# Is it worthwhile to put "PC user/hobbyist" on "just out of college" resumes these days? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641 "2013-03-11T17:18:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/1 "2013-03-11T17:18:59Z")
Back when I was starting my software development career in 1990 or so I had something to the effect of being a PC user and/or hobbyist on the resume. I think it made sense then, since PCs were not quite as ubiquitous as they are now. In fact, I recall us hiring an intern that didn’t know the different between a file and a directory. It’s certainly not on my current resume, in fact I have trouble keeping it down to two pages as it is. My question is, for a person just graduating from college today with a CS degree or something similar, looking for a job in his or her field of study, is proficiency with a PC worth mentioning? Or would that be like putting that you know how to play a DVD or use an iPod? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/2 "2013-03-11T17:22:20Z")
I think it would be more akin to bragging that you can dress or feed yourself. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/3 "2013-03-11T17:23:50Z")
No. Ditto “Proficient in Microsoft Word.” Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/4 "2013-03-11T17:27:09Z")
If you’ve got a CS degree, and are looking in your field, I would assume that goes without saying. It is still true that there are scores of people out there who aren’t really proficient computer users (even if they use computers all the time). I find it hard to believe that any of those people have CS degrees. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/5 "2013-03-11T17:29:35Z")
It would give the hiring manager a nice chuckle as he threw the resume in the trash. IOW, it’s a terrible idea. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/6 "2013-03-11T17:41:15Z")
Certainly not for a recently graduated CS major, no, it would be ridiculous to put that. For a 50-some year old guy or gal who maybe only has a HS degree or associates degree but has spent a lot of time using computers for various things, I think a few bullet points of what they can do well on a computer might be worth their time. ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/7 "2013-03-11T18:53:54Z")
You’d be surprised how many “PC user/hobbyists” there are where I work that make my job a living hell at times… ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/8 "2013-03-11T19:05:58Z")
For a CS degree, absolutely not. It is expected that if you have a CS degree that you’re proficient with basic computer usage. Admittedly, even in grad school studying CS, I knew some people who could barely type or do anything on a computer other than program, and even then not all too well, but that’s something else entirely. If a fresh out of college kid has trouble filling up a page, then he can expand on some projects he did in class or on his own time. That’s really what I think is going to make his resume stand out over some other fresh graduate. That he did interesting and related projects or that he did some stuff on his own time rather than just getting his grades. By referencing actual projects, it basically says what “computer hobbyist” would say while also giving more relevant and interesting experience. Other extracurricular stuff, possibly even back into high school could work too. To some extent, I think that stuff could help for entry positions as showing a breadth of interest, self-motivation, etc. If he has more than a page, then it makes even less sense to put computer hobbyist on there, since IMO no kid fresh with a fresh BS degree should have a resume longer than a page. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/9 "2013-03-11T19:21:31Z")
Computer hobbyist would have to be something like making Arduino based robots or building your own beowulf cluster. If you just put “computer proficiency” that would be like putting “I can dial a phone.” ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/10 "2013-03-11T22:30:29Z")
Proficiency with Windows, no. Proficiency with Linux, maybe, although that could be very good if the company uses Linux, or very bad if they don’t and the interviewer has had experience with Linux zealots. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/11 "2013-03-11T22:35:43Z")
Unless you are applying for job in IT support, and you build your own, I would not list it. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/12 "2013-03-11T22:57:07Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > No. > > Ditto “Proficient in Microsoft Word.” Ugh. Arrgh… thanks for reminding me of my pet peeve from my latest job search: “Required: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)”. Who exactly is going to be proficient with Office who doesn’t realize that means Word, Excel and PowerPoint (or vice verse)? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/13 "2013-03-11T22:57:23Z")
If they have a CS degree, isn’t it assumed that they have proficiency with PCs?? I mean, I don’t say “proficient in English” on my resume because I believe that can be inferred from the line that says “Bachelor of Arts, English-Teaching.” Unless the line goes on to say “…as well as Macs, Linux, and Unix. [followed then by statements about programing languages and uncommon programs they’ve mastered]” I can’t imagine why the recent grad would think it’s adding any information to their resume. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/14 "2013-03-11T23:02:14Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Arrgh… thanks for reminding me of my pet peeve from my latest job search: “Required: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)”. Who exactly is going to be proficient with Office who doesn’t realize that means Word, Excel and PowerPoint (or vice verse)? Probably because Office includes other programs like Access, Publisher, and Outlook, so it’s good as an employer to clarify which programs, specifically, you want proficiency in. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/15 "2013-03-11T23:06:48Z")
Not for routine “wrote some papers articles using word” “used excel to make lists” type stuff. Maybe if you can legitimately claim “power user” status. Like maybe you write complex VBA macros for Excel? Have you built kiosk or POS systems that hide the windows desktop? (with backdoors for maintainance) Have you done custom UI for a Access database? Note that I wouldn’t use the actual term “power user” on a resume. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/16 "2013-03-11T23:11:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Probably because Office includes other programs like Access, Publisher, and Outlook, so it’s good as an employer to clarify which programs, specifically, you want proficiency in. Then why not just say “Required: Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint”? ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/17 "2013-03-11T23:19:37Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Arrgh… thanks for reminding me of my pet peeve from my latest job search: “Required: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)”. Who exactly is going to be proficient with Office who doesn’t realize that means Word, Excel and PowerPoint (or vice verse)? If the ad specifies that skillset is required, then the application materials (either the cover letter or resume) should note one’s proficiency. That remark is not being included in the vacancy announcement for the hiring manager’s health, IT IS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE PROFICIENT IN MICROSOFT OFFICE. And you impart this knowledge by putting it on your resume. If it turns out that most of the announcements for the kinds of job you are seeking included this line about mandatory MS Office proficiency, then you should include on your resume. Your resume should be guided by what hiring managers want to know, not what you think should be on there. I wouldn’t say “PC hobbyist,” because, to borrow a line from the Monarch: I am into costume _business_, not costume play. That is, instead of saying, sometimes I eff around on the computer, you should indicate what specific business-oriented computer skills you have. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/18 "2013-03-12T00:30:14Z")
Hobbyist? Many job descriptions I’ve seen posted, say explicitly they don’t want to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/19 "2013-03-12T00:41:10Z")
> [@Orionizer](#): > > You’d be surprised how many “PC user/hobbyists” there are where I work that make my job a living hell at times… We have a joke around the shop here… “If I had a dollar for everyone who got help from a friend who is good with computers…oh wait, we have about $100” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641/20 "2013-03-12T00:51:00Z")
I once had to train a woman in the use of our animal shelter database. She was the dispatcher, and she’d gotten the job in part because, in 2002 (or thereabouts) she’d put on her application, “Eight years experience with computers.” Part of my training was teaching her how to use a mouse. As she stuck her tongue between her lips and grunted as she tried to get the mouse to do what she wanted, I asked her what she’d meant re: eight years experience. Turns out she thought “8 years experience as a cashier” was just the same thing. That said, I think “very competent with spreadsheets and mail merges” could be good stuff to put on some administrative resumes. I’m no Excel power user, certainly don’t know how to write scripts; but I do know how to hide columns, use equations, and merge cells, and for this “expertise” I pretty regularly get solicited for help from administrative staff. Fluency in spreadsheets and word processors is not nearly as common as you’d think. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worthwhile-to-put-pc-user-hobbyist-on-just-out-of-college-resumes-these-days/652641.md?page=2)