People talk about the need to have good computer skills, but what does that mean?
Having good computer skills means you understand how to interact with and reset the machine, you can use basic software to access the internet and email, and work with files and folders in a basic manner. You are also able to install new apps, learn them, and remove them.
Thankfully, even though computer operating systems change over time, the fundamentals of how the machine functions don’t change.
What do you need to know to say you’re good with computers?
Usually, what people are referring to is the ability to interact with a computer physically and that you have the ability to perform some basic functions using the operating system. In this article, I will go through some of the actions you should be practicing if you want to build your skills up.
Power & Reset – The most basic of functions include turning the machine on and off. Included with that is performing a reset or a restart. Typically, the power button is marked by a symbol that looks something like this.
You press it once to turn on your machine. Here’s where it gets complicated… Once your computer is already on, when you press the power button, it can do one of several things:
- Do nothing.
- Sleep.
- Hibernate. (If that’s an option on your machine)
- Shut down.
- Turn off the display
The default will depend on the way the manufacturer sets up the machine in the factory. You can adjust this by navigating to the Control Panel – System and Security and under ‘Change what the power buttons do’ select the option you prefer in the dropdown box.
Don’t worry if this is a little over your head right now. Leaving it in its default configuration is fine for now.
To restart your computer, most people go to the start button, the Windows symbol, and click the icon that looks like the power button. Clicking on it presents a list of options that includes Sleep, Shutdown, and Reset. Clicking on reset will start the reset process.
If for some reason, your computer is frozen and won’t respond, you can do what’s called a hard shutdown. It isn’t something you want to do often, but it’s handy to know what to do if you need it. All you need to do is press and hold down the power button until the machine turns off.
Afterward, give it a few moments before you turn it back on. When you turn it back on, it may present a black screen with some text options. The cursor will highlight one option to indicate it has been selected. You can move the selection using the arrow keys on the keyboard and make the selection by pressing Enter.
The option that you will want to choose in most cases is to start Windows normally.
Mouse, Keyboard, & Other Peripherals – Now that you can deal with powering the machine up and making it behave a little, let’s look at navigation.
Your main navigation devices will be a mouse or some other pointing device and a keyboard. Moving the mouse around on your table surface will make the pointer, called a cursor, on the screen move where you want it to be. The mouse will have a minimum of 2 buttons, but it’s widespread for mice today to have a scroll wheel.
The scroll wheel is actually called the third button because it will click like a button if you press down on it. Usually, this button changes the mouse function so that instead of using the scroll wheel, if you move the mouse, it will scroll the page. I have more details on how the mouse functions in this article here.
The keyboard is your tool primarily for entering text. It can have a number pad as well, which makes entering large amounts of numeric information easier. But if you look closely, you’ll also notice several other buttons. If you’re interested in learning about all of the buttons on the keyboard, you can read about it in my article here.
If you’re keen on improving your keyboard skills, several typing tutor websites can help you improve your speed. My favorite to start with is KeyBR and Type Racer.
Start & Stop Software – The basic operations for starting and stopping software are very straightforward. To start it, double-click the software icon/shortcut/executable to open it. When you’re done, click the small X in either the upper right or upper left corner.
If you have a stubborn application that won’t respond or close, you can force it closed using the Task Manager. To access the Task Manager, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and pick Task Manager from the list. A shortcut is to press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open it directly. Next, select the badly behaving program from the list and click ‘End Task’ to kill it.
Create, Delete, Rename Files & Folders – This could be a big topic because of the amount of software out in the world and the different ways that each software vendor chooses to do these actions. However, there are some common functions.
If you’re interested in more detail on this topic, you can check out my article on Windows Explorer here. In it, I talk about a number of the same actions.
Most often, when you want to create a file, in the top menu of the software you’re using, there will be a menu category called File. If you click File, there will be an option called New or Create New. If that option exists and you select that option, your software should make a new file for you to work on.
There are also some shortcuts to common software that you can find by right-clicking the Desktop or in a folder and hovering the mouse pointer over New. You can select one from that list, and it will create it in the location where you right-clicked.
To create a new folder, you can use the right-click feature, hover over New, and select Folder. There is also the option to click New folder along the top of the folder window. This will create a new folder in the current folder you have open.
To delete a file or folder, left-click and hold it while dragging the file or folder to the Recycle Bin. Once it’s in the Recycle Bin, you can restore or empty the recycle bin deleting it for good. The other option is to right-click the file or folder and select Delete. This will also send it to the Recycle Bin.
