Important Technical Skills With Examples
Recruiters and hiring managers look for candidates who can jump right in on the first day of work and start helping the company achieve its goals. That means finding people with the right technical skills to get the job done.
Many technical skills require training and experience to master. They are also typically a type of hard skill. Hard skills are those that can be taught in a classroom, and can be defined, evaluated, and measured (as opposed to soft skills, which are personal attributes that help you succeed at work).1
What Are Technical Skills?
Technical skills are the abilities and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks. They are practical, and often relate to mechanical, information technology, mathematical, or scientific tasks. Some examples include knowledge of programming languages, design programs, mechanical equipment, or tools.
While technical skills are often most important for jobs related to information technology (IT) and other fields in the sciences, many other industries also want employees with at least some technical skills.
In addition to the technical skills that are needed in the workplace, your command of job-specific skills can help ensure you get hired or promoted. Often technical, hard, and job-specific skills are interchangeable, but this is not always the case.
Of course, required skills will vary based upon the job for which you're applying, so be sure to be specific when listing hardware, software, programs, applications, etc.
Depending on the job you seek, a batch of skills can be referred to as a skill set or hybrid skills, as these skills often go together within a specific profession or industry Top 20 Tech Skills
Zippia has compiled a list of the top 20 tech skills (based on an analysis of over 3 million job postings). Coding skills are at the top of the list, followed by data analysis and social media.2
C++
SQL
Python
Java
R
Facebook
HTML
Ladder
JavaScript
Twitter
LinkedIn
Servers
Network Security
Instagram
Big Data
Algorithms
SPARK
SAS
Artificial Intelligence
Ruby
Technical Skills Listed by Type
Big Data Analysis
Nearly every industry today relies on data, whether it is data about their clients or the success of their product. While it is easy for companies to get data, they need employees who can collect, organize, and then interpret that data. Data analysis skills most valued by employers include:
Algorithms
Analytical Skills
Big Data
Calculating
Compiling Statistics
Data Analytics
Data Mining
Database Design
Database Management
Documentation
Modeling
Modification
Needs Analysis
Quantitative Research
Quantitative Reports
Statistical Analysis
Coding and Programming
Even if the job you’re applying for is not for a “coder” or “programmer,” most employers will look carefully at an applicant with some coding experience. Being able to code, and to understand multiple programming languages, will make you a strong candidate in many jobs. Several of the key technical skills sought in IT job candidates include:
Applications
Certifications
Coding
Computing
Configuration
Customer Support
Debugging
Design
Development
Hardware
HTML
Implementation
Information Technology
ICT (Information and Communications Technology)
Infrastructure
Languages
Maintenance
Network Architecture
Network Security
Networking
New Technologies
Operating Systems
Programming
Restoration
Security
Servers
Software
Solution Delivery
Storage
Structures
Systems Analysis
Technical Support
Technology
Testing
Tools
Training
Troubleshooting
Usability
Project Management
This might seem to be more of a soft skill than a hard skill, but project management is critical for all technical projects. And, it often requires using complex programs and systems, which aren't always easily mastered. Being a good project manager means being an effective leader, delegating tasks, and measuring the success of each project.
Benchmarking
Budget Planning
Engineering
Fabrication
Following Specifications
Operations
Performance Review
Project Planning
Quality Assurance
Quality Control
Scheduling
Task Delegation
Task Management.