computer presentation skills

151+ Computer Presentation Topics [Updated 2024]

For both professionals and fans, keeping up with the most recent developments and trends in the rapidly evolving field of technology is essential. One effective way to share and acquire knowledge is through computer presentations. 

Whether you are a seasoned presenter or someone looking to enhance your tech presentation skills, choosing the right topics is key to delivering a compelling and informative session. 

In this blog, we’ll explore various computer presentation topics, their relevance, and provide insights into tailoring presentations for different audiences and occasions.

How do you Tailor Topics According to Audience and Occasion?

Table of Contents

Tailoring topics according to the audience and occasion is a crucial aspect of delivering an effective and engaging presentation. Here are some strategies and considerations to help you customize your computer presentation topics based on your audience and the specific occasion:

• Know Your Audience
• Assess Knowledge Levels: Understand the expertise of your audience. Are they beginners, intermediate users, or experts in the field? This assessment will guide you in selecting the appropriate depth and complexity of your topics.
• Consider Backgrounds: Take into account the professional backgrounds, interests, and industries of your audience. Tailor your examples and case studies to resonate with their experiences.
• Identify Audience Needs and Goals:
• Address Pain Points: If possible, research or survey your audience to identify their challenges and pain points. Tailor your presentation to address these concerns, providing practical solutions and insights.
• Align with Goals: Understand the goals and objectives of your audience. Tailor your topics to align with their aspirations, whether it’s professional development, problem-solving, or staying updated on industry trends.
• Adapt to the Occasion:
• Event Type: Consider the type of event you are presenting at. Is it a conference, workshop, seminar, or a more informal gathering? The format and expectations of the event will influence your choice of topics.
• Time Constraints: Be mindful of the time allotted for your presentation. Tailor the scope and depth of your topics to fit within the designated time frame.
• Customize Content:
• Relevance to Industry: If your audience belongs to a specific industry, tailor your topics to address challenges and innovations relevant to that industry. Provide concrete examples and case studies that resonate with their professional experiences.
• Localize Examples: Consider the cultural context and geographic location of your audience. If possible, use examples and references that are familiar to them, making the content more relatable.
• Engage in Interactivity:
• Q&A Sessions: Plan for interactive sessions, allowing the audience to ask questions. This helps you gauge their interests and tailor your responses to address specific concerns.
• Polls and Surveys: Incorporate interactive elements such as polls or surveys to gather real-time feedback. Use the results to adjust your presentation on the fly if necessary.
• Provide Actionable Takeaways:
• Practical Applications: Tailor your topics to include practical applications and actionable takeaways. Ensure that your audience can apply the knowledge gained from your presentation in their professional or personal endeavors.
• Workshops and Demos: For hands-on sessions, tailor your topics to include workshops or live demonstrations. This enhances the learning experience and allows the audience to see practical implementations.
• Be Adaptable:
• Read the Room: Pay attention to the audience’s reactions during the presentation. Be adaptable and ready to adjust your approach based on their engagement levels and feedback.
• Flexibility in Content: Have backup content or supplementary materials that can be introduced based on audience interest or questions.

Software Development and Programming

• Trends in Programming Languages: A Comprehensive Overview
• Introduction to Python: Basics and Beyond
• Exploring the World of JavaScript Frameworks
• Best Practices in Software Development Methodologies
• The Evolution of Mobile App Development
• Low-Code Platforms: Revolutionizing Software Development
• The Impact of Microservices Architecture on Modern Applications
• DevOps Practices: Streamlining Development and Operations
• Code Review Techniques for Quality Assurance
• GUI vs. Command Line Interfaces: Pros and Cons

Emerging Technologies

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): An Introduction and Applications
• Machine Learning Algorithms: A Deep Dive
• The Role of Natural Language Processing (NLP) in AI
• Computer Vision: Applications and Challenges
• Internet of Things (IoT) and its Transformative Power
• Blockchain Technology: Beyond Cryptocurrencies
• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in Computing
• Edge Computing: Enhancing Network Performance
• Quantum Computing: A Glimpse into the Future
• 6G Technology: Enabling the Next Generation of Connectivity

Cybersecurity

• Cyber Threats: Types, Trends, and Prevention Strategies
• Ethical Hacking: Unveiling Security Vulnerabilities
• Biometric Security Systems: Enhancing Authentication
• Cryptography: Ensuring Secure Communication
• Security Measures for Computer Networks: A Practical Guide
• Privacy Concerns in the Digital Age: Safeguarding Information
• Incident Response Planning for Cybersecurity
• Cloud Security Best Practices
• Cybersecurity Awareness Training for Employees
• The Future of Cybersecurity: Emerging Challenges

Data Science and Big Data

• Introduction to Data Science: Concepts and Applications
• Data Analysis Techniques: From Descriptive to Predictive Analytics
• Big Data Technologies: Hadoop, Spark, and Beyond
• Data Warehousing: Storing and Retrieving Massive Datasets
• Data Visualization Tools: Making Sense of Complex Data
• Predictive Modeling in Business: Leveraging Data Insights
• Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data Integration
• Real-Time Analytics: Turning Data into Actionable Insights
• Data Ethics: Navigating the Challenges of Responsible Data Use
• Data-driven Decision Making in Organizations

Computer Hardware and Networking

• Latest Advancements in Computer Hardware
• The Role of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) in Modern Computing
• Networking Protocols: A Deep Dive into TCP/IP, UDP, and More
• Wireless Technologies: Wi-Fi 6 and Beyond
• Cloud Computing Models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS Explained
• Edge Computing vs. Cloud Computing: Choosing the Right Approach
• Green Computing: Sustainable Practices in IT
• Quantum Computing and its Potential Impact on Industry
• 5G Technology: Revolutionizing Mobile Communication
• Wearable Technology: Integrating Computing into Everyday Life

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications

• AI in Healthcare: Transforming Diagnosis and Treatment
• AI in Finance: Applications and Risk Management
• AI in Customer Service: Enhancing User Experience
• AI in Education: Personalized Learning and Assessment
• AI in Autonomous Vehicles: Navigating the Future
• AI in Agriculture: Precision Farming and Crop Monitoring
• AI in Cybersecurity: Detecting and Preventing Threats
• AI in Natural Language Processing (NLP): Conversational Interfaces
• AI in Robotics: Innovations and Challenges
• AI in Retail: Personalized Shopping Experiences

Internet and Web Technologies

• Evolution of the Internet: From ARPANET to the Present
• Web Development Trends: Responsive Design and Progressive Web Apps
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Choosing the Right Platform
• E-commerce Platforms: Building Successful Online Stores
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Strategies for Web Visibility
• Cloud-based Web Hosting Solutions: Comparisons and Best Practices
• Web Accessibility: Designing Inclusive and User-Friendly Websites
• Social Media Integration: Enhancing Online Presence
• Web Security Best Practices: SSL, HTTPS, and Beyond
• The Future of the Internet: Trends and Predictions

Mobile Technologies

• Mobile Operating Systems: A Comparison of iOS and Android
• Mobile App Monetization Strategies: Ads, Subscriptions, and Freemium Models
• Cross-platform Mobile Development: Pros and Cons
• Mobile Payment Technologies: From NFC to Cryptocurrencies
• Mobile Health (mHealth) Applications: Improving Healthcare Access
• Location-based Services in Mobile Apps: Opportunities and Challenges
• Mobile Gaming Trends: Augmented Reality and Multiplayer Experiences
• The Impact of 5G on Mobile Applications
• Mobile App Testing: Ensuring Quality User Experiences
• Mobile Security: Protecting Devices and User Data

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

• User Experience (UX) Design Principles: Creating Intuitive Interfaces
• Usability Testing Methods: Evaluating the User-Friendliness of Products
• Interaction Design Patterns: Enhancing User Engagement
• Accessibility in Design: Designing for All Users
• Virtual Reality (VR) and User Experience: Design Considerations
• Gamification in User Interface Design: Enhancing Engagement
• Voice User Interface (VUI) Design: Building Natural Interactions
• Biometric User Authentication: Balancing Security and Convenience
• The Evolution of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)
• Wearable Technology Design: Integrating Fashion and Functionality

Cloud Computing

• Cloud Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS Explained
• Cloud Deployment Models: Public, Private, and Hybrid Clouds
• Cloud Security Best Practices: Protecting Data in the Cloud
• Serverless Computing: Streamlining Application Development
• Cloud Computing in Business: Cost Savings and Scalability
• Cloud-Native Technologies: Containers and Orchestration
• Microservices Architecture in the Cloud: Breaking Down Monoliths
• Cloud Computing Trends: Edge Computing and Multi-cloud Strategies
• Cloud Migration Strategies: Moving Applications to the Cloud
• Cloud Computing in Healthcare: Enhancing Patient Care

Robotics and Automation

• Robotics in Manufacturing: Increasing Efficiency and Precision
• Autonomous Robots: Applications and Challenges
• Humanoid Robots: Advancements in AI-driven Robotics
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Streamlining Business Processes
• Drones in Industry: Surveillance, Delivery, and Beyond
• Surgical Robotics: Innovations in Medical Procedures
• Robotic Exoskeletons: Assisting Human Mobility
• Social Robots: Interacting with Humans in Various Settings
• Ethical Considerations in Robotics and AI
• The Future of Robotics: Trends and Predictions

Ethical Considerations in Technology

• Responsible AI: Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence
• Data Privacy Laws: Navigating Compliance and Regulations
• Bias in Algorithms: Addressing and Mitigating Unintended Consequences
• Ethical Hacking: Balancing Security Testing and Privacy Concerns
• Technology and Mental Health: Addressing Digital Well-being
• Environmental Impact of Technology: Green Computing Practices
• Open Source Software: Community Collaboration and Ethical Licensing
• Technology Addiction: Understanding and Combating Dependencies
• Social Media Ethics: Privacy, Fake News, and Cyberbullying
• Ethical Considerations in Biometric Technologies

Future Trends in Technology

• The Future of Computing: Quantum Computing and Beyond
• Edge AI: Bringing Intelligence to the Edge of Networks
• Biocomputing: Merging Biology and Computing
• Neurotechnology: Brain-Computer Interfaces and Cognitive Enhancement
• Sustainable Technologies: Innovations in Green Computing
• 7G and Beyond: Envisioning the Next Generation of Connectivity
• Space Technology and Computing: Exploring the Final Frontier
• Biohacking and DIY Tech: A Look into Citizen Science
• Tech for Social Good: Using Technology to Address Global Challenges
• The Convergence of Technologies: AI, IoT, Blockchain, and More

Miscellaneous Topics

• Technology and Education: Transforming Learning Experiences
• Digital Transformation: Strategies for Modernizing Businesses
• Tech Startups: Navigating Challenges and Achieving Success
• Women in Technology: Empowering Diversity and Inclusion
• The History of Computing: Milestones and Innovations
• Futuristic Interfaces: Brain-Computer Interfaces and Holography
• Tech and Art: Exploring the Intersection of Creativity and Technology
• Hackathons: Fostering Innovation in Tech Communities
• The Role of Technology in Disaster Management
• Exploring Careers in Technology: Opportunities and Challenges

Tips for Effective Computer Presentations

• Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in the Tech Industry
• Designing Engaging Visuals for Technical Presentations
• The Dos and Don’ts of Live Demonstrations in Tech Presentations
• Building a Compelling Narrative: Storytelling Techniques in Tech Talks
• Handling Q&A Sessions: Tips for Addressing Audience Questions
• Time Management in Tech Presentations: Balancing Content and Interaction
• Incorporating Humor in Technical Presentations: Dos and Don’ts
• Creating Interactive Workshops: Engaging Audiences in Hands-on Learning
• Leveraging Social Media for Tech Presentations: Tips for Promotion
• Continuous Learning in the Tech Industry: Strategies for Staying Informed

Case Studies and Real-World Applications

Real-world examples and case studies add practical relevance to computer presentations. Showcase successful projects, discuss challenges faced, and share lessons learned. 

Analyzing the impact of technology in real-world scenarios provides valuable insights for the audience and encourages a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Future Trends in Computer Presentation Topics

Predicting future trends in technology is both exciting and challenging. Presenters can offer insights into upcoming technological developments, anticipate challenges and opportunities, and encourage continuous learning in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Discussing the potential impact of technologies like 6G, augmented reality, or advancements in quantum computing sparks curiosity and keeps the audience abreast of the latest innovations.

In conclusion, computer presentations serve as powerful tools for knowledge sharing and skill development in the tech industry. Whether you’re presenting to novices or seasoned professionals, the choice of topics, presentation skills, and a thoughtful approach to ethical considerations can elevate the impact of your presentation. 

As technology continues to evolve, staying informed and exploring diverse computer presentation topics will be instrumental in fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. 

Embrace the dynamic nature of technology and embark on a journey of exploration and enlightenment through engaging computer presentations.

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7.1 Effective Presentation Skills

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Ensure the slideshow meets the needs of the presentation
• Craft a strong presentation hook
• Identify the key skills for presenting in front of an audience
• Describe the importance of a strong closing

A well-crafted set of slides is essential for an effective presentation. Equally essential are presentation skills. In this first section, we discuss some best practices in presenting. Some people may be apprehensive about presenting in front of a group; others may welcome the challenge. At this point in your academic career, you may have also taken a course in public speaking. Regardless of your prior experience and your feelings about presenting in front of others, some practice and attention to developing your skills as a presenter will be worthwhile. We can all benefit from fine-tuning our public speaking and presenting abilities, even if we are regularly in front of a group. These skills are relevant in all types of meetings, whether in person or virtual.

One of the best ways to improve your presenting is to practice. This can help you work through all of the technological hiccups, as well as set your mind at ease. You should practice in the same space and with the same technology, if possible, as well as practice what you are going to say and your demeanor during the presentation. The importance of this prep work cannot be overemphasized. Consider recording yourself as you are practicing to give you a firsthand look at your presentation skills. This strategy is helpful even if you are presenting fully in person.

Ensuring the Final Presentation Meets Its Goals

In general, to create an effective presentation, you first need to understand the goal or intent of the presentation. Your supervisor may provide those goals, or you may determine them yourself. Regardless, setting your goals first will help you ensure that the look of your slides matches those goals. Presentations can fall into one of the following categories, as outlined in Table 7.1 : persuasive, instructional, informational, or inspirational. Knowing the goal of your presentation helps you set the stage for developing the slides and constructing your narrative.

For example, if you want to create a lively, inspirational presentation to encourage the audience to donate to a nonprofit cause, a gray-tone slide presentation dominated by text will not be effective in meeting your goals.

Opening a Presentation

There are many ways to start a presentation to engage your audience. What you do not want to do is jump right into the content or start by simply introducing yourself. You want your audience to be interested and engaged right away and to want to know more about what you are presenting.

To get your audience interested and engaged in the presentation from the get-go, consider developing a strong opener, or hook . A hook is a statement, story, or question designed to get participants’ attention and pique their interest.

For example, if you are presenting WorldCorp’s sales goals, you could begin with a personal anecdote about how you once set a goal and achieved it. Alternatively, you could ask the audience to think about a time when they faced a lofty goal and found a way to overcome the challenges. Be creative—think about a time when you were in a meeting or presentation and found yourself engaged from the beginning. What did that speaker do to get your attention? Did the presentation include compelling statistics? Maybe a short video or bit of humor got your attention. The hook helps set the tone of the entire presentation and can establish rapport with the group. It is your way to connect with the audience from the initial stages of the presentation.

Also, think about your goals and how they are relevant to the type of presentation you are giving. Do you want to inspire the group and leave them with a call to action? Perhaps your presentation is a training session where you will be assessing the participant’s learning at the end. Keeping the type of presentation in mind can help you craft an impactful hook. After you have delivered the hook, transition into the introduction of the slideshow, drawing the connection between the hook and the goal of the slideshow.

Spotlight on Ethics

Inclusivity and presentations.

When delivering presentations, consider the needs of all audience members and ensure accessibility for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Presentations should be designed and delivered in a way that accommodates individuals with visual, hearing, or other impairments, to ensure equal access to information and an inclusive experience. Here is an example:

Imagine WorldCorp is conducting a large-scale conference at which it provides handouts of presentation slides to attendees. In this case, it would be important to consider whether the handouts are available in alternative formats, such as braille or accessible electronic formats. This ensures that individuals with visual impairments can access the same information as everyone else.

Additionally, in the context of delivering presentations, presenters should consider incorporating accessible features in their slides and delivery style. Some key considerations include the following:

• Clear and readable text: Use legible fonts, appropriate font sizes, and high contrast between text and background colors to ensure readability for individuals with visual impairments.
• Alt text for visuals: Provide alternative text descriptions for images, graphs, and charts. This allows individuals with visual impairments who use screen readers to understand the content presented visually.
• Captioning and transcripts: If the presentation involves audio or video elements, provide closed captions or transcripts. This helps individuals with hearing impairments or those who may have difficulty understanding the spoken language.
• Verbal descriptions: When demonstrating visual elements, ensure that the presenter provides verbal descriptions of what is being shown on the screen. This assists individuals who are visually impaired and cannot see the visuals.
• Inclusive language and tone: Use inclusive language, and avoid making assumptions or generalizations that could marginalize or exclude certain groups of individuals.

By considering these guidelines, presenters can create a more inclusive and accessible environment, ensuring that their presentations are accessible to a broader range of individuals.

Key Presentation Skills

Specific skills can vary by the type of presentation. For example, if you are giving a persuasive presentation, you might use more humor than you would in an informational presentation. There is no single standard set of skills that all presenters should possess, and what defines a good presenter versus a bad presenter can be quite subjective. However, there are some skills that pertain in all situations. A good presenter is one who is prepared, professional, and able to communicate effectively with the audience.

