How To Put Computer Skills On A Resume | Examples

Having no computer skills is like moving around a city you don’t know and being unable to read signage. In a world that heavily relies on technology, possessing computer skills is just implied.

But it’s not that you just write your resume, list any computer skills you have, and expect a recruiter to proceed with your candidature. You need the skills tailored to your profession, and this guide will help you decide which ones to include to succeed.

What Are Computer Skills?

Computer skills are the abilities that allow you to use technologies, software, and digital tools to complete your tasks. Besides basic computer proficiency, such as managing computer files and searching for information, one can possess advanced computer skills demanded for tech and digital jobs.

Technical skills are inevitable across various professions, such as IT, finance, marketing, design, sales, customer service, and more. They facilitate communication, enable the integration of new solutions, and significantly impact work efficiency and productivity. When reviewing your computer skills for a resume, consider those that match your expertise and align with your future job requirements.

Computer Skills Examples for a Resume

Computer skills comprise a vast array of abilities, including basic computer proficiency, so it’s easier if we categorize them into subgroups. Do the same in your resume, clarifying to a recruiter what computer skills areas you specialize in.

See these computer skills examples:

MS Office

Microsoft Office is a suite of applications widely used in business. You’ll see MS Office proficiency as an essential requirement when applying for almost any job.

Microsoft Office skills for a resume include:

• Microsoft Word: Creating, formatting, and editing text documents.
• Microsoft Excel skills: Proficiency in data entry, formulas, sorting, filtering, etc.
• Microsoft PowerPoint: Preparing visually appealing, clean presentations.
• Microsoft Outlook: Managing emails and contacts, scheduling appointments, etc.

Such skills are advantageous, especially in positions involving administrative tasks, data analysis, presentations, reporting, and communication.

Google Drive

Google Drive and G Suite are increasingly important computer resume skills, too. That’s thanks to their numerous features reinforcing collaboration skills, but not only. Google Drive facilitates file management and storage and allows the smooth creation of new documents and spreadsheets.

Here are the main Google Drive skills that you can write about:

• Google Docs: creating and formatting documents with real-time collaboration.
• Google Sheets: managing spreadsheets using knowledge of functions and formulas.
• Google Slides: creating and formatting appealing presentations, applying additional effects when needed.
• Communication tools: proficiency in using Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Meet, Google Chat, and more.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet skills are demanded in many jobs involving data management. When you’re willing to include such skills in your resume, specify the spreadsheet software you’re adept in. It can be Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers, LibreOffice, or similar.

Email

Email skills inform the recruiter that you can manage professional communication effectively, ensuring clarity and good organization. Such traits might be especially valuable for administrative and customer service roles.

When describing your email skills, define what software you’re familiar with, e.g., Gmail, Apple Mail, Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, etc.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint skills come in handy, especially in roles related to public speaking, training, sales, or marketing. Mentioning them in your resume implies that you can create engaging presentations, maintain the right presentation formatting, and make use of the tool’s functions and features.

Database Management

When describing your database management proficiency, mention specific systems or software that you specialize in. Big companies use Oracle, Teradata, IBM DB2, or similar software to crunch spreadsheet files. Smaller companies may use MySQL or MS Access.

Project Management Software

Project management software abilities suggest that you are comfortable with a variety of tools and platforms developed for project planning, execution, monitoring, and collaboration with your team. The most prevalent project management software abilities are associated with platforms such as Asana, Trello, Jira, and Notion. Mention them in your project manager resume to demonstrate that you have the necessary project management skills and are ready for the task.

Data Analytics

If you have data analytics skills, you are well-equipped to collect and evaluate the appropriate data. Whether you’re writing a data analyst resume or a data scientist resume, highlight your areas of expertise in statistical analysis, computer languages, database management, machine learning, data visualization, and so on.

Hardware Skills

People with hardware expertise frequently work in IT support, system management, and other fields. They have extensive experience with computer maintenance, hardware configuration, peripheral device management, networking devices, operating systems, and so on.

If you’re applying for a technical job that requires IT skills (including hardware), make those your first priority. This is especially relevant to an IT resume, a system administrator resume, or a computer technician resume.

