Best Skills for Resume in 2025
Discover the most in-demand skills employers want. Learn which hard skills, soft skills, and technical skills to include on your resume to beat ATS systems and land interviews.
of recruiters scan skills section first
skills is the optimal number for most resumes
of resumes lack industry-specific skills
more likely to get interviewed with right skills
Find Skills for Your Industry
Types of Skills for Your Resume
🔧 Hard Skills (Technical Skills)
Specific, measurable abilities that can be learned through training or education.
Examples:
- • Programming languages (Python, JavaScript, Java)
- • Software proficiency (Excel, Photoshop, Salesforce)
- • Certifications (PMP, Google Analytics, AWS)
- • Technical processes (Data Analysis, SEO, Accounting)
- • Languages (Spanish, Mandarin, French)
🤝 Soft Skills (Interpersonal Skills)
Personal attributes and personality traits that show how you work and interact with others.
Examples:
- • Communication and presentation skills
- • Leadership and team management
- • Problem-solving and critical thinking
- • Adaptability and flexibility
- • Time management and organization
💡 Pro Tip: The Perfect Skills Mix
Most successful resumes include 60% hard skills and 40% soft skills. TalentTuner's AI analyzer scans your skills against job requirements and suggests the perfect balance for your target role.
Analyze My Skills Balance💻 Technology & Software Skills
Programming & Development
Data & Analytics
Design & Creative
🎯 Tech Skills Strategy
Include both the specific tools/languages AND the broader categories. For example: "Python programming for data analysis" covers both the technical skill and its application.
💼 Business & Management Skills
Leadership & Management
- • Team Leadership: Led cross-functional teams of 5-15 members
- • Project Management: PMP certified, Agile/Scrum methodologies
- • Strategic Planning: Long-term business strategy development
- • Change Management: Leading organizational transformations
- • Performance Management: Employee development and coaching
Sales & Marketing
- • Digital Marketing: SEO, SEM, social media advertising
- • Sales Strategy: B2B/B2C sales, consultative selling
- • CRM Management: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive
- • Market Research: Competitive analysis, customer insights
- • Content Marketing: Blog writing, content strategy
Financial & Operations Skills
Financial
Budget management, financial modeling, forecasting, P&L analysis, cost optimization, financial reporting
Operations
Process improvement, supply chain management, quality assurance, vendor management, logistics coordination
🌟 Universal Skills (Every Industry Needs)
Communication
- • Written communication
- • Public speaking
- • Presentation skills
- • Active listening
- • Cross-cultural communication
Problem-Solving
- • Critical thinking
- • Analytical reasoning
- • Creative problem-solving
- • Decision making
- • Research and investigation
Adaptability
- • Learning agility
- • Flexibility
- • Stress management
- • Change adaptation
- • Continuous improvement
⚠️ Skills to Avoid on Your Resume
These overused skills add no value and waste valuable space:
How to Format Skills on Your Resume
✅ Effective Skills Section
❌ Ineffective Skills Section
Skills Section Best Practices:
🔍 ATS Skills Optimization
ATS systems match skills word-for-word with job descriptions. TalentTuner's AI scanner identifies missing skills from any job posting and shows you exactly how to include them naturally in your resume.
Check My Skills Match →Good Skills to Put on a Resume
Choosing good skills to put on a resume requires understanding what employers value most in your industry. The best skills to add to resume are those that directly match job requirements while showcasing your unique value proposition.
Universal Good Skills for Any Resume
✅ Always Include These Skills
- Communication: Written and verbal communication
- Problem-solving: Critical thinking and analysis
- Leadership: Team management and mentoring
- Technology: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace
- Project Management: Planning and execution
- Adaptability: Learning new systems and processes
🎯 Industry-Specific Skills
- Tech: Programming languages, cloud platforms
- Marketing: SEO, social media, analytics
- Sales: CRM software, negotiation, lead generation
- Finance: Financial modeling, Excel advanced functions
- Healthcare: HIPAA compliance, patient care software
- Education: Learning management systems, curriculum design
💡 Pro Tip: Skills Selection Strategy
The best skills to have on resume are those mentioned in the job description plus 3-5 additional skills that demonstrate your expertise. Use TalentTuner's AI to identify which skills are missing from your resume for any specific job.
Best Skills to Add to Resume in 2025
The best skills to write on a resume have evolved with changing workplace demands. Here are the most in-demand skills employers are actively seeking, based on current job market data.
Top In-Demand Skills by Category
💻 Technology & Digital Skills
Programming
Cloud & DevOps
Data & AI
🎯 Professional Skills for Resume
Leadership & Management
- • Team leadership and mentoring
- • Project management (Agile, Scrum)
- • Strategic planning and execution
- • Change management
- • Performance management
Communication & Collaboration
- • Cross-functional collaboration
- • Stakeholder management
- • Presentation and public speaking
- • Technical writing
- • Customer relationship management
🔥 Trending Skills for 2025
These emerging skills are seeing explosive demand across industries:
Sample Resume Skills Examples by Role
See how to format and present skills effectively with these sample skills in a resume for different career levels and industries.
Sample Resume Skills Section
Entry-Level Marketing Professional
SKILLS
Digital Marketing
Social Media Management, Content Creation, Email Marketing, Google Analytics, SEO Basics
Technical Skills
Microsoft Office Suite, Canva, Hootsuite, WordPress, Basic HTML/CSS
Soft Skills
Creative Problem-Solving, Team Collaboration, Written Communication, Time Management
Languages
English (Native), Spanish (Conversational)
Mid-Level Software Developer
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Programming Languages
JavaScript (ES6+), Python, TypeScript, SQL, Java
Frameworks & Libraries
React, Node.js, Express, Django, Spring Boot
Tools & Platforms
Git, Docker, AWS, Jenkins, JIRA, Postman
Methodologies
Agile/Scrum, Test-Driven Development, CI/CD, Code Review
Senior Project Manager
CORE COMPETENCIES
Project Management
PMP Certified, Agile/Scrum Master, Risk Management, Budget Planning ($1M+ projects)
Leadership
Team Leadership (15+ members), Cross-functional Collaboration, Stakeholder Management
Tools & Platforms
Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, JIRA, Confluence, Salesforce, Tableau
Strategic Skills
Process Improvement, Change Management, Vendor Management, Quality Assurance
📋 Skills Section Formatting Tips
- • Categorize skills by type (Technical, Soft Skills, Languages)
- • List most relevant skills first in each category
- • Include proficiency levels for languages and software when relevant
- • Use keywords from job descriptions but keep them natural
- • Avoid graphics or skill bars - ATS systems can't read them
Find Out Which Skills You're Missing
Upload your resume and a job description. Our AI will instantly identify skill gaps and suggest improvements to maximize your interview chances.
Analyze My Skills Now - Free