How to List Skills for ATS Keyword Matching

Hard skills, soft skills, and keyword strategy — how to match job descriptions without stuffing or lying.

Skills sections feel straightforward until you realize the ATS scores overlap with the job description — and recruiters Ctrl+F the same terms during a six-second skim.

Tom listed "Python, Java, SQL" in a pretty word cloud graphic. The posting asked for "Python, PostgreSQL, ETL pipelines." He had all three; the parser only captured Python because the rest were images. Moving skills to plain text and mirroring the posting's exact phrases got him past the first filter at two companies he'd applied to before.

Categories that work

Technical Skills: languages, frameworks, tools (Python, React, SQL, Figma)
Soft Skills: use sparingly — Leadership, Communication, Problem-solving
Certifications: AWS Solutions Architect, PMP, CPA (or separate section)
Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Professional working proficiency)

How to match job descriptions

Copy the posting into a doc and highlight repeated terms
Include exact phrases where truthful ("project management" vs "PM" — use their wording)
Place top 5 keywords in summary AND at least one experience bullet
Don't list skills you can't discuss in an interview

Format

Comma-separated lists or short bullet groups — not star ratings or charts
Order by relevance to target role, not alphabetically
For technical roles, Technical template surfaces skills first