Top Computer Skills Examples for a Resume [+Software List]

This isn’t just a great list of computer skills for your resume—it's something that could get you hired.

After all, that dream job won’t be yours without the relevant computer skills. Hiring managers can spot fake credentials like fingerprints on a computer screen—so you’ll need to know how to pick the skills to list, and how to put them on a resume the right way. 

This guide will show you: 

• A great computer skills resume list to make it easier to build the perfect resume.
• How to talk about computer proficiency so it stands out like Steve Jobs helped write it.
• Why resume bullet points with measured achievements beat any list of computer software.
• How to improve your software skills quick to get hired fast.

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This Guide Lists Basic Computer Skills Everybody Needs

We’ve got the best computer skills for resumes below.

But—

For advanced computer skills, switch to one of our other guides. Each one has computer skills lists for each profession to show you how to describe your computer skills on a dedicated resume sample:

• IT Resume
• Computer Science Resume
• Programmer Resume
• Software Engineer Resume
• Web Developer Resume
• Web Designer Resume
• DevOps Resume
• UX Designer Resume & UI Developer Resume
• Network Administrator Resume
• System Administrator Resume
• Computer Technician Resume
• Help Desk Resume

• Data Analyst Resume
• Data Scientist Resume
• Business Analyst Resume
• Project Manager Resume
• Product Manager Resume
• Data Entry Resume
• Technical Resume

Still need more examples? Check: Example Resumes to Land Any Job

Computer skills are abilities and knowledge which allow you to use computers and related technology. They let you use word processing software, access the Internet, manage files, or create presentations. Advanced computer skills would let you access databases, use spreadsheets, and even code.

Dozens of great examples below:

List of Computer Skills for Resume

• MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, OneNote, Access)
• Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms)
• Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets, OpenOffice Calc). Pro tip: List specific skills such as: pivot tables, comparative analyses, link to database, macros, sensitivity tables, vertical lookups.
• Email (mail merge, filters, folders, rules)
• Presentations/Slideshows (Powerpoint, Google Slides, OpenOffice Impress, Tableu)
• Database Management (MS Access, Oracle, Teradata, IBM DB2, MySQL, SQL)
• Quickbooks. Pro tip: talk about specific applications of your skills: Expense tracking, accounts payable, invoicing, cash flow management, employee time tracking, reports, payroll.
• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). Pro tip: Explain how you apply your social media skills, e.g., talk about giveaways, post engagement metrics, reach, customer interaction.
• Web (HTML, CSS, Javascript, WordPress, Joomla, Content Management Systems (CMS), code libraries
• Writing Skills (WordPress, Yoast, SEO, technical writing, journalism, research, ghostwriting. Pro tip: Few are impressed by MS Word mastery, but a great WPM score does great for jobs in which turnaround matters!
• Graphics (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Corel Draw, HTML/CSS 
• Enterprise Systems. Automated Billing Systems, Payment Processing, Customer Relationship Management (Salesforce, Oracle Netsuite) Enterprise Resource Planning (Oracle, SAP) Business Intelligence, Business Continuity Planning
• Software Skills. Java, PHP, MySQL, SQL, C#, JavaScript, C++, Python, iOS/Swift, Ruby on Rails
• Hardware Skills. System administration, network configuration, software installation, security, Cisco, tech support, updates, project management, research, vendor management, TCI/IP, DNS, DHCP,  WAN/LAN, Windows, Linux/Unix, Ubuntu, virtualized networks, network automation, cloud management, AI/machine learning
• Advanced Computer Skills. Web development, open source, data structures, coding, security, machine learning, debugging
  
  

You could copy-paste these lists to your resume. But that’s what everyone is doing.

Your resume shouldn’t blend in with the crowd. If it does, you’re sunk. So instead— 

Prove your computer proficiency, and the hiring manager will sit up like his mother told him to. Show you’ve used computer skills to slash costs, raise revenue, or send productivity to the moon. More on this in the upcoming sections.