First, consider what you are going to wear to the presentation. You should choose attire that is professional and appropriate for the type of presentation you are giving. Make sure you feel comfortable too. Do not wear clothing that you think you will be fidgeting with or accessories that you might handle if you are feeling nervous, such as coins or keys in your pocket. If your hair falls on your face often, you may want to pull it back for the presentation. The fewer distractions there are, the better. Consider the type of footwear you will wear. If you will be moving around the room during the presentation, choose comfortable shoes that you are confident walking in. The type of flooring in the room is also something to consider. Carpet is typically much quieter when walking during the presentation. Certain shoes on tile floors can be quite loud and distracting.

Also, think about the temperature in the room. When you are presenting, you may warm up quickly because of nerves and because you are active. Choose attire that will not show signs of sweat and will not let you become overheated. You might also want to consider what fragrances you typically wear. In a smaller or warm room, strong fragrances can quickly become overwhelming and distracting.

But first and foremost, be on time for your presentation. In fact, you should plan to arrive early. Arriving early will help set your mind at ease and leave time for you to work out any issues that may arise. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least thirty minutes before your presentation is scheduled to start. Get the slideshow set up before any participants arrive, and get prepared to begin. Remember, you will start with your hook. Be sure to use your slides as a supplement to what you are saying. The slides should not be the centerpiece; they are secondary and complementary to what you want to convey. Reference the content on the slides as necessary to keep the audience engaged.

During the presentation, be aware of your body language. You want to appear confident and prepared. Make eye contact with the audience, making sure you look at all sides of the room. Also, you should display body language that shows the audience you are engaged and excited about the presentation. This means good posture, using hand gestures as appropriate, and pausing to make sure the audience is following. There is nothing worse than sitting through a presentation where the speaker appears disengaged and bored. Try not to rely on the slides or your notes too much, and avoid turning your back to the audience. It is acceptable to walk out into the room a bit and not stay in the front of the room or behind a computer desk or podium. However, too much moving around can be distracting to the audience and make you appear nervous and unprepared.

Think about how your voice is coming across to the audience. Have good voice projection without yelling. Maintain a conversational style of speaking, rather than sounding monotone and memorized. Avoid swearing and inappropriate jokes. Be sensitive to audience members and aware of words or phrases that may reflect any bias or discrimination. Use pauses and voice inflection when you want to draw attention to certain parts of the presentation. Throughout the presentation, you can also repeat or rephrase important points for emphasis. Speak slowly and clearly. Keep a bottle of water close in case you need it, especially if you will be speaking for an extended period. If you lose your train of thought or are searching for the next phrase, avoid using filler words such as “uh” and “um.” Instead, try silently counting to yourself for a few moments; this is one strategy that can help you avoid using words to fill pauses. Sometimes a little silence is okay. You do not need to fill every spare moment with speaking.

Again, consider recording yourself presenting to see where you can improve. Use the available technological tools such as the Rehearse with Coach feature in PowerPoint. Your skills and comfort level will improve with practice and preparation. The more you practice and present in front of others, the better you will get at it.

Real-World Application

One way to hone your presentation skills is to watch other presenters. TED Talks are an excellent source. One TED Talk that is often recommended for its exceptional presentation skills and storytelling is “The power of vulnerability” by Brené Brown. In this talk, Brown, a renowned research professor and author, explores the topic of vulnerability and its connection to human connection and personal growth.

Brown’s talk stands out for several reasons:

• Engaging storytelling: Brown captivates the audience with personal anecdotes, humor, and relatable stories that make the topic accessible and relatable to a wide range of people. She uses storytelling as a powerful tool to connect with the audience emotionally.
• Authenticity and vulnerability: As she discusses vulnerability, Brown displays a genuine and vulnerable presence on stage. She shares personal experiences and openly acknowledges her own struggles and fears. This authenticity creates a strong connection with the audience, making her talk even more impactful.
• Research-based content: Brown supports her talk with research findings, which adds credibility and depth to her message. She presents her research in a way that is easily understandable and relatable, helping the audience grasp complex concepts.
• Humor and wit: Brown infuses her talk with humor and wit, using well-timed jokes and lighthearted moments. This keeps the audience engaged and creates a pleasant atmosphere during the presentation.

"The power of vulnerability" has millions of views and has resonated with people worldwide. It serves as an excellent example of how effective storytelling, authenticity, and research-based content can create a powerful and memorable presentation.

Closing a Presentation

Just as you need a strong hook to start off a presentation, you also need a strong closing statement. It should be more than simply a summary of what you discussed in the presentation. Your closing statement should be a few words that leave a lasting, positive impression and that convey the essence of the slideshow. You want your audience to remember the presentation, especially your key points. This is your last chance to bring it all together for the audience.

To prepare your closing statement, start by making a list of the top three to five items you hope the audience will walk away with after listening to your presentation. For Amir’s presentation at WorldCorp, he may want the audience to remember his leadership skills, his teamwork ability, and a few items about his background. In your closing, you can reemphasize these items in a creative way rather than simply listing them one by one. For example, your closing slide might include a collage of pictures that visually represent your main points. If you are giving a persuasive or inspirational presentation, you may want to close with a call to action—what you hope the participants will be motivated to do after hearing your presentation.

For example, if you are giving a presentation to encourage people to donate to a nonprofit organization, in the closing you can specifically ask about how to donate. Another option is to end the presentation with a story or joke that sums up the main points. If you started with a story as your opening hook, you can come back to that story and add more to it. Finally, you may want to use a quote from a famous historical or contemporary figure that encapsulates what you hope the audience will take away from your presentation.

As you can see, there are many ways to close a presentation that go beyond simply ending with a “Thank You” or “Questions” slide. Your main goal should be to get the audience to remember the presentation and the message you set out to convey.

Link to Learning

One technique to engage the audience during a presentation is to tell a story rather than give a speech. People are intrigued by stories. Using this approach encourages your listeners to create mental images. See this blog on storytelling techniques used by the TED presenters for some tips on using storytelling in presentations.

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Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/workplace-software-skills/pages/1-chapter-scenario

• Authors: Tammie Bolling, Angela Mitchell, Tanya Scott, Nyrobi Wheeler
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: Workplace Software and Skills
• Publication date: Nov 29, 2023
• Location: Houston, Texas
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Home Blog Education Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

Getting the perfect presentation design is just a step toward a successful presentation. For the experienced user, building presentation skills is the answer to elevating the power of your message and showing expertise on any subject. Still, one can ask: is it the same set of skills, or are they dependable on the type of presentation?

In this article, we will introduce the different types of presentations accompanied by the skillset required to master them. The purpose, as always, is to retain the audience’s interest for a long-lasting and convincing message.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Presentation Skills

Persuasive presentations, instructional presentations, informative presentations, inspirational presentations, basic presentation skills, what are the main difficulties when giving a presentation, recommendations to improve your presentation skills, closing statement.

Effective communication is the answer to reaching business and academic goals. The scenarios in which we can be required to deliver a presentation are as diverse as one can imagine. Still, some core concepts apply to all presentations.

 We define presentation skills as a compendium of soft skills that directly affect your presentation performance and contribute to creating a great presentation. These are not qualities acquired by birth but skills you ought to train and master to delve into professional environments.

You may ask: is it really that evident when a presenter is not prepared? Here are some common signs people can experience during presentations:

• Evasive body language: Not making eye contact with the audience, arms closed tightly to the body, hands in pockets all the time.
• Lack of interest in the presenter’s voice: dull tone, not putting an effort to articulate the topics.
• Doubting when asked to answer a question
• Irksome mood

The list can go on about common presenter mistakes , and most certainly, it will affect the performance of any presented data if the lack of interest by the presenter is blatantly obvious.  Another element to consider is anxiety, and according to research by the National Institute of Mental Health, 73% of the population in the USA is affected by glossophobia , which is the fear of public speaking, judgment, or negative evaluation by other people.

Therefore, presentation skills training is essential for any business professional who wants to achieve effective communication . It will remove the anxiety from presentation performance and help users effectively deliver their message and connect with the audience.

Archetypes of presentations

Persuasive presentations aim to convince the audience – often in short periods – to acquire a product or service, adhere to a cause, or invest in a company. For business entrepreneurs or politicians, persuasive presentations are their tool for the trade.

Unless you aim to be perceived as an imposter, a proper persuasive presentation has the elements of facts, empathy, and logic, balanced under a well-crafted narrative. The central pillar of these presentations is to identify the single factor that gathered your audience: it could be a market need, a social cause, or a revolutionary concept for today’s society. It has to be something with enough power to gather critiques – both good and bad.

That single factor has to be backed up by facts. Research that builds your hypothesis on how to solve that problem. A deep understanding of the target audience’s needs , concerns, and social position regarding the solution your means can offer. When those elements are in place, building a pitch becomes an easy task. 

Graphics can help you introduce information in a compelling format, lowering the need for lengthy presentations. Good presentation skills for persuasive presentations go by the hand of filtering relevant data and creating the visual cues that resonate with what your audience demands.

One powerful example of a persuasive presentation is the technique known as the elevator pitch . You must introduce your idea or product convincingly to the audience in a timeframe between 30 seconds and less than 2 minutes. You have to expose:

• What do you do 
• What’s the problem to solve
• Why is your solution different from others 
• Why should the audience care about your expertise

For that very purpose, using engaging graphics with contrasting colors elevates the potential power of your message. It speaks professionalism, care for details, and out-of-the-box thinking. Knowing how to end a presentation is also critical, as your CTAs should be placed with care.

Therefore, let’s resume the requirements of persuasive presentations in terms of good presentation skills:

• Identifying problems and needs
• Elaborating “the hook” (the element that grabs the audience’s attention)
• Knowing how to “tie” your audience (introducing a piece of information related to the hook that causes an emotional impact)
• Broad knowledge of body language and hand gestures to quickly convey your message
• Being prepared to argue a defense of your point of view
• Handling rejection
• Having a proactive attitude to convert opportunities into new projects
• Using humor, surprise, or personal anecdotes as elements to sympathize with the audience
• Having confidence
• Be able to summarize facts and information in visually appealing ways

You can learn more about persuasive presentation techniques by clicking here .

In the case of instructional presentations, we ought to differentiate two distinctive types:

• Lecture Presentations : Presentations being held at universities or any other educative institution. Those presentations cover, topic by topic, and the contents of a syllabus and are created by the team of teachers in charge of the course.
• Training Presentations : These presentations take place during in-company training sessions and usually comprise a good amount of content that is resumed into easy-to-take solutions. They are aimed to coach employees over certain topics relevant to their work performance. The 70-20-10 Model is frequently used to address these training situations.

Lecture presentations appeal to the gradual introduction of complex concepts, following a structure set in the course’s syllabus. These presentations often have a similar aesthetic as a group of professors or researchers created to share their knowledge about a topic. Personal experience does tell that course presentations often rely on factual data, adequately documented, and on the theoretical side.

An example of a presentation that lies under this concept is a Syllabus Presentation, used by the teaching team to introduce the subject to new students, evaluation methods, concepts to be learned, and expectations to pass the course.

On the other hand, training presentations are slide decks designed to meet an organization’s specific needs in the formal education of their personnel. Commonly known as “continuous education,” plenty of companies invest resources in coaching their employees to achieve higher performance results. These presentations have the trademark of being concise since their idea is to introduce the concepts that shall be applied in practice sessions. 

Ideally, the training presentations are introduced with little text and easy-to-recognize visual cues. Since the idea is to summarize as much as possible, these are visually appealing for the audience. They must be dynamic enough to allow the presenter to convey the message.

Those key takeaways remind employees when they revisit their learning resources and allow them to ruminate on questions that fellow workers raise. 

To sum up this point, building presentation skills for instructional presentations requires:

• Ability to put complex concepts into simpler words
• Patience and a constant learning mindset
• Voice training to deliver lengthy speeches without being too dense
• Ability to summarize points and note the key takeaways
• Empathizing with the audience to understand their challenges in the learning process

The informative presentations take place in business situations, such as when to present project reports from different departments to the management. Another potential usage of these presentations is in SCRUM or other Agile methodologies, when a sprint is completed, to discuss the advance of the project with the Product Owner.

As they are presentations heavily dependent on data insights, it’s common to see the usage of infographics and charts to express usually dense data in simpler terms and easy to remember. 

Informative presentations don’t just fall into the business category. Ph.D. Dissertation and Thesis presentations are topics that belong to the informative presentations category as they condense countless research hours into manageable reports for the academic jury. 

Since these informational presentations can be perceived as lengthy and data-filled, it is important to learn the following professional presentation skills:

• Attention to detail
• Be able to explain complex information in simpler terms
• Creative thinking
• Powerful diction
• Working on pauses and transitions
• Pacing the presentation, so not too much information is divulged per slide

The leading inspirational platform, TEDx, comes to mind when talking about inspirational presentations. This presentation format has the peculiarity of maximizing the engagement with the audience to divulge a message, and due to that, it has specific requirements any presenter must meet.

This presentation format usually involves a speaker on a stage, either sitting or better standing, in which the presenter engages with the audience with a storytelling format about a life experience, a job done that provided a remarkable improvement for society, etc.

Empathizing with the audience is the key ingredient for these inspirational presentations. Still, creativity is what shapes the outcome of your performance as people are constantly looking for different experiences – not the same recipe rephrased with personal touches. The human factor is what matters here, way above data and research. What has your experience to offer to others? How can it motivate another human being to pursue a similar path or discover their true calling?

To achieve success in terms of communication skills presentation, these inspirational presentations have the following requirements:

• Focus on the audience (engage, consider their interests, and make them a part of your story)
• Putting ego aside
• Creative communication skills
• Storytelling skills
• Body language knowledge to apply the correct gestures to accompany your story
• Voice training
• Using powerful words

After discussing the different kinds of presentations we can come across at any stage of our lives, a group of presentation skills is standard in any type of presentation. See below what makes a good presentation and which skills you must count on to succeed as a presenter.

Punctuality

Punctuality is a crucial aspect of giving an effective presentation. Nothing says more about respect for your audience and the organization you represent than delivering the presentation on time . Arriving last minute puts pressure on the tech team behind audiovisuals, as they don’t have enough preparation to test microphones, stage lights, and projector settings, which can lead to a less powerful presentation Even when discussing presentations hosted in small rooms for a reduced audience, testing the equipment becomes essential for an effective presentation.

A solution for this is to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Ideally, one hour is a sweet spot since the AV crew has time to check the gear and requirements for your presentation. Another benefit of this, for example, in inspirational presentations, is measuring the previous presenter’s impact on the audience. This gives insights about how to resonate with the public, and their interest, and how to accommodate your presentation for maximum impact.

Body Language

Our bodies can make emotions transparent for others, even when we are unaware of such a fact. Proper training for body language skills reduces performance anxiety, giving the audience a sense of expertise about the presented topic. 

Give your presentation and the audience the respect they deserve by watching over these potential mistakes:

• Turning your back to the audience for extended periods : It’s okay to do so when introducing an important piece of information or explaining a graph, but it is considered rude to give your back to the audience constantly.
• Fidgeting : We are all nervous in the presence of strangers, even more, if we are the center of attention for that moment. Instead of playing with your hair or making weird hand gestures, take a deep breath to center yourself before the presentation and remember that everything you could do to prepare is already done. Trust your instincts and give your best.
• Intense eye contact : Have you watched a video where the presenter stared at the camera the entire time? That’s the feeling you transmit to spectators through intense eye contact. It’s a practice often used by politicians to persuade.
• Swearing : This is a no-brainer. Even when you see influencers swearing on camera or in podcasts or live presentations, it is considered an informal and lousy practice for business and academic situations. If you have a habit to break when it comes to this point, find the humor in these situations and replace your swear words with funny alternatives (if the presentation allows for it). 

Voice Tone plays a crucial role in delivering effective presentations and knowing how to give a good presentation. Your voice is a powerful tool for exposing your ideas and feelings . Your voice can articulate the message you are telling, briefing the audience if you feel excited about what you are sharing or, in contrast, if you feel the presentation is a burden you ought to complete.

Remember, passion is a primary ingredient in convincing people. Therefore, transmitting such passion with a vibrant voice may help gather potential business partners’ interest.  

But what if you feel sick prior to the presentation? If, by chance, your throat is sore minutes before setting foot on the stage, try this: when introducing yourself, mention that you are feeling a bit under the weather. This resonates with the audience to pay more attention to your efforts. In case you don’t feel comfortable about that, ask the organizers for a cup of tea, as it will settle your throat and relax your nerves.

Tech Skills

Believe it or not, people still feel challenged by technology these days. Maybe that’s the reason why presentation giants like Tony Robbins opt not to use PowerPoint presentations . The reality is that there are plenty of elements involved in a presentation that can go wrong from the tech side:

• A PDF not opening
• Saving your presentation in a too-recent PowerPoint version
• A computer not booting up
• Mac laptops and their never-ending compatibility nightmare
• Not knowing how to change between slides
• Not knowing how to use a laser pointer
• Internet not working
• Audio not working

We can come up with a pretty long list of potential tech pitfalls, and yet more than half of them fall in presenters not being knowledgeable about technology.

If computers aren’t your thing, let the organization know about this beforehand. There is always a crew member available to help presenters switch between slides or configure the presentation for streaming. This takes the pressure off your shoulders, allowing you to concentrate on the content to present. Remember, even Bill Gates can get a BSOD during a presentation .

Presentations, while valuable for conveying information and ideas, can be daunting for many individuals. Here are some common difficulties people encounter when giving presentations:

Public Speaking Anxiety

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, affects a significant portion of the population. This anxiety can lead to nervousness, trembling, and forgetfulness during a presentation.

