How to write a skills section that passes ATS and impresses recruiters
The skills section is where most keyword matching happens. Learn which skills to list, how to group them, and how to prove them elsewhere on your CV.
Why the skills section matters
Recruiters search ATS databases by skill. If a required skill is missing from your CV, you may not appear in their results, even when you have it.
What to include
Pick 8–15 skills that match the role:
- Hard skills and tools named in the job description
- Certifications and methodologies, written in full and as acronyms
- Languages with your level
- A few relevant soft skills, backed up by your experience bullets
Format it simply
Use a plain list or short grouped lines such as 'Tools: Excel, Power BI, SAP'. Avoid skill bars, star ratings and charts — software cannot read them and recruiters do not trust them.
Prove every skill
The strongest CVs repeat key skills inside achievement bullets: 'Built Power BI dashboards that cut monthly reporting time by 40%'. This shows real use and adds natural keyword matches.
Put this into practice
Score your CV against a real job description and fix the gaps in minutes.