Many of us assume that knowing how to boot up a computer, sending text messages using cellular phones, spending large sums of money on having latest iPhone, or having your fridge and microwave connected by Bluetooth are all signs of being technology savvy.

In reality, the ability to do any of these is overrated. Being technology savvy is essentially one’s skill to be smart with technology. This skill reaches far beyond ‘understanding’ the concepts of how technology works and encompasses the ‘utilization’ of such modern technology for the purpose of enhancing productivity and efficiency.

Technology savvy skills, therefore, mean utilizing one’s knowledge of the modern technology to efficiently incorporate it into personal as well as professional lives.

Why is being technology savvy important

The importance of being technology savvy in today’s highly competitive job market should not be underestimated. For instance, it is said that your chances of employment are 25% higher if you have the relevant web skills, which may also lead to almost 10% salary raise once you have started working. However, if these statistics alone are not convincing enough, following are some benefits of being technology savvy:

  • Improves the work-life balance. If you have the skills to be technology savvy, you have the power to change the traditional workplace and working hours for yourself. With little or no compromise on salary, you can demand flexible work locations and working hours. Not only will this help you manage your work-life balance well but you are also likely to impress your employer with your ability to go against the mainstream and still perform better.
  • Enhances productivity. Being technology savvy increases your productivity and efficiency since you are able to achieve more in less time. Instead of taking out time from busy schedule to go and have a meeting with someone, you can choose teleconferencing or even text messages in case there is someone you aren’t able to contact. For technology savvy people, even shopping takes just a single click instead of long routes with immense traffic. There are no forgotten dates and reminders because everything is with you at all times within the portable devices you carry.

How to improve your skills of being technology savvy

It may consume a lot of your time and effort to master the skill but being technology savvy is not impossible. Following are some tips to help you improve:

  • Use a search engine. We commonly hear the phrase ‘Google knows everything’. Well, Google (or any good search engine) is definitely a good friend when you have a query. So, make it a habit to use Google whenever you have a question or wish to research a topic of interest.
  • Try to gain knowledge in multiple fields. You may think that you don’t need to know the different types and models of cameras and lenses because you are not a photographer by professions. It is likely that you may never be asked questions about something that is irrelevant to your profession. However, you should still attempt to increase your know-how because whatever you learn may be useless now but will most likely help you at some point in the future.
  • Become an expert. In this technology-driven world, there must be something technology related that you find interesting and really enjoy working upon. Seek to master that one thing by researching it first and then using it first-hand.
  • Never be afraid to try new things. Never hesitate from testing, exploring and learning. Do not be afraid of new websites, or updating the tools you use to their recent versions. Learn how to treat your computer and attempt to do it yourself. It will help build your confidence.
Job profiles that require this skill