When you’re applying for jobs, one of the most important sections on your résumé is the skills section — and knowing exactly what good skills to put on a resume can make a big difference. It’s not enough to just write a long list of abilities; you need to pick the right mix, tailor them to the job, and present them in a way that catches an employer’s attention.
Here at Resume Advisor, we help job-seekers across all industries understand what good skills look like, how to highlight them, and how to turn skills into stories. Jonathan works one-on-one with every client to craft résumés, LinkedIn profiles, and cover letters that reflect not just what they can do, but how they add value.
In this article, we’ll explore what are good skills, why they matter, how to choose them, and how to present them. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for creating a skills section that supports your job search.
Why Good Skills to Put on a Resume Matter
Before diving into examples, let’s talk about why knowing good skills is essential.
- First impressions are fast – Recruiters may spend only seconds looking at your resume. A skills section with strong, relevant items signals you’re a match before they dive deeper.
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – Many employers use software to scan résumés for keywords. If you include good skills to put on a resume that align with the job posting, you’re more likely to pass the filter.
- Demonstrates relevance – Employers want to know you have the right tools for the job. When you include good skills that connect to their needs, you make your case stronger.
- Supports your story – Skills act as proof points supporting your experience and achievements. Good skills show you don’t just claim abilities; you’ve developed them and used them.
At Resume Advisor, we emphasize that the résumé is more than a list—it’s your career story. And good skills to put on a resume are the bridge between your story and what employers need.
Types of Skills: Hard vs Soft
When determining what good skills to put on a resume, it’s helpful to understand two major categories:
- Hard skills: These are technical, measurable abilities—software you know, tools you use, languages you speak, certifications you hold.
- Soft skills: These are interpersonal or personality-driven traits—communication, problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, teamwork.
Most employers look for a mix. According to career research, soft skills are often the tie-breaker when candidates have similar hard-skill profiles.
So when you’re choosing good skills, aim to include both—and tailor them to the role you’re targeting.
How to Choose Good Skills to Put on a Resume
Here’s a step-by-step approach we use at Resume Advisor to help clients select good skills to put on a resume.
Step 1: Analyze the Job Description
Review the job posting and highlight the skills required. If the company is looking for “data analytics” and “cross-functional collaboration,” those are likely good skills for that role.
Step 2: Match Your Own Skills
List your skills (both hard and soft) and compare them to what you saw in the job description. Pick the ones that overlap and that you can back up with examples. Good skills to put on a resume are those you can prove.
Step 3: Prioritize Relevance
You may have dozens of skills, but your résumé shouldn’t list everything. Focus on good skills that are most relevant to the role and industry. Quality over quantity matters.
Step 4: Use Specific Language
Instead of vague phrases like “good communication skills,” use specifics like “written & verbal communication” or “stakeholder presentation delivery.” The more precise your wording, the stronger your skills section.
Step 5: Integrate Skills Through Your Résumé
Skills don’t belong just in a list — they should appear in your experience bullets too. For example, if “project management” is one of your good skills to put on a resume, show how you used it: “Managed a cross-department project delivering X result.”
At Resume Advisor, we guide clients to weave good skills to put on a resume throughout their resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile—creating a consistent brand.
20 Good Skills to Put on a Resume (Examples)
Here are some of the most commonly cited good skills to put on a resume—divided into soft and hard skills—and how to think about them.
Soft Skills
- Communication (oral & written)
- Teamwork / collaboration
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Attention to detail
- Emotional intelligence
- Conflict resolution
Hard Skills
- Data analysis (Excel, SQL, Tableau)
- Project management (Agile, PMP)
- Digital marketing (SEO/SEM, Google Analytics)
- Programming languages (Python, Java, C#)
- CRM proficiency (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Foreign language fluency
- Software proficiency (MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite)
- Financial modeling / budgeting
- UX design (Figma, Sketch)
- Compliance & regulatory knowledge (depending on industry)
According to a research list of “best resume skills,” items like active listening, leadership, interpersonal skills, and computer skills consistently rank high.
When choosing good skills to put on a resume from this list, make sure you can back them up with concrete examples.
How to Present Good Skills to Put on a Resume
Location on Resume
Place your “Skills” section in a spot where it’s easily visible—often just below the professional summary or at the top of the second page.
Formatting Tips
- Use bullet points or a short, comma-separated list.
- Group similar skills together (e.g., Technical Skills: … ; Interpersonal Skills: …).
- Keep it readable and not overly long—6-12 skills is a good range for many roles.
Contextualize Skills
One of the best ways to show that you truly have good skills to put on a resume is to integrate them into your work experience bullets. For example:
“Exercised strong leadership and team collaboration skills to deliver a project under budget by 15%.”
Resume Advisor emphasizes this integration because it strengthens credibility and avoids making your skills section feel isolated.
Mistakes to Avoid with Skills on a Résumé
Even when you know what good skills to put on a resume, it’s easy to fall into common pitfalls:
- ❌ Listing too many skills, especially irrelevant ones.
- ❌ Using vague or buzzword-heavy phrases (“team player,” “go-getter”) without proof.
- ❌ Failing to tailor skills to the job posting.
- ❌ Leaving skills unbacked by examples in your experience section.
- ❌ Lying or exaggerating skills you don’t truly possess (which can backfire).
At Resume Advisor, we ensure that clients only list skills they can support with results or examples—and we help them remove filler skills that weaken their message.
Why Good Skills to Put on a Resume Help Your Career Search
When you use good skills to put on a resume strategically, it can significantly improve your job search:
- Better visibility in ATS: Keywords aligning with the job description help your résumé get past automated filters.
- Stronger first impression: Relevant and clear skills section signals the recruiter you might be a fit.
- Better interview readiness: When you list skills you can discuss; you’re prepared for questions like “Can you tell me about a time you demonstrated [skill]?”
- Alignment with your brand: Skills support the consistent narrative of your résumé, cover letter, LinkedIn profile—all parts of your job search personal brand.
With Resume Advisor, clients report higher interview rates once their résumés clearly reflect good skills to put on a resume aligned with the roles they want.
How Resume Advisor Helps You Highlight Good Skills to Put on a Resume
Here’s how our career coaching process at Resume Advisor focuses on skills:
- Discovery Session: We identify your core capabilities and distinguish between generic and differentiating skills.
- Skills Inventory: We compile your hard and soft skills list, prioritizing good skills to put on a resume that align with your target roles.
- Resume Building: We craft your skills section and weave those skills into your experience bullets and summary.
- LinkedIn Profile Update: We ensure your LinkedIn headline, about section, and endorsements align with those same key skills.
- Interview Coaching: We practice telling stories around those good skills —preparing you for behavioural or skills-based questions.
- Ongoing Strategy: As your career evolves, we revisit your skills to ensure they remain relevant, fresh, and compelling.
Jonathan leads each client with a tailored plan that ensures the skills you list are not just words—they’re evidence of your value.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right good skills to put on a resume is more nuanced than checking off a list. It’s about selecting the skills that match your experience, that match the job, and that you can back with proof.
Remember:
- Know the difference between hard and soft skills.
- Tailor your skills to the job posting.
- Use specific language and support skills with evidence.
- Keep the skills section focused and readable.
- Integrate skills into your overall résumé story.
With the right approach—and the right guidance from Resume Advisor—you’ll present a résumé that not only lists skills but demonstrates them. Your résumé will communicate: “I have these skills, I’ve used them, and I can bring value to you.”
And in today’s competitive job market, that kind of clarity and confidence makes all the difference.