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I'm part time self employed, with a flexible schedule. I just need about 8 hours of my own time, which can be scheduled any time days, night or weekends.
I want a part time admin type job for an average of 20-30 hours a week, temp or perm any day or time.
I want to brush up on my Microsoft office skills, (word, excel, power point), so I can post a resume with these as listed as advanced or expert level. I see that microsoft has online free training in 2010 and 2007 versions. Which are most employers looking for, 2007 or 2010? Any suggestions?
You might as well learn the newest version, there's really no need to learn an old version. And if you encounter any differences in the 2 versions you should be able to figure it out.
I strongly recommend focusing on the more advanced applications of Excel - pivot charts and macros in particular. I taught myself both (though I do not consider myself an expert in macros - yet) and in addition to saving me quite honestly weeks of productivity time, it also gave me a great skill to go on my resume. I second scratchNsniff's recommendation to use the most recent version. Not all offices have it, but it is good to have the most recent experience. I never include which year of Office I have used on my resume - it's unneeded info.
Skills in Word (beyond the basics) are mail merges, building templates, and track changes.
While Powerpoint is useful, put most of your energy to Excel and Word.
Make sure you know how to do most what you can do on Office using Google Docs/Google Drive. Even though we use Office 2012 standard on all computers, so much of my work is done collaboratively with others using Google products.
I would also strongly recommend learning at LEAST basic HTML (though as much as possible is good!) because many admins are now being tasked at updating websites and sending email blasts. While these can often be done without using HTML, it helps with formatting.
I strongly recommend focusing on the more advanced applications of Excel - pivot charts and macros in particular. I taught myself both (though I do not consider myself an expert in macros - yet) and in addition to saving me quite honestly weeks of productivity time, it also gave me a great skill to go on my resume. I second scratchNsniff's recommendation to use the most recent version. Not all offices have it, but it is good to have the most recent experience. I never include which year of Office I have used on my resume - it's unneeded info.
Skills in Word (beyond the basics) are mail merges, building templates, and track changes.
While Powerpoint is useful, put most of your energy to Excel and Word.
Make sure you know how to do most what you can do on Office using Google Docs/Google Drive. Even though we use Office 2012 standard on all computers, so much of my work is done collaboratively with others using Google products.
I would also strongly recommend learning at LEAST basic HTML (though as much as possible is good!) because many admins are now being tasked at updating websites and sending email blasts. While these can often be done without using HTML, it helps with formatting.
Thanks for the detailed answer.
I know HTML, how to upload pages to servers using an FTP program, a bit of CSS and enough javascript to understand the code and edit it. I took a C++ class several years ago and javascipt is similar in language.
Should I play dumb, when looking for a $10/hr part time temp job? I don't want to land my "dream" job. I want a dime a dozen admin job to pay the bills.
I know HTML, how to upload pages to servers using an FTP program, a bit of CSS and enough javascript to understand the code and edit it. I took a C++ class several years ago and javascipt is similar in language.
Should I play dumb, when looking for a $10/hr part time temp job? I don't want to land my "dream" job. I want a dime a dozen admin job to pay the bills.
You sound more techie than office admin type. I would play down my tech skills just to get a job that used to be considered secretarial and then became more office administration by name. You might want to tailor resume just to get in the door somewhere.
As you probably already know, the typical office administration work where you just use the Microsoft Office suite are a dime a dozen, many people have the skill set, but the number of jobs is rather slim these days.
You sound more techie than office admin type. I would play down my tech skills just to get a job that used to be considered secretarial and then became more office administration by name. You might want to tailor resume just to get in the door somewhere.
As you probably already know, the typical office administration work where you just use the Microsoft Office suite are a dime a dozen, many people have the skill set, but the number of jobs is rather slim these days.
Or maybe a small business who can't afford to hire multiple people, so would be happy with someone who can do more than one job. I know from working for myself, I may be emailing a customer, then running to the post office, then putting together a mailing list, then doing some html.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by berkeleylake
You sound more techie than office admin type. I would play down my tech skills just to get a job that used to be considered secretarial and then became more office administration by name. You might want to tailor resume just to get in the door somewhere.
As you probably already know, the typical office administration work where you just use the Microsoft Office suite are a dime a dozen, many people have the skill set, but the number of jobs is rather slim these days.
Actually, we have trouble finding people with the skills we need in addition to Word and Excel. Sharepoint, OneNote, Visio and Adobe Acrobat Professional are more useful than Powerpoint for our admin people. We don't, however hire anyone part time and smaller companies would not be as likely to use Sharepoint.
Actually, we have trouble finding people with the skills we need in addition to Word and Excel. Sharepoint, OneNote, Visio and Adobe Acrobat Professional are more useful than Powerpoint for our admin people. We don't, however hire anyone part time and smaller companies would not be as likely to use Sharepoint.
Visio looks interesting, but it's very expensive and doesn't look like it's popular. I also don't see that Microsoft has a tutorial for visio, but there are some made by other people on youtube. I suppose that's why it's hard to find someone who's admin and knows the program. What kind of company do you work at?
I know HTML, how to upload pages to servers using an FTP program, a bit of CSS and enough javascript to understand the code and edit it. I took a C++ class several years ago and javascipt is similar in language.
Should I play dumb, when looking for a $10/hr part time temp job? I don't want to land my "dream" job. I want a dime a dozen admin job to pay the bills.
Fantastic! So you are very well suited to being an Excel macro expert - if you are already familiar and comfortable with coding concepts, it is a super useful skill to have (and one that few admins possess).
I don't think you necessarily have to dumb down, though I might not include your more nuanced tech skills. On the flip side, you may be able to find better paying temp slots because you are a few steps ahead of the average admin.
One suggestion - if you have any local colleges around, look and see if they have any part time communication specialist or admin jobs. We always seem to be hiring part timers for that role (and then have to rehire when those people find full time roles). The pay would be a little better than $10 an hour - and you would get some pretty great benefits beyond the standard medical/dental (which it sounds like you don't need) and a really great working environment. Just a suggestion.
Fantastic! So you are very well suited to being an Excel macro expert - if you are already familiar and comfortable with coding concepts, it is a super useful skill to have (and one that few admins possess).
I don't think you necessarily have to dumb down, though I might not include your more nuanced tech skills. On the flip side, you may be able to find better paying temp slots because you are a few steps ahead of the average admin.
One suggestion - if you have any local colleges around, look and see if they have any part time communication specialist or admin jobs. We always seem to be hiring part timers for that role (and then have to rehire when those people find full time roles). The pay would be a little better than $10 an hour - and you would get some pretty great benefits beyond the standard medical/dental (which it sounds like you don't need) and a really great working environment. Just a suggestion.
Thanks, I'm starting some lessons in macros.
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