Glossary
Hard and soft skills: what they mean and how to list them
Updated:
In short
Hard skills are measurable technical abilities (Excel, Python, accounting, foreign languages) and soft skills are interpersonal abilities (communication, teamwork, adaptability). List hard skills in a clear section and show soft skills through examples in your experience bullets.
How do I show hard skills?
List them as plain text, comma-separated or as bullets, with the level written in words (Excel: advanced, pivot tables). Reuse the posting's terms.
How do I show soft skills?
Through facts. Instead of "good communication", write "Presented results weekly to a team of 12". Evidence convinces more than the label.
Frequently asked questions
How many skills should I list?
Those relevant to the role, usually 8-12. A long unrelated list dilutes the resume.
Are skill-level bars useful?
No. An ATS cannot read them, and level is clearer written in words.
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