What Are Technical Skills?
Technical skills are hard skills centered on math, science, engineering, and other STEM-related fields. Highlighting technical skills on your resume is critical to landing interviews with employers looking for qualified candidates.
When you put technical skills on your resume, sometimes a simple list is enough. Depending on the nature of the skill, you may need to elaborate on the extent of your abilities or the breadth of your experience in your experience section (in addition to your skills section).
Technical Skills Examples for Your Resume
Relevant technical skills make you a valuable commodity to potential employers in your field, and should be highlighted in your resume.
But depending on your niche, the technical abilities employers are looking for will vary.
Here are some of the top technical skills that employers are looking for in 2021:
1. Data Management
As more businesses move online, candidates with great data management skills will only become higher in demand.
Here are some of the most essential data management technical skills for your resume:
- Amazon Web Services
- Cloudera
- Commvault
- Ataccama
- Oracle Product Hub
- DataStax
- Google BigQuery
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Ensuring data integrity
- Database design and planning
2. Business Analysis
Every major company needs experienced business analysts to help them make decisions. That’s why business analysis is one of the top technical skills in today’s job market.
Here are some of the most popular business analysis skills for your resume:
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Microsoft Access
- Oracle JDBC
- Transact-SQL
- Eclipse IDE
- Apache Groovy
- Operating systems like Oracle Solaris, UNIX, and Microsoft Windows Server
- C#
- Python
- Ruby
- Data analytics
- Data modeling
- BI tools and applications
3. Accounting
The accounting skills necessary for a job depend on whether you work in the small to mid-sized business niche, for your state or national government, or as a corporate accountant.
Here are some of the most popular accounting skills regardless of your desired accounting position:
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Sage 50 Accounting
- Intrax ProcedureNet
- Microsoft Dynamics
- SAP
- ERP systems
- Cost and trend analysis
- GAAP and FASB knowledge
- Auditing
4. Project Management
Your project management skills help demonstrate to employers that you’re a capable candidate who’s able to handle a team.
Some of the project management technical skills employers look for are:
- Scrum and Agile proficiency
- Technical reporting
- Work scheduling software
- Information technology
- Data analytics
- Kanban
5. Engineering
Engineering is a diverse field, so the technical skills you’ll need will vary depending on your particular expertise. Some desirable abilities for all engineer positions include the following:
- Computer science fundamentals
- CAD Software
- Data modeling
- System design
- Statistics and probability
- Technical reporting
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Visual Basic
- Trimble SketchUp Pro
6. Marketing
Marketing covers a wide range of work, all with the goal of attracting customers and increasing a company’s sales.
Marketing roles tend to heavily emphasize soft skills, but there are some technical marketing skills that can set you apart from other candidates in the eyes of potential employers:
- Website design
- Content development
- Digital advertising
- Mobile marketing
- Social marketing
- SEO/SEM
- Google Analytics
7. Medicine
Medical professionals can focus on a wide range of specializations, such as trauma, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, neonatal, and a variety of other types of care.
Here are some key technical skills for the field of medicine:
- Advanced lifesaving training (ACLS)
- Diabetic care and wound monitoring
- Phlebotomy
- Dialysis
- Traction management
8. Coding or Programming
Almost all hard skills in the information technology field are technical skills.
Here are some in-demand coding skills to put on your resume:
- HTML
- CSS
- Javascript
- C
- C++
- Python
- XML
- Ruby
- SQL
- PHP
- Visual Basic
- Perl
- Front-end development
- Backend development
- Mobile development
- Cloud computing
- Network structure and security
- Debugging
- Network architecture
9. Graphic Design
Your expected grasp of technical skills as a graphic designer depends on where you are in your career. Here are some abilities employers are likely looking for on your graphic design resume:
- Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe CS, and InDesign
- HTML
- UI/UX
- Print design and typography
- Branding
10. Productivity Software
Today, anyone working in an office — regardless of industry — is expected to have a knowledge of basic productivity software.
Show off your organizational skills by highlighting your knowledge of productivity software:
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Drive (Sheets, Docs, etc.)
- Conference calling software (Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting)
- Evernote
- Trello
- Slack
- Prezi
How to List Technical Skills on a Resume
Abilities most relevant to your target position should always be front and center so a hiring manager can quickly scan and assess them. Expertly emphasizing your technical skills can get you onto the shortlist for the position you want.
Here are three tips for showcasing key technical skills on your resume:
1. Create a dedicated Technical Skills section
If they’re heavily emphasized in the job description, then your Technical Skills section should be at the top of your resume, just below your introduction, and above your professional experience. A bulleted list will make it easy to read.
