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In Demand Resume Skills That Will Help You Get Hired Faster
Not sure which skills to feature on your resume? Learn which hard and soft skills for resumes matter most and how to showcase them to land a job faster.
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Today’s employers are looking for two key qualifications in candidates: the ability to leverage new technologies like AI and irreplaceable human capabilities that AI can’t replicate. The secret to getting hired faster is showcasing this perfect combination on your resume by highlighting impactful, role-relevant hard and soft skills.
This article will identify the most valuable skills for resumes and demonstrate how to use them to conduct a more targeted and effective job search.
Hard Skills vs Soft Skills: A Crucial Distinction
Before you can showcase the right skills on your resume, it’s important to understand what employers are looking for. The first step is learning the difference between hard skills vs soft skills, which can help you present a stronger and more balanced picture of your qualifications. Plus, most jobs rely on a combination of both, so understanding how they work together is key to your hireability.
The next two sections break down what hard skills and soft skills look like, why each matters, and how to think about them in the context of your job search.
What Are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are personal attributes and behaviors that shape how you interact with others and approach your work. These qualities influence your ability to collaborate, adapt to change, solve problems, and contribute to a positive team dynamic.
Because many soft skills are instinctive or tied to personality, such as staying calm under pressure or showing empathy, they’re harder to teach through traditional training. This is one reason employers often view soft skills as strong indicators of leadership potential, long-term growth, and cultural alignment.
Still, just because soft skills often come naturally doesn’t mean they can’t be developed. If you’ve ever struggled with emotional intelligence, separating reactions from responses, or communicating clearly under stress, you’re not alone. Small improvements made through personal development, consistent practice, feedback, or even therapy can make a meaningful difference in your growth.
What Are Hard Skills?
Hard skills are technical abilities and knowledge required to perform job tasks. These skills are typically measurable, quantifiable, and can be learned through formal education, training programs, certifications, or practical experience.
Think of hard skills as your ability to interpret medical records, build financial reports, use design software, operate specialized machinery, or navigate customer relationship management (CRM) platforms with ease.
Hard skills directly indicate to employers your capability to execute job-specific tasks and responsibilities. While essential for job performance, hard skills can often be acquired more quickly and easily through dedicated training, making them critical but sometimes considered secondary to more elusive soft skills.
10 Most In-Demand Resume Skills for Today’s Workforce
Skills-based hiring is becoming the norm. A report from Randstad Enterprise found that 80% of companies are actively shifting toward a skills-focused hiring model.
What does this mean for you? Instead of scanning resumes for job titles or degrees, employers are digging deeper to find candidates who can hit the ground running with practical technical knowledge and human qualities that help teams thrive.
That’s why your ability to highlight specific, relevant skills on your resume is more important than ever. When your hard and soft skills show up clearly and are up to date and aligned with today’s hiring priorities, you’re telling hiring managers, “I’ve got what it takes to succeed in this role, and I’m ready to grow.”
5 Hard Skills That Signal You’re Future-Ready
Today’s top hard skills center around emerging technology, data fluency, and project execution. Hard skills can often be measured or certified, making them easy to showcase with specific tools, platforms, or achievements.
Here are five in-demand hard skills for resumes:
- AI prompt engineering: Building and refining effective prompts for AI tools like ChatGPT
- AI-powered tool utilization: Using platforms like Notion AI, Jasper, or Copilot to streamline workflows and boost productivity
- Data analysis: Interpreting data with tools like Excel, SQL, Tableau, or Python to support business decisions
- Project management: Coordinating timelines, deliverables, and teams using Agile methodologies or tools like Trello, Asana, or Jira
- Cybersecurity: Implementing safety protocols or understanding threat detection with certifications like CompTIA Security+ or experience using tools like CrowdStrike or Splunk
Hard skills are best shown through specific accomplishments.
Here are a few ways they might show up on your resume:
- Led a cross-functional team using Agile and Jira to deliver product launch ahead of schedule
- Used Tableau to visualize customer insights, leading to a 15% increase in retention
- Integrated ChatGPT into content workflow, reducing turnaround time by 30%
5 Soft Skills That Make You Irreplaceable
While AI can automate certain tasks, soft skills remain a key differentiator in how well you work with others, adapt to change, and solve complex problems. As companies evolve and face new challenges, these human skills are more critical than ever.
Here are five in-demand soft skills for resumes:
- Emotional intelligence: Recognizing, understanding, and managing your emotions and those of others
- Critical thinking: Assessing situations objectively and making sound, strategic decisions
- Creativity: Generating original ideas, solving problems in unconventional ways, or contributing to innovative projects
- Adaptability: Staying flexible in fast-changing environments or stepping into new roles with ease
- Communication: Writing clearly, listening actively, and collaborating effectively across teams
You might reflect soft skills on your resume with statements like:
- Adapted onboarding processes during an organizational shift, resulting in faster ramp-up for new hires
- Collaborated across departments to resolve customer pain points, improving satisfaction scores by 20%
- Recognized by leadership for emotional intelligence and ability to de-escalate high-stress situations
The Right Way to Highlight Skills on a Resume (With Examples)
Identifying the right skills for a resume is only half the equation.
