Digital Skills for Beginners — Overcome the Language Barrier

Almost all work is done on computers now, which makes digital skills an unavoidable part of life. Well, the good news is that anyone can learn them, irrespective of the language they know.

At Digital Skills Confidence Blueprint, we have collated some digital skills essential for beginners. These are skills that help open doors, create opportunities, and solve real-world problems. They are essential whether you are a budding careerist, a working professional, or a startup enthusiast.

What Are Some Essential Digital Skills for Beginners to Learn?

1. Word Processing

Whether you are a writer, a business owner, or a professional starting on your first job, knowing how to put words together is a game-changer. Businesses are always looking for people who can put forth ideas in a clear and compelling way.

How To Get Started?

If you are a Microsoft Windows user, chances are the Microsoft Office Suite is already installed on your computer. Check for an application by the name “Word”. If you have it installed, fine. Otherwise, you will need to buy a license and install the Microsoft Office Suite.

If you do not want to pay a license fee, you can opt for an open-source alternative like LibreOffice. On the site, select your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux), download, and install LibreOffice on your computer. The word processor offered by LibreOffice is known as “Writer”.

If you are uncomfortable with downloading and installing software, there is a third option — Google Docs. You can use this from your Web Browser. However, you must get a free subscription to Google. If you already have one, use it. Otherwise, open your browser, go to www.google.com, and create a free account with a suitable username and password. Now, head over to Google Docs to start.

2. Spreadsheet

If you handle a lot of data or have to prepare charts and graphs, then a spreadsheet program is your friend. Skills in data processing are highly appreciated in the business world, and knowing your way around when using a spreadsheet is essential for any professional.

How To Get Started?

If you are a Microsoft Windows user, chances are the Microsoft Office Suite is already installed on your computer. Check for an application by the name “Excel”. If you have it installed, fine. Otherwise, you will need to buy a license and install the Microsoft Office Suite.

If you do not want to pay a license fee, you can opt for an open-source alternative like LibreOffice. On the site, select your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux), download, and install LibreOffice on your computer. The spreadsheet offered by LibreOffice is known as “Calc”.

If you are uncomfortable with downloading and installing software, there is a third option — Google Sheets. You can use this from your Web Browser. However, you must get a free subscription to Google. If you already have one, use it. Otherwise, open your browser, go to www.google.com, and create a free account with a suitable username and password. Now, head over to Google Sheets to start.

3. Presentation

For those who must explain a process to their colleagues or put forward a new idea to their business partners, presentation software is an absolute godsend.

How To Get Started?

If you are a Microsoft Windows user, chances are the Microsoft Office Suite is already installed on your computer. Check for an application by the name “PowerPoint”. If you have it installed, fine. Otherwise, you will need to buy a license and install the Microsoft Office Suite.

If you do not want to pay a license fee, you can opt for an open-source alternative like LibreOffice. On the site, select your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux), download, and install LibreOffice on your computer. The presentation application offered by LibreOffice is known as “Impress”.

If you are uncomfortable with downloading and installing software, there is a third option — Google Slides. You can use this from your Web Browser. However, you must get a free subscription to Google. If you already have one, use it. Otherwise, open your browser, go to www.google.com, and create a free account with a suitable username and password. Now, head over to Google Slides to start.

4. Communication

Whatever may be your occupation, whether a professional, business owner, or a beginner in the industry, good communicators always leave their mark. Conveying your thoughts and instructions clearly and without ambiguity is an invaluable skill.

How To Get Started?

While all the popular Operating Systems — Microsoft Windows, Linux, or Mac — do offer some forms of messaging systems, these are not very useful in the corporate world, where a more formal system of communication is desired, popularly known as email.

Many organizations have established their own email systems, but it is easy to use general systems as well. Google provides Gmail, one of the most popular email systems used all over the world. However, there are other email systems like ProtonMail, etc.

To use Gmail, you must get a free subscription to Google. If you already have one, use it. Otherwise, open your browser, go to www.google.com, and create a free account with a suitable username and password. Now, head over to Gmail to start.

5. Meetings/Conferences

Meetings and conferences are an unavoidable part of the corporate world. You may have to meet or confer with your partners who are in different regions of the world. Applications are available for video conferencing, where you and your partners can see as well as hear each other at the same time, as if you are all sitting across from each other in a single room.

Most of these applications are OS independent, and you can operate them from a web browser, independent of the OS you are using. However, as they often must use your computer’s resources, such as sharing files, screens, the microphone, and the webcam, it is necessary to install these applications in your system.

How To Get Started?

Although many applications are available for meetings and conferences, Zoom and Google Meet are the most popular.

For both, you will need a free subscription. You can use your Google subscription to start with both Zoom and Meet. Once you are logged in, create a new meeting for a future date and time. Send the link to your partners, and connect with them at the appointed date and time.

6. Artificial Intelligence

This is the age of Artificial Intelligence. AI has made life much easier for us in all fields, whether in business or professional. For instance, instead of browsing through numerous websites, looking for something specific, you can specify what you are looking for, and let AI do the heavy lifting of the search — easily saving hours of your time.

How To Get Started?

On the net, there is a plethora of Artificial Intelligence tools available — general as well as suitable for specific tasks like writing, code generation, image generation, video generation, or any type of problem-solving. However, their functioning is very similar — you must generate a prompt for the AI to work on and produce its results. The more detailed your prompt is, the better the output you can expect from the tool.

ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude are among the most popular AI tools, but you may try exploring others to find the one most suitable for your requirements.

You can log into these tools either by using your Google credentials or by creating new ones for each tool. The skill in using AI tools lies in writing effective prompts. In fact, you can now find AI incorporated within all the tools listed above.

Why Digital Skills Confidence Blueprint?

At Digital Skills Confidence Blueprint, we help working professionals aged 30–45 who struggle with digital skills because of language barriers. Whether they know Hindi, English, or Bengali, we guide them through a 3-tier system of Foundation Building, Skill Enhancement, and Problem-Solving so they can confidently use digital tools in their work and career. Our mission is to make digital confidence accessible to everyone — no matter their language.

If you are interested, visit our website: www.digitalskillsonline.in

or contact us on +91 8697 566 513.

You can also tell us something about yourself at: https://tinyurl.com/2bdb5rvl