Staying Competitive in the Current Job Market

It's all over the news right now...tips on how to keep your job in the current market. Well, here's another article, with sort of a twist.



Now here's a summary of the things that all "experts" can agree on:

1. Networking - talking, lunching, twittering, etc. with colleagues who are in your field. Helps keep a pulse on the current trends, and keeps you fresh in their minds as a go-to person, a fellow expert.


2. Volunteering for extra assignments - with all the downsizing there's still a ton of work to be done, but with less people. If you volunteer to help with some of the work, you will be viewed as an asset, a team player, a person to keep. Great idea, but makes networking harder to accomplish. (Not impossible though.)


3. Keep up to date - immerse yourself in all your company's current activities. If you are not directly involved in a project, still learn all you can about it. Then try to figure out a way to "get in". Yes, more work, but the more visible you are, the more valuable you are.

Now, all this sounds great, you think. But, you are already over worked, under appreciated and missing time with your family and friends. How can you get more done in less time? The trick is to work smarter, not harder.

One way you can do that is to sharpen your computer skills. Are you an Excel whiz? Can you create a spreadsheet that automatically updates information? Write formulas that give you a snapshot of performance with the click of a button? Create graphs that are ready within minutes for that last minute, emergency meeting?

If you answered "no" to any of these, do not panic. We can help! We specialize in training of all Microsoft Office products and more. We can help you become more efficient...more viable...more competitive in the current job market.

Think about it, who wants to let the "Excel Expert" go?

We have a couple of convenient and affordable options to help you become more computer savvy - no matter what your need is.

• Option 1 - let us know what you need help with so we can customize a class for you. Have some co-workers or friends that can use the help too? Even better, the more the merrier!
• Option 2 - Coming soon: 12 week courses in Excel. Learn the basics in Excel 1 that will teach you formulas and formatting shortcuts. Gain the confidence you need to volunteer for that next project. Excel 2 and 3 will teach you more advanced techniques that will help take your performance to the next level.

So, how is this convenient?

If we customize a class for you, it will be based on your schedule, when you're available. If you sign up for our 12 week Excel course, you will be emailed a lesson and short assignment each week that you can complete during your lunch hour at work, or at home. The weekly assignment will only take about 20 - 30 minutes and help you put that new skill to work right away.

So, how is this affordable?

In both cases, there is no travel time, no time away from the office, so no additional costs. This alone saves lots of money. The 12 week course will be available in 3 monthly payments. If your company does not reimburse the training costs, it may qualify as an unreimbursed business expense (see your tax expert for more details.) We will provide you with the detailed receipt you need.

For more information on any of these programs, please send your request and contact information to: ivette@pcstraining.net or ivette@buildyourvaskills.com

Have a great week!

Practical Computing Solutions, LLC

Susan Snyder

http://www.buildyourvaskills.com

http://www.pcstraining.net

Create a Shining and Glowing Orb in Photoshop - Easy Photoshop Techniques

By Michael Caskey


You know the cool graphics ABC uses to advertise their network and shows? It's a floating orb-like ball that positively shines with crystal clear clarity. They also throw some pixie-dust-like-confetti on it, behind it and all around it that gives it motion. It's absolutely beautiful and brilliant.

If you're designing for print or online (without having the option of animation) you can closely replicate the orb for your clients using Photoshop. And you can do it without any fancy third-party filters.

Here's how...

Step 1
In your document, create a new layer and draw an oval using the marquee tool (hold the shift key down to keep the oval a perfect circle). Fill the oval using the GRADATION TOOL (use the radial setting); try light blue to dark blue on the outside edge. When filling the oval with the gradation, try offsetting the starting point to the top left and draw to the bottom right. This will give you a highlight in the top left quarter of the oval.

Step 2
From the Photoshop LAYERS PALLET filters (click on the little 'fx' at bottom left of the pallet) and select 'INNER GLOW'; Blend Mode: Multiply (or try other blend options for different results); select a darker blue color and in the ELEMENTS section vary the SIZE slider to your desire. Click OK.

Your oval now has a darker edge but the lighter area at the top left is intact.

Title this layer, 'orb'.

