11+ Best IT Skills to Include on Your CV in 2025 (w/ Examples)

IT skills are abilities that allow you to use, manage, develop, and troubleshoot technology systems, software, networks, and hardware. Since the world is largely digitalised, these skills are highly relevant even in fields that aren’t directly related to computers.

In this article, we will examine some basic IT skills for a CV, show you how to include them in your application, and share some tips on improving them.

What Are IT Skills, and Why Are They Important?

IT skills are, essentially, skills related to computers, software, digital platforms, and networks. They are highly relevant in a digitalised world, where businesses and organisations operate online, and information is stored in virtual databases.

Keeping that in mind, it’s hardly surprising that most positions nowadays require some level of IT skills, even if it’s just basic digital literacy. For instance, most employees, regardless of profession, are expected to navigate the internet and use common software such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.

However, some jobs require a more advanced set of skills that must be featured on your CV if you hope to receive an interview invitation. These include the abilities for roles in the IT sector, such as software developer, system administrator, database administrator, cloud engineer, cybersecurity analyst, and more.

12 IT Skills to Add to Your CV

IT skills to add to your CV are a mix of hard skills, like programming, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, and soft skills, such as problem-solving and communication. Though the former are important for performing job-specific responsibilities, the latter can give you an edge when competing against candidates with similar capabilities as yours.

Now, let’s take a look at each of these skills in more detail:

#1. Programming

Programming is an essential IT skill; it encompasses creating, modifying, manipulating, and maintaining code used in software, applications, and websites. To be a good programmer, you must be familiar with the basic programming languages and possess excellent problem-solving skills.

Here are some programming skills you should consider adding to your CV:

And this is how you can discuss these skills on your application:

#2. Database Management

Database management includes organising, storing, maintaining, and securing data, typically using a database management system. Nowadays, this skill is crucial because most organisations handle large amounts of data and analyse it to understand trends and make better decisions.

Here are some key database management skills IT experts could mention on their CVs:

Now, here’s how to write about these hard IT skills effectively:

#3. Analytical Skills

Analytical skills entail the ability to break down complex concepts into simpler components to understand them better and use them to solve problems. Therefore, they are vital for many fields, and IT is no exception.

It can be a particularly relevant soft IT skill for freshers. Therefore, adding it to a CV can boost the entry-level candidates’ chances of being noticed by recruiters and securing an interview, even if they lack professional experience and job-specific abilities.

The following are some useful analytical skills:

Here’s how to describe these skills on your CV:

#4. Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has become widespread over the years, and its services are now used by 94% of companies to at least some degree. Rather than storing data on-site, these companies use on-demand virtual storage, which cuts operating costs and improves flexibility.

As a result, the following IT skills are now in high demand:

And here is how to elaborate on them on your CV:

#5. Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is an essential tech skill, as its purpose is to protect networks and systems from malicious activities. This is particularly important in companies and organisations that handle sensitive data, which is why they hire IT experts who specialise in security to protect the infrastructure.

Here are some crucial cybersecurity skills:

These skills could be added to your CV as follows:

#6. AI

AI skills are one of the most sought-after abilities, considering the rapid rise of artificial intelligence’s influence and popularity. IT experts with these skills work on developing systems and algorithms that can learn from data and produce human-like results when completing tasks.

Core AI skills include the following abilities:

You can feature these skills on your CV like this:

#7. Problem-Solving

Problem-solving skills involve analysing the situation objectively, identifying issues, coming up with solutions, and evaluating their effectiveness. IT experts have to be excellent problem solvers, as much of their job entails precisely handling issues with code, networks, and other systems.

Here are some key problem-solving skills used in IT:

And this is how you can describe them on your CV:

#8. UX Design

UX design revolves around user needs; essentially, it’s all about creating digital services and systems that are enjoyable and easy to use. Aside from aesthetics, this branch of design also focuses on functionality, so it is still considered an IT skill.

These are some examples of UX design skills you might include on your CV:

Here is how you can include these skills on your CV:

#9. Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting is an example of a crucial IT skill that every expert in the field should possess, as it is often an integral part of the job. It entails gathering information and defining a problem, forming theories about the cause, and testing them to see if they are correct.

