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December 1, 2023It is essential to possess software skills in order to succeed in today’s workplace, which is dominated by technology. The use of technology will play a part in your day-to-day work, whether you are aspiring to be an administrative assistant, a sales manager, or an HR manager.
Therefore, employers expect job candidates to have at least basic software skills. But what are the best software and computer skills for your resume, and how should you list them?
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The purpose of this article is to explain what software skills are and why they are important. Furthermore, we’ll demonstrate how to list software skills on a tech resume and discuss examples of computer skills on a resume.
Across industries and jobs, potential employers value the following eight computer and software skills:
It is common for people to wonder, “What are software skills?” as well as “What are computer skills?” Computer skills are subsets of software skills. The term “computer skills” refers to everything involving computers, while “software skills” are specific to the use of computer programs.
Software skills allow you to make use of applications on a computer. For instance, if you are an executive assistant, you may need to use a digital calendar application to track your boss’s schedule. Or, you may have to use Microsoft Word to prepare professional correspondence on behalf of your manager.
Depending on your position, you will use different software skills and computer skills. As a quality assurance engineer, for example, you may work with programming languages, artificial intelligence, or deep learning models that require advanced computing skills. An assistant or office manager, for example, will use software like Microsoft Office or Atlassian more frequently.
People often talk about how important computer skills are when it comes to their careers. These skills are brought up so often, that many people start to wonder, why are computer skills so important?
Technology plays a significant role in the efficient completion of a variety of tasks in modern businesses. Competing candidates may not be able to perform certain tasks due to a lack of computer skills. The knowledge you possess will enable you to gain an advantage over your competitors in the recruitment process.
So to answer the question simply, computer skills are important because they provide applicants with a competitive edge during the recruitment process. This competitive edge can result in an interview, a pre-employment test to demonstrate these computer or software skills, and a higher chance of winning the employment opportunity.
In the modern workplace, it is imperative to provide computer skill examples on a resume. The use of technology within businesses has expanded as technology has advanced. Employers can identify whether you have the background and skills to perform the job advertised by using computer skill examples.
By automating repetitive tasks and speeding up common processes, technology allows businesses to become more efficient. Software skills also enable workers to finish their work faster, resulting in an increase in productivity.
Computer skill examples are often looked for by employers when hiring candidates. Your resume should list your computer skills, technical skills, and soft skills, along with examples. By doing this, you will be able to show an employer how valuable you are and help them better understand the technologies you are familiar with.
Computer skills can be leveraged on a resume to impress a hiring manager or win employment. Three basic skill levels are often used to categorize relevant skills. List your basic computer skills, intermediate computer skills, and advanced computer skills on your resume to prove to an employer you have the relevant computer skills needed to perform the advertised position.
Social media has become a good way for companies to build their brand identity. If you are working in a job related to marketing or personal assisting, having experience using social media tools can be useful. Also, if you are applying for a social media management position, you will want to mention your social media skills.
Here are a few social media tools you can list on your resume:
Spreadsheets allow you to collect data in tables. When data is stored in a spreadsheet, you can use formulas to perform basic and advanced calculations.
If you are applying for a position that involves numbers, you may be expected to know how to use spreadsheet software. For instance, if you are going to work in HR, you may need to use spreadsheets to review and track statistics.
Here are a few examples of how you can list knowledge of spreadsheets on your resume:
Knowledge of word processing and desktop publishing tools is essential in many jobs. If you’re an assistant, you may have to write memos using a tool like Microsoft Word. If you are an accountant, you will have to prepare formal reports using word processing tools.
Here are a few ways you can communicate experience with these types of tools on your resume:
Being able to present information to others effectively is a core part of many jobs. This is true whether you’re a business manager, a digital marketer, or an HR manager.
If you have experience using tools such as PowerPoint, you should mention them on your resume. You can mention that you have presentation skills. Or, you can note a specific tool that you have used, such as Google Slides or PowerPoint.
Depending on the position you are applying for, you may also want to list experience with computer programming.
Most jobs that require computer programming as a skill are directly related to technology, like web development or quality assurance engineering. However, if you possess programming skills that you think are relevant to your job, you should still mention them in your resume.
Knowing a programming skill may allow you to perform a job more effectively. For instance, suppose you are an accountant who knows how to code. You could perhaps use your programming skills to automate common processes in your work.
If you decide to mention computer programming as a software skill on your resume, you should cite specific examples of technologies that you know. For instance, you could mention that you know how to code in C++, HTML, Python, or PHP.
While spreadsheets are more common in most jobs than databases, there are some roles where you’ll need a basic knowledge of databases. For instance, if you’re working in sales, you may be asked to keep track of certain sales in a database tool.
