What are hard skills? 100+ examples for workplace success

Hard skills refer to your technical abilities you need to perform a specific task or role. You learn these skills through training, education, or experience. Unlike soft skills or transferrable skills, hard skills are usually only for certain jobs or industries. But you need both soft skills, and relevant hard skills to do well at work.

• Importance of hard skills in the workplace
• Developing hard skills
• 200 examples - A list of hard skills for your resume
• Overcoming challenges in developing hard skills
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Importance of hard skills in the workplace

Imagine a web development company where nobody knows how to use important tools like Adobe Dreamweaver or WordPress. Even if you have strong leadership abilities, effective communication skills, and great interpersonal flexibility, your organization won't succeed if it can't create anything. 

In Singapore, three in five employers prioritise hard skills over soft skills. This preference is likely due to the recent tech boom and growing digital economy, which created a demand for tech-savvy talent. Even though soft skills like problem-solving, self-management, collaboration, and critical thinking are highly sought after, they still align well with the fast-paced and always-on nature of the current landscape.

Here are reasons hard skills are necessary for the workplace:

• Enhanced productivity and efficiency
• More measurable and tangible

Whether your hard skills are driving a forklift or mastering the entire Affinity suite, these hard skills differ must add value to you and your company.

This article explores the advantages of developing hard skills and provides insights on how you can improve them. You'll also discover some of the most in-demand hard skills to consider learning and including in your resume. 

Developing hard skills

Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and the Stanford Research Centre reveals that about 85% of professional success is attributed to interpersonal skills, while only around 15% is related to hard skills. 

However, the importance of hard skills may vary depending on the specific profession. For instance, jobs like electricians and physicians require technical expertise.

Developing hard skills can be challenging, but it is not impossible. While soft skills require daily practise, hard skills demand consistent training and a growth mindset. This process becomes more difficult as you get older. Your brain resists new change. This is a survival instinct that may have been good for natural evolution but not so much for your professional development.

Even so, you can train yourself to learn new things. By cultivating adaptability and emotional intelligence (which are both soft skills, by the way), you can adapt and acquire the ever-changing hard skills needed in today's labour market. 

Identifying the skills needed for your job

Understanding the skills you need for a job may seem clear, but sometimes workers need help to figure out what they're missing.

Walter Theseira, an economist and Associate Professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, highlights in the Straits Times that while it makes sense to learn new skills, he points out that “there is little to no data available on people's skills and qualifications once they leave formal education.” It's also hard to measure the skills needed for different jobs.

While the government is working on these issues, it's important for you to know what skills you need. Whether you're looking for a new job or already have one, here are some questions to help you:

1. What is the job description? 
   ⁠Understanding your duties can help you realise what skills you need and the general direction of your competencies. For example, suppose your role states that you are a web developer who needs to maintain the front and back ends of the company website. In that case, you must be well-versed in programming software and familiar with any developments in the field.
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2. What is your industry? 
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   ⁠Most people apply for jobs with skill requirements that match theirs. For example, if you're in public relations, you might have started your career with a basic foundation of writing and speaking talents. However, external factors like social media have drastically changed the industry. You will learn social media marketing and media-monitoring tools like SEMRush and PRWeb to keep up. 
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3. What is your career goal?
   ⁠⁠Think about where you want to go in your career. Setting goals can help you focus on the skills you need. If you want to improve your video-editing skills, practice using software like Premiere Pro and Final Cut. If you want to become a team leader, take courses on project management.

​​If you want to grow in your industry, it will make sense to continuously upskill. This will help adapt to the changes in your field. If you want to change career paths, you can look into reskilling to figure out what skills are needed for other jobs. 

Finding resources for learning

Luckily, hard skills are easier to measure than soft skills. Some hard skills can be learned in school, while others you can learn by yourself. Here are some places where you can find resources to improve your technical knowledge.

1. Vocational training
   ⁠⁠Vocational training used to be seen as a last option, but now it's seen as a good way to gain specialised knowledge. Education Minister Chan Chun Sing announced in 2022 that Singapore's technical education will be updated to fit the changing job market and help people progress in their careers.
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   ⁠Vocational training is shorter than a university degree and prepares you for a specific career. In Singapore, you can apply for vocational training through:
   