Your resume needs more than just PC skills. See the skills employers crave, and how to list them, in our guide: 30+ Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume

Follow up with our list of technical skills here: Technical Skills List: Examples for Resumes Employers Want and IT Skills in Demand

“We’ve found our next employee.”

Your resume should make the hiring manager say that.

So—go beyond just knowing what computer skills to list on a resume.

Check out the computer programs list below. Each has great examples so you can write the perfect bullet points.

The Zety resume builder will help you describe your computer skills on a resume.

Plus, it will help you show off your best PC skills with ease!

Look at the resume sample below:

Computer Skills Resume Sample. See more resume templates and create yours now.

Don’t worry, skills lists are absolutely fine. In fact, 35% of employers cite a lack of skills lists as a common resume mistake.

But—

Any computer skills list won't do.

You need to know what computer skills to list on resume to get hired.

And you need to know how to describe your computer skills on resume to give the recruiter what they really expect:

MS Office

Hiring managers expect MS Office computer skills. So everybody lists them.

Mentioning Microsoft Office skills on a resume is like saying you can breathe air. It’s implied. Yet everybody does it.

Don’t be everybody. Prove your skills.

Can you modify macro scripts? Do mail merges? Write Excel formulas? You’ll have to show achievements that match the job posting to get hired.

Job ad says: Reporting, Budgeting

Your resume says:

See how that shows a benefit to the employer using MS Office skills on a resume?

Google Drive

Google Drive and G Suite are increasingly important computer resume skills. That’s thanks to their excellent collaboration features.

But what Google Drive skills does this employer want? Collaborating with comments? Linking live spreadsheets to websites? Show you’ve done those in your resume.

Job ad says: Profit & loss analysis, employeee training

Your resume says:

Spreadsheets

Can you do pivot tables? Comparative analyses? Find achievements that prove your spreadsheet computer skills on your resume.

Need real-world examples? There’s a Quora thread with lots of useful spreadsheet projects that really helped.

Job posting says: Supplier management, account management

Your resume says:

Email

Find me someone who can’t send an email and I’ll show you the rock they crawled from under. But can you send scheduled messages? Do a mail merge?

Scan the job ad for duties that match your email computer skills. Then list achievements in your bullet points that prove you’re the Thor of email.

Job posting says: Catalogue mailings, collaborate with department members

Your resume says:

Powerpoint

If you can serve up a juicy Powerpoint presentation, employers know you can communicate.

Have you convinced clients or employees with a presentation? Trained coworkers? Don’t just list Powerpoint with your resume computer skills. Show a positive effect your knowledge had.

Job posting says: Procedure compliance, training

Your resume says:

Database Management

Big companies use Oracle, Teradata, IBM DB2, or similar software to crunch spreadsheet files. Smaller companies may use MySQL or MS Access.

Have you used Access to automate repeated data tasks? Did your skills boost productivity in some way? Show software skills on your resume that fit employer needs like a parameter query.

Job posting says: Data processing, communication with clients

Your resume says:

Quickbooks

Small and mid-sized businesses love Quickbooks. It makes budgeting, expense tracking, and bookkeeping easy.

Does the employer want someone who can manage cash flow, invoicing, accounts payable, payroll, or employee time? Show your Quickbooks computer skills achievements and get the interview.

Job posting says: Expense tracking, accounts payable

Your resume says: 

Here’s a list of 20 cool things you can do with quickbooks to make employers drool.

Social Media and Web Skills

Listening to customers is the #1 business skill today. Social media and websites are the top ways companies do it.

Do you rule Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, or content management systems? What have you done to make hiring managers gawk like prairie dogs?

Job posting says: Facebook contests, WordPress

Your resume says:

Writing

Writers need a skills burrito with ingredients like WordPress, Yoast, SEO, research, technical writing, journalism, ghostwriting, Google Sheets, and MS Word.

The trick? Don’t list them all. Read the job offer like it’s got the meaning of life and even talk to current employees about their jobs. Once you know what the company needs, list achievements that fit like shrink wrap.

