What Skills Should You Put on a Resume? Expert Tips for Job Seekers

There are many people who make the same mistake. They search for the best resume skills. Copy a big list. And put everything on the page. Yes it makes the resume look full, but it does not tell the employer much.

Skills are also getting more attention in hiring. A 2026 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 70% of employers use skills-based hiring, compared with 65% the year before. 

So, what should you really put on yours?

Start With the Job Description

Read the job post before changing your resume.

Look at what the company actually wants you to do. If you are applying for customer service, communication, problem solving, customer handling, and CRM knowledge may be useful. For a writing job, research, SEO, editing, and content writing may make more sense.

This is why copying the best skills for a resume from a generic list isn't always a good idea.  A skill can be useful and still have nothing to do with the job you want.

Your resume should fit the position.

Hard Skills and Soft Skills

Hard skills are abilities connected to a particular task or job. Excel, coding, bookkeeping, SEO, graphic design, and data analysis are some examples.

Soft skills are more about how you work. Communication, teamwork, leadership, patience, and critical thinking come under this side.

Both can be useful.

You don't need to include every type. It depends on the job.

What Skills Do Employers Look For?

There isn't one list of resume skills employers want for every position.

A software developer needs different skills than a receptionist. An accountant will have a different set again.

Still, some things show up quite often. NACE's research found that employers commonly look for teamwork, problem solving, verbal communication, technical skills, and written communication when reviewing resumes from college graduates.

But don't add all five just because they are common.

Think about your own experience. If you handle customer complaints, communication and problem solving may be worth showing. If you trained new employees, that gives you a real example of leadership.

Real examples always help more than fancy words.

You Have Skills Outside Your Job Too

If you are a beginner, you may think you don't have enough skills because you haven't had a proper job yet.

You probably do.

School projects, internships, volunteer work, freelance tasks, and personal projects can all teach you useful things.

These are often called transferable skills because you can take them from one situation into another.

Maybe you organized a college event. That shows planning and teamwork. Maybe you worked on a group project. That's collaboration. Maybe you managed social media for a small business. That's a real experience too.

So when looking for resume skills for beginners, don't only think about paid employment.

Think about what you have actually done.

Keep Your Skills Section Simple

The skills to list on a resume  section does not need a complicated design.

You can write something like:

Technical Skills: Excel, WordPress, SEO, Google Analytics

Communication: Content writing, presentations, customer service

Other Skills: Research, time management, project coordination

That's enough.

Don't rate yourself with things like “Excel 9/10” unless the employer asks for it. Those numbers don't mean much on a resume.

Also, don't write a long paragraph about every skill. Your experience section can do that job.

Show What You Can Actually Do

This part gets missed a lot.

Anyone can write “leadership skills” on a resume. But what did you actually lead?

Instead of only saying:

Leadership skills

you could write:

“Trained three new team members and helped them learn the daily work process.”

Now there is something real behind the skill.

The same applies to problem solving. If you say you are good at solving problems, give the employer some reason to believe it.

For example:

“Handled customer complaints and found solutions while meeting daily response targets.”

That says much more.

Your skills section gives the quick answer. Your experience gives the proof.

Don't Put Every Skill You Have

More skills do not always make a better resume.

If you know Word, Canva, Excel, Photoshop, photography, social media, and ten other things, you don't need to put everything there.

Ask yourself one thing:

“Will this help me with this job?”

If not, leave it out.

This matters with job specific resume skills too. A skill that helps in marketing may not matter much for an accounting position.

And don't claim a skill you barely know. If you have used Photoshop twice, don't write “advanced Photoshop.” You may be asked about it in the interview.

What About Your First Resume?

Your first resume can feel difficult because you don't have much work history.

Look at other parts of your life.

College assignments, internships, volunteer work, certifications, personal projects, and part time work can give you useful examples.

If you organized an event, mention the planning and teamwork involved. If you built a website for a school project, mention the tools you actually used.

Keep it honest. You don't need to make a small project sound like a big corporate job. Absolutely not!

Read our previous post, How to Make a Resume for Your First Job: What Employers Look For if you want to write a resume for your first job.

Keep It Honest and Relevant

Your resume should show what you can really do.

If you list advanced Excel, be ready to use it. If you mention leadership, have an example. If you say you have good communication skills, your interview should support that too.

At Pine Book Writing, our resume writing services help job seekers present their experience and skills clearly. But even if you write your resume yourself, the rule is pretty simple.

Pick the skills that fit the job.

Then show that you actually have them.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How many skills should I add on my resume?

Around 8 to 10 relevant skills can be enough, but there is no fixed number. Check the job description and prioritize the skills that match the position. 

What are the top skills for a resume?

Well it depends on the position.However, some commonly requested skills include: 

• Communication

• Teamwork 

• Problem Solving

• Technical Skills, 

• Critical Thinking 

These skills are useful in many jobs. Still,it’s important to look at what the employer is asking for.

Should I include soft skills?

Yes, but don't add soft skills just to create a long list. Whenever possible, support them with examples or evidence from your experience. 

What skills should beginners put on a resume?

As a beginner, you use skills that you have gained from school projects, internships, or any personal projects. But pick only ones you have actually used. Don't just add words to make the resume look better.