“Employees with good IT skills wanted” – this or something similar is often stated in job advertisements. But what does this requirement mean in detail? What computer skills do personnel managers expect from their applicants? What can you do? And how should you best highlight your computer skills in your application?
Computer skills – how important they are for your CV
PC skills are indispensable nowadays and “very good knowledge” is often required. But what exactly does that mean? In contrast to language skills, there are no universally valid competence levels in this area. You should therefore be all the better equipped and acquire sufficient computer skills in the most important programs at an early stage.
How can you best formulate PC skills in your CV?
In your tabular CV, list your computer skills in bullet points, which – if you have a lot of skills – can also be listed in several columns. You should list the computer skills that are an advantage or a prerequisite for the position you are applying for.
Please choose a specific title, such as “CMS WordPress” instead of the general term “Internet”. Experienced professionals should limit themselves to the most important skills that highlight the skills required in the job advertisement. In addition to the various computer programs, such as Excel, Word or PowerPoint, it makes sense to indicate the respective skill level – for example, “Excel (5 years’ experience)”, “PowerPoint (basic knowledge)”. School grades can also be used to illustrate the level of competence.
Details such as “Typo3 (daily professional use)” provide additional information about the status of your PC skills.
How do you stand out from the competition with my application?
Of course, depending on the job in question, a strikingly designed application can emphasize your computer skills at first glance.
Remember: less is more! Limit yourself to the essentials and make sure your CV is structured and clear. Don’t forget: the content of your application is more important than an exaggerated design.
This can avoid misunderstandings later on, which can create potentially stressful situations for both the employer and you. Poor IT skills are noticed very quickly. An honest assessment on your part is therefore required here.
A few more tips for presenting your IT skills
In today’s digitalized world, you should know that there are not only programs such as Word and Excel, but also content management systems, programming languages, databases, social media, business intelligence tools, just to name a few.
Examples of computer skills that could be important for your desired job
- Operating systems from the: Mac, Windows, Linux environment
- Word processing programs: e.g. MSWord, Libre Office Writer, Open Office Writer …
- Presentation programs: e.g. MS PowerPoint, Apple Keynote …
- Spreadsheet programs: e.g. MS Excel, Open Office Calc, Libre Office Calc, …
- Image editing programs: e.g. Photoshop, GIMP …
- Layout programs: e.g. InDesign, QuarkXPress …
- Social media: including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat …
- Content management systems: e.g. Typo3, WordPress, Drupal, Joomla …
- Programming languages: HTML, PHP, Java …
- Database management systems: e.g. Access, Oracle …
- CRM systems: e.g. SAP Hybris, Salesforce, HubSpot …
Adequate computer skills are essential in everyday working life
Regardless of the industry: Most employers require at least knowledge of the most important MS Office products, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Don’t let it get so far that you fail in the application process due to a lack of knowledge. The more extensive and confident your PC skills are, the better your chances. Set the standard. Don’t let yourself be put off.
Now shine with PC skills in applications and in the professional world
At Lernstudio Barbarossa, we offer various computer courses for adults and companies. Regardless of whether you have no knowledge at all or are already an advanced user – you are sure to find the right computer course with us. Our experienced computer instructors focus on your PC skills and tailor the computer course exactly to your wishes and needs.
Computer courses for companies, also as in-house training
We work closely with many companies who have us conduct computer training courses on their own premises. Some companies also choose an external training location for their computer courses. Individual participants come to our learning studio, among other places. You choose where, how and when the computer course should take place. Make your employees fit for the computer with professional computer courses at Lernstudio Barbarossa.