Basic computer skills required for a job

The 21st century business world is a tech savvy world and is a far cry from where it was 10 or even 5 years ago. A majority of companies are moving toward online-only applications. Just applying for a job already requires fundamental computer skills. Where before, employees are able to get by with knowledge that barely goes beyond turning on the computer, essential computer skills are now a basic requirement to be hired and stay employed.

What basic computer skills should employers ask of their employees?

1) Typing and keyboard skills.This is so basic and some people take this as a given However, an employee who can type faster and more accurately would be more productive compared to someone who relies on the two-finger method. A person who can type 40 words per minute without more than one error is a good hire. And this is setting the bar pretty low.

So as a job seeker, if this is not you, take a typing course. As an employer, do not take this for granted as a skill everyone has. Remember, your business productivity is at stake.

2) Familiarity with different types of software used in the office. At the very least, employees should be able to work with office suite software such as word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

• Word: Whether your business is Microsoft, Google, or Apple-oriented, more than typing skills, a prospective hire should be able to enter information into a word processor, create a document, edit it, save the file and reopen it later. Basic text editing - margins, spacing and formatting text should be part of his skills.

• Spreadsheet: It would be a lot to ask for complicated graphs or charts with most jobs, but it is reasonable to expect employees to know how to create and work with spreadsheets - understand formulas, references and macros.

• PowerPoint: Whether the specific requirements for a particular job call for use of a spreadsheet, all potential employees should have basic PowerPoint skills.

These requirements may seem odd at times to both prospective hires and employers, but the goal is to not be short-sighted. Even though the particular job in question may not require these skills today, with technology the way it is, you cannot tell what will happen tomorrow. Further, without these skills there is little chance for advancement. For an employer, the majority of the time, it is much more efficient and economical to promote from within where you already know the work ethics of an employee, rather than to start from scratch with someone new. In addition, the opportunity for advancement promotes motivation to do a good job and loyalty. So, if these skills are missing from your skillset, take a course and get certified.

3) Use of the Internet. The knowledge of how to conduct research via the internet is another basic skill to look for. It is important that an employee be able to use search engines and learn how to search using the internet for the information required quickly and efficiently.

Nowadays, we use different forms of internet based communication, from emails to messaging, texting and social networking. It is important that employees know how to effectively use these modes of communication. For some, it is a requirement to be able to run a website and create content for it.

More and more, companies looking to increase efficiency and be cost effective are using Web-based applications. Employees need to be able to understand how to use the internet in order to use these applications.

You would be surprised to find that not all employees, in fact most employees, do not understand the logic behind shared drives or files. Employees should be able to understand how to save and share files using a cloud drive. Cloud drives make it easier for companies to switch or phase out computers and replace them because files are not stored in a particular computer’s memory anymore.

4) Familiarity with and Use of Computer Peripherals. Aside from the keyboard and mouse, familiarity with other computer peripherals such as the printer, scanner, modems, routers and hard drives is important. Most basic of all, perhaps, is being able to send documents to a printer. Of late, companies are opting to be environmentally responsible, so learning to convert paper documents to computer files using a scanner is a must.

5) Password Management and Privacy Protection. Last but not least, and in my opinion, the very most important, employees should be able to log in to the computer using an assigned name and password. More importantly, they should be able to remember them and keep them safe for security reasons.

Related to this, being able to keep the computer safe and the private information within and accessible through it, is equally important. Employees must be able to learn to spot phishing scams. They must also be able to protect information that enters the office system by identifying legitimate emailed links and verifying encrypted sites.

It is not too much to ask that employees understand business information belongs to the business, and that business time is not for personal computer use. Besides companies installing automatic backup and virus protection software, it is equally important to monitor employee use of the computers.

The computer is an important business tool and having employees equipped to use it effectively can spell the difference between failure and success of a company. As an employer, if you have questions on defining skills required, and/or ensuring your current and future employees are knowledgeable and certified, we can help.

As a potential job seeker, we can help you as well, providing the training and certifications you would like to have to stand out above other applicants