Quick answer: Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities you can measure or prove, usually through training, education, certifications, or work experience. Examples of hard skills include programming (Python, SQL), data analysis, Microsoft Excel, accounting, project management, SEO, graphic design, foreign languages, welding, CNC operation, phlebotomy, and medication administration. On a resume, list them in a skills section and prove them in your work experience bullets.
If you can take a test in it, get certified in it, or put it on a spreadsheet, it's probably a hard skill. "Pivot tables" counts. "Pivoting under pressure" does not (that one's a soft skill).
This guide explains what hard skills are, how they differ from soft skills, gives you 60+ examples organized by category and job, and shows you exactly how to list them on your resume.
What Are Hard Skills?
Hard skills are job-specific, technical abilities that can be taught and measured. You learn them through school, courses, apprenticeships, certifications, or on the job, and you can usually prove them with a test, a credential, or a portfolio.
Key traits of hard skills:
- Teachable: you can learn them in a structured way
- Measurable: you can test or demonstrate them
- Job-specific: they're tied to particular tasks, tools, or industries
- Provable: often backed by degrees, licenses, or certifications
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills
- Hard skills are what you can do: write code, run payroll, operate a forklift, analyze data.
- Soft skills are how you work: communication, teamwork, adaptability, leadership.
Employers want both. A common saying in recruiting is that hard skills get you the interview, while soft skills get you the job. For the other half of the picture, see our guide to soft skills for your resume.
Some skills sit in between. "Communication" is a soft skill, but "technical writing," "translation," and "public speaking for investor presentations" are specific enough to count as hard skills.
Examples of Hard Skills by Category
Technical and IT skills
- Programming languages (Python, JavaScript, Java, C#)
- Web development (HTML, CSS, React)
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- Cybersecurity and network security
- Database management (SQL, PostgreSQL)
- IT support and troubleshooting
- CAD software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks)
- AI tools and prompt engineering
More in our guide to technical skills for a resume.
Computer and software skills
- Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, macros)
- Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
- Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Typing speed (e.g., 70 WPM)
- CRM software (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Project management tools (Asana, Jira, Trello)
See computer skills for a resume.
Data and analytical skills
- Data analysis and visualization
- Statistical analysis
- Tableau and Power BI
- Google Analytics
- Financial forecasting
- A/B testing
- Research methods
Marketing skills
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Pay-per-click advertising (Google Ads, Meta Ads)
- Email marketing (Mailchimp, Klaviyo)
- Social media management
- Content strategy and copywriting
- Marketing automation
Business, finance, and management skills
- Accounting and bookkeeping (QuickBooks, Xero)
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Financial modeling
- Payroll processing
- Project management (PMP, Agile, Scrum)
- Contract negotiation
- Supply chain and inventory management
Design and creative skills
- Graphic design (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- UX/UI design (Figma)
- Video editing (Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro)
- Photography
- Technical writing and editing
Trades and manufacturing skills
- Welding (MIG, TIG, stick)
- CNC machine operation
- Blueprint reading
- Electrical wiring and installation
- Carpentry and framing
- HVAC installation and repair
- Forklift operation (certified)
- Power tool and equipment handling
Healthcare skills
- Patient assessment
- Medication administration
- Phlebotomy and IV insertion
- Electronic health records (Epic, Cerner)
- Medical coding and billing (ICD-10, CPT)
- CPR, BLS, and ACLS certification
- Infection control
Language skills
- Foreign languages (e.g., Spanish: fluent, French: professional working proficiency)
- Sign language (ASL)
- Translation and interpretation
See how to list languages on a resume.
Hard Skills by Job
Not sure which hard skills matter for your role? Here are quick examples:
- Accountant: GAAP, financial reporting, reconciliations, QuickBooks, Excel
- Software engineer: Python, Java, Git, AWS, CI/CD, system design
- Marketing coordinator: SEO, Google Analytics, email marketing, Canva, HubSpot
- Nurse: patient assessment, medication administration, IV therapy, Epic EHR, BLS/ACLS
- Administrative assistant: scheduling, data entry, Microsoft Office, bookkeeping, typing
- Electrician: wiring, blueprint reading, NEC code compliance, troubleshooting, conduit bending
- Graphic designer: Adobe Creative Suite, typography, branding, layout design, Figma
- Customer service representative: CRM software, ticketing systems (Zendesk), order processing, typing
How to Find the Hard Skills Employers Want
Most guides list skills but don't show you how to choose. Here's a simple method:
- Collect three to five job postings for the role you want.
- Highlight every tool, technology, certification, or technical task they mention.
- Count which ones appear most often. Those are your priority skills.
- Match them to your experience. If you have the skill, use the exact wording from the posting. If you don't, it's a learning target.
This also helps your resume get past applicant tracking systems, which search for those exact keywords. See our guide to resume keywords.
How to List Hard Skills on Your Resume
1. Add a dedicated skills section
List 6 to 12 of your most relevant hard skills. Group them if you have many:
Skills
Data: SQL, Python, Tableau, Excel (advanced), Google Analytics
Marketing: SEO, Google Ads, email automation (HubSpot)
Languages: Spanish (fluent)
2. Prove them in your work experience
A skills list is a claim. Your bullet points are the evidence.
- Built automated Excel dashboards that cut weekly reporting time from 6 hours to 45 minutes
- Used SQL and Tableau to identify a pricing issue that recovered $120K in annual revenue
3. Add certifications
Certifications are the strongest proof of hard skills: PMP, CPA, AWS Certified, Google Ads, CompTIA, OSHA, and more. See certifications on a resume.
4. Mention them in your summary
Name your top two or three hard skills in your professional summary so recruiters see them immediately.
5. Be honest about your level
Only list skills you could use on day one or discuss confidently in an interview. If you're a beginner, say so ("Python: basic") or leave it off.
How to Learn New Hard Skills
Because hard skills are teachable, you can add them relatively quickly:
- Online courses (Coursera, edX, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy)
- Certifications from industry bodies or vendors (Google, Microsoft, AWS, CompTIA)
- Community college classes and trade programs
- Apprenticeships for skilled trades
- Personal projects to build a portfolio, like a website, dashboard, or design samples
Want to focus on skills that pay? See our list of the highest-paying skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are 5 examples of hard skills?
Five common examples are data analysis, Microsoft Excel, project management, a foreign language, and programming in a language like Python. Others include accounting, SEO, graphic design, and welding.
What are hard skills on a resume?
Hard skills on a resume are the specific, technical abilities that qualify you for a job, like software, tools, languages, certifications, and technical methods. They usually appear in a skills section and in your work experience bullets.
Is communication a hard skill?
General communication is a soft skill. But specific, teachable communication abilities like technical writing, translation, copywriting, or sign language are hard skills.
How many hard skills should I put on my resume?
Usually 6 to 12, focused on the skills most relevant to the job. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.
Are certifications hard skills?
Certifications aren't skills themselves, but they're proof of hard skills. List them in a separate certifications section and mention the related skills in your skills list.
What's the difference between hard skills and technical skills?
Technical skills are a type of hard skill related to technology, tools, and specialized processes. All technical skills are hard skills, but hard skills also include things like languages, accounting, and trades.
Show Off Your Hard Skills
Our Resume Builder helps you pick the right skills for the job, organize them into a clean skills section, and back them up with strong bullet points that pass applicant tracking systems.