10+ best skills freshers need in their resumes, according to hiring managers

Stepping into the real world after graduating from university can be anxiety-inducing.

In 2023, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that 40% of young adults were underemployed, which means they’re working jobs below their qualified skill set. In Malaysia, research from 2021 discovered that one in five graduates remained jobless six months past graduation.

It’s a vicious cycle — applying for hundreds of jobs with a resume you’ve carefully crafted, only to hear back from 10. Or even worse, none.

But have you really crafted your resume as carefully as you could’ve?

There are plenty of sections that go into a resume, from your work experiences to your education, to your accolades, and more — but what about the ever-so-vague skills section?

Why are skills important on a resume?

The right skills written on your resume can differentiate you from the competition.

It is also an indirect way to say that you are suitable for the position you are going for, especially if what is written matches the requirements of the job description.

One of the mistakes that freshers usually make is listing every single possible skill they possess. You only need to list five good ones you are confident will make an impression.

CV vs resume

News flash: CVs and resumes are not the same thing.

A CV — or curriculum vitae — is an in-depth document with all experiences, credentials, and projects. Meanwhile, resumes are meant to be concise, relevant only to the job you’re applying for, and are typically no more than a page long.

When in doubt whether to submit a resume or a CV for an application, ask for clarification.

This is important because different countries assign different meanings to a CV or resume.

In Europe, they use the word CV for everything, including resumes. In countries like Canada, India, or the US, many jobs use the two words interchangeably.

Skills vs experiences

Here’s a tip for fresh graduates: The thing that sells your resume is the skills and experience section, so you better write everything you can to stand out.

Skills refer to the abilities and knowledge you’ve gained to perform competently in a specific area. Here is where you showcase the capabilities that relate to the job you are applying for.

Experience refers to the practical application of said skills over a period of time. In this section, you typically list your place of employment, your position, the dates you worked, and a brief description of your responsibilities.

The dos and don’ts of adding skills

Do use template sites — but keep it simple

There’s nothing wrong with using a template to build your resume, especially if it’s your first time dipping your toes into job-search waters. However, you should consider avoiding a template that’s too colourful or embellished with graphics.

In an oversaturated sea of graduates trying to find a job, simple and sleek stands out — it’s about how easily recruiters can digest your content, not how pretty it looks.

Check out our picks of resume-maker apps here.

Do use a font that’s easily digestible

Circle back to point one: it’s not about how pretty your resume looks but how easy it is to digest.

Attention to detail is essential, and your font choice can make or break your resume. A general rule of thumb is to stick to one font throughout.

As always, simplicity is best. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Garamond — these fonts have been widely used for years as they not only look good but are also readable.

It’s best to avoid fonts that are too “fancy looking” or stylised, like Comic Sans and Courier New.

Don’t list outdated skills

It’s essential to keep pace with the industry you’re in, especially when it comes to skills.

Everyone and their mothers practically know how to work with Microsoft Office and Google Suite today, so unless it’s especially highlighted in a job description, it won’t serve as your selling point.

Outdated software like Adobe Flash, old programming languages, and old content management system (CMS) platforms aren’t going to make your resume sparkle in an employer’s eyes, either.

Also, take note: outdated skills include those which have now been taken over by artificial intelligence, like basic data entry and calendar management.

Don’t use progress bars to showcase your capabilities

Graphics may be appealing to some employers, but to others, it’s clutter.

“While visual elements can be appealing, they shouldn’t overshadow the core content,” PseudoCode’s Desk writes. “I’ve seen countless resumes with star ratings or progress bars for skills, but when pressed to justify those ratings, most candidates struggle.”

Remote vs office work

A FlexJobs survey reported that 84% of millennials and 74% of Gen Zs seek more remote work options.

If you’re one of them, then your resume should adapt to reflect your ability to conduct work in that setting and do so well. Skills like time management, self-discipline, and tech savviness should be highlighted in the context of a remote working environment.

