Recommended Free Tools
The best job skills to include on your resume are the ones the target job posting calls for and that you can back up with real examples. There is no universal list that belongs on every resume: choose relevant technical skills and transferable abilities for each role, then show where you used them.
Start with the job posting, not a generic skills list
Read the full vacancy, especially its qualifications, skills, and experience sections. Mark the capabilities the employer describes, then separate required qualifications from preferred ones. Use the employer’s wording when it accurately describes your background; matching a phrase is not a reason to claim a skill you do not have. CareerOneStop’s guide to analyzing job postings explains how to identify these requirements and tailor a resume.
When you have several possible skills to include, assess each against three questions:
- Relevance: Is it required, preferred, or clearly important to the work?
- Evidence: Can you point to a work, education, volunteer, or project example that demonstrates it?
- Specificity: Can you name a particular tool, method, task, or behavior instead of relying on a vague trait?
A master resume can hold your full range of experience. For each application, select the strongest, most relevant qualifications so the connection between your background and the vacancy is easy to see.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute#1 Best Overall
- Life Is Noteworthy. Create a resume that is noteworthy and will stand out from the crowd with this Southworth Resume Paper!Make a good first impression with this 100 percent Cotton Resume paper. Each sheet is lignin-free and acid-free to resist yellowing, and can be used in copiers as well as inkjet and laser printers for convenience. This Southworth Resume Paper comes 100 sheets per box to ensure there's enough on hand.
- Resume paper is ideal for resumes, cover letters, and thank-you notes
- Paper size: 8.5"W x 11"L
- Printer compatibility: laser, inkjet, copier
- Acid- and lignin-free
Choose specific skills you can demonstrate
Job-specific tools and technical skills
When a posting asks for a particular tool or capability, name it precisely if you have used it. Examples include Excel pivot tables, Python, inventory forecasting, case management, technical documentation, budget tracking, customer issue resolution, and project scheduling. These are examples, not a universal ranking: include only those that fit the job and your experience.
Transferable skills
Broader competencies can matter across roles, but labels such as “communication” or “teamwork” are more useful when you clarify what they mean in your work. Communication might mean writing technical documentation, presenting analysis, listening to clients, or sending clear project updates. Critical thinking might mean comparing options or resolving a customer issue. Select the behavior that matches both the vacancy and your evidence.
Rank #2
- [Premium Cardstock Paper]: This pack includes 40 sheets of cream cardstock paper 8.5 x 11, perfect for a variety of creative projects. The ivory color enhances colors and designs, making it ideal for custom invitations, greeting cards, and photo frames. 8.5 x 11 cardstock, smooth finish guarantees a professional look for all your creations. Note: Color differences may occur under different lighting conditions. The colors shown in the pictures are based on the effect under natural light
- [Durable & Double-Sided Design]: Featuring a double-sided, blank layout, this 200 GSM card stock paper 8.5 x 11, offers excellent durability. Thick cardstock paper 8.5 x 11 prevents ink bleed-through, making it suitable for both writing and artwork. Perfect for multi-layered crafts and heavy-duty projects, this heavy cardstock ensures reliable support for your creative endeavors
- [Versatile for Crafts & Projects]: Ideal for wedding invitations, holiday cards, or scrapbooking, this construction paper 8.5 x 11 handles all your crafting needs. Ivory cardstock paper's smooth surface allows easy cutting, folding, and stamping, making it an excellent choice for DIY projects. Crafters and artists alike will appreciate craft paper consistency and texture
- [Printer-Friendly]: This cardstock printer paper 8.5 x 11, is compatible with both inkjet and laser printers, producing vibrant, high-quality prints. Whether for photos, artwork, or text, printable cardstock ensures sharp, well-defined designs. This thick printer paper is perfect for creating custom stationery, business cards, and other printed materials
- [Suitable for Various Creative Environments]: Perfect for schools, offices, and home projects, this off white cardstock paper 8.5 x 11, is versatile for a wide range of applications. From educational materials to office presentations and crafting, this high-quality construction paper provides flexibility for all your creative ideas
NACE’s career-readiness framework offers eight categories for brainstorming: Career + Self-Development, Leadership, Communication, Professionalism, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Equity + Inclusion, and Technology. It is a prompt for finding relevant examples, not a checklist to copy onto every resume. NACE describes the competencies and associated behaviors.
Turn skill names into evidence
A skills list helps a reader find qualifications; your experience, projects, education, or volunteer entries show how you used them. For each important skill, describe the task, the context, your contribution, and the outcome. Add a number only when you can verify it, and do not imply sole ownership of a result you achieved with others. CareerOneStop’s work-experience guidance recommends relevant examples with context and outcomes.