Quickbooks

Small and medium-sized enterprises appreciate Quickbooks. It makes budgeting, cost monitoring, and bookkeeping simple. Is the employer looking for someone who can manage cash flow, invoicing, accounts payable, payroll, or employee time? To prove you’re a good fit, demonstrate your Quickbooks computing skills.

Social Media and Web Skills

Listening to clients is the most important business skill nowadays. Companies most commonly use social media and websites. When describing your social media marketing skills, make sure to include the platforms you use confidently. Specify your skills, such as content planning and scheduling or social media metric analysis.

In turn, your web skills could include website management, SEO and analytics, proficiency in Content Management Systems, or familiarity with basic coding languages (those that are key for a web designer resume).

Writing

Writers need a skill combo with elements like WordPress, Yoast, SEO, research, technical writing skills, journalism, ghostwriting, editing, and probably a few more.

When recalling your unique writing skills, explain the text types you are competent in as well as the platforms on which you use them. It’s vital because there are a large range of professions involving content development, and you want your resume to be as detailed as possible.

Graphic Skills

Are you looking for a job that demands graphic design or web development talents and need to write a resume? That ideal employer might be looking for someone who can master Photoshop or InDesign.

Pull required skills from the job description and highlight achievements on your CV that set you apart from other digital artists. Graphic abilities may include proficiency with graphic design software, the ability to develop a variety of visual elements, and a thorough understanding of design principles.

Coding/Programming

Most technical professions require computer coding expertise. You may wish to use them when producing a software engineer resume, a computer science resume, or another type of technical resume. The main coding abilities include understanding of programming languages, frameworks, databases, and software development.

Because you may want to include several programming languages, frameworks, or other components in your abilities section, break them into groups to improve readability and clarity.

Enterprise Systems

Enterprise systems are large software packages that corporations use for accounting, customer relations, and other duties. The most common types of enterprise systems include automated billing systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Find out which ones the organization uses (or wants to use), and demonstrate your mastery of them in your data entry resume or something similar.

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How to List Computer Skills on a Resume

Adding computer skills to a resume is more than just copying and pasting the top technical skills that an employer looks for. It takes some agility to strategically distribute computer abilities throughout your resume.

1. Add Top Computer Skills to the Skills Section

When planning to include computer abilities on a resume, start with the skills section. It appears evident. But does explaining them make sense to you?

Before selecting the appropriate computer skills, carefully study the job description and identify the talents and characteristics that are most necessary for the specific task. Both financial analysts and social media managers require great computer skills, yet they specialize in distinct technological sectors.

Computer skills are difficult to master, and they should be at the top of your skill list. Alternatively, you can establish a separate skills section for computer skills only. Finally, remember to include soft talents as well. Computer skills may be the backbone of your resume, particularly if you work in a highly technical field, but applicable soft skills are also important.

Computer Skills for a Resume: Skills Section Example

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• Social media management tools: Hootsuite, Buffer, Zoho Social
• Social media analytics tools: Google Analytics, Agorapulse
• SEO tools: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Search Console
• Email marketing software: Hubspot
• Microsoft Office software proficiency
• Basic HTML and CSS knowledge
• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Creativity

2. Mention Key Computer Skills in Your Resume Profile

A productive resume begins with an engaging resume summary or objective that highlights your main accomplishments and characteristics. It’s the perfect spot to impress a hiring manager with your unique computing talents, which will be useful in the role you wish to fill.

Computer Skills for a Resume: Resume Profile Example

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Resourceful digital marketing graduate with demonstrated experience in email and search marketing, as well as creating engaging website content that speaks to the target market and drives organic traffic at a level of 30000,00+ unique users monthly. Offers extensive knowledge in communication marketing and various digital marketing technologies and strategies. Seeking an internship opportunity to apply my skills in social media marketing, client acquisition, and promotion at MediaCenter.

3. Recall Computer Skills in Your Work History Section

How could you do your tasks so efficiently without those excellent skills? The relationship of these two is so clear that you cannot complete your job experience section without addressing the talents that enabled you to excel in your role.

