We all know that the younger generations are known for their technology savvy, however I think we sometimes forget that there are still significant parts of that population that lack even basic computer skills. Next week I am presenting to the Massachusetts Association of Cooperative Coordinators. These professionals focus on placing High School students in internships, helping them develop work/life skills designed to help them succeed after graduation whether they enter the workforce or college. The group is interested in learning more about specific technology skills students need to have in order to be successful in the workplace. This includes everything from desktop applications to social networking. Below are some of my thoughts, but I’m wondering, what am I missing? If you could do it over knowing what you know now, what skills would you have focused on more?

Desktop Applications

Students should know the basics of applications like Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. While there are other options out there, like some of the collaborative apps that Google offers, the MS Office applications are still the most popular. In many companies they don’t even ask about desktop applications knowledge anymore, proficiency is assumed.

Internet Browsing

I know that it is second nature to those of us that work online for a living, however, there are still a lot of students that cannot find their way around the Internet. Being able to search for ideas and answers online is not only a great skill to have, but a way to be a more efficient and productive employee. What are the basics of searching, bookmarking, sharing (del.i.cio.us, Digg)? Do students know why and how to source and acknowledge materials they find and use?

Social Networking

This one can get tricky. I know many High School students that already have profiles on MySpace and/or Facebook to connect with their friends. The education that students need around use of these type of tools is less about “how you do it” and more about privacy. Students need to be aware that recruiters (professional and college) will review any online profiles or information on applicants; a recent CIO Insight poll found that 45% of hiring managers use social networking sites to research candidates. Students need to assume that every post, picture and tag associated with them can be found. Awareness may be growing: Recent research by the Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals that 60% of adults and 66% of teens restrict access to their personal profiles on online. While restricting access to profiles is one security measure, students should also be aware of what anyone in their ecosystem is saying or tagging about them. We’ve already seen stories of individuals loosing out on opportunities because of inappropriate photos their friends posted and tagged online.

Written Communication

As social media tools evolve and we see more options arise, the written word becomes more and more important. This means that language skills, especially written skills, need to be stressed. It does not matter how brilliant you are, if your memos or posts have major spelling and grammar issues, those will greatly detract from good content. I know that there is a new vernacular that goes along with many of the new technologies; however the majority of the workforce is still made up of professionals who rely on standard English for business interaction.

Mobile Applications

Yes, many students have cell phones and know how to text but do they know how to use email online? Do they know NOT to use Twitter and IM acronyms, slang and shorthand when talking professionally? This is another area where protocol needs to be addressed.

So, what technology skills do you look for in an intern or a new hire? If you were talking to a group of High School students what advice would you give them regarding learning and using technology? I look forward to hearing your thoughts and will keep you posted on feedback I get from the MACC group and the student population that they serve.