CV Writing

Best Skills to Put on a CV: Examples and How to Choose Them

Your CV skills section helps employers understand what you can do and how closely your abilities match their vacancy. The strongest CVs do not simply list popular skills. They select relevant capabilities, support them with evidence and use the language employers are looking for.

In this guide:

• The difference between hard, soft and transferable skills
• The best skills to include on a professional CV
• How to choose skills from a job description
• Skills examples for different roles and industries
• Common mistakes to avoid when listing skills

Why Skills Matter on Your CV

Employers want to know whether you possess the capabilities needed to perform the job effectively. Your skills help connect your previous experience to the responsibilities of the new position.

A clear skills section also allows recruiters to identify your main strengths quickly. This can be especially useful when they are reviewing many applications or searching for candidates with specific technical knowledge.

However, listing a skill is not the same as proving it. Wherever possible, your professional profile, employment history, education and project sections should contain examples that support the skills you claim.

The Three Main Types of CV Skills

Hard Skills

Hard skills are practical or technical abilities that can usually be taught, measured or demonstrated. They are often specific to a profession, industry, system or task.

Examples include:

• Microsoft Excel
• Bookkeeping
• Data analysis
• Software development
• Digital marketing
• Project management

Soft Skills

Soft skills describe how you work, communicate and respond to different situations. They can be valuable across many jobs, but they are strongest when supported by examples.

Examples include:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Attention to detail

Transferable Skills

Transferable skills can be used in different positions and industries. They are particularly important for graduates, career changers and people returning to employment after a break.

For example, someone moving from retail into office administration may transfer customer service, organisation, record-keeping, communication and problem-solving skills into the new role.

Best Soft Skills to Put on a CV

Communication

Communication includes listening, speaking, writing and explaining information clearly. It is relevant to customer service, management, administration, sales, healthcare, education and many other professions.

Teamwork

Teamwork shows that you can collaborate, share information, support colleagues and contribute to common goals. It is stronger when you explain the type of team you worked in and what the group achieved.

Problem-Solving

Problem-solving involves identifying issues, evaluating options and implementing effective solutions. Employers value candidates who can respond constructively rather than waiting for every decision to be made for them.

Organisation

Organisational skills can include planning work, maintaining records, scheduling tasks, managing documents and coordinating several responsibilities at the same time.

Time Management

Time management shows that you can prioritise tasks, meet deadlines and maintain quality while working under pressure.

Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to respond positively to changing systems, responsibilities, priorities or working environments.

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is valuable in roles involving data, finance, compliance, customer records, technical work, quality control or written communication.

Leadership

Leadership does not only apply to managers. It can include training colleagues, coordinating projects, taking ownership of decisions or helping a team achieve a shared target.

Popular Hard Skills for Different Careers

Include only the tools and capabilities you can use confidently. Avoid listing software you have only seen or used briefly unless you describe your level accurately.

How to Choose the Right Skills for Each Job

Your skills section should be tailored to the vacancy rather than copied into every application unchanged.

1. Read the job description carefully. Identify the abilities, systems and qualifications mentioned by the employer.
2. Separate essential and desirable requirements. Give the strongest attention to skills described as required or essential.
3. Match the requirements to your experience. Select only the skills you genuinely possess.
4. Use the employer’s terminology accurately. When the advert says “stakeholder management”, use that phrase if it truthfully describes your experience.
5. Support each important skill with evidence. Include examples in your work experience, projects or education.

How Many Skills Should You Include?

There is no fixed number that works for every CV. A focused list of approximately six to ten relevant skills is often more useful than a long collection of generic terms.

Prioritise quality over quantity. The employer should be able to understand your strongest capabilities without reading through several lines of loosely related keywords.

Where to Place Skills on Your CV

A dedicated key skills section is usually placed near the top of the CV, after your professional profile. This helps employers see your main capabilities before reviewing your detailed employment history.

Skills should also appear naturally in:

• Your professional profile
• Work experience bullet points
• Project descriptions
• Education and training
• Certifications and professional development

Key Skills Section Example

Prove Your Skills With Achievements

Instead of relying only on a skills list, demonstrate how you used those abilities successfully.

The second example proves the skill by explaining the work completed, the scale of responsibility and the standard maintained.

CV Skills Examples by Role

Customer Service Skills

• Complaint resolution
• Active listening
• CRM software
• Account management
• Clear written and verbal communication

Administrative Skills

• Diary and meeting coordination
• Microsoft Office
• Data entry and record management
• Document preparation
• Organisation and prioritisation

Sales Skills

• Lead generation
• Negotiation
• Relationship management
• Sales forecasting
• CRM and pipeline management

Marketing Skills

• Content strategy
• Search engine optimisation
• Campaign reporting
• Social media management
• Email marketing

Software Developer Skills

• Programming languages and frameworks
• API development
• Database design
• Source control
• Debugging and automated testing

Graduate Skills

• Research and analysis
• Presentation skills
• Written communication
• Team project coordination
• Digital literacy

Skills and Applicant Tracking Systems

Some employers use applicant tracking systems to organise applications and search for relevant qualifications, experience and keywords.

To make your skills easier to identify:

• Use a clear heading such as “Key Skills”
• Include relevant phrases from the job description naturally
• Spell out important terms before relying on abbreviations
• Avoid presenting skills only through charts or rating graphics
• Support important keywords in your employment history

Skills You Should Avoid Listing

Remove skills that are:

• Unrelated to the target position
• So basic that they do not strengthen your application
• Outdated and no longer relevant to the role
• Exaggerated or unsupported by your experience
• Included only because they sound impressive

Common CV Skills Mistakes

Listing Too Many Skills

A long list can make your strongest abilities difficult to identify. Select the skills most relevant to the vacancy.

Using Generic Words Without Evidence

Claims such as “excellent communicator” or “strong leader” are more persuasive when supported by examples and results.

Using Skill Rating Bars

A graphic showing four out of five circles for communication does not explain how the rating was measured. Clear evidence is usually more useful.

Copying Skills You Do Not Possess

Every skill on your CV may be discussed during an interview or tested during the recruitment process.

Sending the Same Skills List Everywhere

Different vacancies prioritise different capabilities. Tailoring your skills helps employers see your relevance more quickly.

Final CV Skills Checklist

• The skills match the target job
• Technical and transferable skills are balanced appropriately
• Important skills use accurate terminology
• The list is focused rather than excessive
• Major skills are supported by examples elsewhere
• Skill levels are presented honestly
• Important information is not hidden inside graphics
• The section has been updated for this application

Match Your Skills to the Job

The best skills for your CV are not necessarily the most popular ones. They are the abilities that match the vacancy, reflect your real experience and can be supported with convincing evidence.

Review the job description, select your strongest relevant skills and demonstrate how you have used them successfully. Once your CV is ready, use CV-Bridge to find and apply for opportunities that match your capabilities.

Update your skills section whenever you complete training, gain experience with a new system or begin targeting a different type of role.