If computer skills can best sell your professionalism in a job application, cover letter, resume, or school, you will need to include them on a list. We explain how to collect your skills and make them more effective in a summary that will make you attractive on the market.
Steps
Step 1. Review your computer skills
Get a blank sheet of paper or document on your computer to start typing the names of all the different software you've used. Focus only on the ones you know how to use with a certain ease.
- Write down which operating systems you can use without problems.
- Write which Office toolbox (s) you use.
- Take a look at the list of programs on your computer. Write down the ones you know.
- Write down any specialized software you use in the workplace - business database, analytics and accounting software.
Step 2. Go back and specify for each software which versions you know
For example, if you wrote "Excel", specify better: Microsoft Excel 2007. If you used them, include multiple versions.
Step 3. List the particular skills associated with each program, especially large and complex ones, that you use professionally
If your advanced spreadsheet skills are important to your job, try listing the skills, as well as the software.
Step 4. List specific accomplishments
Remember that they can also be placed elsewhere in the document. If your computer skills save time, money or working days, try writing a sentence on the subject. Try this approach also to avoid a "shopping list" effect if you prefer paragraphs over bullet points. Compare:
- Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word 98-2007.
- I automatically cleaned a database of 3000 mailing list records in Excel and did a mail merge in Word. I have printed custom labels listed by postcode. I avoided further manual entry and sorting.
Step 5. Write down the programming languages you know and make a note of how well you know them
Which one (or which ones) can you use professionally in a casual way?
Step 6. Consider what's relevant to your summary
Who will read this summary? Are they looking for an expert or someone who only knows the basics? Sometimes you may want to tell how well you know a particular program. Other times it will be sufficient to present a simple list.
Step 7. Decide what you want the reader to notice first, especially if you have a lot of items to list
Since he will have other applications to screen, your reader will be very busy and will only be able to take a momentary look at that section of yours. You will want to list your skills in order of importance.
Step 8. You must be able to strategically describe your skills in one paragraph, if required
In a cover letter, you can choose between paragraphs and a bulleted list, but remember that your presentation must be focused on the future: it explains what you can do for the new company rather than what you did for your previous assignments. If it accompanies a resume that tells the rest of your personal story, you may not necessarily need to go into e-skills detail in your cover letter.
Advice
- Many companies and recruiters search for candidates using keywords. Put your computer skills on your resume to include many relevant keywords.
- Think about what sets your computing experience apart from those of others. If you work in an area that is essentially computer based, it may be assumed that you have a basic understanding of how to navigate the most common operating systems.
- If this list is for a resume or cover letter, review the job description to better understand what they require. Do you have experience in using the software they mention? Don't worry too much if your computer skills don't exactly match what they list, but get as close as you can. You will always learn new software in the workplace. It is easier to learn programs that are similar to the ones you already know. If you know how to work with one type of spreadsheet, it will be easier to learn another.