Here’s an example of what that looks like:
Additionally, if you have an extensive roster of technical skills, you can set each bullet as a category—then, list specifics. For example, if you’re an accountant, you could list your technical skills this way:
- Accounting applications: Peachtree, QuickBooks, FreshBooks
- Payroll applications: Paychex, Sage HRMS, ADP, Ascentis
- ERP: SAP R/3, PeopleSoft, Oracle Financials
- BI applications: Crystal Reports, Domo, InsightSquared, IBM Cognos
- Core competencies: Corporate, cost and tax accounting, GAAP, risk management
2. Prove it in your professional experience bullets
In addition to a dedicated technical skills section at the top of your resume, you should also prove your abilities throughout your work experience section.
By creating bullet points that target your professional accomplishments, you can show how you effectively used your technical skills to benefit your previous or current employer.
For instance, an accountant could mention how they used ERP and accounting applications to achieve the accomplishments listed in their work experience section. This reinforces how and when they utilized specific technical skills.
Here’s an example of a resume that includes technical skills throughout the experience section:
3. Use a strong resume introduction
Another great way to put your technical skills front and center is to highlight them with a resume summary.
A resume summary is essentially a highlight reel of your most impressive skills and qualifications.
Since it’s listed at the top of your resume, it will be the first thing any hiring manager sees—making it perfect for candidates who want to immediately emphasize their technical skills.
Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary that emphasizes the candidate’s technical skills:
Technical Skills on a Resume Examples
Here are two examples demonstrating how to list technical skills in a resume:
Example #1
Substitute Teacher Resume (Text Format)
SUMMARY
SQL Developer with 8+ years of hands-on experience in developing database applications, administering database and information systems. Possesses In-depth knowledge of database development, IT solutions, MS SQL Server, software development, business analysis, systems administration, process re-engineering, and management information services.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Database Development: MS Access, Database, SQL Stored Procedures, Table Scalar Functions, Ad-hoc T-SQL Queries, SQL SSIS packages, SQL Jobs, SSAS Cubes
• Report Development: SQL Server Data Tools, SharePoint 2012 Website, Report Parameters & Datasets, Highly Visual and Graphic Dashboard & Table Report Styles
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
VERITAS OPERATING CORP, Mountain View, CA
SQL Developer, October 2017–Present
• Drive stability, reliability, and performance by optimizing in-application SQL statements and design user-focused databases
• Develop an ETL Database Model to carry out new procedures and create various database warehouse dimensions to accept ETL outputs
• Gather requirements from business analysts, develop physical data models using Erwin, and create DDL scripts to design database schema and database objects
• Perform database defragmentation and optimize SQL queries, improving database performance and loading speed by 70%
• Lead the development of 12 database projects for one of the company’s largest clients with on-time delivery and 13% under budget completion
US TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES LLC, Aliso Viejo, CA
SQL Developer, August 2012–September 2017
• Utilized Joins and sub-Queries to simplify complex queries involving multiple tables while optimizing procedures and triggers to be used in production
• Performed SQL, PL/SQL, and application tuning using multiple tools like EXPLAIN PLAN, SQL*TRACE, TKPROF, and AUTOTRACE
• Designed 4+ onsite databases and maintained a group of 25 databases, reducing production costs by 15% and boosting productivity using data modeling techniques
• Wrote SQL queries to obtain data from multiple tables to spool into CSV format and provide extracts to business and users
EDUCATION
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVIN, Irvine, CA
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, July 2012
Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.7/4.0)
Example #2
Substitute Teacher Resume (Text Format)
SUMMARY
Technically advanced Java Developer with 7+ years of experience in designing, developing and delivering user-centric software applications using Java/J2EE technologies. Offering strong expertise in multiple programming languages, including JavaScript, HTML, and XML. Seeking to secure a challenging position as a Java Developer.
SKILLS
• Languages: Java, JavaScript, Java Beans, JSP, SQL, HTML, XML, Node.js, Bootstrap
• Frameworks: JSF, J2EE, Apache Struts
• API’s: Servlets, EJB, Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI)
• Software: Eclipse, Toad, Works, NetBeans
• Databases: IBM DB2, Oracle, MySQL, Database SQL command
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
IT AMERICA INC., Arizona City, AZ
Java Developer, September 2015 – Present
• Use Java/J2EE technologies to develop web applications for client server environments and add functionalities to existing applications.
• Revamp various Java applications developed with Spring, Hibernate and older J2EE.
• Conduct user requirements analysis to design and program applications and deliver support for system enhancement.
• Play a pivotal role as a part of an agile scrum team accountable, developing new applications using Spring framework backend and Angular.js frontend.
• Consult with customers on project status and technical concerns.
INFOSYS, Charlotte, NC
Java Developer, June 2011 – August 2015
• Rendered solid technical expertise in Software Development Life Cycle and core Java technologies to develop applications based on specific client requirements.
• Developed highly interactive and customized UIs using JavaScript, HTML, JSP, and CSS to improve functionality of web applications.
• Performed unit testing of applications by developing and applying test cases in JUnit.
• Enhanced the quality of code and improved application performance, leading to a 14% reduction in bugs.
• Created interactive UIs that surpassed client objectives and improved user experience.
EDUCATION
University of Texas, Dallas, TX
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, May 2011
Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.6/4.0)