Technology

Utilizing technology solves problems, completes tasks and accomplishes goals. Gaining familiarity with and building competencies in scientific and industrial processes, tools and methods. Manage, analyze and communicate information to find useful insights that allow for data-informed decisions.

Suggested activities

  • Learning a new technology to do your part time job.
  • Finding a new tech tool that can make a process easier at work or in volunteering.
  • Learning to use specialized equipment and/or software for research.
  • Creating visual graphs or tables in reports to represent raw data.
  • Creating spreadsheets/documents to store and analyze data.
  • Use technology to analyze survey feedback to improve a program or product.

Rate where you are on this skill

Basic Intermediate Advanced Expert
Basic

You understand that technology is a tool for completing projects, solving problems and achieving goals more efficiently and effectively. You understand that leveraging data involves using technology to collecting data, analyzing it for patterns and trends, and communicating useful insights to guide others in making informed decisions.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Study this skill in a class or training.
  • Study theories on how to collect, analyze and present/communicate data.

At this level, it is appropriate to include this skill on your resume.Ìý

You actively use technology in academic classes, campus activities or at a part-time job, internship or volunteer role. In at least one of these settings, you use industry- or company-specific technology effectively to solve problems, complete tasks and accomplish goals. You may also be using software programs to gather data and examine it for patterns and trends that can provide useful insights and aid in decision-making

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Use technology to improve efficiency and productivity of work.
  • Identify key technologies (both software and hardware) that apply to your academic discipline and potential career paths.
  • Explore various technologies to determine interests and aptitudes.
  • Embrace and actively use new software or tools.
  • Conduct research using appropriate technology tools.
  • Learn field-related technology.
  • Identify prominent or relevant individuals and companies in the field to learn from.
  • Use MS Excel or other technology to create analysis and report visuals.
  • Recognize credible data sources.

You have dedicated many hours to effectively using a wide array of technologies, both general and industry-specific, in many different environments including a work setting. People seek you out because of your ability to efficiently and effectively use technologies to complete complex tasks with ease. You support others who are experiencing technology challenges.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Quickly learn and adapt to new or unfamiliar technologies.
  • Manipulate information, construct ideas and use technology to achieve strategic goals.
  • Apply field-related technology to solve problems.
  • Troubleshoot technology problems as they arise.
  • Network with others in the field to exchange ideas; attend conferences.
  • Perform intermediate to advanced data analysis to look for relationships among variables in multiple and/or complex data sets.
  • Use appropriate analytics technology e.g. SPSS, SAS, R, Python, etc. to conduct thorough analyses.
  • Create meaningful reports and dashboards customized to the audience illustrating key findings and recommendations.
  • Have experience with dynamic visualization technology (e.g. Tableau, Power BI).

You have committed hundreds of hours to using and becoming an expert in all types of technology, dedicating time to staying up-to-date on new technologies, technology research and collaboration with other tech experts. People look to you to teach them advanced concepts in all existing technologies.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Continue to refine your technology skills through specific trainings, certifications or graduate studies or by applying them in more advanced and complex work situations.
  • Perform advanced data analytics techniques (e.g. data/text mining, machine learning, forecasting, sentiment analysis, multivariate statistics, etc.).
  • Manage technology to integrate information that supports relevant, effective and timely decision-making.
  • Present at industry conferences and other relevant events.
  • May have developed resources and provided trainings to help others manage technology tools.