We are now living in a fast-paced environment where we are now using electronic devices much more than ever. Whatever work you do, most likely you will at some stage be using a computer whether it is for printing work or researching and even communicating with customers. Computers are a part of most, if not all, industries today.
Having computer skills is a good addition to have on your folio. Polishing and up-skilling your computer and employability skills can increase an employer’s desire to hire you. You can take on roles that you might think you are not qualified for. As an employer having employees with computer skills can increase the productivity and help with certain problems that can cost time and lots of money. If you are lacking in certain areas of skills with technology and computers, you should enrol your self in an introduction to computers course to help develop and further your knowledge.
Here are a few reasons why you should have computer skills within a business:
Leadership and promotion
If you have computer skills, then you have opened up more doors for potential opportunities for yourself. One being given a higher position in the workplace. If you are computer literate, then you can work on more tasks and higher paying projects. Having computer skills in your back pocket means you can be hired faster than if you didn’t have those skills. If you have advanced knowledge of how to operate computers, you can get into different leadership positions.
Better work performance
Are you still taking notes on those little sticky notepads? Being computer literate mean you can type notes on the computer and record things that are being said. That way you can easily listen to certain discussions again instead of relying on what has been written down. If you have computer skills, then the employees are going to be more organised and be able to get things done in a timely manner. There are computer programs like word processors and spreadsheets that can help you to organise ideas and keep track of certain data letting you organise it into columns and rows.
It is now essential in the workplace
Having computer skills is now a requirement in most workplaces for all different jobs. It can be hard to find a job that doesn’t require using a computer. Most positions will require you to have understandings of computer systems. Gaining computer skills will improve your overall knowledge and understanding the tasks.
You might be thinking to yourself, what if I work in an industry where I work directly with people such as being a household manager or maybe even a full time nanny, how do computers effect my line of work? You would need to use computers to better efficiently organise your schedule and do research on ways you can better develop your own set of skills. Computer skills are needed for all industries and if you are ignorant and feel like your industry doesn’t require these specific set of skills, you will need to think again.
Improved communication
These days everyone make use of computers and electronic devices to communicate with each other. Letters and statements are now sent via email or fax which is the new form of communication when it comes to technology. Wherever in the world you are you can easily communicate by sending and receiving letters, documents and data all via the computer. Gone are the days of waiting up to a week or more to receive letters and documents through the post. Now you just need to wait only a few mins for faxes and emails to come through. Even employees pay are done via the computer through online banking.
Shows your readiness to adjust
Being able to work efficiently and effectively on a computer not only shows your employers that you have a great set of skills, it shows that you have a willingness to adapt to modern expectations of employees. There may be certain employees who refuse to upgrade their skills due to a generational biased and feeling as if they don’t need technology. The reality is that everyone needs technology and showing that you have taken initiative to welcome this new addition and develop these certain skills will go a long way in giving your employer faith that you will be able to adapt if anything else shocks the industry.
There is no doubt that having computer skills is important for any type of job and even just for plain old communicating. Even if you are not working yet consider getting some training on using computers so if a job pops up you are ready and have the computer skills listed on your resume ready to go. There is no downfall for having computer skills so why not go out and upskill your levels today.
