How can you format your technical skills section to be more effective?

2 Group skills by category

Another way to format your technical skills section is to group your skills by category or type. This makes it easier for the reader to scan and understand your skill set and level of expertise. For example, you can group your skills by programming languages, software applications, frameworks, databases, operating systems, hardware, or certifications. You can also use subheadings or labels to separate and highlight each category. For example:

Programming Languages: Python, Java, C++, Ruby

Software Applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

Frameworks: Django, Rails, Laravel

Databases: MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL

Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS

Hardware: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, FPGA

Certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Cisco Certified Network Associate, CompTIA Security+

3 Use keywords and phrases

Another tip to format your technical skills section is to use keywords and phrases that match the job description and the employer's expectations. Keywords and phrases are specific terms that describe your skills and abilities in a concise and relevant way. They help you optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS), which are software tools that scan and filter resumes based on keywords. They also help you catch the attention of human recruiters and hiring managers who are looking for candidates with certain skills. For example, instead of writing "familiar with" or "knowledgeable in", you can use keywords and phrases such as "proficient in", "experienced with", "skilled in", or "expert in" to describe your technical skills.

4 Use bullet points and numbers

Organizing and quantifying your technical skills is an effective way to format your skills section. Bullet points create a concise list that is easy to read, while numbers help you demonstrate your achievements and results related to your skills. For example, you can use numbers to indicate how many years or hours of experience you have with a skill, how many projects or tasks you have completed using a skill, how many users or clients you have served with a skill, or how much you have improved or saved with a skill. For instance, showcasing that you are proficient in Python with over 5 years of experience and 10+ projects completed; skilled in Photoshop with over 500 hours of training and 20+ designs created; experienced with Django framework with over 100,000 users and 50% increase in performance; and expert in AWS with certification and 30% reduction in costs.

5 Use a table or a chart

Another option to format your technical skills section is to use a table or a chart to display your skills in a visual and attractive way. A table or a chart can help you highlight your most important or relevant skills, compare your skills with the job requirements, or show your proficiency or rating for each skill. For example, you can use a table or a chart to show your skills in different categories, such as:

| Programming Languages | Software Applications | Frameworks |

| --------------------- | -------------------- | --------- |

| Python | Photoshop | Django |

| Java | Illustrator | Rails |

| C++ | InDesign | Laravel |

Or you can use a table or a chart to show your skills in different levels, such as:

| Skill | Level |

| ----------- | ---------- |

| HTML | Expert |

| CSS | Proficient |

| JavaScript | Intermediate |

| React | Beginner |

Or you can use a table or a chart to show your skills in different ratings, such as:

| Skill | Rating |

| ----------- | ---------- |

| Python | 5/5 |

| Java | 4/5 |

| C++ | 3/5 |

| Ruby | 2/5 |