Go ahead, develop those skills.
After a long period of soft-skills development, there’s nothing better than coming up with ways to incorporate technical skills into your resume. But there’s way more to find nice little technical skills than picking a short course on Udemy or putting a company-specific course on Eloomi—the type, of course, you select matters.
Let’s face it: technical skills are the proficiency and capability to use specialized knowledge or expertise with tools, software, coding languages, or machinery to perform certain tasks.
Including relevant technical skills in your resume is crucial to showcase your qualifications for jobs, especially those in technical or IT-related fields.
What are the Main Types of Technical Skills to Include in Your Resume?
There are several broad categories of technical skills that you may want to highlight in your resume:
- Computer skills – Proficiency with standard software and programs like Microsoft Office, database management systems, CRM platforms, etc.
- Coding and programming skills – Knowledge of languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Java, etc.
- Specialized software skills – Expertise with job-specific programs and tools. For engineering roles this may be CAD or Solidworks. For design, it may be Adobe Creative Cloud or AutoCAD.
- Technical certifications – Completion of certification courses that demonstrate your knowledge, like CompTIA or Cisco certs.
- Hardware/infrastructure skills – Experience with hardware troubleshooting, network installation, repairing devices, etc.
- Analytical skills – Proficiency with data analysis programs like Excel, R, MATLAB, etc.
25 Technical Skills to Include in Your Resume
Here are 25 specific technical skills that can strengthen your resume:
- Microsoft Office – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
- Accounting software – QuickBooks, Sage 50, Oracle NetSuite, etc.
- CRM platforms – Salesforce, Zoho, HubSpot, etc.
- Adobe Creative Cloud – Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc.
- HTML/CSS.
- JavaScript.
- SQL.
- Python.
- Java.
- Project management – Asana, Trello, Basecamp, etc.
- AutoCAD/SolidWorks.
- MATLAB/R.
- Data analysis – Excel, Tableau, Power BI, etc.
- AWS/Azure/GCP cloud platforms.
- Linux operating systems.
- Windows/MacOS troubleshooting and support.
- Network installation and configuration.
- Cybersecurity tools – Kali Linux, Metasploit, etc.
- Software documentation – Jira, Confluence, etc.
- Agile/Scrum methodologies.
- Git/GitHub.
- Mobile app development – iOS, Android, React Native.
- Adobe Premiere/After Effects/Audition.
- SEO/SEM marketing tools.
- Equipment repair and maintenance
Including Technical Skills in Your Resume
When listing technical skills in your resume, follow these best practices:
- Tailor to the job description – Include only skills required or preferred for that role. Avoid irrelevant skills.
- Add a skills/expertise section – Devote a resume section to technical skills, grouping similar ones.
- Include keywords – Many applicant tracking systems scan for keywords from the job description.
- Specify your level of proficiency – For each skill, note whether you have beginner, intermediate, advanced, or expert ability.
- List certifications – Mention any relevant technical certifications and when you obtained them.
- Use bullets, not paragraphs – List skills as concise bullets rather than in paragraph form.
- Quantify where possible – Include metrics, numbers, or specific examples demonstrating proficiency.
Conclusion
Well-chosen technical skills on your resume can make you stand out from other applicants.
Carefully tailor the list to match each job description, grouping related skills in a dedicated section. Follow best practices like quantifying your proficiency and including keywords.
Highlighting the right technical skills will showcase your specialized expertise to hiring managers.
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With over 30 years of experience in training and development, I am the founder of Oak Innovation, a company dedicated to empowering training professionals with high-quality, editable course materials. I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from University College Cork and have furthered my expertise with qualifications in Professional Development and Training from University College Galway. Since founding Oak Innovation in 1995, I have focused on helping busy training professionals and business managers enhance their courses efficiently by providing them with instant access to customizable training materials. Our training solutions have been trusted by leading organizations such as Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University, reflecting our commitment to excellence.
