Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Status.net Editorial Team
- Examples of Key Software and Tools Part 1
- Examples of Technical Skills by Industry Part 2
- How to List Technical Skills on Your Resume Part 3
- Technical Skills for Every Career Stage Part 4
- Backing up Your Technical Skills with Proof Part 5
- Common Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Technical Skills Part 6
- Customizing Technical Skills for Each Application Part 7
Technical skills can make or break your chances of landing a job. They show employers what you can do and how you can help their company succeed. Adding the right technical skills to your resume can boost your chances of getting hired.
You might wonder which technical skills to include on your resume. It depends on your field, but some common ones are productivity software, data analysis, and project management tools. We’ll explore more examples and how to showcase them effectively in your job search.
Technical skills are often called hard skills because they can be measured, tested, and verified, unlike soft skills such as communication or teamwork, which are harder to quantify. When you list technical skills on a resume, you give a hiring manager a fast way to check whether you already know the tools, systems, and processes the role requires. This can shorten training time and reduce hiring risk from the employer’s point of view.
Whether your document is called a resume or a CV, the technical skills section works the same way. It gives recruiters a quick reference point to compare your qualifications against the job requirements before they read the rest of your application.
Part 1Examples of Key Software and Tools
Most resumes benefit from naming actual software and platforms rather than vague terms like “computer skills.” The tools below are among the most commonly requested across job postings, so learning a few well is often more valuable than listing dozens you rarely use.
Office and Productivity Software
Microsoft Office is a must-know for most jobs. You’ll likely use Word for documents, Excel for spreadsheets, and PowerPoint for presentations. Google’s G Suite offers similar tools that are popular in many workplaces.
Examples
-
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Expert in Google Workspace
- Advanced Excel formulas and macros
- PowerPoint presentation design
- Efficient document creation in Word
- Collaborative editing in Google Docs
- Data visualization using Excel charts
- Mail merge expert in Word
- Google Sheets pivot table creation
- Outlook email and calendar management
Graphic Design and Video Creation
Visual content is key in many roles. Adobe Creative Suite is the industry standard for design work. Canva is a user-friendly option for quick graphics.
Examples
-
- Adobe Photoshop image editing
- Video production with Adobe Premiere
- Canva design for social media
- Logo creation using Illustrator
- InDesign layout for print materials
- Motion graphics in After Effects
- Photo retouching and restoration
- Infographic design using Piktochart
- 3D modeling with Blender
- Video editing with Final Cut Pro
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
ERP systems help manage business processes. CRM tools track customer interactions. Both are vital in many industries.
Examples
-
- SAP ERP modules implementation
- Salesforce CRM customization
- Oracle NetSuite financial reporting
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 integration
- HubSpot lead nurturing campaigns
- Zendesk ticket management
- Workday HR system administration
- QuickBooks inventory tracking
- Zoho CRM sales pipeline management
- ServiceNow IT service management
Accounting Software and Tools
Financial pros need to know accounting software. QuickBooks is popular for small businesses, while larger companies might use SAP or Oracle.
Examples
-
- QuickBooks Online bookkeeping
- SAP Financial Accounting module
- Xero bank reconciliation
- FreshBooks expense tracking
- Wave invoicing and payments
- Sage 50cloud financial reporting
- Oracle E-Business Suite GL entries
- ADP payroll processing
- Bill.com accounts payable automation
- TurboTax tax return preparation
Project Management and Collaboration Software
Project management and collaboration tools keep teams aligned on deadlines, tasks, and communication. Employers across nearly every industry now expect familiarity with at least one of these platforms, especially in remote or hybrid work environments.
Examples
-
- Asana task and project tracking
- Jira sprint planning and backlog management
- Trello kanban board organization
- Monday.com workflow automation
- Basecamp client project coordination
- Slack channel and workflow management
- Microsoft Teams meeting and file collaboration
- Zoom webinar hosting and screen sharing
- Notion knowledge base documentation
- Confluence team wiki management
Data Analysis and Business Intelligence Tools
Data literacy has become a technical skill even outside of IT and finance roles. Marketing, operations, and human resources teams increasingly rely on data to guide decisions, so familiarity with reporting and visualization tools can set your resume apart.
Examples
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- Power BI dashboard creation
- Tableau data visualization
- Google Analytics traffic reporting
- Advanced Excel pivot tables and VLOOKUP
- SQL query writing and database management
- Python for data analysis (pandas, NumPy)
- R programming for statistical analysis
- Looker Studio report building
- Google Data Studio KPI tracking
- Snowflake data warehouse management
Part 2Examples of Technical Skills by Industry
Different industries require specific technical skills. Here are some key abilities valued across various professional fields.
