How to Write a CV Skills Section (UK Guide)

The skills section is often scanned in under five seconds — by recruiters and by ATS software. A strong UK CV skills section is targeted, honest, and backed up by evidence elsewhere on the page.

Where to Put Skills on a UK CV

Common placements:

1. Below personal statement — best for technical and role-specific skills
2. Sidebar column — popular in modern templates; ensure ATS can still parse (avoid graphics-only skill bars)
3. Integrated into experience bullets — skills demonstrated in context, plus a short dedicated list

Our ATS-friendly CV template uses a clean list format parsers read reliably.

Hard Skills vs Soft Skills

Hard Skills (Teachable, Measurable)

• Software: Excel, SAP, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Suite
• Tools: Forklift licence, POS systems, CRM platforms
• Methods: Agile, PRINCE2, financial modelling
• Languages: French (conversational), Mandarin (native)

Soft Skills (Behavioural)

• Communication, leadership, problem-solving, time management
• Show these in experience bullets — a standalone list of "team player" without proof is weak

Rule: List hard skills explicitly. Demonstrate soft skills through achievements.

Skills Section Examples by Role

Customer Service

Customer Service · Complaint Resolution · Zendesk · SLA Management · Active Listening · Upselling

Try our customer service CV example.

Admin / PA

Diary Management · Microsoft Office · Minute Taking · Travel Booking · GDPR · Expense Processing

See the admin assistant CV template.

Warehouse / Logistics

Pick & Pack · FLT / Counterbalance · RF Scanners · Health & Safety · Stock Control

Browse warehouse worker CV example.

Graduate / Entry-Level

Microsoft Office · Python · Data Analysis · Presentation · Team Leadership · Time Management

Use our student CV template.

How Many Skills to List

8–15 relevant skills for most roles. Quality over quantity — every skill should appear somewhere in your experience or education if questioned in interview.

Remove outdated tools (e.g. Windows XP, obsolete software) unless the job specifically requires them.

Match Skills to the Job Description

1. Highlight 10–15 keywords in the posting
2. Include exact matches where truthful (e.g. "Stakeholder management" not just "Communication")
3. Mirror terminology — "MS Excel" vs "Advanced Excel" vs "Spreadsheets"

Our ATS score checker helps identify missing keywords as you build.

Skills Section Formatting Mistakes

• Skill bars and star ratings — ATS cannot read graphics; use plain text lists
• Irrelevant skills — "Cooking" on a finance CV adds noise
• Inflated claims — "Expert Python" when you completed one online module
• No evidence — if you list "Project Management," include a bullet proving it

Certifications and Licences

Group separately if you have several:

Certifications: PRINCE2 Foundation · CIPD Level 3 (in progress) · First Aid at Work

Licences: UK Full Driving Licence · FLT Counterbalance · CSCS Card

Skills for Career Changers

Lead with transferable skills that bridge old and new sectors:

"People Management · Recruitment Support · Onboarding · Employee Relations · HR Administration"

Read our career change CV guide and career change template.

Build Your Skills Section in the App

Our CV maker app includes a dedicated skills editor with drag-to-reorder sections. Switch templates without retyping skills, and export PDF when ready.

Related reading: top ATS resume tips · how to write a perfect CV · resume mistakes to avoid.

Download free on Google Play and tailor skills for each application in minutes.