As technology continues to advance and the workplace landscape changes, the skills that employers seek are evolving too.

In January, Resume Builder surveyed 1,000 hiring managers to learn the most in-demand skills for 2025.

Key findings:

  • AI abilities and customer relationship management skills top list of desired hard skills in 2025
  • Problem-solving, communication, and time management are the most sought-after soft skills
  • The majority of employers frequently encounter resumes that don’t properly highlight skills
  • 3 in 4 hiring managers say candidates who effectively showcase the skills they want are much more likely to get an interview

Hiring Managers Say AI Is the Top Hard Skill To Have on Your Resume in 2025

In 2025, hiring managers say the top five desired hard skills for candidates include AI abilities (47%), such as machine learning and generative AI tools, followed by sales and customer relationship management skills (40%) using platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot.

Skills in data analysis and visualization (39%), leveraging tools such as SQL, Tableau, and Power BI, and cloud computing and storage (37%), including AWS and Azure, also rank highly. Additionally, project management expertise (37%), encompassing methodologies like Agile and certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP), is expected to be critical for job seekers aiming to stand out.

“It’s no surprise that AI skills are among the most sought-after by employers today,” says Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller. “Organizations that aim to boost productivity and stay competitive recognize that AI expertise is a key driver in achieving these goals.

“Rather than investing time in training employees from scratch, companies are increasingly looking for candidates who possess AI skills, customer relationship management (CRM) expertise, and data analysis. Employees with these high-demand skills can be onboarded and start contributing meaningfully more quickly, improving business operations and tackling complex challenges.”

Problem-Solving, Communication, and Time Management Are the Most Important Soft Skills

In 2025, the most essential soft skills employers expect candidates to highlight on their resumes include problem-solving (68%), communication (65%), and time management (64%). Employers also value team collaboration (60%) and attention to detail (58%) as vital competencies. These skills reflect a growing emphasis on adaptability, effective teamwork, and managing complex challenges in evolving work environments.

For Gen Z candidates, hiring managers say soft skills such as communication and problem-solving are particularly important.

Resume Builder survey infographic

“Since the rise of remote work, soft skills have become increasingly critical in the hiring process. For many, especially Gen Zers who entered the workforce during the pandemic, the lack of in-person experiences has made it harder to develop these skills. Higher education has also fallen short in preparing students in this area, leaving many Gen Z professionals entering the workforce underprepared.

“In-person interactions traditionally foster communication and teamwork, but remote work has made it more challenging for Gen Z to build the interpersonal skills needed to succeed professionally. While technical skills can be acquired through coursework, online programs, and certifications, soft skills are best developed through real-world interaction — hands-on collaboration, learning from mentors, and adapting to team dynamics.

“Remote work often creates a gap in this development, making it essential for employers to seek candidates who demonstrate strong interpersonal skills or a willingness to develop them in a virtual environment. For those early in their careers, actively pursuing opportunities to engage, collaborate, and learn from others can be the key to long-term success,” says Haller.

3 in 4 Hiring Managers Say Candidates Who Showcase the Skills They Want on Their Resumes Are Much More Likely To Get Interviews

Hiring managers emphasize that candidates should strategically incorporate skills into their resumes to stand out. The most recommended method, endorsed by 61% of hiring managers, is embedding skills within experience bullet points. Additionally, 48% suggest creating a dedicated “skills” section, while 51% advocate for highlighting skills in a professional summary or cover letter.

Skill presentation remains a common issue on resumes. Over half of employers (59%) report frequently encountering resumes where skills are not properly showcased, while 37% say they sometimes do.

When candidates effectively highlight their skills, it has a significant impact on hiring decisions — 74% of employers say they are much more likely to consider candidates, and 25% say they are a little more likely.

Resume Builder survey infographic

3 Resume Tips To Know for 2025

Stacie Haller shares three tips candidates should know when applying for jobs this year.

  1. Highlight soft skills with specific examples: Soft skills should be emphasized on your resume through concrete examples. Use bullet points to describe situations where you’ve applied these skills, including the context (the task and situation), how you used the skill, and the successful result. Specificity is key to demonstrating your competency.
  2. Showcase technical skills with impact: When listing technical skills, especially in high-demand areas like AI, go beyond simply naming the skill. Provide examples in bullet points that explain how you applied the technical skill to achieve successful outcomes, such as using AI to increase productivity or enhance task efficiency. This illustrates not only your knowledge but ability to deliver tangible results.
  3. Align skills with job requirements: Ensure your resume’s skills section reflects the exact skills mentioned in the job description. This makes it easy for hiring managers to quickly see that you possess the right skills and know how to apply them effectively. Additionally, highlighting these skills in your cover letter reinforces your qualifications and can significantly boost your chances of landing an interview.

By incorporating these strategies, you’ll make your resume stand out and demonstrate your technical and soft skill proficiency in ways that resonate with employers.

Methodology

This survey, launched on January 8, 2024, was commissioned by ResumeBuilder.com and conducted online by the polling platform Pollfish. Overall, 1,000 U.S. full-time manager-level employees completed the survey.

To qualify for the survey, all participants had to be over 25, have a household income of at least $75,000, have a manager-level role or higher, be employed full-time, and work at a company with more than 11 employees.

Respondents also had to indicate via a screening question that they currently are involved in hiring decisions.

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