If you have experience using databases, you may want to mention it on your resume. You can mention a specific database you have used. Or you can talk about a type of database architecture you’re familiar with, like graphical or relational databases.
Here are a few database skills you could mention on your resume:
Although you may not need to use graphic design skills every day, these skills can go a long way in the workplace. By using your graphic design skills, you can turn a simple document or presentation into something that is more visually appealing and engaging.
Here are a few graphic design skills you can mention on your resume:
When creating your resume manually, or through a resume builder, you will likely come to a point where you need to add a list of computer skills for the resume. This list should be concise, but also successfully demonstrate that you possess strong computer skills. Aside from the skills listed in the previous section, a list of computer skills should also include the skillsets the employer specifically listed on the job description.
Not only will this demonstrate you have the appropriate technical knowledge to succeed, but it will also prove to the employer that you have reviewed the job posting and took the time to amend your resume to showcase your technical skills. In addition to the skills listed in the previous section, here is a list of other computer skills to include in your resume:
It’s time to list your software skills on your resume now that you know some great examples. If you’ve never added a skills section to your resume, you may wonder how to list computer skills on a resume. Learn how to list software skills on your resume by following these steps:
Armed with a list of valuable skills, you are now ready to place them on your resume. This may lead new applicants to wonder exactly where to put software skills on a resume. While there is not a specific rule that states one location is best over another, it is generally recommended that skills go in the left or right margin of a resume in a clean bullet-point fashion.
Another great example of where to list software skills on a resume is at the top of the document. This immediately draws an employer’s eyes to the skills and provides a great overview of skill level.
A software skill can be mentioned in either the skills section or the employment history section of your resume. If you list software skills on your resume in the skills section, then it is important to make this listing concise and to the point. The skills section typically provides an overview of multiple skills without too many details on how these skills were utilized in the workplace.
Here is an example of software skills being listed in the “skills” section of a resume:
Here is an example of software skills listed in the “employment history” resume section:
J.J. Accounting
Administrative Assistant
September 2017 – Present
– Coordinated the office manager’s schedule using Google Calendar
– Wrote professional correspondence on behalf of the office manager using Microsoft Word
– Answered the phone on behalf of the office manager, took memos and maintained the filing system
Making a list of software skills is one thing, actually describing these skills is another hurdle entirely. If you ever find yourself asking, “How do you describe your level of computer skills on a resume?” you are not alone. Thousands of people struggle with this question every day.
Ranking computer skills and separating them by proficiency level is one of the best ways to describe levels of computer skills on a resume. Software proficiency levels will vary depending on your experience and education. Be honest about your knowledge and provide three levels of valuable skills to an employer.
Software skills should be separated into basic, intermediate, and advanced skill levels in order to demonstrate a basic understanding of the job and the skills that are needed for it. Now you know how to describe computer skills. If you still aren’t comfortable with the idea, an example is provided below to guide you.
After completing a list of skills based on proficiency, it is time to list these computer skills on your resume. When creating your list, it is important to separate each level as a heading and provide strong examples in bullet points. Place advanced skills at the top, intermediate skills in the middle, and basic skills at the bottom. Here are some strong examples:
Each of these examples shows that an employee has different types of pertinent skills for the job. It also clearly demonstrates their level of proficiency to the employer. Simple and concise language is eyecatching, especially when it provides the entire purview of the job applicant in a quick glance.
Listing your software skills and computer skills on a resume is essential. Not only do they provide you with leverage over applicants who omit these sections, but they also provide the full scope of your abilities, thus making you more employable. A resume is not the only appropriate place to mention your software skills. Consider including them in your cover letter too.
Remember, even some of the most simple software skills can hold weight. The ability to use Zoom, use Google Analytics, or implement search engine optimization may be the one valuable skill that pushes you ahead of other applicants.
There are countless examples of valuable computer skills for your resume. Do your research to determine which are the most relevant for the position you are seeking.
In an everyday office environment, you will need basic software skills. Adding proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, working independently or in teams, or understanding SAP should be included on your basic software skills list. Each individual’s list of basic software skills for a resume will differ depending on experience and education.
How can I learn computer skills for free?You can learn computer skills for free through online learning platforms such as Coursera, edX, Dataquest, or Udemy. If you are unsure how to navigate these online platforms, quickly google search ‘how to learn computer skills for free.’ You can research each of these online courses to find one that works for you.
What computer skills are employers looking for?The computer skills that employers are looking for are proficiency in popular programming languages, a deep understanding of data analytics and spreadsheet manipulation, and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite or G-Suite applications. These are the most sought-after software skills in today’s job market.
What software skills are most in-demand?The most in-demand software skills are machine learning, programming, cloud computing, and data analysis. These in-demand software skills are on the rise due to a rapid increase in technological advancement.
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