3 key takeaways
- Hard skills are technical abilities; learn how to showcase them on your resume so you stand out
- Get 100+ hard skills examples across industries to inspire your resume
- Discover how to find the right hard skills for every opportunity with Teal's tools
Hard skills are the specific, measurable abilities that qualify you to do the job—whether it’s managing projects, analyzing data, or running financial reports. They're typically learned through training, certifications, or on-the-job experience.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify the most relevant hard skills for your resume, where to include them, and how to make them stand out in your resume skills section (for both hiring managers and applicant tracking systems). We'll also share 100+ hard skills examples across industries to help you show your skills with clarity and impact.
What are hard skills?
Hard skills are practical, measurable abilities directly tied to specific job tasks or responsibilities.
They're teachable and testable—usually gained through education, training, certifications, or on-the-job experience.
In other words, hard skills are the technical skills or proficiencies you learn and apply—like programming in Python, managing projects in Asana, or analyzing data in Excel. These are job-specific abilities that let you tackle responsibilities with confidence and precision.
Hard skills vs. soft skills
While hard skills are acquired through training or experience. Resume soft skills, like communication or teamwork, are more interpersonal and often developed over time.
As companies (especially across industries like tech, industrial, and engineering) rely more and more on automation and technology, the importance of more human-centered soft skills is often emphasized similarly to hard skills.
However different they may be, these two types of skills are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they're complementary. Most roles or positions require a blend of soft and hard skills for employees to succeed.
For example, data analysis requires not only statistical knowledge but also critical thinking and storytelling to transform raw data into actionable insights. Similarly, the rise of remote work emphasizes the need for self-management and effective online communication (think platforms like Zoom and Slack), illustrating the codependence of technical hard skills and soft skills.
Why hard skills matter on a resume
Hard skills show employers that you're qualified—not just in theory, but in practice. They’re often the first thing recruiters look for when scanning your resume.
According to McKinsey, a shift from credential-based to skills-based hiring is the key to filling roles by prioritizing practical experience over traditional degrees.
Hard skills also matter on your resume because:
- Hiring managers actively seek hard skills to evaluate fit. In fact if a skill is required, they’re essential when reviewing candidates.
- ATS software is used to search resumes based for hard skills keywords, so leaving them out could mean your resume may never get seen.
- They prove impact because the right hard skills let you perform well, deliver results, and show measurable value.
💡 Pro Tip: Not sure which hard skills to include? Teal’s Job Matching analyzes any job description, pulls out the most important hard skills and shows how well your resume aligns—so you can focus on the skills that matter most for the opportunity.
Best hard skills for a resume
Showcasing the right hard skills on your resume can make a significant difference in catching the eye of potential employers.
The best hard skills to put on a resume highlight your technical abilities and demonstrate your capability to perform specific job functions. Here are some of the best hard skills to consider adding.
If you're worried you don’t have very specific technical skills that measure up to a particular role, don't get discouraged just yet. There are some general hard skills for your resume that still pack a punch.
Project Management Skills: These skills are about overseeing projects to ensure they're completed on time and within budget. Proficiency in project management software like MS Project, JIRA, or Asana can be a definite plus.
Foreign Language Proficiency: In an increasingly globalized (and remote!) world, being multilingual can be a significant advantage, opening up opportunities in international business and communication.
Digital Marketing: This encompasses SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, and PPC advertising. A deep understanding of tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Ads Manager, or SEMrush is also a great companion to this skill.
Salesforce Proficiency: Salesforce is a leading customer relationship management (CRM) tool. Expertise in this platform can be a significant advantage, particularly in sales and marketing roles. (Other CRM platforms include Hubspot, Zendesk, ClickUp, and Active Campaign).
Data Analysis: In today's era of big data, the ability to interpret and use information to make informed business decisions is invaluable. Including any knowledge of data analytics tools such as SQL, Python, and Tableau is also beneficial.
Hard skills examples (100+ across industries)
Hard skill examples - Technical and IT skills
From software development to system administration, these technical skills are a type of hard skill. They're essential for building, maintaining, and securing today’s digital infrastructure.
- Programming languages (Python, Java, C++, C#, Scala, Perl, Swift)
- Algorithm design
- Application programming interfaces (APIs)
- Debugging
- Quality assurance (QA)
- Scripting languages
- Version control systems (VCS)
- Web development (HTML/CSS, JavaScript, React)
- Mobile application development
- Database design and management (SQL, Oracle, MySQL)
- Docker
- Git
- Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)
- Cloud computing (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- Linux
- Network security
- Cybersecurity (ethical hacking, malware analysis, Metasploit, Nessus, Wireshark)
- System administration
- Server administration
- Virtualization
- Technical support and troubleshooting
Find more software engineer resume skills.
