job title, check out our free resume examples library . 

Summary section

The resume summary section is where you can highlight your best and most relevant hard skills. After mentioning them, back it up with evidence by including a specific example or accomplishment that proves your proficiency level. 

Experienced software engineer with 5+ years of expertise in Python and Java. Proven track record in developing scalable applications and improving system performance. Successfully led a remote team of 11 to complete a complex data migration project, resulting in a 20% increase in operational efficiency.

Work experience section

The work experience section is where you can clearly demonstrate your hard skills by describing duties you carried out and the positive outcomes that followed. In other words, emphasize the following:

• Key tasks and projects that you successfully carried out. 
• Quantitative achievements that you were solely responsible for.

Conducted market research and competitive analysis to inform strategic planning, resulting in a 20% market share growth.

Education section

The education section is an opportunity to list formal qualifications, which gives employers insight into your depth of knowledge in a certain field. When you’re a recent graduate or have limited formal experience, you can also add bullet points to specify details that further emphasize your capabilities. 

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | University of Technology | May 2024 • Completed a minor in Mathematics, including courses in linear algebra and statistics. • Graduated with a GPA of 3.8

Projects, volunteering, and extracurricular activities section

Showcase your hard skills in these sections like the work experience section. You can also describe any formal training that you went through. 

Begin by describing a responsibility you fulfilled. Then, describe the skills you had to apply followed by the outcome achieved. 

Contributed to the development of a machine learning library in Python.

Certifications section

The certifications section validates your proficiency in certain abilities through formal recognition by reputable organizations. However, you can add bullet points under certain certificates listed to clarify any achievements or skills applied or developed. 

Certified Data Analyst (CDA) | Data Science Institute | April 2021 • Comprehensive certification covering data analysis, statistical methods, and SQL.

Skills section

The skills section is where you can simply list all of your core competencies. When there are lots of different types of abilities you want to include, categorize them. 

Programming Languages: Python, Java, C++, JavaScript Web Development: HTML, CSS, React, Angular Database Management: SQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle Cloud Computing: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud

Effective Ways to Learn and Develop Hard Skills

You’ll struggle to secure more career advancement opportunities unless you continue developing your hard skills. 

This is also important for staying competitive in the job market. So if (fingers crossed) the worst were to ever happen, and you lose your job, having a top-notch technical skill set will significantly improve your chances of quickly finding new employment opportunities.

These are the most effective ways to develop your hard skills: 

• Work with someone who can give you expert feedback. This could be a manager or senior at your workplace, or even a qualified outside mentor.  
• Consistently practice the skills you are learning through real-world projects, internships, and volunteering.
• Use platforms like Coursera to work on courses and expand your knowledge for a specific set of hard skills.
• Attend workshops, seminars, and conferences to learn from industry experts and gain practical insights.
• Enroll in degree programs, certifications, or technical courses offered by universities or specialized institutions.
• Use books, tutorials, and online resources to study independently and at your own pace.
• Join professional associations and groups to learn from peers and stay updated on industry trends.

Let’s recap on how to describe hard skills on a resume: 

• Immediately mention your professional strengths and expertise in the resume summary section.  
• Emphasize quantifiable accomplishments in the work experience section, proving your technical abilities through successful outcomes you were responsible for. 
• Include any specific achievements or courses from your academic background that help prove you’re an exceptional candidate. 
• Showcase how you implemented certain technical knowledge outside a formal work environment by using a “Projects,” “Volunteering,” or “Extracurricular Activities” section.
• Add relevant certificates to reiterate your depth of technical knowledge. 
• List your best and most relevant hard skills in the skills section. Create categories when you want to list abilities across different areas. 

The best hard skills for a resume are different for almost every candidate. 

Email marketing might be the “best” skill to mention for one candidate, whereas paid marketing might be the best for another. Ultimately, the top resume hard skills depend on the company’s job description, your industry, and the field you’re applying for.

What are the best examples of hard skills for a resume?

