Listing too many skills on your resume looks unfocused. Listing too few makes you seem underqualified. So what’s the magic number? You can include anywhere between 5-15 skills on your resume overall, depending on your career stage and industry.
List 6-12 skills in your dedicated skills section, with a mix of hard and soft skills relevant to the job. The ideal number of skills can vary depending on your career stage and industry, so research your target role and industry to ensure you include the most important and relevant skills. Including too many skills (over 20) can make you look like a generalist and dilute your most important qualifications. But here’s what matters more: demonstrate your top 3-5 skills with specific examples in your work experience bullets. Quality always beats quantity.
🎯 Quick Check: Not sure if you have the right skills for a job? Our free resume scanner compares your resume to any job posting and shows what’s missing.
Introduction to Resume Skills
When it comes to crafting a compelling resume, one of the most critical components is the skills section. This is your opportunity to showcase the strengths and abilities that set you apart in today’s competitive job market. A well-crafted skills section not only highlights your expertise but also signals to potential employers and hiring managers that you’re a strong fit for the role. In an era where applicant tracking systems (ATS) often screen resumes before a human ever sees them, including the right mix of soft skills and hard and soft skills is essential for making your resume stand out. Whether you’re just starting your career or are a seasoned professional, presenting your skills clearly and strategically can make all the difference in getting noticed and landing interviews.
The Ideal Number of Skills by Resume Section
| Resume Section | Number of Skills | What to Include |
|---|---|---|
| Skills section | 6-12 skills | Mix of hard and soft skills |
| Work experience | 3-5 demonstrated | Your strongest, most relevant |
| Summary | 2-3 mentioned | Your headline skills |
Total unique skills on resume: Aim for 10-15 skills mentioned throughout your resume, with your top skills appearing multiple times (listed AND demonstrated).
Why 6-12 Skills Works Best
Too Few Skills (Under 6)
❌ Looks like you lack qualifications
❌ May not pass ATS keyword filters
❌ Doesn’t differentiate you from competition
Too Many Skills (Over 15)
❌ Looks like you’re padding your resume
❌ Harder for recruiters to identify your strengths
❌ Dilutes your most impressive skills
❌ Seems unfocused or desperate
The Sweet Spot (6-12)
✅ Shows you’re well-rounded but focused
✅ Enough keywords for ATS systems
✅ Easy for recruiters to scan quickly
✅ Room for relevant hard AND soft skills
How to Choose Which Skills to List
Step 1: Analyze the Job Posting
Highlight every skill mentioned in the job description. These are your priority keywords.
Example job posting excerpt:
“Looking for a marketing manager with experience in SEO, content strategy, Google Analytics, team leadership, and budget management. Must have strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.”
Skills to prioritize: SEO, content strategy, Google Analytics, team leadership, budget management, communication, cross-functional collaboration
Step 2: Match Your Skills to the Job
Create two columns:
| Job Requires | I Have |
|---|---|
| SEO | ✅ SEO (3 years) |
| Content strategy | ✅ Content strategy |
| Google Analytics | ✅ GA4 certified |
| Team leadership | ✅ Led team of 4 |
| Budget management | ⚠️ Some experience |
| Communication | ✅ Strong |
| Cross-functional | ✅ Worked with sales, product |
Step 3: Prioritize by Relevance
Rank your matching skills:
- Must-have skills (mentioned 2+ times in posting)
- Important skills (mentioned once)
- Nice-to-have skills (related but not mentioned)
List your top 6-12 based on this ranking.
For more on finding the right keywords, see our resume keywords guide.
🎯 Mid-Article Check
Wondering if you have enough skills — or too many?
Paste your resume and a job posting into our scanner to get an instant skill-match analysis.