“Adapt your resume for remote work by emphasising virtual collaboration skills and project management expertise,” an expert on LinkedIn says. “Quantify achievements and use keywords like ‘virtual collaboration.’”

Useful skills in 2025

Skills that were useful 10 years ago might not be a priority for employers now.

The lifetime of specific skills hovers at around five years. This is because demands are changing as the industry moves towards current trends, especially with the recent advancements in technology.

Today, skills like being proficient in artificial intelligence (AI), multilingual, and social media savvy are some of the key things a lot of employers look for. As more jobs demanding specific skills pop up, who knows what skills will still matter in 2030?

The best skills in resume for freshers to stand out

Soft Skills

Teamwork

Communication, collaboration, active listening, conflict resolution, problem-solving, leadership, and reliability are fall under the umbrella of teamwork.

Most of all, it is the ability to work cooperatively with others, putting your self-interests aside for the collective benefit.

Interpersonal

Having exceptional interpersonal skills means being good at communicating and interacting with others. These people are often considered to be good with people.

Whether it is dealing with clients, working with colleagues, or reporting to your boss, each has different mannerisms and working styles, which you need to know how to approach effectively.

Jobs are now hybrid and remote too, making it so much more crucial for a fresher who can communicate through a screen.

Attention to detail

While “attention to detail” is a soft skill that you can list in your resume, it’s important to show throughout the entire hiring process that you’ve put your money where your mouth is.

That means submitting a proofread cover letter and resume that’s tailored to the job position that you’re applying for.

It means doing your homework by preparing for the interview accordingly.

That comes with familiarising yourself with the company’s identity and preparing specific examples to show how you’re adept at paying attention to detail.

Adaptability

Companies pivot their strategies more often than not to keep up with the changing market and industry.

As the world constantly ebbs and flows with the development of technology and AI, it’s crucial that you showcase your adaptability in your resume.

It’s one of the best skills in resume for freshers to list down. According to a LinkedIn report covering the most in-demand skills for 2024, “adaptability” was titled as the “top skill of the moment.”

Conflict resolution

Everyone’s got problems.

On a more serious note, conflict is inevitable in a team setting, whether small or large. Not knowing how to find a solid resolution may not only disrupt your workflow but create a stressful working environment too.

Communication, emotional intelligence, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving all fall under the “conflict resolution” umbrella — so if you’re going to list these down, be sure to prepare work scenarios you’ve encountered that involve conflict resolution before your interview.

Hard skills

Skills for STEM work

Analytical thinking is a must-have for STEM professionals. The ability to evaluate large data sets plays an important role, especially if you are heading towards a more statistical job.

Aside from that, being logical about your work is a skill crucial in STEM too. Your ability to think clearly and make sense of information to reach rational conclusions is one of the key skills in resume for freshers.

Digital literacy is also valuable for many STEM careers since you will be working with computers and technology daily. Being able to quickly learn how to use digital tools and software and then apply it to your work is an advantage employers in STEM seek.

Skills for IT work

There’s no end to technological advancement, so the need to protect networks and data grows every day. This is why cybersecurity-related skills like risk analysis, digital forensics, access management, or any competency in information security are valuable skills you might want to add to your resume if you are applying to IT companies.

Proficiency in cloud computing is also an advantage. Since companies are now moving their data operations to the cloud, skills regarding cloud service platforms, data migration, cloud security, and distributed systems are highly valuable.

Skills for art-related works

Creative thinking skills are probably the first thing you should include in your resume.

It is the core characteristic and the foundational skill for any artist. Ready a portfolio of your latest artwork to show how artistic you can get when given the tools.

It is also an advantage if you possess some form of digital art skills, even if you are applying for more traditional art jobs.

For musicians or composers, that would be the likes of Ableton or FL Studio. For designers, the Adobe suite. For content writers and copywriters, search engine optimisation (SEO) is a skill that’s in demand by many companies dealing with digital content.