The best examples of hard skills to put on a resume include technical abilities and knowledge specific to the job or industry you’re applying for. For example, programming languages like Python and Java would be most effective for programmers. Skills like data analysis, big data technology, and machine learning are essential for data professionals. Proficiency with design software like Adobe Creative Suite would be best for design professionals, and so forth. 

Is writing a hard skill for a resume?

Yes, writing is considered a hard skill. This involves the ability to write in a way that’s clear, concise, and well-structured. However, there are specific types of writing you might want to mention on your resume, for example, technical writing. 

How do I know what my best hard skills are?

Think about your career highlights and professional strengths. What skills did you have to apply to achieve certain goals and project outcomes? What types of tasks do you excel at and enjoy the most? Review past performance reviews with your manager and seek feedback from colleagues or mentors. Additionally, consider any formal qualifications, certifications, and training you’ve gone through. 

Do hiring managers look for hard skills?

Yes, hiring managers look for hard skills because they’re essential for performing basic job tasks to a good standard. Not showcasing hard skills on your resume will rule out your application. When writing a resume , make it clear that you have the necessary qualifications and expertise to succeed in the role. 

Do employers prefer hard skills to soft skills?

Both hard skills and soft skills are valuable. The preference depends on the role you’re applying for. Hard skills would be more important for individual contributor job positions where the main responsibilities revolve around completing tasks that require technical knowledge and experience in a particular field. However, soft skills are equally important for some roles, even in technical fields. Think of managers—one of their main responsibilities would be to lead teams and ensure effective communication. Ideally, employers look for a balance of both types of skills, with hard skills proving your technical competence and soft skills proving you can effectively collaborate with others.

Astley Cervania

Astley Cervania is a career writer and editor who has helped hundreds of thousands of job seekers build resumes and cover letters that land interviews. He is a Rezi-acknowledged expert in the field of career advice and has been delivering job success insights for 4+ years, helping readers translate their work background into a compelling job application.

How to Write a Nursing Resume (With Expert Advice!)

Putting together a nursing resume can be tough—it's a competitive field, and you need to make your skills and qualifications stand out from the crowd. While some elements are consistent across the board (e.g. having your name, contact info, and education listed, for instance), it’s easy to underestimate the power of nuance and individuality in resume writing .

Below, we’ve outlined how to create (and update) an effective nursing resume, thanks to expertise from Nursing Professional Development & Education Specialist, Damion K. Jenkins, MSN, RN .

Get your amazing resume out there—apply now to these amazing nurse jobs on The Muse »

How to write a nursing resume in 5 steps

When crafting a nursing resume, Jenkins emphasizes the importance of following a structured approach to ensure that yours makes an impression with the hiring manager. Above all, you want your resume to be organized, easy to read, and succinct.

Step 1: Start with a strong summary statement

“Begin with a strong summary that highlights your qualifications and career goals,” Jenkins says. “Make sure to use keywords from the job description and qualifications required.” (Here's how to read a job description the right way .)

Your summary statement will speak to your past, present, and future as a nurse, while also making it easy for a recruiter to draw clear connections between your professional life and the job in question.

Need specific ideas? Read this next: 20 Resume Summary Examples to Make Writing Your Own Easier

Step 2: Include non-negotiable sections

Next, make sure you’ve accounted for the non-negotiable sections that every nursing resume needs. According to Jenkins, these include: your contact information, a professional summary of your achievements, your nursing education, licensure and certifications, clinical experience, and relevant role-specific skills.

On top of that, list any professional affiliations, volunteer work, and professional references. Together, these sections will make up the bulk of your resume.

Step 3: Highlight your most valuable skills

A good nursing resume includes hard and soft skills , both of which are necessary for patient care. Jenkins suggests highlighting specific clinical and interpersonal skills that are considered very valuable in the nursing world, including patient assessment, medication administration, wound care, critical thinking, conflict resolution, customer service, and effective communication.

Certifications like BLS, ACLS, PALS, or a specialty-specific certification should also be prominently featured.

