Top 10 Computer Skills For A Resume In 2022 (And How To List Them)

No matter where you work, employers want to know that you have strong computer skills. As a result, it’s important to hone your computer skills and then highlight them on your resume.

In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most important computer skills you can have, how to incorporate them into your resume, and how to improve the areas you may be weak in.

Key Takeaways

• Computer skills are composed of both hardware and software skills.

• Employers expect their employees to have strong computer skills, so it’s important to make sure yours are up to snuff and highlighted on your resume.

• When listing your computer skills on your resume, be specific, give examples of what your skills added to the company, and mention as many of the skills that are listed on the job description you’re applying for as possible.

What Are Computer Skills?

Having computer skills could potentially mean a lot of different things. Technological skills are broken up into hardware and software skills. Hardware refers to the physical component of technology.

Examples of hardware skills include:

• System maintenance

• Assembling devices

• Troubleshooting hardware

• Knowledge of motherboards, circuits, and monitors

• Configuring drivers and components

On the other hand, the software is computer programs and operating information.

Examples of software skills include:

• Operating Systems such as Windows

• Office Suites such as Microsoft Office

• Presentation systems

• Spreadsheets

• Accounting

• Word Processors

• Databases

Hardware skills are usually related to jobs with a heavy focus on technology, while software skills can be useful across many different industries and range in difficulty.

Why Do You Need Computer Skills?

Being literate in basic computer skills can greatly improve your chances of landing a job, or being a better employee in your current position. Over the past thirty years, technological advancements have been swift and dramatic.

Consider how often the average person used a computer 20 years ago as opposed to today. We can only expect that these innovations in technology will persist into the future. Having baseline knowledge about computer software can greatly assist you if you need to learn more in the future.

The newer generations entering the workforce have been learning technological skills since elementary school. In a modern job market where the vast majority of applicants have some level of computer skills, lacking these abilities can be detrimental to your job search. Employers have come to expect at least some basic computer literacies in their employees.

10 Computer Skills for a Resume in 2022

1. Web design tools. Knowledge of web tools is a great introduction to computer skills for beginners and is a very desired skill in the current job market. Web tools are content-related applications that can help develop eye-catching websites and keep them updated properly.

   There’s a wide array of web tool skills you can acquire that are useful across many industries. With a great deal of business moving onto the internet, companies are always in need of candidates experienced in web tools. They require minimal technical knowledge, making it a great option for people who want to learn more and strengthen their resumes.

   Examples of web tools include:

   • Search engine optimization (SEO)

   • Basic text and code editing

   • HTML and CSS

   • Content management systems

   • Typing speed

   Whether you’re working in an administrative position or writing up the plan for a marketing campaign, having strong typing skills can greatly improve your productivity and work performance. You don’t need to have an expert typing speed for it to be a relevant skill to list on your resume.

   Take a quick typing speed test and see where your skills are landing. Your abilities may surprise you.

2. Operating systems. Most candidates neglect to include the operating systems they feel comfortable using on their resumes. You may have been using a Mac or Windows computer for the past ten years, and that’s a whole bunch of experience if you’ve developed a familiarity with the details of its functioning.

   While being knowledgeable on these operating systems may not seem like a skill, it’s actually very helpful for your resume, even if it seems rudimentary. This could be a great option for computer skills to list on your resume if your technical knowledge is slim.

   Examples of operating systems include:

   • Microsoft Windows

   • Apple macOS

   • Linux

   • Apple iOS

   • Android

3. Social media. Social media savvy applicants can be very enticing to employers. Social media has become the new home for advertising and connecting with an audience. It’s an excellent engagement tool with the potential to bring in thousands of new clients.

   However, the popularity of social media sites also includes a huge pool of competitors also vying for consumer attention. Knowing how to effectively manage social media accounts to capture focus and drive business is a very in-demand skill for 2021. Especially for applicants seeking remote work.

