A good resume skills list is short, true and matched to the job. Indeed says most job seekers list around 8 to 10 relevant skills, and that both hard skills and soft skills belong on a resume. Put the ones the posting asks for first.
Below are 24 resume skills with an example bullet for each, grouped by type, followed by a free builder that creates your skills section. Print it or copy it into your resume. This page is for people who already have work experience.
AdvertisementThe examples are fictional. Change the numbers to match your own true experience, and list only skills you can show.
24 Resume Skills With Examples
Quick jump: Communication and peopleWork habits and thinkingComputer and technicalLeadership and organizationFree resume skills builder
Communication and People Skills
Explained products and next steps clearly and cut repeat questions by 25%.
Active listening
Listened to each request and got about 98% of special requests right the first time.
Customer service
Served about 80 customers a day and kept a 4.8 out of 5 customer rating.
Teamwork
Worked with a team of 12 and covered 10 extra shifts in one year.
Conflict resolution
Resolved about 25 customer concerns a month, and 90% ended with a satisfied customer.
Interpersonal skills
Built steady working relationships with 3 departments and 20 regular customers.
Work Habit and Thinking Skills
Finished opening duties 10 minutes early on 90% of shifts.
Problem solving
Built a call checklist that cut repeat calls by 25% and saved the team 5 hours a week.
Attention to detail
Kept order and charting errors under 1% across about 120 entries a shift.
Adaptability
Worked in 3 departments and filled in on 12 short-notice shifts.
Dependability
Arrived on time for 98% of scheduled shifts over 3 years.
Critical thinking
Reviewed weekly sales data and moved stock, which cut lost sales by 12%.
Computer and Technical Skills
Tracked about 150 records a week in spreadsheets and built a weekly report for the manager.
Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
Wrote 10 procedure guides and presented 4 team trainings a year.
Google Workspace
Shared calendars and documents with a team of 12 and cut scheduling mistakes by 30%.
Data entry
Entered about 150 records a week with 99% accuracy.
Point-of-sale systems
Processed about 100 sales a shift with 99% accuracy.
Email and scheduling
Answered about 40 emails a day within 24 hours and managed 15 appointments a week.
Leadership and Organization Skills
Leadership
Led a team of 8 and met 100% of weekly goals for a quarter.
Training others
Trained 6 new employees in one year.
Organization
Organized stock and files so staff found items 30% faster.
Scheduling
Built weekly schedules for 12 employees with 0 uncovered shifts in 6 months.
Budget tracking
Tracked a $50,000 yearly supply budget and finished under budget twice.
Delegation
Assigned tasks to a team of 5 and finished weekly projects 1 day early.
Free Resume Skills Builder
Step 1. Which job fits you?
Step 2. How do you want your skills to look?
Step 3. Tap the skills you really have. Eight to ten is plenty.
Step 4. Click any text in the resume below and type or modify to make it yours.
The proof lines are examples. Replace the numbers with your own true ones, and delete any skill you cannot show. Keep every number honest.
MICHELLE HARRIS
Dallas, TX | (555) 010-2864 | michelle.harris@email.com
Summary
Retail salesperson with 6 years of experience who brings friendly service, product knowledge and accurate checkout to every shift.
Registered nurse with 7 years of experience who brings safe patient care, clear communication and steady teamwork to a busy unit.
Customer service representative with 7 years of experience who brings calm problem solving, clear answers and fast follow-through to every call.
Skills
- Customer service
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Computer skills
- Organization
- Dependability
- Training others
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Customer service: Served about 80 customers a day and kept a 4.8 out of 5 customer rating
- Communication: Explained products and next steps clearly and cut repeat questions by 25%
- Teamwork: Worked with a team of 12 and covered 10 extra shifts in one year
- Problem solving: Resolved about 25 customer concerns a month, and 90% ended with a satisfied customer
- Time management: Finished opening duties 10 minutes early on 90% of shifts
- Attention to detail: Kept order and charting errors under 1% across about 120 entries a shift
- Computer skills: Used spreadsheets, email and point-of-sale systems to track about 150 records a week
- Organization: Organized stock and files so staff found items 30% faster
- Dependability: Arrived on time for 98% of scheduled shifts over 3 years
- Training others: Trained 6 new employees in one year
- Adaptability: Worked in 3 departments and filled in on 12 short-notice shifts
- Leadership: Led a team of 8 and met 100% of weekly goals for a quarter
To save your skills section: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the box prints. To copy it, select the text inside the box and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
Hard Skills vs Soft Skills
Indeed defines hard skills as technical knowledge or training and soft skills as personal habits and traits that shape how you work. Use both, and support each one with an example.