To land interviews, you also need to make your skills easy to find for both hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS). Strategic placement and smart formatting help your skills stand out while showing you’re aligned with the role.
Here’s how to highlight your skills effectively across key sections of your resume:
Professional Summary Section
This is your first impression, so lead with high-value skills that align directly with the job. Use keywords from the posting and keep the focus on your strengths.
Results-driven marketing professional with expertise in data analysis, SEO strategy, and AI-powered content creation. Known for adaptability, collaboration, and delivering measurable results in fast-paced environments.
Skills Section
Create a clearly labeled skills section using bullet points or grouped categories (like “Technical Skills” and “Soft Skills”). Make sure to include a mix of both hard and soft skills relevant to the job.
Skills and Competencies
Technical Skills
- Prompt Engineering
- Tableau & Excel
- Agile Project Management
Soft Skills
- Emotional Intelligence
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Adaptability
Experience Section
Don’t just list your job duties. Use your work history to show how you’ve applied your skills to get results. Include specific accomplishments, tools used, and quantifiable outcomes wherever possible.
[Job Title]
[Company Name] [Employment Dates]
- Implemented a new CRM system that reduced lead response time by 40%
- Managed a remote team using Agile methodology, increasing project completion rate by 25%
- Created AI-based customer service scripts, improving resolution time by 15%
Education Section
If you’ve completed any recent courses, current certifications, or degrees that build on your skill set, list them clearly in this section.
Education & Certifications
- Google Data Analytics Certificate
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- BA in Communications, [XYZ University]
How to Use Your Skills to Find the Right Job Opportunity
A skills-centered job search helps you focus on roles that align with your strengths and goals, which can save time, increase your chances of getting hired, and lead to more meaningful opportunities.
The steps below will show you how to use your skills to search more strategically, tailor your applications, and stand out in an increasingly skills-focused job market.
1 Clarify Which Skills You Want to Use in Your Next Role
Not every skill on your resume needs to carry equal weight in your search. Think about the tasks you actually want to keep doing.
For example, maybe you’re great at spreadsheets but would rather focus on project planning or creative problem-solving. Let your preferences guide your search rather than searching for exactly what your past experiences amount to.
Create two quick lists:
- Skills you want to keep using
- Skills you’re ready to leave behind
These don’t have to be formal or final. The goal is to get clarity about the kind of work you want to pursue so you can filter out job listings that lean heavily on skills you’re no longer excited to use. This can also help you recognize roles that allow you to build on your strengths while moving away from responsibilities that no longer feel fulfilling.
2 Use Skills-Based Keywords to Search Smarter
Instead of only searching by job title, start with your most in-demand skills.
For example, searching for terms like “data visualization,” “UX writing,” or “CRM management” can lead you to roles you might not have considered otherwise. This approach uncovers a wider variety of job titles that still align with your strengths, especially at companies that value transferable skills.
If you’re using a platform like Sonara, take advantage of preference settings to prioritize roles that match your top skills, interests, and ideal work environment (such as whether you want to work part-time or full-time in an office or remotely). This will streamline your search and surface more relevant job opportunities.
On job boards or other search platforms, refine your results by using filters, such as:
- Job type (remote, full-time, freelance, etc.)
- Experience level
- Industry or field
- Required skills or tools
3 Match Your Skills to the Job Description
Once you find a role that looks promising, review the job description closely.
Most listings will include a mix of required and preferred skills. This is your guide. Look for overlap between the company’s needs and your strengths. If the job description says “strong communication and collaboration required,” and you’ve listed “cross-functional team leadership,” consider rephrasing that to match their language.
Mirroring job description keywords in your resume will help you pass an ATS and show the employer that you understand what they’re looking for. It also gives you a framework to tailor your resume bullets, cover letter, and interview talking points.
4 Prioritize Fit Over Volume
It’s easy to fall into the trap of applying for dozens of jobs a day, but that scattered approach can waste time and lead to burnout.
Focus on roles where your skill set aligns with 70% to 80% of the job description. That’s the sweet spot. You’re qualified, but there’s still room to grow, and you can confidently tailor your application to highlight your strongest qualifications without stretching the truth or forcing a fit (which should never be the case).
This doesn’t mean you have to meet every single requirement. Employers often include a “wish list” of ideal traits, and they expect candidates to fall short in a few areas. Lead with your strongest skills and show that you’re capable of learning the rest.
5 Keep Evolving Your Skills During Your Search
One of the best ways to stand out as a candidate is to show you’re proactive about learning. If a skill you don’t yet have keeps showing up in job descriptions, consider taking a quick course or certification to upskill during your search.
Learning new skills can boost your confidence and give you something relevant to include in your resume to show initiative. Even a simple update to your LinkedIn profile to reflect a new skill in progress can help hiring teams recognize your potential.
Put Your Skills to Work
Your skills are more than qualifications; they’re clues that reveal the work you’re good at, what you enjoy, where you can grow, and where you’re most likely to thrive.
As you update your resume, explore job listings, or consider your next move, pay attention to where your strengths align and where there’s room to build. Keeping skills at the center of your job search will help you stay competitive and adaptable in a hiring landscape that’s increasingly focused on what you can do.
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