Computer skills are an important part of many modern resumes. How can you make your computer skills stand out?
Additionally, don’t use computer skills just to pad your resume. If you’re a younger job seeker, chances are that you know some computer skills. However, basic computer skills don’t belong in your skills section. Be more specific and focus on specialized computer skills. If you know programming languages, you’re good at using things like QuickBooks or you have a lot of data analysis experience, these can go into your skills section.
Lastly, you want to make sure you’re tailoring your skills to the job description. Are you applying for a graphic design job? Make sure you go through the job description and look for any keywords you can add to your resume, including graphic design programs that you should be proficient in. Does the company mention proficiency in Windows or Apple computers, or even another platform like Linux? These things are all important to be aware of before you start building your skills list.
Consider using one or two of these skills, a few skills that are in other technical areas and another few soft skills to round out your skills section. It’s also important that you back them up in areas like your resume summary, your work experience section and your cover letter.
Employers assume that most people understand how to use a computer, so just listing “basic computer skills” on your resume can look like you’re padding your document. Unless you only have basic computer proficiency, stick to advanced computer skills that you’re proficient with.
You can list computer skills that you learned on your own time, whether you taught yourself, took online courses or learned them through work experience. However, if you learned skills on your own, 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.
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.
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