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Resume Skills Section: What to Include & 100 Examples by Industry

Published on February 18, 202611 min readby Evan Davison

The skills section of your resume is often the first thing an ATS algorithm reads — and among the first things a human recruiter scans. Yet it's also one of the most poorly written sections: too vague, too long, or simply missing. Knowing what to include, how to organize it, and at what level of detail is what separates a resume that clears the automated filter from one that ends up in the trash.

In this article, we'll break down how to build a strong skills section, with over 100 examples organized by industry to help you find the right words.

The 3 Types of Skills You Need to Understand

Before listing anything, you need to understand that skills fall into three distinct categories — and each is presented differently on a resume.

Technical Skills (Hard Skills)

These are measurable, learned through training or experience. They can be verified and tested. They form the core of your skills section and are presented as a list.

Concrete examples: Python proficiency, GAAP/IFRS accounting, TIG welding, Scrum project management, SAP ERP operation, reading engineering drawings, contract drafting, 3D modeling in SolidWorks.

Transferable Skills (Soft Skills)

These interpersonal and relational skills describe how you work rather than what you technically know how to do. They're hard to quantify but highly sought after: communication, leadership, conflict resolution, adaptability, synthesis.

Golden rule: soft skills are proven, not listed. "Strong communication skills" on a list convinces no one. "Facilitated weekly cross-functional meetings with 6 international stakeholders" in your experience section — that does.

Behavioral Competencies

Close to soft skills, these describe your work attitudes: autonomy, reliability, punctuality, initiative, results orientation. They generally don't belong in a skills list — demonstrate them in your job descriptions or cover letter instead.

How to Structure Your Skills Section

There's no single right way to present your skills, but some structures work better than others depending on your profile.

Categorized list format This is the most readable format for both recruiters and ATS systems. Group your skills by theme:

Languages and frameworks
Tools and software
Methodologies
Languages spoken

Progress bar format Visually appealing, but use with caution. Skill levels are subjective, and experienced recruiters know that "90% in Excel" doesn't mean much. Prefer clear qualitative levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert.

Order of appearance Always lead with the skills most relevant to the target role. A recruiter scanning your resume in 7 seconds needs to see the most important skills first.

Language skills Always specify your level using a recognized framework (CEFR: A1 to C2, or standardized test scores such as TOEFL, IELTS). "Fluent English" is vague; "English C1 — TOEFL 105" is factual and credible.

Skills by Industry — 50+ Concrete Examples

IT and Software Development

Languages and frameworks:

Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C#, PHP, Ruby, Go, Kotlin, Swift
React, Next.js, Vue.js, Angular, Node.js, Django, Laravel, Spring Boot, .NET
HTML5, CSS3, Sass, Tailwind CSS

Tools and platforms:

Git, GitHub, GitLab, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, CircleCI)
AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure
PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch
Figma, Postman, JIRA, Confluence, Linear, Notion