While most people focus on their “soft skills“, such as communication and teamwork. Employers are also looking for candidates with strong “hard skills”, such as experience with specific software, in-demand skills, or the ability to speak a foreign language.
A professional resume writer can make your resume shine, but even the best professional resume writer needs you to have relevant hard skills, to build a professional resume that stands the test of time.
While soft skills can make you stand out from the crowd, hard skills are the minimum requirement needed to help you land the job you want.
Hard skills and soft skills are skills needed to perform in a job, gaining the relevant skills will help you in your job search.
What Are Hard Skills On A Resume
Hard skills are a part of a skill set that is specific to a particular job or industry. These skill sets are often learnable, quantifiable, and measurable in some way. A specific list of hard skills is usually listed as part of the minimum requirements for a candidate to apply for a specific job.
As hard skills are focused on a specific task or process and are often job-specific, such as the use of software, equipment, or knowledge.
These skills are usually learned through formal education, short course, vocational training, or on-the-job training.
On a resume, employers often look for candidates with strong hard skills because they tend to be more efficient in accomplishing specific tasks and duties required for the job.
Types of Hard Skills To Put On A Resume
There are many different types of hard skills that can be learned through formal education or vocational training. Hard skills are generally separated into 4 different types:
- Knowledge-based
- Software-based
- Equipment-based
- Certification-based
Each type of hard skill has a different way for it to be measured, evaluated, or defined.
All these different hard skills are industry or job-specific types of skills to include on your resume.
Right hard skills are a set of skills that are important in the workplace that matches the job description, a minimal requirement an individual needs to fulfill in order to perform a task.
Your hard skills may be evaluated in a few ways,
- Measuring your level of proficiency
- Evaluating your depth of knowledge.
- Defining your ability to perform.
“In some industries, employers may test candidates on their hard skills to make sure they are really able to perform the hard skills listed in their resume.”
Today’s 10 Best Hard Skills To List On Resume
All jobs require a specific set of relevant hard skills. These are the tangible, technical abilities and knowledge that you can point to and say, “I can do this.”
When you’re writing hard skills for your resume, highlighting your hard skills in the skills section is essential to demonstrate what you can do and set yourself apart from other candidates.
1. Language
Whether you’re a native speaker or learning a foreign language in school, adding language skills to your resume can help you stand out from the competition.
Hard skills like languages demonstrate that you have the ability to learn new things and that you’re willing to put in the extra effort to do so.
If you’re looking for a job that requires bilingualism or global communication, make sure to list your languages on your resume.
Levels of language proficiency
- Advanced Level: Native, proficient, fluent, superior, mother tongue, distinguished.
- Working Level: Profession, advanced, competent, conversational.
- Beginner Level: Beginner, basic, limited working proficiency, novice, elementary
2. Computer Technology
In today’s job market, computer literacy is probably one of the most important hard skills, a transferable skill that you need to process in order to be considered for a job.
Digitalization has a major change to how we work, even for manual workers, most of the equipment used at work requires a basic understanding of the use of simple software.
Showing your potential employer that you have the computer skills required for the job can help you stand out from the crowd and below is a list of examples.
List of Computer Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, OneNote, One Drive, Microsoft Teams)
- Google (Slides, Sheet, Docs, Meet, Gmail, Google Drive)
- Quickbooks
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Power BI
- Graphics
- Typing
- Social Media
- Enterprise systems
3. Programming Skills
Programming skills are technical skills required to create or maintain an app, program, or software. This is a hard skill that requires coding knowledge in order to perform the task.
List of Programming Skills
- HTML, Javascript, CSS: Interactive Web Development
- PHP: Web Development
- Python: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Java: Enterprise Application Development
- Swift: Mobile App Development for IOS
- Kotlin: Mobile App Development for Android
- C++: Operating System and System Tools
- C#: Application and Web Development
- Golang (Go): Server Programming
- SQL: Data Management
- R Studio: Data Analysis
4. Data Analysis
Data analysis is highly valued amount a wide range of industries, and it is an analytical skill that is especially important for accounting and finance.
Data analysis helps identify, quantify, and qualify relationships between variables.
This is a key skill for many jobs, as it provides critical information for decision-makers to understand the implications of their decisions and identify trends, and patterns, which can be used to improve business operations.
List of Data Analysis Skills
- Data mining
- Data visualization
- Data cleaning
- Data presentation
- Data and metric interpretation
- Data reporting
- Database management
- Forecasting
- Research
- Linear Algebra and Calculus
5. Marketing Skills
Marketing is the ability to convince a total stranger to purchase a product or service.
In order to be successful in marketing, an individual need to understand the consumer’s behavior, develop a marketing strategy, and run marketing campaigns to drive traffic and customers to the company or organization.
A good marketing professional should have the knowledge and the capability to utilize different software to achieve success.
List of Marketing Skills
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
- Google Analytics
- Google Search Console
- Bing Webmaster Tools
- A/B Testing
- Email Marketing Campaigns (MailChimp Etc.)
