Skills for a CV: Hard and Soft Skills + Examples

What counts as a skill on a CV?

A skill is something you can do and apply in practice. It is more than a qualification or a job title: it is the ability to turn knowledge into results. Most CVs group skills into two main types.

• Hard skills: specific, teachable abilities that can often be tested. For example bookkeeping, wound care, a forklift licence, Python or project management.
• Soft skills: the way you work and collaborate. For example organisation, conflict resolution, empathy or explaining complex topics simply.

Many CVs also have separate lines for IT skills and languages, because they are quick to scan and are often requested directly in job adverts. If you are applying for jobs in Denmark, your language section deserves extra care, as Danish ability is a common question.

Hard skills: examples and how to write them

Hard skills are usually what a recruiter checks first, because they show whether you can do the core work. Be as specific as you can. "Finance" says very little; "accounts receivable, month-end close and VAT returns in Xero" says exactly what you can do.

• Office and finance: bookkeeping, reconciliations, budgeting, payroll, invoicing, accounts payable
• Healthcare: medication administration, wound care, triage, patient records, safe patient handling
• Sales and service: upselling, customer service, complaint handling, point-of-sale systems, B2B sales
• Technical and trades: electrical installation, fault finding, CNC programming, reading technical drawings, health and safety
• Communication and marketing: copywriting, SEO, social media, campaign planning, press relations
• Leadership and projects: project management, budget ownership, line management, change management, Agile and Scrum

Soft skills: examples that do not sound like everyone else

Soft skills are hard to write well because almost everyone describes themselves as "hard-working, flexible and a team player". The fix is to choose a few precise qualities and put them in context.

Here are soft skills phrased so they actually say something:

• Stays organised during busy periods and quickly prioritises what matters most
• Explains complicated things simply, to colleagues and customers alike
• Takes ownership of finishing work, including the tasks nobody wants
• Calms tense situations and finds solutions both sides can accept
• Picks up new systems quickly and helps colleagues get started
• Speaks up and asks questions when something does not make sense
• Treats people with curiosity and respect, even when they are upset

Pick 3-5 soft skills that fit the role. A salesperson needs different qualities from a lab technician. Look for words in the advert such as "structured", "outgoing" or "self-starter", and think about where you have clearly shown each one.

How do you prove your skills on a CV?

A skill in a list is a claim. A skill with an example is evidence. Recruiters notice the difference, and so will your interviewer, who is likely to ask about exactly what you wrote.

The simplest method is to link each important skill to a concrete result in your work history. Think in terms of action and outcome:

1. Choose the skill you want to prove, for example "organised".
2. Find a situation where you used it, for example taking over a chaotic stockroom.
3. Describe what you did, for example introducing fixed locations and weekly stock counts.
4. Finish with the result, with numbers if you can, for example fewer ordering errors and faster picking.

You can also evidence skills through courses, certifications, degrees, portfolios or references. List relevant certificates with the year, such as "Forklift licence (2023)" or "PRINCE2 Foundation (2022)".

How to list IT skills and languages

IT skills and languages are among the sections recruiters scan fastest. Make them easy to read and always state your level so the reader does not have to guess.

IT skills: name specific software and systems rather than vague terms. "Microsoft Office" is so standard it barely needs mentioning unless the job needs advanced use. List the tools that matter in your field instead.

• Basic: Word, Outlook, Teams
• Intermediate: Excel (pivot tables, lookups), SharePoint, Canva
• Advanced: SAP, Salesforce, Power BI, Adobe InDesign
• Programming: Python, SQL, JavaScript, with years of experience

Languages: use a simple, honest scale such as native, fluent, professional working proficiency and basic. For international applications the European CEFR scale (A1 to C2) is widely understood. If you are applying in Denmark and learning Danish, say so with your level; completed Danish courses, such as Danish Education modules (Danskuddannelse), are worth naming.

Skills list examples for different jobs

Here are skills sections for six roles. The people are fictional, and every list should be adapted to your own experience and the specific job advert.

Short on experience? Part-time jobs, volunteering and university projects are all valid sources of skills. See our guide to a CV with no experience.

Where should skills go on your CV?

Most CVs have a dedicated skills section, either in a sidebar or directly after the personal statement, so the recruiter can quickly check your fit. Your two or three most important skills should also appear in your personal statement.

• Keep the skills section to around 8-15 items in total. Any more and nothing stands out.
• Put the skills most relevant to the job at the top.
• Use short bullet points rather than full sentences.
• Avoid graphic bars and star ratings. They are hard to interpret and not always readable by screening software.

To make sure software can read your skills, see our guide to an ATS-friendly CV. With CVm8, you can paste the job ad and have your CV tailored automatically, bringing forward the skills from your profile that match it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills?

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities such as bookkeeping or programming. Soft skills describe how you work and interact with others, such as organisation, empathy or initiative.

How many skills should I put on my CV?

Around 8-15 skills in total is common, spread across hard skills, soft skills, IT and languages. Choose the ones most relevant to the job you are applying for.

What are the top skills to put on a CV?

There is no universal top ten: the best skills are the ones named in the job description that you can prove. Communication, problem-solving and relevant software skills are asked for in many roles, but they only count when backed by examples.

How do I describe my language skills on a CV?

List each language with a level, such as native, fluent or basic. For international applications, adding the CEFR level from A1 to C2 makes your level clear to any employer.

Should I put Microsoft Office on my CV?

Only if the job emphasises it or you have advanced skills, such as complex Excel modelling. Otherwise, the space is better used for the specialist tools relevant to the role.

Related guides

• CV Personal Statement: 9 Examples and a TemplateCV personal statement examples for 9 roles, a simple four-part template and the mistakes to avoid. Write a profile that gets the rest of your CV read.
• How to Write a CV: A Step-by-Step GuideLearn how to write a CV that gets read: structure, personal profile, work experience and skills explained step by step, with realistic examples.
• ATS-Friendly CV: How to Get Read and FoundWhat makes an ATS-friendly CV? Learn what applicant tracking systems really do, plus the layout, keywords and file format that get your CV found.
• Danish CV Format: How to Apply for Jobs in DenmarkThe Danish CV format explained for internationals: structure, length, tone, language and getting foreign qualifications recognised. See examples.