The skills to put on a resume in 2025 (with 200+ examples)
Which hard and soft skills recruiters actually scan for — plus the exact wording that beats ATS filters.
The 'Skills' section is where most people either pass or fail the ATS keyword check. It's also the fastest section to fix. Here's how to pick, order, and word yours.
The rule: mirror the job posting
Open the job description. Highlight every noun that looks like a skill. Put the ones you actually have on your resume — in the same casing and phrasing the posting uses ('React.js' vs 'React', 'Google Analytics 4' vs 'GA4').
Hard skills examples by field
Group by 3–5 categories so the list scans in one glance.
- Software: JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, AWS, Docker, CI/CD.
- Marketing: SEO, Google Ads, Meta Ads, HubSpot, GA4, Webflow, Figma, A/B testing.
- Finance: Excel (advanced), SQL, DCF modeling, IFRS, SAP, Power BI, forecasting.
- Nursing: IV therapy, EPIC, wound care, telemetry, ACLS, BLS, patient triage.
- Design: Figma, Framer, prototyping, design systems, user research, accessibility.
Soft skills — how to actually prove them
Don't list 'communication' with no evidence. Show it in a bullet: 'Presented quarterly reviews to 40+ engineers.' The skill section is for named tools and frameworks; the soft skills belong in your bullets as demonstrated outcomes.
The 10 skills recruiters searched for most in 2025
Based on aggregated ATS logs across US postings this year.
- Python
- SQL
- Project management
- Data analysis
- AWS
- React
- Excel
- Salesforce
- Communication
- AI / LLM tools
FAQ
Should I rate my skills (beginner/intermediate/expert)?
No. Rating scales are subjective and lose credibility fast. Just list what you can genuinely do.
How many skills should I list?
12–20 total, grouped into 3–5 categories. More than that and it starts to look padded.
Put this into practice.
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