Technology & Career

Simple Computer Knowledge is no longer a requirement, here is why you need to take it to the next level.

Being able to open WhatsApp and enter in MS Word no longer will help you get a job. And the world is no more — and here is the way to go with the world.

Picture this. An office job interview involves two applicants who walk into a job interview. Both have a graduation degree. Both speak confidently. They both claim to know computers.

It is possible to type a letter in MS Word and surf the internet. The other will be able to create a spreadsheet, containing formulas, create a report, manage a database, and build a simple webpage.

Who gets the job?

 You need not ask. And that disparity - between simple knowledge of computers and high-level computer knowledge - is precisely what this article is all about.

 In the current market, basic computer knowledge is the least - not the best - and advanced skills are what really set you apart in the market.

What is it that basic is all about-- and why it is not sufficient.

Let's be real. Today most students in India have had at least some exposure to computers; school laboratories, cell phones, perhaps a brief typing course. They are acquainted with what a keyboard is. They have the capability of Googling things. They are able to create a simple document.

This is a simple computer literacy. It was spectacular way back in 2005. In 2024, bare minimum expectation is not a competitive advantage, it is a bare minimum expectation.

Consider what is really needed in most jobs today:

Office & Admin Jobs 

High level Excel, data input software, email handling, time management software. 

Accounting & Finance 

Tally, GST software, spreadsheet formulas, digital billing systems

Business & Marketing 

Social media tools, content development, fundamentals of digital advertising, CRM software.

Tech & Development 

Web design, basic coding, hardware, troubleshooting networking.

All these do not have to have a computer engineering degree. However, they all demand more than just the most rudimentary knowledge of using a computer. It is the area that progressed computer courses address - and where your actual chance is.

The five largest reasons students should be taught higher computer skills at this time.

1. All industries have been digitalized.

 Whether you want to work in a hospital or a factory, in a school or a shop, or in a startup, now computers are at the centre of how every business operates. A cloth dealer in the textile market in Ludhiana keeps his inventory in software. A small dhaba records its accounts online. Digitisation of the world went unnoticed and it is not coming back.

2. The developed skills directly raise your salary.

 It is not theory-- it is numbers. A basic salary is paid to a data entry operator. A person that is able to handle databases, to make pivot tables, and to create reports will earn much more doing work in the same office. The use of advanced Excel alone has assisted thousands of individuals in India leap into better-paying positions with no alteration to their field at all.

3. It makes you self-reliant - the choice of being self-employed.

 Web designers, graphic designers, hardware repair technicians, digital marketers - all of this is an opportunity to create your own client base and do the work according to your own schedule. Proper computer training is one of few investments that can transform a student who came in with no capital, to a freelancer who now has real money. You do not have to work in an office or have a boss to make a good income.

4. The level of competition is rising - basic is no longer a differentiator.

 As the number of graduates grows annually in the workforce, employers have an increased number of options. In a scenario where a hundred individuals apply to occupy one position, simple computer skills are presupposed - it is not going to help you shine. The thing that makes an employer stop and look at your resume and say "this person is different" is advanced skills.

5. Jobs of tomorrow will require even more - now is the time to be ahead of the curve.

 The trend of AI, automation, and digital tools is gaining momentum. The students that begin to develop an advanced tech literacy now will be the same students who can easily adapt as these changes occur. Waiting to learn is not a neutral option - it is to lag behind and others to go ahead.

I am not, however, a computer person-- does this still hold true of me?

Yes. Completely.

 The greatest fallacy that students committing include is the belief that computer classes are exclusive to individuals who enjoy technology. It is an urban legend that has cost many people a lot of time.

 There is no need of loving computers more than you need to love roads in order to drive a car. These are tools. And those who know how to apply these instruments to good purpose, in any sphere, are they who get on.

 A student that enrolls to study commerce does not have to be transformed into a software engineer. But studying Advanced Excel, accounting software and office management tools? That is the difference between securing an entry-level position and strolling into a managerial position.

 A student who has an interest in fashion or design does not have to code. However, the understanding of how to construct a simple webpage or operate the online presence of a brand? That is what makes a difference between a home-based tailor and a person who started his/her successful business online.

What are the real computer courses below the advanced level?

To set the record straight - advanced does not imply impossible or only engineering. It is taking further beyond the fundamentals to practical and applied skills. We have advanced computer programs at IRIS which include areas such as:

 Advanced Excel & Data

 Formulas, pivot tables, charts, automation

 Web Design & Development

 HTML, CSS, websites, layout programs.

 Hardware & Networking

 Assembling, troubleshooting, network setup

 Office Administration

 Record keeping, payroll, space and file management.

 Accounting Software

 Tally, GST filing, balance sheets, ledger.

 Fine Arts/Design Diploma.

 Computer-aided design and visual arts, creative tools.

What is its time, - and is it well worth it?

Majority of computer diplomas at IRIS can be finished in 6 months. Some in less. It is not a matter of several years of your life but it is a narrow-purpose investment that is only a few months long that can make a difference in decades of your career.

The question to ask yourself is: five years down the line, would you rather have spent those six months sitting on the bench-side - or developing an ability that can be used in real life?

Students who arrived at our doors unsure and left sure are not special. They're just the ones who decided to start. Their only distinction to someone who is still waiting is the fact that they appeared. Are you willing to go extra miles? IRIS Institute of Education, Radha Swami Road, Gill Road, near Dhuri Lines, Ludhiana. We can help you get the right course to achieve your objectives at fees you can afford. Our counsellors will make you feel at ease with the fees we charge.

 The bottom line

The world is not going to slow down to give anyone time to keep up. Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, job demands are rising and the disparity between individuals who have acquired advanced skills and those who have not is widening every year. The good news? You don't need to be a genius. You don't need a fortune. All that is required is the appropriate training, the appropriate guidance and the determination to begin. Basic was yesterday. Advanced is today. And at IRIS we are here to bring you there.