Will computers steal all jobs one day? Who knows? But one thing is clear. You can use them to find a new job today by impressing recruiters with the computer skills on your resume.
Computer skills for a resume show what you can do without a hitch when wielding a keyboard and mouse. But here’s the problem. Many people know their way around a computer, and you must prove you’re better than them. Sounds hard? It isn’t! You’re about to learn why.
This guide will show you:
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Your resume must go beyond computer skills. So, read about these too:
Computer skills for a resume show what you can do with a computer. These include software proficiency, coding, Excel, and data analysis, as well as hardware expertise, like system administration and maintenance. They appear in the resume’s skills section, accompanied by your proficiency level.
Before listing computer skills on your resume, you must figure out which ones you have. But that’s easier said than done. So, read below how to do it.
All you need to do is ask yourself two questions. What software do you know how to use? Which tasks can you perform? Try to think of as many as possible. Then, list them on a document. Done!
More isn’t always merrier. The recruiter is busy and only wants to see what’s relevant to the job they’re offering. So, please resist the temptation of impressing them with a mile-long list. Only include the skills they want to see. The best way to do this is by checking the job ad.
It’ll show you everything the recruiters expect from a perfect candidate, including their computer skills. See these requirements and check which skills you listed in the previous step. For example, imagine the following part of a job ad:
Requirements:
Based on them, you should add the following computer skills to your resume:
Expert hint: Use this approach in all sections of your document. A resume should only have one page. So, focus on only sharing what recruiters deem critical.
“I know this thing” won’t cut it. You need to tell recruiters your proficiency level with this skill. They’ll use it to decide if you’re a suitable candidate or how long it’ll take you to get up-to-speed. Here are the levels you should use:
Expert hint: Never lie. That’s a cardinal sin of resume writing that will surely get you in trouble. You may think you’re just stretching the truth a bit. But the recruiter won’t see it that way.
What’s a resume? You may think it’s a document to prove you can get the job done. But that’s wrong. The goal here is to show you’re the most qualified candidate available. So, go to infinity and beyond with your resume. Want to know how? Here’s a tip: use achievements.
Resume achievements highlight the moments when you exceeded expectations at work. Maybe you’ve used your computer skills to do that. If so, mention it, like in the examples below:
Recruiters want to know more. They don’t want to hear you used computer skills to exceed expectations. No. They want to know how much of a difference you made. Sure, saying that you cut costs is nice. But slashing them by 30% is a different story.
Try to tie your computer skills to your key performance metrics. Here are some examples:
The resume skills section is the most common place to display your computer prowess. But it’s good to spice things up. Don’t mention only your computer skills. Add other ones, like soft skills, for example. Recruiters love them, and most people lack them. That’s your chance to stand out.
Skills
There you go. This candidate listed the computer skills deemed most relevant to the job and sprinkled in some other competencies, even personal ones. That’s a job well done! But you can also mention your skills elsewhere, like in your resume summary.
Summary
Creative marketer with 5 years of experience. Holds extensive expertise in executing market research to discover consumer trends with tools like Ahrefs and Google Analytics. Created strategies that boosted profits by 15% at Social Agency Inc. Eager to use strong content and strategy development expertise to help your company achieve similar gains.
You may not have many achievements to brag about if you’re still starting your career, like someone who’s writing an entry-level resume. If that’s your profile, you should use a resume objective instead. But follow the same drill. Mention a computer skill or two.
But, regardless of your experience level, you can do the same in the work experience section of your resume. Just avoid repeating yourself. As impressive as your computer skills may be, sharing them is like telling a joke. The more you tell it, the less impact it has.
Sales Manager
ApexQuest Dynamics, Springdale, AR
June 2015–September 2020
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievement:
You can also add your skills to the education section of your resume, as in this example.
Education
BA in Sociology
Montana State University Bozeman, MT
September 2016–May 2020
Relevant Extracurricular Activities
The last alternative is creating a whole section dedicated to your computer skills. But only do that if you have many of the same type and believe they’re all relevant. For example, maybe you’re writing a marketer's resume and want to list all the marketing tools the recruiter wants.
Marketing tools
Do the same whenever you feel you’ve mastered several computer skills of the same type and believe they’re all relevant to the job at hand. Here are some types of computer skills that warrant a section dedicated to them if they’re all relevant.
