Here, we’ll show you the top computer skills employers want. You’ll find helpful computer skills examples to put on a resume and learn how to list them.
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Computer skills refer to your ability to use specific tech hardware and software to perform tasks and achieve goals. Basic computer skills are helpful for organization, communication, finance, customer service and data management.
It’s a broad term. Rather than say you have “computer skills,” you should be specific about what you excel at: e.g., emails, spreadsheets, coding practice or installing network hardware.
Computer skills are important because they help improve efficiency, productivity and communication at work. Proficiency in using computers allows employees to complete tasks faster, access and analyze vast amounts of information, and effectively communicate through digital platforms. You must have computer skills to land most jobs!
So, know which computer programs or software the employer uses. The more you can sell these computer skills examples on a resume, the more likely you will get hired!
We’ve curated a list of top computer skills employers seek in job candidates. You’ll learn how to add these skills to your resume’s work experience and skills section.
We’ll cover the following:
All companies rely on software to help their business operations run. Programs like Microsoft Office or Google Suite are staples for many companies. Even if the primary work avoids computers, they’re helpful for scheduling, accounting and HR purposes.
Software skills examples:
“Maintained schedules for three dentists using Google Calendar.”
Email has a variety of essential business applications, from customer support to outreach and sales. If you specialize in a specific aspect or type of email, mention it on your resume.
Email skills examples:
Email work experience example:
“Maintained schedules for three dentists using Google Calendar.”
Computers are central to creating multimedia presentations, data analysis and visualization. If you’re skilled in these programs, add them to your resume.
Presentation computer skills examples:
Presentations work experience example:
“Created and presented a Powerpoint slideshow to a group of 400+ conference attendees.”
See also: HR trainer resume examples
Spreadsheets are the gold standard for organizing information. Advanced spreadsheet skills include conditional formatting, transposing data or vertical lookups.
Spreadsheet skills examples:
Spreadsheets work experience example:
“Categorize previous budget reports into Microsoft Excel using a detailed pivot table to improve company financial strategy.”
See also: Business analyst resume examples
It’s essential for businesses to keep track of their financial information and to notice longer-term trends. Accounting software makes it easy to do that, so note your proficiency in this valuable skill.
Accounting skills examples:
MS Office work experience example:
“Created engaging PowerPoint slideshows for business analytics presentations.”
Computer design skills refer to using technology to render images, animations and web pages. We live in a visual world, so these skills are attractive to tech employers.
Design computer skills examples:
Graphics and design work experience example:
“Utilized Figma to design two to three web pages per week.”
See also: Graphic designer resume examples
Social media skills are helpful for businesses attract customers on popular digital platforms like Instagram. The more you get users reading your posts and clicking, the more excited hiring managers will be to interview you!
Social media skills examples:
Social media work experience examples:
“Implemented giveaway marketing strategy that led to 34% increase in Instagram user engagement.”
See also: Social media manager resume example
Machine learning and AI are revolutionizing industries by analyzing vast datasets and automating complex cognitive tasks. This expertise unlocks powerful insights, optimizes processes, and drives innovation.
Machine learning/AI skills examples:
AI work experience example:
“Developed a predictive model using TensorFlow to improve customer churn prediction by 15%, resulting in increased customer retention and 7% revenue growth.”
See also: Software tester resume examples
Digital marketing and content management professionals are masters of attracting and engaging audiences online. These important skills enable effective online engagement, brand visibility and customer acquisition in a digital-first workplace.
Digital marketing and content management skills examples:
Digital marketing work experience example:
“Developed and implemented a content marketing strategy that increased website traffic by 30% and generated 15% more leads, resulting in a significant boost in sales.”
See also: Web designer resume examples
Computer writing skills help businesses communicate with their customers clearly and concisely. Computer writing skills are beneficial for businesses that require marketing!
Writing computer skills examples:
Computer writing work experience examples:
“Wrote and launched email campaign that led to 13% sales increase from the previous year.”
See also: Technical writer resume examples
Web development skills are important because they enable the creation and maintenance of websites — essential for establishing an online presence and engaging with a global audience.
Web development skills examples:
Web development work experience examples:
“Updated user interfaces with JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3 frameworks to improve user experience rating by 21%.”
See also: Core JavaScript developer resume example
Programming skills empower individuals to create, customize and optimize software solutions, driving innovation and efficiency in various technological and business applications.
Programming skills examples:
Programming work experience examples:
“Rendered Android application using Java and C++ to increase performance speed by 83%.”
See also: Programmer resume examples
These systems are the software that tracks and controls business operations and automates certain processes. Most data used for analysis comes from these systems, so it’s crucial to business success.
Enterprise systems skills examples:
Enterprise systems work experience example:
“Created 95+ Salesforce data flow and process flow diagrams to facilitate better business analytics.”
See also: Salesforce developer resume examples
Hardware refers to the computers, equipment and devices that businesses use. IT professionals often manage, maintain and use critical thinking skills to fix issues with company hardware.
Computer hardware skills examples:
Hardware work experience examples:
“Configure and troubleshoot Cisco routers and switches on physical and network layer issues to diagnose issues.”
See also: Cisco network engineer resume examples
These skills refer to the ability to manage things like servers, networks and cloud infrastructure. Anywhere data is stored, these skills are valuable!
Database management skills examples:
Database management work experience example:
“Strategized and executed segmentation in APAC and NPZ for marketing automation that increased sales 74%.”
