KnowledgeCity.com Online Training Tutorials

Time Management

2011-05-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

Does time seem to slip through your fingers? Are there not enough hours in the day to accomplish all you want to? Does that frustrate you to no end? You are not alone. Time management is one of those skills everyone would admit to wanting to improve. But even if someone who struggles with time management knows how to go about budgeting their time more effectively, will they have the time to do so?

From a professional standpoint, the ability to effectively manage one’s time can make or break a company. One key method in learning how to make better use of your time is by simply recognizing “time wasters.” KnowledgeCity’s Time Management course takes a look at how to avoid wasting time and make more effective use of the time you have.

One of the resources highlighted in the course is Alec Mackenzie’s book The Time Trap, in which he groups the thirty-five most common time wasters into five main categories:

Lack of Planning
Being Disorganized
Staffing Issues
Directing
Lack of Control
Poor Communication
Ineffective Decision Making

Some of the specific time wasters include: a lack of objectives, priorities or a daily plan, a lack of deadlines, attempting too much at once, duplication of effort, multiple bosses, confused responsibility and authority, ineffective delegation, a lack of motivation, wanting all the facts before making a decision, etc

Check out three FREE previews of this course today! It will be well worth your time.

Getting the Job you Want!

2011-05-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

Searching for employment can be an intimidating process. In today's economy, when unemployment rates often seem daunting, it is important to focus on standing out among the competition. In order to shine throughout your job search, you must understand each part of the process—from writing an enticing and informative cover letter, to knowing what types of questions to ask in an interview and how to follow up appropriately.

In Working to Get Hired, instructor Michele Jones explains the ins and outs of finding and getting your dream job. She will give you the tools you need in order to: pinpoint your skills, discover your ideal career path, utilize the many different job search methods available to you, write an effective cover letter and resume, pick the proper interview attire, and prepare for your future interviews.

In Chapter 1: Discover Your Skills, Jones will lead you through several exercises that will help shape your job search. She will help you identify skills you didn’t know you had and as a result, discover career paths you have yet to consider. In Chapter 4: Job Interview Process, you will learn how to effectively plan for your interviews. Jones will advise you on the different interview techniques and how to approach them appropriately.

If you are looking to improve your chances in this competitive job market, then Working to Get Hired is the perfect course for you! Taking this course will give you the knowledge and confidence necessary to be successful in your job search.

Personal Financial Planning

2011-05-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

Financial anxiety is one of the most common stressors in life. Whether it’s not having enough money, not knowing how to manage the money we have, or worrying about having money in the future, the unknowns of finances can grip us unlike anything else. And unless you were one of the lucky few to have received sound financial advice from an early age, money management can be extremely intimidating and confusing.

This is especially the case when facing major life changes, such as marriage, moving out, taking out loans to go to school, buying a new or used car, retirement, etc. Even the terms themselves can be daunting to a newcomer! Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, term vs. whole life insurance, estate planning—all concepts that are vaguely familiar but commonly misunderstood.

What if I told you there is a course you can take that covers all these topics and more in a comprehensible and entertaining way? In Personal Financial Planning, instructor Frank Paiano discusses important concepts such as: setting financial goals, money management, savings and checking accounts, credit, managing debt, mortgages, transportation costs, buying a new vs. used car, all the different types of insurance, stocks, and more!

An example of the useful advice you’ll find in this course involves determining when you should use credit. In one of his lessons, Paiano divides credit purchases into “good” and “bad” credit. Examples of good credit would be: the purchase of a home, paying for higher or career related education or making home improvements. All purely entertainment-based purchases, made with “consumer credit,” would be considered “bad credit” in that they can interfere with effective money management and lead to bad financial habits.

If you’re feeling lost when it comes to budgeting or financial planning, check out KnowledgeCity’s free preview of Personal Financial Planning. I can feel my blood pressure lowering already.

All your organizational needs, in one place!

2011-05-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

What if I told you there was an easy way to synchronize your calendar, contact list, address book, to-do list AND your email account? It’s true. Introducing Microsoft Outlook—a staple program for businesses around the world for this very reason. Yet many users fail to capitalize on Outlook’s vast number of features, limiting themselves to email and meeting appointments. Last year, Microsoft released Outlook 2010, a new and improved Outlook with even more features to help make users’ lives just a little less complicated. So why not see for yourself what this popular program is capable of?

Our course on Outlook 2010 will guide you as you go beyond emailing. Learn how to customize your calendar to fit your schedule, and how to create meeting appointments, including optional and mandatory attendees. There are also lessons on using reminders, the difference between your task list and your to-do list, as well as tips and short cuts such as how to create meetings, new contacts and tasks directly from your emails.

Preview our first three lessons for FREE by going to our course page!

Spring Cleaning Pays Off

2011-04-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

The coming of warmer weather and increased daylight often brings a renewed motivation to get rid of all that has accumulated over the winter months (or years). Garages everywhere are purged of items gathering dust—that old bike that you always thought you’d use again, or the unopened Christmas presents from well-intentioned relatives. What if I told you there was an easy and safe alternative to hauling loads to the dump or donation center, one in which you would actually make money? No, I’m not talking about garage sales. I’m talking about selling your items on eBay. Now, I know that might sound intimidating to some, it really is quite practical and intuitive.

For over 10 years now, eBay has continued to grow as one of the most popular auction sites in the world. Yet, as with many online forums, there are definitely things to be wary of when selling or purchasing a product, making it essential to educate yourself beforehand. Instructor Jim Orr’s courses in eBay Buying and eBay Selling give you an in-depth glimpse into the world of eBay. These tutorials take you step-by-step through the process, addressing topics such as: setting up an account, finding the best pricing option, creating an appealing product description, researching sellers, sneaky bidding strategies, safe payment methods, packaging and shipping, and more! In addition, you will learn what to watch for in seller ratings, as well as scam emails. After these courses, you’ll realize there is nothing to fear if you know the ropes- that you really CAN get amazing deals on those coveted items.

So give eBay try and experience for yourself the satisfaction of profiting from your productivity—in more ways than one!

Gmail: Email with Intuition

2011-04-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

For those of you remaining faithful to your non-Gmail email accounts, you probably see no reason to make the switch. My Hotmail or Yahoo works just fine, thank you very much. Now, while KnowledgeCity’s course on using Gmail might not send you running to set up an account, it will present some of the many features unique to Gmail you won’t find in other places.

To all you current Gmail users out there- chances are you have only begun to tap into all Gmail has to offer. For example, Buzz. Yes- Buzz. What is it? Essentially, it’s Google’s version of Twitter, available to you and other Gmail users.

Or another fun feature is “Labs” (described by Gmail as, admittedly, “some crazy experimental stuff”). Here, users create gadgets for other users to download and try out. For example, users can download a gadget that automatically translates emails, or one that expands your selection of emoticons. There’s even a gadget that, when enabled, helps prevent you from sending reckless emails late at night by forcing you to perform semi-complex math problems before hitting “Send.”

Of course, it’s also important to learn the essentials, such as:

Creating folders
Labeling emails
Setting up your vacation responder
Creating and sharing Google Docs (or even publishing them as a webpage!)
Reporting Phishing
G-Chat

And this only scratches the surface! Learn more at KnowledgeCity.com.

Achieving Financial Freedom

2011-04-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

More often than not, finances are the largest source of stress for both new and expanding businesses. Keeping track of vendors, customers, invoices, bills, and receipts can quickly and easily become overwhelming. Unfortunately, when it comes to finances, there is little room for error and a little disorganization can have devastating consequences. For this reason, Quickbooks, the leading accounting software, is popular among businesses from all industries. The systematic simplicity of this program relieves a world of stress, organizing all that a business could need when it comes to finances and managing accounts. KnowledgeCity’s Quickbooks 2010 Introduction course takes you step-by-step through the process of customizing your financial record-keeping to best fit your industry. This course teaches you to navigate Quickbooks’ multiple organizational databases, generate reports and print necessary bills, invoices, and paychecks. So eliminate those stacks of paper, files and directory books and consolidate your business’ transactions into one all-inclusive program! (Also, for you job-seekers out there, mastering Quickbooks is highly marketable to potential employers!) Learn more at KnowledgeCity.com.

