Top 50 Computer Skills for Your Resume - Tips and Examples
Computer skills are important for almost every job. Here are our picks for top computer skills for a resume and how to feature them.
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Computer skills for resume
Computer skills are among the most desirable technical skills in our current job market. Knowing different computer programs is something you’ll want to highlight, so we’ve put together this article to show you:
- The top computer skills to consider for your resume
- Tips on pinpointing and featuring the right computer skills in your resume
- Tips on how to improve your computer skills
Why should I put computer skills on my resume?
In your job search, you may find that computer skills are a requirement in most jobs and are needed for working efficiently. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Slack might be needed for an administrative position, or more technical skills such as proficiency in hardware and network support may be required for an IT position.
Resume examples of computer skills
Most modern resumes need computer skills because they’re so important for working efficiently. Hiring managers are looking for job seekers to have computer skills and in many situations, they’re key skills you need to move forward with a job interview. Here are a few ways you can feature computer skills in your resume.
Skills section
The most common place to feature your abilities is in the skills section of your resume. List out a mixture of 8-10 hard skills and soft skills using bullet points, including relevant computer skills for the job. For example, a programmer might list software skills and programming languages such as:
- Python
- Cloud computing
- Web development
- VSCode
- JavaScript
- UNIX
- HTML
- CSS
- PHP
Resume summary/Resume objective
The resume summary or resume objective sections are also a great place to highlight your top computer skills related to the job. Look at the job description to determine what the most desirable skills are and feature a few of them in your professional summary. For example, a data analyst might write:
Detail-oriented data analyst with five years of experience working in fast-paced environment. Proficient in SQL, statistical programming and MATLAB. Skilled in data visualization and management to obtain the most accurate, up-to-date information and pivot table creation.
Work experience section
You can absolutely list your computer skills in the work experience section of your resume. The key is to write about how you used your skills to complete your job and to pair it with a work accomplishment. For example, a graphic designer might write in their bullet points:
- Designed over eight seasonal campaigns using Adobe Photoshop.
- Adapted artwork created by art director in Adobe Illustrator to make more than 15 original phone backgrounds for newsletter subscribers.
- Created five brochures with more than 20 pages on Adobe InDesign.
Top 50 list of computer skills for a resume
The computer skills you’ll want to list will vary depending on what job posting you’re applying to. In some cases, you may need basic computer skills and others may require advanced computer skills. However, these are a few of the categories a recruiter may be looking for:
Basic computer skills
- MS Office
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Google Drive
- Microsoft Outlook
- Keynote
Graphic design and multimedia skills
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe Express
- Final Cut Pro X
- Logic Pro X
Enterprise systems
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
- Customer Relationships Management (CRM)
- Supply Chain Management (SCM)
- Human Resources Management (HRM)
- Marketing Automation
- Business Process Management Automation
- Business Intelligence (BI)
Database management and data analysis
- Microsoft SQL Server
- PostgreSQL
- Amazon RDS
- Oracle RDBMS
- Razor SQL
- Improvado
- MySQL
Social media and content management systems
- Sprout Social
- Hootsuite
- Zoho
- MeetEdgar
- Loomly
- Buffer
- SocialPilot
Marketing
- HubSpot CRM
- Adobe Connect
- MailChimp
- Campaigner
- Google Analytics
- WordPress
- Contently
- Microsoft Dynamics
Hardware skills
- Hardware development
- Desktop management interface
- WAN/LAN
- Troubleshooting
- Network security
- Cloud management
- Technical support
Top 3 tips for featuring computer skills in a resume
- Put together a list of your top computer skills.
Before writing your resume, sit down and create a list of all of the computer skills you have. Do you know how to create awesome PowerPoint presentations? Can you navigate your way around Slack or have a proficient understanding of QuickBooks? Do you have a basic understanding of SEO programs like SEMRush and Ahrefs? Think about all the computer skills under your belt, even if they are not directly related to the job.
- Tailor your computer skills to the job.
