By the BusinessPhrases Editorial Team · Reviewed and updated 30 October 2026
Technical skills are the specialised knowledge and abilities you need to use particular tools, technologies or methods: writing code, analysing data in SQL, configuring a network, designing in CAD or running accounting software. They are usually learned through study and practice, and they can be tested, which is why employers list them by name in job descriptions.
This guide explains what counts as a technical skill, gives examples by field, shows which skills employers ask for most, and gives sample resume lines and interview tips.
What are technical skills?
Technical skills are the practical abilities needed to do specialised tasks with technology, equipment or a defined method. The US Department of Labor’s O*NET database groups many of them as technical skills, alongside basic and cross-functional skills, when it describes what each occupation requires [1].
Typical features of a technical skill:
- It is tied to a tool, technology, system or method.
- It can be learned in a course, a bootcamp, an apprenticeship or on the job.
- It can be measured through a test, a certificate or a work sample.
- It needs updating as tools and versions change.
Technical skills vs hard skills
Technical skills are a subset of hard skills. Every technical skill is a hard skill, but hard skills also include measurable non-technical abilities such as bookkeeping, typing speed or a second language. Our guide to hard skills vs soft skills explains the wider group, and the soft skills list covers the people skills that complete the picture.
Technical skills examples by field
Which technical skills matter depends on the job. These lists cover the most common ones in seven fields.
IT and software
- Programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, Java or C#
- Web development (HTML, CSS, frameworks)
- Mobile application development
- Cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure or Google Cloud
- Networking and system administration
- Cybersecurity basics: access control, patching, threat monitoring
- Version control with Git
Data and analytics
- Advanced Excel: pivot tables, lookups, Power Query
- SQL for querying databases
- Python or R for analysis
- Dashboard tools such as Power BI or Tableau
- Statistics and A/B testing
Turning data into decisions also needs judgement; our guide to analytical skills covers that side.
Engineering and design
- AutoCAD, including the AutoCAD Plant 3D toolset and other computer-aided design (CAD) software
- 3D modelling and simulation
- Mechanical or electrical system troubleshooting
- Reading technical drawings and specifications
- Quality and safety standards for your industry
Marketing and digital
- Search engine optimisation and keyword research
- Web analytics
- Paid search and social advertising platforms
- Email marketing and automation tools
- Content management systems such as WordPress
Finance and accounting
- Accounting software such as QuickBooks, Xero or SAP
- Financial modelling in spreadsheets
- Reconciliations and month-end close
- Payroll systems
Healthcare
- Electronic health record systems
- Medical coding and billing software
- Operating diagnostic equipment
- Laboratory procedures
Trades and manufacturing
- Machine operation and CNC programming
- Welding and fabrication
- Electrical installation and testing
- Preventive maintenance
| Field | Example technical skills | Common certificate |
|---|---|---|
| IT support | Hardware, operating systems, networking basics | CompTIA A+ |
| Cloud | Deploying and managing cloud services | AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner |
| Project management | Scheduling, budgeting, risk tracking tools | PMP or PRINCE2 |
| Data analysis | SQL, spreadsheets, dashboards | Vendor certificates for Power BI or Tableau |
| Design and drafting | CAD, 3D modelling | Autodesk certifications |
Technical skills employers want most
Employers most often ask for data and spreadsheet skills, cloud and collaboration tools, cybersecurity awareness and the ability to work safely with AI tools, plus the core software of each field. Office roles that once needed only email and word processing now expect confident spreadsheet use, and many ask for a dashboard tool or basic SQL. Our guide to computer skills covers the everyday tools every office job uses.
- Data and spreadsheets: cleaning data, building formulas and turning numbers into a clear chart or dashboard.
- Cloud and collaboration tools: shared drives, project boards, video platforms and the admin settings behind them.
- Cybersecurity awareness: strong passwords, multi-factor sign-in, spotting phishing and handling data safely.
- Working with AI tools: writing clear prompts, checking output for mistakes and knowing when a task needs a human.