See also: Database administrator resume examples
Cybersecurity professionals are on the frontlines of protecting sensitive data and systems from malicious attacks. This expertise is crucial for maintaining business continuity and protecting customer information.
Cybersecurity skills examples:
Cybersecurity work experience example:
“Rescued a 1,200-computer network from the DaVinci virus.”
Every industry and job title will require different computer skills.
Your best bet is to skim the job description for any computer skills listed and add those you possess to your resume.
Here are relevant computer skills for 20 industries:
Proficiency in various computer skills is essential across different job titles. Each profession demands unique technical abilities that align with its specific responsibilities. Below is a list of key computer skills categorized by job title, highlighting the critical competencies needed to excel in various fields.
Find these helpful? Check out our Resume Builder!Based on the job you’re applying to, it will suggest computer skills for your resume that you can choose from.
The best way to know what computer skills you should list on your resume is to read the job post or ad closely. This is where the employer tells you what they’re seeking!
Then, identify which of these skills you possess and make sure you add each one to your resume.
You should include computer skills on your resume in three main sections:
See the following example:
If this resume sample was helpful to you, check out our complete library of resume examples. You can find one specific to the job you’re looking for!
Every computer program or application is like a different language; everyone has a different level of skill or fluency.
It will help you to be specific about how strong you are at the various computer skills you possess.
There are two main ways to show your computer skill level:
A resume template is a tool to help you make your resume faster. It’s a preformatted layout that a professional designer created.
Some resume templates feature skills meters that you can use to display your level of proficiency.
Here’s an example of a template with a skills meter you can use:
Otherwise, the work experience section can denote how good you are with computers in the brief descriptions of what tasks you achieved using those skills.
Here are examples of computer skills by proficiency level using work experience descriptions:
Beginner computer skills show a basic understanding of computer systems and how to use common tools like word processors, email or social media.
Here are samples of how to list beginner computer skills in the experience bullets of your resume:
Intermediate computer skills involve more complex computer software and tasks, such as graphic design software, operating systems and file management.
Here are samples of how to list intermediate computer skills on your resume:
Advanced computer skills mean you have a high technical ability with computers, including hardware installation, programming or web development.
Here are a few examples of how to add advanced computer skills to your resume:
It will open many doors for you to develop your computer skills! Here are some steps you can take if you’re looking to advance your technological abilities.
There are almost as many computer skills or languages that you could learn as there are drops of water in the ocean.
To develop your skills, you must first determine which is the most useful or essential for you to learn. If you’re trying to understand which computer skills you need for professional purposes, looking at the job post is an excellent place to start.
Identify the computer skills needed for the job you want, and become proficient in them. A Google search of “how to [insert skill]” is a good starting point that will provide many options and ideas.
Once you know which computer skills you want to work on, the next step is to get access to that software or device and start using it! There’s no better way to learn than diving right into it!
For example, if you want to get experience with doing digital meetings, set up an online hangout with a friend on Zoom. Or, if you want to get experience with scheduling, try using Google Calendar to organize your personal life and events.
That said, to learn more complex programs or computer skills it will benefit you to take a more formal approach by getting a book or taking a class. That brings us to the next step.
The internet is a treasure trove of information; you may not even have to pay to learn the computer skills you seek!
There are blogs, YouTube videos and courses that teach people how to develop advanced computer skills in topics like SEO, graphic design or setting up computer hardware.
Many colleges, libraries and community centers offer specialized classes on computer skills.
You can also take paid online courses provided by institutions like App Academy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning or Udemy. These programs have courses in a wide variety you can take, specializing in most tech skills.
Some of these programs even include offers like job placement services! That’s good insurance that the skills you develop will pay off and get practical use.
To recap, here are the main points about adding communication skills on a resume or cover letter:
So, if you’re ready to get cracking at your resume and cover letter now, remember that our builder does both!
The last thing you want is to miss out on a job because you still need to send your hiring documents on time!
The best computer skills to include on your resume are the most relevant to the job.
Focus on skills mentioned in the job description. Include software, platforms and coding languages that you are confident using.
Create a dedicated “Skills” or “Technical skills” section highlighting your computer skills.
You can also pepper them into your work experience bullet points. Also, including them in your professional summary may grab more attention since it’s at the top of your resume.
Yes, include any basic computer skills on your resume, even if it seems assumed that you possess them, because employers need confirmation.
It’s also wise to focus on advanced or specialized skills that may not be requested because that hints that you can handle any challenge the employer needs.
Yes, we live in a digital age. Employers want to know that you’re familiar with the latest and greatest technology because that will mean you’ll be ready to take on the job on day one.
Especially for careers in tech or IT, being up-to-date is crucial!
Absolutely! Highlight certifications that demonstrate your proficiency and commitment to learning.
Certifications on a resume are concrete evidence that you possess the skills you claim and can set you apart from candidates who need more proof of their computer skills!
Describe how you used those skills to achieve results in previous roles. It’s more convincing to mention the results your skills achieve rather than claim that you have them.
For instance, “Optimized marketing campaigns, resulting in a 15% increase in website conversions.”
A well-written cover letter will improve your chances of getting a job. A cover letter gives you space to further elaborate on your computer skills and how they align with the job requirements.Check out some cover letter examples to get inspired!
Connect your skills to the company’s needs and emphasize how your expertise can contribute to their success.
A great tactic is to explain how you used your computer skills for problem-solving in your cover letter.
Planning and preparation is key! Be ready to discuss your experience with specific software, platforms, and technologies relevant to the role.
Share examples of how you’ve used your computer skills successfully to solve problems and achieve great results!
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