When putting down your most significant accomplishments, make sure to display them in a way that highlights your computer skills. To appear more credible and convincing, use figures demonstrating your efficiency and professionalism.

Computer Skills for a Resume: Work Experience Examples

MS Office

• Used MS Word’s tracking and commenting to collaborate on reports with 30 cross-functional team members.
• Wrote Excel formulas to add conditional formatting to budgeting spreadsheets. Gained a 30% reduction in overages.

Email

• Created monthly catalog mail merges with MS Outlook, Word, and Excel that reached 40,000 customers/mo.
• Used Outlook folders, rules, and tasks to save an estimated 3 work hours per week. The system was adopted by an entire department of 7 coworkers.

Social Media and Web Skills

• Ran a Facebook giveaway that got 76,481 views, 3,300 likes, 460 comments, and 150 shares.
• Delivered one long-form article per day in WordPress, complete with all metadata, including Yoast SEO optimization.

Writing

• Wrote 15 technical manuals in two years. Commended by clients in each case for brevity and clarity.
• Led a team of 3 researchers for a personal finance blog. Created 780 live-updating spreadsheets that kept articles fresh in real time.

Graphic Skills

• Maintained a 95%+ positive client rating across 200+ brochures created for clients with Photoshop and InDesign.
• Received the HOW Logo Design Award for one of my 150+ logos created with InDesign.

4. Use Additional Sections to Present More Computer Skills

Still, there are alternative ways to include computer skills in a resume and make it more thorough. For example, provide certifications or the names of courses you did. Also, list any projects in which you demonstrated your computer talents.

Furthermore, you can use additional resume sections to focus on your computer talents, going into further detail about certain areas of experience. This includes creating separate sections for programming languages, applications, and tools that you are familiar with, among other things.

Computer Skills for a Resume: Additional Sections Examples

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Certifications

• Fundamentals of Digital Marketing by Google, 2021

Memberships

• Member of the American Marketing Association since 2020

Interests

• Writing a blog about the best social media campaign strategies and industry novelties (35000,00+ monthly traffic).
• Digital marketing communities: participating in online discussions and exchanging views with professionals on Reddit, LinkedIn, Quora, etc.

Tips to Improve Your Computer Skills

Computer and technology industries need ongoing monitoring for changes and advancements. Growing your computer skills secures your technical career development while also promoting professional progress and flexibility.

Here’s how you can improve your computer skills:

1. Research the Web

You can always check the Web first if you encounter an unsolvable technical problem. Someone likely has already struggled with a similar issue, and you’ll quickly get a ready-made answer to your question. Check forums, articles, and guides, or play a quick YouTube tutorial.

2. Practice Regularly

If you want to improve any skill, practice is key. Reinforce your knowledge, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different tools to widen your technical experience. Fostering own practice and research is often more beneficial than learning from books, as it engraves in memory much easier.

3. Sign Up for Courses

Look for platforms allowing users to grow their knowledge on preferred topics. The most popular ones are Coursera, Udemy, and Codecademy, where you can find many online educational courses to nurture your skills. You can also check G-Suite Learning Center and Microsoft tech courses, or simply browse YouTube tutorials.

4. Identify Opportunities

Connect with people who share similar passions and interests. Maybe you can collaborate on a project together or simply learn from one another. Looking for opportunities within a company you work for is also a good idea. Contact your manager or HR representative for information on possible training opportunities.

Key Takeaway

Here’s a quick recap of how to list computer skills on a resume:

• Use the computer skills list above to get started. Don’t list every skill. Read the job ad to see which few the employer wants to see the most.
• Don’t just list software skills on a resume. Show what you’ve achieved with bullet points.
• Add numbers. Percentages, dollar figures, and productivity measures can bring your computer skills resume list to life.
• Don’t have the right software skills to get hired? Classes can help—usually in a couple of hours.

Frequently Asked Questions about Computer Skills

What are computer skills?