| Hard skills (technical) | Soft skills (how you work) |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel and Word | Communication |
| Point-of-sale systems | Teamwork |
| Data entry | Problem solving |
| Scheduling software | Dependability |
| Inventory counts | Adaptability |
| Patient charting | Empathy |
| Bookkeeping | Time management |
| Foreign language | Integrity |
Where to Put Skills on Your Resume
| Resume section | How to use your skills there |
|---|---|
| Summary | Name your top two or three skills in one sentence |
| Skills section | List 8 to 10 skills, strongest first (Indeed) |
| Job bullets | Show each skill in action with a number |
| Certifications | List licenses and certificates that prove a skill, with dates |
Skills to Put First for Common Jobs
These jobs are among the largest in the U.S. by employment (BLS). Adjust the list to match your own posting.
| Job | Skills to put first |
|---|---|
| Retail salesperson | Customer service, product knowledge, point-of-sale systems, communication and teamwork |
| Registered nurse | Patient assessment, charting, medication safety, communication and teamwork |
| Customer service representative | Active listening, problem solving, data entry, communication and conflict resolution |
| Cashier | Cash handling, accuracy, point-of-sale systems, customer service and dependability |
| Office clerk | Data entry, Microsoft Office, filing, organization and attention to detail |
| Stocker and order filler | Inventory counts, handheld scanners, order accuracy, safety and dependability |
| General and operations manager | Leadership, budgeting, scheduling, training others and problem solving |
| Home health aide | Patient care, communication, dependability, safety and compassion |
Match Your Skills to the Job Posting
Read the posting and use its words where they are true for you. Pick the skills that match its main responsibilities.
| The posting says | Skill to list (if true) |
|---|---|
| Work with customers | Customer service, communication and active listening |
| Handle data or records | Data entry, Microsoft Excel and attention to detail |
| Lead or train others | Leadership, training others and delegation |
| Meet deadlines | Time management, organization and dependability |
| Use our systems | The exact software named in the posting |
Stronger Wording for Your Skills
Show what you offer the team and the customers. These swaps make a skill clearer and more useful.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Good communicator | Explained products and next steps clearly and cut repeat questions by 25% |
| Team player | Worked with a team of 12 and covered 10 extra shifts in one year |
| Computer skills | Tracked about 150 records a week in Excel with 99% accuracy |
| Hard worker | Arrived on time for 98% of scheduled shifts over 3 years |
| Leader | Led a team of 8 and met 100% of weekly goals for a quarter |
Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing too many skills. Eight to ten, strongest first, is enough.
- Listing skills you cannot show. Be ready to explain each one in an interview.
- Using only vague words. “Hard worker” says little. Show a number or result.
- Leaving out hard skills. Name the software and tools you use.
- Typos. Proofread twice.
Skills Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. Your skills section is ready when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best skills to put on a resume?
Indeed lists active listening, communication, computer literacy, customer service, interpersonal skills, leadership, management, problem-solving, time management and transferable skills among the best. Choose the ones the job posting asks for and that you can show.
How many skills should I list on a resume?
Indeed says most job seekers list around 8 to 10 relevant skills in a resume skills section. Another Indeed guide suggests about five to 10 hard skills and five to 10 soft skills if you list both.
What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills?
Hard skills are technical knowledge or training, such as using Excel, a point-of-sale system or a foreign language. Soft skills are habits and traits that shape how you work, such as dependability, communication and teamwork.
Should I list both hard and soft skills?
Yes. Indeed says most job seekers benefit from showing both because they work together. List role-specific skills first if the job is technical.
Where should I put skills on my resume?
Put a skills section near the top, after your summary, and place the skills most relevant to the job first. Show the same skills in your summary and job bullets so the reader sees how you used them.
How do I choose which skills to list?
Read the job posting and pick the skills that match its main responsibilities and requirements. Use the employer’s own words where they are true for you.
How do I show a skill with proof?
Add a number or result to your job bullets, such as customers served, accuracy rate, hours saved or people trained. Use only numbers you can explain in an interview.
What if I have little experience?
This page is written for people with work history. If you are starting out, use a no-experience resume page instead, since those skills and examples are different.
Should I list skills I am still learning?
Only if the job posting asks for them and you can honestly describe your level. Indeed has a guide on showing skill levels, such as proficient or intermediate.
Do I need different skills for each job?
Keep one master list, then choose six to eight for each application based on the posting. Move the best match to the top.
Conclusion
A strong skills section is short, true and backed by numbers. Pick 8 to 10 skills that match the job posting, mix hard and soft skills and show your top ones in action. Then use the builder above to create yours.
Related Reading
- Examples of communication skills for resume
- List of analytical skills for resume
- Good interpersonal skills examples
- Special and unique talents list for resume
Sources: Indeed Career Guide, 10 Best Skills To Put on a Resume; Indeed Career Guide, Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment for the largest occupations, May 2025. The sample bullets, names and numbers are fictional.