Job posting says: Technical writing, research, leadership

Your resume says:

Graphical Skills

Are you going for a job that needs graphic skills like graphic designer or web developer? That dream employer might want someone who can slay with Photoshop or InDesign.

Pull those skills from the job offer. Then show achievements on your resume that put you on a computer skills pedestal.

Job posting says: Photoshop, InDesign

Your resume says:

Coding/Programming

Coding computer skills are vital for most tech jobs like software engineer or programmer. But they’re also handy in almost any job.

What challenges does your chosen company face? Do they need help with security, web development, data analysis, or coding?

Job posting says: Security, working with legacy code

Your resume says:

Enterprise Systems

Enterprise systems are major software packages used by big businesses for accounting, customer relationships, and other tasks.

Automated billing systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) are all examples of enterprise systems. (There’s a full list in this Webopedia reference.) Find the ones the company uses (or wants to use). Then show you’ve mastered them.

Job posting says: Salesforce (CRM), Oracle Netsuite (ERP)

Your resume says:

Pro Tip: Don’t tack a big list of computer software to your resume and expect the hiring manager to do a gainer. Want to know how to say tech savvy on a resume? Do it with achievements.

Need more help to tie achievements to your resume software skills? See our guide: Achievements to Put on a Resume - Complete Guide and List of Strengths to Put on a Resume

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Disaster.

You sent out 300 resumes and didn’t get one reply.

What’s wrong?

You probably have the right computer skills. You’re just not showing them correctly.

Getting hired comes down to:

1. Knowing what computer skills to put on your resume.
2. Proving them with achievements.
3. Adding numbers that show their size.

Create a resume that makes the hiring manager grab the phone.

Why Generic Computer Skills Lists Won’t Get You Hired (And How to Fix It)

Today’s hiring managers are jaded. Most resumes show the same software skills list.

So, read the job ad. The hiring manager put the computer skills she wants in it. You can also call or email an employee at the company to ask what skills they use.

The One Basic Computer Skills Trick You Must Know to Get Hired

Nobody does this, but it can get you hired.

You’ve got to show achievements, like this:

What’s so great about that?

It doesn’t just say you’ve got the right computer skills.

It shows how you used them to help your company. It also shows exactly how much you helped—with numbers like “20 hours” and “3 years later.”

That’s called quantifying achievements, and it’s resume magic.

Pro Tip: Some job postings don’t show explicit computer skills. But—budgeting employees need Excel skills. Bloggers use WordPress. Look at non-software skills in the job ad and think what PC skills would get you there.

Need help finding the right job offer? See the best job sites—and how to use them—in our guide: Job Sites: 15 Best Job Search Engines and How to Use Them Perfectly

Help!

You don’t have the basic computer skills you need to get the job you want.

Don’t panic.

There are great online classes to beef up your software skills fast.

Here’s a list of PC skills classes to get you on your way. You can do most in a few hours. All of them look great on resumes.

Computer Skills Classes

• MS Office. Get official Microsoft training and certification, or try third-party paid training. There’s also some great free YouTube tutorials out there.
• Google Drive. Check out the GSuite Learning Center, or a Lynda tutorial to beef up your Drive computer skills.
• Spreadsheets. Unlimited classes from Skillshare (for $8 a month) can help your rows-and-columns computer skills.
• Email. Lynda and Microsoft offer MS Outlook courses. (The Microsoft ones are free.) You can also learn to do a mail merge here.
• Powerpoint. Try a free Microsoft online class or a Lynda course. An ONLC certification looks good on a resume.
• Database Management. Microsoft and Lynda offer video training for Access. Oracle, Teradata, and other proprietary systems have their own trainings.
• Quickbooks. Intuit, the maker of Quickbooks, has a speedy online certification.
• Social Media. Hootsuite gives a trusted social marketing certification. Hubspot offers a free online course.
• Web. Try Codeacademy or Coursera to level-up your web development computer skills. There are also WordPress classes.
• Graphical. Adobe offers Photoshop and InDesign certification exams online. Those prove your graphical software skills. To build them, try a Lynda course.
• Enterprise Systems. Salesforce, Hubspot, and Oracle NetSuite give trainings and certifications.