   • High School Career and Technical Education

   • Tech Prep Education

   • Postsecondary Vocational Education

2. Workshops/seminars/camps
   ⁠⁠You can join intensive programs that teach you ultra-specific skills. For example, there are one-day crash courses in Python or two-week culinary conferences on French baking techniques.
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3. Certifications
   ⁠⁠If you want to make your knowledge more “official”, you can get certifications. Professional organisations offer certifications that confirm your skills after completing a training program.
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   ⁠Certain certifications, such as those offered by Google, have expiration dates due to ongoing course updates. On the other hand, certifications like the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) are more permanent and only need to be obtained once. The CFA certification is recognized worldwide.
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4. Online classes/masterclasses
   ⁠⁠There are many websites that offer a wide range of courses. Whether you want to learn about artificial intelligence or improve your public speaking, platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Zilingo, or MasterClass have courses for your professional and personal development. You can even find training videos on YouTube and TikTok!
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5. Experience
   ⁠⁠Remember, the saying "experience is the best teacher." Some professions, like journalism or coaching, require practice and time to get better.

Practising and applying skills

What did we say about experience just now? You could have fancy diplomas on your wall, but if you don’t put your skills to good use, they’re going to get rusty. Practical application keeps you sharp. It helps you figure out your preferences and weaknesses. It also spurs continuous improvement. 

Imagine you're a tailor who finished a course on draping and pleating. Once you sit down pinning and stitching the fabric, learning the process, you find ways to make things easier for yourself. You realise that laying out the textile this way helps keep things in place better. You discover that you're not great with silks and you prefer linen. Amid all this, you improve and develop your techniques. 

Seeking feedback and evaluation

To embrace a learning mindset, you need a strong desire to always improve. Talk to your colleagues, bosses, or others involved to find out what areas you can focus on. Their feedback will help you identify the hard skills you should work on. But don't stop there. It's important to make these goals measurable too. This means you can ask those same people if your classes and training have made a noticeable difference. It then becomes a continuous cycle of self-improvement.

200 examples - A list of hard skills for your resume

Technical skills 

Technical skills encompass practical abilities that help you carry out technical rules. Although many people use it interchangeably with hard skills, the term can also refer to skills related to tech-oriented roles. In this context, we’ll use the latter definition. 

Benefits of technical skills

Tech skills are the currency in today’s digital economy. 

According to JobStreet data, some of the most in-demand skills in the foreseeable future are data science, UX or UI design, cloud computing, web development, SEO marketing, and video editing for social media – all tech skills. 

Besides, the 2023 World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs” report reveals that technological literacy, AI and Big Data, and programming are some of the year’s core skills. 

Tech skills create more productive processes, prevent system issues, and improve security. It can also enhance soft skills, such as creative problem-solving and agility.

Examples of technical skills

• Programming languages (Java, Python, C++)
• Web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Mobile app development (Zoho Creator, Quixy, AppMySite)
• Database management (MySQL, Salesforce, ESM Tools)
• Network administration (multi-protocol label switching, virus protection, server maintenance and instalment)
• Cloud computing (programming languages, APIs, Linux)
• Data analysis (statistics, data visualisation, machine learning)
• Machine learning (programming languages, statistics, algorithms)
• Artificial intelligence (machine learning, natural language processing, data science)
• Robotics (electrical engineering, programming, mathematics)
• Industrial automation (programming, configuration management, machine learning)
• CAD design (engineering, physics, mathematics)
• 3D modelling (3DS Max, Maya, Zbrush)
• Computer hardware repair and maintenance (computer engineering, data recovery)
• Software testing and quality assurance (programming languages, troubleshooting)

Analytical skills 

Analytical skills mean you're able to collect data and scrutinise it. People with analytical skills are problem solvers. They exercise investigation, find issues, and develop solutions using the information at hand. 

 Benefits of analytical skills

While analytical skills fall under the "hard" category, they're actually multidisciplinary. Any profession (or even life stage) requires inductive and deductive reasoning. These are both needed to uncover problems or potential problems as well as concrete solutions. 

 Analytical skills help in decision-making, time management and task prioritisation, organisation, and strategy.

 Examples of communication skills

• Verbal communication
• Nonverbal communication
• Written communication
• Active listening
• Presentation skills
• Public speaking
• Negotiation skills
• Persuasion skills
• Conflict resolution
• Interpersonal skills
• Teamwork
• Cross-cultural communication
• Diplomacy

Leadership skills

You don’t have to be a manager to be a leader. Leadership skills encompass how well you run processes, develop ideas, strategies, and initiatives, motivate your team, and focus efforts towards a goal. 

Like communication skills, leadership teeters between hard and soft skills. In Singapore, for example, the government has outlined and specified 25 competencies for effective leadership. This includes having a vision, driving change, building relationships, achieving results, and personal effectiveness.

Benefits of leadership skills

On a personal level, possessing these skills means you have more chances to obtain a leadership role. On a company level, they help achieve objectives and create an overall inspiring atmosphere. 

