Hard skills examples by industry and how to put them on your CV
What hard skills are (and why they matter)
Hard skills are technical, concrete and verifiable abilities: software, programming languages, foreign languages, certifications, machinery, work methodologies. Unlike soft skills, they're objective: either you can use a tool or you can't. That's why they're the first thing ATS systems screen for and the first thing a recruiter scans in the opening seconds. For the full picture, read our guide on choosing the right skills for your CV.
Hard skills by industry: concrete examples
Every industry has its own technical vocabulary. Here are realistic examples to start from:
- IT and development: Python, Java, SQL, Git, Docker, AWS, automated testing, Agile methodology.
- Marketing and digital: Google Ads, Meta Ads, SEO, Google Analytics 4, email marketing, copywriting, HubSpot.
- Administration and accounting: bookkeeping, e-invoicing, payroll management, advanced Excel, ERP software (SAP, Sage).
- Manufacturing and technical: technical drawing interpretation, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CNC programming, quality control, ISO standards.
- Healthcare and care: electronic health record management, medication administration, BLS certification, sterilisation protocols.
- Sales and retail: CRM use (Salesforce), point-of-sale handling, KPI analysis, contract negotiation.
Pick only the entries you genuinely command and that the job posting calls for.
How to write them on your CV
Group your hard skills in a dedicated section, ordered by category. A structure that works:
- Software and tools: name + level (basic, intermediate, advanced).
- Languages: the European A1-C2 scale (e.g. English C1, Spanish B2). No percentages or star ratings.
- Certifications: exact name + issuing body + year (e.g. Google Analytics Certified, 2025).
Always state your real level. Writing "Photoshop expert" when you open it twice a year falls apart in the first interview.
Prove your hard skills, don't just list them
A bare list isn't very convincing. The most credible hard skills are the ones tied to a result:
- Weak: Knowledge of SQL
- Strong: Used SQL to build reports that cut monthly reporting time by 30%
- Weak: Google Ads
- Strong: Managed Google Ads campaigns worth $10,000/month, lowering cost per lead by 20%
Numbers, context and tools make a skill verifiable. Work them into your experience entries, not just the skills list.
Match your hard skills to the job posting
The right hard skills are the ones the posting asks for and that you genuinely have. Reread the ad, spot the recurring technical terms and echo them on your CV where they're true for you: that's how you raise your ATS match and catch the recruiter's eye. Tailor it for every application; don't send the same file to everyone.
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Frequently asked questions
What are hard skills, with an example?
They're measurable, verifiable technical abilities. Examples: advanced Excel, coding in Python, speaking C1 English, using AutoCAD or handling bookkeeping. You learn them through study and practice, and you can prove them with certifications or projects.
What's the difference between hard skills and soft skills?
Hard skills are technical and objective (software, languages, certifications). Soft skills are transferable and behavioural (communication, problem solving, teamwork). A CV needs both, balanced to the role, but hard skills are what ATS systems screen for first.
How do I put hard skills on my CV?
Create a Technical skills section with entries grouped by category (software, languages, certifications) and state your real level. Where you can, tie them to a result: not just Excel, but used Excel to automate reports that saved 5 hours a week.
How many hard skills should I list?
The ones most relevant to the posting: usually 6 to 10 well-chosen entries. Echo the technical terms from the ad where they're genuinely true for you, so you boost your ATS match without padding the CV with generic or irrelevant skills.
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