We’ve just made job-hunting a little bit easier….again. Now you can upload your resume directly from Word 2007 to Monster.com. Just download an easySubmit resume template from Office.com, , such as this Functional resume with page border template, and install the add-in from the Word 2007 ribbon. Complete the resume, save it, sign-in to Monster.com, upload, and voila! This Help article walks you through the step-by-step.
Besides resumes, the Career Center at Office.com (powered by Monster.com) and Office templates collections can hook you up with detailed job descriptions, cover letters, business cards, Monster’s job listings for your area, expert advice, and more. Job competition may be fierce right now, but with these resources to help you organize and save time, you can focus more on presenting your professional best. Good luck!
--Holly
The Office OFFline comic pick this week was inspired by the recent elections.
After creating this comic, it occurred to me that elections are a lot like business meetings. The people in charge usually have an agenda. Most people never participate. And when it’s over, we spend a ton of time trying to figure out what really happened.
Have you noticed other similarities?
-David
Webster's Dictionary defines a scam as "a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation." And that's it. There are no secondary definitions. It's pretty simple, really: Someone is trying to bamboozle you.
We all know them: The e-mails that come to you promising you weight loss, cases of fine champagne, and offers to erase all your fine lines and bad memories. Before I get into the specifics here, let me state a few clichés:
- If it seems too good to be true, it is.
- You don't get something for nothing.
- A fool and his money are soon parted.
Strangely enough, we humans, as moderately intelligent life on this planet, seem to forget these sayings when presented with sparkly things: A new queen mattress set (still in its plastic!), cash from Bill Gates, or magic crystals that bring fortune into your life. And that is exactly what the people who set out to relieve you of all your money are banking on — that you'll unplug your capacity to reason and believe everything you read (yet another cliché).
What I'm about to tell you today is probably nothing new to you. Perhaps you've even warned others about it. Though we may want to give people the benefit of the doubt and trust what they say, there are certainly times we shouldn't. Specifically when it comes to e-mail from strangers. (How many times did your mother tell you not to take candy from strangers? Not to get into a car with a stranger or help him look for his "lost puppy"? This is exactly the same thing, only for grownups.)
The scams: How they work, and how you can avoid them
Here are five basic scams — a few of my favorites — that have been circulating over the years. Most of these are bona fide financial scams designed to empty your bank account and rid you of any goodwill you had toward your fellow man or woman. Some of these scams and rumors have been around a long time, some play with new riffs on an old idea, and still others are so creatively concocted that one must almost give credit to the "artists" who created them. Whatever they are, and however they're presented, you can avoid becoming their victim — whether it's a victim of theft or merely of ignorance and stupidity.
Note You can't help but be impressed with some of these scams; so brazen, so without morals or ethics, and yet…so creative.
My top 5 list
- Helping someone get money out of a foreign country, of which you'll get a bundle…for a large fee.
- Phishing scams — people trying to get your personal information — that can lead to serious debt and identity theft.
- Lots of credit…for a small fee.
- Lottery winnings…for a small fee.
- A buyer of your item for sale (on, say, craigslist, or eBay) who wants to pay by wiring you money or using a fake money order or cashier's check.
Now, let me give you some examples of how even the most savvy of you can fall into these traps…and how to avoid that.
Read my full Crabby Office Lady column on Office Online.
"The world wants to be deceived." — Sebastian Brant
— Crabby
Our series focusing on templates folks like you have submitted to Office.com continues. How many templates do we have? So many that if you train on a forklift, here’s a Certificate of Completion for you. It’s by Jeremy H.
Top Templates with Doug and Ron: Award Certificates
Download this certificate, browse more free award certificates, or submit your own.
And don’t forget to check out the daily template, aka the Template du jour, every Tuesday through Friday right here on this blog. –Doug Thomas
Photo by techedlive
The Office OFFline comic pick this week started out as a tweet and was inspired by Halloween, of course, and all the great reviews Windows 7 has been getting.
What are you wearing for Halloween?
NPR finished up an excellent four part series on your privacy in the age of the Internet. Listen (or read) how Facebook, 9/11, the Constitution, and email all combine to create something tabbed the post-privacy era. Hang on, it’s going to be a bumpy evening.