Lack of Confidence

Many presenters struggle with self-doubt, fearing that they may not be knowledgeable or skilled enough to engage their audience effectively.

Content Organization

Organizing information in a coherent and engaging manner can be challenging. Presenters often grapple with how to structure their content to make it easily digestible for the audience. Artificial Intelligence can help us significantly reduce the content arrangement time when you work with tools like our AI Presentation Maker (made for presenters by experts in presentation design). 

Audience Engagement

Keeping the audience’s attention and interest throughout the presentation can be difficult. Distractions, disengaged attendees, or lack of interaction can pose challenges.

Technical Issues

Technology glitches, such as malfunctioning equipment, incompatible file formats, or poor internet connectivity, can disrupt presentations and increase stress.

Time Management

Striking the right balance between providing enough information and staying within time limits is a common challenge. Going over or under the allotted time can affect the effectiveness of the presentation.

Handling Questions and Challenges

Responding to unexpected questions, criticism, or challenges from the audience can be difficult, especially when presenters are unprepared or lack confidence in their subject matter.

Visual Aids and Technology

Creating and effectively using visual aids like slides or multimedia can be a struggle for some presenters. Technical competence is essential in this aspect.

Language and Articulation

Poor language skills or unclear articulation can hinder effective communication. Presenters may worry about stumbling over words or failing to convey their message clearly.

Maintaining appropriate and confident body language can be challenging. Avoiding nervous habits, maintaining eye contact, and using gestures effectively requires practice.

Overcoming Impersonal Delivery

In virtual presentations, maintaining a personal connection with the audience can be difficult. The absence of face-to-face interaction can make it challenging to engage and read the audience.

Cultural and Diversity Awareness

Presenting to diverse audiences requires sensitivity to cultural differences and varying levels of familiarity with the topic.

In this section, we gathered some tips on how to improve presentation skills that can certainly make an impact if applied to your presentation skills. We believe these skills can be cultivated to transform into habits for your work routine.

Tip #1: Build a narrative

One memorable way to guarantee presentation success is by writing a story of all the points you desire to cover. This statement is based on the logic behind storytelling and its power to connect with people .

Don’t waste time memorizing slides or reading your presentation to the audience. It feels unnatural, and any question that diverts from the topic in discussion certainly puts you in jeopardy or, worse, exposes you as a fraud in the eyes of the audience. And before you ask, it is really evident when a presenter has a memorized speech. 

Build and rehearse the presentation as if telling a story to a group of interested people. Lower the language barrier by avoiding complex terms that maybe even you aren’t fully aware of their meaning. Consider the ramifications of that story, what it could lead to, and which are the opportunities to explore. Then, visualize yourself giving the presentation in a natural way.

Applying this technique makes the presentation feel like second nature to you. It broadens the spectrum in which you can show expertise over a topic or even build the basis for new interesting points of view about the project.

Tip #2: Don’t talk for more than 3 minutes per slide

It is a common practice of presenters to bombard the audience with facts and information whilst retaining the same slide on the screen. Why can this happen? It could be because the presenter condensed the talk into very few slides and preferred to talk. The reality is that your spectators won’t retain the information you are giving unless you give visual cues to help that process. 

Opt to prepare more slides and pace your speech to match the topics shown on each slide. Don’t spend more than 3 minutes per slide unless you have to introduce a complex piece of data. Use visual cues to direct the spectators about what you talk about, and summarize the principal concepts discussed at the end of each section.

Tip #3: Practice meditation daily

Anxiety is the number one enemy of professional presenters. It slowly builds without you being aware of your doubts and can hinder your performance in multiple ways: making you feel paralyzed, fidgeting, making you forget language skills or concepts, affecting your health, etc.

Meditation is an ancient practice taken from Buddhist teachings that train your mind to be here in the present. We often see the concepts of meditation and mindfulness as synonyms, whereas you should be aware that meditation is a practice that sets the blocks to reach a state of mindfulness. For presenters, being in the here and now is essential to retain focus, but meditation techniques also teach us to control our breathing and be in touch with our body signals when stress builds up. 

The customary practice of meditation has an impact on imagination and creativity but also helps to build patience – a skill much needed for connecting with your audience in instructional presentations.

Having the proper set of presentation skills can be quite subjective. It goes beyond presentation tips and deepens into how flexible we can be in our ability to communicate ideas.

Different presentations and different audiences shape the outcome of our efforts. Therefore, having a basic understanding of how to connect, raise awareness, and empathize with people can be key ingredients for your career as a presenter. A word of advice: success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes dedication and patience to build communication skills . Don’t condition your work to believe you will be ready “someday”; it’s best to practice and experience failure as part of the learning process.

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Business Presentations, Presentation Approaches, Presentation Skills Filed under Education

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6 presentation skills and how to improve them

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What are presentation skills?

The importance of presentation skills, 6 presentation skills examples, how to improve presentation skills.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety

Learn how to captivate an audience with ease

Capturing an audience’s attention takes practice. 

Over time, great presenters learn how to organize their speeches and captivate an audience from start to finish. They spark curiosity, know how to read a room , and understand what their audience needs to walk away feeling like they learned something valuable.

Regardless of your profession, you most likely use presentation skills on a monthly or even weekly basis. Maybe you lead brainstorming sessions or host client calls. 

Developing effective presentation skills makes it easier to contribute ideas with confidence and show others you’re someone to trust. Although speaking in front of a crowd sometimes brings nerves and anxiety , it also sparks new opportunities.

Presentation skills are the qualities and abilities you need to communicate ideas effectively and deliver a compelling speech. They influence how you structure a presentation and how an audience receives it. Understanding body language , creating impactful visual aids, and projecting your voice all fall under this umbrella.

A great presentation depends on more than what you say. It’s about how you say it. Storytelling , stage presence, and voice projection all shape how well you express your ideas and connect with the audience. These skills do take practice, but they’re worth developing — especially if public speaking makes you nervous. 

Engaging a crowd isn’t easy. You may feel anxious to step in front of an audience and have all eyes and ears on you.

But feeling that anxiety doesn’t mean your ideas aren’t worth sharing. Whether you’re giving an inspiring speech or delivering a monthly recap at work, your audience is there to listen to you. Harness that nervous energy and turn it into progress.

Strong presentation skills make it easier to convey your thoughts to audiences of all sizes. They can help you tell a compelling story, convince people of a pitch , or teach a group something entirely new to them. And when it comes to the workplace, the strength of your presentation skills could play a part in getting a promotion or contributing to a new initiative.

To fully understand the impact these skills have on creating a successful presentation, it’s helpful to look at each one individually. Here are six valuable skills you can develop:

1. Active listening

Active listening is an excellent communication skill for any professional to hone. When you have strong active listening skills, you can listen to others effectively and observe their nonverbal cues . This helps you assess whether or not your audience members are engaged in and understand what you’re sharing. 

Great public speakers use active listening to assess the audience’s reactions and adjust their speech if they find it lacks impact. Signs like slouching, negative facial expressions, and roaming eye contact are all signs to watch out for when giving a presentation.

2. Body language

If you’re researching presentation skills, chances are you’ve already watched a few notable speeches like TED Talks or industry seminars. And one thing you probably noticed is that speakers can capture attention with their body language. 

A mixture of eye contact, hand gestures , and purposeful pacing makes a presentation more interesting and engaging. If you stand in one spot and don’t move your body, the audience might zone out.

3. Stage presence

A great stage presence looks different for everyone. A comedian might aim for more movement and excitement, and a conference speaker might focus their energy on the content of their speech. Although neither is better than the other, both understand their strengths and their audience’s needs. 

Developing a stage presence involves finding your own unique communication style . Lean into your strengths, whether that’s adding an injection of humor or asking questions to make it interactive . To give a great presentation, you might even incorporate relevant props or presentation slides.

4. Storytelling

According to Forbes, audiences typically pay attention for about 10 minutes before tuning out . But you can lengthen their attention span by offering a presentation that interests them for longer. Include a narrative they’ll want to listen to, and tell a story as you go along. 

Shaping your content to follow a clear narrative can spark your audience’s curiosity and entice them to pay careful attention. You can use anecdotes from your personal or professional life that take your audience along through relevant moments. If you’re pitching a product, you can start with a problem and lead your audience through the stages of how your product provides a solution.

5. Voice projection

Although this skill may be obvious, you need your audience to hear what you’re saying. This can be challenging if you’re naturally soft-spoken and struggle to project your voice.

Remember to straighten your posture and take deep breaths before speaking, which will help you speak louder and fill the room. If you’re talking into a microphone or participating in a virtual meeting, you can use your regular conversational voice, but you still want to sound confident and self-assured with a strong tone.

If you’re unsure whether everyone can hear you, you can always ask the audience at the beginning of your speech and wait for confirmation. That way, they won’t have to potentially interrupt you later.

Ensuring everyone can hear you also includes your speed and annunciation. It’s easy to speak quickly when nervous, but try to slow down and pronounce every word. Mumbling can make your presentation difficult to understand and pay attention to.

6. Verbal communication 

Although verbal communication involves your projection and tone, it also covers the language and pacing you use to get your point across. This includes where you choose to place pauses in your speech or the tone you use to emphasize important ideas.

If you’re giving a presentation on collaboration in the workplace , you might start your speech by saying, “There’s something every workplace needs to succeed: teamwork.” By placing emphasis on the word “ teamwork ,” you give your audience a hint on what ideas will follow.

To further connect with your audience through diction, pay careful attention to who you’re speaking to. The way you talk to your colleagues might be different from how you speak to a group of superiors, even if you’re discussing the same subject. You might use more humor and a conversational tone for the former and more serious, formal diction for the latter.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to presenting. Maybe you’re confident in your use of body language, but your voice projection needs work. Maybe you’re a great storyteller in small group settings, but need to work on your stage presence in front of larger crowds. 

The first step to improving presentation skills is pinpointing your gaps and determining which qualities to build upon first. Here are four tips for enhancing your presentation skills:

1. Build self-confidence

Confident people know how to speak with authority and share their ideas. Although feeling good about your presentation skills is easier said than done, building confidence is key to helping your audience believe in what you’re saying. Try practicing positive self-talk and continuously researching your topic's ins and outs.

If you don’t feel confident on the inside, fake it until you make it. Stand up straight, project your voice, and try your best to appear engaged and excited. Chances are, the audience doesn’t know you’re unsure of your skills — and they don’t need to.

Another tip is to lean into your slideshow, if you’re using one. Create something colorful and interesting so the audience’s eyes fall there instead of on you. And when you feel proud of your slideshow, you’ll be more eager to share it with others, bringing more energy to your presentation.

2. Watch other presentations

Developing the soft skills necessary for a good presentation can be challenging without seeing them in action. Watch as many as possible to become more familiar with public speaking skills and what makes a great presentation. You could attend events with keynote speakers or view past speeches on similar topics online.

Take a close look at how those presenters use verbal communication and body language to engage their audiences. Grab a notebook and jot down what you enjoyed and your main takeaways. Try to recall the techniques they used to emphasize their main points, whether they used pauses effectively, had interesting visual aids, or told a fascinating story.

3. Get in front of a crowd

You don’t need a large auditorium to practice public speaking. There are dozens of other ways to feel confident and develop good presentation skills.

If you’re a natural comedian, consider joining a small stand-up comedy club. If you’re an avid writer, participate in a public poetry reading. Even music and acting can help you feel more comfortable in front of a crowd.

If you’d rather keep it professional, you can still work on your presentation skills in the office. Challenge yourself to participate at least once in every team meeting, or plan and present a project to become more comfortable vocalizing your ideas. You could also speak to your manager about opportunities that flex your public speaking abilities.

4. Overcome fear

Many people experience feelings of fear before presenting in front of an audience, whether those feelings appear as a few butterflies or more severe anxiety. Try grounding yourself to shift your focus to the present moment. If you’re stuck dwelling on previous experiences that didn’t go well, use those mistakes as learning experiences and focus on what you can improve to do better in the future.

Tips for dealing with presentation anxiety 

It’s normal to feel nervous when sharing your ideas. In fact, according to a report from the Journal of Graduate Medical Education, public speaking anxiety is prevalent in 15–30% of the general population .

Even though having a fear of public speaking is common, it doesn’t make it easier. You might feel overwhelmed, become stiff, and forget what you were going to say. But although the moment might scare you, there are ways to overcome the fear and put mind over matter.

Use these tactics to reduce your stress when you have to make a presentation:

1. Practice breathing techniques

If you experience anxiety often, you’re probably familiar with breathing techniques for stress relief . Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can help you stop worrying and regulate anxious feelings. 

Before a big presentation, take a moment alone to practice breathing techniques, ground yourself, and reduce tension. It’s also a good idea to take breaths throughout the presentation to speak slower and calm yourself down .

2. Get organized

The more organized you are, the more prepared you’ll feel. Carefully outline all of the critical information you want to use in your presentation, including your main talking points and visual aids, so you don’t forget anything. Use bullet points and visuals on each slide to remind you of what you want to talk about, and create handheld notes to help you stay on track.

3. Embrace moments of silence

It’s okay to lose your train of thought. It happens to even the most experienced public speakers once in a while. If your mind goes blank, don’t panic. Take a moment to breathe, gather your thoughts, and refer to your notes to see where you left off. You can drink some water or make a quick joke to ease the silence or regain your footing. And it’s okay to say, “Give me a moment while I find my notes.” Chances are, people understand the position you’re in.

4. Practice makes progress

Before presenting, rehearse in front of friends and family members you trust. This gives you the chance to work out any weak spots in your speech and become comfortable communicating out loud. If you want to go the extra mile, ask your makeshift audience to ask a surprise question. This tests your on-the-spot thinking and will prove that you can keep cool when things come up.

Whether you’re new to public speaking or are a seasoned presenter, you’re bound to make a few slip-ups. It happens to everyone. The most important thing is that you try your best, brush things off, and work on improving your skills to do better in your next presentation.

Although your job may require a different level of public speaking than your favorite TED Talk , developing presentation skills is handy in any profession. You can use presentation skills in a wide range of tasks in the workplace, whether you’re sharing your ideas with colleagues, expressing concerns to higher-ups, or pitching strategies to potential clients.

Remember to use active listening to read the room and engage your audience with an interesting narrative. Don’t forget to step outside your comfort zone once in a while and put your skills to practice in front of a crowd. After facing your fears, you’ll feel confident enough to put presentation skills on your resume.

If you’re trying to build your skills and become a better employee overall, try a communications coach with BetterUp. 

Understand Yourself Better:

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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11 Tips for Improving Your Presentation Skills (& Free Training)

Written by: Heleana Tiburca

Are you looking for ways to completely level up your presentation skills? We’ve rounded up a list of the 10 best tips to help you deliver and create an effective presentation .

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the tips you’ll find inside:

• Create an audience journey roadmap
• Use proper and confident body language
• Meet your audience before presenting to better connect with them
• Focus on your presentation design to engage your audience

... and a whole lot more!

So, if you want to take your presentation skills to the next level, then this list will show you exactly how to do so.

Let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

Tip #1: define the purpose of your presentation., tip #2: create an audience journey map., tip #3: keep your slides short and sweet., tip #4: focus on your presentation design., tip #5: visualize boring numbers and data., tip #6: practice in front of a live audience., tip #7: meet your audience before presenting., tip #8: channel nervous energy into enthusiastic energy., tip #9: use proper and confident body language., tip #10: allow your personality to shine through., tip #11: take courses to improve your presentation skills., free presentation skills training.

Behind every successful presentation, there was carefully crafted planning that went into it beforehand. To ensure that you’ll have a powerful presentation, you need to consider your message.

The very first step to any good presentation is to define its purpose. This goes on in the very beginning during the planning process where you consider your message.

Your presentation’s end goal can be any of the following:

• To entertain
• To persuade

Your presentation’s end goal might even be a combination of the four purposes above. Consider the fact that you may need to inform buyers of your product and what problem it solves for them, but you also need to persuade them into buying it.

This is where engaging storytelling and proper visual aids will come into play to help you achieve your goal, and will either make or break your presentation.

Once you pinpoint the purpose of your presentation, you can then begin to work on the subject matter and your audience journey map.

An audience journey map is a visual representation of all the steps you need to take your audience members through, from first to last and everything in between, to achieve the goal of your presentation.

There are a few steps to creating your audience journey map.

First, you need to start your explanation at a low point — the current state of an issue. Maybe there’s a problem that you are able to solve. Describe the current situation before you lay out the undertaking ahead.

Once you lay out the problem, you can then start showing your audience the process of solving this problem. To not overwhelm your crowd, give them an actionable roadmap to follow.

With great verbal communication skills, you can tell them how you plan to take the first step.

This is many times the hardest part of the presentation, but once you have the foundation for your first step, you can easily lay out the next stepping stones and take them to your end goal with ease.

Creating an audience journey map will be a major success factor in a compelling presentation and needs to be done before writing and creating your slides.

Having a clear audience journey map will also help ensure you take your audience on a smooth journey with all your main points in line and achieve your end goal with no bumps in the road.

When giving a presentation, make sure that you keep it short, sweet and as informationally-condensed as possible. All of your slides should be easy to digest and understandable at a glance.

Let's take a look at an example. The slide below is part of Visme's simple presentation theme , which is designed to have maximum impact with minimal text.

You can customize this slide and others like it in Visme's presentation software . Or, you can apply the same concept of minimalism to any other presentation tool, such as PowerPoint.

To make sure that you stay on topic and won’t overwhelm your crowd with too much information, you need to have a plan. When you have a solid plan to go by, you won’t go off track and begin rambling about things unrelated to your presentation.

