Skills
Model Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in models, and how to build and show them.
What skills do models need?
Models need technical skills such as posing, runway walking, and taking direction, plus people skills like confidence and professionalism. They also use tools such as Portfolio and Comp cards.
Technical (hard) skills
- Posing
- Runway walking
- Taking direction
- Fit modeling
- Portfolio building
- Self-promotion
People (soft) skills
- Confidence
- Professionalism
- Resilience
- Punctuality
Tools, equipment and technology
- Portfolio
- Comp cards
- Social media
- Agency apps
- Calendars
- Wardrobe basics
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how models put their skills to work:
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Posing” and “Runway walking.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “confidence,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Agency representation near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our model glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Model training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.