The skills section is one of the first places recruiters and applicant tracking systems look. The right skills show you can do the job; the wrong ones waste space. Below you'll learn how to choose and present your skills, followed by more than 100 examples grouped by type and job.
Hard skills vs soft skills
- Hard skills are specific, teachable and measurable: Excel, accounting, Python, AutoCAD, Arabic, SEO.
- Soft skills describe how you work: communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving.
A strong CV includes both, but hard skills usually belong in the skills section, while soft skills are best proven through achievements in your work experience.
How to choose the right skills
- Start with the job advert. Highlight every skill it mentions.
- Keep only what's true. You may be tested on any skill you list.
- Use the same words. If the advert says “financial reporting”, don't write “making reports”. This helps with applicant tracking systems.
- Prioritise. Put the most relevant skills first and aim for six to twelve.
How to list skills on your CV
Group related skills on separate lines so they're easy to scan:
Tools: Excel, Power BI, SAP
Finance: IFRS, VAT, Budgeting, Reconciliation
Languages: English (fluent), Arabic (native), Urdu (conversational)
Then prove your key skills in your bullet points, for example: “Built Power BI dashboards that cut monthly reporting time by 40%.” In Free CV Maker, type one group per line in the Skills box (like “Tools: Excel, SQL”) and the labels are bolded automatically.
100+ skills to put on your CV
Soft skills
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
- Time management
- Leadership
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Negotiation
- Conflict resolution
- Decision-making
- Customer focus
- Organisation
- Work ethic
- Emotional intelligence
- Presentation skills
- Active listening
- Mentoring
- Working under pressure
Computer and digital skills
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- PowerPoint
- Google Workspace
- Data entry
- Typing (50+ wpm)
- Email management
- Video conferencing
- Social media tools
- Canva
- Basic HTML
- CRM software
- Cloud storage
- Online research
- AI writing tools
Marketing
- SEO
- Google Ads
- Meta Ads
- Content writing
- Copywriting
- Email marketing
- Google Analytics
- Social media marketing
- Brand strategy
- Market research
- A/B testing
Sales and customer service
- B2B sales
- Lead generation
- Cold calling
- Account management
- Upselling
- Salesforce
- Complaint handling
- Live chat support
- Product knowledge
- Retail merchandising
- Target achievement
Finance and accounting
- Financial reporting
- Bookkeeping
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Accounts payable
- Accounts receivable
- Bank reconciliation
- IFRS
- VAT compliance
- Payroll
- QuickBooks
- SAP FI/CO
- Auditing
IT and software development
- Python
- JavaScript
- React
- Node.js
- Java
- SQL
- Git
- REST APIs
- Cloud (AWS, Azure)
- Docker
- Linux
- Cybersecurity basics
- Network troubleshooting
- Software testing
- Agile and Scrum
Engineering and technical
- AutoCAD
- Revit
- ETABS
- Primavera P6
- Quantity surveying
- Site supervision
- HSE compliance
- Technical drawing
- Quality control
- Preventive maintenance
Healthcare
- Patient care
- Vital signs monitoring
- Medication administration
- Electronic health records
- Infection control
- BLS / ACLS
- Patient education
- Clinical documentation
Administration and office
- Calendar management
- Travel arrangements
- Document control
- Minute taking
- Office management
- Record keeping
- Reception duties
- Procurement
Management and leadership
- Team leadership
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Stakeholder management
- Performance reviews
- Recruitment
- Risk management
- Change management
- Process improvement
Skills mistakes to avoid
- Listing 30+ skills — it looks unfocused.
- Using skill bars or percentages, which mean nothing to a recruiter.
- Writing only vague soft skills like “hard-working” with no proof.
- Including outdated software nobody uses any more.
Next, turn your skills into strong bullet points with our list of action verbs for your resume.
Frequently asked questions
How many skills should I put on my CV?
Usually six to twelve. Choose the skills that match the job advert and that you can back up with examples, rather than listing everything you know.
Should I show skill levels on my CV?
Avoid skill bars and star ratings because they are vague and applicant tracking systems can't read them. Use words such as basic, intermediate, advanced or fluent where a level matters, for example for languages.
What are the most important soft skills for a CV?
Skills that employers often look for include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, time management and attention to detail. Prove them with examples in your experience section.
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