Types of Hard Skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\nTechnical Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Technical skills involve knowing how to use specific software or equipment. You often need these skills for jobs in information technology, engineering, and science, but hard technical skills can come in handy in a variety of positions. Technical skills are highly-sought after, too \u2014 according to a 2022 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)<\/a>, 50% of employers are looking for technical skills on candidates’ resumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of technical skills include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n >>MORE:<\/strong> Check out our picks for the best online coding bootcamps of 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gathering and analyzing data is a core function of many jobs. Data literacy and the ability to accurately understand and draw conclusions from data is a crucial skill for most workplaces. As technology grows, knowing how to make data-driven decisions is vital to the success of many businesses and industries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of analytical hard skills and programs that help with analysis include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Explore how data analysis can transform businesses with BCG's free job simulation. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t5 to 6 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunication, business understanding, hypothesis framing, programming, data visualization, creativity, modeling, model evaluation, model interpretation\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Computer skills can range from basic computer literacy to being able to code or program computers. In modern workplaces, knowing your way around a computer is a vital skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of computer skills are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n >>MORE:<\/strong> Learn more about the top skills you need on your resume<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hard skills for marketing<\/a> include the familiarity with specific programs and platforms needed to track or create marketing materials and campaigns. Marketing skills also involve being able to communicate effectively and persuasively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of marketing skills include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n While general communication skills<\/a> are often considered soft skills<\/a>, hard communication skills involve specific ways of effectively showing and telling information and ideas to others. Communication skills can be as simple as writing professional emails to colleagues or as intricate as creating graphs and images to explain specific concepts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of hard communication skills include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Discover insights in complex data with Tata's free job simulation. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t3.5 to 4.5 hrs\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tData analysis, data interpretation, data visualization, charts and graphs, visual basics, analysis and presentation, effective communication\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Business, finance<\/a>, and management skills are specific abilities required for running and regulating business and commerce. These skills involve being able to use certain programs to ensure the business runs smoothly and making calculations to inform difficult business decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of business, finance, and management skills include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are virtually endless examples of hard skills. Essentially, if it’s something you can learn and can prove your expertise in, it’s probably a hard skill. Some are hyper-specific to certain industries, though. For example, being able to cut hair is a hard skill for hairstylists and running an X-ray machine is a hard skill for a radiologist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other examples of hard skills are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Build the confidence and practical skills that employers are looking for with Forage’s free job simulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use your resume<\/a> and cover letter<\/a> to show off your hard skills. Remember to back them up with evidence, too. For example, you can mention a project you worked on that used a specific skill or a course you took that taught you the skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen it comes to featuring hard skills in your resume, make sure you don’t just dump the terms in your Skills section and call it a day,\u201d Daniel Lorenzo, marketing director at Let\u2019s Eat, Grandma, says. \u201cYou need to provide clear evidence that you have used that skill to achieve results throughout your resume \u2013 mostly in your bullet points and your summary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utilize the space in your cover letter to expand upon the key skills you mention in your resume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn a cover letter, you can weave your hard skills into a story or anecdote that also tells \u2026 why you’re an outstanding candidate,\u201d says Dan Shortbridge, resume writer and career coach and founder of Results Resumes. \u201cFor example, a welder can describe how they first became interested in welding and honed their skills creating items at their vocational-technical high school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expert Tip:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t have related work experience it can be helpful to showcase hard skills that you\u2019ve developed via your education by adding a \u201crelated coursework\u201d section under your degree in the education section of the resume.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Employers want to see a mix of both hard skills and soft skills<\/a>, and the difference between the two may not always be easy to define. Take communication<\/em> for example: the ability to talk and interact with coworkers or clients professionally is typically considered an interpersonal or soft skill<\/a>, but written communication is often labeled as a hard skill. Interpersonal skills<\/a> aren’t something you can typically learn in a course or earn a certificate in, but you can learn to write effectively through school or training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Showcasing both hard and soft skills in your resume and cover letter can help you prove to employers that you have the technical abilities to do the job as well as the interpersonal and organizational skills to work effectively within their company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What careers are right for you based on your skills? Take this quiz to find out. It’s completely free \u2014 you’ll just need to sign up to get your results!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Analytical Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Computer Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Marketing Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Communication Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Tata Data Visualization<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Business, Finance, and Management Skills <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Other Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Showcase new skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Showcase Your Hard Skills to Employers <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Include Both Hard and Soft Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Career Is Right for You Based on Your Hard Skills? Quiz<\/h2>\n\n\n\n