How to Become Tech Savvy

In a world where technology shapes our society and everyday life, knowing how to operate a computer and other common tech gadgets becomes a survival skill. 

People need technology to be able to work, and almost all of the well-paying jobs today require computer skills. Beyond that, being tech-savvy is a game-changer in everyday life as it opens the door to information, knowledge, automation, and everything else you need to make life easier.

In this article, we’ll first try to define what being tech savvy means and give you advice on how to improve your tech skills easily and efficiently. Let’s begin.

What Does Being Tech Savvy Mean?

People often use the phrase “tech savvy” without really knowing what that entails. For instance, if someone knows how to turn on a computer, click on the “Google” icon, and browse the internet to find this article, would that make them a tech savvy person? What about people in finance who are very good at Excel (spreadsheet software)?

Before you embark on a journey to become tech-savvy, you must understand what makes you tech-savvy so that you can set attainable and measurable goals. This will also give you a good idea of where to start and how to move forward.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a tech-savvy person is someone who has good knowledge and understanding of modern technology, especially computers. Hence, some people ask how to become computer savvy,

Therefore, operating a computer is imperative, but understanding modern technology implies being familiar with and knowing how to use at least some, if not most, of the tools in each technological type.

Types of Technology (Examples)

• Communication
  • Television
  • Internet
    • Browsing search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing…)
    • Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Snapchat…)
    • Email (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo…)
    • Forums (Reddit, Quora, StackOverflow…)
  • Smartphones
    • Viber
    • Whatsapp
    • Telegram
    • Discord
• Electrical
  • Computers
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Software
  • Audio and visual technology
    • Cameras
    • Microphones
    • Projectors
• Energy
  • Solar panels
  • Batteries

As you can see, technology is much more than personal computers and smartphones. It’s vast and all-encompassing. We merely scratched the surface on our list, considering the different technological advances in mechanics and engineering, transportation, medicine, and so on.

Because of this, being tech savvy has a very relative meaning.

Two people can be very tech savvy even though their knowledge of technology has no or very little overlap. For instance, a person working in medicine and an engineer may both be tech savvy. Both may use technology in their fields, but their skills will have no overlap as the technology they use is substantially different.

Additionally, one can be very knowledgeable of popular communication technologies, such as social media, and use them daily but knows no way of practically applying their skills to something productive or useful. In other words, they’re not really a tech savvy person.

Defining Tech Savvy

This brings us to an important conclusion. While the broad definition of the phrase “tech savvy” says “understanding of modern technology,” we now understand that knowledge is very relative.

You can’t understand all technology in the world, and that’s not what being tech savvy is about. Neither should you limit yourself to knowing how to use mainstream or currently popular communication technologies as, again, that’s not what being tech savvy is about.

To truly become tech savvy, you first need to understand what you need in your professional and everyday life and set tech-learning goals that match those needs. 

For example, if you’re an aspiring or even experienced architectural engineer, you should focus on learning AutoCAD, Rivet, 3D Studio Max, Adobe Photoshop, Architectural Desktop (ADT), Visual Lisp Programming, and other tools and technologies that might help you be a better professional.

With that said, here’s a bulletproof way to improve your tech-savvy skills regardless of your profession or daily needs.

So, What Makes You Tech Savvy?

Being tech savvy is all about innovation and utilizing modern technology to improve your quality of life and becoming more efficient and productive at work. Because of this, the first step toward becoming more tech savvy is identifying the essential tools and technologies used in your field of work, study, or for the things that you need in your daily life.

Turn on your computer and double-click on the “Google Chrome” icon (circle with yellow, blue, red, and green colors). Alternatively, you can also open Google on your smartphone. Once Google opens, you’ll see a text box in the middle of the screen where you can type whatever you need.

For instance, if you’re a civil engineer and want to find out what are the newest tools and technologies used in your field, type in the text box “what technologies do civil engineers use?”

Once you press enter, Google will load a new screen with clickable headlines. Each headline is a result (a piece of information) that Google believes matches your request. Click on the headline to read it in full, and when you’re done, just click on the “←” (back arrow) in the top left corner of the screen.

This is how you “browse” the internet and learn about all sorts of things. It’s the foundation of free “education” on the internet, and it’s available at your fingertips with just a few clicks.

But, if you’re reading this article, chances are you already know how to browse the internet. So, here’s how you can become more tech savvy just by browsing the internet and learning about stuff.

Four Steps to Learn Anything

Now that you know how to browse the internet, here are a few steps that will significantly improve your tech knowledge and skills. Most people wonder, “is being a tech savvy a skill?” and the answer is that being tech savvy is a relative set of different skills that help you utilize modern technology in your own field of work.

Step 1: Find and bookmark a digital dictionary for all tech terms

Before you grab a tech book or listen to a tech podcast, it’s a good idea to have a dictionary that you can consult every time you encounter an unfamiliar term. After all, it makes no sense to gloss over unfamiliar terminology, hoping you’ll still get the gist of the conversion.