Skills Section Format Examples
Format 1: Simple List (6-8 skills)
Best for: Most resumes, easy to scan
SKILLSSEO & SEM | Content Strategy | Google Analytics | HubSpotTeam Leadership | Budget Management | Cross-functional CollaborationFormat 2: Categorized (10-12 skills)
Best for: Technical roles, career changers
SKILLSMarketing: SEO, content strategy, email marketing, social mediaAnalytics: Google Analytics, Tableau, A/B testingLeadership: Team management, budget oversight, cross-functional collaborationTools: HubSpot, Salesforce, WordPress, Adobe Creative SuiteFormat 3: Proficiency Levels (8-10 skills)
Best for: Technical/language skills where level matters
SKILLSExpert: Python, SQL, Data VisualizationProficient: Machine Learning, Tableau, AWSFamiliar: TensorFlow, SparkLanguages: English (native), Spanish (fluent), French (conversational)Format 4: Keyword-Optimized (10-12 skills)
Best for: ATS optimization, competitive applications
CORE COMPETENCIES• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) • Content Marketing Strategy• Google Analytics 4 (GA4) • Marketing Automation (HubSpot)• Team Leadership & Development • Budget Planning & Management• Cross-functional Collaboration • Data-Driven Decision MakingHow Many Skills by Career Level
Entry-Level (0-2 years): 6-8 skills
Focus on: Technical skills learned in school + transferable soft skills
SKILLSTechnical: Python, Excel, SQL, TableauSoft Skills: Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time managementFor entry-level candidates, transferable skills such as teamwork and organization are especially valuable, as they demonstrate your ability to adapt and contribute even with less direct experience.
You have less experience, so fewer skills is expected — but make sure each one is solid.
If you’re just starting out, check our guide on writing a resume with no experience.
Mid-Level (3-7 years): 8-12 skills
SKILLSData Analysis: Python, R, SQL, Tableau, Power BIProject Management: Agile, Scrum, Jira, stakeholder communicationAt the mid-level, organizational skills are important for managing multiple projects and priorities.Leadership: Team mentoring, cross-functional collaboration, presentation skillsSenior/Executive (8+ years): 10-15 skills
Focus on: Strategic skills + breadth of technical knowledge + leadership
For senior-level professionals, strategic planning and leadership skills are especially important, as they demonstrate the ability to motivate and manage others effectively.
CORE COMPETENCIESStrategy: Market analysis, strategic planning, competitive positioning, P&L managementLeadership: Executive team building, change management, board presentationsTechnical: Enterprise architecture, digital transformation, vendor managementDomains: SaaS, FinTech, e-commerce, international marketsHow Many Skills by Industry
| Industry | Recommended # | Focus On |
|---|---|---|
| Tech/Software | 10-15 | Programming languages, frameworks, tools |
| Healthcare | 8-12 | Clinical skills, certifications, EMR systems |
| Finance | 8-10 | Technical analysis, software, compliance |
| Marketing | 8-12 | Channels, tools, analytics, soft skills |
| Sales | 6-10 | CRM, soft skills, industry knowledge |
| Education | 6-10 | Subject expertise, technology, soft skills |
| Creative | 8-12 | Software proficiency, portfolio pieces |
The best skills to list on your resume will depend on your industry, but employers across all fields consistently value teamwork skills—such as collaboration, effective communication, and supporting colleagues—as well as adaptability, which shows your ability to adjust to new situations and challenges. Teamwork and adaptability are among the best skills to include for most industries.
Quality Over Quantity: Show, Don’t Just Tell
The NUMBER of skills matters less than HOW you present them. Instead of simply listing as many skills as possible, focus on providing concrete examples of your skills in action. This approach is more effective and credible, as it shows employers how you have applied your abilities in real situations.
For example, in a ‘Strong Resume’ section, you might demonstrate analytical thinking by describing how you solved problems, caught errors, or developed creative solutions that improved processes or outcomes. Providing evidence of these skills—such as identifying a critical error that saved your team time and resources, or collaborating to solve a complex challenge—shows your value more clearly than just listing the skills.
Soft skills are often referred to as interpersonal skills and include people skills, active listening skills, and the ability to communicate effectively. These are closely tied to personal traits like behavior and emotional intelligence. Work ethic and time management skills are also important; strong time management not only helps you meet deadlines but also supports a healthy work-life balance.
Remember, soft skills are just as important as hard skills and can enhance your technical abilities in the workplace. Demonstrating your interpersonal skills, work ethic, and ability to communicate effectively with concrete examples will make your resume stand out.
Weak Resume (15 skills, no proof):
Skills: Communication, leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, Excel, PowerPoint, detail-oriented, organized,creative, analytical, strategic thinking, project management,adaptable, motivatedRecruiters think: “Everyone lists these. Where’s the proof?”
