How to improve technical skills and add them to your resumé

When you’re looking for a job, it’s important to set yourself apart in any way that you can. Things like updating the look of your resumé to feature your achievements is a good start. One vital part is adding technical skills. These tell the hiring manager you have the core skills needed to be successful in the role. Whatever your industry, technical skills can help you get noticed and progress your career. 

But what are technical skills and how can you build them? In this article, we explore examples of technical skills and provide tips on how to highlight them on your resumé. Whether you're looking for a promotion or are on the hunt for new opportunities, mastering these skills can help get you there.

What are technical skills? Understanding these skills

Technical skills are a great way to show off the work you can do, giving you a boost and helping you get recognised by potential employers. The good news is, these skills are learned, and linked to your ability to perform specific tasks.  

The difference between technical skills and soft skills 

The main difference between these types of skills is that one is to do with task-related competencies and the other is to do with personal qualities. Technical skills include knowing processes, analysing data and understanding software. Soft skills relate to how you interact with others and approach your work, and include communication, problem solving and teamwork. Both are equally important in a workplace. 

Types of technical skills 

There are so many types of technical skills in different industry that you can use to bolster your resumé. Some common examples include:

• Computer skills: knowledge of software applications, programming languages and more
• Technical writing: putting together comprehensive manuals, reports and more
• Project management: planning and overseeing projects
• Industry-specific skills: such as CAD design in engineering or SEO in digital marketing
• Industry-specific operating systems: this can include things like project management software or scheduling platforms

Importance of technical skills in different fields 

No matter what field you’re in, there will be a set of technical skills to help you get ahead. While it’s a little more obvious in fields like IT, engineering and data analysis, it’s important to know you can still have relevant technical skills in other industries that can set you apart and help you carry out your role with confidence.

How to improve your technical skills

When applying for new jobs, improving your technical skill set is one of the best ways to stand out. Start by identifying the specific skills you need to develop, then set clear, achievable goals. Create a learning plan, set regular time for practice and track your progress. Don’t hesitate to experiment by taking on challenging projects that push your boundaries. And remember to be easy on yourself – learning is an ongoing journey.

Role of continuous learning

Online courses, workshops, training programs and industry conferences will push you to stay ahead of the game. Ongoing learning is the perfect way to validate your skills and demonstrate your commitment to professional development. Plus, it looks great on your resumé!

Practical experience and hands-on learning 

We all learn differently, and part of that is real-world practice. Practical experience helps build confidence while exposing any gaps in knowledge. Engage in hands-on projects, participate in workplace challenges or put your hand up for extra tasks. Real-world experience is the best way to learn and improve.

Measuring technical skills

If you’re going to work hard to set yourself up with valuable technical skills, then you also want to be able to measure your success. This allows you to see how you’re improving and recognise areas that need more work. Online platforms are your go-to when looking for quick and easy ways to test your skills. You can also find coding challenges and quizzes that test your knowledge and problem-solving abilities in real-time.

Certifications and assessments 

If you’re looking for a more formal assessment, certifications from recognised schools are the way to go. These allow you to brush up and enhance your technical skills, with assessments and testing throughout. This way you gain more formal feedback on where your skills stand and the areas that need improvement. 

The downside to technical skills assessments 

Assessing technical skills gives a clear benchmark of what you know and where the gaps lie. However, there are also downsides. Assessments may not always reflect your ability to apply skills in real-world scenarios. Plus, the pressure of exams may impact your final result and confidence in the skill. Remember: learning is a continuous process – if at first you don’t succeed, try again. 

Showcasing technical skills on a resumé

When it comes to job hunting, effectively showing off your technical skills on your resumé can make a big difference. Your resumé, job experience and online presence can all be used to highlight your ever-growing skills. Here’s how.

Include technical skills on a resumé 

You should have a dedicated section on your resumé for technical skills, where you list them out clearly. Use industry terms and categorise your skills to make them easy to read. Listing your technical skills makes it easy for a potential employer to skim and see whether your skills match the role. 

What about interviews? They’re the perfect opportunity to show off your technical skills. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses. Be sure to provide examples from your past experiences that show just what you’re capable of. 

Create a portfolio or online presence to showcase technical skills

For many job roles, having an online portfolio can help enhance your resumé. You can use a platform like GitHub to display your work, projects and skills, which you can update as you accrue more. This is a great way to talk about your technical skills and show your potential employer examples of them in action. 

