Essential IT Skills that will Get You Hired as an IT Professional

Essential IT Skills

clendar February 24, 2023

clendar 8 minutes

Albert Smh

1293 Users

We are all aware of the fact that IT knowledge is mandatory these days for getting even the mediocre of jobs. Most of the posts these days are getting computerised, automated. There are specific IT skills we ought to learn. These skills are essential in the job sectors of our lives. We all have that one friend who has a vast knowledge of computers and IT. And then we also have a few friends who don’t have any computer skills at all. If you know any such person, this article could change his/her life. This article intends to solve some of those problems as we dig deep into the realm of IT. We are going to discuss what the essential IT skills are, how we can gain them with ease.

Briefs of Essential IT Skills

Now let’s find out what are the skills that we can not but learn. Let’s define the essential first. Since we are trying to get a traditional job and not an unconventional one, we will identify our needs as such. Almost all conventional jobs need knowledge of office suite programmes. They expect us to know word processing, presentation, spreadsheets and data storage. We intend to take a brief of each of these in this article.

Word Processing

The one skill that everyone requires to learn is word processing. Many people know it as Microsoft word training. But one can perform word processing without Microsoft Word. One alternative to Microsoft word would be google docs. There are many other office applications that provide word processing. Dropbox Paper, OpenOffice Writer and LibreOffice Writer etc. are some free MS Word alternatives. Many people don’t know that even Microsoft offers a free alternative to MS Word. Word online comes as a part of Office Online suite. Though it doesn’t contain all the tools from its paid counterpart, it meets all the basic needs.

What is Word Processing Software?

We use word processing software to manipulate a text document, such as a CV or a report. In general, we enter text via typing. The software gives us the tools needed for copying, pasting, deleting and formatting. An idea of the uses of word processing software include:

Creating, editing, saving and printing documents.
Moving and deleting text within a document or copying and pasting necessary items.
Formatting text, such as font type, underlining, bolding or italicizing.
Creating, formatting and editing tables.
Inserting illustrations, photographs and elements from other software.
Checking and correcting grammar and spelling.

When it comes to word processing, it’s not a quality that will set you apart from everyone for knowing it. Instead, it’s a skill that everyone has. You have to have it for not falling behind. It falls into the category of fundamental computer knowledge these days. Thus if you don’t yet have this skill, our suggestion would be to take a course on it. Shouldn’t take too long.

Enroll Now: Microsoft word Online Training for Beginners

Presentation

A presentation program is a software that we use to create a slide-show that discusses a topic. Every corporate office has requirements for people with knowledge of presentation software. Again, Microsoft PowerPoint is the highest used presentation software. Thus many people call this Microsoft PowerPoint Training. Thus, somebody who knows MS PowerPoint will know the industry-standard presentation software. Every corporate office has requirements for people with knowledge of presentation software. But, like Word Processing, there are various alternatives. Google Slides would be the most well-known alternative. PowerPoint Online is Microsoft’s own alternative offering. Apart from these, LibreOffice Impress, OpenOffice Impress, Zoho Show etc. are free alternatives. If you are willing to pay monthly, there are software to get you started fast. Visme, Prezi, Canva & Slidebean etc. are examples of such software.

What is a Presentation Software?

We use presentation software to display content in a slide-show form. It has three primary functions. Among them, at first, we have an editor with which we insert and format text. After that, there is the method of insertion and manipulation of graphic images. Finally, it has a slide-show system to display the content.

We use presentation programs in businesses and schools for teaching or discussing a topic. Often, the presenter uses a projector to project the slide-show up on to screen that helps everyone to see.

Once created, a person or group of people stand in front of others and present it. Presentations are shown one slide at a time. It helps to explain the topic of the slide and then to move to the next slide until the slide show ends. For example, in a business presentation, a presenter may go through slides. The slides could illustrate how the company is doing, its profits, sales, and other relevant information.

Spreadsheets

A spreadsheet is a file made of columns and rows. It helps sort data, arrange data, and calculate numerical data. What makes a spreadsheet software program unique? It can calculate values using mathematical formulas and the data in cells.

An example of how we may utilise a spreadsheet is creating an overview of our bank’s balance. The most prominent spreadsheet software is Microsoft Excel. And like MS Word and PowerPoint, MS Excel training dominates spreadsheet tutorials. Without a doubt, Microsoft Excel is the standard of the industry. People with skills on this software were adored across the world. The market has saturated with people with knowledge of spreadsheets. But it doesn’t mean that one can get away without knowing spreadsheets. It is generally an expected quality in a candidate when he/she is applying for a job. The corporate world is very dependant on spreadsheets.

Although MS Excel is very dominant in the world of spreadsheets, google sheets are on a steady rise. There are other alternatives too. OpenOffice Calc and LibreOffice Calc are examples of free alternatives of Microsoft Excel. And Excel Online is Microsoft’s own offering that we could use instead of the paid MS Excel.

What is a Spreadsheet?

A file that exists of cells in rows and columns is a spreadsheet. It can help arrange, calculate and sort data the data in a spreadsheet. The rows in a spreadsheet have numeric names (1, 2, 3 etc) while the columns have alphabetic names (a, b, c etc). So the names of cells exist of a letter and a number that points out their position in the grid.

Data storage

Among essential IT skills, we are going to introduce Data storage and management. We use this kind of software to enter, search, sort and report on information. Like other office-software, MS Access is very popular among basic Data storage software. There are a few free alternatives like LibreOffice Base, Hyperbase or Zoho Creator. MySQL is also gaining popularity but it is considered somewhat different. Microsoft offers Access Online as another alternative. Learn Microsoft Access and enhance your expertise.

What is a Data Storage Software?

Data storage software helps us store information for reference, reporting, and analysis. They help us analyse large amounts of information. They also help to manage related data better than spreadsheet applications.

Where do We Go from Here Now

Well, it’s evident that we need to brush up our IT skills if we want to strive in this era. And learning it online could be one of the possible solutions. With that in mind we can conclude that IT skills are very essential and we should take care of it when we have the opportunities and before it’s too late.