Mac Mania!

2011-04-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

With the release of Apple’s latest iPad, more and more people are being introduced to the Macintosh interface. Even die-hard PC users have found it hard to resist the siren song of the slim, sleek and portable touch screen with all those intuitive applications. For anyone looking to purchase a computer for the first time or to make the switch and go Mac, KnowledgeCity’s Introduction to Macintosh course is designed especially for you! This course provides an engaging overview of the various features and fundamentals of using a Mac. You’ll learn about programs such as:

Safari: The Internet browser for Macs, featuring the easily accessible Top Sites—a convenient home base showing places you have browsed or bookmarked. This way, you can see what is on your favorite web pages without having to fully load them. In addition, any sites with new content will be starred.
Spotlight: A fast way to open programs and the best way to search for documents—just a click away. (For example, a search for the word “mail” will show: email, a definition for the word “mail,” the system preferences that have something to do with mail, documents featuring the word “mail,” email messages that mention “mail,” etc.)
Time Machine: A backup system that automatically stores: hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for all previous months. This way, almost anything “lost” can be tracked down and restored.

You’ll also learn how to organize and search for documents, set up energy and security options, and to use programs such as iChat, iPhoto and iTunes. The course concludes with a section on Windows vs Macintosh, highlighting key differences between the two operating systems—something subject to much debate! Go to KnowledgeCity.com to see what all the fuss is about.

Calling All Designers!

2011-04-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

Take your marketing materials to the next level with AdobeInDesign! While InDesign might be one of the lesser-known programs of the Adobe suite, it offers some unique features that combine programs like Photoshop and Illustrator to create professional-looking fliers, newsletters, brochures, and more.

Learn how to enliven your documents with drop caps (those large letters that often begin the paragraphs in magazines), and how to create and save your own object styles to frame images. Here’s a sneak peak at just some of the important lessons covered so you don’t have to learn the hard way…

Essential Reminders for Working with Images:

Pay to download high resolution graphics or images: If you want to do any kind of printing with images you get off the Internet, you’ll need to make sure they are high resolution. Images are measured in DPIs, or dots per inch. The quality of the image, or the number of dots per inch, is evident when you go to print out that image. Your computer monitor displays everything at 72 dots per inch, and so most images you get off of the Internet are also 72 DPI. BUT digital press uses more DPI than that—like 300 DPI. So if you try to enlarge a 72-DPI image on Photoshop, it will have to randomly come up with 228 dots that will not be consistent with those in your image!
Know the image resolution your printer requires: Once you know this, you can go into the program you’re working with and appropriately size the image. This will save you time and money. One of the biggest mistakes people make when working with images in Photoshop is not checking and changing the resolution.
Convert colors from RGB (Red, Green Blue) to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key, or black): Anything going to the press has to be in CMYK
Understand the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom: If you have ever tried to buy a digital camera, you probably have seen two different zooms being advertised. Digital zoom represents the camera’s ability to enlarge the image on the display screen, while optical zoom represents how much the camera can actually zoom in on the image. With optical zoom, the picture quality remains the same, allowing you to later enlarge or crop the image without losing quality.

Check out KnowledgeCity to learn more design tricks and features to jump-start the creative designer in you!

Butterfly image from:

http://gotprint.net/g/showStaticPage.do?page=preparing_files.html

Sustainable Business: Why Being Green Matters!

2011-03-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

We have all been subject to the rise in “green” propaganda. While this increase in environmental awareness has lead to positive changes in business and commercial practice, it is often depicted as a sort of overly-obsessive fanaticism. What practices should businesses really be responsible for, and why should we care?

Instructor Lisa Shapiro addresses these concerns in her course Sustainable Business. One of the biggest obstacles facing businesses today is the threat of limited resources, so it is essential for businesses to be aware of their impact on the environment. This course challenges businesses that produce a product to evaluate their answers to questions such as:

Where do the raw materials come from?
What kinds of working conditions go into production?
How much waste takes place during production?

Another way businesses can promote sustainability is by operating in “green” buildings. No, not like that color (though that would be kind of cool). Green buildings not only minimize their impact on the environment, they also save money by incorporating energy-saving lighting, heating, and cooling. Some green buildings consume up to 50% less energy than traditional buildings!

Businesses should not just adopt a sustainable stance for their ethos, or because it would save or make them money. They should do so because it is their responsibility—just as it is our responsibility to be aware of current practices threatening the environment, such as deforestation.

To learn more about current environmental issues, business practice, and what you can do to help, go to KnowledgeCity.com and preview Sustainable Business.

The Language of Computers

2011-03-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

If you’ve ever atempted to learn a new language with little or no success, there's hope for you yet! Forget the flash cards, audio CDs, and concerns over your pronunciation, and step into the dynamic world of computer code. Whether we’re aware of it or not, there are hidden languages at work in the computer programs we use on a daily basis. When we input certain commands (as in, typing a certain word or clicking certain keys), that action is translated into the computer’s language, activating a series of on/off switches that produce the effect we see on screen. Each instruction is specific to each action, which the computer can run at a rate of millions of instructions every second!

Computer programmers are people who “write” the software, breaking down the actions into their individual parts. Jobs for computer programmers include things like: coding, debugging, maintenance, software testing, compilation, etc. Programmers not only think about how they want the end product to look, but also how all of the components fit together. By knowing certain computer languages, they are able to create complex and creative software.

Two of the most popular computer languages used today are C++ and Java (http://www.langpop.com/). C++ is used largely in systems software, application software and entertainment software, such as computer or video games. Java is more general-purpose and is able to be run almost anywhere.

So if you’ve ever wanted to branch out into the software industry, make yourself more marketable to employers, or even to just find a new hobby, check out KnowledgeCity’s free preview of its exclusive courses in C++ and Java Programming.

Succeeding in the Business World

2011-03-11T15:30:00.000-08:00

Have you ever considered starting your own business? Or thought about going back to school for your MBA? Or perhaps you are already employed, but want to better understand the principles that drive the economy and how to navigate changing market trends.

Regardless of your industry, job title or the state of the economy, there are certain principles that remain true for businesses of all kinds. KnowledgeCity’s Introduction to Business illustrates the fundamentals of any thriving business. This dynamic course gives you a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the various types of businesses, what drives economies and global markets, how to analyze the competition, marketing strategies, business ethics, and more. Instructor Lisa Sharpiro explains key terms and concepts, teaching you essential strategies for avoiding common pitfalls.

For example, one of the tools covered in the course is something called a SWOT analysis.

A what?

A SWOT analysis is way to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats facing your business. Here is a small sampling of the types of questions that can help you reflect on how you can improve your business:

Strengths

What does your business do well?
What resources are available?

Weaknesses

What can you improve?
What should you avoid?
Strategize to overcome weaknesses

Hire talent
Get training
Outsource

Opportunities

Be aware of:

Positive trends
Favorable technology
Changes in regulations

Threats

What is the competition doing?
Does the business have cash flow problems?
Are regulations becoming stricter?
What dangers can threaten the business?

Environmental
Social/Political
Economic
Consumer behavior

By better understanding these principles, you can enter the business world with more confidence and a firm foundation. Check it out at KnowledgeCity.com.

Managing Your Crises with Ease

2010-11-29T16:16:00.000-08:00

I'm sure many of you have, at one point or another, had to deal with a crisis. Crises are inevitable; whether a small fire that gets put out quickly or an all consuming blaze that requires days to handle, crises always seem to crop up, often at the most inconvenient times. It is important to plan ahead and know how to manage crises so that when they occur, you are prepared and can resolve the issue quickly and effectively.

Crisis management is different from time management. It requires a different mindset. The danger with crisis management is that it can become so time consuming that you never get to anything else. The crisis management immediately jumps to the top of the priority list. You don't want to be doing crisis management all the time, so if you find that you are spending all of your time managing crises, it's time to get a manager to step in and start problem solving. You don't want to manage in crisis mode.

