Evaluating Computer Skills in Your Resume

Oftentimes, you always include in your resume your knowledge of computer as a skill. By merely writing “proficient in basic computer applications” or just “computer skills” you could give the hiring manager an idea on the applications you are proficient in.

Applications such as MS Office, the browser or just working on the printer could already be considered as a computer skill.

It is an essential skill as the lack of it will diminish your chances of getting hired considerably.

If you do not know any simple computer task, you might not be able to read this article as this will require a simple application to load the webpage (the browser).

But writing computer skills is never enough today. Bragging about your basic knowledge of the computer could give you an upper hand 15 years ago but today, you are just the same as the rest.

Almost everyone who marches into an office willing to work on different desk jobs knows how to work with basic computer applications.

Some of them might even be better as they could have a degree in computer related studies. Writing down “computer skills” will never get you hired. If you want your resume to stand out, you need to provide more than mere “computer skills”.

Let your resume stand out by not writing “computer skills” or any phrase related to it. Think of all the applications you have worked with your previous job. Every company that you have worked with has a special application.

You can write them down as one of your special computer skills. A clear example is when you have been working with a travel agency. Travel agencies work with special applications that will enable them to book flights and other travel reservations.

Write all those applications that you have worked with as this could be your special skill aside from “computer skills”

You have to remember though that you still need to be proficient in the application that you have written. As most businesses do their business transactions with the use of different applications, writing down being proficient in specific applications could get you hired but it could also get you in trouble if you are not familiar with the application anymore.

Also do a simple research on the application. The application that you have written down may not be useful anymore and it will be to your disadvantage.

If you are applying for an IT related position, writing down “computer skills” will never work. You need to write down all the applications and programming languages that you know.

IT companies will hire someone those with specific computer skills and proficiency with different programming languages. If you just write down “computer skills” you will never be hired in the position you are seeking.

“Computer skills” that may have got you noticed 15 years ago, may not really be eye catching anymore. Such phrase or anything related to it could be deemed outdated by the hiring manager.

In your resume you need to mention as many computer applications that you have worked and still proficient to increase your chances of being hired.