Now it’s time to research the job posting and the company to determine which computer skills are most valuable. Read the list of requirements and desirable skills in the job description, and include the skills you have that directly relate to the job responsibilities. No two jobs are the same, so make sure your resume answers the job posting.
- Go beyond the skills section of your resume.
As we explained before, you can feature your computer skills in more than one resume section. Beyond listing them in the skills list, you have the opportunity to highlight your top skills in the resume summary or resume objective, as well as the work history section, where you can use quantifiable metrics to underline your proficiency.
How do you learn and improve on important computer skills?
There are numerous ways to improve your computer skills.
Look into online courses and tutorials
You can learn about most topics from the comfort of your home nowadays, so it’s no surprise that there are hundreds of online resources geared towards understanding and improving your computer skills. From learning how to code to bettering SEO skills, chances are you’ll find experts teaching courses and giving tutorials (sometimes for free) on these websites:
- Udemy
- YouTube
- Skillshare
- Coursera
- Adobe Experience Cloud
Find in-person training and certification classes
If learning in person is more of your style, don’t worry! There are also multiple places where you can get certified, learn more about specific computer skills and practice your skills. You’ll likely have to pay a fee to access in-person classes but you may find free workshops in your local area.
- Community colleges
- Community centers
- Apple Stores free product workshops
- Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp
- Adobe Noble Desktop
Learn and use computer skills on the job
Nothing beats real-world experience. Take advantage of opportunities at your job to learn, refine and use your computer skills. If you’re interested in learning more about a skill, ask your supervisor or senior coworker if you can shadow them for a few hours. If you want to put your computer skills to use, offer to help. Most importantly, be receptive to feedback! That’s how we learn.
Build my resumeMore resume skill tips
ResumeHelp has additional resources to learn more about featuring different skills in your resume.
- Communication Skills: Computer skills aren’t the only universally desirable skill. Feature the right communication skills in your resume.
- Interpersonal Skills: Assure hiring managers that you know how to work well with others with these skills.
- Key Multitasking Skills: Knowing how to multitask is incredibly important for any job. Highlight your multitasking abilities the right way.
- Leadership Skills: Show recruiters you have what it takes to lead a team successfully.
- How to Write a Resume: Learn all the best resume writing tips to portray your computer skills more accurately.
- Resume Builder: Let us guide you through the resume creation process and submit a professional resume.
- Resume Templates: Choose from dozens of beautiful templates to create your professional resume.
FAQ: Computer Skills for a Resume
Have questions? We’re here to help.
Can I list computer skills I learned on my own?
You can list computer skills you learned on your own time, whether you taught yourself, took online courses or learned them through work experience. However, if you learned skills independently, it’s often best to take pretests or get certifications to validate your proficiency. It’s better to prove you’re proficient in these skills, rather than listing them on a resume and hoping the hiring manager takes your word.
Is it important to list what operating systems I learned each computer skill?
It really depends on how you’ll use your skills for the job. If you have experience managing spreadsheets, for example, you probably don’t need to list the operating system you’ve been managing spreadsheets on; you need to list the specific program that you use, like Microsoft Excel.
It can be helpful to include the platform that you have the most experience with for programs that work on multiple operating systems, like Adobe InDesign. And of course, if the employer notes that they’re seeking proficiency in a particular OS (like Windows), it pays to note your expertise in those areas in your resume.
Check how resume examples in your field typically list their skills for more insight on this.
What are the advantages of having computer skills on my resume?
Whether knowing your way around Microsoft Office Suite or having expert knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, featuring the relevant skills on your resume will show hiring managers and recruiters that you have the technical skills necessary to complete the job, even if your expertise level isn’t high.
Computer skills are highly desirable, so make sure to feature the ones you’re confident enough to use on the job.
What computer skills should I put on my resume?
The right computer skills for your resume will depend on the job and your qualifications. Every job is different, so read the job description carefully to see the requirements. For example, an advertising agency might be looking for a graphic designer with experience in Adobe Illustrator while another job posting might favor a designer with better proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
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