One way to help avoid spending all your time managing crises is to realize that not everything is a crisis. Think like a manager and assess whether or not a situation is really a crisis, or just poor planning. If you have strong planning and communication, you can eliminate and prevent crises.

How to determine if it's a crisis:

Are people and property in danger?

Will not acting immediately cause harm and money loss down the road?

If you answered no to both questions, then it is not a crisis. If no one is in danger, take the time to assess the situation fairly. Remember, problem solving usually involves research, and one reason people get stuck in crisis management is because they don't sit down to do the research in the first place. The more planning you do upfront, the less likely you are to be hit with a crisis that derails you. Here are ten great steps for a successful crisis management plan.

The best use of time is spent doing problem solving, rather than reacting in the moment to a different situation. Sometimes in a situation, people may look to you for direction and ask a lot of questions. Remember, it's okay to take a step back when people are being demanding and say "I want to take a moment and think this through."

Managing crisis is an essential skill for being successful in your career. For additional information on crisis management and for more tips on building a successful career, check out our new course on Career Success Strategies and take advantage of the first three FREE previews.

Start Your Journey by Learning Another Language

2010-11-24T08:34:00.000-08:00

Are you travelling somewhere this holiday season? Planning on a more exotic Thanksgiving dinner, say in Italy or Spain? Well, now is a great time to start learning a foreign language! As the days get shorter and colder, curl up at home and practice your pronunciation. Give yourself an exciting goal to work towards to get through the long winter months.

Building in Old Prague

Maybe you are having Christmas in Paris. Or maybe you're planning for that summer backpacking trip through Asia. Whatever the occasion, now is the perfect time to learn the basics.

Visit our courses on Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Russian, and English to begin your discovery of a new place and culture. Our courses are broken up into easy-to-understand lessons, beginning with all the basics you'll need to get around smoothly in a foreign country.

Whether learning for the first time or brushing up on vocabulary, these courses will take you on the first step of your exciting journey.

The Art of Negotiation: Common Mistakes and Helpful Tips

2010-11-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

With the holidays right around the corner, and Black Friday at the end of the week, learning how to negotiate may not be a bad idea, especially when it comes to buying those big ticket items. Negotiating is a useful skill to have in many situations, from purchasing a car to negotiating a pay raise. Below is a list of the common negotiation mistakes, along with some helpful tips for negotiating successfully.

Common Negotiation Mistakes:

Poor planning and preparation
Ignoring potential conflict
Arguing instead of trying to influence
Losing one's temper
Showing impatience
Using intimidating behavior
Misunderstanding/not understanding nonverbal messages

Tips for Negotiating:

Make sure that you understand the needs and goals of both parties going into the negotiations.
Establish dominance by being friendly, dressing for success, and, if possible, choosing the place to negotiate. Helpful hint: if the other party remains standing, you remain standing too.
Always have the other party first establish the floor and/or the ceiling.
Adding on to the above point, also always negotiate outside the bracket (the minimum and maximum).
Get information—remember, information is power.
Don't be afraid to use silence as a tactic!
Try to answer a question with a question. For example, a salesperson asks: "How much are you willing to pay for this item?" You respond: "How much do you need for this item?"
Be willing to walk away.

For more tips and techniques like these, join our excellent instructor, Professor Robert J. Ash, for the Art of Negotiation, and be sure to take advantage of the first three FREE video tutorials!

How to Create an Access Query with an And Condition

2010-11-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

Creating a query with an And condition allows you to search for information in your database with multiple criteria. Here's how:

1. Click on the Create ribbon at the top of the Access window.

2. Click on Query Design.

3. Choose the table or query you would like to search (see the picture below).

4. Close the Show Table once you've selected your table or query.

5. Choose what you want to place in the query grid at the bottom of the screen. You can select, drag, and drop individual categories from the table you've selected, or you can double click on the table name (in the picture below, EmployeeInfo) to highlight all the fields in the table and drag them down to the query grid. Simply drag the highlighted information to the first grid column.

6. Fill in your criteria. By filling in criteria along the same criteria line, you are asking an And condition. In the example below, the query will pull results for a person who is both in the Sales Department and a Clerk.

It's as easy as that! You can also create queries with Or conditions to bring in information that is different from one another at the same time (for example, people who are in the Sales Department or a Clerk). For demonstrations on how to use Access, check out our courses on Access 2010 Introduction, Advanced, and New Features, and be sure to take advantage of the first 3 FREE previews of each.

New Courses Posted: Access 2010

2010-11-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

To go along with the rest of the new Microsoft Suite, we are pleased to announce that our new set of courses on Access 2010 is posted. In step-by-step demonstrations, Instructor Irasema Perrot guides beginning to advanced users through the features of Access 2010. Access is such a useful program: it allows you to organize your data into neat, easy-to-use databases. You can find specific information in your database by creating and running searches called queries. If you've already started using the program and want more information, here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Access 2010. Also, make sure to take advantage of our free previews on how to get started using Access.

Tip: If you're using Access to store people's information, such as addresses, running a query can be a great way to pull up information for people you want to send holiday cards to. It's easy to make labels from your query results—say goodbye to hours of sorting through your client/contacts/family info and handwriting or typing up labels. With Access, you've already got the information set up and ready to use whenever you may need it.

The Social Media Beast

2010-11-11T14:36:00.000-08:00

Social media is taking over—from opinion blogs to social networking websites, even viable news sources are now utilizing these tools to communicate information instantly to millions upon millions of people. Where else can you reach such a large audience so easily? And, with most social media and networking sites, for free!

Businesses can now tweet about their products, company events, and organizations that the company is involved in, such as conferences and charities, to send information instantly to their consumer market. Customers can connect to businesses in a new way through websites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and blog sites like Blogspot, LiveJournal, and WordPress. Through becoming an organization's "friend" on Facebook, customers can have a direct link to that company, establishing communication. Businesses can also utilize these sites to not only increase interest in their company, but also to gauge customer satisfaction with their product and gain valuable feedback.

The problem with social media is the very thing that makes it so appealing: its ability to reach so many people and draw interest. Social media can become a hungry monster, a wild beast; fueled by the public's opinions and interests, it can turn on a company just as easily as it can hoist a business up. The ability to post information that can be read instantaneously by millions of people, and subsequently influence other's opinions, makes it a potentially powerful marketing machine, or the Public Relations Department's worst nightmare. Remember, not everyone does the research to find out whether information on the Internet is true, which means that even if information is negative and false, people might still believe it. Jumping into social media is like grabbing a bull by the horns (although if you're careful and aware of the possible pitfalls, your company has the potential to profit exponentially from using these tools).

For those of you who have used social media tools to market yourselves or a business, we want to hear from you! How do you use social media to communicate with your consumer base? Do you find this to be a successful method of accurately representing and promoting your business? Have you had any negative experiences using social media as a promotional technique?

Check out our courses on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter to get started utilizing social media!

What's Your Learning Style?

2010-11-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

In our jobs, we are constantly bombarded with all types of information in the form of reports, presentations, emails, memos, verbal exchanges, and more. In order to absorb all of this information in a quick and comprehensive way, and be more productive and efficient, you must know your learning style.

Start by identifying your primary mode of learning. Are you a visual, auditory, or tactile learner?

Visual learners process information first by what they see. These learners like to watch demonstrations, and then usually try it out for themselves.
Auditory learners prefer to listen first and have information explained to them in a step-by-step process.
Tactile learners have to try it out themselves, and learn best by doing.

There are many advantages to knowing your learning style. Being aware of your learning style will allow you to comprehend information faster, and will give you more opportunities to participate as you understand material more easily. You will have better overall communication when you know how you best receive information. Most schools and businesses now use a number of different media to communicate information, including video, PowerPoint, and written and verbal presentations. Be proactive. Actively seek out information presented in the style that works best for you.

