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Black Collegian Career Center
How To Use Computer And Communication Skills To Improve Your Marketability
by Sandra C. Ceraulo, Ph.D.
Are
you prepared for today's tough job market and increasingly competitive
admissions to graduate and professional schools? If not, there's still time to
get a leg up on the competition by strengthening your computer and communication
skills before you graduate. By acting
now to gain crucial skills, you will save the time and expense involved in
returning to college to acquire skills you could have learned before you
graduated.Depending
on your career choice, either computer or communication skills may be more
important for you. However, in most fields, being strong in both is the ideal,
and almost all colleges have the resources to help their students master
technical and communication skills. Whether you're applying for entry-level
jobs or to postgraduate academic programs, your computer skills add to the
content of your application package while your communication skills strengthen
the presentation of that package.Essential Computer
Skills and How to Get ThemToday's economy is unquestionably technical and nearly all
professionals can benefit from having computer skills. Whether you're a wiz
with computers or not, you can use the computing courses offered by your college
every semester to your advantage. In addition to courses for college credit,
informal workshops may be offered by other parts of your college such as the
library or computing center. Continuing education courses in computer skills may
also be available on campus or in the surrounding community. No matter what your
major, getting your money's worth out of college today means not leaving
college without skills in information technology. Today's
college graduates are expected to have Internet research skills. According to
Evangeline M. Mitchell, J.D., Ed.M., (left) author of The African American Pre-Law School Advice Guide: Things You Really Need
to Know Before Applying to Law School (Hope's Promise Publishing: 2002) and
founder of For Future Black Law Students: Information and Support Network, "When one is comfortable with and skilled in doing Internet research, a lot of
valuable and potentially life-changing information is easily and quickly
available literally at their fingertips."While the Internet is an incredibly powerful tool
all students can benefit from using, other essential computer skills include the
ability to use word processing programs, spreadsheets, and presentation
software. Skills with database programs such as Access and desktop publishing
software will be beneficial in many fields, too. Mitchell believes that "It's important for young African Americans to take advantage of any
opportunities they have to learn popular computer software applications whether
or not it is required. Such
programs include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and desktop
publishing programs such as Adobe PageMaker or Quark Express and the basics of
creating a web page or site. At a
minimum, students should become familiar with the basics of Microsoft Office."
Putting it simply, Mitchell believes that "these computer skills could
be the difference between you or another job candidate being chosen."If
your computer skills are numerous and strong and you wish to highlight them, you
can list them in a separate section of your resumé entitled "Computer Skills." This is very common in highly technical fields such as information
technology and management information systems.How to Become a Better
CommunicatorAs
a college student, you might think that
grades and skills are all-important and that the content of a job or graduate
school application package is far more important than its appearance. Think
again. In practice, making a good first impression can make or break any
applicant's success."The
ability to speak well and communicate effectively are extremely important for
those who want to be marketable," says Mitchell, who overcame a disadvantaged
background to become a Harvard graduate, author, and professional consultant to
African-American college students. As members of a group where there is a large
segment that is from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds,
African Americans should realize that some
knowledge about communication skills and
expectations in predominantly White, professional environments are things that
they may need to learn. They are essentially entering a different culture with
its own set of rules or norms which may be
different from what they may have been previously exposed to."Carlos
Tejada, Career Counselor at the University at Buffalo, thinks communication
skills used in an employment application can give a preview of the applicant's
job performance. Tejada believes
that "writing skills displayed in a resumé can indicate how future employees
will write memos and email." According to Tejada, employers assess their job
applicants' writing skills for that reason. "Being diplomatic and being able
to express thoughts are also important," Tejada adds.
Nonverbal communication skills are equally
important. Gestures and facial expressions can reveal the attitudes and
confidence level of job applicants. Greeting
interviewers with a smile can help break the ice.
Mitchell
suggests that students improve their communication skills by seeking advice from
those with more experience. The
opportunity to find a mentor who can offer advice on communicating effectively
is available at the career centers of many colleges and universities. In regard
to speaking and writing, Mitchell believes that "we all need improvement in
these areas, and it's important to seek out assistance so that we can be
certain that we are presenting ourselves in the very best ways possible."
In
addition to taking courses and finding a mentor, other ways to improve
communication skills exist. Finding
a part-time job or internship that allows you to practice oral or written verbal
skills can provide valuable experience in business communications. Videotaping
yourself is another way to observe and improve your communication skills and
your nonverbal communication skills. By videotaping yourself giving a
presentation or in a mock interview, and then watching it,
you can make changes and continue practicing until
you are satisfied with how you present yourself.
Students
in their junior or senior years of college can improve their communication
skills by taking courses that focus on writing and speaking. These classes can
include business, technical, or creative writing courses, public relations
courses, or courses in public speaking. The feedback available in writing and
speaking courses can be used to improve your impressions on employers. As
Mitchell puts it, "Everything counts, and it's up to you to pay attention to
detail."
Summary
Mitchell's advice for African-American collegians is,
"Be extremely proactive."
First, incorporate some of the
additional computer and communication skills that can help you market yourself
in the next stage of your life. Next, assess your level
of expertise in Internet research, use of productivity software, oral and
written communication, and nonverbal
communication. Then, take advantage of the courses, workshops, mentoring
opportunities, and other available resources that can help you acquire these
skills before graduation day.
Dr. Sandra C. Ceraulo is an adjunct professor at The University of Maryland University College where she teaches online courses in Information Technology.
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