   Examples of social media sites include:

   • Instagram

   • Facebook

   • Reddit

   • Twitter

   • YouTube

   • Tik Tok

4. Office suites. Today, many organizations rely on productivity programs to run their business smoothly. Office suites are a collection of performance software that can help with various work tasks.

   It’s become a staple for a lot of employers, so knowing the ins and outs of how to use it is very helpful for daily activities. Knowledge of Office Suites will make you a much more competitive applicant, and a better employee.

   Examples of office suites software include:

   • Microsoft 365

   • G Suites

   • Apache OpenOffice

   • iWork

   • WPS Office

   • WordPerfect

   • Polaris Office

5. Collaboration tools. In the past year, a lot of people’s jobs have become remote. One of the most valuable tools that have emerged more than ever before during this transition is collaboration applications.

   These can include anything from video-chatting to document sharing. Now that the precedent of using these tools has been set, being able to navigate and utilize all the features in these apps can be a very helpful skill in the future.

   Examples of collaboration tools include:

   • Skype

   • Trello

   • Google Keep

   • Google Hangouts

   • Dropbox

   • Time Doctor

   • Yammer

6. Presentation software. Presentation software is a popular tool used by organizations to concisely and clearly communicate with a team or audience. This is crucial for leaders looking to organize and present plans to their team and clients.

   Even if you’re just beginning your career journey, having knowledge of how to use presentation software can strengthen your work performance, and prepare you for career advancements.

   Examples of presentation software include:

   • Powerpoint

   • Prezi

   • Google Slides

   • SlideDog

   • Visme

7. Accounting and budgeting systems. Many professions that were once done completely through a pen, paper, and filing are now managed via technology. A prime example of these is accounting procedures.

   Small and large businesses alike utilize accounting systems to manage their incomes, expenses, and any other financial activity. Being proficient in one or more of these systems can greatly improve your application’s success.

   Examples of accounting systems include:

   • Quickbooks

   • Xero

   • Wave

   • FreeAgent

   • SpendWise

8. Design software. Graphic designers have been familiar with design software for years, however, it can be useful for many jobs. Design is all about creating a brand, and that’s important for every successful business.

   Design software skills can range from basic (such as editing photos) to advanced (such as developing full-scale designs). These abilities are learnable, and there are many accessible courses on the internet to improve your skills.

   Examples of design software include:

   • Lightroom

   • Photoshop

   • Illustrator

   • Affinity Designer

   • Inkscape

   • Canva

9. Web development and advanced programming. Code is the backbone of the internet as users know it. Web development skills allow you to work through the back-end functions of web pages. As such, web development and programming skills are very in-demand for employers in 2021.

   Employers prefer to utilize their own employee’s skills, as opposed to outsourcing for specific programming tasks. Listing these abilities on your resume can set you apart from the competition.

   Learning a programming language has become much more accessible, and even if you have no prior coding knowledge you can easily add this skill to your repertoire with a little effort.

   Examples of web development and programming skills include:

   • Java

   • JavaScript

   • Python

   • Ruby

   • C#

   • SQL

   Examples of resources for learning programming:

   • Free Code Camp

   • Code Conquest

   • Udacity

   • CoderByte

   • Microsoft Virtual Academy

10. Data and analysis software. Companies use data and analysis software to become more acquainted with their customers and learn about their success statistics. Analysis can help businesses predict how to do better in the future, and can greatly improve their overall effectiveness.

    Employers want to hire candidates with familiarity in operating data analysis software because they can provide valuable insights into what’s working about a business, and what could be done better.

    Examples of data and analysis software skills include:

    • Excel spreadsheets

    • HubSpot

    • GraphPad

    • Xplenty

    • Tableau Public

    • Sisense

    • Looker

How to Showcase Your Computer Skills

The success of your job search isn’t just dependent on the skills you have; it also relies on how you communicate those skills to employers. There are three places to show off your computer skills:

1. On your resume. Your resume is the most straightforward place to list computer skills. The key points to keep in mind are to use vocabulary from the job description and quantify your accomplishments with various computer skills.

