In the digital economy, technology is constantly changing how we live, work and consume information. there’s barely any job that doesn’t require a basic understanding of computers. In fact, many jobs these days involve intermediate to advanced computer skills.
Therefore, Computer skills in resume for freshers are of utmost importance to land a job.
For some positions, the required skills may be as basic as sending emails or posting tweets. For others, it will be necessary to include specific, more technical programs such as Microsoft Excel or QuickBooks when considering which computer skills to put on your resume.
Other positions will demand more advanced skills such as coding languages, data management or machine learning – though these will only be required for those applying for specialized IT positions.
Even so, job seekers, in general, are under increasing pressure to keep themselves up to date with a growing number of applications and new software, and the more computer skills you can put on your resume, the better.
We’re living in the digital age, so it should come as no surprise to learn that candidates with strong computer skills fare far better in the job market than their technologically-challenged counterparts.
Employers are seeking an increasingly tech-savvy workforce, and your resume is your chance to show precisely which computer skills you have.
Though some employers will require prior knowledge or experience of working with specific applications (in which case the computer skills in the resume for freshers must match up precisely with the job description), others will offer on-the-job training.
In this case, by showing you have a working knowledge of commonly-used software, you also show that you are computer literate and therefore able to learn how to use new programs easily.
So, without any further ado, let’s consider the most important computer skills to put on your resume. We’ll start off with the basics, getting more and more advanced/specialized the further down the list we go.
List of Computer Skills in Resume for Freshers
Operating Systems
Though there are many different operating systems a business might use, the two most common are Windows and MacOS. As a consumer, you will no doubt have your own preference – but so will your employer.
A critical computer skill to put on your resume, therefore, is your ability to use both with equal proficiency – and if you don’t have this skill already, it’s high time you acquired it, for you will quickly find your application in the waste paper basket if all you’re able to use is Windows when your potential employer’s office is kitted out with Macs.
Office Suites
Practically all employers will expect you to have at least some familiarity with common office suites – namely, Microsoft Office and Google’s G Suite. For Microsoft, the computer skills to put on your resume should at the very least include Word, Excel, and Outlook (as well as PowerPoint and OneNote if you have them).
For G Suite, you’re looking at Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Gmail.
What you will be showing here is your ability to use the most common office tools that all employers rely upon in some way or another. Word processing tools – Microsoft Word and Google Docs – are essential for producing digital documents and therefore, are good Computer skills in resume for freshers.
An ability to use email programs is, of course, paramount to written communications. If your role requires you to conduct presentations, then PowerPoint is a vital computer skill to put on your resume.
Of them all, however, spreadsheet tools – Microsoft Excel and Google Spreadsheets – require the most skill, and as such may prove to be the most valuable. Spreadsheets are used to organize data and other information into tables and conduct quick calculations of numbers.
Depending on the role you’re applying for, your potential employer may require that you are skilled in advanced spreadsheet features to manipulate data. Refer to the job posting to make sure you list the right spreadsheet computer skills on your resume.
Communication and Collaboration Tools
Beyond email, many organizations use an advanced array of communication and collaboration tools to aid with productivity. This is especially true today as more and more organizations give employees the option to telecommute – 66% of companies now allow for remote work, in fact, and 16% are fully remote.
Common collaboration tools include Slack, Trello, Basecamp, Skype (and Skype for Business) Dropbox and Flowdock. There are many, many others – so be sure to carefully review the job description, educate yourself on any communication and collaboration tools specified (and sign up to free trial versions of the software if necessary), and list the relevant Computer skills for resume.
Even if no mention of such tools is specified in the job description, showing that you’re fluent in video-conferencing tools and workflow programs will help your application stand out to employers.
Social Media
Practically all companies today are looking to expand their reach and grow their audiences on social media. Though these skills will be essential if you’re applying for a role in marketing, advertising or PR, they are nonetheless desirable for all positions – the more a company can promote itself through its workforce, the better.
The most important platforms to mention on your resume are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest – and if you have any advanced skills with any of these platforms (such as campaign building or targeting), be sure to list them.
In addition, any knowledge of social media management and scheduling software such as Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sendible will be a huge bonus – maybe even a necessity, especially for those marketing and PR positions.
Web Tools
As companies today focus more and more on growing their online presence, working knowledge of and experience with web tools are increasingly in demand. Important web tools are content management systems (CMSs) – such as WordPress, Joomla and Drupal – and metrics tools such as Google Analytics.
Another important Computer skills in resume for freshers is search engine optimization (SEO) – i.e. the practice of optimizing web pages to make them rank highly in the search results of Google and other search engines.
Getting slightly more advanced, if you have any coding skills at all – even just the basics of HTML, CSS, JavaScript or Python – then be sure to list them on your resume. These skills are useful in almost every industry and for any business that has a website (i.e. every business on the planet) and will give you a huge advantage over other candidates who don’t possess them.
Software Skills
Though of course, the precise software skills you’ll need to list on your resume will vary by each position you’re applying for, there are nonetheless a number of enterprise software applications – from accounting software to customer relationship management (CMS) systems – that are in common use across many businesses today, and you need to put them on your resume if you have them.
Some examples:
- Accounting software skills: QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Xero, etc.
- CRM skills: HubSpot, Salesforce CRM, Freshsales, etc.
- Enterprise resource planning (ERP) skills: Odoo, Dynamics, Sage 100, etc.
- Helpdesk customer service software skills: Freshdesk, Zendesk, HappyFox, etc.