Common Computer Skills Required for Work Are:

• Word processing
• Spreadsheets
• Presentations
• Microsoft Office
• G Suite
• Email communication
• Social media management
• Data analytics
• Graphic design
• Video editing
• Marketing automation
• Data visualization
• Using Zoom

Remember to maintain the skill list on your LinkedIn page and resume up to date. Technology changes rapidly, so listing software from ten years ago may not give you an advantage over other job applicants.

What are basic computer skills?

Basic computer skills consist of the most typical computer-related tasks. These include, for example, maintaining computer files, communicating effectively via e-mail, word processing, conducting Google research, and creating interesting presentations.

Depending on the business, basic computer skills may contain additional job-specific talents. Doctors, for example, are required to access patient information from databases, make electronic prescriptions, and give video consultations.

Top 5 Basic Computer Skills for Most Industries Include:

• Writing and editing documents
• Sending and receiving e-mails
• Using the Internet to find information
• Creating presentations
• Working with spreadsheets

If you suffer with technology, it’s worth working on your computer literacy. Computers help to automate your life and make your job easier. Learn a few strategies for standard office software like Word or Excel by taking online courses, watching YouTube video tutorials, or reading written manuals. Once you’re confident enough, you can progress to more job-specific training.

How do you list computer skills on a resume?

A list of computer skills can be easily included in a resume by adding it to the professional skills section. Mention specific skills that are relevant to the job you want.

For example, if you’re seeking for a software developer employment, include programming languages, software development processes, and good problem-solving abilities. In addition, you might highlight computer skills in the job experience area when outlining your tasks and accomplishments.

How do you describe your level of computer skills?

You can describe your level of specific computer skills in the following ways:

• Use descriptive words: basic, intermediate, advanced, or proficient, similar to language levels in resumes.
• Create progress bars: they are a good visual resume addition that makes the document more engaging.
• Add star rating: it’s an easy way to indicate your level of knowledge.
• Mention certificates: being certified in specific software shows professionalism.

How to learn computer skills?

There are numerous tools accessible online, ranging from YouTube videos to certification courses, to assist you improve specific talents. Of course, your pick will be determined by your occupation and professional aspirations. Choose the appropriate medium for you: a physical book on the subject, a step-by-step guide posted on an industry expert blog, or a video course that demonstrates all of the steps.

How to improve your computer skills:

• Research the skills you need: Read articles on popular industry-related websites and scan job advertisements for your profession. If you spot names of software, specific digital skills, or computer-related high-income skills that are required—you know what you must learn!
• Pick the learning method that suits you best: Think of your learning style, as well as how much time can you spend learning each day or each week. If you’re busy, an intensive course that requires your daily participation might not be a good choice—opt for self-paced learning instead.
• Practice what you learned: It’s really important to put theory into practice. Otherwise, you might forget all of it. Download a demo version of the software you’re learning, or get a trial subscription to the service you need, and have a try!
• Test your knowledge: You may do it in different ways. Maybe think of a final project you could do with your freshly-gained abilities, or be even more ambitious and sign up for an exam that tests this skill.

What is considered a software skill?

Software skills are abilities that show how well you can use a specific type of computer program. Software skills depend on the profession or type of work that the job applicant is expected to perform. For example, an architect must be able to use 3D modeling and CAD software, while a data analyst must be able to work with databases and data visualization tools.

Common software skills include:

• Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are programs that are most commonly used in office environments.
• G Suite: Docs, Slides, and Sheets are getting more popular these days, as they’re easily accessible.
• Python, Java, Ruby, and other programming languages are skills required for software developers and other IT professionals.
• SAP: this business operations planning software is used by many companies and organizations.
• Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects are programs used frequently by graphic designers.

Are software skills hard skills?

Software skills are hard skills. These types of skills differ between professions and can be learned via courses, training sessions, and books. Most of the time, they are required from job applicants, together with industry-related knowledge and experience.

If your profession requires using a computer frequently, remember to include some software skills in your resume when looking for a new job.

How to list software skills on a resume?

List software skills together with hard skills in your job application. When creating the skill section of your resume, you may add the names of the software you use to perform specific tasks to bullet points that describe your abilities. For example, instead of writing only: “Monitoring financial operations”, you may write: “Managing financial operations via Quickbooks.”