Good leaders keep things efficient, drive the team towards goals, and boost value creation. They’re also transformative, always looking for ways to improve processes and people rather than resting on the status quo. 

Examples of leadership skills

• Team management
• Delegation
• Coaching and mentoring
• Motivation and inspiration
• Performance management
• Emotional intelligence
• Visionary leadership
• Change management
• Crisis management
• Decision-making under pressure
• Conflict management
• Self-awareness

Project management skills

Project managers oversee projects from ideation to completion. People in this profession must be organised, efficient, and collaborative. After all, they have to deal with various stakeholders to ensure the entire team is on the same page. If you're a project manager, you must also display meticulousness. 

Every aspect of the project must follow certain parameters. Delegation skills and enthusiasm are also required. After all, you have to keep everyone motivated to finish the task. 

Effectively, project managers are terrific leaders, critical thinkers, and problem-solvers.

Benefits of project management skills

To make a long story short, project management skills get the job done. Highly skilled project managers keep the team focused on the goal, ensuring everything runs smoothly. They also fuel everyone's enthusiasm and exercise quality control. 

Examples of project management skills

• Planning and organising
• Budgeting and resource management
• Risk assessment and management
• Time management
• Project scheduling
• Scope management
• Stakeholder management
• Resource allocation
• Quality management
• Agile methodology
• Scrum framework

Sales and marketing skills

Sales and marketing are two slices of the same pie. The skills for both fields involve how well you can sell products or services. However, marketing skills relate more to how well you understand your demographic’s wants and develop the best approach to supplying them. Sales skills, on the other hand, cover your knack for interacting and convincing customers to add to the proverbial cart. 

Benefits of sales and marketing skills

Hand in hand, marketing and sales skills can give insight into what your customers think and feel. These insights allow your business to create appropriate strategies. 

A competent marketing professional can grow your demographic. They can also raise the value of whatever your organisation is selling. Meanwhile, a top-notch salesperson can help turn those into conversions. 

These hard skills examples also help develop softer traits, such as listening, patience, and collaboration.

Examples of sales and marketing skills

• Market research and analysis
• Branding and advertising
• Sales techniques
• Customer service
• Lead generation
• Relationship building
• Product positioning
• Pricing strategy
• Competitive analysis
• Marketing automation
• Content marketing

Financial skills

Simply put, financial skills refer to your ability to manage money, whether your own or a hedge fund. These skills guide you in making crucial financial decisions and solving related problems. 

Financially competent folks have extensive knowledge of the economic climate, the fiscal health of the company and/or client, and financial systems and processes.

Beyond numbers, financial skills also include decision-making, crisis management, collaboration, communication, and analytical thinking. Because of the serious nature of this industry, many financial professions require certification.

Benefits of financial skills

Good financial skills make you more trustworthy, especially when you’re handling another person’s assets. 

You can help improve someone’s financial security, maintain the organisation’s financial health, help clients make crucial life decisions, prevent someone from spiralling into debt, and anticipate economic disruptions. 

Would it be wise for your client to buy a house? What investment should they commit to? A capable financial professional can answer these queries.

Examples of financial skills

• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Financial analysis
• Investment management
• Banking and finance
• Insurance underwriting
• Tax preparation
• Audit and compliance
• Financial forecasting
• Corporate finance
• Financial reporting
• Capital budgeting
• Cost accounting

Manufacturing and production skills

These skills encompass the broad range of roles involved in the production process. While the traditional idea of manufacturing typically involves manual labour, the industry has evolved to utilise more automated systems. 

These days, manufacturing skills include engineering, robotics, computation, digital transformation, and even analytical prowess. 

Benefits of manufacturing and production skills

You can’t overstate the significance of manufacturing in your life. Without this industry, you won’t be able to enjoy anything, like your phone, laptop, or clothes. Manufacturing and production skills promote efficiency, streamline production, and spur innovation. 

Examples of manufacturing and production skills

• Quality control
• Equipment maintenance
• Process improvement
• Supply chain management
• Logistics and distribution
• Purchasing and procurement
• Inventory management
• Manufacturing and production
• Quality assurance
• Production planning and scheduling
• Lean manufacturing
• Six Sigma

Healthcare skills

Healthcare skills refer to your ability to care for, maintain, and improve another person’s health and wellbeing. 

Apart from medical know-how, a healthcare professional must have practised interpersonal skills, such as empathy, stress management, and flexibility. They must also be terrific communicators, able to break down complex medical jargon into simpler terms and explain diagnoses and treatments clearly and accurately.

