How to Showcase Hard Skills on Your Resume [+ List of 50 Skills]

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Today, 87% of employers have difficulty finding the right employees. That’s a significant percentage, and it’s all because of skill gaps.

Hiring managers aren’t entirely sure if someone fits the job well because the crucial information isn’t exactly front and center. Sometimes, it’s not there, making it even worse.

Good thing this article breaks down the best hard skills for resumes, explains why they matter, and tells you how to showcase them best.

So whether you’re just starting your career or looking for a fresh start, this guide will help you make a good impression on potential employers.

What are hard skills?

How to Showcase Hard Skills on Your Resume

Hard Skills to Show on Your Resume

What are hard skills?

Technically, your hard skills are actions you must complete to get things done on any given day. They are skills that you pick up over time, throughout your career, and eventually consider muscle memory.

This could be through routine tasks, on-the-job training, or even continued education funded by the company.

Whatever the case, hard skills are essential because they allow potential employers to see what you can do quickly. It saves everyone time, including you.

How to Showcase Hard Skills on Your Resume

Showing off your hard skills on your resume is necessary to stand out. Unfortunately, most resumes fall flat — only 59% focus on hard skills. Here are some tips for showcasing your hard skills on your resume.

1. Tailor your resume to the job description.

It seems obvious, but you must tailor your resume to fit the job. Otherwise, hiring managers will gloss over your resume, like the other 54% of job applicants who don’t tailor their resumes for each employer or position.

So look for the hard skills mentioned in the job posting and show off your experiences that match up. Use keywords from the job description so employers can quickly see you have the chops for the position.

2. Use bullet points to showcase your hard skills.

Using bullet points is a great way to make your skills pop on your resume. Keep it clear and snappy when you talk about your skills and achievements, and throw in some numbers to show off the impact of your hard skills.

This gives employers solid proof of what you can do.

3. Include specific examples of how you’ve used your hard skills.

Share specific examples of how you’ve put your hard skills to work in past roles or projects. This helps show you know your stuff and gives a bit of background on your accomplishments.

For instance, if you’re a pro with a certain software program, talk about how you used it to nail a tricky project or make a process run smoother.