98%
of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS — Jobscan (2024)
~32%
of required skills changed per job (2021–2024) — Lightcast (2024)
99.7%
of recruiters use ATS keyword filters — Jobscan recruiter survey (2024)
According to a 2024 Jobscan study, over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before a human ever reads them. A Lightcast analysis of 2.5 billion job postings found the average job saw roughly one-third of its required skills change between 2021 and 2024 — making a well-crafted skills section more critical than ever.
ATS software scores your resume by matching your listed skills against keywords in the job description. A poorly structured or incomplete skills section can eliminate your application automatically, regardless of your actual qualifications. The sections below walk through exactly how to build one that passes automated screening and impresses the recruiter who reads it next.
Types of Skills for Your Resume
Understanding the difference helps you create a balanced skills section. Use O*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor) to classify hard vs. soft skills by occupation, and cross-check in-demand competencies in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Hard Skills
Technical abilities learned through education or training
Soft Skills
Interpersonal and transferable abilities
Tools & Technologies
Software, platforms, and equipment you can use
Certifications
Professional certifications and credentials
Top Skills by Industry
Find the most in-demand skills for your field.
Software Engineering
Hard Skills
Soft Skills
Marketing
Hard Skills
Soft Skills
Finance
Hard Skills
Soft Skills
Healthcare
Hard Skills
Soft Skills
Industry skill data sourced from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor), cross-referenced with LinkedIn's Jobs on the Rise report.
How to Format Your Skills Section
Choose the format that works best for your situation.
Simple List
Pros
- ATS-friendly
- Easy to scan
- Space-efficient
Cons
- Doesn't show proficiency level
- Can look plain
Categorized
Pros
- Organized
- Shows depth
- Still ATS-friendly
Cons
- Takes more space
- Requires 6+ skills
With Proficiency
Pros
- Shows skill depth
- Honest representation
Cons
- Some ATS may not parse well
- Can highlight weaknesses
ATS Tip
For maximum ATS compatibility, use the simple list format with skills separated by commas or bullet points. Avoid tables, columns, graphics, or skill bars that ATS systems may not parse correctly.
“Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds scanning a resume. A clearly formatted skills section allows them to immediately verify candidate fit — without that, your application is at the mercy of whatever the ATS parsed out.”
Common Skills Section Mistakes
Avoid these errors that can hurt your resume.
Listing irrelevant skills
Example: Including 'Microsoft Word' for a software engineering role
Fix: Only include skills mentioned in the job description or highly relevant to the role
Being too vague
Example: 'Computer skills' or 'Social media'
Fix: Be specific: 'Python, JavaScript, SQL' or 'Facebook Ads, Instagram Marketing, TikTok'
Lying about proficiency
Example: Listing 'Fluent in Spanish' when you only know basics
Fix: Be honest - you may be tested in interviews. Use accurate proficiency descriptors
Only listing soft skills
Example: Team player, hard worker, fast learner
Fix: Balance soft skills with specific hard skills. Demonstrate soft skills in your experience section instead
Using outdated skills
Example: Listing 'Flash' or 'Windows XP' in 2026
Fix: Keep skills current. Remove technologies that are no longer industry-standard
Skills Section Checklist
Before you submit, run through each item to confirm your skills section is working as hard as it can.
Mirror the job description
Copy exact skill phrases from the posting — ATS matches text literally.
Lead with hard skills
ATS software weights technical competencies more than soft skills; list them first.
Keep it to 10–15 items
Fewer than 8 looks thin; more than 18 dilutes signal and wastes recruiter scan time.
Remove generic filler
Drop 'Microsoft Office,' 'fast learner,' and 'team player' unless the JD explicitly asks for them.
Include 2–3 soft skills
Choose ones that appear in the job description or company values — make them specific.
Avoid skill bars and ratings
They are not ATS-parseable and introduce subjectivity you can't control.
Use consistent formatting
Commas or pipe separators in plain text; no tables, columns, or graphics.
Verify currency
Remove deprecated tools. If the skill hasn't appeared in a job posting in 2 years, cut it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many skills should I list on my resume?
List 8-15 skills depending on your experience level and the job requirements. Quality matters more than quantity. Include only skills you can confidently discuss in an interview and that are relevant to the target position.
Should I include soft skills on my resume?
Yes, but strategically. Include 2-3 highly relevant soft skills in your skills section, and demonstrate others through your work experience bullet points. 'Led team of 8' shows leadership better than just listing 'Leadership'.
How do I know what skills to include?
Analyze the job description and identify required and preferred skills. Match your genuine skills to their requirements. Use the exact terminology from the job posting to help with ATS matching.
Where should the skills section go on my resume?
For technical roles or ATS-heavy applications, place skills near the top after your summary. For roles emphasizing experience, skills can go after work history. Entry-level candidates should highlight skills prominently.
Should I rate my skills with bars or percentages?
Avoid skill bars, charts, or ratings. They're not ATS-friendly, are subjective (what does '80% in Python' mean?), and waste space. Instead, use descriptors like 'Expert', 'Advanced', or 'Proficient' if needed.
What Recruiters Actually Prioritize
Understanding recruiter behavior helps you optimize your skills section for human readers — not just ATS software.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2024 Job Outlook Survey, the attributes employers screen for most frequently are problem-solving skills (91.2%), teamwork (86.3%), and written communication (82.9%). Yet many job seekers still list only technical skills and omit the soft skills that hiring managers use to differentiate equally qualified candidates.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports that skills gaps are a primary concern for 83% of HR professionals, which means a concise, targeted skills section that directly mirrors the job description can significantly improve callback rates — even when your experience is otherwise comparable to other applicants.
The practical implication: lead with the 3–5 hard skills the job description lists first (ATS weight them more heavily), then follow with 2–3 soft skills that reflect the company's stated values. Keep the total to 10–15 items so the section reads quickly in the 7-second recruiter scan window.
Sources
- Jobscan. (2024). Resume Statistics: ATS Usage Among Fortune 500. jobscan.co
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Occupational Outlook Handbook. bls.gov
- U.S. Department of Labor. (2024). O*NET OnLine Skill Taxonomy. onetonline.org
- LinkedIn. (2025). Jobs on the Rise Report. linkedin.com
- National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2024). Job Outlook Survey. naceweb.org
- Society for Human Resource Management. (2024). Skills Gap Research. shrm.org
- Lightcast. (2024). Speed of Skill Change Report. lightcast.io
- Princeton / Georgia Tech. (2023). GEO: Generative Engine Optimization. arxiv.org
- CareerBuilder. (2024). Hiring Research: How Recruiters Read Resumes. careerbuilder.com