Adding IT and Tech Skills to Your Resume [With Examples]

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Technology has infiltrated nearly every type of profession, from automobile mechanics to office clerks. This means it has become increasingly important to list IT skills when you are putting together a resume for nearly any type of job.

According to the Future of Jobs 2023 report from the World Economic Forum, technological literacy comes in at #6 on the Top Skills of 2023 list. As far as Top Skills on the Rise, both technological literacy and AI and big data are among the top 10 in 2023 (#3 and #6, respectively).

“Tech is everywhere in the labor market,” said Richard Wahlquist, CEO of the American Staffing Association, in July 2023. “As the demand for tech workers continues, companies are changing their job descriptions to focus more on skills and less on degrees.”

While the type of tech skills being sought might vary from one industry or employer to another, there are a few technological skills that stand out above others when it comes to what employers are looking for. Among the top tech skills being sought as of 2023 are:

• Data analytics
• Data communication
• Artificial intelligence
• Cloud computing
• Digital marketing
• Cybersecurity
• Machine learning
• DevOps
• Networking

The IT Skills You Need Will Depend on the Industry

At first glance, you might assume that most of the skills listed above are needed only in tech jobs, but as technology continues to spread more and more into traditionally non-tech careers, these skills become even more important.

Think about the use of AI over the last year or two. Many workers use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini in their day-to-day work, as well as AI-generated suggestions in their emails and documents. You see? Customer service reps can include AI skills on their resumes as well as Machine Learning Engineers.

For example, data analytics and analytical skills can often be sought-after in the healthcare industry, as patient record-keeping has become more digitalized. Software programming, too, can be essential in healthcare, as the industry more and more relies on electronic programs for patient records and healthcare information.

The finance, human resources, marketing, and sales industries are other examples of those that seek data analytical and software skills, from analyzing marketing data to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software used in various professional areas, such as retail, sales, and banking.

What Tech Skills Are Most Sought After by Employers?

While some tech skills might be more sought after than others, there does not seem to be a clear-cut list of specific tech skills across all industries.

Basically, as we mentioned earlier, tech skills are industry-specific. The tech skills required for a healthcare manager or human resources director would be different than those being sought for a software developer.

So, it’s best to look at the requirements being listed within a specific industry or by a specific employer and attempt to emphasize those skills on your resume with industry terminology and keywords, if possible.

You can also use chatbots such as ChatGPT to help you with your job search by asking it to give you information on what skills the role you are pursuing requires and then trying to match yours to its suggestions.

Confidence in using video conferencing, word processors, spreadsheets, and web browsers are among the basic technological skills that are required for many occupations. These are some of the skills employers might typically look for even when hiring for non-tech positions.

These can also be extremely useful when you are looking for a remote job and don’t have any or much experience yet.

Other basic technology and software skills for your resume could include:

• Database Administration
• Website design
• E-mail management
• Microsoft Office proficiency
• Sound knowledge of Google Workspace 
• Computer network and basic cybersecurity knowledge

These are examples of IT skills that, if you have them, you should list even on a non-technological resume. Possessing these skills could give you an edge over those candidates who demonstrate fewer abilities within IT.

For example, possessing data administration skills could be helpful if you’re applying for a customer service representative position where you will need to work within a customer database.  Having website design skills might be a plus if you’re looking to become a marketing associate or would like to work in e-commerce.

How to List IT Skills on a Resume

One good way to list technology skills on a resume is in a separate Skills section. Where you place this list on your resume might depend on what industry you work in, how much experience you have, or if you want to write a resume for skills-based hiring.

• You can place it just below your resume summary if you work in a tech industry where software and IT skills are imperative.
• If you work in a less tech-dependant sector, for example, as a Copywriter, you might choose to list these hard skills after your Experience or Education sections.

Wherever you list your skills, it can be a good idea to create two headings: one for Hard, or Tech Skills, and one for Soft Skills.

Have a look at these IT skills examples listed in this way:

However, it may not be enough to simply list your tech skills in a Skills section.