Depending on the exact role, healthcare professionals must also understand insurance, bookkeeping, and sanitation. 

Benefits of healthcare skills

Healthcare is an essential industry. People are safer and healthier, and they feel more secure. Competent healthcare professionals make you feel at ease and confident that their health and wellbeing are in safe hands. 

Examples of healthcare skills

• Medical knowledge
• Patient care and management
• Healthcare administration
• Electronic medical records (EMR)
• Medical billing and coding
• Healthcare quality improvement
• Infection control
• Health informatics
• Clinical research
• Medical device design and manufacturing

Legal skills

Legal skills allow you to understand and interpret legal jargon, navigate courtroom procedures, and support clients in any other legal matter. Apart from legal knowledge, workers in this field must be cognisant of current events locally, nationally, and globally that may affect their clients, cases, or firm. 

Benefits of legal skills

Everyone deals with legal matters, from following the law to signing contracts to even handshake agreements, which are legally enforceable in Singapore. Having legal skills allows you to protect yourself and/or others, ensuring they are following the letter of the law or that others are doing the same. Legal know-how also makes business transactions easier.

Examples of legal skills

• Legal research and writing
• Litigation and negotiation
• Contract drafting and review
• Intellectual property management
• Regulatory compliance
• Mediation and arbitration
• Dispute resolution
• Evidence collection and preservation
• Courtroom procedure
• Legal ethics
• Engineering and Construction Skills
• Design and drafting
• Project management
• Safety and compliance
• Civil engineering

Overcoming challenges in developing hard skills

Remember what Professor Theseira said about identifying crucial, era-relevant skills? Without accurate data on the capabilities of the current workforce, it’s difficult to pinpoint which training the government needs to invest in. 

The onus of learning is then left up to you or the company you work in. But apart from systemic limitations, here are some other challenges that may limit you from working on your skill set. 

• Fear of failure or rejection
• Time constraints and competing priorities
• Resistance to change or learning
• Overcoming self-doubt and building confidence

Conclusion

While studies show that hard skills contribute only 15% of your success, you shouldn’t overlook them. After all, these technical abilities allow you to create and produce tangible results. With the increasing emphasis on specialised roles, hard skills enable you to tackle job-specific duties that may help up your value in the workplace. 

Don’t worry if you don’t have the necessary hard skills on your resume right now. You can learn them through practical learning, formal study, workshops, or classes. Ask your boss if the company can subsidise your training or sign up yourself with the many free resources available online. 

Hard skills work best with a growth mindset and a hunger for self-improvement since you must constantly update your repertoire to keep pace with the improvements in your industry.

Polishing up on your hard skills isn’t always easy, but they allow you to thrive in your job. So go ahead and sign up for further training. For more articles to help you flourish at work, visit JobStreet's Career Advice page. 

FAQs

1. What are some examples of hard skills?
   ⁠⁠Hard skills are the practical skills you need to accomplish your job. Some examples include tech skills, such as programming, data analysis, and cloud computing; video-editing skills, such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut; and food preparation skills, such as sanitation and inventory management. 
   ⁠
2. How do I identify the hard skills needed for my job?
   ⁠⁠Research is the first step to figuring out which hard skills you need. Study your job description and industry to see your required competencies. Are there any developments in your field that should prompt you to upskill or reskill? 
   ⁠
   ⁠For example, if you’re a marketing professional and you notice the benefits of social media, you can train in digital marketing to help keep your skills relevant and current. 
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   ⁠You can also do a self-evaluation and/or ask for feedback from your peers and supervisors to assess what skills you need to work on. 
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3. What are some resources for learning hard skills?
   ⁠You can learn hard skills via formal education, on-the-job training, vocational courses, workshops, seminars, certifications, or practice. You can also sign up for the many free resources online from platforms like Coursera, Zilingo, Udemy, and even YouTube!
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4. How long does it take to develop hard skills?
   ⁠Training programmes can last from a few hours (like a daylong workshop) to several years (certifications like the CFA can take at least three years). However, it’s more crucial to adopt a constantly learning mindset. Stay on top of updates in the industry and train yourself to keep pace with the developments. 
   ⁠
5. How can I measure my progress in developing hard skills?
   ⁠Hard skills are generally easier to measure than soft skills. Most courses come with certificates or even certifications. One way to check your progress is to assess your productivity. Did using AI make you work faster or produce more? You can also ask your colleagues or line managers to assess your work to see any improvements.
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   ⁠It might also help to establish goals (use the SMART system!) or milestones before you start training. A concrete objective ensures you're on track in your learning journey.