Understanding Technical Skills for Resumes: Key Examples
Learn what technical skills are, the ones employers seek, how to improve them, and how to highlight them on your resume.
Technical skills refer to the specialized knowledge and abilities needed to carry out specific tasks and operate certain tools or software in practical settings. These skills are essential across many industries, from IT and business to healthcare and education.
Many entry-level roles require basic technical abilities, such as using cloud services like Google Drive or managing social media. More advanced examples might include programming languages, technical writing, or data analysis.
Unlike soft skills, such as communication or time management, technical skills often require formal education, training, or hands-on experience. Some employers may expect candidates to continually update these skills to stay relevant in fast-changing industries.
Examples of Technical Skills
Technical skills, also known as hard skills, are the practical abilities you apply to get tasks done. Some examples of technical skills include:
- Data analysis
- Web development
- Computer programming languages
- Financial management
- Bookkeeping
- UX design
- Graphic design
- Writing
These skills can often be acquired through courses, certifications, or practical projects. To improve a particular skill, it’s beneficial to take an online course or work on hands-on projects, which provide direct experience.
What Technical Skills Do Employers Look For?
Many job roles require technical skills that are commonly sought after by employers. Some examples include:
Spreadsheet software: Tools like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets are essential for organizing information, tracking projects, analyzing data, or creating charts.
Project management: This skill is valuable for roles that involve planning and executing projects.
Writing: Effective writing is useful for communication in emails, social media, reports, analyses, or projects.
Scheduling and calendar management: These skills are crucial for roles involving collaboration, relationship management, or administrative support.
Budget management: Important for positions that involve developing, monitoring, or working within budgets, such as in business or project management.
Employers are increasingly looking for individuals who not only possess technical skills but can also adapt to new technologies quickly. Staying updated on the latest tools and trends in your industry is a key to success.
Let’s explore some examples in more detail.
Technical Skills for In-Demand Jobs
Below are some guides that highlight the technical skills needed for specific job roles:
Customer service skills
Cybersecurity analyst skills
Data analyst skills
Data engineer skills
Data scientist skills
Health care skills
IT skills
Machine learning skills
Management skills
Marketing skills
Project management skills
Software developer skills
Employers are also emphasizing the importance of hybrid skills, which combine technical expertise with soft skills like communication and teamwork. These hybrid skills can greatly enhance your employability in today’s competitive market.
To showcase the technical skills employers are seeking, Here are some examples of in-demand industries and the relevant technical skills they require:
Cybersecurity
To secure a position as a cybersecurity analyst, you may need skills in:
- Incident response
- Operating systems
- Data security
- Endpoint protection
With these and other cybersecurity skills, you can help safeguard a company’s networks from cyberattacks and investigate security breaches.
Data Science
To become a data scientist, some employers may expect you to have expertise in:
- Machine learning
- Statistics
- Programming languages like Python
With these and other data science skills, you can create machine learning models, analyze data patterns and trends, and suggest actions that assist companies in reaching their objectives.
It’s also important to recognize that data skills are valuable across various careers, including marketing, sales, human resources, and finance.
Finance
To become a financial analyst, some employers may look for skills in:
- Financial modeling
- Modern portfolio theory
With these and other financial skills, you can assist a company in tracking its financial performance and staying updated on investment regulations and policies.
Marketing
To secure a position as a social media marketer, some organizations may require you to know how to:
- Create advertising campaigns on platforms like Facebook
- Develop paid ad assets
- Design content
With these and other marketing skills, you can help a company establish its social media presence, enhance brand recognition, and improve the effectiveness of paid advertising.
User Experience
To become a UX designer, some employers may expect you to be able to:
- Navigate Adobe Creative Suite
- Conduct UX research
- Create wireframes
With these and other UX design skills, you can help companies enhance their users’ experiences on websites, mobile apps, and other platforms.
Learn more: 9 Essential Skills for UX Designers.
How to Improve Your Technical Skills
Now that you have a clearer understanding of the technical skills in demand across various industries, you might be considering how to enhance your existing skills or learn new ones to advance your career. It’s essential to plan your next steps to focus on the skills you need most and find appropriate training programs.
Follow these steps to simplify the process:
1. Identify Your Career Goals
Clearly outline what you want to achieve in your career. While the job market can be unpredictable, having a clear vision can help you reach your goals more effectively. Here are some examples to inspire you:
Improve your performance in your current job
Earn a promotion within your current organization
Transition to a new field with better compensation
Choose a career that aligns with your desired lifestyle
Having a clear career path helps you focus your efforts and identify which technical skills are most important to achieving your goals.
2. Identify the Technical Skills You Need
Once you have your goals in mind, the next step is to determine which technical skills can help you reach them. Visit career-building sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Indeed to explore actual job postings in your desired field. Pay close attention to each job description:
What tasks, projects, and responsibilities excite you, whether in your current role or a new position?
What kind of lifestyle do these jobs support?
What skills, education, and qualifications are commonly required in the job listings?
Consider creating a spreadsheet to track the technical skills employers are looking for and prioritize those that are most relevant to your career aspirations.
3. Review Your Current Skills and Look for Improvement Opportunities
In this step, adopt a reflective and curious mindset and ask yourself:
Which of these skills align with the requirements of the jobs I want?
What skills do I still need to acquire?
How can I rank these skills in order of importance?
By reviewing your skills regularly, you can identify gaps and seek out the best learning opportunities to fill them, whether through online courses, mentorship, or professional development programs.
4. Build New Technical Skills
There are several ways to develop job-specific technical skills, whether through courses, training programs, certifications, or even pursuing a degree. Choose a program that aligns with your goals and lifestyle by considering the following:
Course Syllabus: What are the required readings? Will you participate in hands-on projects, gain experience in real-world scenarios, or explore what it’s like to work in your desired field?
Expected Outcomes: What specific skills will you learn from this program?
Career Potential: How do the expected outcomes match the skills and qualifications employers are seeking? Does the program offer certifications or credentials that are commonly requested in your field?
Hands-on experience is one of the best ways to improve technical skills. Consider taking up freelance projects or internships to apply your skills in real-world scenarios.
How to List Technical Skills on a Resume
As you gain new technical skills and enhance your existing ones, it's important to keep your resume up to date. This section will help you describe your technical skills effectively, so you can showcase your strengths in the best possible way.
Follow these resume best practices:
Tailor your resume to each job by aligning your technical skills and experience with the specific requirements of the role.
Use action words like “managed,” “implemented,” or “developed” to describe the tasks you handled or projects you completed in previous positions.
Highlight measurable results wherever possible.
Include the names of any courses, training programs, or certifications you’ve completed, along with the skills and topics they covered.
Examples of Technical Skills on a Resume
When listing your technical skills, use these career-focused examples to guide you:
Cybersecurity Analyst
Implemented a backup system to enhance data security
Reduced data loss from cyberattacks by 20%
Social Media Marketer
Boosted Facebook conversions by 30%
Designed visual content to improve brand awareness
UX Designer
Increased user satisfaction by 23%
Developed intuitive user interfaces
Customizing your resume to highlight specific technical skills related to each job role can significantly improve your chances of getting hired.
Learn more: 11 UX Courses and Certifications to Enhance Your User Experience Design Skills