Example hard skills - Data and analytical skills
These skills help professionals make sense of data, spot trends, and drive better business decisions through evidence—not guesswork.
- Data analysis
- Data mining
- Predictive analytics
- Deep learning
- Regression analysis
- Statistical analysis
- Statistical software (SPSS, R)
- Data visualization (Tableau, Power BI)
- Reporting and dashboards
- Google Analytics
- Advanced Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP)
- Apache Hadoop
- TensorFlow
Explore over a dozen data analyst resumes to help create a list of hard skills for your resume.
Marketing and sales hard skills examples
Marketing and sales teams depend on both strategy and tools—whether it’s to increase visibility, generate leads, or close deals more efficiently.
Marketing:
- Marketing strategy
- SEO (keyword research, on-page SEO, SEO copywriting)
- SEM (Search engine marketing, Google Ads)
- A/B testing
- Affiliate marketing software
- Content strategy
- Blogging
- Content management systems (CMS like WordPress, Webflow)
- Email marketing platforms (Mailchimp)
- Inbound marketing software
- CRM software (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Google Workspace
- Video editing
Sales and customer success:
- Cold calling
- CRM tools (Salesforce, Gong.io, Dock)
- Direct sales
- Lead generation
- Sales strategy and planning
- Sales and budget forecasting
- Revenue expansion
- Customer success operations
- Customer success strategy
- Customer lifecycle management
- Metrics and KPIs
- Team leadership
- Lattice
Management and leadership hard skills for your resume
Leading teams and projects requires more than listing people skills on a resume, it also takes process knowledge, planning tools, and operational expertise.
Project and program management:
- Project management
- Agile methodologies
- Scrum
- Waterfall
- Gantt charts
- Microsoft Project
- Contract management
- Earned value management
- Budgeting
- Scheduling
- Risk management
- Process improvement
HR and organizational operations:
- ATS (applicant tracking systems) management
- HRIS (human resources information systems) software
- Compliance auditing
- Benefits administration
- Performance metrics analysis
- Learning management systems (LMS)
- Recruiting techniques
- Organizational development tools
- HR data analysis
- Conflict resolution techniques
- Compensation benchmarking
Leadership and strategy:
- Business strategy
- Change management
- Financial management
- Human resource management
- Operations management
- Strategic planning
- Supply chain management
- Talent management
Hard skills for design and creative resumes
Creative work often requires technical fluency. These skills demonstrate your ability to bring ideas to life across visual, written, and multimedia formats.
Design and UX:
- 3D design
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe XD
- Figma
- Sketch
- Sketching
- Typography
- Wireframing
- Interaction design
- Information architecture
- Prototype design
- Technical drawing
- User interface (UI) design
- User experience (UX) design
Writing and content tools:
- AP style
- Blogging
- Editing
- SEO copywriting
- Technical documentation
- Web content writing
- Webflow
- WordPress
- Writing skills
- HTML/CSS for writers
- Google Workspace
- Project management tools for content workflows
- Content creation
Media and production:
- Video editing
- Photography
- Presentation design and delivery
Education and research hard skills examples
These skills apply in academic, instructional, and nonprofit contexts—supporting communication, planning, and research across disciplines.
- Research skills (literature review, data gathering)
- Technical writing
- Public speaking
- Time management
- Curriculum planning
- Instructional design
- Foreign languages (Spanish, Mandarin, etc.)
- Statistical analysis
- Data analysis
- Grant writing
- Academic writing
- Graphic design (in educational settings)
In-demand hard skills of 2025
With the rapid pace of tech advancement, emerging hard skills continue to shape the job market. To remain ahead in your field, stay updated on these skills.
- 3D Printing: The ability to design and print three-dimensional objects using specialized software.
- Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Development: The creation of immersive digital environments and experiences using AR and VR technology.
- Cryptocurrency Knowledge: Understanding the mechanisms of digital currencies like Bitcoin, including blockchain technology, mining, and trading strategies.
- Data Privacy: The ability to protect and manage personal and confidential data in compliance with evolving privacy laws and regulations.
- Drone Operation: Piloting uncrewed aerial vehicles, often used in cinematography, agriculture, or emergency services.
- Edge Computing: Processing and analyzing data where it is generated—reducing latency and increasing data processing speed.
- Genomics: The ability to sequence, interpret, and apply genome data, crucial in healthcare and biotech sectors.
- Green Energy Technologies: Skills in designing, implementing, or managing technologies that generate environmentally friendly energy (like solar or wind power systems).
- Quantum Computing: Understanding and working with computers and systems that use quantum bits (qubits) to perform complex calculations at unprecedented speeds.
- Robotics: The ability to design, construct, operate, and apply robots or robotic systems (increasingly in demand in manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics).
