Quick answer
List 8–15 job-matched hard skills, grouped into 2–4 categories, and back them up in bullets.
The skills section is a scan section. Keep it tool- and domain-specific (SQL, Tableau, Salesforce), and prove “soft skills” like communication through accomplishments.
ATS reminder: simple formatting wins. Avoid tables/text boxes/icons, and avoid keyword spamming—use relevant keywords meaningfully and truthfully.
Rules that keep it ATS-safe
- Prefer hard skills: tools, platforms, languages, methods, certifications.
- Mirror the job post wording: “Tableau” matches “Tableau” better than “dashboard tools.”
- Group skills: 2–4 categories beats a long comma list.
- No ratings: avoid stars or “9/10” scales. Use “advanced” only if it adds signal.
- Prove the top skills: the most important items should appear in Experience bullets too.
Copy/paste templates
Template 1: Categorized (best default)
Best for: Most roles (clear + fast to scan)
SKILLS Languages: [Python], [SQL] Analytics: [Tableau], [Power BI], [Excel (PivotTables)] Tools: [Git], [Jira] Methods: [A/B testing], [Forecasting]
Why this works
- Groups related terms so recruiters can scan in seconds.
- Keeps wording close to job postings (tool names match exactly).
- Avoids keyword-dump walls of text.
Template 2: “Core competencies” (business roles)
Best for: PM, Ops, BizOps, Strategy, Customer Success
CORE SKILLS Product: [Roadmaps], [PRDs], [Prioritization], [GTM] Analytics: [SQL], [Dashboards], [KPIs] Collaboration: [Stakeholder management], [Cross-functional leadership]
Why this works
- Shows job-relevant clusters, not random skills.
- Balances tools + role keywords, then you prove them in bullets.
Template 3: Technical stack (engineering/data)
Best for: Software / Data / ML
TECHNICAL SKILLS Languages: [Python], [TypeScript], [SQL] Frameworks: [React], [Next.js] Data: [PostgreSQL], [Snowflake] Cloud: [AWS (S3, EC2)] Tools: [Docker], [Git]
Why this works
- Matches how recruiters search (“Python”, “AWS”, “Snowflake”).
- Keeps it structured without self-rating scales.
Common mistakes
- Listing mostly soft skills (“hard worker”, “team player”) instead of tools/methods.
- Dumping 30+ keywords (reads padded, harder to verify).
- Using icons/graphics or tables that can break parsing.
- Including skills you can’t support in bullets (risk in interviews).
Checklist
Skills section QA
- 8–15 skills that match the target job posting.
- 2–4 clear categories (Languages / Tools / Methods / Platforms).
- No tables, text boxes, icons, or star ratings.
- Top 3–5 skills also appear in Experience bullets with proof.
Sources
- MIT CAPD: “Make your resume ATS-friendly” (avoid tables/text boxes/graphics; use keywords meaningfully; avoid spamming). View source
- University of Michigan Career Center: “Resume Resources” (skills section optional; tailor resume; use bullets; quantify when possible). View source