Skills to Put on Your CV: What Employers Want in 2026
The skills employers say they want, examples of hard and soft skills for your CV, and how to prove them instead of just listing them.
Alexander Phillip
Career Coach and Recruitment Expert
Short answer: put skills on your CV that the job advert asks for and that you can prove. Mix hard skills (tools, software, licences, languages, technical know-how) with a few soft skills (communication, teamwork, problem solving), and show them in your experience bullets, not only in a list.
What skills do employers want in 2026?
The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 asked employers around the world which skills matter most. Analytical thinking came first, followed by resilience, flexibility and agility, and leadership and social influence. The fastest-growing skills were AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy, alongside creative thinking and curiosity and lifelong learning.
For your CV, that means: show you can think through problems, adapt, work with people, and use digital tools confidently.
Hard skills to put on a CV (examples)
- Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, or Google Sheets and Docs
- Accounting software, point-of-sale systems or a CRM
- Data entry, report writing, bookkeeping
- Using AI tools for research or writing
- A driving licence and its class
- Languages, with your level
- Job-specific skills: first aid, forklift operation, lesson planning, AutoCAD, social media management
Soft skills to put on a CV (examples)
- Communication, written and spoken
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Customer service
- Adaptability
- Leadership
How to show skills so recruiters believe them
A list says you have a skill. A bullet point proves it. Pair each important skill with something you did:
- Problem solving: "Found and corrected errors in the monthly stock report before it went to the manager."
- Communication: "Explained loan terms to customers in English and Swahili."
- Leadership: "Organised the weekend shift rota for the sales team."
Skills to put on a CV with no experience
Use skills from study, volunteering and daily life: Excel from coursework, presenting from class projects, customer service from a family shop, languages you speak. More in how to write a CV with no experience.
How many skills should you list?
Six to ten is usually enough. Put the ones in the job advert first. Drop vague words like "hardworking" unless your experience shows it. Name your two strongest skills in your CV personal profile too.
Where do skills go on a CV?
In a Skills section after education or experience, in your summary (two or three key ones) and inside your experience bullets. Matching the advert's wording helps; see how to tailor your CV.
Add your skills the easy way
The AI CV Agent suggests skills for your job title that you tap to keep, and saves only the ones you choose or mention. Then pick a CV template and test the result with the free ATS CV checker.
Not sure which skills fit your job? Build your CV with the AI CV Agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills should I put on my CV?
Skills the job advert asks for and that you can prove: hard skills such as software, tools, licences and languages, plus a few soft skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving.
What skills do employers want most in 2026?
In the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025, employers ranked analytical thinking first, then resilience, flexibility and agility, and leadership and social influence. AI and big data were the fastest-growing skills.
How many skills should be on a CV?
Six to ten relevant skills is usually enough, with the ones the job asks for listed first.
What skills can I put on a CV with no experience?
Skills from study, volunteering and everyday life, such as Excel, presenting, customer service from a family business, and the languages you speak.
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