Another practical way you can stay on topic and not overwhelm your audience with too much information is to have your main points written in bold somewhere on your slides.

Here's another example of a Visme slide template that does that well:

As you can see above, you don’t need to write out all the information surrounding the main points, as this will cause your audience too much confusion.

An experienced presenter will be able to quickly glance over at their own presentation slides, see the main points and continue on with their presentation, engaging their audience without going off course.

This, of course, comes with a lot of rehearsing out loud, which we will cover more in tip number six .

Another great way to keep your presentation short is to set a specific time for asking questions.

By reserving a few minutes during your presentation for your audience to ask questions, you can present your main points and achieve your goals, without going into too much detail.

Your audience can then ask for clarity on anything that interests them and you can answer their questions in however much detail you need.

Picture this: you’re gathered around the conference table with all your colleagues early Monday morning and your manager pulls up a lifeless, colorless, text-filled Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

You’re trying your best to pay attention and understand what he’s trying to convey, but staring deep into your coffee cup seems much more interesting at this point.

Sound familiar?

This is why it’s so crucial to understand how your presentation design will affect the outcome.

By having a messy and overloaded presentation, you’ll lose your audience almost immediately. On the flip side, if it’s so mundane and boring, you will also lose their attention.

One design presentation tip that we suggest you implement is to make sure you don’t overcrowd your slides with too much text.

This is a risky thing to do because the moment you flip to the next slide, your audience’s attention goes from what you’re saying, to your slide.

They’ll begin to read everything presented on the slide and completely tune you out. This is why a minimal text approach with a maximum of 2-3 different yet complementary fonts on your slides will be ideal, like in the example below.

You can use visual aids like images, animated graphic design elements, videos and more to convey the same message that boring text would.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to design a presentation from scratch, and that’s why it can be incredibly helpful to use a tool that offers presentation templates to help you get started.

Visme has hundreds of handcrafted presentation templates for public speakers to use for any occasion. Each presentation template is fully customizable and you’ll be able to add your branded content to your slides to make it your own.

Presenting your data can be an incredibly tricky and difficult task.

Instead of adding a bunch of tables and numbers to your slides, try switching things up by using charts, graphs and other data visualization types .

When creating a chart for your presentation, you need to be mindful of several things.

First, you need to choose the right chart to begin with. Not every type of graph is suitable for all data sets. The chart you choose will depend on the nature of your data and your unique purpose of using that chart.

Here's an infographic to help you understand what type of chart to use depending on your unique needs and nature of data.

Image Source

For example, if you're drawing a comparison between two or more items, a bar graph might be suitable. But if you're breaking down composition, a pie chart might be a better idea.

Also, make sure that you can fit all of your information into a chart without overcrowding the visual and also have your audience understand that information at a glance, like in the example below.

Other data visualization tips to keep in mind include choosing a pleasant, cohesive color scheme, sticking to max 2-3 fonts, incorporating a legend, and keeping your data as simple as possible.

Learn more about data visualization best practices to help you create engaging charts for your presentations and reports.

If you're using Visme, you can also import your data directly from Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Survey Monkey, Google Analytics and more.

Practice, practice and practice again.

Some would argue that writing up and designing a presentation from scratch is the easiest part. Delivering the presentation in a way that it engages your audience — that's the tricky part.

When it comes to public speaking, it’s only natural that one would get a little nervous and stumble upon their words.

That’s why practicing your public speaking skills in front of others will be vital to how well you present and connect with your crowd during your actual presentation.

It’s one thing to practice in front of the mirror, but it’s something completely different when people are waiting for you to deliver information that will improve their business or life.

So gather up some friends, family members or even your pets, and present your presentation from start to finish as many times as you need.

By presenting your slides out loud, you might even catch some mistakes in your presentation or find you need to add in some missing information.

By shaking your attendee’s hand before a meeting, you’ll begin to make connections and become more approachable and likable by your audience.

Meeting your audience will help break the ice and make them more likely to listen to what you have to say. They will also feel more comfortable asking you questions later, which will increase the value they get out of your presentation.

Plus, you’ll also feel more relaxed speaking to your audience if you've met them already. When you can put a name to a face, you’ll automatically feel a sense of comfort when you make eye contact with them while presenting.

Even the most famous movie stars and popular public speakers will still get nervous before a public presentation.

It’s human nature to get butterflies and perspire a bit before having tons of eyes on you, critiquing every word you have to say.

So, if you’re feeling nervous before a presentation, instead of emotionally shutting down, take that nervous energy and transform it into enthusiastic energy.

Before getting up on stage, listen to your favorite hype music, maybe have a coffee (if it won’t make you jittery) or get a pep talk from a friend.

By being confident and using your enthusiasm to your advantage, you’ll have your crowd on the edge of their seats, completely engaged, following every word you say.

Enthusiastic presentations will much better received by listeners, rather than monotone informational presentations. So, as important as your presentation design is, the way you present it will determine a big part of the outcome.

According to Allan Pease , an Honorary Professor of Psychology at ULIM International University, you can convince almost anyone to do anything for you if you use proper body language.

He has an entire Ted Talk dedicated to the subject, which you can watch below.

The proper use of hand gestures, a power stance, a confident smile and an authoritative yet kind voice are all techniques that you can leverage to get your crowd listening to and agreeing with what you’re saying.

According to Allan Pease, when using hand gestures, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using open palm gestures. This makes you look like a great leader that is right there with the team, ready to lead and take charge.

By using open palm gestures, people will automatically be inclined to listen to you.

The moment you turn your hand over and start using your pointer finger, you will lose your audience. They won’t accept any information from you and they will believe you have an authoritative and hostile attitude.

Body language is everything, so make sure to use open hand gestures, smile, take a deep breath and believe that you’re not nervous, even if you are.

As soon as you believe that you’re not nervous, your brain and body will follow suit and you’ll feel more confident on stage with your presentation, which will make your audience trust you more.

We’re convinced that with the right tone of voice and allowing your personality to shine through, you can take any boring presentation, and turn it into an entertaining and engaging one for your audience.

While it is good to meet your audience where they are, it’s never good to fake your personality for the sake of a presentation.

Everyone can tell when someone isn’t genuine, and if you’re trying to suppress your personality, you’re only hurting yourself and your presentation by doing so, as what you’re saying can then begin to sound disingenuous.

So, don’t be afraid to use your personality to your advantage. Let a joke out and entertain your audience. By making your audience laugh, you’ll have them more in tune with what you’re saying.

Chances are if you’re giving a business presentation, many of your peers will be there and they'd want you to let your personality show. So, be yourself and use that to your advantage!

Finally, our best tip that we can offer you in all areas of life is to never stop learning.

The only way to improve is to continue learning and practicing. That’s why we recommend you take presentation courses that will help improve your communication skills and presentation skills.

You can brush up on your presentation, communication and public speaking tips by taking online courses on Udemy or Coursera . Look for specific courses on storytelling, body language and more to focus on your problem areas.

Or, if you're looking for a free course that packs all the good stuff at zero cost, our team at Visme has put together an incredible presentation course that will help you smash your next presentation!

When it comes to creating and giving presentations, many times it seems like it’s just something that’s expected of us to do, without receiving any type of proper training or qualifications.

Here at Visme, we want to see everyone succeed.

That’s why we combined our years of knowledge and experience to create a free course to give everyone the tools and confidence they need in order to create effective and successful presentations.

There are dozens of benefits and skills you’ll gain in these training sessions. You'll learn how to:

• Effectively brainstorm and create audience personas and audience journey maps
• Use visual communication to inform, engage, inspire and persuade your audience
• Design your presentation as a professional designer would in minutes
• Use colors, fonts, pictures and videos to increase the impact of your speech
• Present your data through compelling charts and graphs that tell a story

You’ll also receive a Visme Versity certificate of completion once you complete the online course — you can add this to your LinkedIn profile to set yourself up for success.

If any of these benefits sound like something you want to add to your tool belt, then you can take our free presentation skills course for professional development right now.

This course is broken down into easily digestible sections, yet it’s jam-packed full of readily applicable information. The best part is you can take the course and complete it at your own pace.

There are engaging educational videos for you to watch and learn from, informational content for you to read and at the end of each session, there is a quiz for you to take to assess your progress.

By the end of this course, you’ll have an abundance of skills that will help you succeed in all types of presentations.

Sign up today and learn how to become a great presenter in no time!

Level Up Your Presentation Skills

You’ve now learned 11 amazing tips on how to improve your presentation skills, but there’s still so much more to uncover and learn in the realm of presentations skills.

If you want to overcome your fear of public speaking, improve on your business presentations, become a better communicator and transform good presentations into great presentations, then this free presentation course by Visme is for you.

Want to create stunning presentations of your own? Sign up for our presentation software and start using hundreds of pre-made slides, animated effects, free graphics, charts and more.

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

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About the Author

I’m Heleana and I’m a content creator here at Visme. My passion is to help people find the information they’re looking for in the most fun and enjoyable way possible. Let’s make information beautiful.

More From Forbes

Best practices for virtual presentations: 15 expert tips that work for everyone.

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In today’s COVID-19 world, virtual meetings and presentations have become the norm. While many presentation skills and best practices apply to both in-person and virtual presentations, expert virtual presenters understand the importance of adjusting their approach to match the medium. With in-person presentations, you more or less have a captive audience — you still need be engaging, but your audience is kind of stuck with you for the duration. But with virtual presentations, your audience has a greater opportunity to stray. You now have to compete for their eyes, ears, hearts, and minds against diminished attention spans, increased home and work life distractions, and conflicting priorities. 

Here are 15 expert tips to set you up for success in your next virtual presentation:

1.     Get the Lighting Right:  As a presenter, it is essential that people can see you well. Make sure you have good front light—meaning the light shines brightly on your face. If your back is to a window, close the shades. While natural light is often the best choice, if your home office doesn’t have natural light and you do a lot of virtual presentations, consider purchasing supplemental lighting to enhance your image.

2.     Choose the Right Background:  Try to use a background that enhances your professional image and is aligned with your message. Avoid a cluttered background or anything that can be distracting. Learn whether your presentation platform enables you to use virtual backgrounds (like Zoom) or whether you can blur your background (like Microsoft Teams). Your background can either add to your professional presence or detract from it.

3.     Know the Technology:  Nothing kills a presentation faster than a presenter who fumbles with the technology. This is a performance, so make sure you know how to make it work. A dry run is essential so that you’re comfortable with the platform features. It’s best to have a co-host (or producer or moderator) assist you with the technology so that you can focus on your presentation. Make sure you practice with the same technical set up (computer and internet connection) that you will use when you deliver the presentation.

4.     Play to the Camera:  When you are the one speaking, look directly into your computer’s camera , not on the screen or at the other participants. This takes some practice, but it makes the viewer feel as if you are looking right at them. Some presenters turn off their self-view so that they aren’t distracted by their own image. Put the camera at eye level . Try not to have your camera too far above or below you. If it’s too low, then you run the risk of creating a double chin. A camera too high makes it difficult to maintain eye contact, as you may find your gaze dropping as you speak. If you are part of a panel or a team of presenters, make sure you are aware of when your camera is on. If you are not speaking but your camera is on, make sure you look like you are paying attention! Powerful presenters understand the importance of making eye contact with their audience, so this means you have to simulate the same effect virtually.

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5.     Get Close (But Not Too Close).  You want the camera to frame your face, neck, and shoulders. People are drawn to faces, so you don’t want to lose that connection by being too far away, but you also don’t want your face to take over the whole screen like a dismembered head because, well, that looks weird. Practice your positioning and distance.

6.     Stand Up:  If possible, use a standing desk or position your laptop so you can stand at eye level with your computer. Standing up provides a higher energy level and forces us to put our body in a more presentation-like mode. If you have to sit, lean forward as you would if you were presenting at a real meeting or as if you were a TV news anchor. Avoid slouching away from the camera, as that sends a signal that you are disconnected from the audience.

7.     Be Animated:  Just like in a live presentation, you want to present with a little energy and animation. Too slow or too monotone in your voice makes it easy for folks to disengage and tune out. Keeping people engaged virtually requires you to actually be engaging.

8.     Pace Yourself:  Without real-time visual audience feedback cues, getting the pacing right can be difficult. Even though you want to infuse some animation and energy into your presentation don’t pump up the speed too much. If you tend to be a fast talker in real life, practice slowing down just a bit. If you’re a slow talker, you may want to speed up just a bit.

9.     Do A Sound Check:  If your sound is garbled, people will tune out. While people may forgive less than perfect video, if they can’t clearly hear you, they will leave. Practice with someone on the other end of the presentation platform. Make sure your sound emits clearly. Sometimes headphones or external microphones work better than the computer audio, sometimes not. Every platform is different, so make sure your sound quality is excellent every time. And again, you should practice with the same technical configurations and location that you will use for your presentation.

10.  Plug into Your Modem:  If possible, plug your computer directly into your modem using an Ethernet cable. This will give you the strongest signal and most stable internet connection. The last thing you want to happen during your presentation is to have a weak or unstable internet signal.

11.  Incorporate Redundant Systems.  If using slides, make sure someone else (another webinar co-host or producer) also has a copy of the slides just in case your internet goes wonky and you have to present by calling in. If you are using slides, make them visually appealing. Use high-quality graphics and limit the amount of text on each slide. It’s your job as presenter to deliver the content. The slides are meant to enhance your spoken words, not replace them.

12.  Engage Your Participants. Just as if you were doing an in-person presentation, craft your presentation to engage the audience. Incorporate chats, polls, raised hand features, etc. Try not to speak for more than ten minutes without some sort of audience engagement. Use the participant list to interact with your participants by name. Have people chat or raise a hand if they want to speak. Keep track of the order of people and then call on them to invite them to turn on their mics or cameras. 

13.  Let Someone Else Check the Chats.  Don’t get sidetracked by the chats during your presentation. You’ll be shocked at how distracting it is to your train of thought if you attempt to read the chats while speaking. Instead, have your co-host or producer monitor the chats. If you ask people to chat you answers or comments to a question you’ve posed, then pause your talking and engage directly with the chats by acknowledging them, reading them out loud, and commenting on them. 

14.  Evaluate and Enhance:  If possible, record the session and take the time to play back and look for areas that worked well and areas that you might want to improve upon. Great presenters, whether virtual or in person, understand the value of continually honing their craft. Be sure to acknowledge your strengths as well as your areas of improvement.

15.  Be Yourself and Have Fun:  Again, just like in face-to-face presentations, audiences connect to authenticity, so be yourself! Let your personality show through. Have fun. If you look like you’re enjoying the presentation so will others. Research shows that happy people retain information better than bored or disinterested people, so model the energy that you want to create. The audience takes its cue from you.

Remember, whether you are presenting in-person or virtually, all presentations are performances. And all performances are in service to your audience. Their time is valuable, so honor that time by delivering the best presentation you can. No matter what kind of presentation you are giving, you must find ways to create authentic audience connection, engagement, and value.

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CVs & Résumés

• Sep 26, 2023
• 16 min read

20 Basic Computer Skills for Your Résumé (Tips & Examples)

Show off your computer literacy to employers in style.

Mike Dalley

HR and Learning & Development Expert

Reviewed by Chris Leitch

Using computers and software is a fact of life, and having some form of basic computer ability is essential in many different lines of work, as well as benefiting your personal life too. Basic computer skills come in many different forms, and understanding what they are is a good starting point in learning how to include them in your résumé so you stand out to employers.

This article covers what basic computer skills are, why they’re important, how to include them in your résumé, and how to develop them for further success.

What are basic computer skills?

In their most basic form, computer skills often refer to how proficient your understanding is of the fundamental operation of domestic computers, basic software such as word-processing applications and emails, and day-to-day troubleshooting techniques — even if it’s basically turning it off and on again!

Nevertheless, some professions’ take on basic computer skills will be a little more specific and require people who are expertly skilled with computers, such as coding skills for software engineers or graphic design programs if you work in the marketing or creative industries.

Why should include them in your résumé

Basic computer skills are used in most professions and are becoming increasingly valuable to the world of work in general. Therefore, it’s important they’re a part of your résumé. Many of these skills are also transferable , meaning they can be used in different jobs, industries and sectors. Including these in your résumé means your skills portfolio remains credible and relevant, no matter what kind of job you decide to apply for .

Because of their usefulness, you should include basic computer skills in other job application communications. For example, they can be included in prose on your cover letter , listed on your LinkedIn profile , referenced on online applications, and even demonstrated or visualised on any portfolio or website that you maintain.

Examples of basic computer skills

Here’s a list of 20 basic computer skills, what they involve and some examples of each one:

1. Accounting software

As bookkeeping becomes an increasingly computational process , people who work in financial management, payroll or accounting need to have a grasp of the software and processes concerned with managing money online.

Accounting software skills often refer to programs that either automate bookkeeping through artificial intelligence or allow finance professionals to spend more time analyzing and strategizing financial information.

Examples include:

• Microsoft Excel

2. Artificial Intelligence

AI is permeating many areas of our lives . At work, it can be used to help us with accounting, writing communication, constructing data, planning our day, and many other things in between. AI is, therefore, an especially useful computer skill to have, because the chances are that you’ll need to use it increasingly often.

It’s especially important to have knowledge of the various programs that power the AI that we often use, as well as basic knowledge of computer-based AI concepts such as machine learning.

Key AI skills include:

• Google Bard
• Machine learning
• Programming software such as Java

3. Communication tools

Computer skills are becoming increasingly useful for communication because so much of what we say and do is done so online. We use online programs to communicate at work and obviously do the same when it comes to talking with our friends and loved ones.