2. In your cover letter. The same rules that apply to incorporating computer skills to your resume apply to your cover letter as well. It’s better to tell one good story about how your computer skills saved the day rather than list a bunch of skills without any context.

3. In the job interview. This is where your computer (and communication) skills will be put to the test. Being able to speak conversationally and fluently about complex computer skills will help you stand out as a genuinely talented candidate.

How to Include Computer Skills on Your Resume

You can highlight your computer skills at various points in your resume to catch a hiring manager’s attention. If you’re a technology novice, but still have some notable skills to include, list them concisely in your resume skills section.

If your prior work experience is computer-based, or you happen to have strong technical abilities, consider also mentioning them in your resume summary statement and the details of your employment history.

Be specific when listing your computer skills in a resume. Avoid simply listing that you have programming experience. Instead, list the specific coding languages you know. Consider saying, “proficient in various design software including Inkscape and Lightroom”, as opposed to “design skills”. Employers want to know exactly where your experience is and what they can expect from you.

When you’re applying to new positions, take into account what the job posting is asking for and use that information to your benefit. You can always update your resume when you’ve acquired new skills or are looking into a position with specific requirements.

Example of Computer Skills Levels on Resume

With all that in mind, let’s get into some specific examples of how to optimize your resume to include computer skills that employers care about.

Let’s start with an easy one: Microsoft Office. Nearly everyone under the sun has experience with this software suite, to the point where including just “Microsoft Office” on your resume is akin to writing “Proficient Eater.”

Does that mean there’s no reason to include MS Office on your resume? Absolutely not — if the job description mentions that you’ll be working with Word documents or Excel spreadsheets, then it’s worth mentioning your proficiency with them.

For example:

Bullet points like this tell hiring managers that you’re not just “familiar” with this software — you’re proficient enough to leverage your skills to generate meaningful results.

What you’ll notice about the above bullet points is that they also use numbers. Quantifying your results with percentages, dollar values, etc. is an excellent way to engage the hiring manager or recruiter. Numbers make it easy for employers to see the direct impact your computer skills had on the bottom line.

The point is, if you can make computer skills shine with just MS Office, you can certainly do the same for more advanced skills in programming, database management, and so on.

Sample Resume Highlighting Computer Skills

How to Improve Your Computer Skills

Whether you want to learn a new computer skill from scratch or up your game with something you’re already familiar with, there are plenty of ways to improve your computer skills.

• Take courses. E-learning is bigger than ever, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Between Udemy, Coursera, edX, and countless others, there is no shortage of free and paid options for both independent and group learning. Even YouTube can be a great resource, if you find a channel covering the topic you’re interested in.

• Look into professional development at work. Companies see the value in upskilling their workforce and will often offer training resources to develop their computer skills. Take advantage of these opportunities whenever they arise.

  You can also reach out to a supervisor or someone in HR to learn about sponsored or in-house workshops for gaining a deeper knowledge of a specific skill set.

• Find a mentor. Computer skills are accumulated and honed over the course of a professional’s life. If you want a cheat code to level up faster, learn from those who came before you. Find a mentor and approach them with a specific skill you’re hoping to improve.

  Courses and workshops are great, but informal meetings like this can open your eyes to little tips and tricks that make a big difference in your efficiency and comfort with various platforms.

Computer Skills FAQ

1. How do you list computer skills on a resume?

   You list computer skills on a resume by putting them in the “skills” section or in with your work experience. For some skills, it may be wise to put them both places.

   For example, if you’re skilled in Java and were able to use that to optimize your employer’s software, you’d put that example in a bullet point in your work experience section and list Java in your skills section so that someone skimming your resume looking for that skill could find it.

2. What are some computer skills to put on a resume?

   Some computer skills to put on a resume include:

   • Web design tools

   • Operating systems

   • Social media

   • Office suites

   • Collaboration tools

   • Presentation software

   • Accounting and budgeting systems

   • Design software

   • Web development and advanced programming

   • Data and analysis software

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.