Top Five ICT Skills All Employees Should Have

Here is a list of the top five ICT skills all employees should have:

1. Basic Operation of ICT Hardware – Including printers, scanners, photocopiers, smartphones, tablets and projectors.
2. Safe Internet Usage – Such as using search engines for research purposes or updating company social media accounts.
3. Typing – The ability to use a word processing program (such as Microsoft Word) to create letters, agendas and minutes. In some roles (such as medical or legal secretarial work), audio transcription skills will be required.
4. Document Creation – The ability to use software (such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Creative) to produce professional documents like PowerPoint presentations, letters, leaflets or posters.
5. Email and Calendar Management – The ability to use an email solution (such as Microsoft Outlook) to communicate with internal and external contacts, keep calendars up to date, and book meetings. In some specialist ICT roles, employees will need an in-depth knowledge of email systems, to create and manage user accounts.

Top Tips for Improving Your ICT Skills

If you have very little experience of using ICT, take steps to familiarise yourself with digital technology.

If you are looking for employment, research and invest in the equipment you will be expected to use in your preferred job role. Buying a basic laptop will enable you to quickly learn the essential ICT skills listed above.

If you already have basic ICT knowledge but you want to improve your skills, take time to carefully study the job description and person specification for the role(s) you are applying for.

Compile a list of the essential and desirable ICT skills required for each role. Tick off any areas you are already skilful in, making notes of specific times when you have demonstrated these skills. It is important to be honest.

Once you have identified the key areas for development, consider the following options:

• Visit your local library. For example, if you need to improve your ability to use Microsoft software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook), there are many instructional guide books available that offer step-by-step advice.
• If you know a friend or relative has good ICT skills in the area you need to improve in, ask them for help. Arrange some one-to-one training sessions and ask them to observe you while you are practising your new skills.
• Contact your local education provider to find out about ICT qualifications or short courses they offer.
• There are many free ICT skills courses available on the internet. Research online training opportunities such as videos, webinars and podcasts. Check out WikiJob’s articles on Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel tests for sample questions and further advice.
• Apply for an internship or work experience placement at an established organisation. Learning on the job and applying your newly acquired skills is one of the best ways to learn. If you are coming to the end of your university studies, contact potential employers in the final months of your course to find out if they offer any internship opportunities to new graduates.
• Keep practising your new skills. For example, if you are learning how to send and receive emails, get in touch with a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while and arrange to be email pen-pals. This will allow you to build up your confidence and become more familiar with the email software.