Today’s office worker needs a strong set of basic computer skills to begin a successful career in a business environment. One of the most important among these skills is a familiarity with Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. These tools allow employees to communicate efficiently with supervisors and colleagues and lead to increased work productivity.
Another valuable computer skill is the capacity to troubleshoot minor technical problems, such as a printer jam or a software settings issue, encountered during the workday. The ability to effectively use resources such as search engines and help manuals when a minor roadblock arises allows IT specialists to focus on larger issues instead of spending time fixing numerous small problems.
Additionally, it is important to possess a familiarity of the concepts of privacy and protection of company data. An ability to identify scams and avoid falling prey to phishing helps employers feel more secure about employees’ capacity for protecting company privacy.
Workers can build on these three basic computer skills as needed throughout their careers.