Even the greatest geniuses need to get inspiration from somewhere. Below is a list of computer skills you can add to your resume. But you know the drill: list up to 8 and ensure they’re relevant.
These are the most common computer skills. Almost every job will require you to use some element of the MS Office package, especially if you’re writing something like a resume for a receptionist or administrative assistant. In this case, these tools will be a critical part of your job.
Google has become a massive part of your life. And it also helps you get work done. In leisure and labor, Google is there, and recruiters want to know if you can handle its tools.
There’s much more to email than meets the eye, especially in the context of certain professions, like a sales representative's resume. You can create email marketing campaigns and automate them using the below tools.
These can be a great asset, even if you’re not writing a programmer’s resume. Understanding the computer skills below will be helpful if your job has anything to do with the web.
Most companies have social media profiles, and people who know how to manage them are in high demand. You can even write an entire social media resume around that!
This skill is critical for anyone, not just those writing an SEO resume or seeking a journalism job. So, if you’ve got the writing chops, here are some facets to explore:
There’s no escaping spreadsheets in today’s professional reality, whether you’re seeking a job as a CEO or making a secretary resume. Familiarity with certain simple spreadsheet functionalities should be on your primary computer skills list.
Do you know how to fix and extract the most from computers? If so, there’s a significant demand in the market for your skills. List that on your resume and ensure everyone’s day runs smoothly.
What’s the language that makes the world go around? English? No. It’s programming languages. Writing code is one of the most critical skills of the 21st century.
Sure. You can manage a small business with some spreadsheets. But how about a massive corporation? Or a database with millions of items? You need some computer wizardry to organize all that; this is where database management comes in.
To see is to believe. Companies spend billions of dollars gathering information, but it only has any use if they have someone with a data analyst resume to turn it into something digestible that decision-makers can use. So, data visualization skills are critical in any big organization.
Want to keep people engaged? Eye-catching graphics are an excellent way to go! So, any organization will appreciate your ability to turn information into visuals, even if you aren’t writing a graphics designer resume but know these tools:
Collaboration tools have become a hot topic when you need to work with people from different departments, sometimes even on different continents! So, if you can skip onboarding in any of these, say it!
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48% of jobs in the US require at least a medium level of digital skills. Companies want someone who can use virtual tools without their managers babysitting them. Adding computer skills to your resume reassures them they won’t have to.
Expert hint: Nothing screams “bad at computers” louder than a poorly formatted resume or a using the wrong file format. So, please read how to format a resume and save it in PDF.
Technology is forever marching forward. If you aren’t constantly learning, you’ll be left behind. So, here’s how to improve your computer skills.
Recruiters value certifications on a resume. But only if they bring valuable skills with them. But here’s where you can kill two birds with one stone. Read below which certifications you can take to get relevant computer skills.
Expert hint: The best institutions in the world, like Harvard and Oxford, offer online courses. Some are even free! Taking these classes boosts your resume with heavy-hitting names.
Practice makes perfect. But motivating yourself can be challenging if you aren’t a computer person. That’s okay. Tie your hobbies with your exercise. For instance, if you want to practice your Excel skills, you can use a spreadsheet to track the results of your favorite sports team.
Technology is changing faster than ever. You don’t want your skills to become obsolete in a year or two, so stay updated on the latest trends. Following technology websites is a safe bet! Here are three you can follow:
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Here’s all you need to know about listing computer skills on your resume:
Do you have any other questions about computer skills for a resume? Would you like to share your advice on which computer skills are best for a resume? I’m always happy to hear from you. Give me a shout-out in the comments below.
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These are the general ones that almost anyone in the modern world needs to know. Some examples are the Microsoft Office package, sending emails, and performing basic tasks like writing in Word. They are the opposite of the other types of computer skills.
These are specific to your profession. For instance, imagine you’re writing an architect’s resume. An example of an expert computer skill would be the 3D modeling software you use to design buildings. Read the guides below if you’re seeking skills specific to your industry:
These are the skills that show you’re a 21st-century handyman. Think of things like building a computer in 5 minutes or setting up a network in your office. Usually, recruiters only expect these skills from people applying for IT-related jobs.
Caio is an expert in professional development and holds a certification in resume writing. He has accumulated 4+ years of experience in this field. His approach is to merge entertainment concepts with resumes, thus making your application more captivating.
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