Keep in mind that it's a good idea to be aware of the learning styles of the people around you. What style is your boss? How do your team members learn? Try to present information in a way that helps more people understand your message. This can mean including different modes of communication when you make a report or presentation. At the very least, provide a written copy of your report. If possible, include a PowerPoint and verbal explanation.

Our new course on Career Success Strategies has additional helpful tips on various career-related topics, such as business ethics, conflict in the workplace, how to read reports and compare data, how to find your career strengths, additional insight into learning styles, and much more. Make sure to check out the first 3 FREE previews of this essential, in-depth course!
In addition, be sure to watch the free previews of our courses on PowerPoint and Business Writing for helpful tips on preparing presentations and reports.

Create Your Own Festive Greeting Cards

2010-10-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

Halloween is this Sunday! Rather than spending a fortune on holiday greeting cards (which can cost up to $5 a card!), why not design your own?

Programs like InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Publisher, Word, and even PowerPoint allow you to create your own high-quality cards that are customizable with personal images and messages. You can even create customized labels for your card envelopes. Click here for our blog post on design and layout tips.

Tip: Remember, paper makes all the difference in the look of your card, so be sure to pick out a good quality or paper stock. Try printing out your card first on plain paper, to make sure everything looks okay and will fold the way you want it to. If you're using a card template, make sure to note the size of paper the template is using (these typically use the 8.5x11in. paper size). Envelopes can be purchased at a department or crafts store. A 6x9 envelope is a good size to use for a half fold card using 8.5x11in. paper.

People will appreciate the personal touch of a handmade card just as much, if not more, than a store bought card. Plus, family photos are a great touch when sending cards to relatives and friends.

Need help navigating the Microsoft and Adobe programs? No problem! We offer video training tutorials in both suites, complete with in-depth examples to really help you understand how to work with the available tools. Check out the first 3 FREE lessons of each course to get a feel for the programs!

The 7X7 Rule for Presenting Information (and other handy tips)

2010-10-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

When creating slides in Microsoft PowerPoint, a good tip for presenting information is to have no more than 7 points on a slide, with no more than 7 words per point.

This slide utilizes the 7X7 rule.

Why do this? The 7X7 format ensures that you aren't presenting too much information at once, which could overwhelm your audience. It also ensures that your information is readable, especially if you are presenting to a large audience, where members may be some distance away from the presentation screen.

Presenting, especially live presentations, can be scary. Here are a few tips to help you out with presenting and speaking publicly:

Include visuals in your presentation, as well as handouts to supplement the material being shown. PowerPoint 2010 allows you to print out handouts of your slide show, with room for your audience to take notes.
Use the introduction to capture interest and set the tone of the presentation. Strong introductions may use statistics, quotes, or narrative history, ask a question, or refer to a common event.
Focus on the back of the room to project your voice.
Speak a little too fast rather than too slow (aim for about 145-180 words per minute). Adjust your speed depending on your material and audience.

For more tips on presenting, stay tuned for our course on Public Speaking, coming soon. Also make sure to explore our new course on Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 for additional insights into creating dynamic presentations. Remember, the first 3 tutorials are FREE!

The ABC Strategy for Getting Organized

2010-10-22T15:32:00.000-07:00

Ever have a day, week, or month where you just feel so overwhelmed you can't seem to get anything done? It can feel like important tasks are slipping through the cracks when you can't keep track of all you have to do! Well, here is a quick, easy-to-use strategy for organizing your tasks and taking the first step toward accomplishing everything you need to do and more.

Try this:

Set priorities. This strategy takes the To Do list one step further. Write everything you need to do onto post-its, with one task per post-it (this will make it easier to move tasks around). Then categorize these into three sections: A, B, and C. Note: it may help to use three different colors of post-its, especially if you are a visual person.

In category A place all the tasks that are absolutely critical. These can be the most important tasks that need to get done, the ones that are the most time sensitive, tasks you want to finish by the end of the day.

In category B place all the tasks that are important, but not as time critical. These can be tasks that you want to get done by the end of the week.

In category C place all the tasks that can be postponed, ignored, or avoided completely.

Here's a helpful hint for your C tasks: Put your C tasks into a Don't Do list. In doing this, you are giving yourself permission to NOT do a task. Instead of thinking about how much you didn't get done that day, and spending a lot of time and energy worrying about tasks that you still need to do, give yourself permission to procrastinate. Eventually, you can move items from your Don't Do list onto your To Do list.

This strategy can be done for all sorts of To Do items, including telephone calls! This can be used for both professional work and in your personal life.

Discover more great organizational strategies here, as well as learn about the various ways in which we waste time. Be sure to check out our new course on Time Management, and take advantage of the first 3 FREE tutorials on how to manage time more effectively.

Ways to Use Excel

2010-10-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

1. Create a budget to track your personal finance. This is a great way to see where your money is going in order to cut back on unnecessary spending. The benefit of a spreadsheet includes the ability to make formulas and work out complex sums easily, making financial planning that much easier.

Medieval palace in Segovia, Spain
Start preparing your trip to Spain by
learning the basics of the Spanish language.

2. If you are planning on travelling, you can create a spreadsheet outlining your vacation, including where you will stay, how you will get to each place, and how many days you will be at each location (this will greatly reduce stress if you are travelling to multiple places during one vacation, especially if it's your first visit).

3. Create a spreadsheet to track household chores, where you can include categories like daily, weekly, bi-monthly, and monthly chores. Be sure to leave a checkbox next to each entry!

4. Use spreadsheets for To Do lists—these can cover the week and be broken down into days. Include both weekly and daily tasks. Checkboxes on each task are helpful here too, and can give you a sense of accomplishment when you get to check off a completed task.

5. Create a spreadsheet to evaluate items you are considering purchasing, such as a new car.

6. Create a spreadsheet to track inventory if you have a business, or even if you just want to keep track of all your personal possessions.

These are just a few examples of how you could use Excel—the possibilities are endless. So now we're curious, what do you use Excel for?

Remember to check out the first 3 FREE tutorials for some great insight on how to use Excel 2010, the newest version of Excel. We also have both introductory and advanced courses available in earlier versions of Excel.

Feeling Burned Out? Revitalize Your Job!

2010-10-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

Once you've been in the same job for a long time, you might start to feel a little bored or burned out. However, you probably don't just want to quit and look for a new job, especially in this current economy. So what can you do to stay motivated?

Try implementing one or all of these three techniques to regain your passion for your job.

Job Enlargement Restructure your job by restoring the wholeness of the job. This means that you take your job and fit it into the bigger picture of the organization.

Maybe you've been working on one particular part of a project. Ask to see the other sections of the project in order to see how everything, including your part, fits together. It's motivational when you can see the bigger picture, or the finished product, rather than just your individual part in it. Recognizing how your work fits into the whole will also help you to understand the value of your job, and recognize the areas where you can improve or expand on to better fit the organization.

Job Enrichment Increase your personal responsibility for your work. Increase your authority (the right to act, decide, and command) to make decisions about your job, and make sure to participate in the planning process. This can give your position more value, helping you to reinvest yourself in the work.

Job Rotation Learn the job of another employee. If you and another employee are both burning out, then switch jobs! This allows you to challenge yourself and stay interested by learning all about a new position. Plus, you increase your own versatility by increasing your knowledge of the organization. In familiarizing yourself with other jobs, you also learn how your work relates to other positions in the organization.

For more tips on how to stay motivated, check out our fun new course on the Art of Motivation, and be sure to take advantage of the first 3 FREE tutorials!

Online Learning: Is it for YOU?

2010-10-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

Just type "online education" or "online learning" into your Internet search browser and you'll see the same conclusion pop up everywhere: the number of people taking online courses is increasing.

This makes sense, considering our current economy where universities and colleges are cutting back on staff and increasing tuition costs. Why pay all that money to get expertise you can find elsewhere (and for lower cost)? (Granted, many people are enrolling in online programs through their universities, so costs are still high, although students are able to enjoy the benefits of learning online).