To get the most out of online communication, it’s helpful to have good knowledge of the various programs that you might use.

Some of the best online communication tools include:

• Google Hangouts
• Microsoft Teams

4. Computer programming

Computer programming powers many of the systems and tools that we use every day. Even if your job doesn’t have much to do with computer programming, it’s good to have at least a passing understanding of what it is.

That said, if your role has anything to do with web design or software engineering, then having a good knowledge of the various programs used in these areas is not only useful but also essential to your success.

Examples of programming languages include:

5. Cloud computing

The convenience of accessing applications over the internet rather than having rooms of servers in an office providing the same thing provides many advantages to people and businesses. As such, many jobs will require employees to have a basic knowledge of cloud computing software to store data and pass information from one user to another.

Here are some examples of cloud computing skills :

• Google Cloud
• Microsoft Azure

It's worth noting here that cloud computing with Azure is becoming immensely popular among candidates, who are leveraging online platforms to complete their Microsoft Certification and enhance their skill sets. This offers a distinct competitive advantage, enabling professionals to stand out in the already crowded job market.

6. Cybersecurity / Information security

Keeping online data safe and secure is essential to many jobs, and there are plenty of highly publicized cases where data has been lost or stolen because it was improperly stored.

Understanding the various cybersecurity skills and programs is useful, as it will help you keep both your own data and your employers’ data safe and secure. Some jobs will also require a deeper understanding of cybersecurity, depending on the sensitivity of what you’re working on.

Cybersecurity skills include:

• CrowdStrike

7. Databases / Spreadsheets

Love them or hate them, computer-based spreadsheet programs are an essential part of working life, and you might even use them to keep yourself organized at home, too!

Whereas some job roles will need more than a basic understanding of spreadsheet software, even having a fundamental knowledge of them will make many jobs easier to do and will increase your value in the eyes of your employer.

Here are some online spreadsheet skills:

• Apple Numbers
• Google Sheets

8. Digital marketing

Digital marketing is especially relevant in modern business, where the need for instant and broad exposure requires technological solutions. Those who work in digital marketing combine traditional marketing tasks with skills that require computer usage and knowledge. These skill combinations are in high demand and can be used at home too.

Examples of digital marketing skills include:

• Email marketing
• Google AdSense

Email is one of the most widely used and universal computer skills out there, with more than 4.3 billion people worldwide maintaining at least one email address in 2023.

Using email effectively , at work or at home, requires knowledge of more than just such basics as sending and receiving messages. Email programs are technically advanced and can help you work efficiently, so knowing how to use them to their full potential is vital.

Examples of email programs include:

• Thunderbird

10. Enterprise software

Enterprise software are online programs geared towards the needs of an organization. Its purpose is to bring together various business needs and tasks, including communication, reporting, managing workstreams, finding efficiencies and supporting business operations.

The use of Enterprise Software is widespread and, as such, many workers will benefit from knowing how to use these programs, such as:

11. Graphic design

There are many facets to graphic design that are frequently used by many professionals. These range from basic photo editing skills to creating videos, and creating images or vectors to full-scale 3D modelling.

As such, graphic design competencies are highly valued, and even if your role requires little more than just creating the occasional poster here and there, they are useful skills to have in your arsenal.

Key graphic design skills and programs include:

• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop

12. Hardware

Hardware skills relate to the knowledge of how computers, laptops and other IT-related equipment works. Hardware is often technologically advanced and very expensive, so it’s recommended that, unless you have specialist knowledge of it, it’s best to leave it alone.

Nevertheless, there are some useful basic hardware skills to learn that might come in handy, including:

• Driver configuration
• Hardware analysis
• Internet connectivity
• Printers and peripherals
• System maintenance
• Software installation

13. IT troubleshooting

Let’s face it: computational troubleshooting skills are skills that we all need from time to time. Having knowledge of computers and what makes them stop working is essential for us being able to get on with our work.

For IT professionals, a deep-seated understanding of basic IT troubleshooting skills is fundamental, but for most workers, knowing the basics of IT troubleshooting is important and can help you save time by not escalating simple issues.

Here are some examples of IT troubleshooting skills:

• Incident escalation
• Internet configuration
• Network diagnostics
• Network security
• System administration skills
• Task Manager and Control Panel knowledge

14. Operating systems

Operating systems are software programs that support the basic functions of computers, tablets and smartphones. They provide basic services for both users and the computer itself, and are fundamental to how these machines operate. Where the nature of operating systems means that they run in the background, it’s good to know details about how they work and what they can be used for.

Operating systems skill examples include:

• Microsoft Windows

15. Presentation software

Presentation software is used to bring big ideas to life. These programs are used every day at work, and although we’ll focus on the software skills needed, you also should be mindful that public speaking and communication skills bring computer presentations to life. Presentation software programs can also be used to create memos, posters and many other documents that can be useful both at work and at home.

Here are some of the main skills and programs to be aware of:

• Google Slides
• Microsoft PowerPoint

16. Productivity software

Computers have made it easier than ever before to keep ourselves organized and on top of our work. Therefore, upskilling productivity software knowledge is the perfect way to stay efficient and be able to do great work.

There are many distinct types of productivity software , some of which are more technical and focused on finding and analyzing information, and others are more user-friendly and geared towards casual productivity.

Here’s a list of some top productivity software skills:

17. Project management

Project management is a great skill to have, as it gets people thinking creatively and opens them up to change management . Projects can be efficiently managed online, and there are many different types of software that facilitate this process.

Project management software skills are particularly transferable, as many programs that focus on this skill can also be used to support in other areas like productivity, email, communication and cloud computing.

Examples of specific project management skills include:

• Microsoft Project

18. Social media

Love it or hate it, social media skills are useful because of how much our personal and working lives are linked with such websites. Having basic social media skills allows you to easily communicate with friends and coworkers, and stay on top of communication and messages. These skills also help you to effectively promote your personal brand , the work you do and the organization you work in.

Some of the best social media skills include:

• Google Analytics
• X (formerly Twitter)

19. Web browsing software

Web browsers are software programs that allow us to access websites. Despite this simple purpose, modern web browsers offer various functions, such as customization tools that optimize how we read websites and interact with the information, advanced online security features, and can also be configured to ensure your computer runs quickly and efficiently. As such, web browsing software skills are useful for everyone.

Here are some of the best to learn:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Mozilla Firefox

20. Word processing software

Word processing software skills are vital today because many documents that we create for work are compiled using these programs. Word processing software not only allows us to create professional looking documents, but they can also help us edit the document, proofread it, reposition language to give it a specific voice or intonation, and structure longer documents into sections.

Examples of word processing programs include:

• FocusWriter
• Google Docs
• LibreOffice
• Microsoft Word

How to list basic computer skills on your résumé

Of course, having basic computer skills in place is only half the battle; you need to ensure these are effectively featured in your résumé. Here’s how:

1. Create a dedicated skills section

Create a separate skills section on your résumé and, if space allows, separate this into hard and soft skills. Basic computer skills are hard skills. Ensure you list the skills by order of relevance and in a neat, bulleted list , set across columns so they don’t take up too much room.

2. Stick to 10 skills

Even if you have many different computer skills, avoid the temptation to list too many, as this will take space on your résumé that could otherwise be used for detailing work or educational experience. It can also make the document look long-winded and disjointed. Consider what skills you are best at by conducting some evaluation and self-reflection.

3. Align the skills to the job you’re applying for

Because many companies use applicant tracking systems to sift résumés, it’s good practice to ensure your application aligns to what they’re looking for to maximize the chances of being shortlisted. Read the job description to see what basic computer skills are being looked for and, if you have these, add them to the skills that you list in your résumé. This will ensure your résumé is relevant, skills-orientated and ATS-friendly — and stands out from the crowd.

4. Discuss them in your work experience section

You can also add basic computer skills in your work history. If, in your current role or previous ones, you have used basic computer skills and have achievements to show, then reference these computer skills along with measurable achievements. For example, you can write: “Used Google Sheets to create a cost management process that saved us 10% in wastage in 2022” or “Led a mentoring project using Trello that increased employee engagement by 20%”.

5. Add them in your personal statement

Another place to list basic computer skills on your résumé is right at the top, in your personal statement . This is best used if such skills are fundamental to the job you’re applying for, as you won’t have many words to work with here. Nevertheless, this is an impactful way to demonstrate to the employer that your candidacy closely matches what they’re looking for.  Use concise phrases like “Exceptional user of Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Illustrator”.

How to develop your basic computer skills

If you feel that you need to work on your basic computer skills, then don’t panic, as these can be developed swiftly with easy to access courses. Here are some tips on how to do so:

1. Get practical experience

Learning by doing is especially useful when it comes to developing practical computer skills. Many people feel that reading about basic computer skills is a good place to start, but will only get the full understanding of what is needed by trying things out. Many computer skills can be practiced on live software in “test” modes. Practicing on these sites and learning what to do in real time can be a rewarding and powerful developmental experience.

2. Take classes

There are industry-specific computer science courses that will enable you to become professionally qualified in basic computer skills. Some of these courses can even be taken for free on websites like LinkedIn. Ensure you understand what it is you’re looking to develop (or what exactly an employer is looking for), as there is plenty of choice, and it’s a good idea to shop around as well. List any qualifications you complete on your résumé.

3. Use Google

It sounds like an oxymoron, using a computer program to develop computer skills, but one of the best ways to shore up your knowledge in these areas is to ask Google or other web search engines what to do. Many webpages will provide step-by-step guides on how to complete certain tasks or skills, and you can review this in whatever way you want. You can also watch instructional videos on websites like YouTube.

4. Ask for help

It’s amazing what support you’ll receive if you ask for a little assistance in developing computer skills. Away from work, you might have a friend or family member who can train you on what is needed; at work, your manager might be able to suggest a coworker who can train you, or even a buddy or a mentor to provide you with ongoing support.

5. Be patient

When learning basic computer skills, it’s important that you take your time. These skills, although basic in nature, take a long time to learn and are very nuanced and specific. A good approach is to learn a particular process, practice it and master it — before moving onto something new. This way, you won’t overload yourself with knowledge, and the task of developing these skills will seem easier.

Key takeaways

Having basic computer literacy is becoming increasingly important, and including them in your résumé is essential to even be considered for many kinds of jobs. Here are some key points about basic computer skills:

• There are many different kinds of basic computer skills, and what you need (and how you use them) depends on the job you’re doing.
• They can be included in your résumé in several ways, and it’s best to tailor their usage to the job you’re applying for.
• They’re easily developed but need to be practiced and maintained over time.

Now that you know what the best basic computer skills are for your résumé, take some time to assess what you know and what you want to learn, and put these skills to work. Good luck!

Got a question? Let us know in the comments section below.

Finding a Job

Transferable Skills

Hard Skills

Résumé Writing

Computer Skills

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No matter what industry or department you work in, public speaking is typically part of the job. And whether you need to present for two minutes on the results of your latest marketing and sales campaign, or thirty minutes on your team's goals and results for the quarter, it more than likely makes you anxious.

If you're scared of presenting, you're not alone. In fact, surveys have found some people rate public speaking as scarier than death — no big deal though, right?

Fortunately, there are skills you can acquire to become an expert at public speaking. Here, we're going to explore the 11 top ways to improve your presentation skills, so you can excel at your next meeting. Best of all, you can learn presentation skills to apply these same skills to your presentation whether you're working remotely or in-person.

How to Improve Your Presentation Skills

1. be brief..

The average attention span for people who listen to speeches is estimated to be somewhere between five to 10 minutes , so, if at all possible, make your presentation brief and concise.

Try eliminating unnecessary data or information that isn't critical to your main point. If your presentation needs to be over 10 minutes, break it up using quizzes, a brief poll, or asking for your audience's opinion on a subject.

Additionally, it's said that ideas repeated three times stick more clearly in our minds. Rather than trying to make each slide unique, try weaving one or two similar ideas together throughout the entire presentation to ensure those main ideas stick in your audience's minds.

2. If remote, focus on your atmosphere.

If you're presenting from a remote location, it's critical you pay attention to lighting, your background, and potential noise distractions.

Don't present in a crowded coffee shop, or in a bedroom with distracting posters behind you. Instead, find a clean background to minimize distraction, and bring a lamp closer to your computer if you think the space is too dark.

3. Prepare, prepare, prepare.

One of the scariest parts of public speaking is the fear of the unknown — What am I going to say? How is the audience going to react?

By practicing ahead of time, you're minimizing some of these fears. Prepare so you know what you want to say for each slide, and even present ahead of time for a friend or colleague to get their feedback. The more you prepare, the less stressed you'll be.

If you're presenting from a remote location, try recording yourself ahead of time and playing it back to evaluate areas of improvement.

However, it's important to note — abiding to a strict script during your presentation will only make you feel more anxious. You'll be worried about missing that one word in the third paragraph on the second note card, rather than trusting your ability to expand on ideas in-person.

Instead of memorizing each word, jot down some general ideas and use them as jumping-off points in your presentation.

4. Make your slides short-and-sweet, and expand on the information in your presentation.

There's nothing worse than a presentation in which each slide is jam-packed with crowded text, and the presenter simply reads each slide to the audience -- this is a surefire way to lose your audience's attention quickly, or stress them out with information overload.

Instead, make your slides short-and-sweet with minimal visuals and text. Then, you can always expand on the information in your presentation .

For instance, let's say you're reporting on your latest campaign results. On your slide, you might put a graph with a "+25% CTR" text. Then, in your presentation, you can explain the information in an engaging way — "We found, just two weeks after implementing our latest campaign, that the number of click-through rates increased by 25% on our landing page."

It's more interesting to say that out loud than read it back to your audience, don't you think? The Owl Labs State of Remote Work survey found that Vice Presidents and C-level executives are the least likely to be visual learners, so focus on the story you're telling with your speaking to have the greatest impact on high-level meeting attendees you're presenting to.

5. Be enthusiastic.

Most people would prefer to listen to an enthusiastic speaker over an eloquent one. On the day of your presentation, harness your anxiety and turn it into enthusiasm and passion over the subject. If you're excited about what you're presenting on, your audience will be, too.

6. Watch other presentations.

Before your presentation, get inspired by watching impressive speakers. Consider checking out motivating TED Talks or compelling commencement speeches . Take notes on the aspects of their presentations you find most engaging, including tone of voice, body language, and their ability to transition from one idea to the next. Then try some of those tactics in your own presentations, and see which ones make you feel more confident.

For both inspiration and humor, check out How to sound smart in your TEDx Talk .

7. Use positive visualization.

Positive visualization is an incredibly useful ingredient for success. In fact, The Journal of Consulting Psychology released a study in which they provided two groups with career counseling and interview coaching, but one group also received visualization techniques. After two months, 66% of those in the visualization group had found new jobs — compared to just 21% in the non-visualization group.

Visualization can help increase your confidence and make you feel more mentally prepared for your presentation. Before your presentation, try turning negative thoughts into positive ones — rather than thinking, "I might forget my information," think, "I've practiced a ton, so I know I'm ready."

Additionally, try imagining yourself as an impressive, engaging speaker right before you present. Ideally, your positive visualization will boost your optimism and confidence, and lead you to doing a better job.

8. Exercise.

Exercising can boost your endorphins and eliminate anxiety related to public speaking, so try going for a short run or attending a morning cycle class before your presentation.

When you're nervous, you're more likely to speak quickly and rush through points to try to get the presentation "over with" -- but you'll end up making yourself more nervous by doing this, as you run out of breath and lose control of your pace.

Instead, don't be afraid to pause. Pauses can help you emphasize important points, and will give your audience time to digest what you just said. Additionally, speaking slowly can make you seem less nervous and more in-control.

10. Acknowledge it's normal to be nervous.

If you fight your nerves or tell yourself "this isn't something I should be nervous about", you're ultimately only going to feel more anxious. Instead, embrace the energy you feel from your nerves. Tell yourself, "Yes, I am nervous because I want this to go well … however, I know it will go well. I am capable of speaking on this subject and I know what I'm talking about. I'm prepared and ready to go."

If you're feeling exceptionally nervous, you might also try EFT Tapping , which is thought to relieve anxiety due to negative thoughts.

11. Try power posing.

In one of the most popular TED Talks of all time, " Your body language may shape who you are ", social psychologist Amy Cuddy discusses a study she published with colleagues at Harvard University, in which participants were asked to sit in either a high-power pose or low-power pose for two minutes.

Ultimately, Cuddy and her colleagues found participants who sat in high-power poses felt more comfortable and performed better in interviews, compared to those who sat in low-power poses. Additionally, they saw high-power posers experienced increases in testosterone, and decreases in cortisol.

In other words, their body language alone boosted hormones attributed to the feeling of "power", while simultaneously quieting hormones attributed to the feeling of "stress."

Next time you're about to present, give it a shot. At the very least, power posing should help you feel more in control of the situation.

Ultimately, becoming a good public speaker requires practice just like any other skill -- but, ideally, these 11 tactics should help you eliminate your fears and become a more engaging and inspiring speaker for your next presentation.

21 Ways To Improve Your Presentation Skills

Published: April 07, 2023

You know the feeling of sitting through a boring presentation. A text distracts you. A noise outside pulls your gaze. Your dog begs for attention. By the time the presentation ends, you question why you needed to sit and listen in the first place.

Effective presentation skills can stop you from boring an audience to oblivion. Delivering strong presentations can help you stand out as a leader, showcase your expertise, and build confidence.

Table of contents:

• Presentation skills definition
• Importance of presentation skills
• How to improve presentation skills
• Effective presentation skills
• Presentation skills for executives

Presentation Skills Definition

Presentation skills include anything you need to create and deliver clear, effective presentations to an audience. This includes creating a compelling set of slides , ensuring the information flows, and keeping your audience engaged.

