Ever since I started writing about jobs and career searches, I’ve learned just how much I didn’t know (and needed to know) about computers, software and websites, etc. If you’ve been out of a job for over a year, you’re probably lagging behind already. For instance, PowerPoint is no longer for the marketing group or administrative secretary. Actually, since secretaries have gone the way of the dinosaur, just about everyone working needs to know how to whip together a flashy PowerPoint presentation with sound and video. Even my 10-year old grandson creates PowerPoint slideshows as part of his school projects!
Do you know how to share documents on Dropbox or Googledocs? Can you put the sales data or last month’s accounts receivables on an Excel spreadsheet? How about setting up a Facebook page for the business or a cutting edge blog in WordPress? Yes, while you were out looking for something like your old job, it morphed into something new. If you’ve quit the job search and started a business, you’ll need to get up to speed fast! Never fear, there are easy, fast ways to learn what you need to know about these topics.
1. E-mail and the Internet. Even if you don’t have a computer, most public libraries have computers available for use during regular hours. There may be session time limits and some sites are restricted, but you can surf the web, learn how to research information for a job search and set up an email account on Gmail or other free e-mail site, and use Google.docs or another site to store documents like resumes, cover letters and references. You’ll need to know your way around a keyboard to apply for jobs and upload resumes and cover letters for your job search.
2. Word processing. Whether you’re a PC or MAC, you need to know how to create, revise, save and attach documents like business letters, resumes, sales flyers, newsletters, etc. MS Word or Publisher for the PC or Pages for the MAC are software programs you need to master in order to function in on computer-based, online world.
3. Spreadsheets and data analysis. Excel (PC) and Numbers (MAC) are still the gold standard for spreadsheets and data analysis. Word processing and spreadsheet skills are basic requirements for just about any job. Business owners use other software like QuickBooks for managing their business, but spreadsheets can make data flexible and easily uploaded into other applications.
4. Social media and Smartphones. Social media sites, like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, are the new means of communication and sharing information with a larger group. Smartphones act as a phone, laptop, TV and radio—you can do just about anything anywhere from your Smartphone. You can’t ignore the technology. You need to either get in the game or be left behind.
5. Online meetings, Webinars and Skype. More and more, learning takes place on the Internet through webinars. Instead of attending a meeting in person, you can save time and money by dialing into a conference call or online meeting. With Skype, you can see and talk to a person or group in real time and share files and information. Skype is becoming a popular interview and meeting tool. Whether you’re a business connecting with clients or a job seeker, you need to be available in-person, online.
Overwhelmed? There is plenty of free training on the web to get you familiar with all these must-haves. You can google “free internet training “and find lots of free sites. Grovo.com and GCFLearnfree.org are two sites that have lots of free Internet, computer and web training.
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