By Andrea Hargraves 
A well written resume is key to getting your dream job. While it is important to highlight your professional experience and education, another key factor is hard skills. These skills are specific and measurable, usually gained through work experience and training, and demonstrating them effectively will help you stand out from the crowd of applicants. In this context, Forbes explains what these elements are and how to use them on your resume.
Also referred to as technical skills, hard skills are quantifiable and relevant to a particular industry or job. Generally, it is taught and can be verified through demonstration or evaluation. They are important because they determine whether you will be able to perform tasks effectively, complete projects, and excel in your role.
They are categorized into different groups, and here are some examples:
Analytical skills: Involves the ability to solve complex problems, analyze data and make quick decisions. Financial analysis, statistical models, and data analysis are examples of these skills.
Technical skills: Specific to certain technologies, programs or tools. For example, proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel, or programming languages such as Python.
Project management skills: How to plan, budget and manage time demonstrates your ability to effectively lead teams and handle complex tasks.
How do you use hard skills on your resume?
To get noticed by recruiters, including hard skills on your resume is essential. Here are some tips:
Add skills section: While you can incorporate core skills into your resume, adding a specific section makes it easier for employers to focus on them. You can sort them by headings like “certificates,” “language skills,” or “technical skills.”
Use of verbs: They get straight to the heart of the matter and tell recruiters what you’re capable of. Power action verbs demonstrate your expertise in specific skills.
Measure your achievements: It gives recruiters insight into the success of the project you were responsible for. For example, “Increase organic views by 40% through search engine optimization.”
Include testimonials: Although they need to be verified by your potential employer, they are worth mentioning. Hard skills certifications provide evidence of your proficiency in the field.
Related skills: While all hard skills are important, it doesn’t make sense to point out those that are not relevant to the role. Read the job description to find out what skills are required and adapt them to the job.
Don’t be afraid to highlight hard skills on your resume, as it’s a valuable tool to help you gain a competitive edge over other job candidates.