How to Write a Skills Section on a Resume: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

How to Write a Skills Section on a Resume: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

According to Jobscan, Applicant Tracking Systems are used by 98% of Fortune 500 companies to screen resumes. According to Forbes, 41% of recruiters look at the skills section first, and 76% use ATS to filter resumes by skills before a human ever sees them.

According to Forbes:

> "Start by listing 6 to 8 core skills that match the job you want, and split them between technical abilities (like software tools, analytics or industry-specific expertise) and soft skills (like communication, leadership or problem solving). Place this skills section near the top of your resume so ATS and recruiters see it quickly."

But writing a skills section that actually works is harder than it looks. According to Indeed:

> "A well-crafted list that aligns with the job description can help you stand out from other candidates."

This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to write a skills section that passes ATS, impresses recruiters, and gets you interviews.

“How to Write a Skills Section: Key Takeaways

- 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to screen resumes
- 41% of recruiters look at the skills section first
- 76% use ATS to filter by skills before human review
- List 6-8 core skills that match the job description
- Split between technical abilities and soft skills
- Place near the top of your resume for maximum visibility
- Use exact language from job descriptions
- Avoid generic terms without context”

What You'll Learn in This Guide

• How to prepare before writing your skills section
• The exact steps to write and format your skills section
• How to optimize for ATS keyword matching
• Formatting rules that keep your resume machine-readable
• A before-and-after example of a skills section rewrite
• Expert quotes and data on skills-based hiring

Before You Write: Preparation Steps

Step 0: Understand What Skills Are

According to Indeed, skills fall into two categories: "Hard skills are measurable, job-specific abilities, typically acquired through formal education, training or certifications. Soft skills are transferable qualities that shape how you work and interact with others."

Hard skills employers value:

- Digital literacy (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, troubleshooting)
- Data analysis (collecting, interpreting, and presenting data)
- AI and emerging technology (generative AI, big data platforms)
- Industry-specific knowledge (coding, accounting, SEO)

Soft skills employers value:

- Communication (speaking, writing, active listening)
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Adaptability and resilience
- Leadership
- Emotional intelligence

According to Indeed: "It's important to accurately list your skills, especially hard skills that are formally learned and measurable, such as coding, foreign language proficiency, or data analysis."

Step 0.5: Gather the Job Description

According to Jobscan, their tool "analyzes your resume against the job description, identifying the exact hard and soft skills you're missing. These must-have keywords come directly from the job description, not a generic list."

What to do:

1. Copy the full job description into a document
2. Highlight every skill, tool, technology, and qualification mentioned
3. Separate into hard skills and soft skills
4. Cross out any you don't have
5. What remains is your starting list

The 6-Step Writing Process

Step 1: Select 6-8 Core Skills

According to Forbes:

> "Start by listing 6 to 8 core skills that match the job you want, and split them between technical abilities and soft skills."

Selection criteria:

- Skills mentioned first in the job description = highest priority
- Skills repeated across multiple postings = high priority
- Skills unique to your profile = moderate priority
- Generic skills (email, Microsoft Word) = cut unless the job specifically requires them

According to Indeed: "To highlight the most relevant skills on your resume, it is important to thoroughly review the job description and understand the employer's needs, then incorporate these in your skills section."

Step 2: Group Skills into 2-4 Categories

According to Indeed:

> "Grouping similar skills under clear headings like Technical Proficiencies or Industry Knowledge can make the section easier to scan."

Common grouping structures:

Step 3: Write Each Skill Specifically

According to Indeed, skills should be "measurable" and "job-specific." Vague entries signal padding.

Weak vs Strong:

Step 4: Format with Plain Text Bullets

According to Jobscan, their scanner "checks for single-column layout—multi-column layouts are misread by many ATS systems." It also "flags tables, text boxes, headers, footers, and graphics for you to remove."

Format rules:

According to Jobscan: "Incorrect formatting can confuse an ATS, causing it to misread or overlook important information, even if your content is strong."

Step 5: Optimize for ATS Keywords

According to Jobscan:

> "Hiring managers don't search through every resume manually. They type keywords into the search bar, and only the resumes that contain those keywords come up."