Outline Your IT Skills in Your Resume Summary

You might want to emphasize the skills mentioned in the job posting to which you are replying. This can be done by naming a few of these skills in your resume summary. Since the summary appears at the top of your resume, this is an opportunity to let a recruiter immediately see that you have the skills they are seeking.

example

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Systems administrator with 8+ years of experience working in the IT departments of leading manufacturing companies. Expert in Linux, Windows, iOS, and Red Hat, with certifications in CompTIA Linux+ and RHCA. Strong skills in cloud computing and computer security.

Show When and How You Used IT in the Workplace

Next, you can really drive home your technological skill set in your work experience section. Rather than simply listing your job duties and responsibilities, you could provide some examples of how you applied those skills in the workplace.

Not exactly the kind of entry that wows recruiters. You should always name the systems and software you have experience with. It also helps to include metrics that demonstrate your accomplishments with this software.

List the IT Skills You Learned at School or College

Most college degrees require that students use at least the basic office packages such as MS Office and Google Workspace to prepare word-processed documents and slide presentations. 

Other specialized degrees such as Computer Science will include courses on programming languages, computer networks, Cybersecurity, development, and more. 

The emphasis of a resume for a more experienced candidate will be on the Experience section, but entry-level candidates can list their IT Skills in their Education section, or just below the resume summary if they are applying for tech-sector roles.

Did you partake in any extracurricular activities while at college that put your IT skills to use? You can include these too. Just keep the description to one bullet point, including the skills and software you used.

Here is an example of listing IT skills in the Education section:

Example

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Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

University of Washington, Seattle 

2022

• Completed coursework: Machine Learning, Python Development, Linear Algebra, Probability, and Statistics
• End-of-year project: Developed a game using Unity

Prove You are the Strongest Candidate with Your IT Certifications

There are many reasons to add professional certifications to a resume, from validating skills to emphasizing your proficiency in specific areas.

Again, competition is high in the IT industry. In October 2022, Forbes reported that job searches for top tech companies such as Meta and Google had doubled at that time, while Pathrise states that with massive layoffs in the industry since the Covid-19 pandemic, there are more qualified candidates than there are jobs in 2023.

Therefore, listing your up-to-date certifications gives you an edge over candidates who lack such credentials.

IT certifications are offered by software manufacturers, digital communications companies, technology corporations, computer trade associations, and cloud computing companies.

Some of the most popular or sought-after tech certifications to include on your resume once you become qualified are:

• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
• Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate
• Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
• CompTIA (A+, Cloud+, Security+)
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

To properly list your IT certifications, in addition to the name of the certification, list the organization that granted the credential, the date it was granted, and the expiration date if applicable. Be sure all of your certifications are up to date before listing them.

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Professional IT Certifications

• Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP), July 2022 (2025) – IEEE
• Certified Information Security Manager, October 2022 (CISM) – ISACA
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional, May 2021 (CISSP) (2024) – ISC2

Avoid Mistakes When Listing Tech Skills on a Resume

While specific keywords might be necessary when submitting a resume that might be analyzed by an ATS program, it’s not a good idea to cram too many of those keywords into your skills list. There is a world of difference between using some keywords for optimization and keyword stuffing; the latter will likely have the opposite effect and wind up with your resume being filtered from the system.

It’s a good idea to check which skills are mentioned in the job posting you are replying to and only focus on those for your tech skills section.

If you’re adding an example of how you used each of the tech skills you’ve listed, keep it brief. A line or so is best; avoid writing an entire paragraph describing how you used each skill.

Be sure to avoid these and any other resume writing mistakes by checking out our resume examples. 

In Summary

These days it is vital to have at least some basic skills in IT for most jobs. Where you decide to highlight these may depend on the sector you work in and how important these skills are to the role.

Remember you can:

• Mention key IT skills in your resume summary at the top of your document
• Choose to list your Tech skills directly after your summary and before your Experience section, to give them extra importance.
• Name-drop the software you have used in current and previous roles within the Experience section.
• List your IT/Tech/Hard skills under their own subheading in bullet form
• Include your professional IT certifications in their own dedicated section or within the Education section.

With these tips in mind, you are ready to create or update your resume to include your strongest IT skills, using ResumeGiants’ AI skills generator will help you highlight your potential.

Our free online resume builder is a great tool that can help you produce the type of document to make you really stand out in the crowded tech field.

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