Step 4: Do a thorough check for mistakes

As a nurse career coach and mentor, Jenkins has come face-to-face with countless nursing resume mistakes. To make your resume shine, he urges you to check their resumes for the following:

• Grammatical errors and typos
• An unprofessional email address (e.g. anything besides your first and last name, with a number, if necessary)
• Irrelevant information that doesn’t pertain to the role
• Dense blocks of text

Using this list to clean up your resume will improve your chances of getting noticed during your job search . Consider this your list of “don’t dos.”

Step 5: Follow nursing resume best practices

In terms of what you should do, Jenkins endorses the use of bullet points for better readability (vs. long text blocks), using keywords from the job description to help your resume pass through application tracking systems (ATS) , tailoring your resume for each job application, and proofreading vigorously.

Your nursing resume format should be clean and professional, and up to date with any new skills, certifications and experiences.

“Remember, keeping your resume concise and relevant matters,” he says. “If you are including a detailed summary about the dog-sitting job you had as a teenager for a charge nurse position, chances are that your resume won’t make it through the initial screening process.”

Nursing resumes FAQs

How often should you update your nursing resume.

Nurses should update their resume at least every six months, or immediately after acquiring a new skill, certification, or job experience. “Regular updates ensure that your resume is always current and ready for new opportunities, reflecting your most recent and relevant qualifications,” Jenkins says.

How should nurses describe their nursing experience and clinical skills?

To make your experience and clinical skills stand out, use action verbs and quantify your achievements , says Jenkins.

For example, a solid resume bullet point could be:

Provided care for a 30-bed unit, reducing patient falls by 20% through the

implementation of a new safety protocol and interprofessional collaboration with hourly rounding.

“Highlight specific clinical skills and procedures you’re proficient in, and showcase any leadership roles or special projects you’ve undertaken,” he says. “Be proud of your positive outcomes, and include stories that highlight how you’ve grown professionally through some failures and unanticipated setbacks. Hiring managers don’t want robots—they want to know that they have people who are resilient and willing to adapt to the needs of the organization.”

What are the essentials for a new grad nurse resume, versus a nursing student or experienced nurse resume?

For a new grad nurse…

• Emphasize your clinical rotations, relevant coursework, and any nursing-related internships or volunteer work. Include a strong objective statement tailored to the role you’re applying for

For a nursing student resume…

• Focus on your education, clinical placements, and any healthcare-related work experience.

And for an experienced nurse…

• Prioritize your professional experience, listing roles in reverse chronological order (most recent experience first) with detailed descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements.

How should a nursing assistant, travel nurse, or nurse practitioner tailor their resume?

Per Jenkins’ advice, a nursing assistant resume should…

• Highlight your direct patient care experience and any specialized skills like phlebotomy or EKG administration, as well as team work, interdisciplinary collaboration and ability to follow instructions & escalation of abnormal findings.

A travel nurse resume should…

• Emphasize your adaptability, diverse clinical experiences, and ability to quickly integrate into new teams.

And a nurse practitioner resume should…

• Detail your advanced practice skills, patient caseload, and any specialized areas of practice, as well as leadership or teaching roles.

What are the essentials for a critical care nurse or emergency room nurse resume?

As for critical care nurses and ER nurses, Jenkins recommends emphasizing your ability to handle high-stress environments, proficiency in advanced life support, and experience with critical interventions such as intubation and other bedside emergency procedures.

Be sure to mention the diverse populations you’ve worked with, such as pediatric or trauma patients, and highlight your experience with critical care monitoring equipment and protocols.

What about nurses re-entering the workforce or changing specialties?

“For nurses re-entering the workforce or changing specialties, consider taking refresher courses or obtaining new certifications relevant to your desired role,” Jenkins says. “Note any continuing education or recent volunteer work to demonstrate your commitment to maintaining your skills. Finally, tailor your resume to showcase transferable skills and experiences that are applicable to the new specialty.”

Resume writing doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but you can still put together a standout nursing resume by using this guide. Good luck out there!

Once you get that interview, read this: 16 Nursing Interview Questions You Might Get Asked (and How to Answer Them)