We live in a world where technology touches almost every aspect of our lives in some way, particularly our working lives.
And it doesn’t matter what industry you work in, you will always be required to use your technical skills in one way or another.
That is why you must showcase some of these on your CV.
But if you’re not sure which of your skills are CV-worthy, we can help. Here are 40 technical skills you might wish to include in your next application.
Contents
Workplace software skills
There are some popular workplace software that are used in a large number of roles. So when trying to prove you’re a good fit for the position, you should consider including the following:
- Project management tools – e.g. “Organised project manager, proficient in using task management platforms, including Wrike, Asana and Zoho”
- Accounting software – e.g. “Processed accounts payable using Sage Accounting software, continually offering timely bookkeeping”
- Social media – e.g. “Managed the company’s Instagram and Facebook profiles, securing a combined following of more than 10,000 new followers”
- Video conferencing – e.g. “Organised weekly Zoom meetings for the marketing team to better support remote and hybrid workers and foster closer team relationships”
- Graphic design – e.g. “Produced branded social media content using Canva to raise awareness of the company’s upcoming charity event”
- CRM – e.g. “Customer service representative with over 8 years experience, proficient in using CRM software, including Salesforce and Zendesk”
- Cloud computing – e.g. “Created cloud-based solutions to address client’s pain points and meet their specific requirements”
- File hosting – e.g. “Used Dropbox to quickly store and share files with the design team when working on reactive marketing for a Fortune 500 company”
- Web analytics – e.g. “Passionate analyst with 10 years experience, expert in SQL and Google Analytics”
- HR software – e.g. “Implemented new HR platform, EmploymentHero to streamline the onboarding process, making it easier to send digital contracts”
IT skills
As well as popular software, there are also some key IT skills that can support you in lots of different roles. Here are some examples to consider for your CV:
- Office suites – e.g. “Trained junior administrators how to get the most of different office suites, including Microsoft Office and G-Suite”
- Word processing – e.g. “Consolidated lengthy reports and documents on Microsoft Word to standardise the company’s internal communication templates”
- Spreadsheets – e.g. “Imported and managed data from external sources including reports, databases and web pages, as part of a huge research project”
- Email management – e.g. “Promptly and politely responded to an average of 30+ customer emails on a daily basis”
- Instant messaging – e.g. “Encouraged teams to collaborate in real-time using Slack to increase productivity and streamline communication across the workforce”
- Presentation – e.g. “Confidently created and delivered engaging PowerPoint presentations to over 80 prospective students a day”
- Operating systems – e.g. “In-depth knowledge of different operating systems, including iOS, Android and Microsoft”
- Database systems – e.g. “Updated the employee database on a quarterly basis to ensure that all information was accurate and in compliance with GDPR regulations”
- Computer networking – e.g. “Prepared workstations for all new starters, including the set up of their computer, connecting their device to all relevant servers, routers and modems”
- Cloud-based backup – e.g. “Ensured that all documents produced on Google Drive were saved and backed up before shutting down at the end of the day”
Engineering skills
There are some positions that require you to have more specific technical skills, like engineering abilities, and you need to be able to give valuable examples. These skills might include:
- Cybersecurity – e.g. “Ensured the company networks were subject to monthly penetration tests, reducing the risk of malicious attacks and data breaches”
- Basic programming – e.g. “Web designer with 6 years experience in the automotive industry, proficient in Javascript, C++ and Python”
- Testing – e.g. “Tested the company’s new graphic design software and applications, ensuring quality control and UX before the release date”
- Debugging – e.g. “As lead developer, I was responsible for testing and debugging any new features added to the company intranet system”
- Troubleshooting – e.g. “Diagnosed software issues on employee devices, including those of remote workers, finding solutions to fix the problem”
- Machine learning – e.g. “Expert machine learning engineer with 10+ years experience building successful algorithms and predictive models in the retail industry”
- 3D modelling – e.g. “Created 3D prototypes of all specialist products using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software”
- Workflow Development – e.g. “Created custom workflows through Monday.com to harmonise projects and collaboration across different departments”
- Quality control systems – e.g. “Focused quality control specialist with 5 years experience in inspection and issue detection”
- Data analysis – e.g. “Analysed financial data to identify areas of strength and weakness, offering actionable insights to the senior management team that saved the business £30,000 in 6 months”
Organisation skills
Organisation may be a transferable skill, but there are lots of tools and technical abilities related to this skill that can help boost your application. These include:
- Content Management Systems – e.g. “Enthusiastic media and communications graduate with experience generating and scheduling content on CMS, including WordPress and Wix”
- Data entry – e.g. “Saved the administration team up to 10 hours a week by implementing a new database management and data entry strategy”
- Scheduling – e.g. “Used online calendar software to schedule and share monthly meetings with every member of the sales team to discuss individual targets and goals”
- Online research – e.g. “Proficient in using Google, Uber Suggest and Ahrefs to conduct keyword research and find relevant keywords for SEO-related content”
- Company intranets – e.g. “Introduced LumApps across the organisation, giving all employees immediate access to the company’s guidelines, goals and values”
- Workflow management – e.g. “Made the decision to move the entire team of 50+ employees onto a new process management software to streamline communications and workflows”
- Record keeping – e.g. “Implemented cloud-based accounting software, Xero, to ensure accurate and timely record keeping”
- Inventory – e.g. “Results-driven warehouse operative, performing inventory controls, stock taking and order fulfilment on a daily basis”
- Calendar management – e.g. “Utilised Google Calendars to manage the busy schedules of 2 of the company’s top executives”
What are technical skills?
Technical skills are those that typically require specific training or practice to acquire and are usually required to perform specific job roles. They are not qualities we develop over time, such as interpersonal skills, honesty and integrity, they must be taught to us (whether self-taught or by someone else).
Although every job requires some technical skills, some of the more advanced are related to industries like science, engineering, finance, tech and manufacturing
Why are technical skills important?
As we’ve said, nowadays, most jobs will require professionals to use tools or conduct certain activities that rely on technology. That is why highlighting any relevant technical skills on your CV is important for proving you’ve got what it takes to succeed.
This can be particularly crucial if the employer has outlined a number of technical skills in the job description.
How to include technical skills on your CV
Technical skills can stand out on a CV, particularly when using the names of specific tools. As these can be eye-catching and quickly help the recruiter see that you’re a good fit, they need to be included throughout your application.
In your CV profile
What better way to immediately grab the reader’s attention than to place some of the most important technical skills at the top of the page, in your personal profile?
However, this profile needs to be snappy and engaging, so this should be reserved for only the most relevant and impressive technical skills you possess. And don’t simply list them. Give them context by sharing key projects or achievements where you’ve applied these skills.
In your jobs
As we move further down the page, your employment section gives you ample opportunity to showcase your technical skill set.
With each past position that you list, you can use bullet points to highlight any particularly relevant or important technical abilities.
It’s worth noting that the recruiter will scan through your application fairly quickly. So it’s better to place the most impressive skills nearer the top and to quantify these wherever possible to help them stand out even further.
What to avoid
Last but certainly not least, here’s what to avoid doing when including your technical skills on your CV. First of all, don’t rely solely on your key skills section for your technical abilities. Showcase these throughout as we’ve discussed above.
Not only that, but one of the most important things you need to avoid when writing your application is listing irrelevant or outdated technical skills, as these take up precious space.
Sure, you might have been a dab hand with a fax machine once or you might have relied on Ask Jeeves for everything back in the day, but these are no longer relevant.
Finally, when using the names of specific tools or technology, make sure you spell these correctly. Nothing can crush your interview dreams like a spelling mistake on your CV.