Examples of Technical Skills: STEM and Information Technology
Examples
-
- Proficient in Python and Java
- Experienced with SQL databases
- Skilled in cloud computing (AWS, Azure)
- Knowledgeable in machine learning algorithms
- Familiar with Agile development methodologies
- Capable of network troubleshooting
- Adept at cybersecurity best practices
- Experienced in mobile app development
- Proficient with version control systems (Git)
- Skilled in data visualization tools (Tableau)
These skills show you can handle complex technical tasks. Employers look for candidates who can hit the ground running.
Examples of Technical Skills: Healthcare and Engineering
Healthcare and engineering roles need specialized knowledge. You should emphasize your technical expertise and certifications.
Examples
-
- Certified in electronic health records (EHR) systems
- Skilled in CAD software for 3D modeling
- Experienced with lab equipment and procedures
- Proficient in biomedical device maintenance
- Knowledgeable in HIPAA compliance
- Capable of reading and interpreting medical charts
- Adept at using robotic surgical systems
- Experienced in circuit design and analysis
- Proficient with finite element analysis software
- Skilled in PLC programming for industrial automation
These skills demonstrate your ability to work with advanced technology in critical fields. They show you can handle the technical demands of healthcare and engineering roles.
Examples of Technical Skills: Accounting and Finance
Financial roles require strong analytical and software skills. You should highlight your proficiency with relevant tools and processes.
Examples
-
- Experienced with financial modeling in Excel
- Skilled in data analysis using SAS
- Knowledgeable in blockchain technology
- Capable of using automated accounting systems
- Adept at risk assessment software
- Experienced in tax preparation software
- Proficient with financial reporting tools
- Skilled in forecasting and budgeting software
- Proficient in QuickBooks and SAP
These skills show you can handle complex financial data and use modern tools. They indicate you’re ready for the tech-driven world of finance.
Examples of Technical Skills: Education and Research
In education and research, you need skills for analysis and presentation. Focus on your abilities to gather, process, and share information.
Examples
-
- Experienced with learning management systems (LMS)
- Proficient in statistical analysis software (SPSS)
- Skilled in academic database research
- Knowledgeable in data collection methods
- Capable of using citation management tools
- Adept at creating educational multimedia content
- Experienced in survey design software
- Proficient with text analysis tools
- Skilled in remote teaching platforms
- Knowledgeable in research ethics compliance systems
These skills show you can handle the technical side of education and research. They indicate you’re ready to use modern tools to enhance learning and discovery.
Examples of Technical Skills: Marketing and Digital Media
Marketing roles increasingly require comfort with digital platforms, analytics, and automation tools alongside creative ability.
Examples
-
- SEO keyword research and optimization
- Google Ads campaign management
- HubSpot marketing automation
- Email marketing with Mailchimp
- Social media scheduling with Hootsuite
- Content management in WordPress
- A/B testing and conversion rate optimization
- Google Analytics reporting
- Facebook Ads Manager campaign setup
- Marketing automation with Marketo
These skills demonstrate that you can plan, execute, and measure campaigns using the platforms marketing teams rely on daily.
Examples of Technical Skills: Manufacturing and Skilled Trades
Manufacturing, construction, and other skilled trade roles rely on hands-on technical knowledge alongside safety and quality standards.
Examples
-
- CNC machine operation and programming
- Blueprint reading and interpretation
- Six Sigma process improvement
- Forklift and heavy equipment operation
- MIG, TIG, and stick welding
- Quality control and inspection procedures
- Preventive maintenance scheduling
- Lean manufacturing principles
- Electrical wiring and troubleshooting
- Inventory management systems
Listing these skills shows you can operate equipment safely and keep production running smoothly.
Examples of Technical Skills: Sales and Customer Service
Even relationship-driven roles like sales and customer service now depend on technical fluency with CRM platforms, help desk software, and reporting tools.
Examples
-
- Salesforce pipeline management
- Zendesk customer ticket resolution
- Live chat software (Intercom, Drift)
- Point-of-sale (POS) system operation
- Call center software (Five9, RingCentral)
- Sales forecasting and reporting
- HubSpot deal tracking
- Order management systems
- Customer satisfaction survey tools
- Help desk knowledge base management
These skills prove you can manage customer relationships efficiently while meeting sales or service targets.
Part 3How to List Technical Skills on Your Resume
Knowing which technical skills to include is only half the job. Presenting them clearly on the page often determines whether a recruiter, or an applicant tracking system, actually notices them.
