Hard Skills vs Soft Skills on a Resume: What to Include (2026)

What Are Hard Skills?

Hard skills are teachable, measurable abilities that you acquire through training, education, or experience. They are specific to a job or industry and can be tested or certified. Examples of hard skills:

Programming languages (Python, JavaScript, SQL)

Data analysis (Excel, Tableau, Power BI)

Project management tools (Jira, Asana, Microsoft Project)

Accounting (QuickBooks, GAAP, financial modeling)

Design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite)

Languages (Spanish, Mandarin, French)

Certifications (PMP, CPA, AWS Solutions Architect)

Hard skills are what ATS systems primarily scan for. When a job description lists "Proficiency in Python and SQL required," the ATS is doing exact keyword matching on those terms.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills are interpersonal and behavioral traits that affect how you work with others. They are harder to measure but equally valued by hiring managers. Examples of soft skills:

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Time management

Teamwork

Adaptability

Critical thinking

Conflict resolution

Which Ones Does ATS Care About?

Hard skills are weighted more heavily by ATS systems. Most ATS software matches on specific tools, technologies, certifications, and technical competencies listed in the job description.

However, many job descriptions also include soft skills in their requirements. If a posting says "strong communication skills" or "ability to lead cross-functional teams," those phrases can also factor into your ATS score.

The key difference: hard skills are usually pass/fail filters (you either have Python experience or you don't), while soft skills are more about ranking and interview evaluation.

Check which keywords you're matching with our free ATS checker.

How to List Hard Skills on Your Resume

In Your Skills Section

Group hard skills by category for readability: Technical Skills: Python, JavaScript, React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, AWS Analytics: Google Analytics, Tableau, SQL, A/B Testing Tools: Jira, Figma, Salesforce, HubSpot

In Your Bullet Points

Don't just list skills — show them in action:

Weak: Proficient in Python

Strong: Built automated data pipeline in Python processing 2M+ records daily, reducing manual reporting time by 85%

The strong version proves the skill with a measurable result. For more on writing effective bullets, see our guide on quantifying resume achievements.

How to Show Soft Skills on Your Resume

Never list soft skills as standalone items like "Hard worker" or "Team player." Instead, demonstrate them through your achievements:

Leadership: "Led cross-functional team of 12 engineers and designers through product launch"

Communication: "Presented quarterly results to C-suite, translating technical metrics into business impact"

Problem solving: "Identified root cause of 40% cart abandonment rate and implemented fix increasing conversions by 25%"

Adaptability: "Transitioned team of 8 from waterfall to Agile methodology in 3 months with zero productivity loss"

This approach satisfies both ATS keyword matching (the skill terms appear) and human reviewers (they see evidence, not claims).

The Right Balance by Career Level

Entry-Level (0-2 years)

Lean hard skill heavy — You need to prove technical competence

List relevant coursework, certifications, tools, and projects

Include 1-2 soft skills demonstrated through internships or activities

Browse our entry-level resume examples

Mid-Level (3-7 years)

Balance both — Hard skills show you can do the work, soft skills show you can collaborate

Skills section: 70% hard, 30% soft (demonstrated in bullets)

Highlight project leadership and cross-team collaboration

Senior/Executive (8+ years)

Shift toward soft skills — Leadership, strategy, and stakeholder management matter more

Hard skills are assumed at this level

Focus bullets on business impact, team building, and strategic decisions

See our executive resume examples

Hard Skills by Industry

Here are the most in-demand hard skills for top industries: Technology: Python, JavaScript, Cloud (AWS/GCP/Azure), SQL, React, CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes Finance: Financial Modeling, Excel, Bloomberg Terminal, GAAP, SQL, Risk Analysis, Valuation Marketing: Google Analytics, SEO, Paid Media (Google Ads, Meta Ads), HubSpot, Content Strategy, A/B Testing Healthcare: Electronic Health Records (EHR), HIPAA Compliance, Patient Care, Clinical Documentation, Medical Terminology Engineering: CAD, MATLAB, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, FEA, Project Management, Lean/Six Sigma

For role-specific skill recommendations, explore our skills directory with 200+ in-demand skills.

Mistakes to Avoid

Listing only soft skills — ATS will not rank you well without hard skill matches

Keyword stuffing hard skills — Including 50 technologies you barely know will backfire in interviews

Using vague soft skill claims — "Excellent communicator" without evidence means nothing

Ignoring the job description — Always mirror the specific skills the employer listed

Outdated skills — Remove technologies that are no longer relevant (Flash, Dreamweaver, etc.)

Quick Reference

| | Hard Skills | Soft Skills | |---|---|---| | Learned through | Training, courses, practice | Experience, self-awareness | | Measured by | Tests, certifications, output | Observation, results | | ATS impact | High — primary filter | Medium — ranking factor | | Where to show | Skills section + bullets | Bullet points only | | Proof | Certifications, metrics | Achievements, context |

Ready to check if your resume has the right skill balance? Use our free ATS checker to see which skills are matching the job description and which are missing. For skill-specific resume tips, explore our skills library. Build a skills-optimized resume with our AI resume builder.