If you aren't looking to obtain a degree, or you're thinking of taking a few courses to supplement your degree, or even just want to enjoy learning about a specific topic that you've always been interested in, then learning online outside of the university structure may just be the perfect fit for you.

Besides low cost, one of the great benefits of taking a course online is the ability to learn individually and at your own pace. This is difficult to achieve in a classroom setting, where teachers instruct 30, 60, or even 100 students or more in some university courses, all with varying levels of proficiency.

How many times have you been frustrated by a teacher who is moving through the material way too fast? Or bored by an instructor who stays on the same concept for hours, one that you are already familiar with?

Plus, online courses outside of the university allow you to leave a course and come back to it, days, weeks, or even months later (and you can retake sections as well—that's right, rewind, pause, and fast forward your learning). No time constraints! You are accountable only to yourself.

So keeping all that in mind: What do you think of learning online? Is online education right for you?

Designing Dynamic Layouts

2010-10-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever come across a magazine, website, or article layout that really captured your interest with its creativity and design? Such a layout might seem complicated or difficult to create, but that's not the case at all! There are several easy-to-use resources and tips to help you design your own exciting layout.

One element to think about first when designing is structure. Start by deciding where you want your focal point to be:

Look at your page and break it up into sections (3 is a good place to start). If you want more than 3 sections, just remember: keep the number odd! This makes a better design layout.

Look at where the sections intersect with each other. These places make strong focal points—you can place your main focus here, to create interest.

One thing to note: items placed directly in the center of the page do not create as much interest as items that are off center.

Other elements to consider when designing are balance, white space (this helps with balance, as well as directs the viewer's eye), proximity (the distance between items and how they are placed), alignment (which affects readability of the page), consistency (which helps the reader know where to find things), and the types of images you choose to use.

A fantastic program to use for creating rich, interactive layouts for both print and online publication is Adobe InDesign. InDesign CS5 is the newest version of this program, and features all sorts of exciting tools perfect for creating a high-quality layout.

Great Tip! On the Adobe website, you can download a free trial version of InDesign CS5, which allows you to play with and explore the program for a whole 30 days! In order to make the most of this program, and to start designing your own layouts, check out our fun courses on all the features InDesign has to offer. We have both beginning and advanced courses, as well as a course on InDesign CS5's new features if you are already familiar with InDesign CS4.

For more tips on the elements of design, check out our courses on Design & Layout, Graphic Design Principles, and Typography with InDesign, and make sure to take advantage of the first three FREE training tutorials!

The Do's and Don'ts of Resume Writing

2010-10-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

Don't do this: Have one generic resume that you give to all prospective employers.
The thinking here: I can show the employer all of my experience, ensuring that I don't leave anything out.

Do this instead: Target each resume toward the job description and company you are applying for. A marketing position doesn't need to hear about your experience as, say, a cashier (unless you can find a way to relate cashiering to marketing. For example, cashiering provided you with a first hand knowledge of what customers buy). Look at each piece of information in your resume and ask yourself: Does this relate to the job I'm applying for?

Don't do this: Cram a ton of information into your resume.
The thinking here: The more information they know about me, the better.

Do this instead: Emphasize only the most relevant experience and skills on your resume. This frees up more space to develop the skills that are important to selling yourself to the employer. From a design standpoint, having some white space on the page is a good idea as well, to avoid that cluttered, squished look.

Don't do this: Use vague, generic language. For example: I used strong communication skills.

The thinking here: I can list the skills I know are important to employers, showing them I have the skills they need for the job.

Do this instead: Be direct and to the point. Tell facts. Describe what you did, how you did it, and how that benefitted your previous employer. Example: I used strong communication skills to negotiate a contract between the company and our customers, resulting in increased sales for the company over X amount of time. Get specific! Prove that you used your skills by backing up your assertions with concrete evidence.

Don't do this: Use a resume template.

The thinking here: The template-makers know what they're doing—I can just plug in my information and have a professional-looking resume.

Do this instead: Create your own unique look to your resume! Think of it this way—everyone has access to the same templates in word processing programs. What if someone else shows up with a resume formatted the same as yours? Now your resume is no longer original, and will not stand out as much from other candidates.

Note: If you don't feel comfortable designing your own template, do something to change a pre-formatted template. Maybe change the font on the headings, or align your name to the left instead of the center. Play around with the look and feel of your resume, and have fun with it! Remember, your resume is supposed to represent you.

Don't do this: Print your resume on colorful paper.

The thinking here: This will make me stand out from the other, plain, resumes.

Do this instead: Keep it professional. Print your resume on nice white paper. That way, the focus remains on your experience and skills.

For more tips on how to write your resume, check out our course on Building Your Resume, where we offer three FREE tutorials to get you started. We also have courses on Employment Search, Working to Get Hired, and Job Interview Success, all to get you on your way toward finding and landing your dream job!

Easy-to-Use Methods for Problem Solving

2010-10-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

Ever have a problem that you just could not figure out how to solve? Maybe it was work related—you and a coworker just couldn't seem to get along—or maybe the problem had to do with your personal life. Well now you can get some great insight and tips on how to resolve your problems, and reduce a little stress along the way.

Start by learning all about the different sources of conflict (I'm sure you can think of a few!). We offer three FREE tutorials to get you off and running toward solving those difficult problems that always seem to crop up in our daily lives.

Click on the picture for some great tips on problem solving.

Tips for Building Successful Teams

2010-09-28T12:22:00.001-07:00

Here are some great tips for working smoothly in teams (and getting past that pesky Storming phase!):

Assign roles and tasks to make sure each team member has something to do and that everyone participates in achieving the overall goal.
Generate a plan: Where are you today? Where do you want to be tomorrow? How are you going to get there?
Keep the team small: Small teams have better communication, and it's easier to make sure everyone stays on task.
Know the team norms: Teams will establish acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It's important for every team member to be aware of these guides and know the consequences for unacceptable behavior.
Emphasize common characteristics and interests to foster team unity.
Praise and compliment your team members for jobs well done.
And remember, make sure to have FUN!

Get more tips on how to build successful teams here at KnowledgeCity.com, plus enjoy three FREE video tutorials on The Art of Team Building!

The Five Phases of Teams

2010-09-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

Many of us have experienced working in teams—in fact, when you consider playing games as a child, creating group presentations in school, or collaborating on the job, all of us have been a part of a team at one time or another.

When I think of the process a team goes through, I immediately think of three stages:

Assembling the team
Working together on the project
Disbanding once the project is finished

But did you know that there are actually five phases that teams go through? That may sound like a lot, but each phase is important and moves the team forward towards becoming a strong, successful unit.

The five phases are:

Forming: Where the team is created—people may be excited or anxious about the upcoming task.

Storming: I’m sure many of us have experienced this stage—this is where the team deals with conflict, confrontation, defensiveness, and competition. Unfortunately, many teams never get past this phase!

Norming: Where the team really develops a sense of unity and each person is able to express criticism constructively (sounds ideal, doesn’t it?).

Performing: Here, the team is able to collaborate productively. Members are satisfied with the team’s progress and have the ability to work through problems. Go Team!

Adjourning: Where we bid farewell to our team. Hopefully, you will have pride in your team’s success as you say goodbye.

For more insights on teams, and for an in-depth look at each of these phases, check out our exciting new course on The Art of Team Building and enjoy three FREE video tutorials to get you started towards building a successful team.

Welcome, Word 2010!

2010-09-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

After a three year wait, the newest version of Microsoft Word is finally here! Discover the new layout of Word 2010, with the return of the File tab (which you may remember from Word 2003) in place of the 2007 Office button.

