How to Highlight Hard Skills on Resume for Maximum Impact

Hiring managers have no time to spare. When they review your application, they’re looking to see whether you fit the criteria and can get the job done. In short, they need to see the right hard skills on your resume.

But how do you know which to include? Since industries and job markets are forever changing, it can be challenging to keep ahead of the game. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.

In the following guide, we’ll be looking at the best hard skills to put on your resume, according to your field. We’ll also cover why these skills matter and how you can bolster your existing skill set.

What are hard skills?

First up, let’s start with a definition. Hard skills are the technical, job-specific abilities you have under your belt—think of them as the “doer” skills. Put simply, these are the skills you can learn through training, education, or hands-on experience. They’re often the first thing employers look for on your resume, making them an essential part of learning how to write a resume that stands out.

Not quite sure what we mean? Here are some common hard-skill examples:

Unlike soft skills—which are more like personality traits—hard skills tend to be measurable and teachable. For example, you may have earned a certificate, learned while working in an industry, or completed specific training. If possible, be clear about how and when you learned a certain skill.

Why you need to have hard skills on your resume

When you’re looking for a job, you’re going up against many other candidates. So you need to stand out from the crowd. Employers often value skills over candidates’ GPA scores, according to NACE’s Job Outlook 2024 report. With that in mind, having a list of hard skills on your resume may be the answer.  

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of resume hard skills:

Top examples of hard skills by industry

Ready to start weaving hard skills into your resume? You can find relevant skills in the original job advert. However, you may also want to include popular competencies in your industry, too.

Check out the top hard skill examples, listed below by field:

IT industry

Hard skills are integral to any IT position. Of course, the competencies you detail will depend on the exact job you’re applying for. Boasting a selection of technical skills is a sure-fire way to get ahead.

Computer programming

Looking for a smaller niche? If you’re applying to work as a computer software engineer, you’ll need to be specific about the languages and programs you’re proficient in. Don’t merely list these competencies, use your resume to describe how you’ve used each in past projects.

Healthcare

The healthcare world is hectic and fast-paced. If you want to get ahead, you need to make sure you have the right selection of hard skills on your resume.

Finance

Finance is all about crunching the numbers. To get that right, you’ll need to have a wide selection of technical and hard skills.  

Education

When it comes to education, soft skills play a major role. However, you still need a litany of hard skills on your resume relating to your specific subject.

Marketing

Marketing yourself professionally is one of the biggest projects you’ll ever have. Be sure to include a range of hard skills on your resume that align with the role.

Sales

Similarly, there are many in-demand hard skills in the sales industry. Consider which ones suit the sales position you’re applying for and mention them in your resume.

Engineering

The type of engineering you work in will dictate the hard skills you have. Be specific about the software and programs you use and, where possible, add context to these skills.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is a similar field, but it’s likely that you have different hard skills. Always look at the original job posting to see which skills the hiring manager expects of candidates.

Retail

Working in retail isn’t simply about being on the shop floor. You also need to have a range of hard skills that keep things ticking behind the scenes.

Hospitality

Working in hospitality demands a huge amount of skills. Highlight any software you use and specialist knowledge areas, such as staff scheduling.

How to develop your hard skills for your resume

Lacking the hard skills you need? Fortunately enough, there are plenty of ways to develop your skill set. Investing time, energy, and money in your professional future is never going to be a mistake.

Online learning and courses

Studying new skills and obtaining certificates in your spare time has never been easier. There are plenty of options available including Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and industry-specific programs. Consider the most in-demand skills in your industry and look for relevant courses that speak to employers’ needs.

On-the-job training opportunities

Keep your eyes peeled for any training opportunities within your current workplace. Signing up for training schemes, days, and even sessions can boost your strengths. Not only will this make you look attractive in the eyes of your current employer, but it also shows hiring managers you’re a real go-getter.

Practice your hard skills regularly

Practice makes perfect. Once you’ve gained in-demand hard skills, you need to use them or you might lose them. For that reason, you should look at every opportunity to deepen your existing skills.

Tips for listing hard skills on your resume

By this point, you should know which hard skills to provide on your resume. But where should you put them?

There are three main areas to mention your hard skills: your skills section, work experience section, and summary (or objective). Take a look at our examples below to get some inspiration.

Skills section

Let’s start with the most obvious place to list hard skills—your skills section.

When you’ve decided which hard skills to include, you can add them to this section. We also recommend listing a skill or proficiency level to each of your competencies. This tells the hiring manager exactly how in-depth your knowledge or competency is in each of the skills.

Work experience

Next up, you can give your hard skills context in your work experience section. Add descriptive bullet points with action verbs below the main details of each role you’ve held. These statements should cover your impact on the position and illustrate how your hard skills helped you excel in the workplace.

But the most dramatic place to insert some hard skills rests at the top of your resume—your resume profile.

Summary or objective

Your resume summary—or, in some cases, objective statement—is a short paragraph at the beginning of your resume. Often the first thing a hiring manager reads, this section is a prime place to brag about your hard skills.

Don’t make the mistake of packing this section with buzzwords. Instead, simply pick one or two hard skills that align best with the demands of the role. If in doubt, look back at the vacancy criteria for inspiration.

Conclusion

Hard skills are essential to almost every modern workplace. Whatever your industry, it’s wise to have a selection of these competencies highlighted on your resume. Follow the advice we’ve shared in this guide on which to choose and how to weave them into the body of your application.

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