Being tech-savvy is no longer a unique skill, rather it is a quite common one. Some people may be more comfortable around technology than others, particularly those whose careers depend upon it, but nowadays every employee is expected to have some technological knowledge.

For most readers of this article, the basic skills I am about to describe are hopefully already second nature. Remember, I used the word ‘basic’ here for a reason. However, if you are among those with no, or limited, tech skills, then I advise you to read through this article and you may find a missing skill that will change or improve the way you work for the better. This is the aim of this article.

These are the basic tech skills that every employee should have:

1. Understanding search engines’ advanced features

Everybody knows how to use a search engine, but here I am not talking about just typing words into Google. The more tech savvy know that search engines can be used in a more advanced way by, for example, adding quotation marks or Boolean operators such as AND, OR, NOT to your search string.

As a result, you can save yourself a lot of time by removing unwanted results from your search. Also, while you are scanning through the returned search results, you need to understand how to differentiate between good and reliable resources of information and bad ones.

2.Setting-up an anti-virus software program

You need to protect your computer from external attacks and hacking or phishing attempts so that your computer and data are not damaged or corrupted. The world is becoming more and more digital every day and it is ever harder for us to protect our privacy.

For this reason, everybody should install an anti-virus application on their computer to protect themselves and secure their privacy. If you shop or bank online you should be especially careful and check that the website is legitimate by looking for a private SSL connection or a security stamp.

3. Sharing and backing-up documents, especially large ones

You never know when your computer, desktop or laptop may crash, be stolen or suffer another disastrous event. You should therefore regularly back up or share your valuable documents, photos, or files. It is especially important that you know how to send large files as, by doing so, you can avoid your data getting lost. To back-up your files and documents, you can use cloud-based systems such as Dropbox or Box, or you can use more old-fashioned options like an external hard drive. There may also be some tools that have been built-in to your computer to help you back up important documents: for example, the Windows Backup system or Apple’s Time Machine. You can set these applications up to either send your data or back it up on an external hard drive.

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4. Presentation skills

Many employers will assume that you know how to organize presentations either for external customers or for internal use. It does not matter whether you work in a B2B or B2C industry, the ability to produce visually meaningful work is crucial in the modern workplace. There are a variety of tech tools available to you that you can use to design presentations, which you can find either in Google Suite or Microsoft Office.

5. Using email

The ability to use email effectively is a basic tech skill as email has become a staple of the workplace today. Knowing how to compose and write professional emails is crucial for most employees. Email is the standard method of contact in most workplaces, as well as an important way of communicating with external clients and customers. I recommend that you learn the basics involved in sending a professional and effective email, such as how to compose or format the email, and even create an email signature for yourself and your workplace.

6. PDF file editing

Certain skills don’t need to be spoken of, but you can showcase them by putting them into action. With a single look, your manager will be able to tell if you can write and professionally edit text. They will also be able to tell if you can edit PDF files.

Using PDF format is often the last thing on your mind when sharing a file, but it is a crucial in creating a small file size which can be more easily shared. Some employers also require the use of PDF file format since it means that a document cannot be accidentally edited. Additionally, using a PDF file format is the best way to ensure that a file will be viewed as intended on a range of devices such as MacBooks, laptops and PCs.

Practice using PDF files and learn how to create an overview of a document. Knowing how to use and edit PDF files is a crucial technical skill, no matter what type of job you are applying for.

7. Social media skills

When listing common technical skills required by an employee, we can’t avoid including social media skills. Do you make use of Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook? And even more important: do you use LinkedIn?

Any employer will appreciate it if you can analyze information from various social media platforms and share posts that draw attention to the brand. Most businesses have specialized social media marketing teams, but every employee’s social media activity is also crucial to the brand’s image.

On LinkedIn, you will benefit from creating a wide network of contacts, especially if you are looking for a job. However, you shouldn’t stop networking once you get one as these connections may prove important as your career progresses.

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Conclusion

To stay up to date and succeed in the workplace, you will need to consistently develop your tech skills. One tip I can offer is to understand that learning is not a finite strategy but rather a continuous one. As technology continues to advance, so too will your workplace’s adoption of it, and the employer’s demand for technical skillsets will follow suit. Being free to broaden your understanding of workplace technology will enable you to be more creative and more successful in your chosen career path.

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