Speakers with strong presentation skills can perform the following tasks:

• Bring together different sources of information to form a compelling narrative
• Hook audiences with a strong beginning and end
• Ensure audiences engage with their content through questions or surveys
• Understand what their audience wants and needs from their presentation

Importance of Presentation Skills

At some point in your career, you will present something. You might pitch a startup to a group of investors or show your research findings to your manager at work. Those in leading or executive roles often deliver presentations on a weekly or monthly basis.

Improving your presentation skills betters different aspects of your working life, including the following:

Communication: Improving your presentation skills can make you a better communicator with your co-workers and friends.

Confidence: 75% of people fear public speaking. By working on your presentation skills, you can gain confidence when speaking in front of a crowd.

Creativity: You learn to understand how to use imagery and examples to engage an audience.

Management: Presentations involve pulling together information to form a succinct summary, helping you build project and time management skills.

How To Improve Presentation Skills

1. create an outline.

Before designing slides and writing a script, outline your presentation. Start with your introduction, segue into key points you want to make, and finish with a conclusion.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

Almost 8 in 10 professionals practice their presentations for at least an hour. So, practice your presentation in the mirror or to a close friend.

3. Start With a Hook

When presenting, grab your audience with a hook. Consider starting with a surprising statistic or a thoughtful question before diving into the core information.

4. Stay Focused on Your Topic

You might want to cover everything under the sun, but information overload can overwhelm your audience. Instead, stay focused on what you want to cover. Aim for key points and avoid including unnecessary details.

5. Remember To Introduce Yourself

At the beginning of the presentation, introduce yourself. Kill any tension in the room by mentioning your name, your role, and any other helpful details. You could even mention a fun fact about yourself, putting the audience at ease.

6. Work on Your Body Language

55% of people look to nonverbal communication when judging a presentation. Straighten your back, minimize unnecessary gestures, and keep your voice confident and calm. Remember to work on these aspects when practicing.

7. Memorize Structure, Not Words

You might feel better knowing exactly what you want to say. But skip the script and stick to memorizing the key points of your presentation. For example, consider picking three to four phrases or insights you want to mention for each part of your presentation rather than line-by-line memorization.

8. Learn Your Audience

Before crafting a killer outline and slide deck, research your audience. Find out what they likely already know, such as industry jargon, and where they might need additional information. Remember: You're presenting for them, not you.

9. Reframe Your Anxiety as Excitement

A study conducted byHarvard Business School demonstrates that reframing your anxiety as excitement can improve performance. For example, by saying simple phrases out loud, such as “I’m excited,” you then adopt an opportunity-oriented mentality.

10. Get Comfortable With the Setting

If you plan to present in person, explore the room. Find where you’re going to stand and deliver your presentation. Practice looking into the seats. By decreasing the number of unknowns, you can clear your head and focus on the job.

11. Get Familiar With Technology

Presenting online has unique challenges, such as microphone problems and background noise. Before a Zoom presentation, ensure your microphone works, clean up your background, test your slides, and consider any background noise.

12. Think Positively

Optimistic workers enjoy faster promotions and happier lives. By reminding yourself of the positives — for example, your manager found your last presentation impressive — you can shake off nerves and find joy in the process.

13. Tell a Story

To engage your audience, weave storytelling into your presentation — more than 5 in 10 people believe stories hold their focus during a presentation. Consider ways to connect different parts of your slides into a compelling narrative.

14. Prepare for Questions

At the end of your presentation, your audience will likely have questions. Brainstorm different questions and potential answers so you’re prepared.

15. Maintain Eye Contact

Eye contact signals honesty. When possible, maintain eye contact with your audience. For in-person presentations, pay attention to each audience member. For online ones, stare at your camera lens as you deliver.

16. Condense Your Presentation

After you finish the first draft of your outline, think about ways to condense it. Short and sweet often keeps people interested instead of checking their phones.

17. Use Videos

Keep your audience’s attention by incorporating video clips when relevant. For example, videos can help demonstrate examples or explain difficult concepts.

18. Engage With Your Audience

Almost 8 in 10 professionals view presentations as boring. Turn the tide by engaging with your audience. Encourage audience participation by asking questions or conducting a live survey.

19. Present Slowly and Pause Frequently

When you get nervous, you talk faster. To combat this, remember to slow yourself down when practicing. Place deep pauses throughout your presentation, especially when transitioning between slides, as it gives you time to breathe and your audience time to absorb.

20. Start and End With a Summary

A summary at the start of a presentation can pique your audience’s interest. One at the end brings everything together, highlighting key points your audience should take with them.

21. Ask for Feedback

You will never deliver the perfect presentation, so ask for feedback. Talk to your managers about where you could improve. Consider surveying your audience for an unbiased look into your presentation skills.

Effective Presentation Skills

Effective presentation skills include communicating clearly, presenting with structure, and engaging with the audience.

As an example, say a content manager is presenting a quarterly review to their team. They start off with a summary. Their introduction mentions an unprecedented 233% growth in organic traffic — numbers their team has not seen in years. Immediately, the presenter grabs their team’s attention. Now, everyone wants to know how they achieved that in one quarter.

Alternatively, think of an entrepreneur delivering their pitch to a group of investors. They start with a question: How many of you struggle to stay awake at work? They then segue into an exciting product designed to improve the sleep quality of working professionals. Their presentation includes videos demonstrating the science behind sleep and surprising statistics about the demand for their product.

Both examples demonstrate effective presentation skills. They incorporate strong attention grabbers, summaries, and attempts to engage the audience.

Think back to strong presentations you viewed as an audience member. Ask yourself: What made them so memorable, and how can I incorporate those elements into my presentations?

Presentation Skills for Executives

Presentations take up a significant portion of an executive’s workload. Executives regularly showcase key company initiatives, team changes, quarterly and annual reviews, and more. Improving your presentation skills as a leader can help with different parts of your job, such as:

Trust: Delivering great, effective presentations can build trust between you and your team.

Confidence: Most people dread presentations — so a strong presenter projects the confidence needed by a leader.

Emotional intelligence: A great presentation taps into the audience’s perspectives, helping executives improve their emotional intelligence .

Expertise: Presentations help executives display their subject-matter expertise, making employees safe in their hands.

Delegation: At times, executives might need to pull information from different sources for a presentation — improving their ability to delegate as managers.

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How to List Computer Skills on a Resume [Full List & Examples]

Nowadays, computer skills are more important than ever. 

With the increasing use of technology in the workplace, there are practically no jobs that don’t require at least some degree of computer literacy, be it typing fast, knowing how to use Google Docs, or knowing how to code. 

In a nutshell, in today’s job market strong computer skills can increase your productivity, improve your employability, and help you advance in your career more easily.  

But do you know which computer skills are exactly the right ones to include in your resume and what can you do to make them stand out?

Well, this is exactly what this article is here to show you! Read on to learn:

• 14 Computer Skills for Your Resume

3 Steps to Add Computer Skills to Your Resume

23+ courses to improve your computer skills.

Let’s dive in. 

14 Computer Skills For Your Resume

Computer skills are a set of transferable skills that refer to the ability to use computers and all related technology. They consist of hardware skills and software skills .  

Knowing your way around hardware starts from simple things like turning machines on and off to more complicated stuff like connecting them with networks and changing parts. Software skills, on the other hand, involve knowing how to use computer programs and applications. 

Although there are several levels to computer skills, they are typically divided into: 

• Basic computer skills. Such as using word processing software, creating spreadsheets, using printers and other work-related equipment, or looking up information online.
• Advanced computer skills. This includes using complex Excel formulas, coding, managing a database, etc.

Now that we covered the basics, here is a detailed breakdown of the most in-demand computer skills that you can add to your resume in 2022:

#1. MS Office

Microsoft Office is Microsoft’s most popular “family of client software and services.” 

As such, there are over 1.2 billion users of MS Office products and more than 60 million businesses have subscriptions to Office 365, which includes: 

#2. Google Drive 

Google Drive is a popular file-storage service that has grown exponentially in the past ten years. Specifically, 40,220 companies worldwide are using Google Drive , most often in the US and in the Information Technology and Services industries. 

On top of being a file storage service, Google Drive allows its users to synchronize and share their files across multiple devices. Google Drive encompasses: 

• Google Docs
• Google Sheets
• Google Slides
• Google Forms

#3. Collaboration and Communication Software

Companies and businesses use collaboration tools to communicate effectively online. 

Some communication tools are essential for every company (e.g. e-mailing, Skype, etc.), while others come particularly handy for remote companies that need more dedicated software to manage teams in different locations.

Here are some popular communication and collaboration tools you can add to your resume:

• Microsoft Teams
• Google Hangouts
• Lifesize Video Conferencing

#4. Social Media

With companies using social media to increase their online presence and market their products/services more and more, social media skills have become important for workers in many industries. 

Specifically, as of June 2022, about 88% of marketers will hire at least one more team member in a social media role in the next two years. This alone makes social media skills essential computer skills to have on your resume. 

Some of the most popular platforms to master are: 

If you’re going to add social media skills to your resume, don’t just mention the platforms you know how to use.

Instead, talk exactly about what you know how to do with these platforms. E.g. running Facebook Ads, managing the company's Instagram profile, etc.

#5. Presentation Software

When it comes to computer skills, knowing how to use presentation software can help you organize and present information effectively and efficiently. As such, they come in particularly handy for “crowd-facing” positions, such as professor, spokesperson, motivational speaker, project manager , etc. 

Some popular presentation software includes: 

• OpenOffice Impress

#6. Graphic Design Skills

Graphic design skills are not only for dedicated graphic design roles - they’re useful for jobs in marketing, advertising, social media management, and others.

The most common graphic design tools and software include: 

• Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.)
• Gravit Designer

#7. Hardware Skills

As we already mentioned, hardware skills refer to being able to physically operate a computer and other related devices. 

There are numerous hardware skills out there (depending on your field), but some of the most common ones are:

• Network configuration and security
• System Administration
• Technical support and troubleshooting
• Cloud management
• Hardware Development, Analysis, and Testing
• Software installation
• Tech support

#8. Enterprise systems

Enterprise systems are software that provide solutions to an integrated business organization. 

Such systems integrate all the tools an organization is using into one, making everything easier to manage.

The three main types of enterprise systems that businesses use are: 

• Customer Relationship Management, with functionalities like analytics, contact center automation, marketing communication, and workflow automation.
• Enterprise Resource Planning, with functionalities such as accounting, human resources, inventory and order management, etc.
• Supply Chain Management, with functionalities such as procurement, product lifecycle management, and logistics, to mention a few.

#9. Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are apps used for inputting and organizing data into tables, quick numbers calculations, and even complex data analysis. 

While some employers may require a very basic knowledge of such apps, more technical positions (i.e. accounting , retail management, bookkeeping , etc.) will likely require that you are well-versed in more advanced features. 

Some common spreadsheet apps used by companies in 2024 include: 

• Apple Numbers
• Zoho Sheets
• Libre Office

#10. Operation Systems

Operating Systems (OS) refers to the software that each computer uses to work.

Different operating systems manage software differently and sometimes work only with specific hardware. For example, Apple devices run on iOS or macOS, Microsoft devices run on Windows, Google devices run on Android, and Linux is used for various hardware devices. 

Mentioning you have OS skills in your resume means knowing how to use one (or more) of the following operating systems:

• Ubuntu Linux

Make sure to mention the exact operating system you know how to use on your resume, instead of writing something generic like “OS knowledge.” 

#11. Accounting Software

If you’re going for a position in finance or business, then accounting software knowledge is essential. 

Even if you’re applying for a job in a small-scale business, knowing how to use accounting software can surely give you an edge over your competition, considering they’re quite integral for a company’s success. 

Specifically, knowing how to use accounting software involves managing accounts, payments, expenses, cash flow, and other financial data. Some of the most popular accounting tools today are

• Oracle NetSuite

#12. Writing Skills  

As you’ve probably understood already, computer writing skills are about a lot more than knowing how to use MS Word or Google Docs. 

On the contrary, they entail a variety of skills that are related to writing, including how to use content management systems, how to write content that’s optimized for search engines, and even how fast you can type. 

These are some specific skills related to computers and writing: 

• Search Engine Optimization
• Technical Writing

#13. Database Management

A database management system (DBMS) is a computerized data-keeping system. In a nutshell, database management skills involve knowing how to use different data-keeping software, including creating, maintaining, and controlling access to the database. 

Some jobs where database management skills are essential are developer roles, data analysts , business or financial data analysts , data scientists , and the sorts. 

The most popular database management systems include: 

• Microsoft Access
• Apache Cassandra
• Oracle Database

#14. Coding Skills

Coding or programming skills are knowing how to use different programming languages to command an application/computer/software about what actions it must perform and how. 

It goes without saying that computer programmers, software engineers , and application developers need coding skills to land a job in their field. 

Coding skills, however, can also come in handy for other roles as well. For example, businesspeople and marketers can also take advantage of coding knowledge to communicate better with technical staff.

Some of the most popular coding skills in 2024 are:

Are you looking for computer skills that match YOUR specific position? Head over to our guide on resume examples & guides for over 80 professions. 

Your computer skills may fail to help you land a job if you don’t know how to add them to your resume in a compelling way.

And yes, there IS a right and wrong way to do this.

Below, we’ll walk you through the entire process of how to add your computer skills to your resume, step by step.

Before you read further, though, pick one of our resume templates and fill it in as you go!

#1. List Your Computer Skills Under Hard Skills

The first and most obvious place to list your computer skills is under your Skills section. 

This part is pretty straightforward - done right, your skills section should be divided into 

“ Soft Skills ” and “ Hard Skills ” and look something like this:

Keep in mind, though, that you shouldn’t include too many skills here.

Chances, you don’t need ALL the computer skills for the job you’re applying for. Not to mention, if you included too many, you’d be cluttering up your resume.

Here’s what you can do to make your skills section as relevant as possible: 

• Check the job description. The job description will show you exactly which computer skills are essential for the job - all you have to do is go through it attentively. For marketing managers, for example, it may require skills like SEO, Google analytics, and email marketing. 
• Identify your own skills. Single out the skills that you possess and are also relevant to the role. 
• Add them under your Skills section. Add technical computer skills under your resume’s hard skills or skills section if you’re not separating hard/soft skills. 

#2. Sprinkle Your Computer Skills In Your Resume Summary

Secondly, you should add your computer skills to your resume summary . 

The resume summary is a two or three-sentence paragraph that aims to describe your strong points as a candidate. It typically includes: 

• Your professional title and years of experience 
• One or two of your top skills
• Your most noteworthy accomplishments  

If you do it right, the resume summary will get the hiring manager to go through your resume and professional experience in more detail. 

Here is an example of an attention-grabbing resume summary:

So, for positions where computer skills are absolutely essential, it’s definitely helpful to mention your computer skills in the resume summary section. For example:

• Hard-working office assistant with 8 years of experience performing various administrative tasks to support an office's daily operations. Proven track record of maintaining records, generating reports, and multitasking in a fast-paced environment. Well-versed in Microsoft Office Suite, MS Office 365, and Google Drive. 

#3. Prove Your Computer Skills In Your Work Experience Section

Last but not least, you should also include your computer skills in the work experience section . 

Basically, this is where you can prove that you’ve got all the computer skills needed for the job.

Mentioning the computer skills in your skills section is one thing - giving examples of how you’ve used these skills in an office environment in the work experience section is something else entirely.

Here’s how you can list your computer skills in your work experience section the right way:

• Tailor your experience to the job description. When applying for jobs, you should always customize your work experience section to the company’s needs. Read the job ad and extract the most important skills they’re looking for. Then, in your work experience section, make sure to include experiences that prove that you DO possess such skills.
• Prioritize your achievements. When possible, aim to use achievements to describe your past experience instead of responsibilities. The hiring manager knows what your responsibilities were; they want to know how you excelled at the job and made an impact.
• Make your achievements quantifiable. As for how you should list your achievements, you should aim to make them as quantifiable as possible. Think about which one sounds better: “increased team productivity by 15% by using Trello and Google calendar to ease communication, synchronize tasks, and share materials” or “improved team productivity?”

And here’s an example that highlights and proves the candidate’s computer skills:

IT Specialist

02/2015 - 06/2019

• Ensured over 200 computers worked effectively by monitoring, configuring, and maintaining their hardware and software systems.
• Implemented innovative network configurations that improved networking capabilities by 17%. 
• Evaluated IT systems to ensure efficiency and data security, successfully avoiding any data breaches and leaks in four years. 
• Contributed to the successful delivery of large-scale projects, including all computer system upgrades and CRM system migration, within the right time frame.

Do you have some personal projects or certificates that can make your computer skills practically indisputable? Make sure to include them in dedicated sections titled Professional Certificates or Independent Projects. 

15 Ways to Describe Basic Computer Skills

Not sure how to best describe YOUR computer skills?

Worry not, we’re here to help!

Below, we’re going to give you 15 examples of computer skills listed effectively on a resume:

For collaboration and communication software: 

• Increased project team’s productivity by 16% by using Trello to organize materials, automate tasks, and ease communication. 
• Managed to never miss a deadline in two years by using Microsoft Teams to integrate team members, content, and tools in one place. 
• Created mail merges between MS Outlook and Word that reached over 30k customers/monthly.

For MS Office: 

• Used MS Word’s commenting feature to collaborate on deliverables with 15 team members and successfully managed to submit reports continuously before their deadlines. 
• Leveraged Excel pivot tables to categorize budget reports, which improved the company’s overall financial strategy and performance. 
• Saved approximately 4 work hours per week by using Outlook folders and tasks. This system was later adopted by the entire department. 

