Don't skimp on the spreadsheets, jobseekers

Putting Microsoft Excel and Word skills on your resume may not be the waste of printer ink you think it is.

A new study by labour market analysis firm Burning Glass Technologies, found knowing your way around a spreadsheet or document is a baseline for 78 per cent of middle-skill jobs – roles that require more training than a high school diploma but less than a university degree.

Seems pretty basic, but leave it off and you may find yourself cut out of the running for a potential job.

“Most companies – maybe not the mom and pop shops – but mid-size to large companies are using some sort of applicant tracking system which will filter applications for relevancy,” says Peter Harris, Chief Editor at Workopolis.

It’s a way to cull through the riff-raff and make it easier for the recruiters or hiring officers at these large companies that have to sift through stacks of resumes to lock down candidates with the standard skills they’re after.

“I think most people have these skills but one of the key learnings here if you’re a job seeker is highlight them, show that you’re proficient,” says Harris. “And communicate that in a clearly readable and understandable manner because those are in-demand skills and can set you apart.”

The study also found, unsurprisingly, that the number of digitally intensive middle-skill jobs are growing 2.5 times more faster than their non-digital counterparts.

“People need to be tech-savvy across industries, across roles, you need to keep up with trends and the technology of your time,” adds Harris. “Digital literacy is the new reading and writing.”

Those who’ve adapted to an inherently Internet-woven world are likely to make a bit more according to the survey, with digitally-intensive jobs paying 18 per cent higher than non-digital jobs – $23.76 per hour versus $20.14 an hour.

But there’s another skill set Harris feels the study may have overlooked but should be considered by job seekers.

“One more digital fluency I think we’re going to see a bit of a shortage coming up is social media skills,” he says.

It’s not just a skill for community managers he adds pointing out that social media is becoming tethered to all facets of business from sales, to human resources and design.

“Digital marketing used to be its own sub-branch, now it’s just part of marketing – its how people communicate,” says Harris. “Keeping up with the trends of the time and highlighting that you’ve done so and you’re proficient in the tools people are using can set you apart.”