How to Measure Basic Computer Skills

Basic computer skills are required for even most entry level jobs. To make sure you are hiring the best people, it is important to know how to test the basic computer skills of your workers. There are a few tasks you can ask applicants to perform that will clearly demonstrate their computer skills--or lack of them. By building these basic tests into your screening and interview process, you will be able to make sure that each new hire arrives ready to take on his responsibilities from day one.


Instructions

1. Ask the person being assessed to find a particular file on the computer. You can give the applicant a full file name or a partial name. On a PC, the easiest way for the applicant to find the file she needs is to click on the "Start" button, choose "Search" from the menu, then "All Files and Folders." Watch the person you are testing as she completes the task to make sure this is the procedure she is using. If the person you are testing has mastered basic computer skills, this test should take only a minute or two.

2. Create a sample letter and ask the applicant to re-create and print that letter. This basic task will test several skills that would be important in the workplace, including the ability to follow directions, the ability to use a basic word processing program and the ability to format text properly. The applicant should immediately use the "Start" button and the list of programs to find the word processing program you are using, such as Microsoft Word or Word Perfect, then go about re-creating the letter. The user should use the formatting features of the word processing program to create an exact replica of the letter you have created, then send it to the printer for completion. To make the test a bit more challenging, you could take the paper out of the input tray on the printer and set it to the side of the printer. Anyone with good computer skills should be able to check for paper and load the paper tray.

3. Give the user a list of numbers and ask him to add the numbers, using a spreadsheet. Require the user to print the spreadsheet to show his work. A user with good computer skills will immediately find Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet program, enter the numbers from the list and create an "=SUM" formula to add the numbers. If the user has good skills the entire process should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Ask the user to step away for a minute, then surreptitiously unplug the keyboard or mouse. When the user goes back to her work station, watch to see whether she knows how to plug the device back in and test it. As long as you are working with Windows XP or a newer version of Windows, the user should be able to plug the keyboard or mouse back in and have it start working right away.

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