How Tech Savvy Are You Really?

You might know how to put Flash animation into your MySpace profile, link up a podcast to your homepage, or have the most Facebook friends, but will all that tech knowledge help you in the workplace?

According to the second-annual IT Proficiency survey from Cengage Learning — formerly Thompson Learning, which provides learning solutions for educators and organizations — students seem to lack knowledge of professional applications, like word processing and spreadsheets. That’s a whopping 46 percent of them who had limited or non-existent experience with spreadsheets, and 68 percent with minimal knowledge of database applications.
The bad news: Unless you’re a bloggin’ fool like me, most of your work day will revolve around said spreadsheets and databases. Actually, when I’m not writing or editing, so does mine. In other words, don’t rely on your YouTube or WordPress prowess to understand your company’s weekly ROI report, or help you to manage your client database. No matter which career route you choose, work in some training time on computer applications that you can actually list on your resume.
I’d venture to say that along with communications skills, good manners, and a strong work ethic, such technical expertise will make you an asset at your next job. You don’t want to be that annoying co-worker asking how to sort columns in Excel or merge files in Word. And a snazzy Powerpoint can go a long way if you’re trying to impress a client or your manager with a presentation.
Of course, in today’s world, as long as you protect your online persona, having a great looking MySpace doesn’t hurt either.
Article courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.