With this newest version of Word, you can create professional, high quality documents, perfect for personal and business use. Word 2010 has all sorts of new and improved tools to enhance your documents, including:

The ability to add formatting effects like gradient fills and reflections directly to your document text (the same effects you may have previously used for pictures, charts, and SmartArt graphics)

New picture editing tools, including advanced color and cropping tools to perfect your document pictures

Customizable Office themes to ensure the look of your document is consistent—you can even add your personal or business brand to your theme, giving your documents that much more of a professional edge

A wide selection of SmartArt graphics, including additional layouts for charts and picture diagrams, to add an extra visual effect to your message

Word’s improved layout makes it even easier to navigate the program. You can recover draft versions of files that you closed without saving—that’s right, no more panic over losing a document!—and you can work with others on documents and projects with new co-authoring capabilities.

Get familiar with these new features and more at KnowledgeCity.com—we have training tutorials for beginning and advanced users, so you can learn all about how to use Word 2010. Coming soon are more of the new Office Suite, including PowerPoint 2010 and Access 2010.

Best Computer Software Training Tutorials

2010-07-23T09:27:00.001-07:00

http://www.knowledgecity.com/ is getting better and better by the day. With a large number of computer software training tutorials, Knowledge City is helping both businesses and individuals advance their careers by understanding the short cuts of programs such as Excel, Photoshop, PowerPoint, QuickBooks, Dreamweaver, Word, and much more.

If you would like to try http://www.knowledgecity.com/ absolutely free for one month, sign up for a single user using the coupon code: knowledge. You will gain full access to the entire website library of Business Skills and Computer Software training tutorials.

How to Resign from your Job: The Wrong Way

2010-07-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

When changing careers, you never want to leave your current position in a compromising situation that leaves negative feelings between you and your boss. You want to build your own social network, not burn them. When quitting, make sure not to resign:

In the worst way: If you can help it, try not to leave under strenuous circumstances.

When the timing is bad: Do not leave your current position without another job lined up or if you are under a lot of financial obligations.

When you don’t have negotiating power: As mentioned before, do not leave your current position if you do not have another lined up. You have some negotiation powers during your departure. You may have the opportunity to work out better terms with your potential employer or may even consider counter offers.

[Learn How to Resign from Your Job Gracefully]

By ways of email, fax, phone or post-it note: No matter how much you hate your job, you still need to be polite. Do not notify your employer that you are quitting via email, fax, phone or post-it note because that is the fastest way you burn your bridges. Your boss definitely will not appreciate it and your chances for good references become non-existent.

In a dramatic exit: Quitting a job in a dramatic flair should be avoided. Not only is it unprofessional, but it’s an easy way to get blacklisted in an industry as a “challenging employee.”

Suddenly and without warning: Be respectful and courteous by offering a two week notice for your employer to find a replacement who can take over your responsibilities. Do not ditch your job without fair warning.

Taking company’s clients and workers: Although not uncommon in competitive industries, it is though, unethical. Choosing a new career is your decision, but don’t bring others into it.

How to Resign from your Job

2010-07-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

Terminating your employment takes ingenuity. Just saying “I quit” isn’t the end of your resignation. There are steps to be taken to ensure that your soon-to-be former colleagues, supervisors and managers are still part of your own social network—references for future endeavors. Resign professionally and gracefully following these simple rules:

Avoid being a job hopper: Carefully evaluate your reasons for your departure. Invest some time in self-reflection to determine what keeps you at a particular job or what keeps you from staying. Be advised though when creating a resume, most companies frown upon too many employment changes in your work history.

Have another job lined up first: When changing careers, make sure to have a written offer somewhere else before turning in your resignation. Cover all the bases before making any moves.

[Learn How Not to Resign the Wrong Way from Your Job]

Resign in person: Provide both oral and written resignation when you are quitting a job. Your resignation letter should incorporate the following information: intentions, the date you are resigning, the date you wish to leave, and your signature. Basic resignation letter would look as follow…

Today’s date

Company Address
HR Department

Dear (Hr Manager),

I am writing to inform you of my resignation from (position/company name). As per my contract, I am providing xxx weeks notice and my last day will be xxx.

Sincerely,

(Signature)

Your Name

Be honest and tactful: For social networking solutions, you want to leave with a good relationship intact. Be truthful to the reason behind your leave, but do not go into details. Do not bad mouth your former superiors; it could come back to you later on in your career. You’ll be also losing important references as well. Basically, don’t burn your bridges.

Offer two weeks notice: When quitting job, make sure to offer two weeks notice—time for your company/boss/team to find a replacement for you. Offering transition time ensures proper knowledge transfer, tie up loose ends, and your work responsibilities to others. Don’t stay longer than the standard length of time (two weeks) to protect yourself from unexpected changes in both your old and new company.

5 Reasons to Quit a Job and Start Choosing a New Career

2010-07-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, the U.S. economy is in an economic crisis and jobs are hard to come by, but is it enough reason to stay at your current job position that is making you dread the weekdays? Start considering a mid career change when you start to feel these five factors…

Dreading work: If you can’t stand the people you are working with or the job itself is causing you chronic headaches, loss of sleep, constantly feel stressed, than it’s time for a new career exploration. Your mental/physical health, overall well-being is more important than any one position. Do not compromise your health. Quit before the job burns you out.

Find yourself marginalized: Marginalization is another good reason to quit a job when your responsibilities are slowing taken away or downsized by the upper management. Career exploration is needed when supervisors are excluding you from important discussions, meetings etc.

You outgrew your job: It’s time for a new job search when there are no more advancement opportunities within an organization or field. You may have started your current position as a novice, but now you have a lot of experience—more than your current position requires. To move up in your career, you must at times, quit.

A better offer is on the table: Money is another big factor when it comes to staying or going. If you’ve been stuck at the same salary level for a while with no hope of a pay raise, then it’s time for you to leave your current job position. When changing careers, if there’s an offer you are find difficult to refuse with all other prospective being a good fit, give the offer serious consideration.

There is a breach of trust: Do not get caught constantly waiting on the promise of “next time.” Voice your displeasure if you find yourself in a situation where your supervisor shows a lack of good faith toward you by failing to follow through on his promises. Trust is an unspoken contract and a violation of such should include reparations of some sort. If you find yourself in a situation similar to this, it is time for you to start packing your bags and looking elsewhere.

Green Jobs: 7 Exciting Green Collar Jobs

2010-07-08T15:54:00.000-07:00

Are you a green conscious person? If you have a passion for the environment and wish to align your values into your work ethic and make a living out of it, a green career might be the right fit for you. According to SimplyHired.com, a vertical online job database company, green collar jobs increased 233 percent since October of 2008. Here are 7 top green jobs available in this fast growing field:

• Civil engineer: There is a demand for qualified civil engineers to oversee construction projects, such as water system, sewage facilities, and road pavements thanks to the influx of government stimuli cash. With infrastructure needs on the rise, this sector of the green market will grow 11 percent in the next few years, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). PayScale.com, an online salary database company, states the median salary for civil engineers is $67,000 per year.

• Environmental engineer: As environmental concerns rise around the world, environmental engineers are needed to solve issues on water pollution (i.e. BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico), air pollution, waste disposal, and public health issues. Environmental engineers can make more than $67,000 per year and is one of the many green careers that need green collar jobs training.

• Water-treatment specialist: A water-treatment specialist is one of those green collar jobs that have been around for as long as we’ve had running water in our homes and businesses. As alternative solutions are being asked for by the public at large in replace of bottled water, there is a high demand for these specialists to work on new sewage treatment rules etc. Unlike an environmental engineer, extensive education isn’t needed to be a water-treatment specialist. Workers with high school diploma and five years of experience can expect to earn over $40,000 per year.

You can turn a generalized job, refine it, and turn it into green collar jobs as well, such as:

• Surveyor: Often referred to as “the second oldest profession,” a surveyor is a professional who officially inspects for the purpose of ascertaining the right conditions, values on any given market/product/service. This profession can easily adapt to a green collar job as a land surveyor, redeveloping old industrial sites or reclaim contaminated properties. Expect $50,000 per year with a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience.

• Software developer: A developer can channel his/her technical expertise into a green career by applying software/database design skills into making solar energy more affordable. Median salary is $74,000 per year, but with advance green collar jobs training, certifications or advance degrees, there is the potentiality to raise your earning wage.