Renaming works the same for both files and folders. There are three ways:
- Select the file or folder with a single click, then single click on the name.
- Select the file or folder and press F2.
- Right click the file or folder and select Rename.
After performing one of these actions, the text will become editable. When you’re done changing the name, press Enter or click on an empty space.
Install, Learn, & Remove Software – Most software is installed by a small piece of software called an installer. The simplest way to do this is to double-click on the installer to run it, follow through the install process using the wizard, and use all default settings.
If the software vendor did their job correctly, it should be a smooth process from there. Of course, you may need to perform a reset depending on the software package, but it will tell you if that’s the case.
Learning software is a skill you’ll have to develop in time. Try to use it, click around, and explore all of the options. There are lots of tutorials and help videos online for almost every application. You should be able to find resources for almost everything. If all else fails, see if you can find a paid course that will meet your needs.
Removing software is similar to installing it. The installer should also have a remove function, so if you rerun the installer, select uninstall or remove, and follow the wizard again, that should remove it.
If that doesn’t work or you don’t have the installer for some reason, you can go to Control Panel – Programs and Features and then scroll through the list until you can find the software you want to remove. If you select the software, right-click it, and select Remove/Uninstall, your computer will go through the uninstall process.
You can also start the same process by double-clicking the software in the list.
Install, Learn, & Remove Peripherals – The complexity of installing a peripheral device depends on the device, but for the sake of starting out, let’s assume it’s a USB device. All peripheral devices need small software programs called device drivers.
A device driver acts like a translator that allows your computer to talk to the peripheral device and use it. Some devices come with device drivers and software that you need to install, while others have their device drivers bundled into Windows.
When you plug it in for the first time, Windows will automatically try to find device drivers for it. If it can find them, this is usually the best option. If not, you will likely have to use the device driver that the manufacturer has specifically set up for your device.
If you find yourself needing to use the manufacturer’s software, follow their instructions for install and the wizard directions that come up as you proceed through the install process.
Connect Your Internet – Connecting your internet is a lot simpler than you think. First, you need to contact your internet provider to get your service set up. Then, they should send an installer to your home, or if your home is ready, they will give you the equipment you need in your house for you to connect.
If they help you connect your devices, that’s even better, but you’re often on your own there. I don’t want to miss any steps trying to shorten the process in this article, but I go into good detail in my article here.
How do I learn to have good computer skills?
In my opinion, the best way is to get a computer if you don’t already have one and spend some time going through the things that I’ve described in this article. If you’re learning, you can stick with a more budget model or a used computer for now.
If you decide to go with a used computer, make sure that someone who knows computers helps you purchase it. It can be easy to buy a lemon or something incomplete if you aren’t careful.
As long as you stay out of the operating system files buried on the hard drive, there’s no harm in learning by trial and error. It may take a little time, but it’ll be well worth the effort you put into it. Even going through the more basic operations is worth it over time to build your skills and understanding.
You could also take an online or local course to help bring you up to speed. There should be local courses nearby where you live that will teach you the absolute basics if you’re lost.
The added advantage of getting involved in something like that is that you can explore the possibility of taking more advanced topics on different software packages when you’re done. You never know. You just might enjoy it and find yourself in a new career!
What computer skills should I put on my resume?
It’s usually best to include all of your computer skills on your resume. Computers are used to do almost everything today. However, when you’re writing a resume, you’re writing it for a specific audience. Make sure that you’re properly communicating with that audience.
If you’re proficient with the skills I’ve covered in this article, it’s pretty safe to say you can use Windows. If you’ve learned additional software packages like the Microsoft Office programs, or anything else relevant to the position, you should add those things. If there are any special applications that the position requires, don’t worry, most employers will include a list of them.
What computer skills do employers look for?
The main skills that an employer looks for include navigating your way through Windows and office productivity software like Microsoft Office. While Microsoft Office can take a fairly big commitment to learn, I’ve laid out some more in-depth steps to using Windows in an article here. It can get you started.
Being familiar with PDF files and how to work with them is also a common expectation. The simple PDF document has become a workhorse in the business world, and you will most definitely have to work with it. I have an article on PDF files here.
The email has replaced the memo system of old and is also a part of everyone’s work life. So much so, it isn’t uncommon for office workers to spend a significant portion of their day reading and replying to emails. Therefore, learning how to use email is an important skill. I have an article on email here.
The ability to learn small applications that the business uses for HR functions is a big benefit. Most larger corporations have built training and HR tools into web-like applications. Some of them work well, while others leave something to be desired. Learning these quickly and using them effectively to get your tasks and training done is important.