Best Skills to Put on a CV in 2026 (With Examples)
Choosing the right skills to put on a CV can be the difference between a callback and a rejection. Recruiters and applicant tracking systems scan for relevant skills in seconds, so your list needs to be sharp, honest and tailored to the role. This guide gives you the best hard and soft skills for 2026 with examples, plus how to choose and present them. To match your skills to specific roles automatically, build your CV with our CV templates.
Hard skills vs soft skills
Your CV should balance two types of skill:
- Hard skills are specific, teachable and measurable — software, languages, certifications.
- Soft skills describe how you work — communication, problem-solving, leadership.
Employers want both. Hard skills prove you can do the job; soft skills prove you will do it well alongside others.
The best hard skills to put on a CV
Below is a cv skills list of in-demand hard skills by area. Choose the ones relevant to your target role.
Technical and digital
- Data analysis (Excel, SQL, Power BI)
- Programming (Python, JavaScript, SQL)
- SEO and digital marketing
- Project management tools (Asana, Jira)
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure)
- CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot)
Business and finance
- Financial reporting and forecasting
- Budget management
- Data-driven decision making
- Risk assessment
- Process improvement
Creative and marketing
- Copywriting and content creation
- Graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma)
- Social media management
- Campaign analytics
Languages and certifications
- Foreign languages (state your level: fluent, business, conversational)
- Industry certifications (PRINCE2, AAT, CIPD, etc.)
Hard skills are easy to verify, so only list what you can genuinely demonstrate.
The best soft skills to put on a CV
These are the key skills for cv sections that employers consistently value:
- Communication — written and verbal.
- Problem-solving — finding workable solutions under constraints.
- Teamwork and collaboration.
- Adaptability — increasingly prized in fast-changing roles.
- Leadership — even without a formal title.
- Time management and prioritisation.
- Attention to detail.
- Emotional intelligence.
The trap with soft skills is claiming them without proof. Instead of listing "great communicator", demonstrate it in your experience bullets.
How to choose the right skills
Do not list every skill you have. Choose the ones that matter for this role.
- Read the job advert and underline the skills it names.
- Match honestly — only include skills you can back up in interview.
- Mirror the language the employer uses, which also helps with ATS matching.
- Prioritise — lead with the skills most central to the role.
This is the same tailoring discipline you apply across your CV. Our guide on how to write a CV shows how to identify a job's key requirements.
How to present skills on your CV
There are two places skills belong:
A dedicated skills section — a clean, scannable list near the top or side:
Skills: SQL · Power BI · Stakeholder management · Process improvement · Spanish (fluent)
Within your experience — proving the skill with evidence:
Used SQL to build a reporting dashboard that cut analysis time by 40%.
The strongest CVs do both: a quick-reference list, then proof in the experience section. For finished examples, see our CV examples by job and industry, and weave your top skills into your opening with our CV personal statement examples.
Skills mistakes to avoid
- Listing soft skills with no evidence. Show them, do not just claim them.
- Padding with irrelevant skills. A long, untargeted list dilutes the relevant ones.
- Overstating your level. "Fluent" when you are "conversational" will be exposed at interview.
- Outdated skills. Drop software no one uses any more.
- Vague terms. "Microsoft Office" is weaker than naming the specific tools and your level.
Match your skills to every role
The best skills to put on a CV are the ones the employer is actually looking for, presented with evidence. Read each advert, choose honestly, and prove your strongest skills in your experience. Build your CV with our CV templates and let ApplicantGrid help you match your skills to each role and check it reads cleanly through an ATS before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many skills should I put on a CV?
Aim for 8–12 relevant skills in a dedicated section, mixing hard and soft skills. Quality beats quantity — a focused list tailored to the role is far stronger than a long, generic one.
Should I list hard or soft skills first?
Lead with the skills most central to the role. For technical jobs, hard skills usually come first; for people-focused roles, soft skills may take priority. Always match the emphasis to the job advert.
How do I prove soft skills on a CV?
Demonstrate them in your experience bullets rather than just listing them. For example, show "communication" through "presented monthly results to a board of six" rather than claiming to be a "great communicator".
Should I include language skills on my CV?
Yes, if relevant, and always state your level: fluent, business, conversational or basic. Language skills can be a genuine differentiator, especially for roles with international clients or teams.
Do skills sections help with applicant tracking systems?
Yes. A clear skills section using the same terms as the job advert helps an ATS match your CV to the role. Use real text, not images, and mirror the employer's wording honestly.