For Google Drive: 

• Used Google Docs to onboard new employees and keep track of existing ones’ performance and work hours, effectively improving team management and collaboration. 
• Saved trainees’ time looking for answers to customer questions by using Google Sheets to automate the company’s FAQ. 
• Raised company revenue by around 13% by using Google Sheets’ Tornado Charts for sensitivity analysis.

For Enterprise Systems: 

• Automated workflow using Zoho to increase productivity by 18%. 
• Improved business revenue by 24% by using Oracle ERP to automate back-office processes and daily business activities. 
• Leveraged SourceHUB to centralize the company’s data and streamline logistics processes, to improve communication and save time.

For Graphic Design 

• Used After Effects to make motion graphic animations for video productions with a client approval rate of over 90%. 
• Improved clients’ social media presence by rebranding their logo and website using InDesign. 
• Developed graphics and layouts for product illustrations and logos using Illustrator and After Effects, which increased user engagement by 8%.

Looking to further develop your computer skills?

Great idea!

Unlike soft skills, you don’t need years of work in an office to develop - all you need is the right training course!

Below, we compiled a list of the most useful computer skills courses we could find:

• Accounting software. You can become a certified QuickBooks user with this course or learn Xero accounting software with this one. Alternatively, you can follow a QuickBooks online essential training course .
• Communication tools. Microsoft offers free Outlook training for different Operating Systems to help you learn the ins and outs of emailing, while this course can help you master Asana. 
• Database management. Microsoft also offers free training for its own database management system, Access . If you go online, you should be able to find alternative courses for other systems. 
• Enterprise systems. Coursera offers a number of classes from top universities on enterprise systems . 
• Google Drive. This online training course on Google Drive can help you become a master of everything Google-related. 
• Graphic design. LinkedIn Learning offers a number of training courses in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator - all you have to do is pick the one you want to learn and input it at the search bar at the top of the page. 
• Microsoft Office. As we already mentioned, MS Office is super popular, which means that there are plenty of useful tutorials out there, to begin with. If you don’t want to pay for a course, you can look up tutorials on YouTube on top of checking out Microsoft’s own training materials, and then receive official certification . 
• Presentation software. Master PowerPoint, one of the most beneficial presentation software, through this PowerPoint for Windows training. 
• Social media. Out of the many free social media courses out there, we’ve singled out this Social Media Management course and the fundamentals of digital marketing course by Google.
• Spreadsheets. Both Coursera and Udemy have several online courses to choose from that can help you become a pro in Excel or any spreadsheet program your company uses.

Computer Skills on a Resume Examples

Want to see what computer skills on a resume look like?

Well, look no further!

Below, we’ve listed five resume examples with a computer skills section:

#1. Office Assistant Resume Example

#2. Customer Service Representative Resume Example

#3. Computer Scientist Resume Example

#4.  AI Engineer Resume Example

#5. IT Resume Example

FAQs on Computer Skills 

Do you still have some questions about computer skills? We’ll answer them in the FAQ section:

#1. Why are computer skills important?

Computer skills are important because they can significantly improve your employability. 

In 2022, over 70% of US jobs require middle-to-high-level digital skills , making computer skills an essential asset for advancing your career.

Computer skills can help you stay productive at work, get more tasks done, manage a team better, as well as grow your career.

#2. What are the levels of computer skills proficiency?

Just like any other skill, computer literacy skills can be categorized into basic (which are foundational computer literacy skills), intermediate (computer literacy beyond the foundational level), and proficient (advanced computer skills).

#3. What are the most in-demand computer skills?

The most in-demand computer skills vary based on the industry . While the majority of industries require some basic computer skills (e.g. writing and editing documents, sending and receiving emails, using the Internet, or creating presentations), different industries require their employees to be well-versed in industry-specific software. 

If you’re a project manager, for example, then knowledge of team management skills is going to be essential. Software like Asana, Slack, Zapier, etc.

Generally speaking , though, the most in-demand computer skills include MS Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Creative Suite, and programming languages (e.g. Java, Python, C++).

#4. How do I describe my level of computer proficiency?

There are several ways you can describe your computer proficiency on your resume. One is to use descriptive words (e.g. beginner, intermediate, or advanced) next to each computer skill. 

Alternatively, you can show your proficiency in different computer skills through progress bars or star ratings (where one to two stars stand for beginner level, three stars for intermediate, and four to five stars for advanced or proficient).

Last but not least, you can list your certifications in a dedicated resume section to prove that you know how to use a particular software or program.

#5. Are computer skills hard skills?

Yes, computer skills are hard skills. That’s because they are objective, quantifiable skills that can be learned through training, online courses, education, work experience, etc. 

Key Takeaways

That’s about everything you need to know about computer skills for your resume! 

Before you start putting everything you learned into practice, let’s go over the main points we covered in this guide:

• Computer skills are a set of transferable skills that refer to the ability to use computers and all related technology. They consist of hardware skills and software skills.  
• Computer skills are commonly categorized into basic computer skills and advanced computer skills. 
• Some common computer skills in today’s job market include database management, enterprise systems, graphic design, coding and programming, presentation software, social media skills, MS Office, and hardware skills. 
• The best places to add computer skills to your resume are your skills section, your resume summary, and your work experience section. 
• To make your work experience section pop, make sure to focus on your achievements and make them as quantifiable as possible. 
• You can show your level of computer literacy on your resume by using descriptive words, progress bars, a star rating, or by listing your certifications for different software.

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How to Improve Your Presentation Skills: 11 Practical Tips

• The Speaker Lab
• August 15, 2024

Table of Contents

Have you ever felt your heart racing just before stepping onto a stage? That’s presentation anxiety knocking. But how do you beat it? One solution is to improve your presentation skills . By honing your abilities, you achieve greater confidence in yourself. You see, great public speakers are made through practice, and lots of it. Knowing your subject inside out matters, as does understanding who you’re talking to.

This journey doesn’t start at the podium or end at the applause. It begins much earlier, in how we prepare our minds and material for that spotlight moment. To keep an audience hanging on every word requires more than good content alone. Body language speaks volumes too. So, it’s crucial to master both your verbal and nonverbal cues. This approach guarantees your message resonates deeply with all present.

Understanding the Importance of Presentation Skills

Presentation skills go beyond merely standing and speaking before an audience. They embody the essence of engaging and connecting with others. As it turns out, being able to connect with people in this way is an invaluable skill worth having. From convincing a potential new client to sharing knowledge with peers, presenting helps you get key ideas across. But here’s the kicker: it’s not only about what you say but how you say it that counts. While such finesse comes naturally to some, others need a bit of practice before they can nail it. But that’s why we’re here—to help you out.

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Mastering the Basics of Effective Presentations

Grasping the fundamentals can elevate a decent presentation to one that’s memorable. Let’s break it down.

Knowing Your Subject and Audience

Before you give your presentation, you first have to know who you’re talking to and what you’re talking about. It sounds simple because it is. But don’t let that simplicity fool you—it’s also where the magic happens. Dive deep into your topic and become the expert they expect you to be. As for your audience? Find a way to connect your presentation to them as individuals. Consider why your topic might be important to them. If you can get your topic to hit home with your audience, it’s much more likely that they’ll be impacted by what you say.

Using Open, Friendly Body Language

Our body language allows us to speak volumes without ever saying a word. So when you’re on stage, use open gestures, keep those arms uncrossed, and maintain a pleasant demeanor. Move around if space allows; make yourself bigger than just the spot behind the podium. Frequently make eye contact with the crowd instead of just looking at your notes or slides. Lastly, use gestures to complement your words, emphasizing key points.

Practicing for Perfection

When preparing for your presentation, rehearse until those nerves start feeling like excitement instead of sheer terror. Out of all presentation skills, this is perhaps one of the most important to improve. Even rehearsing in the outfit you’ll wear on presentation day can help you practice the right mindset you need. Whether or not you rewrite your script as bullet points, make sure you’re not reading off your notes. After all, you want to maintain a natural, conversational tone with your audience, not a robotic one. Before you begin your talk, breathe deeply. Not only does grounding yourself help calm your nerves, it actually improves your voice quality .

Designing Engaging Presentations

Every speaker wants to engage their audience. As a result, the ability to design engaging presentations is one skill that’s worth constantly improving. It’s all about balance, blending engaging content with sleek design.

Keeping Your Presentation Engaging and Structured

Every speaker would agree that maintaining audience interest is crucial. But how exactly do you do that? It takes a lot to focus on your presentation  and your audience at the same time. To get started, try some of these techniques.

• Tell a story: Weave your facts into a narrative because everyone loves a good tale.
• Vary the pace: Mix it up with videos, anecdotes, or jokes to keep things fresh.
• Pose questions: Asking rhetorical questions keeps minds ticking and engaged.

Maintaining structure is key. You want to guide your audience through smoothly, making sure they’re following along every step of the way. Think of it as taking them on a journey where each point builds upon the last until you reach a compelling conclusion together.

Simplicity in Slide Design

If there’s one thing you don’t want to impose on your audience, it’s a cluttered slide. So what should you to improve this presentation skill? Take a look at these tips:

• Keep it simple: A simple background with high contrast text can work wonders.
• Leverage visuals wisely: If you’re talking numbers, opt for an infographic instead of listing out stats one after another. Visuals should enhance understanding, not confuse further. Make sure they’re relevant.
• Use bullet points: Cover one idea per slide and use bullet points to break it down. This isn’t just easier for your audience to digest; it gives each point its moment in the spotlight.

The trick here is to avoid just throwing your entire presentation onto slides. That’s what leads to clutter. Instead, focus on the key points you want to communicate, and create visual summaries that complement what you’re saying. Good presentation design matters. And sometimes less really is more when helping people understand complex topics easily. For more on creating PowerPoint presentations, check out our article here .

Mastering Nonverbal Communication

As a speaker, it’s a given that your words are a vital part of your presentation. But what about your nonverbal cues? Believe it or not, those are just as important. And don’t forget tone—delivery is often where the real magic happens.

Improving Eye Contact

For instance, take eye contact. Making eye contact with your audience demonstrates confidence and professionalism. The trick is striking the balance: too little, and you seem disengaged; too much, and it’s just awkward for everyone involved. To improve this presentation skills, practice finding that balance. Aim to make brief but meaningful eye contact with different parts of your audience throughout your presentation. A general rule of thumb is the 50/70 rule , which says to spend about 50% of your time making eye contact when speaking, bumping it up to 70% when listening or answering questions.

Avoiding Filled Pauses When Speaking

The bane of any speaker’s presentation is a slew of filler words. These are words like “um,” “uh,” and “like.” These filler sounds typically sneak into our speech because we’re nervous or trying to think on our feet. To avoid them, practice pausing with purpose in between sentences or thoughts. Silence may feel scary, but using intentional pauses can give you time to think and keeps listeners hanging onto your next word. In addition, never forget to taking deep breaths. Doing so will help calm the nerves that are triggering those verbal fillers in the first place.

By improving these presentation skills, you’ll not only boost how others perceive you, but also how confidently you carry yourself through every slide.

Overcoming Presentation Anxiety

Feeling like a bundle of nerves before you hit the stage? If so, you’re not alone. But guess what? That jittery feeling doesn’t have to be your enemy.

Techniques to Calm Nerves During a Presentation

We’ve all been there—heart racing, palms sweaty, mind blanking out just when you need it most. It feels like your body is betraying you right at the crucial moment. Thankfully, it’s entirely possible to regain control by redirecting that nervous energy. To calm yourself, try some of these techniques.

• Breathe deeply: It seems simple, but deep breaths are like a reset button for your nervous system.
• Ground yourself: Feel your feet on the ground. Literally grounding yourself in reality helps shift focus back from fear to action.
• The power pose: Standing in a posture of confidence can actually make you feel more confident thanks to some nifty brain-body communication.
• Embrace silence: If you lose track during your presentation, use this time not as an awkward pause but as an intentional break for both you and your audience.

By practicing these techniques and improving them before your presentation, they will come more naturally. Plus, the more you prepare, the fewer surprises you’ll encounter, which means less fodder for anxiety.

Transforming Nervous Energy into Enthusiasm

Nervous energy isn’t bad—it shows you care. Mastering the art involves channeling that untamed vigor into a force of zeal.

• Talk about what you love: You naturally become more animated and enthusiastic when discussing topics close to your heart.
• Harness the adrenaline rush: This rush pushes us beyond our usual boundaries, so don’t be afraid to use it. Speak louder than normal if needed or move around more freely (if appropriate).
• Redefine success: Focus on connecting with at least one person rather than impressing everyone—that takes off loads of pressure.

In essence, presentation skills aren’t just about speaking well. They’re about managing emotions effectively so they don’t manage us. So next time those butterflies start fluttering in your stomach before a big presentation, remember it’s all part of the process. Embrace the experience and use it to fuel your performance rather than let it derail you.

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Continually Improving Presentation Skills

The journey to becoming a presentation pro never really ends. Embarking on this path means consistently challenging oneself, exploring new depths, and setting sights on ever-higher achievements.

Seeking Feedback for Improvement

Let’s talk feedback. Although it might sting at first, feedback is a great way to improve your presentation skills. After every presentation, ask your audience what hit home and what missed the mark. But don’t stop there.

• Talk to a mentor: Someone who’s been where you are can give insights you hadn’t even considered.
• Solicit anonymous feedback: Sometimes people speak more freely when they’re not face-to-face.
• Use online tools: There are platforms designed specifically for gathering and analyzing presentation feedback efficiently.

Volunteering for Presentations to Gain Experience

If practice makes perfect, then volunteering is your practice arena. Seizing each moment as a platform can really polish your expertise.

• Pitch new ideas at work: Be the one who steps up during meetings with fresh insights or project proposals.
• Dive into community events: Local clubs or groups often seek speakers on various topics—perfect for testing out different styles and formats.
• Become a webinar host: This lets you play with technology while practicing how best to engage virtual attendees.

Remember, improving your public speaking skills takes time. But by consistently seeking out constructive criticism and grabbing every chance to get in front of an audience ,  you’re paving your way towards mastery. So take that deep breath, keep your head high, and take that stage. Your future self will thank you.

So there you have it. Together, we’ve learned how to improve presentation skills. This isn’t just about shaking off those stage jitters; it’s an expedition towards becoming a masterful storyteller who captivates every soul in the room.

Embarking on this journey, we dove headfirst into mastering basics like knowing your audience and subject. Plus, we covered tips on keeping slides simple yet engaging—a fine balance between clutter and clarity. And let’s not forget our silent but potent ally: nonverbal communication—where eye contact and body language can help engage your audience.

Anxiety had its moment under our microscope as well. Turns out, it’s less about fighting nerves and more about channeling them into electrifying enthusiasm.

Improving your presentation skills requires persistence—and lots of practice. The process isn’t just a path but an ongoing adventure that challenges us to grow and adapt in our quest for meaningful impact.

• Last Updated: August 6, 2024

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157 Computer Skills For Your Resume (+ How to List Them)

3 key takeaways

• Highlighting the right computer skills on your resume boosts job prospects by aligning with industry demands.
• Essential computer skills range from email management to advanced programming.
• You can make a free resume with relevant computer skills using the Match Score inside Teal's AI Resume Builder.

If you work in tech or a corporate office, computer skills are synonymous with skills. That's because almost every required office job skill is done on a digital device.

Whether you're applying for a job in tech, finance, healthcare, or education, showcasing your computer skills effectively on your resume can set you apart from other candidates.

This guide will help you understand essential computer skills, how to identify relevant computer skills, and how to list computer skills on your resume.

If you want to put the right skills on your resume, match your content to any job with Teal's Resume Builder for free.

What are computer skills?

Basic computer skills are the foundational skills required to perform everyday tasks using a computer. These skills are essential for almost any modern job as they enable you to handle routine digital tasks efficiently.

Software skills vs computer skills

Software skills refer to the ability to use specific software applications effectively. These skills are often focused on particular programs and their functionalities, such as Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, or programming environments like Python and Java.

In contrast, computer skills encompass a broader range of abilities that include not only software skills but also hardware skills, basic troubleshooting, operating systems, and more general knowledge of how computers and related technologies work.

While software skills are a subset of computer skills, the latter also includes understanding the overall functionality of computer systems, basic coding, network management, and cybersecurity principles.

Basic computer skills for a resume

If you want an office job, basic computer skills are a non-negotiable. Start with free communication tools like email and web calendars as these apply to every office job. By combining scheduling skills with fast typing you set a solid foundation to build on when searching for executive assistant and office manager roles.

Office and administrative skills

• Microsoft Office Suite : Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Google Workspace : Knowledge of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail.
• Scheduling tools : Using tools like Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook for managing schedules and appointments.

Communication tools

• Email platforms : Familiarity with platforms like Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, and Apple Mail.
• Video conferencing : Proficiency in Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Skype.
• Collaboration tools : Using Slack, Trello, Asana, and other team collaboration tools.

Internet skills

• Search engines : Conducting effective searches using Google, Bing, and other search engines.
• Online security : Understanding basic online security principles to protect personal information.
• Social media : Managing personal or professional social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

File management skills

• Operating systems : Navigating Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• File organization : Creating and managing folders and files effectively.
• Backup procedures : Performing basic data backups using external drives or cloud storage.

Basic software skills

• Productivity software : Using tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Web browsers : Navigating and using browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
• PDF tools : Creating and editing PDFs with software like Adobe Acrobat

Intermediate computer skills for resume

Once you master Word and Google Docs, adding spreadsheets, graphic design software, and project management applications can significantly enhance your efficiency and productivity in office roles.

