Computer Skills for a Resume

What are computer skills?

Computer skills are abilities related to using and creating computers. Computer skills range from being able to use email to assembling motherboards.

Computer skills can be categorized into two groups: software skills and hardware skills.

Software skills involve using computer programs like Microsoft Office, whereas hardware skills relate to building and fixing a computer and its various parts.

Below is a comprehensive list of computer skills (both hardware skills and software skills). If you have any of these technical skills and they’re relevant to the job you want, list them in the skills section of your resume or mention them in your work experience section. Make sure you learn how to list them on your resume properly too!

Top computer skills for a resume

The infographic below contains many of the computer skills you should list on your resume depending on the job you want:

To see how these skills look on a resume, click on one of these examples to see a full-size version:

Resume examples highlighting computer skills

List of computer skills for your resume

The following computer skills are used across many industries and can be included on resumes for jobs that involve computer work:

Google Workspace

Businesses of all sizes now use Google’s products, from Gmail for emails to Google Docs for collaboration. Google Workspace has become so popular that many offices have replaced Microsoft Office with Google’s tools.

You can start refining your Google skills at home for free. Once you’re familiar with Google Workplace, you can then list these tools on your resume:

Web tools

One of the most in-demand resume computer skills in 2021 is the ability to use certain web tools. As companies spend more time growing their online presence, you can become indispensable to employers by demonstrating knowledge of:

Social media

Many of us use Facebook and Instagram when we’re avoiding work, but knowing how to engage and grow an online following is a key computer skill that companies want. To showcase your skills using social media, add details on the platforms you can use to your resume.

These are the key social media platforms to mention throughout your job application:

And although LinkedIn isn’t a traditional social media platform for connecting with friends, it can help you find work. So learn how to upload your resume in LinkedIn to make the job-hunt process easier.

Collaboration tools

Since the onset of COVID-19, more employees are working from home. As companies expect you to be able to work remotely, teams need to collaborate and communicate online.

Show that you can effectively perform remote work during the pandemic by mentioning your fluency in the following workflow programs and video conferencing tools on your resume:

Email

Most people know how to send and receive emails. However, if you understand advanced functions such as encryption and mail merges, mention them on your resume because advanced skills show employers you can exceed expectations in the workplace.

Operating systems

Many candidates forget to note that they’re comfortable using both Microsoft Windows and MacOS. If you can jump between the two operating systems with ease, include it on your resume.

Mentioning your proficiency with these two standard operating systems could give you a head start if you need to take a basic computer skills test during the interview.

Microsoft Office and iWork

Any office-based role will require some familiarity with basic word processing software and spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as other common productivity software like PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.

Write that you’re comfortable using the latest version of Office 365 and collaborating with SharePoint and OneDrive so that employers can see you’re up to date with the latest software used in the workplace.

Likewise, if the job advertisement mentions it, include the Apple equivalents: Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and iCloud.

Accounting and enterprise systems

Quickbooks is a popular software package used by small and medium-sized businesses for tracking expenses, calculating payroll, and invoicing. If you’re a seasoned professional with similar software, put that package in a prime location on your resume.

Candidates with knowledge of enterprise applications can include any of the following computer skills examples:

Design and creative computer skills

Companies are always on the lookout for talented candidates who can bring their brands to life and give them the visual edge in the marketplace.

From designing magazine pages to retouching photos, proficiency with software such as Adobe Creative Suite is one of the hottest computer software skills in 2021 because branding is more important than ever. Here are some of the most common software skills to list on a graphic design resume or a resume in another creative industry:

Data science and analysis

Businesses use data to understand their customers and gain a market advantage, making these highly valuable skills. Data mining, modeling, and management, plus machine learning and examples of statistical software are all solid computer skills to hone for professionals today.

Here’s a short list of software skills related to data science:

Web development and programming

More people are learning to code — not only for work, but also as a hobby. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the future is bright for web developers and software engineers.