Common misconceptions about technical skills

Technical skills are important for most professions, but they also come with a lot of misconceptions. Let's debunk some of these myths.

Myth: Technical skills are only important for technical jobs 

One of the most common misconceptions is that technical skills are only relevant for jobs in the IT or engineering sectors. While it's true these sectors do need technical expertise, they aren't the only ones. Almost every industry today requires technical knowledge, whether that’s using grading software in teaching or using digital-marketing tools in advertising. 

Myth: Technical skills are only relevant for entry-level positions 

According to this myth, once you reach a certain level in your career, technical skills become less important. That could not be further from the truth! The reality is, as you progress in your field, your technical knowledge should expand to keep up with new responsibilities and developments in your field. 

Myth: Technical skills are only developed through formal education 

While you can gain technical skills through formal education, such as degrees or certificates, it's not the only path. Online courses, workshops, private study and on-the-job training are other ways to learn important skills. The key is to remain committed to continuous learning.

Updating your resumé? Technical skills examples to include

In today's digital age, having a strong set of technical skills is important, no matter your industry or profession. These skills will make you better at performing your job, while also offering plenty of opportunities. When updating your resumé, it's essential to highlight your technical skills to show potential employers you have the necessary expertise to excel in the role. Below are examples of technical skills to complement the transferable skills in your resumé.  

Software development

Whether you find yourself in the role of a developer, engineer or programmer, technical skills can help you when it comes to creating, testing and maintaining software applications. Here are some skills that are relevant to the industry:

• Object-oriented programming
• Agile software development
• Software testing
• Continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD)
• Source-code management (e.g. Git, SVN)
• Refactoring
• Software documentation
• Application performance optimisation
• Dependency management
• Design patterns

By mastering these technical skills, you demonstrate your ability to keep pace with industry trends and new technologies. These skills can boost your career prospects in the field of software development.

Data science

Data science uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data. It’s no surprise it requires plenty of technical skills. Here are some that are valued in this industry:

• Statistical analysis
• Machine-learning algorithms
• Data visualisation
• Data mining
• Data cleaning and preprocessing
• Natural language processing (NLP)
• Deep Learning
• Predictive modelling
• Big data technologies (e.g. Hadoop, Spark)
• Statistical programming (e.g. R, SAS)

Whether you are looking to enter the field of data science or aiming to grow your skill set, mastering these skills will present you with plenty of opportunities in this exciting and rapidly growing field.

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is revolutionising the way businesses operate and manage their IT resources. They help with designing, managing and securing scalable and efficient cloud infrastructures. Here are some technical skills employers in this industry may be looking for:

• Cloud architecture design
• Cloud infrastructure management
• Cloud security
• Cloud migration
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Cloud automation
• DevOps tools (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes)
• Serverless computing

As cloud computing takes over, these technical skills are needed to stay ahead in this competitive industry. Whether you are an experienced professional or just starting out, investing in these cloud computing skills will open doors.

Networking and infrastructure

We live in a connected world, where networking and digital infrastructure are vital. Professionals are tasked with designing, implementing and managing networks and infrastructure to ensure seamless communication and data transfer. Here are some technical skills that you may want to work on in this industry:

• Network architecture design
• Network security
• Routing and switching
• Virtualisation technologies (e.g. VMware, VirtualBox)
• Firewall configuration
• Load balancing
• Network monitoring
• DNS management
• Active Directory management
• Cloud networking

In a world where network downtime can have significant implications, your skills in networking and infrastructure makes you an invaluable asset to any organisation.

Cybersecurity

Cyber threats are getting more sophisticated every day, leaving organisations in need of professionals equipped with the skills to safeguard their digital assets. Cybersecurity isn’t just about preventing unauthorised access, but also creating an environment that can recover from attacks. Here are some top technical skills for this industry:

• Penetration testing
• Vulnerability assessment
• Security risk analysis
• Security policy development
• Security operations centre (SOC) management
• Incident response management
• Ethical hacking
• Malware analysis
• Cryptography
• Identity and access management

As the cyber landscape continues to evolve, so does the need for skilled professionals who can navigate it. By mastering cybersecurity skills, you are making yourself an invaluable asset.