Data management and analysis

• Spreadsheets : Advanced skills in Excel and Google Sheets, including formulas, pivot tables, and data visualization.
• Database management : Experience with SQL, Microsoft Access, and other database management systems.
• Data analysis tools : Proficiency in using software like Tableau, R, and Python for data analysis.

Creative and design skills

• Graphic design software : Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Video editing : Using tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and iMovie.
• Web design : Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and web design platforms like WordPress and Wix.

Project management tools

• Software proficiency : Using project management tools like Trello, Asana, and Microsoft Project.
• Resource management : Managing resources and timelines using project management software like Asana, or Jira.
• Collaboration : Coordinating team projects and tasks using shared tools and platforms like Miro, or Google Drive.

Advanced communication tools

• Customer relationship management (CRM) : Using tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM.
• Email marketing : Proficiency in MailChimp, Constant Contact, and SendinBlue.
• Social media management : Advanced skills in managing social media campaigns with Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social.

Presentation software

• PowerPoint : Creating advanced presentations with animations and multimedia.
• Prezi : Designing interactive and dynamic presentations.
• Keynote : Using Apple’s Keynote for creating professional presentations.

Advanced computer skills for a resume

Once you master spreadsheets and project management tools, adding high-income skills like programming languages, cybersecurity, web development technologies, and advanced data analysis can open doors to in-demand positions in tech, finance, and other lucrative industries.

Programming skills

• Programming languages : Proficiency in languages such as Python, Java, C++, and JavaScript.
• Web development : Skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React and Angular.
• Software development tools : Familiarity with Git, GitHub, and other version control systems.

IT and technical skills

• Networking : Understanding of network configurations, protocols, and security.
• Cybersecurity : Knowledge of security principles, threat analysis, and protection mechanisms.
• Technical support : Skills in troubleshooting and providing technical support for software and hardware issues.

Advanced data analysis

• Big data tools : Experience with tools like Hadoop, Apache Spark, and NoSQL databases.
• Machine learning : Implementing machine learning algorithms and models using libraries such as TensorFlow and Scikit-learn.
• Data visualization : Creating complex visualizations and dashboards using tools like Power BI and Tableau.

Advanced project management

• Agile methodologies : Implementing Agile project management techniques and tools like Jira.
• Risk management : Assessing and managing project risks using specialized software.
• Resource allocation : Advanced skills in allocating and optimizing resources in project management.

Systems administration

• Server management : Managing and maintaining servers using Linux, Windows Server, and cloud platforms.
• Virtualization : Using tools like VMware and Hyper-V for creating and managing virtual environments.
• Cloud computing : Proficiency in cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

How to choose the best computer skills for your resume

Highlighting the most relevant computer skills can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed by employers and passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Tailoring your computer skills to match the job description not only showcases your qualifications, but also demonstrates your attention to detail and your commitment to meeting the specific needs of the role.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Research the industry

Research the specific skills required in your industry, especially if you're looking to pivot. Different industries prioritize different computer skills, so understanding what is essential in your field will help you highlight the most relevant abilities on your resume. Familiarize yourself with industry standards and commonly used tools to ensure you present yourself as a well-equipped candidate.

Pro tip: Explore career paths and career roadmaps for 600+ roles.

2. Study the company

Learn about the company's preferred tools and technologies. Each organization may have its own set of preferred software and systems, and knowing these can give you an edge in the application process. The most critical company systems and software are often outlined in the job description.

Pro tip: Use LinkedIn to network with current and former employees at the company to learn about their tech stack.

3. Review the job description

Analyze job descriptions to identify the most frequently mentioned skills, or use Teal's Matching Mode to automate this process.

Teal's Matching Mode helps you find relevant keywords, including computer skills, to mention on your resume. This feature tailors your resume to match job descriptions, ensuring your skills align with what employers want. By leveraging Teal’s AI-driven insights, you can optimize your resume for the hard and soft skills required for each application, saving time and improving your chances of landing interviews and job offers.

Pro tip: Aim for a score of 60% or higher.

How to list computer skills on a resume

Effectively listing your computer skills on a resume can showcase your technical expertise and make you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to list computer skills effectively on your resume:

How to add computer skills to a Professional Summary

Incorporate computer skills in your professional summary, or short professional bio , to complement your most notable accomplishments and technical expertise. This provides a high-level view of your abilities right at the top of your resume.

For example, if you're an IT specialist, one sentence of your professional summary could look like this:

"As a proficient IT specialist with over 8 years of experience, I excel in network management,

Pro tip: To add computer skills to your professional summary using Teal's AI Resume Builder, scroll to Professional Summaries, click the drop-down button, then "Add Professional Summary." You can create one from scratch or click the "Generate With AI" button.

How to add computer skills to the Skills section

Create a dedicated resume Skills section to highlight your computer skills related to the job description. This section should list your most proficient and in-demand computer skills to catch the employer’s attention quickly.

A well-organized list draws attention to your diverse range of abilities and highlights the unique qualities you bring to the table. For example, you could group your computer skills into categories like this:

• Programming Languages : Python, Java, JavaScript
• Database Management : SQL, MongoDB, Oracle
• Project Management : Trello, Asana, Microsoft Project, Google Drive

Pro tip: To add computer skills to your "Skills" section in Teal, scroll to Skills, click the drop-down button, then "Add Skills." Here you can list your skills individually in addition to incorporating them into a summary or bullet points.

How to add computer skills to the Work Experience section

Including computer skills in your work experience bullet points can illustrate how you effectively applied these skills to achieve impact. This shows employers your practical expertise and how you’ve used your skills to benefit past employers.

For example, a computer skill in the Work Experience section of your resume might look like these:

Implemented a new cybersecurity protocol using Cisco, reducing security breaches by 30% and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Redesigned company marketing materials using Adobe Creative Suite, resulting in a 25% increase in client engagement and a 15% boost in lead generation.

Pro tip: To add computer skills to your work experience, from the Resume Builder, scroll to Work Experience. Click the drop-down button, then "Add Work Experience" to create a new section or "Add a Bullet" to incorporate computer skills into an existing work history.

Teal’s Resume Skills Management feature can simplify the process of ordering, grouping, and managing computer skills for your resume, so you can add or remove individual or grouped skills on certain resume versions.

Computer skills for a resume examples

It's critical to tailor computer skills to each job as the same role could require different computer skills depending on the company's tech stack. Do some research to find out if the tech skills you have are transferable.

Here 's how to group and list specific computer skills for five common roles:

Example 1: Accountant

• Financial software : QuickBooks, SAP
• Spreadsheets : Advanced Excel functions and macros
• Data analysis : Using SQL for financial data analysis
• Tax software : Proficiency in TurboTax, H&R Block
• ERP systems : Experience with Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics

Example 2: Digital marketer

• SEO tools : Google Analytics, SEMrush, Adobe Analytics
• Content management systems : WordPress, HubSpot
• Social media platforms : Facebook Ads Manager, Hootsuite
• Email marketing : MailChimp, Constant Contact
• Account-based marketing: Adobe Marketo, Adobe Campaign, Adobe Audience Manager
• Graphic design tools : Canva, Adobe Spark

Example 3: Administrative assistant

• Office software : Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Scheduling tools : Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook
• Communication tools : Slack, Zoom
• Database management : Microsoft Access, FileMaker Pro
• Document management : Google Drive, Dropbox, Adobe Acrobat

Example 4: Software developer

• Programming languages : Python, Java, C++
• Web development : HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Version control systems : Git, GitHub
• Frameworks : React, Angular, Django
• Database management : MySQL, MongoDB

Example 5: Project manager

• Project management software : Trello, Asana, Microsoft Project
• Communication tools : Slack, Microsoft Teams
• Documentation tools : Confluence, Notion
• Budgeting tools : Excel, QuickBooks

Using Teal’s Resume Skills Management feature, you can easily add skills to your resume, ensuring they're presented in a clear and compelling manner.

For more tips, visit this guide on hard skills for a resume .

Jobs that require computer skills

Computer skills are integral to many jobs. Here are ten popular roles where key computer skills are crucial, with varying use cases:

Data analyst : Analyzing data sets using tools like Excel, SQL, and Python.

Graphic designer : Creating visuals using software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Digital marketer : Managing digital marketing campaigns through tools like Google Analytics and social media platforms.

Software developer : Writing and testing code in various programming languages.

Administrative assistant : Handling office software for scheduling, communication, and document management.

Customer service representative : Using CRM software to manage customer interactions.

Financial analyst : Building financial models using Excel and specialized financial and accounting software used.

Human resources specialist : Managing HR information systems and recruitment tools.

Project manager : Using project management software like Trello or Asana to track project progress.

Medical records technician : Managing patient records with EHR software.

Importance of computer skills in various industries

Computer skills are critical in many industries. Here’s how they translate into five popular sectors:

• Managing electronic health records (EHR)
• Using medical billing software
• Telemedicine platforms
• Financial modeling using spreadsheets
• Online banking systems
• Investment tracking accounting software software
• Online learning platforms
• Classroom management software
• Creating digital lesson plans
• Social media management tools
• SEO software
• Email marketing platforms
• Coding and software development
• Network management
• Cybersecurity tools

Research future job trends to understand how to adjust to the changes in your industry.

How to learn computer skills

Learning computer skills is essential for staying competitive in today's job market. Whether you're looking to enhance your existing skills or acquire new ones, there are numerous resources and strategies available to help you expand your computer knowledge for the workplace.

Here are some effective ways to learn and improve your computer skills:

Online courses and tutorials

Online courses and tutorials are a convenient way to learn computer skills at your own pace. Many platforms offer comprehensive courses on a wide range of topics, from basic computer literacy to advanced programming and data analysis.

Here are some popular platforms:

• Coursera : Offers courses from top universities and companies. Topics range from basic Microsoft Office skills to advanced data science and machine learning.
• edX : Provides access to courses from institutions like MIT and Harvard, covering a broad spectrum of computer science and IT skills.
• LinkedIn Learning : Features a vast library of courses on software skills, project management tools, and other workplace-relevant topics.
• Udemy : Offers affordable courses on specific software applications, programming languages, and other technical skills.

Certifications

Earning certifications can validate your skills and make you more attractive to potential employers. Many organizations offer certification programs for various computer skills:

• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) : Demonstrates proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• CompTIA A+ : Validates foundational IT skills, including hardware, operating systems, and troubleshooting.
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) : Recognizes advanced cybersecurity skills.
• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) : Certifies expertise in Adobe Creative Suite applications.
• Google Workspace Certification : Validates proficiency in Google's productivity and collaboration tools, including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
• Google Analytics Individual Qualification : Demonstrates proficiency in Google Analytics.

Pro tip: When listing certifications, also be sure to highlight your practical skills. For example, you might say: "Experienced in utilizing Google Drive for efficient document sharing, real-time collaboration, and maintaining organized digital workspaces."

Hands-on practice

Practical experience is crucial for mastering computer skills. Here are some tips for gaining hands-on experience:

• Work on personal projects : Create your own projects to apply what you've learned. For example, build a website, develop a small application, or analyze a dataset.
• Volunteer : Offer your skills to non-profits or local organizations. This can provide real-world experience and build your portfolio.
• Internships : Look for internships that offer opportunities to work with the software and technologies you're learning.

Free resources

There are many free resources available to help you learn and practice computer skills:

• Khan Academy : Offers free tutorials on various computer science topics.
• Codecademy : Provides interactive coding lessons in several programming languages.
• YouTube : Features countless tutorials on almost any computer skill you can think of, from basic tasks to advanced techniques.
• MIT OpenCourseWare : Offers free course materials from MIT's computer science and engineering courses.

Online communities

Participating in online communities can provide support, resources, and networking opportunities:

• Reddit : Subreddits like r/learnprogramming, r/dataisbeautiful, and r/sysadmin offer advice, resources, and discussions on various computer skills.
• Stack Overflow : A question-and-answer site for programmers, where you can ask for help and contribute to discussions.
• GitHub : A platform for hosting and collaborating on coding projects. It's a great place to learn from others' code and contribute to open-source projects.

Books and eBooks

Books can offer in-depth knowledge on specific topics. Consider these options:

• "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" by Al Sweigart : Teaches practical programming skills using Python.
• "The Pragmatic Programmer" by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas : Offers valuable insights for software development and problem-solving.
• "Excel 2019 Bible" by Michael Alexander and Richard Kusleika : A comprehensive guide to mastering Excel.

By leveraging these resources and tips, you can effectively learn and improve computer skills that are valuable in the workplace. Investing in your computer skills not only enhances your current job performance but also opens up new career opportunities.

Tips for expanding your computer knowledge

• Set specific goals : Identify which skills you want to learn and set clear, achievable goals.
• Create a learning schedule : Allocate regular time for learning and practice to stay consistent and make progress.
• Stay updated : Technology evolves rapidly, so keep up with the latest trends and updates in your field.
• Apply your skills : Look for opportunities to use your new skills in your current job or seek out projects that require them.
• Seek feedback : Ask for feedback from peers, mentors, or online communities to improve your skills and understanding.

Why are computer skills important for your career?

Computer skills encompass a broad range of abilities and knowledge that enable you to use computers and related technology efficiently.

These skills can include anything from basic tasks like email management to advanced programming.

Here’s a deeper look at why they matter:

Versatility : Computer skills are applicable across various industries and roles, making them universally valuable.

Efficiency : Proficiency in computer skills can significantly increase your productivity and efficiency at work.

Marketability : Highlighting strong computer skills can make you more attractive to potential employers.

Gaining and improving computer skills can also dramatically impact your earning potential. As the demand for tech-savvy professionals continues to grow, those with advanced computer skills often command higher salaries and have access to a wider range of job opportunities.

Computer skills are essential in today's job market. By investing time in learning and mastering key computer skills, you position yourself for career advancement, ultimately enhancing your overall career trajectory. But honing skills is only half the equation, marketing your skills is just as important.

By using Teal’s Resume Skills Management feature, you can effectively manage and showcase your most relevant computer skills for every application, without the headache.

Optimize each resume to the job description using recommended keywords from Teal's Match Score

Using Teal you can quickly identify with jobs you're most qualified for and proceed accordingly. Analyze your resume against job descriptions to highlight the best matches so you don't waste any time on roles that aren't a good fit. Get your Match Score now and take the next step in your career journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic computer skills for a resume.

Basic computer skills include email management, word processing, and internet research.

How do I describe my computer skills?

Describe your computer skills by listing them in a dedicated skills section on your resume and indicating your proficiency levels.

What are the top 10 computer skills?

Top computer skills include word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, database management, programming, data analysis, cybersecurity, AI and machine learning, automation, and virtual collaboration tools.

Do people still put computer skills down on a resume?

Yes, computer skills are still essential and should be included on your resume, especially for roles that require technical proficiency.

How can I list my software skills on my resume?

List your software skills in a dedicated Skills, Work Experience, Professional Summary sections, and be sure to tailor them to match the job description. Indicate your proficiency levels and provide context or examples where possible.

Camille Trent

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Department of Computer Science

Today, computers process the data of communication satellites, the images of video games and films, the fuel and ignition systems of automobiles, and more. New York Tech’s Department of Computer Science will prepare you to leverage problem-solving skills for a career that capitalizes on the efficient processing of information.

Virtually every career field and profession relies upon computer software, from education and entertainment to science, business, and healthcare. The enormous demand for this kind of expertise has made computer science one of the largest and most active disciplines on campus. 

New York Tech’s Department of Computer Science offers traditional courses in the hardware and software aspects of computers, as well as concentrations in network security or big data management and analytics, two of the fastest-growing areas of computer science. 

Access sophisticated computer equipment in up-to-date laboratory facilities and work closely with faculty members who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom.  

Undergraduate & Dual Degrees 

A strong foundation in computer science and its related disciplines prepares you for flexible careers in everything from pure theory and design to programming and marketing.

• Computer Science, B.S.
• Information Technology, B.S.
• Accelerated Dual Degrees (B.S. to M.S.)

Graduate and Doctoral Degrees

Deepen your knowledge and master additional technologies and applied skills with a graduate degree from New York Tech’s Department of Computer Science.

• Computer Science, M.S.
• Computer Science, Ph.D.
• Cybersecurity, M.S.
• Data Science, M.S.

Student Voices When I was growing up, my father brought home tech for me to tinker with; each time, I was amazed at what technology can do. I always knew this field would become my future. Joanna Sroka Computer Science – Big Data Management and Analytics

Our faculty excel as teachers, researchers, and practitioners who mentor students for professional success. Review their bios and read about their areas of research.

Department News 

Alumni Profile: Drew Hughes

Drew Hughes (M.S. ’13) is the chief information security officer at URBN, which includes brands such as Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and others.

Students Impress in 2024 UREP Project Presentations

College of Engineering and Computing Sciences students showcased their work in the annual Undergraduate Research and Entrepreneurship Program presentations.

College of Engineering and Computing Sciences Ph.D. Programs Are Making Great Strides

Launched between 2020 and 2022, the Ph.D. programs augment New York Tech’s offerings in engineering and computer science.

Renovated Engineering Labs Unveiled on New York City Campus

The College of Engineering and Computing Sciences held its grand opening of newly renovated laboratory spaces, poised to provide students with a state-of-the-art research experience.

New York Tech Designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

Extending a designation first awarded in 2016, New York Tech is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense education through the academic year 2028.

Accreditation 

Abet accreditation.

Our bachelor’s program in Computer Science on our Long Island and New York City campuses is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET . 

Keep Exploring

Through programs in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, and more, New York Tech will prepare you for a flexible and in-demand career in fields from marketing to healthcare to business.