Hiring new employees is a challenging task for any company, especially when it comes to finding the right skill sets. First of all, every employee should have basic computer skills, but there are certain types of IT skills you should look for depending on the position you’re trying to fill. The more technical skill a job prospect has, the less on-the-job training they’ll need and the more productive they’ll be.
However, you’ll need to know what exact skill set you’re looking for so you can list them in the job description. Doing so will help narrow down your job search and make it easier to navigate the job market. With that in mind, the following are five types of software skills you should look for:
1. General Software Skills
Every office employee you hire should have a grasp of the basic fundamentals of computer use. That includes familiarity with computer programs for word processing, spreadsheets, communication, and presentations. The following are some of the specific skills you should look for on a job prospect’s resume:
Communication Software
Communication and collaboration are critical in most office environments, especially if the employee you’re hiring is going to be a part of a team. As such, not only should the employee be able to demonstrate strong communication skills, they should be familiar with whatever communication-based software your company uses, such as:
- Chat tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat.
- Email solutions, such as Gmail and Microsoft Outlook.
- Video conferencing tools, such as Skype and Zoom.
Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are commonly used for day-to-day operational tasks. If the employee is going to be responsible for any kind of data entry, they’ll need to know how to use spreadsheet applications, such as Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.
Presentation Software
If you need employees who can create presentations for clients, look for employees that can use presentation software like Microsoft PowerPoint, Canva, and Google Slides. If you use digital signage to make sales pitches or lead team meetings, they’ll need these software skills.
Project Management Software Skills
Whether you’re hiring a project manager or you’re adding new members to an existing team, you’ll want them to have knowledge of whatever project management solution you’re using, whether it’s Asana, Jira, Salesforce, Trello, or any other such tool.
2. Job-Specific Software Skills
Certain positions require specific knowledge of software tools. For example, if you’re hiring an accountant, then they should have experience using the accounting software your business uses, such as QuickBooks or Sage 50 Accounting. If you’re hiring a social media manager, they’ll need to have a thorough understanding of various social media platforms, such as LinkedIn.
3. Software Programming Skills
While software programming is something that’s beyond the realm of most office jobs, if you’re hiring software developers, software programmers, or software engineers for web development, you’ll need to hire people who have programming skills. Some of these software programming languages include JAVA, Python, Ruby on Rails, PHP, HTML 5 & CSS 3, and JavaScript.
Additionally, be sure to consider what operating systems you’re developing software for. Certain programming skills are required when developing programs for different operating systems. For example, building a website app for desktops is different than creating a mobile app for iOS or Android.
4. Cybersecurity Software Skills
Any business that’s using computers or has an online presence of any kind needs to invest in cybersecurity. As such, you’ll need to hire cybersecurity specialists that are capable of using various cybersecurity software and systems to analyze and enhance your existing security infrastructure.
An effective cybersecurity specialist should also be familiar with whatever network software (e.g., Cisco and Juniper) and cloud software (e.g., Amazon web services and Microsoft Azure) you’re using.
5. Data Science and Analytics Skills
Data scientists and data engineers help find hidden insights in your company’s data using data analytics that can help improve sales, customer support, communication between departments, and more.
If you’re hiring someone to collect, organize, and analyze your data, then look for someone who is familiar with customer relationship management (CRM) and content management software (CMS), analytics tools, database software, and software for data mining. They should also be very familiar with the use of automation, big data, and cloud computing. If they’re building customized systems to collect and analyze raw data, they should have experience using SQL and machine learning.
It’s important to understand what software skills are required for the job you’re trying to fill. However, when it comes to general software apps, such as communication apps or spreadsheets, keep in mind that not everybody has experience with the same solutions you’re using. It shouldn’t be too difficult for beginners to learn basic programs through tutorials or online courses.
6. Law Software
Law firm software is software designed to manage a law firm’s case and client records, billing and bookkeeping, schedules and appointments, deadlines, computer files and to facilitate any compliance requirements such as with document retention policies, courts’ electronic filing systems.
Software applications have become increasingly important in modern law practice. Picking the best software for a law office depends on many variables.
