In last February, 2004 ’s CareerThink, we asked you, our loyal readers, about your ability to “compute” at work … if you have the skills you need to do your job … and what kind of computer training your company provided — if any. Apparently we struck a nerve, because you e-mailed us back in overwhelming numbers!

The editorial gang at CareerThink was so awestruck with the avalanche of answers to our computer question that we’re pretty sure we dropped a server. At least the glares we got from our IT guys as they tried to handle the overload told us that we must be on to something. Computers have become such an integral part of our workplace that most of us have a hard time remembering what it was like working without them. (And what, pray tell, did we do to kill time before the advent of Solitaire on the computer?)

Your answers gave us terrific insight into the computer challenges most people deal with on a daily basis. Nearly 90% of our respondents told us that they have basic skills that they’ve brought into their jobs and they know “just enough” to do what they need.

Kellie S., a Human Resources supervisor, gave us one of the more typical responses when she wrote in, “In this high-tech world, I would say my computing skills are average. I had a basic knowledge of computers through home use when I entered the workforce and have progressed through hands on learning. I know what I need to do my job and a little bit more.”

Celia B., a financial assistant, gave us one of our favorite answers, “I think that my skills are mediocre at best. I am told by the ‘computer guys’ at work that I know a lot more than I think I do. Most of what I have learned has been trial and error. I make mistakes or have things happen that baffle even the so-called computer experts in my life and thus they learn by helping me through the problem.”

But what really shocked us about all your answers was the lack of support and training that many of you feel you have when it comes to furthering your computer skills. All but a small handful of the readers who responded basically told us that you’re completely on your own to train yourselves.

You seem to be stuck helping yourselves either through clunky and temperamental tutorials that come with the software, or looking up answers in a 1,200-page tech manual that’s nearly as indecipherable as Egyptian hieroglyphics.

The truth is, most companies have had to trim budgets over the past few years, and one of the easiest places to cut is in the internal training department — thus, leaving many employees to fend for themselves. This is especially true in smaller companies that are non-technical in nature.

So what are your options if you want to take your skills to the next level? According to some of our training experts, if your company doesn’t really have a formal training outlet for you, you can always:

• Find someone else in your company who uses the same software as you and learn from them. Hey, it seems radical, but it never hurts to find that one person who knows your software backwards and forwards and ask them if they could give you an hour or two a week to be your “mentor.” Even if they’re swamped with work, you can always bribe them with a lunch or two to get your questions answered.
• Surf the Web for cheap and easy e-learning programs. Just a few short years ago, getting training over the Web was at best, a hit-and-miss option. Ninety percent of the training offered was just plain bad, or didn’t work like it was supposed to work. But now, the growing pains of this infant industry have passed and there’s a ton of terrific avenues for you to get the kind of computer training you need. Of course, this option only really works if you’ve got Internet access through your computer, but if you do, this is a terrific option as you can get the training you want right at your desk.
• Talk your manager or HR department into buying a training course on CD-ROM. The beauty of this option for cost-conscious managers is that for the price of one CD-ROM program, you and dozens of your coworkers can get the training they need. And, since most companies don’t run out and buy the latest upgrades of software every time they come out, you and your company could get at least two or three good years of training out of one CD-ROM.
• If you have to go outside of your company, try the local community college. These days, most of your local community colleges or school district extension offices offer computer training at a very reasonable fee. Depending on the software, the courses can run from a single evening of training to ones that take place for several nights (usually one night per week for several weeks).
• Hey, there’s always a seminar that you can go to! Ok, it may be a shameless plug, but seminars like the ones we put on are fantastic ways to learn the tips, techniques and shortcuts that let you do more with your software and improve your productivity.

Obviously computers are here to stay, but we don’t have to remain slaves to “just getting by” and “doing the best that we can.” Training is out there if you just know where to look for it.