Add key computer programmer skills such as these skills to future-proof your computer skills resume:

Artificial intelligence

Machines are going to be doing more jobs than humans by 2025, and that growth may be accelerated by the need to socially distance. So employers need workers versed in:

Hardware skills

Adding computer skills to your resume is not all about software: remember to include your expertise with physical devices if relevant to the job.

Depending on the role you’re applying for, these hardware skills could be the most important computer skills to list on your resume:

How to list computer skills on your resume

First, use a resume template with two columns. Grouping your information into columns makes your details easier to read. You can also place your skills section at the top of the page for extra emphasis.

Both options will catch the hiring manager’s eye, and help quickly prove you’re the computer-savvy candidate the hiring manager is looking for.

Check out how these key technical skills are presented on a resume written by a software engineer:

Here’s how you can present your own computer skills in each section of your resume:

1. Add computer skills to your resume summary

A professional resume summary is the most effective way to start a resume because it gets straight to the point.

This format replaces a dull opening statement with concise bullet points. Your key skills are highlighted along with proof that you get results.

For example:

• Design: Create e-commerce websites using 8 programming languages.
• Optimization: Increased user clicks and customer purchases by over 25%.
• Leadership: Trained over 50 staff members to use internal functions.
• Awards: Winner of the CREATE+ ‘Developer of the Year’ award 2018.

A resume summary is simple to write by following this formula:

Competency: example of computer skills and duty + result achieved

2. List computer skills in your skills section

Use your skills section to list all the other skills you’ve picked up over the course of your career.

If you have a long list of programming skills or hardware skills, you can keep them separate by creating a separate technical skills section or even specifically calling it “Programming Skills” or “Hardware Skills” for clarity.

Here’s an example of hard and soft skills on a marketing assistant resume, with computer skills highlighted at the top. To make things clear, our candidate grades their abilities in each:

Skill ratings aren’t a game changer but can be an effective visual trick if used tastefully.

3. Provide proof of your computer skills in your work experience section

Once you’ve chosen which computer skills to put on your resume, prove you can use these abilities to contribute to your company’s bottom line.

Write about what your computer skills helped you achieve by stating your accomplishments and using hard numbers, such as timeframes, percentages, and dollars, to support your claims.

This is called quantification and is key to writing an achievement-oriented resume that impresses hiring managers. Not only does quantifying your skills prove you can drive results, but it’s also a perfect invitation to being asked more questions during your interview.

Here’s an example from an IT resume where the candidate effectively quantifies their computer skills:

Most candidates don’t know how to quantify their achievements, so you’ll be ahead of the competition if you add hard numbers throughout your application.

4. Include computer-related certifications on your resume

We’re not done yet — the final thing to do is add certifications to your resume. You also need to display relevant academic degrees and computer-related capstone courses in your resume education section. You earned these qualifications, so don’t be shy. Display them where they’ll be noticed.

Remember: new graduates should focus on their education, but seasoned professionals should highlight their skills and experience.

For those who have a mix of high-level qualifications and on-the-job experience, highlight your education, certifications, and additional skills simultaneously with a combination resume template.

How to learn new computer skills for your resume and career

If you’re eager to learn new computer skills for career development, whether you’re aiming for a new job or just want to impress your current boss, here’s where you can learn more.

Operating systems

Curious about getting familiar with a new operating system? Microsoft and Apple both offer training programs for their OSs, Microsoft Certification and Apple Certification, respectively.

Coding

If you’re interested in picking up or improving on coding skills, Codecademy provides online courses for a wide variety of programming languages.

Google

Need to get up to date with the latest remote work and collaboration tools? Google Workspace Learning Center shows you how to use many of the company’s tools, including Docs, Drive, and Sheets.

Certifications

If you’re specifically interested in showcasing your graphic design skills, consider obtaining an Adobe Certification.

By contrast, accountants and other people working in the finance sector can learn new skills by sitting the Intuit Quickbooks Certification.

More skills for your resume

Finally, Skillshare, Lynda.com, Study.com, and Udemy offer various courses on different computer-related topics, so check them out if you can’t see anything more specific.