On top of that, digital dictionaries are a wonderful resource for anyone that’s new in a particular field. For example, you’ve just started a new job but feel intimidated because it feels like many of the more experienced colleagues speak a different language; to get acclimated to the new environment more quickly, it’s good to have a dictionary on hand.

We recommend TechTerms, an amazing and extensive resource suitable for everyone. Whether you want to know what a computer is or you’re looking for a very specific term such as NVMe, TechTerms has your back.

Step 2: Find continuous sources of knowledge in your field of interest

Once you have the dictionary bookmarked, it’s time to dive deeper into a specific topic or field of interest. For instance, let’s say that you’re a student in graphic design that wants to understand how to become more tech savvy and get access to digital resources and tools to improve your professional skills.

Again, start by browsing the internet with relevant keywords (a keyword is a word or a phrase that the search engine uses to understand what you’re looking for). In our example, relevant keywords might be: “technologies for graphic designers,” “how technology helps graphic designers,” “graphic design tech tools,” etc.

On the other hand, if you want to learn how to use a specific software or gadget, you can search for: “adobe photoshop for graphic designers,” “best hard drives for graphic designers,” and “why do graphic designers need an external hard drive.”

Depending on the specific keywords and the topic in mind, the search results will probably include:

• Blog posts;
• Articles;
• Youtube videos (how-to tutorials, promotional, product reviews, and educational videos);
• Podcasts;
• Documentaries;
• Shopping listings (digital or physical products);
• Educational or Technological websites (from schools, educational institutions, etc.);
• Courses;
• Ebooks (or physical books);
• Social media profiles (from products, companies, and influential people in the field);
• Forums (communities of experts and practitioners in the field).

Choose several resources that are suitable to your preferred learning style and start learning. One or two won’t do the trick. As with any other skill, only continuity and persistence can make you a tech savvy person. Fully immerse yourself in the process by being active on forums and social media platforms. Find people that share your journey and grow together by helping each other.

Step 3: Download programs or other software and improve your skills with practice 

Theoretical knowledge is the foundation of learning, but practical skills move the world forward. This means that, more than anything, you need to immerse yourself into tech by experimenting on your own, practicing, and seeing what comes out of your actions.

To reference the previous example about graphic designers, learning Adobe Photoshop or how to make entertaining and appealing videos is one thing, but actually giving it a shot and starting to use technology to produce something on your own is the core of each tech skill.

So, don’t be afraid to start. Every beginning is hard, and you won’t immediately use computer programs or other technological gadgets like you’ve imagined. However, with continuous practice, you’ll be able to surpass all of your expectations.

Step 4: Subscribe to tech savvy social media pages and newsletters

Last but not least, we need to remind you that technology rapidly evolves and improves. This is why learning to use a piece of technology will only make you a tech savvy person until the next updated, improved version of a software comes along.

Because of this, we recommend subscribing to your favorite blogs, websites, social media profiles, podcasts, and email newsletters for technological information to make sure you stay on top of the tech trends as they continue to evolve over time.

Other Strategies for Improving Your Tech Savvy Skills

There are other ways to learn tech skills as well. Depending on your situation and the topic you want to learn, you can always pay for a well-structured, educational course, ask a friend to help you out, find a community you can join, or resort to the classical way of learning something new — a book.

Sign Up For Tech Courses

According to the yearly Stackoverflow Developers’ Survey, in 2022, more than 70% of people who’ve started to learn how to code were using online resources such as videos, blogs, and forums. Going back to school is the second most popular way of learning to code, while physical books and online courses are the third and fourth most popular choice, respectively.

Therefore, if you’re already in school, or if going back to school is not an option, the internet offers a lot of options when it comes to learning technical skills. The most popular online learning platforms for tech skills are Udemy, Coursera, Codecademy, Pluralsight, edX, and Udacity.

Online courses are affordable, immediately accessible, and offer great value.

Ask a Tech Savvy Friend for Help

Another way to learn something new is to ask a colleague or friend for help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who might seem like they know everything. It’s likely that they recently were in your place too, which means they can relate and give you some first-hand advice on what to focus on or what to avoid. 

In other words, they’ll not only be able to guide you, but you’ll hear what it was like when they were starting, the mistakes they made, and what helped them most.

A nice, friendly conversation is an awesome motivational boost. Moreover, having someone to tell you exactly what you struggle with is a lot better than reading or listening to tutorials.

However, keep in mind that you can’t rely on other people to take you from start to finish. Support from friends is very helpful when you get stuck on something specific, but they should not be responsible for your whole learning process.

Find a Computer Club (Tech Community)

Computer clubs are fun and educational groups for people who want to learn more about computers and modern technology in general. They can have a physical presence with offices or be fully online.

Either way, these communities bring together a lot of like-minded people with different backgrounds but a shared passion for technology. You’ll find people who are incredible experts in many technological fields and complete newbies, likely such as you, who aspire to one day become experts themselves.

