Including Microsoft Office Skills on Your Resume

The Microsoft Office Skills You Need To Get a Job

Microsoft Office programs are used for a variety of work functions. From project management to scheduling to inventory control, Microsoft Office skills are put to use almost constantly. Listing Microsoft Office skills on a resume shows potential employers that you will be able to merge seamlessly into a workflow that includes these computer skills. Displaying these skills on your resume thus increases your chances of getting an interview and getting a job.

This guide will show you:

• The Microsoft Office skills a hiring manager wants to see
• Why you should include Microsoft Office skills on your resume
• How to prove your Microsoft Office skill level

The Microsoft Office Skills a Hiring Manager Looks For

Microsoft Office skills are a valuable part of every job seeker’s skillset. A hiring manager will almost always expect a job applicant to have the basic know-how to navigate around Microsoft Office Suite, a compilation of programs that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and a few others.

1. Microsoft Word

   The most common of these programs is Microsoft Word, or MS Word, a word processing app. Microsoft Word skills include:
   

   • Page navigation
   • Grammar check
   • Track changes
   • Fonts and headers
   • Formatting paragraphs and columns
   • Page setup
   • Hyperlinks

2. Microsoft Excel

   Microsoft Excel is another program commonly listed on applicants’ resumes. This is Microsoft’s spreadsheets program, and involves the following tasks:
   

   • Interactive charts and graphs
   • Sorting data
   • Pivot tables
   • Functions and macros

3. Microsoft PowerPoint

   Microsoft PowerPoint is a program that allows users to create presentations and slideshows. Some common PowerPoint skills include mastery of:
   

   • Customizing slides
   • Animated graphics and text boxes
   • Templates and transitions

4. Other Microsoft Office Programs

   The Microsoft Office suite also includes Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Teams. Refer to the job description to see the specific skills your potential job will require, and if needed, try to obtain a basic understanding of the full Microsoft Office Suite..