Step 3
Create another layer above the 'orb' layer. Draw another oval using the oval marquee tool - but make this one about 30% smaller.

On the TOOLS MENU, change the top color square to white and using the GRADATION TOOL set at square blend, fill the smaller oval with white to transparent (transparent at the bottom). Don't blend all the way to the bottom of the oval - stop about 3/4 down.

Click off the marquee oval to set the gradation.

Title this layer, 'highlight'.

(You now have two layers)

Step 4
Select both layers and using the ALIGN options on the top menu bar, center vertically the two ovals.

Allow some space between the top of both ovals - you'll want to be able to see the back oval with the front oval slightly down from the top.

Step 5
Using the TRANSFORM CONTROLS, grab the center bottom handle of the oval on the 'highlight' layer and drag up to about 1/3 of it's size. Do not hold the shift key down - we want the 'highlight' oval to be flatter in appearance.

Now rotate the 'highlight' oval so it is roughly over the lightest area of the main (or 'orb') layer. EDIT à TRANSFORM à ROTATE.

Step 6
Create a new layer and draw another flattened oval a little smaller than the 'orb'. Give this oval a feather of 3 pixels (if you're working at 72dpi - 10-14pixels if you're working at 300dpi). Fill it with a darker blue color - almost black. Deselect the oval and position it below the 'orb' and slightly to the right. Change the opacity to 25% or to taste.

Title this layer 'drop shadow'. You can apply blur from the FILTERS top menu if you desire. Also, if seems to large or small or the color isn't right just try it making the shadow again.

(This is your third layer)

And that's it!

You have just created a floating orb like ABC uses for their programming. You can add confetti or pixie dust or swirls if you want. Of course, with trial and error you'll learn to paste images into the orb and using the WARP TRANSFORM controls you can sculpt the graphic to appear distorted on the edges. Or you can copy a background image with the oval selection and paste that copy into a new layer -just repeat from step 2 to achieve that 'LOST' ABC logo look... Do whatever you want because...

Hey! You're the designer!

Free and easy Photoshop techniques and tutorials from a veteran graphics design industry professional specializing in freelance design that is On Time, On Budget and Good. Go to http://www.art4hire.org/ for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Caskey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Create-a-Shining-and-Glowing-Orb-in-Photoshop---Easy-Photoshop-Techniques&id=2190665

Hope this helps you put a cool spin on your next project! Feel free to contact us anytime if you have any questions or suggestions for our next posting.

http://www.pcstraining.net/

Practical Computing Solutions, LLC

Susan Snyder

Have a great week!

Email - How to Make it More Gain Than Pain!

By Peter Kenworthy

1. Decide when to check e-mails

Check e-mails periodically rather than continually. Turn off 'new e-mail' alerts and decide when to check for new mail. For some people once or twice a day will be sufficient; others may need to check every two hours. The stress and inefficiency of responding to every new email as it arrives should be obvious - batch opening is more efficient and less stressful.

2. Delete - deal - delay

Emails are best managed by the 3D rule:

• Delete anything irrelevant, out-of-date, redundant or simply rubbish
• Deal with emails that need a quick response and file as necessary in the right email folder, or delegate by forwarding to the right person
• Delay in reaction or reply if it will take time or research -set up a #Pending folder which can be opened later (the # sign puts it at the top of the folders list).

3. Use abbreviations in the Subject line

It helps everyone if they know immediately if an email is for information (FYI), for action (FYA), a response to something previous (RES) or just a quick message (QM) written in the subject line.

4. Use Attachments sparingly

Use hyperlinks to documents if they are on the shared network drive, rather than attach. It ensures each recipient accesses the same version of the document. If it's not on the network, large documents should be zipped up (compressed) and small documents may be better pasted into the body of the email itself.

5. Create a weekly e-bulletin

So many inboxes get cluttered with the circular emails sent to everyone. A weekly e bulletin which collates as much as possible is not as big a task as it may seem. Or use the intranet.

6. Use Message options

Learn about options available when sending messages, especially time-expiry so that it never reaches people's Inbox if it's irrelevant after a certain time e.g. warning of Fire Alarm Test or missing item.