Pro Tip: Don’t have time or money for a course? Don’t fret. Certifications aren’t necessary, but they do help entry-level resumes.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Here’s a quick recap of how to list computer skills on resume:

• Use the computer skills list above to get started. Don’t list every skill. Read the job ad to see which few the employer craves.
• Don’t just list software skills on a resume. Show what you’ve achieved with bullet points.
• Add numbers. Percentages, dollar figures, and productivity measures can bring your computer skills resume list to life.
• Take classes. Don’t have the right software skills to get hired? Classes can help—usually in a couple hours.

Do you have questions on how to list PC skills on a resume? Not sure how to describe your achievements? Give us a shout in the comments! We’d be happy to reply.

Frequently Asked Questions about Computer Skills

What are computer skills?

Computer skills are abilities that help you use computers and IT equipment. They show that you can perform various tasks using a computer, such as accessing the Internet, writing a document, using e-mails (for example, to email your resume), creating presentations, and more. 

In our times, basic computer skills are a necessary skill for most job candidates in all sectors, especially for online jobs. Additional, advanced computer skills, can be required from employees expected to perform all work-related tasks using computers. For example, graphic designers must possess such skills as using digital graphics software, editing images, or preparing graphics for websites, while accountants must know how to use databases and spreadsheets.

Common computer skills required for work are:

• Word processing
• Spreadsheets
• Presentations
• Microsoft Office
• G Suite
• Email communication
• Social media management
• Data analytics
• Graphic design
• Video editing
• Marketing automation
• Data visualization
• Using Zoom

Remember to keep the skill list on your LinkedIn profile and in your resume up to date. Technology changes quickly, so listing software from 10 years ago may not give you an advantage over other job candidates.

What are basic computer skills?

Basic computer skills refer to abilities necessary to perform simple tasks using computers. Most employers expect job applicants to possess basic computer skills such as using e-mails for effective communication, writing and editing in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, searching for information with Google, and making engaging presentations. While those demands are not surprising to most gen Z workers, they might be more challenging for older generations.

Depending on the industry, basic computer skills may include more job-specific abilities. For example, doctors are expected to use databases to access patient information, write electronic prescriptions, and provide video consultations.

Top 5 basic computer skills for most industries include:

• Writing and editing documents
• Sending and receiving e-mails
• Using the Internet to find information
• Creating presentations
• Working with spreadsheets

If using technology is one of your weaknesses, it’s definitely worth improving your computer literacy skills. Computers help to automate your life and make work easier. Try online courses, video tutorials on YouTube, or written guides to learn a few tricks for common office software such as Word or Excel. Once you feel confident enough, you can move on to more job-specific programs.

What are some computer skills to put on a resume?

The computer skills you should include in your resume depend on the job you’re pursuing. If your profession doesn’t require using digital tools, you can simply add some basic computer skills to your resume, such as e-mail communication, making presentations, or using Microsoft Word. However, if a significant part of your work is done using a computer, add more advanced skills.

For example, if you want a teaching job, your skill list could include using digital classroom apps, creating worksheets, and online teaching via Zoom. If you’re writing a project manager resume, you may list types of software you use to track projects and organize your work, such as Asana or JIRA. You can check what skills are required from you by reading job descriptions and job advertisements for your profession.

How do you list computer skills on a resume?

The easiest way to include a list of computer skills in a resume is by adding it to the professional skills section. Just write bullets that specify your computer abilities as well as the software you use to perform specific tasks. You may also add a bullet with the names of the software you’re proficient with, especially if these types of applications are commonly used in your profession.

Additionally, you may include computer skills while describing your responsibilities and achievements in the work experience section. For example, instead of writing: “Communicated with customers regularly”, you may be more specific: “Communicated with customers regularly by email and using social media channels”; instead of: “Tracked projects to ensure timely delivery”, write: “Tracked projects using tools such as Asana to ensure timely delivery”.