- Field-specific software: CAD for engineers, EHR systems for clinicians, accounting packages for finance teams.
- Automation: simple scripts, spreadsheet macros or no-code tools that remove repetitive work.
The quickest way to see what your market wants is to read twenty current job ads for your target role and count how often each tool appears. The skills named in most ads are the ones to learn first and list first.
How to list technical skills on a resume
Recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS) scan for the exact tools named in the job description. List the ones you can use with confidence, and show them working in your experience section.
- Skills section: group tools by area, for example “Data: Excel, SQL, Power BI” or “Design: AutoCAD, SketchUp”.
- Proficiency: add a level only if it helps, such as “Python (intermediate)”.
- Certifications: name, issuer and year.
- Experience bullets: the tool plus the result.
Sample resume lines
- Automated weekly sales reporting with SQL and Power BI, saving the team about 6 hours a week.
- Migrated 40 user accounts and shared drives to Microsoft 365 with no data loss.
- Produced 2D and 3D drawings in AutoCAD for 12 plant layout projects.
- Built a WordPress site and set up analytics tracking that doubled lead capture in three months.
- Configured firewalls and access controls for a 60-person office network.
For a broader list of what to include, see our guide to skills to put on a resume.
How to show technical skills in an interview
You show technical skills in an interview by walking through real work: what the problem was, which tool you chose, how you used it and what changed. Expect some of these:
- A practical test such as a coding task, a spreadsheet exercise or a design brief.
- A portfolio review: bring examples you can explain step by step.
- Scenario questions: “How would you find out why this report total is wrong?”
- Learning questions: “Tell me about a tool you learned recently.” This is where a professional attitude to learning counts as much as the tool itself.
Explain your work in plain language. Interviewers often test whether you can describe a technical task to someone outside your field.
Why technical skills need soft skills too
Technical skills get you shortlisted; soft skills decide how far they take you. An analyst who builds an accurate model but cannot explain it to a manager adds less value than one who can. A developer who writes clean code but ignores deadlines slows the whole team. Employers look for people who combine a strong technical base with communication, teamwork and problem solving.
The practical lesson is to describe your technical work in terms of results for other people: the report a manager now reads in five minutes, the system that stopped crashing, the drawing that let a project start on time. That framing shows both kinds of skill at once.
How to learn new technical skills
- Choose one skill that appears often in the job ads you want.
- Pick a structured course from a university, online platform or the tool vendor, with exercises rather than videos only.
- Build a small real project: a dashboard from public data, a simple app, a drawing set or a budget model.
- Take a recognised certificate where one exists, because it gives recruiters a quick signal.
- Use the skill at work as soon as possible, even on a small task, and record the result for your resume.
- Keep it current: follow release notes for your main tools and refresh once a year.
FAQs
What are 5 examples of technical skills?
Programming in Python, writing SQL queries, using AutoCAD, managing cloud services on AWS and running accounting software such as QuickBooks.
Are technical skills the same as hard skills?
Not quite. Technical skills are a type of hard skill that involves technology, equipment or a specialised method. Hard skills also include non-technical measurable abilities such as languages or bookkeeping.
Is Microsoft Excel a technical skill?
Yes. Advanced Excel (formulas, pivot tables, data cleaning) is one of the most requested technical skills in office and analyst roles.
How many technical skills should I list on my resume?
Usually 6 to 12, grouped by area and matched to the job description. Leave out tools you could not use confidently in your first week.
Which technical skills are easiest to learn first?
Spreadsheet skills, basic web analytics and a content management system such as WordPress are good starting points. They are useful in many jobs, have free learning material and give quick, visible results.
Do technical skills go out of date?
Specific tools and versions do, so plan a yearly refresh. The underlying concepts, such as how databases, networks or design standards work, last much longer and make each new tool faster to learn.
Can I learn technical skills without a degree?
Yes. Many technical skills are learned through online courses, apprenticeships, vendor certificates and personal projects, and employers often accept a strong portfolio in place of a degree.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine, US Department of Labor: Skills (Basic, Cross-Functional and Technical). https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/2.A
