Hard Skills: Definition, Examples, and How to Build Them

Key takeaways
* Hard skills are teachable, technical abilities required to perform specific job tasks.
* They’re acquired through education, training, certifications, and on-the-job experience.
* Hard skills are quantifiable and often validated by degrees, certificates, tests, or portfolios.
* Employers typically seek a combination of hard and soft skills for long-term success.

What are hard skills?

Hard skills are concrete, technical competencies needed to perform a job—things you can measure, test, or demonstrate. Examples include programming, accounting, data analysis, graphic design, and foreign-language fluency. These skills are usually taught in formal settings (classes, bootcamps, apprenticeships) and honed through practice and professional use.

How hard skills are evaluated

Employers validate hard skills through:
* Degrees, certificates, and industry credentials
* Work experience and job-specific projects
* Practical tests, coding challenges, or sample assignments
* Portfolios or demonstrable outputs (reports, designs, code)

Listing the appropriate hard skills on your resume and backing them with evidence improves hiring prospects.

Common and in-demand hard skills

Common hard skills across industries:
* Computer software proficiency (e.g., Excel, design tools)
* Data analysis and statistics
* Programming and databases (e.g., SQL)
* Project management
* Marketing, SEO, and digital advertising
* Copywriting and content creation
* Foreign languages
* Accounting and financial analysis
* Customer service and sales tools
* Engineering and technical drafting

Which ones matter depends on the role—check job postings for the specific tools and competencies employers request.

Hard skills vs. soft skills

Hard skills are task-oriented, rule-based, and measurable (e.g., writing SQL queries).
Soft skills are interpersonal and behavioral (e.g., communication, teamwork, adaptability).
Both are important: hard skills enable you to perform duties, while soft skills determine how effectively you collaborate and grow in a role. Employers often look for a mix and may offer training to develop weaker areas.

Example: Accounting

Accountants need hard skills such as:
* Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, tax systems)
* Ability to prepare and interpret financial statements
* Knowledge of accounting controls and reporting mechanisms

They also benefit from soft skills—clear communication with clients and diplomacy with auditors.

How to list hard skills on a resume

• Tailor skills to the job description; prioritize the tools and competencies the employer requests.
• Show proof when possible: certifications, course names, project links, or brief notes about outcomes (e.g., “Improved reporting efficiency by 30% using VBA”).
• Separate technical skills into a distinct section (e.g., “Technical Skills” or “Tools & Technologies”).

How to acquire hard skills

• Formal education: degrees, college courses, and vocational programs.
• Short courses and certifications: online platforms, bootcamps, and professional credentials.
• On-the-job learning: practice, stretch assignments, and apprenticeships.
• Independent practice: personal projects, freelancing, or contributing to open-source work.
• Employer-sponsored training: many companies fund courses or workshops—ask HR or your manager.

Common question

Is critical thinking a hard skill?
No. Critical thinking is considered a soft skill—an intellectual and behavioral ability that supports problem solving and decision making but isn’t a technical task you can typically certify in the same way as software proficiency.

Bottom line

Hard skills are the measurable, teachable abilities that let you perform job-specific tasks. Building and documenting relevant hard skills—while also developing complementary soft skills—improves your chances of getting hired, promoted, and succeeding in nearly any career.