How do you describe your level of computer skills?

Describing computer proficiency skills can be difficult. As most people don’t test their computer knowledge, they don’t really know how their abilities compare with those of other people. You may try to evaluate your computer proficiency using online tests, however, there’s no standardized assessment criteria when it comes to computer literacy.

Rather than assessing the level of your overall computer proficiency, try to describe the level of specific computer skills, such as writing and editing documents, making presentations, using spreadsheets, or editing images. If you feel confident when using a type of software, you can call yourself an intermediate, or even advanced user of this program.

You can describe your level of specific computer skills in the following ways:

• Use descriptive words: basic, intermediate, advanced, or proficient, similarly to language levels in resumes.
• Create progress bars: they are a good visual resume addition that makes the document more engaging.
• Add star rating: it’s an easy way to indicate your level of knowledge.
• Mention certificates: being certified in specific software shows professionalism.

How to learn computer skills?

You’ll be happy to learn that you may learn computer skills by yourself. There’s a plethora of resources available online, ranging from YouTube tutorials to certification courses. It might be more difficult, actually, to choose the particular skill you want to develop. It depends on your profession as well as your career goals. When you know what you wish to learn, just decide on the best medium for you: a physical book tackling the subject, a step-by-step guide written on an industry-expert blog, or a video course that shows all the steps.

How to improve your computer skills:

• Research the skills you need: Read articles on popular industry-related websites and scan job advertisements for your profession. If you spot names of software, specific digital skills, or computer-related high-income skills that are required—you know what you must learn!
• Pick the learning method that suits you best: Think of your learning style, as well as how much time can you spend learning each day or each week. If you’re really busy, an intensive course that requires your daily participation might not be a good choice—opt for self-paced learning instead.
• Practice what you learned: It’s really important to put theory into practice. Otherwise, you might forget all of it. Download a demo version of the software you’re learning, or get a trial subscription to the service you need, and have a try!
• Test your knowledge: You may do it in different ways. Maybe think of a final project you could do with your freshly-gained abilities, or be even more ambitious and sign up for an exam that tests this skill.

What are software skills?

Software skills are abilities that show how well you can use a specific type of computer program. Most job candidates nowadays are expected to have a few software skills on top of basic computer skills. Software skills depend on the profession or type of work that the job applicant is expected to perform. For example, an architect must be able to use 3D modelling and CAD software, while a data analyst must be able to work with databases and data visualization tools.

Common software skills include:

• Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are programs that are most commonly used in office environments.
• G Suite: Docs, Slides, and Sheets are getting more popular these days, as they’re easily accessible.
• Python, Java, Ruby, and other programming languages are skills required for software developers and other IT professionals.
• SAP: this business operations planning software is uses by many companies and organizations.
• Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects are programs used frequently by graphic designers.

What software skills are most in-demand?

In-demand software skills depend on the industry. While most professionals must possess some type of software skills, such as basic writing and editing in word processors, or using spreadsheets, many industries require employees to use additional programs on a daily basis.

To find which software skills are in-demand in your profession, check current advertisements for your desired job title and scan the requirements. You’ll see what are the expectations from candidates, and you may learn what software you should know.

In general, the most sought-after software skills include:

• Programming languages, such as Java, SQL, Python
• SAP
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Google Cloud
• Microsoft Excel

Are software skills hard skills?

Software skills are considered hard skills. These types of skills differ between professions, and can be learned via courses, training sessions, and through books. Most of the time, they are required from job applicants, together with industry-related knowledge and experience. If your profession requires using a computer frequently, remember to include some software skills in your resume when looking for a new job.

How to list software skills on a resume?

List software skills together with hard skills in your job application. When creating the skill section of your resume, you may add the names of software you use to perform specific tasks to bullet points that describe your abilities. For example, instead of writing only: “Monitoring financial operations”, you may write: “Managing financial operations via Quickbooks.”

Similarly, you can add names of software you use to your work experience section. When describing your responsibilities or accomplishments, add what type of computer programs you used to perform the tasks.