“Hard skills” means teachable, job-specific abilities such as software use, analysis, accounting, coding, or technical procedures. On a resume, a more specific label often reads better.
Use a More Specific Skills Label
- Technical skills
- Technical competencies
- Job-specific skills
- Professional skills
- Specialist skills
- Practical skills
- Technical expertise
- Core competencies
- Functional skills
- Specialized knowledge
- Software skills
- Analytical skills
- Trade skills
- Industry-specific skills
- Applied skills
Technical skills
The most common professional alternative for job-specific technical abilities.
Example: Technical skills: Python, SQL, Power BI, and Git.
Technical competencies
A slightly more formal heading for demonstrated technical capability.
Example: Technical competencies include statistical analysis and database management.
Job-specific skills
Clear wording for abilities directly tied to the role.
Example: The training develops job-specific skills in equipment inspection.
Professional skills
A broad label that can include hard and sometimes soft skills, so use it carefully.
Example: Professional skills include financial modelling and contract analysis.
Specialist skills
Best when the abilities require specific expertise or training.
Example: Specialist skills: GIS mapping and spatial analysis.
Practical skills
Useful for hands-on or applied capabilities.
Example: Practical skills include laboratory preparation and sample handling.
Technical expertise
Stronger wording when you have substantial depth rather than basic competence.
Example: Technical expertise in cloud infrastructure and network security.
Core competencies
A broad resume heading for important capabilities, though it can include nontechnical strengths.
Example: Core competencies: forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting.
Functional skills
Common in HR and business for capabilities tied to a particular function.
Example: Functional skills include procurement, supplier management, and contract negotiation.
Specialized knowledge
Best when expertise includes substantial subject knowledge as well as practical ability.
Example: Specialized knowledge of regulatory reporting requirements.
Software skills
Use when the “hard skills” are mainly specific applications or platforms.
Example: Software skills: Excel, Tableau, Salesforce, and Jira.
Analytical skills
Appropriate when the technical capability centers on data, reasoning, or quantitative work.
Example: Analytical skills include regression modelling and data visualization.
Trade skills
Best for skilled trades and hands-on vocational expertise.
Example: Trade skills include electrical installation and fault diagnosis.
Industry-specific skills
Useful when abilities are strongly tied to a particular sector.
Example: Industry-specific skills include claims assessment and underwriting.
Applied skills
A broad term for abilities used in practice rather than only understood theoretically.
Example: Applied skills include survey design and qualitative interviewing.