Go back just ten years and ‘basic computer skills’ may have meant sending an email, carrying out a Google search, or completing an Excel spreadsheet – but would that be enough to cut the mustard now?
From a recruiter’s point of view, knowing what basic standards are in as many industries as you can muster is essential, because things change. Given the infiltration of technology across every sector, what was the ‘basic standard’ some years ago may now be an expectation; employers could be looking for more.
Keeping in touch with your clients on a regular basis can go some way to qualifying this, and developing an understanding of the roles they’re looking to fill beyond this catch-all terminology. “So, they need a basic understanding of X or Y….what is that exactly? What would they need to know or be able to do to achieve this?”
‘Basic computer skills’ can also mean different things in different industries, depending on the software used and the role’s demands. For example, it may mean a good grasp of SEO for a copywriter, but for an IT helpdesk assistant, it may involve a good knowledge of computer hardware and diagnostic skills.
According to Career Tool Belt, the ‘basics’ still include emailing, Powerpoint, and a familiarity with Microsoft Office. The latter includes Microsoft Access, though whether this is as popular a program than it was a decade ago is arguable. Are the experts accurate?
In addition, they cite ‘graphic and writing skills’ as basics, such as copywriting and Photoshop, a knowledge of Illustrator – competencies that would have been specialised and perhaps considered ‘niche’ ten years ago.
Most people, according to research, apply for roles via their smartphone, which in itself demands a good knowledge of keywords, search engines and web or social skills – should an online application, therefore, be included as demonstration of an applicant’s digital/computer capability?
Quint Careers gives an example of what employers or recruiters should ask for, with regards to IT skills: A computer-literate performer with extensive software proficiency covering a wide variety of applications. It’s not very specific, is it? As we’ve mentioned, a phrase like this can translate very differently across various industries. Surely, the more accurate you can be, the more likely you are to attract the right candidate, who’s appropriately skilled?
Interestingly, a poll by University World News of 1320 recruiters showed the 14 top skills they look for in new recruits. These are:
• An ability to work collaboratively
• Adaptability
• Analytical thinking
• Communication skills
• Creative problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Entrepreneurship
• A global mindset
• Industry-related work experience
• Demonstration of Initiative/risk-taking
• Leadership skills
• Motivation/drive
• Quantitative skills
• Strategic thinking
There seems little in the way of technical skills in the list – is this because they’re not deemed important, or because they’re considered a given? Perhaps employers deem them easy enough to pick up, compared to attributes in the list that may be harder to procure?
Whatever the interpretation of those three little words, it’s clear that different employers will want different things from the same phrase – something recruiters need to be think about.
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