When applying for jobs in the U.S., your resume is more than a work history. It is a snapshot of your abilities, achievements, and the value you can bring to a company. One of the most important sections on your resume is the skills section  but many people either fill it with vague buzzwords or leave it too empty to be useful.


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Whether you are new to the job market or looking to make a career move, knowing what skills to put on a resume for U.S. employers can make a big difference. In this guide, we will cover:

What Are Good Skills to Put on a Resume?

Good skills are those that match the job you are applying for. In other words, if a company needs someone who can manage projects, work with a team, and use specific tools, your skills section should reflect exactly that.

There are two main types of skills:

  1. Hard skills: These are teachable and measurable abilities, such as data analysis, accounting, foreign languages, or graphic design.
  2. Soft skills: These are personal traits and interpersonal abilities like communication, teamwork, adaptability, or leadership.

Both matter. U.S. employers expect to see a mix of both types of skills especially ones that match the job description.

How to Choose the Right Skills

Before you start listing every skill you have ever used, take a moment to think about what the job actually requires. The best resumes are targeted. This means you adjust your skills based on the role.

Step 1: Read the job description closely

Most job posts will include a list of required or preferred skills. Look for those keywords and mirror the language they use as long as you truly have those skills.

Step 2: Prioritize relevant skills

Your resume should not include everything you have ever learned. Stick to the skills that are most relevant to the job you want. Too many unrelated skills can dilute your message.

Step 3: Show, don’t just tell

If possible, show how you used the skill in your past roles. This can happen in your work experience section or a separate achievements section.

What Computer Skills to Put on a Resume?

Computer skills are one of the most common categories employers in the U.S. look for across nearly every industry. Even if you are not applying for a tech job, basic digital literacy is expected.

Here are examples of computer skills to list on your resume, depending on the role:

General and Office Productivity

Communication and Collaboration

Creative and Design Tools

Data and Technical Tools

Tailor your computer skills to the job. A marketing assistant will need different tools than a data analyst or customer support rep.

What Soft Skills to Put on a Resume?

Soft skills are harder to measure, but they still matter. In fact, many U.S. employers consider soft skills just as important as technical ones — especially in roles where teamwork, leadership, or communication is involved.

Here are examples of soft skills employers value in 2025:

When listing soft skills, avoid simply dropping them into a list. Instead, show how you used them in past roles. For example:

Experience

This shows soft skills in action, which is more effective than listing them alone.

Examples of Skills by Industry

Customer Service and Support

Administrative and Operations

Marketing and Communications

Finance and Accounting

Tech and Engineering

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Where to Put Skills on a Resume

There are a few smart ways to include skills on your resume:

1. Dedicated “Skills” section

This usually appears after your summary and before your work history. Use bullet points or a clean list of 6 to 10 core skills.

2. Work experience section

Use bullet points in each role to show how you applied key skills.

Example:

3. Summary or profile section

Mention one or two high-impact skills at the top to draw attention.

Skills to Avoid Listing

Not every skill helps you. Here are a few to leave off your resume in 2025:

The best skills to put on a resume are the ones that match what the job requires and reflect your real strengths. In the U.S. job market, employers expect a mix of hard and soft skills, tailored for the role and shown with context. A clean, focused skills section makes it easier for both humans and automated systems to understand what you bring to the table.

Keep it honest. Keep it relevant. Keep it simple.

If you are ready to go beyond just a document and want to build a shareable CV site, tools like Hello.cv make it easier to highlight your skills and experience in one professional space. But whether it is online or on paper, your skills still do most of the talking.

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Get a free .cv Site and enhance your career

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