Where to Place Your Technical Skills Section
There is no single correct spot for a technical skills section, but the placement usually depends on how central those skills are to the role and how your resume is structured.
- Near the top, directly under your resume summary, when the job posting emphasizes specific software or certifications.
- In a dedicated “Technical Skills” or “Core Competencies” section, typically placed after your summary and before your work experience.
- Woven into your work experience bullet points, paired with a result, such as “Automated weekly reporting using Excel macros, saving five hours per week.”
- In a sidebar or “Technical Highlights” box, common in resume templates for design, IT, and engineering roles.
Formatting Options: Lists, Categories, and Proficiency Levels
Once you know where the section will live, decide how to format it. A few approaches work well depending on how many skills you have and how varied they are:
- A simple bullet list of skills, separated by commas or short bullet points, works well when you have fewer than ten skills.
- Categorized subheadings, such as “Software,” “Programming Languages,” and “Design Tools,” help when your list spans several types of technical ability.
- Skill plus brief context, such as “Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, macros),” gives a hiring manager a quicker sense of depth than the tool name alone.
Most resumes benefit from listing eight to fifteen technical skills, organized by relevance rather than length. Padding the section with dozens of loosely related tools tends to dilute your strongest qualifications rather than strengthen them.
Some job seekers add proficiency levels, such as beginner, intermediate, advanced, or expert, next to each technical skill. This can help when a role requires a minimum comfort level with a specific tool. It can also invite closer questioning in an interview if the label does not match your actual performance, so rate yourself honestly and be ready to demonstrate the skill if asked.
Sample Technical Skills Section
Here is an example of how a categorized technical skills section might look on a resume for a marketing coordinator role:
- Software: Microsoft Excel (advanced), Salesforce CRM, QuickBooks Online
- Analytics: Google Analytics, Google Ads, HubSpot
- Design: Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Figma
- Project Management: Asana, Trello, Slack
Notice how each line groups related tools together rather than listing them alphabetically or at random. This makes it easier for a recruiter scanning the page for a specific keyword to find it quickly.
CV vs. Resume: Regional Differences in Listing Technical Skills
In the United States and Canada, “resume” is the standard term, while “CV” is generally reserved for academic, medical, or research positions. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and much of Europe, “CV” refers to what Americans call a resume, and it typically runs one to two pages just like a resume. Regardless of the label your country or industry uses, the technical skills section follows the same principles: keep it specific, relevant to the job posting, and easy to scan.
Part 4Technical Skills for Every Career Stage
Entry-Level and Fresher Resumes
Even without years of professional experience, most students and recent graduates already have several technical skills worth listing, gained through coursework, part-time work, internships, or personal projects.
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace
- Basic HTML and CSS
- Data entry and typing speed
- Social media platform management
- Basic troubleshooting for common software issues
- Introductory coding from a class or bootcamp (Python, Scratch, or similar)
- Point-of-sale systems from a retail or restaurant job
- Video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Google Meet)
- Basic graphic design with Canva
If you are building a resume for your first job, focus on the tools and software you already know from school projects, group assignments, or a part-time role, even if the job title itself was not technical.
Mid-Career and Experienced Professionals
As you gain experience, your technical skills section often benefits from trending toward depth over breadth. Employers hiring for senior roles usually expect fewer, more specialized skills paired with evidence of measurable results.
- Highlight advanced or niche tools specific to your specialty rather than basic software most candidates already know.
- Pair each skill with an outcome where possible, such as a process you automated or a system you implemented.
- Drop outdated technologies that no longer apply to your target role.
- Consider separating “Core Technical Skills” from “Additional Skills” if your list has grown long over the years.
Career Changers and Transferable Skills
Switching industries does not mean starting over on your technical skills section. Many tools carry across fields even when job titles change entirely.
A former teacher moving into corporate training, for example, can point to experience with learning management systems, presentation software, and survey tools. A retail manager moving into operations can highlight inventory management systems, scheduling software, and point-of-sale platforms. Identifying these overlaps takes a closer look at your past roles, but the technical skills are often there already.
Part 5Backing up Your Technical Skills with Proof
Listing a technical skill is only the first step. Recruiters increasingly look for evidence that you can actually perform it, especially for roles where a bad hire is costly to correct.
- Add relevant certifications directly next to or below your skills list, such as “Google Analytics Certified,” “PMP,” or “AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner.”
- Link to a portfolio, GitHub repository, or work samples when your field values visible proof, such as design, development, or writing.
