Technical Skills You Should List on Your Resume

Even as unemployment has remained relatively low in recent years, younger professionals have found the job market to be as competitive as ever. Many employers now use automated systems to cull resumes, making it difficult to stand out. Writing resumes requires a delicate balance: If you get too creative with your resume, you risk not making it past the artificial intelligence (AI) screeners, but if you aren't creative enough, the human ultimately reviewing your application may be unable to see the person behind the resume.

How can you make your CV or resume pop in a pile of many? The answer could lie in whether and how you highlight your technical skills—those abilities employers look for in today's digital workplaces. Gone are the days when resumes merely rehash your previous employers and responsibilities. They are better seen as tools for showcasing the skills you have so you can hit the ground running if hired.

But what should you highlight that not only gets your resume past an AI screener but also impresses those making hiring decisions? Should you emphasize your talents in programming languages like Python or focus on your expertise in data analysis tools such as Tableau or Power BI? Perhaps your mastery of project management software like Asana or Trello deserves the spotlight, or your ability to navigate complex CRM systems like Salesforce or HubSpot? In this article, we'll explore some of the most sought-after abilities in various industries and roles. We'll explain how to identify your own technical strengths and highlight them on your resume to help you increase your chances of landing the job you want.

What Technical Skills Are Employees Looking for?

Technical skills are practical and related to the tools and knowledge you'll need to perform a job. These skills include proficiency in programming languages (like Python or Java), software applications (such as Adobe Creative Suite), data analysis tools (like SQL or Tableau), and specialized equipment or machinery. Relevant technical skills are typically learned through formal education, training, or hands-on experience and are essential for roles that demand specialized technical expertise. In decades past, technical skills were merely for would-be technicians, but virtually every resume includes them at this point since every job requires some expertise in the systems a business uses.

General abilities in communication, teamwork, or creativity, while valuable, do not count as technical skills. Instead, these are classified as soft skills. The distinction is important because technical skills reveal your ability to handle the specific technical demands of a job, which can be critical in fields ranging from information technology (IT) and engineering to marketing and finance. Below, we provide a table with some of the key technical skills and complementary sets of expertise for major fields, especially in finance and investing, and go into detail about several fields below that.

Accounting

Accounting requires specific technical skills that extend beyond basic mathematics:

• Research
• Financial statements preparation
• Accounting software proficiency (QuickBooks, Xero, Sage)
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (SAP, Oracle)
• Spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets)
• Data analysis and visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau)
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards
  

Today's accounting professionals rely on a suite of software products, such as Microsoft Excel, for computing and analysis. Therefore, these workers need a sophisticated working knowledge of various software.

Although most accounting processes are automated, accountants still need to be proficient in understanding and preparing financial statements (e.g., balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows). Central to accounting, these documents shed light on the health of a company or person's portfolio.

Research is another important and often overlooked technical skill needed in accounting. Some situations require extensive and independent research. For example, an accountant may need to learn how a new law affects how assets are classified or gather information about a new accounting principle.

Data Science

Data science combines sophisticated mathematics and statistics. Data scientists often work alongside and have overlapping duties and responsibilities with data engineers, data analysts, and machine learning engineers.

Essential technical skills for data science professionals include the following:

• Language programming (e.g., R, Java, Python)
• Data visualization
• Statistical analysis
• Machine learning

In addition to sophisticated technical skills, some data science jobs require professionals to have formal training or academic backgrounds in computer science, engineering, or statistics.

Finance

In finance, sought-after technical skills are more sophisticated than those in traditional business and accounting disciplines. Core financial technical skills include the following:

• Advanced computation
• Quantitative analysis
• Financial modeling and forecasting
• Technical analysis

Technical analysis in this context refers to the ability to read market charts and trends. This requires various mathematical skills to produce price chart analysis and model trends that look at historical information to predict future price movements.

For example, to produce a linear regression model for technical analysis, the market analyst must have the skills and knowledge necessary to properly gather the historical data, perform necessary calculations, and use the output to generate a visual representation of current and historical data.

