In today’s technology-based world, there are few professions that do not interact with computers in any way at all. This being the case, there are a number of basic computer skills that virtually every employee should have. E-mail is arguably the most important computer skill for the average employee. Roughly 20% of Americans do not have access to the Internet, so the process of composing and sending an e-mail, especially one to multiple partners, is unfamiliar to many. Learning proper formatting and how to attach files and images will allow employees to experience fast and efficient communications with coworkers, clients, and other departments and locations.
Second only to e-mail skills, employees must learn how to facilitate successful interactions between the computer and printer. The modern printer often features a fax, scanner, copier, and additional functions that are commonly used in the average office. Understanding basic computer maintenance is essential as well. The average computer owner knows that sometimes computers simply freeze up and need to be restarted. For individuals who have never owned a PC, techniques like this must be taught in order to avoid situations where tech specialists are brought in to fix what is reported as a crashed machine, but is really only a computer in need of a reboot.