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Skills Section Guide

Showcase your abilities with a strategic skills list

5 min read

Skills Section Guide

Your skills section is a quick-reference for recruiters and a crucial component for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Get it right, and you'll pass automated screens and catch human eyes.

What to Include

List skills that are:

  • Relevant to your target role
  • Verifiable through your experience
  • In demand in your industry
  • Mentioned in job descriptions you're targeting

Types of Skills

Hard Skills (Technical)

Specific, teachable abilities:

  • Programming languages: Python, JavaScript, SQL
  • Tools: Excel, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Suite
  • Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Six Sigma
  • Platforms: AWS, Google Cloud, Shopify

Soft Skills (Interpersonal)

Use sparingly and only if you can demonstrate them:

  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Project management

Note: Soft skills are better demonstrated in your experience section than listed here. "Led team of 10" shows leadership better than listing "Leadership" as a skill.

Tips by Experience Level

Entry-Level / Students

Focus on:

  • Technical skills from coursework
  • Tools you've used in projects or internships
  • Certifications you've earned
  • Languages (programming and spoken)

Be honest about proficiency. It's okay to include skills you're learning if you can discuss them in an interview.

Example skills: Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Git, Microsoft Office, Google Analytics, Canva, Basic SQL, Adobe Photoshop

Mid-Level (3-7 years)

Focus on:

  • Skills that differentiate you
  • Advanced tools and methodologies
  • Industry-specific expertise
  • Skills mentioned in target job descriptions

Drop basics like Microsoft Office unless specifically required.

Example skills: Python, Machine Learning, TensorFlow, SQL, Tableau, A/B Testing, Statistical Analysis, Data Pipeline Design, AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda)

Senior-Level (8+ years)

Focus on:

  • Strategic and leadership capabilities
  • Specialized expertise
  • Enterprise tools and platforms
  • Skills that justify seniority

Example skills: Technical Architecture, System Design, Team Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Cloud Infrastructure (AWS/GCP), Microservices, CI/CD, Technical Strategy

Career Changers

Focus on:

  • Transferable skills from your background
  • New skills you've developed for target field
  • Certifications that validate your transition
  • Tools used in your target industry

Example (Marketing to Data Analytics): SQL, Excel (Advanced), Google Analytics, Tableau, Python (Basic), A/B Testing, Market Research, Data Visualization, Statistical Analysis

Organizing Your Skills

By Category

Group related skills together:

Programming: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL Frameworks: React, Node.js, Django Cloud: AWS, Docker, Kubernetes Tools: Git, JIRA, Figma

By Proficiency

If relevant, indicate skill level:

Expert: Python, SQL, Data Modeling Proficient: JavaScript, React, AWS Familiar: Kubernetes, GraphQL

Flat List

Simple and ATS-friendly:

Python, JavaScript, React, Node.js, SQL, PostgreSQL, AWS, Docker, Git, JIRA, Agile

ATS Optimization

ATS systems scan for keywords. To optimize:

  1. Match job description language - If they say "JavaScript," don't just write "JS"
  2. Include variations - "Python" and "Python 3" if space allows
  3. Use standard terms - Avoid obscure abbreviations
  4. Include full names - "Amazon Web Services (AWS)" on first use

Common ATS-Friendly Formats

Good: Python, JavaScript, React, Node.js, SQL, AWS

Avoid:

  • Skill bars or ratings (ATS can't read them)
  • Icons or images
  • Tables with complex formatting

How Many Skills?

  • Minimum: 6-8 skills
  • Optimal: 10-15 skills
  • Maximum: 20 skills

Quality over quantity. Every skill should be defensible in an interview.

Skills to Include by Industry

Software Development

Languages, frameworks, databases, cloud platforms, DevOps tools, version control, testing frameworks

Marketing

Analytics tools, CRM platforms, social media tools, SEO/SEM, content management systems, marketing automation

Finance

Financial modeling, Excel (advanced), ERP systems, regulatory knowledge, analytical tools, programming (Python/R)

Design

Design software (Figma, Sketch, Adobe), prototyping tools, user research methods, design systems

Project Management

PM methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall), PM tools (JIRA, Asana, Monday), stakeholder management, budgeting

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Listing basic skills like "Microsoft Word" or "Email"
  • Overstating abilities - Don't claim expertise you don't have
  • Including outdated skills - Remove technologies no longer relevant
  • Too many soft skills - Focus on demonstrable hard skills
  • Generic lists - Tailor skills to each application
  • Skill ratings - Avoid bars or percentages (subjective and ATS-unfriendly)

Pro Tips

  • Pull keywords directly from job descriptions
  • Update your skills regularly as you learn new things
  • Remove skills you haven't used in 2+ years
  • Ask colleagues what skills they associate with you
  • Include both the acronym and full name for common tools

Next Steps

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