• Grant writer: Grant writers can also profit on the green movement by helping non-profit environmental foundations find and apply for government/private funds to protect our Earth’s ecosystem. Grant writers can expect to make about $48,000 per year.

• Sales and human resources: As with any market base, human resource and sales associates are needed to promote the eco-friendly products and services. Professional green career salespeople can expect to earn around $50,000 annually.

Soft Skills Training: 3 Tips to Improve Soft Skills

2010-07-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

Like anything else, soft skills can be learned. The importance of soft skills training cannot be stressed enough. The interpersonal skills you gain throughout life will not only equip you to excel in your professional life, but also in your personal life. Here are three simple ways to improve your soft skills:

Take communication skills courses—Soft skills training courses are mixing technology with areas such as effective written/verbal communication, teamwork, cultural understanding, and psychology. For example, there are speech classes, writing classes to boost your communication skills. Look for conflict resolution or “leadership skill” courses either online or at your local community college.

[Learn more about in-demand interpersonal skills]

Seek mentors—Mentors is another form of teamwork training. Approach potential mentors with the specific skills set you wish to learn from in a friendly, professional way. Ask them which effective soft skills got them ahead in their careers. Compliment that person with a specific example in which you've seen him or her practice that skill.

Volunteer—Brush up on many essential skills through volunteering (i.e. teamwork, decision-making strategies, management, communication skills, reporting, writing, public speaking etc.) Not only are you communication skills training, but a high profile volunteer work on your resume provides you with an opportunity to explain the knowledge and skills acquired to your potential employer.

Soft Skills Training: 5 Most in Demand Interpersonal Skills

2010-07-01T15:46:00.000-07:00

The importance of soft skills training should not be overlooked because to move ahead in your career, you need more than technical qualifications. Yes, technical skills may get you an interview, but it’s really your soft skills, also known as interpersonal skills, that land you the job. It’s also your soft skills that help you keep your job too. Here are six in demand “soft skill training” asked next to the demands of technical qualifications:

Communication Skills—Interviewers prefer job applicants with communication skills training. This does not mean they are looking for applicants who speaks or writes well specifically, but someone who can express themselves. For example, someone who can write a coherent memo, the ability to persuade others with a presentation, or just the ability to calmly explain to team members what he/she needs and wants.

Teamwork—Effective productivity in an organization depends on the constructive teamwork and collaboration of its workers. Teamwork training is a crucial desired soft skill that interviewers are looking for in candidates, someone who can play and work well with others. Companies look for someone who can take charge when the occasion calls for it, be a good follower, monitor the progress of a project, meet deadlines, work well with others across the company to achieve a common goal etc.

[More about how to learn soft skills]

Problem solving—Have you ever wondered why most interviewers ask you the question, “How did you turn a negative situation into a positive one?” This question is asked specifically to gauge the success of your assertiveness training. Be prepared for this question in any interview with several examples of what you did, how you approached a situation, how you involved others, and what the outcome was.

Critical observation— No interpersonal skills training would be complete without learning about the importance of critical observation. It’s not enough to just collect data and manipulate it, you must also have the ability to digest, analyze, and interpret the information. You should be asking yourself when viewing important facts, how does the data affect the company as a whole?

Conflict resolution—Ability to resolve a conflict should also be included in your soft skill training. Your ability to persuade, to negotiate, and resolve a conflict is momentous for your career advancement. Be ready to show your conflict resolution skills and when the time calls for it, to negotiate win-win solutions to serve the best interest of the company and individuals involved.

Top Paying Jobs for Women: 5 Highest Paying Jobs for Women

2010-06-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

There was a time when women were relegated to only teaching, nursing, childcare, administrative assistant careers. Times have changed and now there are and increasing population of female CEO’s, doctors, lawyers, and politicians. Here are five lucrative professions women should consider when choosing a career path:

Careers in Medicine
Internal medicine (i.e. anesthesiology, dermatology, optometry etc.), compared to emergency medicine, is one of the high paying careers for women. Internal medicine, a medical specialty that deals with the prevention, diagnoses, and treatment for adult diseases, offers more flexibility for women who are the primary caretaker in their family. It’s less taxing and demanding compared to emergency medicine, in which physicians receives specialized training to care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries that require immediate medical attention (i.e. cardiac surgeon).

Another possibility for more schedule flexibility is concierge medicine, where doctors charge a yearly fee for a set number of patients providing enhanced care. The median salary for female doctors of medicine according to payscale.com, a market leader in global online compensation data, is $135,725/year.

Careers in IT [Information Technology]
As more and more companies are relying on technology, opportunities are increasing for women in the information technology field. A computer-related occupation offers high paying jobs for women. The median salary for IT consultants is around $70,492/year. It’s career friendly for women. Work conditions are not as physically strenuous, is less mechanical, however mentally challenging versus other professions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ employment projection for 2006-2016, demand for IT occupations will rise in nearly all industries.

Careers in Law
Another top paying career for women is a career in law where the average female attorney/lawyers can earn up to $69,696/year. As law firms are recognizing that diversity of talent is essential for their advantage in market competition, there is a surge for law firms to retain talented women attorneys.

Careers in Sales Engineering
Career training in sales engineering offers women the potential to earn $62,427/year. Responsibilities of a sales engineer is to work with the company’s production, engineering, research and development departments, and with independent sales firms to determine how products and services can be designed or modified for customers’ needs. A job that requires the knowledge of an engineer, but with qualities of a sales person, sales engineer is the perfect job for women because women naturally tend to communicate better than men.

Careers in Financial/Investment Services and Counselors
Another one of the best paying jobs for women currently not being taken advantaged of is careers in financial/investment services and counselors. Women have natural characteristics well-suited for these jobs such as communicating, developing relationships, and educating; which are critical skills needed to be successful as a financial planner. The median salary for women in financial services is $53,890/year.

10 Tips on Time Management for Career Success

2010-06-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

The importance of time management to the success of your career should not be trivialized. The ability to handle a large workload productively and in a timely fashion can either make or break your career. Here are ten time management strategies to help manage your workload.

Emails should be checked. The ability to quickly process and synthesize information and turn it into actions is an important time management skill to have. Take action on an email as soon as you read it. Easy way to stay on top of your emails is to organize them into file folders according to their importance and urgency.

Set a schedule to open your emails. Checking emails constantly throughout the day can actually be counterproductive by diverting your attention away from your workload. Respond to your emails on a set schedule throughout your workday.

Keep references/contacts organized. Organization is key to almost all time management strategies. You can save yourself time and energy by having your references and contacts organized in an orderly fashion.

Multitasking isn’t always a good skill to have. Multitasking can be a useful skill to have when your attention is needed on multiple projects. But when it hinders your productivity and prevents you from getting anything done, then it becomes poison. Try limiting multitasking if it’s getting in your way of finishing your work.

Prioritize workload according to its importance. Prioritizing your workload, recognizing what needs focus at the right time is another important time management at work skill to have. Projects, documents, campaigns fast approaching its deadline should always be first on your to-d0-list.

Organize your priority list. To help you remember what tasks need to be done, make a priority list toward the end of each workday. There are different ways to create a to-do-list. You can simply write it down or use software programs (i.e. tasktoy) that digest and dissect tasks into manageable chunks.

Take your time. Uninformed decisions will be made if you rush your work. Appropriate time is needed to accurately comprehend all given information. Pace yourself. To be slow is actually a good time management skill to have.

Complex projects should be segmented into manageable workloads. It can get overwhelming when assigned a big, multi-layered project. Dividing a large project into segments in order of importance can easily help you manage the project and finish on time.

Be aware of your best productive time frame. Another arsenal to add to your time management skill is to know when you generate your best work. Each person has a best time: morning, in the afternoon, before lunch, after lunch etc. By being conscious of your peak productive time, you can schedule your most important tasks around this timeframe.

Minimize time consuming skills. Time is a limited resource. You only have eight hours throughout the day to finish all your tasks. Your work, once time is lost, will be compromised. You can never make up for it. Take steps to perfect soft skills to increase time efficiency and productivity rate for career success (i.e. keystroke speed).

