There was a time when the only computer-related skills most of us needed to learn had to do with word processing. Now, we’ve come such a long way with Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other forms of social media dominating the workforce. Are you updated?

In the US, there are already workshops and courses dedicated to understanding social media. The University of San Francisco offers an eight-week online course. New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies also has learning opportunities dedicated to social media as part of its business programs. Not to be outdone, Harvard’s Extension School grants younger employees a chance to learn how to integrate social media into their work.

Now, you might think that being able to update your Facebook status message is enough, but unless you want to get left behind, you need to learn how to use digital media to your advantage. For example, if you want your future employers to notice you, you may want to think about posting your resume online. Using LinkedIn, you can create a professional online presence to help give you a sense of credibility. Keep in mind however that your employers can also track down existing dirt on you online. If you have any less-than-stellar photos that might make your employers think twice about hiring you, start taking them down as quickly as you can.

If social media is totally new to you, fear not. It’s not as complicated as it seems. Give yourself time to explore and try these new forms of digital media, and before you know it, you’ll have mastered them all.

For more on social media, check these out on FN:

• 5 Things You Should Never Share on Social Networking Sites
• Social Security: 5 Tips to Protect Your Social Networking Accounts from Hackers
• Keep Yourself Safe Online with FN's 5 Cyber Safety Tips
• 5 Twitter Etiquette Dos and Don'ts
• How to clean up your online image

(Photo by fredcavazza via Flickr Creative Commons)