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Hard skills for a CV: examples and how to list them
Hard skills are the job-specific abilities you can learn, practise and prove — like using a tool, speaking a language, analysing data, or operating machinery.
What are hard skills?
Hard skills are measurable abilities related to a specific role or industry. They usually come from training, work experience, certifications or practice.
- Hard skills = tools, methods, languages, systems, technical tasks (e.g., Excel PivotTables, SQL, bookkeeping, AutoCAD).
- Soft skills = how you work with others (e.g., communication, teamwork, leadership).
Quick rule: if you can test it, certify it, or demonstrate it with results, it’s probably a hard skill.
Related: If you’re looking for teamwork, communication and mindset skills, see our guide to soft skills for a CV.
Hard skills recruiters search for (ATS keyword clusters)
Most job ads repeat the same hard-skill keywords. Use these clusters to spot what matters in your target role, then pick 8–12 skills you can prove.
Data and reporting
Common keywords: Excel (PivotTables), SQL, Power BI, Tableau, dashboards, KPI reporting.
Business tools (CRM / ERP / ticketing)
Common keywords: Salesforce, HubSpot, SAP, Oracle, Jira, ServiceNow, Zendesk.
Project delivery (tools and methods)
Common keywords: Agile/Scrum, sprint planning, Jira/Confluence, Gantt, risk log, stakeholder reporting.
Marketing and analytics
Common keywords: SEO, GA4, Google Tag Manager, Google Ads, Meta Ads, email tools.
Finance and administration
Common keywords: invoicing, reconciliation, budgeting, payroll basics, Xero/QuickBooks/Sage.
Design and content production
Common keywords: Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, video editing.
Languages
Common keywords: English (business fluency), customer-facing communication, translation (if required).
Selection rule: prioritise (1) skills repeated in the job ad, (2) skills you used recently, (3) skills you can demonstrate with a result, project or certificate.
How to choose the right hard skills for your CV
The best hard skills are not “the most impressive”. They’re the ones that match the job and you can prove.
Step 1: Pull keywords from the job description
- Highlight tools, software, methods and qualifications.
- Look for repeated terms (these are usually ATS keywords).
- Ignore vague claims (“hardworking”, “team player”) — those aren’t hard skills.
Step 2: Match to your evidence
For each skill you list, you should be able to support it with at least one of these:
- A task you’ve performed
- A tool you’ve used on real projects
- A measurable outcome (time saved, revenue, accuracy, volume)
- A certificate, course or portfolio link
Step 3: Prioritise what’s essential
- 4–6 must-haves (core skills required by the role)
- 3–5 supporting skills (nice-to-haves that strengthen your fit)
- 1–2 differentiators (rare tools, niche domain knowledge, certifications)
Where to put hard skills on your CV
The best placement depends on your experience. These options keep things clear for employers and ATS.
Option 1: A dedicated “Skills” section (best for most people)
List skills in groups (e.g., Data, Tools, Languages). Keep it tight and relevant.
Option 2: Add them inside your work experience (best for credibility)
Show skills as part of achievements:
- Built a reporting dashboard in Power BI to track weekly KPIs.
- Automated invoices using Excel and reduced processing time by 30%.
Option 3: A short “Technical skills” line under your profile (best for technical roles)
Use it to highlight 3–5 core tools employers search for.
How to write hard skills so they sound real
Hard skills become convincing when they include context. Use one of these formats.
Format A: Skill + tool + scope
- Excel — dashboards, PivotTables, data validation
- SQL — queries, joins, reporting datasets
Format B: Skill + proof
- Power BI — built a KPI dashboard used by 6 stakeholders weekly
- HubSpot CRM — managed pipeline + reporting for a 4-person sales team
Format C: Skill + level (only if you can justify it)
If you add levels (beginner/intermediate/advanced), keep them honest and consistent. A safer approach is to show what you actually do.
CV-ready hard skills sections (copy these formats)
Don’t copy long skill lists. Copy a format, then plug in your own tools and proof. These templates stay clear for humans and ATS.
Template 1: Grouped skills (fastest to scan)
- Tools: [Tool 1], [Tool 2], [Tool 3]
- Data / reporting: [Skill 1], [Skill 2]
- Methods: [Method 1], [Method 2]
- Languages: [Language] ([level])
- Tools: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Power BI, HubSpot CRM
- Data / reporting: KPI dashboards, data cleaning, weekly performance reporting
- Methods: A/B testing basics, UTM tracking, documentation (SOPs)
- Languages: English (professional), French (native)
Template 2: Skills + scope (sounds more real than “advanced”)
- Excel — dashboards, PivotTables, data validation
- SQL — joins, reporting datasets, basic optimisation
- CRM — pipeline management, reporting, segmentation
- Excel — PivotTables, XLOOKUP, conditional formatting, simple dashboards
- Power BI — building KPI dashboards, scheduled refresh, data modelling basics
- HubSpot CRM — pipeline management, list segmentation, reporting
- Google Analytics 4 — event tracking review, funnel analysis, basic reporting
Template 3: Skills + proof (best for credibility)
- [Tool] — built/managed [output] used by [who] on [frequency]
- [Skill] — improved [metric] by [X% / time saved / volume handled]
- [Certification] — achieved [year], applied in [project/context]
- Power BI — built a weekly KPI dashboard used by 6 stakeholders to track sales and support performance
- Excel — automated a monthly reporting pack, reducing manual updates by 30%
- HubSpot CRM — cleaned and restructured deal stages, improving pipeline visibility for a 4-person sales team
- GA4 / tracking — reviewed key events and conversion paths to identify drop-offs and prioritise fixes
Template 4: Technical stack line (great for tech / data roles)
Tech stack: [Language], [Framework], [Database], [BI tool], [Cloud], [Version control]
Tech stack: SQL, Python (pandas), BigQuery, Power BI, Git, Google Analytics 4
Tip: keep the section to 8–12 skills and prove the most important ones inside your work experience.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Being vague (“computer skills”). Be specific (Excel PivotTables, GA4, SAP).
- Listing skills you can’t explain. If you can’t answer a follow-up question, remove it.
- Overrating your level. Strong claims require strong proof.
- Keyword stuffing. Fewer skills + evidence beats long lists.
- Mixing soft skills into a hard skills list. Keep each section clean.
Final checklist: hard skills on a CV
Before you hit submit, use this quick checklist to make sure your hard skills are relevant, credible, and easy to spot — both for recruiters and ATS.
- I listed 8–12 relevant hard skills that match the vacancy.
- My top skills use the same wording as the job description (when accurate).
- I proved key hard skills inside my work experience.
- I grouped skills to keep the section easy to scan.
- I removed anything I can’t back up in an interview.
FAQ: Hard skills on a CV
Can I list a tool I only used briefly?
How do I mention in-house or proprietary software on my CV?
Should I include software versions (e.g., SAP S/4HANA, Excel 365)?
What if I used a hard skill years ago — is it still worth listing?
How can I prove hard skills if I can’t share numbers or confidential details?
Is it okay to list AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot as a hard skill?
How do I mention certifications that expire or require renewal?
Should I add security clearance, licences, or regulated training as hard skills?
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