Skills for Resume
Short answer: List 8–12 skills on your resume: 6–8 hard skills (tools, languages, methods) matching the job description exactly, plus 2–4 soft skills only if backed by a bullet. Put skills in a dedicated section and repeat the top 3 in your summary and experience bullets — ATS systems match strings, not synonyms.
The skills section is not a personality test. It is a keyword field that parsers read and recruiters Ctrl+F through. Every skill should appear somewhere else on the resume with evidence.
Hard skills vs soft skills
Hard skills — searchable, verifiable: Python, Tally ERP 9, GST filing, SQL, Figma, SEO, project management, Agile.
Soft skills — only list if a bullet proves them: "Led a 6-person cross-functional team" proves leadership; listing "leadership" alone proves nothing.
Ratio: 80% hard, 20% soft maximum.
How to match job description keywords
Open 3 target JDs. Highlight repeated tool and method names. Those 8–12 terms are your skill list — spelled exactly as the JD spells them ("Google Ads" not "PPC", "GST compliance" not "tax work").
Weave each top skill into at least one experience bullet. Skills that appear only in the skills section and nowhere else read as stuffing.
Skills section format for ATS
Use a simple list or comma-separated line — not icons, not progress bars, not star ratings. Group optionally: Technical: Java, Spring Boot, MySQL · Tools: Git, Jira, Postman.
On Naukri, mirror the same terms in the Key Skills field — it is the highest-weight keyword box on the platform.
Examples
Java, Python, React, Node.js, SQL, REST APIs, Git, AWS, System Design, Agile/Scrum
Tally ERP 9, GST filing, TDS, bank reconciliation, MS Excel (pivot, vlookup), SAP FICO basics
Hard worker, team player, quick learner, good communication, MS Office, internet surfing