There are plenty of basic computer skills that every new employee must master in order to use the company’s provided software and hardware. Some companies require potential employees to know how to use PowerPoint presentations. Some companies require potential employees to know how to use Word. And others even require potential employees to know how to use the company’s email system. If an applicant doesn’t know how to do these things, he or she can’t apply for a position.
Basic computer skills are important because these skills directly affect how well an individual performs his or her job duties. If someone can’t send a Word document or Word presentation across the company network successfully, he or she won’t be able to effectively do his or her job. Likewise, if an applicant can’t turn on a digital camera or use a mouse properly, he or she won’t be able to use the company’s productivity software or hardware. Many employers may think all applicants have basic computer skills. However, the truth is some potential employees simply don’t know how to use office programs.
So, how do employers determine which job applicants possess basic computer skills? The answer is simple: they read their job descriptions. A description of a job requires specific computer skills. For example, if the job description says, “You’ll need to know how to use Microsoft Office,” the applicant will likely be expected to know at least the basics of using Word and PowerPoint. Otherwise, he or she will be considered unqualified for the job.
Learning Microsoft Word or PowerPoint isn’t enough, however. Most employers look for certain other basic computer skills, as well. For example, if the job description says, “You’ll need to know how to use Adobe Photoshop,” then the person will probably also need to know how to use basic graphics software like Illustrator or even flash (many people refer to flash as “PAX”) video editing software. This is common knowledge for graphic or web designers who are hired to create logos, business cards, websites, and so forth. (The same is true for those who work in the advertising or marketing industries; many jobs these days require someone with even a basic understanding of graphic design.)
Knowing how to type is also important. If you want to get hired as a medical transcriptionist, for example, one of the basic computer skills needed is typing. Medical transcription is a way of listening to audio recordings and typing them into text files. Thus, knowing how to type is a skill that can be used in several different fields. Some of the other key skills needed for jobs in this industry include medical terminology, pharmaceutical jargon, and so on.
Operating systems are the backbone of computers, and it’s important to understand how all of the different operating systems work. If you can follow instructions, use Microsoft Word (or another word processing program), and type (or read from a document), you may have a shot at an operating system job. All major operating systems are based on Unix, a branch of Linux. So you may want to learn more about operating systems if your dream job involves operating systems.
One skill not covered above is that of using presentation software. Most computer jobs now require some level of proficiency in presentation software. However, you may be able to get away with using basic computer skills, particularly if the company you’re applying to has no particular use for modern graphic presentation software. In this case, you’ll just have to be prepared to spend a lot of time learning whatever you’re doing, because you’ll be required to actually sit in front of a whiteboard during the hours that you’re not working.
General purpose software, on the other hand, is a field that encompasses a wide variety of software. Goggle, Open Office, Microsoft Office, and Dreamweaver are all general purpose software programs. These programs are used for creating word processing documents, for developing spreadsheets (sheets) and PowerPoint presentations, for creating HTML pages and web pages, for tracking email, for communicating with sales people and clients, and for creating legal briefs (just to name a few). If you’re looking for a general purpose program, you should probably look into Adobe Acrobat, because it’s the industry leader. Learning Acrobat can take some time, but the payoff can be considerable when you start earning money with your new skills.