How To List Technical Skills on a Resume

A well-constructed resume will present the qualifications, experience, and skills that make you a qualified candidate. When including technical skills, it's important to list those pertinent to the job for which you're applying. Begin with the technical skills most critical to the role, and then follow with ancillary skills that you'll need in the specific position.

Many employers look for basic technical skills like data analysis, management, accounting, project management, and marketing.

Here are the steps to list technical skills on a resume:

1. Create a skills section using an appropriate heading (e.g., Skills, Technical Skills).
2. Organize your skills in a list format, with the most relevant skills listed first.
3. For readability, group related skills into categories.
4. For the required or preferred technical skills, highlight your expertise in the experience section.

Not every technical skill listed in a job requisition is required. However, the more skills you have, the better your chances for selection. The right technical skills show the employer that you have what it takes to perform the job.

How To Improve Your Technical Skills: Education and Training

Here are five steps to help you gain or improve your technical skills:

1. Establish Your Career Goals

Identifying your career goals is critical in determining what technical skills you need. If you're not in your desired career, your goals will likely differ from those who are established in their careers. Professionals who seek to stay in the same career might have goals of securing promotions or enhancing their performance. Examples of goals for those seeking a career change include:

• Pursuing a career in a new field
• Pursuing a new career that promotes better work-life balance
• Seeking different prospects where diversity is promoted and celebrated

Examples of goals for those in their desired field might include:

• Increasing productivity and efficiency
• Pursuing prospects with higher salaries
• Advancing to higher-level positions

Because some fields, such as marketing, are multifaceted, it might be helpful to narrow your career goals to specific roles that you wish to pursue. For example, instead of establishing a goal to pursue a career in marketing, you could set your objective as a career in digital marketing.

2. Research

Once your goals are established, research what you need to do to accomplish them. Begin by searching online for a job with basic and sophisticated technical skills. Job postings can shed light on the required qualifications for different roles. However, you can often glean more from direct interaction. Consider interviewing or shadowing someone in the field you wish to enter. Firsthand accounts from experienced professionals and direct observations can give you more insight than what can be gathered online.

3. Itemize Technical Skills

From your research, you should be prepared to document the skills you need to realize your goals. Consider the specializations, certifications, and education needed to obtain them.

Create categories and list all the associated skills that fall within each. For example, under the Certification category, you could list Lean Six Sigma or Prosci Certified Change Manager. Some skills are more important than others. Consider listing them in order of importance. Spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Excel, are great tools to organize your lists.

4. Identify What You Need

From your inventory, reorganize the skills list according to what you have versus what you need. You might be surprised to find that you already possess some of the skills needed.

Identify what you need to do to acquire or enhance technical skills. For example, if a career requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field of study, research what institutions offer that degree program. If seeking a promotion in your current field and a specialization is required, find institutions that offer the specialization.

Before enrolling in an academic program or pursuing professional certifications, consider what alternatives may be accepted in lieu of a specific requirement. For example, some jobs may list a certain degree as a requirement but will accept a degree in a related field or work experience in its place.

5. Develop Technical Skills

Now that you know what is needed, it is time to plan and build. Develop a plan itemizing the skills you are pursuing, how you will obtain them, your timeline for completion, and resources to help you accomplish your pursuit.

Some skills can be acquired on the job, while others must be obtained through a formal program or training. If the latter, enroll in the program that helps you develop the skills needed and accommodates your lifestyle.

Sometimes, you may have enough critical technical skills to qualify for a job or promotion. Many employers will invest in skill development for the right candidates. Explore what the employer will do to help you develop your skills before undertaking expensive and time-consuming training and academic programs.

The Bottom Line

Technical skills are the abilities and knowledge that enable someone to perform certain functions. Workers need these skills to successfully perform their day-to-day job duties. Whether attained through training or education, technical skills are essential for increased productivity and competitive advantage. By staying informed about the most sought-after technical abilities, investing in continuous learning and skill development, and effectively showcasing your expertise, you can position yourself for success.