7. Give people training in good email practice

It is easy to assume that everyone knows how to use email. It may not even be checked as part of induction. People need to know how to set up new folders so they can organise their emails systematically and how to integrate Mail with Calendar and Tasks. Bring in external trainers to run workshops if necessary or use on-line courses.

In summary:

• Resist checking emails continually
• Respond with the 3D rule - delete, deal or delay
• Use Subject line abbreviations, hyperlinks and message options
• Provide e-mail training

For more information see www.emailhelpdesk.co.uk

Peter Kenworthy is the Director of 3D HR: Three Dimensional Human Resources, providing advice, consultancy support and facilitation so that people flourish in the workplace and therefore the organisation is more successful.

http://www.hr-adviser.co.uk

Peter writes a monthly comment on people management issues in his blog Flourishing People

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Kenworthy

http://EzineArticles.com/?Email---How-to-Make-it-More-Gain-Than-Pain!&id=2111244

Thanks for reading today! I hope this helps you as much as it helped me get a handle on this huge area of clutter in my work day.

Contact me any time at http://www.pcstraining.net

Practical Computing Solutions, LLC

Susan Snyder

Found this article and thought it would be helpful to you all.

Designing And Using Outlook 2007 Electronic Business Cards

Author: Bill Mann

The exchange of business cards is a time-honored ritual in the world of business. Starting with Outlook 2007, Microsoft aligned itself with that tradition (and with other email products) by adding simple, user-friendly support for electronic business cards. Even better, Outlook's electronic business cards use the industry standard vCard (.vcf) format making it simple to exchange cards with other people through email.

That said, please be aware that while Outlook makes it easy to work with electronic business cards, designing quality cards is a whole different story, and the province of the corporate marketing folks. That side of things is clearly out of the scope of an article on Outlook. What we'll do is talk only about the mechanics of creating electronic business cards here. It'll be up to you to come up with a design you are proud of.

Creating Your Own Electronic Business Card

As soon as you create a new contact, Outlook automatically creates a very basic electronic business card for it. These cards are nothing more than lists of the basic information you entered for that contact, such as their name and address, along with whatever picture, if any, you have assigned to that contact. What follows is a high-level view of the steps necessary to create better cards to that replace the plain and frankly dull default ones.

To create an electronic business card for any given contact, follow these high-level steps:

1. Open the contact you're going to design a new card for. You'll see the current version of the card on the right side of the contact window.


2. Right-click the current version of the card. In the shortcut menu that appears, click Edit Business Card to open the Edit Business Card dialog box.


3. You'll see numerous options and controls for modifying and controlling every aspect of the business card. Fortunately, Microsoft has simplified things by including an image of the business card here. That image changes as you use the controls in this dialog box. This allows you to see the results of each change right away. That also means you can easily undo changes you don't like and freely experiment with all the design possibilities.


4. Once you've finalized what information you want visible on the card, move over to the top of the Card Design section and work your way down. Experiment with the settings to find a design you like, or follow the directions from corporate to give your card the approved look. If you have a particular picture you want to include on the card stored on your computer, click the Image button and insert it. Click Background to apply a background color to the card.
   


5. Repeat the previous two steps in any order to refine and tweak your card design until it's exactly the way you want it. Click OK when you're done designing.
   

Working with Your Own Electronic Business Card

Your new business card design will now be visible in Business Card view and whenever you attach it to a message you're working on. To attach your electronic business card to a message, first position the cursor in the message at the location where you want the business card to appear. Then click Insert Business Card in the Include section of the ribbon while you're editing the message. The card appears at the location of the cursor in the body of the message. The card is also attached to the message in .VCF format so the recipient can easily save it.

About the Author:

Learning how to design and work with electronic business cards is just one of the subjects covered in the fourth lesson of the 6-week online course, Introduction to Outlook 2007. If strengthening your Outlook 2007 skills in this time of uncertain job prospects makes sense to you, I urge you to visit http://IntroToOutlook2007.info to see if the course is available through a school near you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/e-learning-articles/designing-and-using-outlook-2007-electronic-business-cards-814581.html

Don't forget to check us out at http://www.pcstraining.net

Be looking for some awesome new things in the coming weeks!