Resume Skills Section: Best Layout + Examples (2026)

Your skills section is the most-scanned part of your resume after your name and current title. ATS systems use it for keyword matching. Recruiters use it as a 2-second compatibility check. If it's poorly organized, buried at the bottom, or filled with the wrong skills, both audiences move on. Where to Place Your Skills Section Situation Best Placement Why Technical role (SWE, DevOps, data) Below name, above experience Recruiters check your stack before reading bullets Non-technical role (PM, marketing, ops) Below experience Experience and results matter more Career changer Below name, above experience Establishes relevant skills before unrelated job titles New grad / intern Below education, above projects Education sets context, skills show what you can do The rule: place skills where they'll be seen in the first 6 seconds of scanning. How Many Skills to List Experience Level Count Notes Junior / New Grad (0-2 years) 12-18 skills, 2-3 groups Tools you've actually used in projects or co