PC Training

One of the most important types of training these days for any business is PC training.  It does not matter if your office is using Microsoft Office or the equivalent in Apple or even Open Office.

Even if you are an operator, such as a truck driver on a mine site, many companies now require you to go online to process your administration such as leave requests for annual or sick leave.

Then most people working in a shop or office spend most of their days on the computer.

Yes, students do learn some computer skills at school however there are always exceptions.  For example we have long heard of people suffering from Dyslexia or word blindness who are in your class at school or college or you work with, who you would never guess have any issues let-a-lone a learning disability.  They develop coping strategies, most often an amazing memory, to be able to undertake their daily tasks.  Another popular strategy is becoming so popular especially in boys and young men where the women around them are only too happy to assist and think the men are flirting rather than they are actually unable to read the sign or write the report.  In the same way even savvy primary school students can manipulate others into doing their work on the computer especially in schools where there are less than one computer to a student so most work is done in pairs.  Surprisingly in 2009 even some senior primary school students can barely turn a computer on and have no idea how to use a basic word processor.

Limited or low pc skills do affect your business.  No matter the position, if someone does not know how to send a group email or do a mail merge to send information to a number of people at the same time, then productivity drops while the focus is on very basic administration tasks.

Most offices will use a minimum of word, excel and outlook while others may also add powerpoint, then to a lesser extent other packages such as Access for databases or MS Project for Project Mangement.  Everyone from the cleaner or mail boy to the Chief Executive Officer is now required at least a basic level of pc skills.

There are numerous websites that offer base tutorials where you may get one or more modules for free before having to buy the training modules.

Examples include:

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/Computer/ which is a free one I have used as a weekly training tool for staff, both paid and volunteer.  This not only includes basic word and excel modules but also has a work and career section to assist with writing job applications and even managing money.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/training/HA102255331033.aspx which is also free offered by Microsoft.

A simple rule to live by is to search what you are looking for on one of the search engines – google, yahoo, bing then check them out to see if they suit your business.  Alternatively if you want a trainer to come into your organization there are many to choose from.  You may also consider your local technical college for a cheaper option to encourage your staff to do a night course.