Best Skills to Put on a Resume in 2026 (With Examples)
The top hard and soft skills employers are looking for in 2026, organized by industry and role.
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The skills section of your resume is one of the most scrutinized parts of your application, both by hiring managers and by Applicant Tracking Systems. Listing the right mix of hard and soft skills can mean the difference between landing an interview and being filtered out. This guide covers how to identify, organize, and present your skills for maximum impact.
Hard skills vs. soft skills: what to include
Hard skills are teachable, measurable abilities like programming languages, data analysis, financial modeling, or operating specific equipment. Soft skills are interpersonal qualities like communication, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability. Most hiring managers want to see both, but hard skills carry more weight in ATS screening because they are easier to match against job requirements. Your skills section should lean heavily toward hard skills, while soft skills are better demonstrated through your work experience bullet points rather than simply listed.
How to identify the right skills for each application
Start with the job description — it is your blueprint. Read through the requirements and preferred qualifications sections and list every skill mentioned. Then cross-reference this list against your own abilities, certifying which ones you genuinely possess. Prioritize skills that appear multiple times in the posting or are listed as required rather than preferred. Also review several similar job postings from different companies to identify industry-standard skills that may not appear in a single listing but are broadly expected in your field.
Top technical skills by industry in 2026
In technology, the most in-demand skills include Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), SQL, Docker and Kubernetes, and machine learning frameworks. In marketing, employers look for SEO/SEM, Google Analytics, CRM platforms (HubSpot, Salesforce), content management systems, and marketing automation tools. In finance, valued skills include financial modeling, Excel (advanced functions and VBA), Bloomberg Terminal, SQL, and regulatory compliance knowledge. In healthcare, certifications like BLS/ACLS, electronic health record systems (Epic, Cerner), HIPAA compliance, and specialized clinical skills are essential. Always list the specific tools and platforms you know rather than broad categories.
How to organize your skills section
Group your skills into logical categories for readability. A software developer might use categories like "Languages," "Frameworks & Libraries," "Databases," and "DevOps Tools." A marketing professional might group by "Analytics," "Content & SEO," "Advertising Platforms," and "Design Tools." List your strongest and most relevant skills first within each category. Avoid rating your skills with bars, charts, or percentages — these are subjective, take up space, and most ATS systems cannot read them. If you want to indicate proficiency, use clear labels like "Proficient" or "Working knowledge."
Skills to avoid listing on your resume
Remove any skill that is expected of virtually every professional in 2026. Microsoft Word, email, basic internet research, and typing are assumed competencies and listing them can make you look inexperienced. Also avoid listing skills you cannot actually perform well — interviewers will test your claims. Outdated technologies should be removed unless the specific job requires them. And never list subjective traits as skills: "hard worker," "fast learner," and "detail-oriented" are not skills. They are self-assessments that carry no weight without supporting evidence in your experience section.
Making your skills ATS-friendly
ATS software matches your resume against the job description using keyword matching. To pass this filter, use the exact phrasing from the job posting. If the listing says "Adobe Creative Suite," do not abbreviate it to "Adobe CS." Spell out acronyms the first time you use them, then include the acronym in parentheses: "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)." Place your skills section near the top of your resume so the ATS encounters them early. Resumly's builder automatically checks your skills against common ATS requirements and suggests relevant keywords you may have missed.
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