You can think of these communities as resourceful hubs where people will have an answer to most of your questions, ask equally entertaining questions, and share unique and not-so-popular sources of information and knowledge that you can use to become a true tech wizard.

Read Technical Books

Finally, we can’t conclude this list without mentioning the old-fashioned way of learning through reading books, whether they’re ebooks or the good old printed variety.

A lot of times, printed books are made out to be the enemy of modern technology, but that’s far from true. Even for very practical skills such as coding, a lot of people, especially older generations, learn exclusively from printed books. 

Plus, books are amazing for improving the technical vocabulary in the field of technology.

Some of the most popular books on modern technology are:

• The Innovators by Walter Isaacson
• Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
• The Age of AI: And Our Human Future by Daniel P. Huttenlocher, Eric Schmidt, and Henry Kissinger
• Doing Agile Right: Transformation without Chaos by Darrell K. Rigby, Sarah Elk, and Steve Berez
• Everyday Chaos: Technology, Complexity, and How We’re Thriving in a New World of Possibility by David Weinberger
• Kubernetes Security and Observability by Brendan Creane, Amit Gupta
• The Economics of Data, Analytics, and Digital Transformation: The theorems, laws, and empowerments to guide your organization’s digital transformation by  Bill Schmarzo

In general, these are some of the best books on technology, but depending on your specific preferred topic, you can read more in-depth literature.

Why Is It Important to Be Tech Savvy?

After you’ve read about all the ways to become tech savvy, you’ve certainly realized that you need to invest time and effort. So, you might be wondering if it’s actually worth it. To help you with that, let’s explain the four main benefits of being tech savvy, or in other words, having advanced tech skills.

Better Prospects of Finding a Job

Technology not only took over with the high-demand and high-paying IT jobs, but it also completely transformed the hiring processes for many different niches of expertise.

First, recruiters and hiring managers can now find and approach candidates on social media such as LinkedIn, meaning they do not have to wait for someone to answer their ad for an open job position. This changes things in a way that if you’re not present or visible on social media, chances are you’ll lose a lot of opportunities without even knowing.

When you become tech savvy in your given field, recruiters will easily be able to find you by looking for people that match your skill set if you put yourself out there.

Additionally, being tech savvy also means being able to efficiently and thoroughly scout the internet for opportunities. Being involved in online communities, setting notifications for job listings, and following your dream companies on social media is a great way to find open positions that match your profile.

Not only that, but you’ll be able to find the right information at the right time, which is sometimes all you need to kickstart your career in the right direction.

Higher Salary

Tech skills will not only help you find a job but will also help you land a higher-paying job than average. Even if it’s the same job position, you’ll probably get a better offer the better your tech skills are. This is because technology improves working conditions, boosts productivity, and makes employees more resourceful and efficient.

When you’re familiar with and can use various technological tools, you’ll be able to streamline tedious and environmentally wasteful processes, such as data reporting, customer support ticketing, claims processing, payroll management, and more (depending on the field you work in) — saving time, money, and energy for the company. 

Moreover, you’ll also be able to finish the same job much faster than other people and in a more precise way. For instance, think of bank employees. Most of the time, they work with a large amount of data, but the activities are repetitive and sometimes tedious. Those who have more advanced Excel skills, are familiar with automation tools for finance, or can even write code to streamline everyday processes, will be the ones with an advantage. 

Simply put, they’ll finish everything with just a few clicks instead of manually writing everything,  and companies are willing to pay a lot more to those people just to have them on their team.

Easier Life

Technology is not all about work and productivity. It’s also about automating everyday responsibilities so that we can have an easier life. Imagine how much life quality has improved just with the fact that, within seconds, you can browse the internet and immediately begin learning new skills. Even though it isn’t “practically tech savvy,” simply finding factual and unbiased information about a topic of interest will help you make smarter decisions.

These are two of the many examples that technology has drastically transformed life as we know it. 

Another example that comes to mind is GPS. Everyone nowadays has navigational systems in their phones, smartwatches, and cars. This technological innovation makes people wonder how we ever went anywhere before GPS. And that’s the power of technology.

Thanks to the many technological advances:

• Managing your money is safer and easier – online banking, instant international transfers, paying from smartphones, keeping track of all transactions with mobile and web applications, as well as many investment opportunities.
• Managing your household is time-efficient and easy – technological gadgets allow people to live in smart homes with smart alarm systems, voice commands, robot vacuum cleaners, motion sensor camera systems, smart lighting systems that preserve energy, and so much more.
• Access to information is free and unrestricted – if you know how to use technology, you’ll be informed of anything that happens in the world almost instantly.

This is just a small glimpse of how being tech savvy can make your life so much easier.

Final Thoughts

Technology is all around us as it continues to dig deeper into every aspect of our lives. And, like it or not, if we want to thrive in modern society, we need to embrace it. Today, investing in technological skills is one of the best choices you can make for your future.

Whether you’re someone who knows a few things about modern technology, or someone who’s been completely out of the loop, our guide can help you get back on track with the newest developments.