Rank #3
- LINEN CARDSTOCK PAPER: Create the most beautiful cards with this acid free, made in USA, flat card stock paper – 8.5" x 11", Heavyweight, 80 lb cover cardstock, 216 GSM Linen finish with 96 brightness
- VIBRANT PRINTS - COMPATIBLE WITH MULTIPLE CARD PRINTERS: your cards will look professional with the most vibrant and attractive colors. Ideal for Inkjet and Copier printing. Dimensions: 8.5” x 11”, 50 pack
- ELITE BOX PACKAGING: Your new, thick card stock paper is shrink-wrapped and packed in a sturdy box to ensure your cardstock arrives undamaged. Ideal for home, school, office and professional use
- THE ULTIMATE CHOICE FOR A VARIETY OF USES: Perfect for Resume Paper, Greetings, Invitations, Postcards, Index Cards, and Flash Cards and much more
For example, rather than listing “project management” alone, describe the project, your role, its scope as you can substantiate it, and what happened. A claim such as “hard worker” does not identify a concrete capability; a specific task or result gives the reader something to assess.
If you have limited paid experience, relevant coursework, volunteer work, and projects can provide evidence. A portfolio may also show work samples; explain the project, who it was for, what you contributed, and the result. CareerOneStop’s portfolio guidance covers this option.
Rank #4
- Dimensions and Specifications: Each package includes 50 sheets of double-sided beige resume paper, 8.5'' x 11'' letter size, 65lb Cover (180 gsm).Ideal size and thickness for veratile pringting and crafting needs, and the cardstock is made of FSC-certified paper
- Printer Compatibility: Our parchment printer paper works reliably with most laser and inkjet printers for easy home or office printing; Delivers sharp, legible results without jams; Perfect for printing invitations, resumes and posters
- Premium Quality: Premium parchment paper sheets resist ink feathering or bleed-through, yet easy to cut and fold for projects; crafted from acid-free cardstock to preserve documents, menus and greeting cards for years without yellowing or damage
- Vintage Appeal: This textured parchment paper with a pastel tone creates a formal, elegant charm; Enhance your awards, certificates and invitations with a classic and professional look
- Universal Occasions: Sturdy and multifunction, our parchment paper for printer is ideal for lables, tags, business cards, cover pages, crafts, and scrapbooks; This fancy paper inspires endless ideas and creativity for your projects
Decide whether to use a separate skills section
A skills section is optional. CareerOneStop recommends placing it near the top when skills are essential to the job, or after Education & Training when they matter but are less prominent. If you include a summary, use it to describe relevant strengths without repeating the same soft-skill labels in a separate list. CareerOneStop explains skills-section placement and content.
Keep the section plain and easy to scan. Use standard headings and a simple, single-column resume layout; avoid decorative graphics, text boxes, or other complex formatting that may make content harder for people or applicant tracking systems to process. CareerOneStop notes that functional formats may be misread when they omit detailed work history, while a combination format can foreground transferable skills and retain that history. Choose the organization that fits your experience and goal. See its resume-formatting guidance.
Best Value
- Life Is Noteworthy. Create a resume that is noteworthy and will stand out from the crowd with this Southworth Resume Paper!Make a good first impression with this 100 percent Cotton Resume paper. Each sheet is lignin-free and acid-free to resist yellowing, and can be used in copiers as well as inkjet and laser printers for convenience. This Southworth Resume Paper comes 100 sheets per box to ensure there's enough on hand.
- Resume paper is ideal for resumes, cover letters, and thank-you notes
- Paper size: 8.5"W x 11"L
- Printer compatibility: laser, inkjet, copier
- Acid- and lignin-free
Use survey rankings as context, not a checklist
NACE’s 2024 Student Survey and Job Outlook 2025 survey reported the share of employer respondents who rated each competency “very important” or “extremely important” when considering recent graduates:
| Competency | Employer respondents |
|---|---|
| Communication | 96.1% |
| Critical thinking | 96.1% |
| Teamwork | 93.9% |
| Professionalism | 89.4% |
| Technology | 71.7% |
| Equity and inclusion | 70.0% |
| Career and self-development | 65.6% |
| Leadership | 45.0% |
These figures describe employer views of recent graduates, not every occupation or applicant. They can help early-career candidates think of examples, but they do not show that a competency belongs on every resume or outranks a role-specific qualification. NACE’s January 2025 article reports the survey findings and context.
Check the final list before applying
- Does each listed skill match a requirement or meaningful preference in this particular posting?
- Can you support it with a truthful example elsewhere in the resume or, when relevant, a portfolio?
- Have you used specific names for tools and tasks instead of unsupported claims about your character?
- Is the list concise, readable, and free of repeated skills that add no new information?
- Have you avoided invented proficiency levels, inflated metrics, and keywords that do not reflect your experience?
Review a posting carefully before sharing personal information or applying. CareerOneStop cautions applicants about postings that require payment for training or materials. Its guidance on optional resume sections also recommends including extras such as publications, community involvement, awards, or memberships only when they relate to your work goal.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
