Should I include a skills section on my resume?
Should you include a skills section on your resume? The answer is it depends.
If your work history speaks for itself, and your skills are mentioned within the bullet points of your resume, then there shouldn't be any need for a skills section, especially on the top of your resume.
If the employer is looking for a laundry list of skills not necessarily reflected in your experience, then we would recommend putting those toward the bottom of your resume.
If your work experience doesn't speak for itself, or if your relevant work experience is less recent and toward the end of your resume, then leading with a skills section is worth trying out.
Both these formats comply with Applicant Tracking Systems, but be wary of including too many skills to avoid the Applicant Tracking System classifying you as a different type of worker. And always make sure your listed skills reflect only what employers are requesting.
We know writing resumes can be challenging, but we're here to help. If you're interested in one of our resume workshops or for more advice please check out our website and our other videos on YouTube, linked below. And don't hesitate to reach out to us if you need assistance or a second set of eyes.