What are Some Hard Skills to Use for Your Resume?

Selecting the right hard skills for a resume is essential in today’s competitive job market. Employers want proof that you can perform specific tasks, use relevant tools, and deliver measurable results. One of the ways to convince them of your suitability is by listing the hard skills they want to see on your application resume.

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What Are Hard Skills?

Hard skills are technical, job-specific abilities (e.g., coding and data analysis) that are learned through education, training, certifications, or practical experience. These skills are measurable, making them easy for employers to evaluate.

They are unlike soft skills, which are personal and interpersonal traits (like communication or teamwork) that dictate how you work and interact with others.

Why Hard Skills Matter on a Resume 

Clearly listing your most relevant hard skills on a resume helps recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS) quickly identify your suitability for that particular role. Many companies rely on ATS to filter resumes based on specific hard skills and other keywords mentioned in the job description.

If your resume lacks these keywords, it may be overlooked, even if you are otherwise qualified. The more targeted and job-specific your hard skills are, the stronger and more credible your resume becomes.

As noted above, including relevant hard skills on your resume is one way to convince employers that you meet the technical requirements for the job. These skills give your resume credibility and demonstrate that you can deliver results, adapt to tools and procedures used in the industry, and contribute value immediately. 

Lastly, when you carefully choose the necessary hard skills for a resume intended for a particular role (assuming you possess such skills), you set yourself apart from other candidates with similar backgrounds but fewer technical competencies.

Some Hard Skills to Put on a Resume

Below is a list of some hard skills to put on a resume, grouped by category.

 IT Hard Skills

• Programming languages
• Web and software development
• Mobile app development
• Database management and SQL
• Cloud computing platforms
• Cybersecurity and network security
• IT troubleshooting and system administration
• Version control systems

Science & Research Hard Skills

• Experimental design
• Data collection methods
• Laboratory safety procedures
• Scientific documentation
• Statistical analysis software
• Research methodology
• Technical report writing
• Sample preparation
• Field research techniques
• Peer review processes

Project & Operations Management Hard Skills

• Agile project management
• Scrum methodology
• Sprint planning
• Gantt chart creation
• Risk management planning
• Resource allocation
• Workflow optimisation
• Process documentation
• Stakeholder reporting
• Quality assurance testing

Data Analysis Hard Skills

• Data collection techniques
• Data cleansing and validation
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Spreadsheet modelling and advanced formulas
• Data visualisation and dashboards
• Statistical analysis
• Market research
• Business intelligence tools
• Reporting and forecasting

Digital Marketing Hard Skills

• Search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Content marketing strategy
• Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
• Social media advertising tools
• Email marketing platforms
• Marketing analytics and reporting
• Sales funnel management
• Customer relationship management (CRM) systems

Design, Creative, and Media Hard Skills

• Graphic design software
• Video editing tools
• User interface (UI) design
• User experience (UX) research
• Motion graphics
• Branding and layout design
• Photography and image editing

Writing, Editing & Content Hard Skills

• SEO content writing
• Long-form article writing
• Technical documentation
• Copywriting
• Content optimisation
• Academic writing
• Style guide implementation
• Fact-checking
• Editing and proofreading
• Content management systems (CMS)
• Foreign language proficiency
• Translation and localisation

HR & Recruitment Hard Skills

• Resume screening
• Applicant tracking systems (ATS)
• Interview coordination
• Job description writing
• Payroll systems
• Employee records management
• Compliance documentation
• Performance evaluation metrics
• Onboarding systems
• Workforce planning

Operations, Logistics & Supply Chain Hard Skills

• Inventory forecasting
• Warehouse management systems
• Demand planning
• Procurement processes
• Vendor negotiation
• Shipping coordination
• Logistics data analysis
• Process optimisation
• Quality inspections
• Cost reduction analysis

Education & Training Hard Skills

• Curriculum development
• Lesson planning
• Learning management systems (LMS)
• Instructional design
• Assessment creation
• Academic research
• Student performance tracking
• E-learning content development
• Training facilitation
• Educational data analysis

Healthcare & Medical Hard Skills

• Patient records management
• Medical coding and billing
• Clinical documentation
• Electronic health records (EHR) systems
• Laboratory testing procedures
• Vital signs monitoring
• Medical data analysis
• Health compliance standards
• Pharmacy inventory management
• Diagnostic equipment operation

Legal & Compliance Hard Skills

• Legal research
• Case documentation
• Contract drafting and review
• Regulatory compliance monitoring
• Policy interpretation
• Due diligence research
• Intellectual property documentation
• Litigation support
• Risk compliance audits
• Legal filing systems

Engineering & Manufacturing Hard Skills

• Computer-aided design (CAD)
• Mechanical drafting
• Process engineering
• Quality control inspections
• Equipment calibration
• Production planning
• Lean manufacturing
• Root cause analysis
• Safety standards compliance
• Maintenance scheduling

Construction & Skilled Trades Hard Skills

• Blueprint reading
• Site inspection
• Cost estimation
• Building codes compliance
• Materials procurement
• Equipment operation
• Project scheduling
• Safety management
• Structural assessment
• Installation techniques

Environmental & Sustainability Hard Skills

• Environmental impact assessment
• Sustainability reporting
• Carbon footprint analysis
• Waste management planning
• Renewable energy systems
• Environmental compliance auditing
• Climate data analysis
• Resource efficiency analysis
• ESG metrics reporting
• Conservation planning

Government & Public Sector Hard Skills

• Policy analysis
• Public administration procedures
• Grant writing
• Budget oversight
• Regulatory documentation
• Program evaluation
• Stakeholder consultation
• Public records management
• Compliance reporting
• Procurement regulations

Real Estate & Property Management Hard Skills

• Property valuation
• Lease administration
• Tenant screening
• Property management software
• Market analysis
• Facility maintenance coordination
• Real estate documentation
• Contract negotiation
• Rent collection systems
• Asset management

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Hard Skills

• Reservation systems
• Revenue management
• Front desk operations
• Event planning
• Travel booking platforms
• Guest experience analysis
• Inventory control
• Food safety standards
• Scheduling systems
• Customer service reporting

Agriculture & Food Production Hard Skills

• Crop planning
• Soil analysis
• Irrigation systems management
• Farm equipment operation
• Yield forecasting
• Quality grading
• Food safety compliance
• Supply chain tracking
• Agricultural data analysis
• Sustainable farming practices

Business, Finance, and Administrative Hard Skills

• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Payroll management
• Financial analysis
• Financial modelling
• Budgeting
• Project management methodologies
• Risk assessment
• Contract management
• Procurement and vendor management
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems

Media, Journalism & Broadcasting Hard Skills

• News reporting
• Interview transcription
• Editorial planning
• Audio editing
• Broadcast scripting
• Media research
• Source verification
• Content scheduling
• Digital publishing
• Audience analytics

Nonprofit & Social Impact Hard Skills

• Program monitoring and evaluation
• Impact measurement
• Donor database management
• Grant compliance reporting
• Budget tracking
• Community outreach planning
• Needs assessment
• Fundraising analytics
• Proposal development
• Stakeholder reporting

Conclusion

The kind of hard skills to put on a resume is determined by one’s technical training, unlike soft skills, which are personal or interpersonal attributes. Thoughtfully chosen hard skills for a resume show employers exactly where your strengths lie and how you can contribute to their organisation.

By tailoring your hard skills to each job application, you increase your chances of passing ATS screening and impressing employers in terms of your suitability for the particular role they are hiring for.