Strong Resume (8 skills, with evidence):
SKILLSAnalytics: Excel (advanced), Google Analytics, Tableau; analyze data and interpret data to support informed decisionsMarketing: SEO, content strategy, email marketingTechnical Tools: Proficient in data analysis tools and softwareLeadership: Team management, cross-functional collaborationEXPERIENCE• Led SEO strategy that increased organic traffic by 150% in 12 months• Managed team of 4 content writers, improving output by 40%• Created Tableau dashboards used by C-suite for weekly reporting, enabling informed decisions through data interpretationRecruiters think: “This person can actually DO these things.” Hard skills like data analysis and proficiency with technical tools can be proven and measured through concrete achievements.Developing New Skills for Your Resume
In today’s fast-changing job market, staying competitive means continuously developing new skills. Whether you’re looking to advance in your current field or pivot to a new industry, investing in your professional growth is key. Online platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy make it easier than ever to acquire both hard and soft skills, from advanced Excel and data analysis to communication and project management skills. When choosing which new skills to develop, pay close attention to the key skills listed in job postings for roles you’re interested in. By proactively building new skills that align with industry trends and employer needs, you not only strengthen your resume but also position yourself as a forward-thinking, adaptable candidate ready to tackle new challenges.
Resume Review: Perfecting Your Skills Section
After identifying and developing your skills, it’s time to refine your skills section for maximum impact. Focus on selecting the most relevant skills for each job application, using bullet points to make your skills easy to scan. Group similar skills together—such as technical skills, language skills, and soft skills—to create a clear and organized layout. Always tailor your skills section to the specific job description, emphasizing the skills that match the employer’s requirements. This targeted approach shows potential employers that you’ve read the job posting carefully and understand what’s needed to succeed in the role. By perfecting your skills section, you’ll present yourself as a well-qualified candidate and increase your chances of moving forward in the hiring process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
In today’s job search, employers are increasingly favoring a skills-first recruiting process over traditional credentials-based hiring. This means it’s more important than ever to showcase the right skills on your resume and avoid common mistakes:
❌ Listing every skill you’ve ever used — Only list skills relevant to the target job.
❌ Including obvious skills — Don’t waste space on “Microsoft Word” or “email” in 2024.
❌ Listing skills you can’t back up — If you list “Python” and get asked about it in an interview, you need to speak confidently.
❌ Using vague descriptors — “Proficient in various software” tells recruiters nothing. Be specific.
❌ Ignoring the job posting — If the posting mentions “Salesforce” 3 times and you have Salesforce experience, list it!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many skills should I list on my resume?
List 6-12 skills in your skills section. This is enough to pass ATS filters and show you’re qualified without overwhelming recruiters. Focus on skills mentioned in the job posting.
Should I list skills I’m still learning?
Only if you have functional ability. You can note proficiency levels: “Python (intermediate)” or “Learning: TensorFlow.” Don’t list skills you couldn’t discuss in an interview.
Is it bad to have too many skills on a resume?
Yes. More than 15 skills looks like padding or desperation. Recruiters prefer focused candidates who excel in relevant areas over generalists who claim everything.
Should every skill match the job posting?
Not every skill, but your top 6-8 should align closely with the posting. You can include 2-4 additional skills that add value or show broader capabilities.
How do I list skills with no work experience?
Include skills from coursework, projects, internships, and certifications. “Completed 40-hour Python bootcamp” or “Built 5 websites using WordPress” proves skills without professional experience.
How should I include soft skills on my resume?
Soft skills should not just be listed; instead, demonstrate them in your work experience section using measurable examples. For instance, show communication or teamwork by describing specific achievements or results.
Should I mention soft skills in my cover letter?
Yes, the cover letter is a great place to highlight soft skills with specific examples. Use it to showcase personal attributes like communication, teamwork, leadership, and work ethic to potential employers.
✍️ About the Author
Alex Rivers is a resume coach and career advisor who has reviewed over 5,000 resumes and helped job seekers land roles at companies like Google, Amazon, and McKinsey. After years of seeing the same mistakes cost qualified candidates interviews, Alex built ratemy.cv to give everyone access to instant, actionable resume feedback — for free.
Get Your Skills Section Right
Not sure if your skills section is optimized? Our free resume scanner compares your skills against any job posting and shows you:
✅ Missing keywords the ATS is looking for
✅ Skills to add based on the job description
✅ Which skills to emphasize or remove
Takes 30 seconds. No signup required.
Need more skills to choose from? Check out our complete guide to skills to put on your resume with 100+ examples, or explore soft skills and communication skills in depth.
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