Keyword matching rules:

1. Use the exact phrasing from the job description
2. Mirror acronyms and full forms
3. Include both technical tools and methodology terms
4. Avoid keyword stuffing — write contextually
5. Repeat key skills in your experience section for context

According to Forbes:

> "Use the same words you see in job descriptions so your resume is more likely to be picked up by keyword filters."

Step 6: Place the Section Strategically

According to Forbes:

> "Place this skills section near the top of your resume so ATS and recruiters see it quickly."

According to Indeed:

> "If you know the employer uses skill-based hiring practices, place the skills section near the top of your resume for maximum visibility."

Placement by career stage:

Before and After: Skills Section Rewrite

Before (Weak)

“SKILLS

• Hardworking
• Team player
• Good communication
• Microsoft Office
• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• Flexible
• Reliable
• Motivated
• Fast learner”

After (Strong)

“SKILLS

Technical Skills:
• Project Management (Agile, Scrum, Jira)
• Data Analysis (Advanced Excel, SQL, Tableau)
• Process Improvement (documented 22% efficiency gain)

CRM & Software:
• Salesforce, HubSpot CRM
• Google Workspace & Microsoft Office Suite

Core Competencies:
• Stakeholder Communication (executive-level reporting, cross-departmental collaboration)
• Team Leadership (managed 8-person cross-functional team)
• Budget Management ($500K+ portfolio)
• Vendor Negotiation (achieved 15% cost reduction)”

According to Forbes:

> "Avoid generic terms like 'good communicator' without context. Instead, show how those skills delivered results in your work sample bullets."

Skills-Based Hiring: Why This Matters More in 2026

According to LinkedIn's Skills Signal Report 2025:

> "Workers who add skills to their profiles — especially disruptive tech and people skills — find jobs faster. Adding just 10 skills to a LinkedIn profile is associated with a one-month shorter employment gap."

According to LinkedIn:

> "Workers matched by skills, not titles, qualify for over 3x as many roles. Companies using skills-based talent searches are 12% more likely to recruit high-quality hires."

According to Forbes:

> "Recruiters are increasingly starting their review with skills, not titles, because they want to know what you can actually do first."

Common Skills Section Mistakes

Expert Quotes to Remember

“"Start by listing 6 to 8 core skills that match the job you want, and split them between technical abilities and soft skills. Place this skills section near the top of your resume so ATS and recruiters see it quickly."”

“"Grouping similar skills under clear headings like Technical Proficiencies or Industry Knowledge can make the section easier to scan."”

“"Workers matched by skills, not titles, qualify for over 3x as many roles. Companies using skills-based talent searches are 12% more likely to recruit high-quality hires."”

“"Incorrect formatting can confuse an ATS, causing it to misread or overlook important information, even if your content is strong."”

“"Avoid generic terms like 'good communicator' without context. Instead, show how those skills delivered results in your work sample bullets."”

Sources & References

• Indeed — How to create a skills list for your resume
• Forbes — Resume updates hiring managers care about in 2026
• LinkedIn Skills Signal Report 2025 — Skills-based hiring data and trends
• Jobscan — ATS resume scanner and formatting rules
• College Recruiter / Lafayette Gateway — 18 resume changes to pass ATS filters
• CareerBuilder — Skills section guidance
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Occupational skills data

Conclusion: Write a Skills Section That Gets You Interviews

According to Jobscan, 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to screen resumes. According to Forbes, 41% of recruiters look at the skills section first.

Key Takeaways:

- Start with the job description and extract every skill mentioned
- Select 6-8 core skills that match the role
- Group into 2-4 categories for readability
- Use plain text bullets — no graphics or tables
- Mirror the exact language of the job post
- Place the section near the top of your resume
- Avoid generic traits and skills you can't defend

Action Steps for Today:

1. Copy a job description for a role you're targeting
2. Highlight every skill, tool, and qualification mentioned
3. Select 6-8 skills you can demonstrate
4. Group them into 2-4 categories
5. Write them specifically with tool names and certifications
6. Place the section near the top of your resume
7. Build your ATS-optimized resume with our ATS CV Maker

About the Author

Ash is a resume expert and career strategist who has helped thousands of candidates land interviews through ATS-optimized resumes. Ash's work has been cited in leading career publications and trusted by job seekers worldwide.

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