You can include 50 skills on LinkedIn, so you should list 50. The algorithms search for matches on job postings, and often, the job posting only asks for ten or so skills in their posting, so if you have 50 listed, you will have a much better chance to match the ones wanted in the posting.

You may find that the skill requests for job postings that you often see requested are ones you don’t have or are not in your skill section under that name. Update your LinkedIn skills as you search for postings using better word descriptions and adding missing skills that you do have as you study the postings. Check out someone who has a job like you are applying for and go to their profile and check their skills. This can remind you of skills you may have but didn’t list when you see them in another person’s profile.

Ask your connections to endorse some of your skills so that anyone looking at the list will see that others agree that you have these skills. If you can show a broader range of skills, that will also help.

Soft skills are essential, as are technical skills related to your industry and work. Interaction with HR, accounting, and customer service, should be shown in related skills even if you are a technical employee. Also, leadership is essential no matter what your focus is.

Don’t take the skill list lightly. They make an impression through the algorithms and show the breadth of your skill set.