Most people spend hours on their work history and about two minutes on their skills section. That is a missed opportunity. Recruiters scan a CV in seconds, and the skills section is often where they look first to decide whether you are worth a closer read.
This guide explains which skills to put on a CV, how many to list, where the section should go and how to prove each skill with evidence. It includes UK examples for every career level.
Why the skills section matters
A good skills section does two jobs at once. It tells a busy reader what you can do, and it helps your CV pass automated screening. Many UK employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to filter applications before a person sees them. If you want the full picture, read our ATS CV optimisation guide.
The National Careers Service also lists skills as a standard CV section, so UK recruiters expect to see one. The trick is to make yours specific, relevant and believable.
Hard, soft and transferable skills
Before you choose what to list, it helps to know the three types of skill. A strong CV usually blends all three.
Hard skills
Hard skills are teachable and measurable. They include software, qualifications, technical methods and specialist knowledge. Examples are Excel modelling, SQL, payroll processing, CAD design, project budgeting and SEO.
Soft skills
Soft skills describe how you work with other people. They include communication, stakeholder management, negotiation, coaching and problem solving. Employers value them highly, but they are easy to claim and hard to prove. That is why evidence matters.
Transferable skills
Transferable skills move with you from one role or sector to another. Examples are leadership, planning, analysis, customer service and report writing. They are especially useful if you are changing career or returning to work.
How to choose the right skills
Do not list every skill you have. List the ones this employer wants. Start with the job advert and work through it in three steps.
- Highlight every skill, tool and requirement in the advert.
- Tick the ones you genuinely have and can discuss at interview.
- Use the advert’s own wording where it is accurate, such as “stakeholder engagement” rather than “working with people”.
This approach keeps your CV honest and relevant. It also helps with ATS keyword matching, because the system looks for the same terms the employer used.
How many skills should you list?
Aim for six to ten skills in a dedicated section. Fewer than six can look thin. More than ten starts to look like a keyword dump, and nobody believes a list of twenty.
Put your strongest and most relevant skills first. Readers pay most attention to the top of any list, so lead with what the job needs most.
Where to put the skills section
For most UK CVs, the best place is directly under your CV personal profile. That way the reader sees your headline skills before they reach your work history.
If you are an early-career candidate with limited experience, the same placement works. If you have a long career, you can place a short skills block near the top and weave further skills into your achievements below.
Prove each skill with evidence
A list of skills tells the reader what you claim. Evidence shows what you have done. The strongest CVs link the two by repeating key skills inside the work history bullets, with a result attached.
Here is a simple before and after.
Before: Skills: communication, leadership, budgeting.
After: Led a team of 12 and managed a £450k annual budget, cutting overspend by 8% through monthly forecasting and clearer reporting to senior stakeholders.
The second version names the skills without simply listing them. It gives scale, action and outcome. A reader can picture what you did and trust it.
Key skills block or skills-based CV?
There are two common ways to present skills, and the right choice depends on your situation.
The key skills block
This is a short list of six to ten skills, usually in two or three columns, placed under your profile. It suits most people and works well with ATS software. It is the format we recommend for the majority of UK job seekers.
The skills-based CV
A skills-based (or functional) CV groups your experience under skill headings instead of by job. It can help career changers or people with gaps. However, many recruiters distrust it because it hides your timeline. If you use it, still include a short employment history so the reader can see where and when you worked.
UK CV skills examples by career level
Use these examples as a starting point. Always tailor them to your target role and keep only what is true.
School leaver or graduate
Focus on skills from study, part-time work and volunteering. Our guide to CV examples for students shows full layouts. A short list might read:
- Written and verbal communication (presentations, team projects)
- Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
- Customer service in a busy retail setting
- Research and data analysis (dissertation)
- Time management across competing deadlines
- Teamwork and collaboration
Mid-career professional
Lean on measurable, role-specific skills and show how they have grown. For example, a marketing manager might list:
- Campaign planning and budget management
- SEO and content strategy
- Google Analytics and reporting
- Stakeholder management
- Agency and supplier negotiation
- Team coaching and development
Manager or executive
Senior readers look for strategic capability and commercial impact. Keep the list short and high level, and prove each item in your achievements. Examples include:
- Strategic planning and P&L ownership
- Change and transformation leadership
- Board and investor reporting
- Organisational design and talent development
- Commercial negotiation
- Risk and governance
Career changer
Choose transferable skills that match the new field, and say how you have used them. For example, a teacher moving into learning and development might list:
- Curriculum and training design
- Presenting to groups of all sizes
- Coaching and feedback
- Stakeholder communication with parents and leaders
- Data tracking and progress reporting
- Planning and prioritisation
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing vague buzzwords. Phrases like “hard-working” and “team player” say little without proof.
- Rating yourself. Skill bars and star ratings are subjective and ATS software often cannot read them.
- Including outdated tools. Listing software nobody uses any more dates your CV.
- Copying the job advert word for word. Match the language, but only for skills you really have.
- Forgetting evidence. A skill with no example anywhere else on the CV is easy to doubt.
If you would like a second pair of eyes on yours, our Free CV Review will show you what is working and what to change.
CV skills section FAQs
What skills should I put on my CV?
Choose six to ten skills that match the job advert and that you can prove. Blend hard skills, such as software and technical knowledge, with soft and transferable skills such as communication and leadership.
How many skills should I list on a CV?
Six to ten is a good guide. Put the most relevant skills first, and back them up with examples in your work history.
Should I have a separate skills section on my CV?
Yes, for most UK CVs. A short skills section under your profile helps recruiters and ATS software see your fit quickly. You should still show the same skills in action in your achievements.
What are transferable skills on a CV?
Transferable skills are abilities that apply across roles and sectors, such as planning, analysis, leadership and customer service. They are especially useful for career changers and people returning to work.
Is a skills-based CV a good idea in the UK?
It can help in some cases, such as a career change, but many UK recruiters prefer a clear employment timeline. If you use a skills-based layout, keep a short work history so the reader can see your career path.
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