How to Write the Skills Section of Your Resume
What to Include
Hard skills only: programming languages, frameworks, tools, software, methodologies, certifications. Do not include: soft skills (everyone says 'communication'), basic skills (Microsoft Word in 2026), outdated technologies (Flash, IE6 support). Group by category for readability.
How Many Skills?
8–20 skills is the optimal range. Fewer than 8 looks sparse. More than 20 starts to look keyword-stuffed and loses credibility. Focus on skills that match the job description.
Skill Grouping by Category
Example groupings for a software engineer: Languages: Python, TypeScript, Go. Frameworks: React, Next.js, FastAPI. Cloud: AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda), GCP. Tools: Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, Terraform.