Here are the essential skills you must possess when troubleshooting:

To add these skills to your CV, you can say something like this:

#10. Project Management

Project management skills are expected of IT experts because they often work on projects and must deliver results on time and within budget. Of course, they usually have a project manager to oversee them, but it’s still useful if they can organise themselves.

Here’s what project management skills entail:

And this is how to represent these skills on a CV:

#11. Communication

Communication skills can be beneficial in all professions, and IT is no exception. Although IT experts primarily work with computers, they still need to interact with clients, team members, and superiors. In those situations, excellent communication skills can make collaboration smooth and productive.

Here are some basic communication skills an IT expert needs:

This is how you can represent these skills on your CV:

#12. Software Testing

Software testing entails evaluating programmes and applications to determine whether they function as expected and meet specific requirements. This process involves comparing the software’s actual behaviour with its expected behaviour to spot discrepancies and bugs.

These are some of the skills software testing encompasses:

Here is how you can elaborate on these IT skills in your CV:

How to Add IT Skills to Your CV

To add IT skills to your CV, you can include them in your summary or objective, your work experience section, or skills section. Then, you should also add them to your cover letter, which is submitted as part of your application.

Let’s take a closer look at how to do this:

IT Skills in Your Summary/Objective

Your CV summary is placed at the top of the application, so it’s usually the first section employers take a look at. Thus, it’s important to include your most relevant IT skills here and immediately show that you possess the required capabilities.

The best way to do this is to highlight hard skills through your most significant achievement and use soft skills as traits and descriptors. In practice, that would look like this:

IT Skills in the Work Experience Section

You can easily include IT skills in the work experience section, thanks to the achievement bullet points under each entry. These elaborate further on each of your past positions and personalise your CV; your application won’t look generic if you add measurable results to each of your claims.

They are also an excellent opportunity to discuss your skills and put them in context. As a result, they’ll appear more convincing than when you simply list them.

Here’s what your IT skills might look like in the work experience section:

IT Skills in the Skills Section

IT skills should be included in the skills section, along with all your other relevant competencies. Typically, the skills in this section are ordered from hard to soft ones, especially in technical fields like IT.

However, remember that you can’t elaborate on your skills in this section; they are listed as simple bullet points to allow for simple scanning. That way, recruiters can take a single look and immediately determine whether you possess the required abilities.

Here’s what this section should look like:

IT Skills in Your Cover Letter

Finally, you should include your IT skills in your cover letter, especially if there’s anything you want to explain further. However, keep in mind that your space is limited here, too, as most cover letters aren’t longer than a single page. So, keep it brief and save additional stories about your skills for the interview.

How to Improve IT Skills

To improve IT skills, you should try the following methods:

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Final Thoughts

IT skills are some of the most in-demand abilities to have right now, so they should be prominently featured on your CV. After all, knowing your way around computers can be a huge plus even if you’re not applying for an IT role. And if you are, these skills will take up the majority of your application, so you need to know how to include them effectively.

IT Skills FAQ

#1. What are the most important IT skills employers look for today?

The most important IT skills employers look for today are AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and programming. However, they also want their IT experts to possess certain soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, adaptability, creativity, and decision-making.

#2. How can I improve my IT skills without a degree?

You can improve your IT skills without a degree by attending workshops and courses, practising through personal projects, or obtaining a certificate. Nowadays, you can find hundreds of online resources and courses, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to build your skills to a desired level.

#3. Are IT skills useful outside of the tech industry?

IT skills are useful outside the tech industry because many other fields have undergone digitalisation and seek employees with basic computer knowledge. For instance, IT skills can boost your application in data analysis, marketing, healthcare, finance, and many creative industries.

#4. Do IT skills require math knowledge?

Most IT skills require math knowledge, but the level varies significantly from one role to another. For instance, you only need a basic understanding of math for web development and programming, while machine learning and data science rely heavily on advanced math.

#5. How can I show my IT skills on a CV or LinkedIn profile?

You can show your IT skills on a CV or LinkedIn profile by adding them to a skills section and listing a few of the most relevant ones. Furthermore, you can incorporate them into the work experience section, mention them in the professional summary, or demonstrate your expertise in the certifications section.