How to list hard skills on your resume
Adding hard skills to your resume isn't just about making a list—it's about showing you're qualified for the job you want. That means choosing the right skills, presenting them clearly, and making sure they align with what hiring managers (and applicant tracking systems) are actually looking for.
Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Create a hard skills list
Before you start editing your resume, list out the technical abilities, certifications, and tools you’ve picked up through education, training, or experience. Think in categories: software, programming languages, certifications, methodologies, platforms.
This list makes it easier to customize your resume quickly (especially if you’re applying to multiple roles).
💡 Pro Tip: Use the Teal Resume Builder to store all your hard skills in one place. Then, just check the boxes for the ones that match each job and instantly add them to your tailored resume.
Step 2. Review the job description
A job description often offers insight into the resume competencies a role requires. Look for specific tools, systems, or processes mentioned in the posting—like “Google Analytics,” “Python,” “project management,” or “content strategy.” Note the ones directly listed, repeated, or required.
Step 3. Match your hard skills to the role
A well-tailored resume doesn’t include every skill you have. It includes the most relevant skills for that job.Once you've identified the key skills required, you should make sure they're on your resume. Between hard skills, soft skills, and other requirements, you want to have around 70% (or more) of the qualifications a company is looking for. (But remember, honesty is critical, so only incorporate your actual skills.)
Step 4: Add hard skills across sections
Listing hard skills on your resume isn’t just about building a list—it’s about making sure those skills show up in the right places, with the right context. Hiring managers and ATS systems scan for specific tools, proficiencies, and achievements that prove you're qualified. Here’s where and how to showcase your hard skills:
Add them to your professional summary or objective
Your summary is prime real estate. Including one or two high-value hard skills—like a key tool, platform, or methodology—helps signal fit right away.
Example:
Experienced software engineer with 10+ years of experience in backend development, specializing in Python and database management systems.
Even one well-placed hard skill here can increase your resume’s relevance at a glance.
Weave them into your work experience bullets
Hard skills have more impact when tied to real outcomes. Use action verbs, mention the skill in context, and close with results.
Examples:
- Increased website traffic by 35% using SEO best practices and Google Analytics insights.
- Led a cross-functional team through a platform migration using Agile methodology, delivering the project 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
- Achieved a 3x lift in conversions through A/B testing and targeted content strategy.
This structure shows what you did, how you did it, and why it mattered.
List them in a dedicated skills section
Your Skills section gives recruiters a quick snapshot of your proficiencies. Focus on 5–10 of your most relevant tools and technologies, grouped by category if helpful.
Example format:
Include them under education and certifications
If you’re newer to the workforce—or pivoting fields—you can highlight hard skills through coursework, certifications, or academic projects.
Examples:
- Completed coursework in C++ programming and database design (B.S. in Computer Science)
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- Certified in Google Analytics and Google Ads
These give weight to your skills, especially if you lack formal work experience.
Tailoring your hard skills to the job
Not every hard skill belongs on every resume. The key to standing out is customizing the skills you highlight to match what each job is actually asking for.
Start by carefully reading the job description. Look for tools, systems, or technical terms listed under requirements or qualifications—these are your priorities. Then, compare those to your own list of hard skills and include only the ones that apply.
Here’s a simple process:
- Highlight the hard skills mentioned in the job post
- Match them to your own experience
- Use the same wording where possible (e.g., “CRM software” instead of just “Salesforce”) to be found by recrutiers searching the ATS
💡Pro Tip: Want help? Teal pulls keywords and skills straight from job descriptions, making it easier and faster to match your resume to each role.
Hard skills for resume examples by experience
Check out some real-life examples of hard skills on resumes through various sections and across different position levels and roles.
Hard skills examples for students
Professional summary
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Certifications
Education
Hard skills for resume examples - Entry-level professional
Entry-level social media manager
Entry-level software developer
Entry-level data scientist
Hard skills for resume examples - Mid-level professional
Example hard skills on resume - Business analyst
Example of hard skills on resume - Project manager
Hard skills for resume examples - Senior-level professional
Hard skills on resume - VP
Hard skills on resume example - Senior IT analyst
Hard skills: What to expect in the future job market
The future of hard skills is being shaped by rapid advancements in tech, especially in areas like AI, machine learning, and data science. As new tools and platforms become essential across industries, traditional hard skills will need to be supplemented with more specialized, future-focused knowledge.
That shift also makes lifelong learning more important than ever. Investing in training, certifications, and upskilling isn't just about staying relevant, it's a strategy for job security, career growth, and standing out in a competitive (and evolving!) job market.
But standing out isn’t just about having a list of skills or skilling up, it’s about showing how those skills have shaped your work. When hard skills are presented with clarity and context, they help employers quickly understand what you bring to the table. If you want a simpler way to do that, the tools we mentioned—like Teal’s AI Resume Builder and Job Matching—can help you organize, customize, and showcase your skills more effectively across every application.