- Quantify results wherever you can, for example, “Built automated Excel dashboards that cut reporting time by 40%.”
- Use LinkedIn skill assessments to add a verified badge next to relevant skills on your profile, which can reinforce what appears on your resume.
- Mention ongoing learning, such as current coursework or a certification in progress, to show your technical skills stay current.
Part 6Common Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Technical Skills
- Listing every tool you have ever touched, which dilutes your most relevant skills and can overwhelm the reader.
- Keeping outdated software or versions on your list that are no longer common in the field.
- Overstating proficiency. Claiming “expert” status in a tool you have used only a handful of times can backfire quickly during a skills-based interview or technical test.
- Copying a generic skills list from a template without checking whether the tools actually apply to the target job.
- Ignoring exact keyword matches from the job description, which can cause an applicant tracking system to overlook a qualified resume.
- Burying technical skills in dense paragraphs instead of a scannable list format.
- Forgetting to update the skills section after learning a new tool or moving into a new role.
Part 7Customizing Technical Skills for Each Application
- Tailor your technical skills for every job application. Read the job posting carefully. Note which skills they’re looking for.
- Move the most relevant skills to the top of your list. If possible, use the exact terms from the job description. Some companies use software to scan resumes for specific keywords.
- Remove or downplay skills that don’t fit the role. This helps your most important abilities stand out.
- If you’re switching careers, highlight transferable technical skills. These might include project management tools or data analysis software you’ve used in other fields.
Applicant tracking systems often scan for exact keyword matches before a recruiter ever opens your resume. Mirroring the specific tool names and certifications used in the job posting, such as writing “Salesforce CRM” instead of just “CRM software” when that is the exact phrase used, can help your resume clear this first digital screening.
Keeping two or three versions of your technical skills list, organized by the type of role you tend to apply for, can save time during a job search without sacrificing the customization each application deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good examples of technical skills to put on a resume?
Strong examples include specific software (Microsoft Excel, Adobe Photoshop), programming languages (Python, SQL), platforms (Salesforce, Google Analytics), and equipment or systems tied to your field, such as CAD software or electronic health records. Naming the actual tool is usually more effective than a vague phrase like “computer skills.”
How do I list technical skills on a CV?
The approach is the same as on a resume: group related tools together, use the exact terminology from the job posting, and place the section where it is easy to find, either near the top for technical roles or after your summary for most other positions.
What is the difference between technical skills and technical proficiency?
“Technical skills” usually refers to the list of tools, software, or processes you know. “Technical proficiency” often refers to how well you know them. Many resumes combine the two by naming the skill and indicating a proficiency level, such as “Advanced Excel” or “Intermediate SQL.”
How many technical skills should I include on my resume?
Most resumes work well with eight to fifteen technical skills, prioritized by relevance to the specific job posting. A shorter, more targeted list is often more persuasive than a long one that includes skills unrelated to the role.
What basic technical skills should I list if I have no work experience?
Coursework, school projects, part-time jobs, and volunteer work often produce usable technical skills, such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, basic coding, point-of-sale systems, or social media management. These count as real technical skills even without formal job titles behind them.
Should I include a skill level, like beginner or expert, next to each technical skill?
It can help when a job posting specifies a required proficiency level, but only label yourself accurately. An inflated skill level can create an awkward moment in an interview or on the job if you cannot perform at the level you claimed.
What technical skills should I highlight if I’m changing careers?
Focus on tools that transfer across industries, such as project management software, spreadsheet skills, CRM platforms, or data analysis tools. Reviewing your past roles closely often reveals technical skills that apply to your new target field, even if the job titles look very different.
Where should the technical skills section go on a resume?
Placement depends on how central those skills are to the role. For technical roles, placing the section near the top, under your summary, is common. For other roles, it often works well after your summary and before your work experience section.
Do employers actually check the technical skills listed on a resume?
Many do, either through interview questions, a skills test, or by asking for a portfolio or work sample. Listing certifications, project outcomes, or links to your work alongside your technical skills helps support the claims on your resume.
How do I make sure my technical skills get past an applicant tracking system?
Use the exact phrasing from the job posting when it matches a skill you genuinely have, place your skills in a clearly labeled section rather than only inside paragraphs, and avoid unusual abbreviations that a scanning system might not recognize.
1) How to Prepare for a Job Interview: The Complete Guide
2) Full Guide to Common Interview Questions & Best Answers
3) The Right Questions to Ask After a Job Interview (Complete Guide)
4) How to Follow Up After a Job Interview and Actually Get the Job