Part Four: Digital Data Make For A Really Permanent Record
--Doug Thomas
We made a little video about these 157 free templates that are available for PowerPoint 2007. There are a lot of them, so they are broken down into 8 download sets. Each set below has a download link, previews, and complete instructions for customizing. If you just want to download the sets, go here.
ppt157: Everything in this video is a PowerPoint slide
--Doug Thomas & Eric Schmidt
Several years ago, I wrote a column that offered tips for telecommuters. At the time, I was telecommuting once in a while; I certainly wasn't doing it full time. However, now that I find myself working from a home office almost all the time, it's time to take another look at (and perhaps update and refine) the tips I once doled out so freely. I imagine there will be some overlap here but this time I know from whence I speak…
If you’re considering becoming a telecommuter, it’s time to ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you self-motivated and organized? Can you set up a self-imposed daily structure?
- Can you limit the distractions around you (personal phone calls, bickering kids, the fish swimming around in his bowl...)?
- Do you have the necessary workspace and tools to make your particular job workable from afar?
- Can you work without someone imposing structure on you? Can you create your own structure just as easily — and stick to it?
- Do you have someone to take care of the kids while you take care of the business?
- Do you have a room where you can close the door to distractions? Do you have friends and family who can understand that just because you're home doesn't mean you're in "home mode"?
You may answer a resounding "Yes!" to virtually all of these — I know I did. But I suggest that before you jump headlong into a telecommuting lifestyle, first try it out a couple of days a week for a few weeks and then try it out full time for a while.
If you visit my blog, I can offer a few tips and tricks to help you with some common issues — distractions, how to stay in touch with the office, and how to tackle the issues of loneliness and butt rot with one solution (get up and walk to your local cafe to work).
Read my blog post about telecommuting.
You’ll only know if telecommuting is right for you if try. And you may find that working a little at home and a little in the office might be the best solution for you.
"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best." — Frida Kahlo
— Crabby
This episode of Top Templates showcases a community-submitted business card template made in Word 2007.
Top Templates with Doug and Ron: Business Cards
Download Big Ideas Business Cards, browse more free business card templates, or submit your own.
Next week's episode of Top Templates: Certificate of Completion, Forklift Operator Safety Training!
And don’t forget to check out the daily template, aka the Template du jour, every Tuesday through Friday right here on this blog. – Ron Owens
It's smart to be prepared for life's changes, and updating your operating system is no exception. Doing a bit of homework before moving up to Windows 7 will save some time so you can enjoy our fast and fantastic new OS.
Yes it's fast. But you wouldn't put put a kick-ass engine into a wind-up car. Make sure your system meets the Windows 7 hardware requirements, and if you have 4 GB RAM or more, buy a 64-bit version. (Most retailers will sell almost all of their PCs with a 64-bit version of Windows 7 pre-installed.) Not sure what 64- vs. 32-bit systems even means? Learn about life in the fast lane. And then check Doug's demo of ways Windows 7 can save you time.
Do you own a business and want to support your system administrator during the big upgrade? Check out this free eBook from Microsoft TechNet about deploying Windows 7, and the free information at Lifehacker.com. Also consider the $10-per-seat Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack. 
Upgrading from XP? Deep cleansing breath: Upgrading from XP to Windows 7 on the same machine requires a clean installation. That means you'll need to reinstall your programs. Take a good look at this step-by-step process and make sure you have your product keys and installation CDs on hand. Here's where to start if you need a replacement CD or DVD that contains Microsoft software.
Psst Not to be outdone by Windows 7, the Office 2010 crew is working hard and getting psyched. The Office community on Facebook will keep you up to speed on that race.
What else can we help you with?
- Ed and Holly
Today, Windows 7 goes on sale. There have been many excellent reviews (including CNET, PCWorld, and the New York Times), but as an employee, I just gotta say I’m standing a bit taller today (full disclosure: I know people working on the product). We’ve been able to work on W7 (as we write it) for several months and here is my take on some of time saving features. --Doug Thomas
Office Casual: How to save time with Windows 7