- Ahref, SEMrush, MOZ, Surfer SEO
- Pay-Per-Click PPC Advertising (Facebook Ads, Tik Tok Ads, LinkedIn Ads, YouTube Ads, Google Ads)
6. Writing Skills
Writing is not only it is one of the oldest forms of hard skills, but it is one of the most versatile hard skills that are transferable between different industries.
There are 10 main types of writing:
- Creative writing
- Descriptive writing
- Expository writing
- Persuasive writing
- Poetic writing
- Subjective writing
- Objective writing
- Review writing
- Narrative writing
- Technical writing
Having strong writing skills can also help employees excel in their jobs and advance in their careers.
List of Writing Skills
- Email writing
- Grant writing
- Copywriting
- Copyediting
- Content management
- Storytelling
- Storyboarding
- Press release
- Report writing
- Investigative writing
- Journalism
7. Presentation Skills
Presentation skills are made up of 2 components,
- Soft skills in the workplace such as; confidence, adaptability, and stress management.
- Hard skills in the workplace such as; the creation of the slides, performing the research for the data, and designing the graphics in the software.
A presenter needs to be equipped with a few hard skills in order to present to the audience.
List of Presentation Hard Skills
- Slideshow
- Research
- Data analysis
- Animation creation
- Graphic design
- Operation of presentation software
8. Management Skills
Management skill is not only about your soft skill and ability to manage and lead a team, with good leadership and organizational ability.
In management, the required hard skills in the workplace are people skills that can be transferred between often job and industry as well as professional certification like PMP.
List of Management Hard Skills
- Budgeting
- Business planning
- Business knowledge
- Hiring and firing
- Finance management
- Forecasting
- Industry knowledge
- Logistic management
9. Network Structure and Cyber Security
Securing the network prevents data breaches, and protects the company from cyber-attacks which can save the company millions of dollars every year.
Candidates who have experience with network security tools and technologies, as well as a solid understanding of security principles, are in high demand.
List of Network Structure and Cyber Security Skills
- Risk Assessment
- Cryptography
- Database platforms
- Cloud computing
- Programming languages
- VPN, firewalls, and antivirus principles
- Security audits
10. Designing Skills
Designing skills are illustrated through a portfolio or a tangible item created through your demonstration or ability to design an item.
Depending on the job role you are applying for, the different design skills vary greatly.
List of Designing Skills
- Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
- Book Cover
- Color Theory
- Microsoft Suite (Visio, Publisher)
- Data visualization
- Free Hand
- GIMP
- Inkscape
- Layout Design
- Web Design (HTML, CSS)
- Typography
- UI/UX design
- UX research
Why Are Hard Skills Important?
Having a well-rounded set of hard skills is essential if you want to be successful in a particular field. Hard skills can be learned and a combination of hard skills specific to the job role can help you excel in the role faster.
Hard skills are important as employers today are looking for more than just experience and a degree when considering potential hires, they want to ensure that their candidates possess the necessary hard skills to succeed in the workplace.
Having a well-rounded set of hard skills is essential if you want to be successful.
As technology continues to evolve, these skills have become increasingly important for individuals who are seeking employment.
Hard skills provide employers with tangible proof of an individual’s abilities, qualifications, and capabilities.
Education and Certification on Resume
Hard skills are abilities that can be learned, and job-specific hard skills are essential hard skills that is required by specific jobs and industry.
Having the relevant hard skills in your resume can help you during your job search.
Although there are many ways to develop hard skills, certification and formal education is the best way for you to prove you have the theoretical knowledge, skills, and professional proficiency to fulfill the requirement of a job role.
Proof of your hard skills shown as a professional certification or formal education serves you well in a few ways.
- Provides potential employers with an indication of your level of expertise and competence.
- Provides a stamp of approval from an outside organization that can vouch for an individual’s skills
- Demonstrate your commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.
- Help you stand out from the competition in a highly competitive job market.
“Professional certification is the best way to validate your hard skills.”
According to a recent study, skill-based hiring is on the rise, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to stand out amongst the competition.
One way to set yourself apart from the rest is to ensure;
- You have the proper certification and formal education for the position you are applying for.
- You have the relevant hard skills required for the job role.
Having both the professional certification and relevant hard skills on your resume will show potential employers that you are serious about your career and have the necessary qualifications to succeed in the role.
One of the easiest ways to gain certifications and skills for a resume demanded by potential employers is learning through some of the best online learning platforms, and LinkedIn Learning is just one of them.
Read Also:
- How to Answer “How Do You Prefer to Learn?” Job Interview Question (Tips and Examples)
- How to Answer “How Do You Get Feedback from Others” Job Interview Question (Tips and Examples)
- How to Answer “What makes you excited to come to work?” Job Interview Question (Tips and Examples)
- How to Answer “How Would Your Previous Colleagues Describe You?” Job Interview Question (Tips and Examples)
- How to Answer “How Would You Handle a Disagreement At Work?” Job Interview Question (Tips and Examples)
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