Design Skills and Creative Computer Skills
Visual communication is becoming more and more important for employers and their marketing teams. Companies are always on the lookout for talented individuals who can bring their branding to life and give them a visual edge in the marketplace.
Whether it’s creating original images for blog posts, designing infographics, touching up photographs, or designing pages for online eBooks and brochures, graphic design and creative computer skills are extremely useful and in high demand.
As such, if you have proficiency with design software such as the Adobe Creative Cloud suite – Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Dreamweaver, etc. – or competing products (CorelDRAW, Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, etc.), then these are highly-valuable computer skills to put on your resume.
Cybersecurity Skills
As companies rely more and more on their digital assets, the need to keep pace with rising cybersecurity threats grows in kind. Even if you’re not applying for a job as a cybersecurity professional, any cybersecurity skills or experience you do have will be most welcome at any company, so be sure to list them on your resume. Among the most important cybersecurity skills are:
- Intrusion detection
- Virus protection software
- Malware analysis
- Risk management
- Information management
- Data encryption
Data Science, Analysis and Visualization
Data is the new gold rush for businesses. As companies around the globe increasingly turn to big data to unleash big business opportunities, the demand for professionals who can sift through it all and unearth those big nugget insights is growing in kind, making data science and analytical skills definitely make it to the outstanding list of Computer skills in resume for freshers.
These may include:
- SQL
- MySQL
- NoSQL
- XML Database Management Systems
- Oracle
- Teradata
- Apache
- SAS
- Spark
In addition, skills with data visualization tools are also in high demand. Certain data visualization tools are built into spreadsheet programs like Excel, but others – such as Tableau, Qlik, and Looker – allow you to take data from spreadsheets and other sources for more advanced visualization and analysis.
List computer skills with any of these tools or similar on your resume if you have them.
UI/UX Design
As businesses strongly emphasise developing easy and customer-friendly websites and applications, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design talents are in great demand. Over the past few years, demand for these professions has increased quite quickly.
You may add skills to show your proficiency in design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD.
Cloud Computing Skills
With the rise of cloud-based technologies, familiarity with platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud can be a valuable addition to your resume. Highlight your knowledge of cloud storage, deployment, and management.
Showcase any experience you have with virtual machines, serverless architecture, or containerization to demonstrate your ability to leverage the power of cloud computing.
Project Management
Most of the management processes are now digitized to avoid any hassle and errors. These software are easy to use, and take no time to learn.
Learning how to use Jira, Asana and Trello could add highly beneficial value to your resume.
Final Thoughts
Computer skills are becoming more and more important. Employers want their workforce to have an increasingly wide range of computer skills for the simple reason that their businesses are becoming ever more dependent on computers.
Naturally, each job you apply for will require different skills and experiences, so be sure to read the job description carefully and match the computer skills you put on your resume to those required by the employer. However, any additional computer skills you have will not be overlooked, so be sure to list these, too, as they could make your application leap out from the pack and secure your interview for your next career move.
Summary
Job seekers, in general, are under increasing pressure to keep themselves up to date with a growing number of applications and new software, and the more computer skills you can put on your resume, the better. We’re living in the digital age, and so it should come as no surprise to learn that candidates with strong computer skills fare far better in the job market than their technologically-challenged counterparts. Employers are seeking an increasingly tech-savvy workforce, and your resume is your chance to show precisely which computer skills you have. Skills to list:
- Operating Systems
- Office Suites
- Communication and Collaboration Tools
- Social Media
- Web Tools
- Software Skills
- Design Skills
- Creative Computer Skills
- Cybersecurity Skills
- Data Science
- Analysis and Visualization
FAQ
A: Computer skills refer to the knowledge and proficiency in using computer systems, software applications, and digital tools. They are important on a resume because many jobs require some level of computer literacy. Demonstrating relevant computer skills showcases your ability to navigate technology, adapt to digital workflows, and effectively contribute to the organization’s technological needs.
A: The essential computer skills to include on a resume may vary depending on the job requirements and industry. However, some commonly sought-after computer skills include
1. Proficiency in operating systems (e.g., Windows, macOS)
2. Office productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace)
3. Email and Calendar management
4. Internet research
5. Data Analysis using spreadsheet software
6. Asic troubleshooting abilities
Additionally, skills in specific software or programming languages relevant to the job, such as Adobe Creative Suite, project management tools, or programming languages like Python, can be valuable.
A: Computer skills can be presented on a resume in various ways. You can create a separate “Computer Skills” section, listing the relevant skills in bullet points. Alternatively, you can incorporate computer skills under each job experience where they were utilized, showcasing how you applied them in a professional context.
It’s important to tailor the presentation of computer skills to the specific job requirements and emphasize the skills most relevant to the position you’re applying for.
A: You can demonstrate your computer skills on a resume by providing specific examples and achievements that showcase your proficiency. For example, you can mention your experience in using specific software or tools and describe how you effectively utilised them to complete projects or improve productivity. If you have completed any relevant certifications or training programs, mention them to demonstrate your commitment to developing your computer skills.
Additionally, you can include any notable projects or accomplishments that highlight your technical abilities.
A: Yes, there are additional computer skills that are in high demand based on industry trends. Some examples include data analysis and visualization using tools like Tableau or Power BI, proficiency in customer relationship management (CRM) software like Salesforce, knowledge of programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, or SQL, and experience with cloud computing platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure, and familiarity with cybersecurity concepts and practices.
Staying updated with emerging technologies and industry-specific software can help identify additional in-demand computer skills to include on your resume.