Web development

Web development involves creating, maintaining and optimising websites. Whether you’re a designer, a developer, or you dabble in a little of everything, a strong set of technical skills is important. Here are a few technical skills to get you started: 

• Front-end development
• Back-end development
• Full-stack development
• Web design
• Responsive web design
• Web frameworks (e.g. React, Angular, Vue.js)
• Content management systems (e.g. WordPress, Drupal)
• E-commerce platforms (e.g. Shopify, WooCommerce)
• Search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Web analytics

Whether you’re crafting stunning websites or optimising for search engines, your technical skills play a vital role. As the internet continues to evolve, the skills of web developers will remain in high demand, making it a rewarding and challenging field to be part of.

Mobile development

Smartphones are everywhere, making mobile developers in high demand as businesses create engaging and functional mobile apps. Whether you are developing for iOS, Android or both, technical skills are crucial for success. Here are some technical skills that are highly valued in this industry:

• iOS app development
• Android app development
• Cross-platform app development (e.g. React Native, Xamarin)
• Mobile app design
• Mobile app testing and debugging
• Mobile app deployment
• Mobile app monetization strategies
• Mobile app analytics
• Mobile game development
• Mobile device management

As the reliance on smartphones continues to grow, so does the demand for skilled mobile developers, making it a promising field in the tech world. Your ability to navigate the world of mobile development will send your career skyrocketing.

UI/UX design

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design are essential when it comes to creating engaging, intuitive and visually appealing digital products. Whether they’re making a website, mobile app or software application, UI/UX designers ensure that the end user has a seamless experience. Here are some technical skills that you’ll need for this industry:

• User interface design
• User experience design
• Wireframing and prototyping
• Usability testing
• Design thinking
• Interaction design
• Visual design
• Information architecture
• Design systems
• Design handoff and collaboration

Your role as a UI/UX designer is important in ensuring that digital products are accessible, intuitive and easy to use. Possessing the right technical skills will help you excel in this industry.

Product management

Product management requires a blend of technical, business and interpersonal skills to successfully lead product development and implementation. Here are some of the technical skills that will help you succeed in this industry: 

• Product strategy development
• Market analysis
• SWOT analysis
• Competitor auditing
• Customer segmentation
• Roadmapping and prioritisation
• Agile development methodology
• MVP development
• KPI tracking and measurement
• Product launch planning and execution

From strategy and planning through to execution, product managers must be skilled in a number of areas. With the right skill set, they have the potential to innovate and succeed in the industry.

IT operations

IT is all about technical skills and being able to showcase a variety of them will help you stand out. Here are some skills that you’ll use in this industry: 

• IT infrastructure management
• IT service management (ITSM)
• Incident management
• Change management
• Disaster recovery planning
• IT asset management
• IT vendor management
• Business continuity planning
• SLA management
• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)

These resume technology skills will help you stand out to potential employees and help them quickly identify your expertise in IT operations. 

Technical skills have become an essential part of today’s workforce, no matter what industry or profession you are in. These skills not only enhance your ability to perform your job effectively but also open doors to numerous opportunities for career advancement and employment. 

As technology continues to advance, the demand for skilled professionals who can navigate and contribute to this landscape will grow. Continuous learning and adaptation will be key, as technical skills that are in demand today may evolve or change entirely tomorrow. Investing in your technical skills is an investment in your future. 

FAQs

What are the most in-demand technical skills?

The most in-demand technical skills can vary by industry, but generally, skills related to software development, data analysis, cloud computing and cybersecurity are highly sought after. 

Can technical skills be learned online? 

Yes, there are range of different online platforms offering courses, tutorials and certifications in various technical skills. You can use industry-relevant courses, developed by experts to learn or improve your technical skills for your field. 

How do I identify which technical skills are important for my field? 

To identify the important technical skills for your field, research job listings for roles you are interested in, take a look at industry-specific publications and network with professionals in your field. You can also talk to colleagues in your chosen field, asking them about their own skills and learning. 

How can I improve my technical skills without spending a lot of money? 

There are several ways to improve your technical skills on a budget. Find free online resources, practise skills through personal or open-source projects, join online forums or seek out internships or volunteer opportunities to gain practical experience. You can also ask colleagues at work for mentorship or even ask to get involved with projects that will help diversify or improve your skills. 

Are technical skills more important than soft skills? 

Both technical and soft skills are important, and the balance between them can depend on the role and industry. Technical skills are essential for performing specific tasks, while soft skills like communication, problem-solving and teamwork are important for collaborating effectively.

Can I still get a job without technical skills? 

While technical skills are important, not all roles require them, and there are industries where soft skills are more heavily valued. However, possessing some basic technical skills boosts your employment chances and opens doors to more opportunities.