Interview Guide Part III: After the Job Interview

2010-06-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

Last but not least, after the interview preparation mentioned in Part I and preparation for the actual interview mentioned in Part II, the final closure to this job interview guide is Part III: Following up with the interviewer after the interview.

Part III: Follow-Up after the Interview

These two actions are the final steps to a job interview preparation: sending a thank you note/letter after the interview and critiquing your interview performance.

Sending a thank you note after your interview can mean the difference between you with a job or not. Hiring managers interview several, if not hundreds of applicants. By sending a thank you letter, you are able to leave a more permanent image of you inside the mind of the interviewer. A thank you note can also show your general interest in the job and may help you stand out.

Do not just send out one thank you letter to the hiring manager if there were multiple interviewers involved. If other organizations and personnel within the company assisted or helped conduct the interview hiring process, be sure to send out thank you notes to everyone involved. Here are some suggestions of what should be included inside your thank you letter.

• Thank the employer for his or her time during the process of a job interview

• Mention what you’ve learned during the interview, especially aspects you feel qualified for

• If there is something you forgot to mention during the interview, mention it in the thank you letter

• If necessary, invite the employer to contact you for more information

• That you look forward to the employer’s decision

• If further paperwork is requested from the hiring manager, attach requested paperwork onto the thank you letter addressed: “As requested, I am forwarding letters of recommendation and certification materials.”

• Signing your thank you letter

Last but not least, the final step to a job interview preparation is to carefully evaluate your interview performance. Go over everything you did during the interview: how well you think you answered questions, how well you maintained eye contact, if your posture was appropriate, the quality of you responses to the questions asked etc.

Practice answering questions that caught you off guard by writing it down. Analyze all the times you felt uncomfortable and see how you can handle similar situations in the future. This is the best way to improve your interviewing skills. If you don’t evaluate your interview performance, understand your strengths and weakness during an interview, you will unlikely improve your future interviews.

Interview Guide Part II: The Actual Process of a Job Interview

2010-06-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

The actual face-to-face interview also has a similar process to that of preparing for an interview beforehand. This section of the job interview guide will consider the following five steps for a successful interview.

Part II: The Actual Interview

[1] Arrive on time: Never be late for an interview. Arriving on time is part of the interview hiring process. By arriving on time, it shows the interviewer that you are prompted, ready, able to follow directions, prepared, and serious about your desire for the position being offered. Arriving at the location five to ten minutes early is your safest bet not to be late. Be warned though, arriving too early is frowned upon as well. You may seem too eager and might be interrupting what the interviewer was doing before your appointment time. Call ahead if you cannot make it on time, providing a good reason for the delay (be prepared for the possibility of having to reschedule if late).

[2] Introduce yourself: For your interview preparation beforehand, you might want to work on your introduction and handshake because the first thing the interviewer will be appraising is how self-assured you look. Make sure you carry yourself with confidence when entering a room. Also remember that a firm handshake conveys strength. Try remembering the interviewer’s name when introductions are being made, the interview will progress on better terms if you respond using the name of the person you are speaking with. Also have in mind that anyone who is introduced to you is an important figure within the organization and may have an input in the decision making process, so act accordingly. After the introductions are made, a seat should be offered to you. But do not sit anywhere, wait until the interviewer motions exactly where he/she would like for you to sit. Once seated and introductions are over and done with, the interview is ready to begin.

[3] Conversing with the interviewer: Probably the hardest process of a job interview is the conversation itself because unlike your daily conversations, an interview conversation is a technical process. You must be truthful, yet not too much. Answers should be answered in such a way that nothing negative is given away, while sounding natural. Don’t mumble or rush your speech. Make sure you speak clearly, loudly, and slowly enough for the interviewer to hear you because the more you sound sure of yourself, the more the interviewer is confident that you are capable of doing the job. Treat the interviewer with respect by listening and responding with interest. The biggest thing to remember is that enthusiasm makes the difference between a good or a bad interview.

[4] Responding to questions: There are four things to keep in mind when you’re responding to the interviewer’s questions:

• Listen Carefully—Make sure you hear the questions correctly because it does not look good if you answer inappropriately for not understanding the question being asked.

• Answers should be specific and organized—Make sure you consider the use of time during your job interview preparation of how you want to answer the most common asked questions, mentioned in Part I of this job interview guide. The interviewer has many things to accomplish in addition to your interview throughout the day, so make sure your answers are precise and short. When asked, think about the question and then consider your reply before answering.

• Frame answers positively while emphasizing your strengths—Avoid going into detail unless it is requested when you answer a question. The key is to highlight your positive assets only and show the interviewer why it would be a good idea for the company to hire you. This does not mean you should be dishonest with your answers though.

• Discuss your weaknesses honestly—More likely than not, you will be asked what you believe is your greatest weakness. Honesty enhances your credibility with this question. Discuss your weaknesses and then tell the interviewer what you have learned from them and how you intend to improve upon them. Turn a weakness into a positive learning experience. Remember, interviewers have interviewed many times before, they can spot a fake answer before it is even out of your mouth (i.e. “I’m a workaholic”).

[5] Do’s and don’t of interviewing: Avoid any bad habits that show your nervousness (i.e. biting your nails, playing with hair, fidgeting, tapping your hand or pen). Practice hiding your bad habits during your interview preparation beforehand if it’s hard to break. Do not assume what the interviewer is going to say or ask. If uncertain about a question, it is better to ask the interviewer to repeat it or explain it further for you to comprehend. Do not lie, exaggerate, or speak badly of your former employer or company (interviewer will wonder if you would do the same thing to his/her company).

Do make eye contact with the interviewer. By making eye contact, you’re showing the interviewer that you are listening and that you are fully involved within the conversation. Watch for the interviewer's body language. Folded arms, yawning, picking up papers, concentrating on something else are signs that the interview lasted too long, or the answers you are giving are too long and vague. React quickly and positively to any negative signs. And most importantly—SMILE.

Interview Guide Part I: Preparation for the Interview

2010-06-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

You finally received the phone call you have been waiting for, “We would like for you to come in for an interview.” The first step through the hiring door is now open. But what comes after that? The process of a job interview is like a performance and with every successful performance, there are preparations to take for a successful show. This job interview guide will go over the three essential parts to a successful interview.

Part I: Preparing for the Interview

Job interview preparation is an important first step to take because your degree of preparation will be noted by the hiring manager. For the interview to be a success, you must be willing to prepare ahead of time. Here are five steps to prepare before an interview:

[1] Identify your personal goals: Understand exactly you want out of a job. What type, kind, and requirements are you looking for? Do you want a 9 to 5, a job that allows you to travel, office position that handles paperwork or a position that requires a more physical challenge? Understanding your personal goals and needs is an important first step to an interview preparation that will help guide you in what companies you should be looking into about possible job openings.

[2] Learn about the company: Part of the interview hiring process is to understand the company you are interested in working for. Understanding what the organization is all about and showing that you are still interested after gathering all the information shows the hiring manager your ability to commit. A basic search should suffice, unless the position requires a more extensive research. There are number of ways to find information on a company: public library, a search on the internet, or speak to a current employee.

[3] Think of questions you may want to ask: Most often than not, the hiring manager will ask if you have any questions about the company and the position being offered. This is where your knowledge that you have researched before the actual interview comes into play. Prepare to ask thoughtful and useful questions. Make sure to ask well thought out questions and avoid “me-centered” questions (i.e. salary, vacation time). Here are some questions to ask at interview:

• What are some the responsibilities of the position offered?
• Is there mobility within the organization, a possibility to grow within the company?
• What are the career paths in this department?
• What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
• What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?
• Could you describe a typical day or week in this position?
• The typical client or customer I would be dealing with?
• What are the most immediate challenges of the position that needs to be addressed in the first three months?

[4] Consider the type of clothing to wear: Clothes is also an important part for job interview preparation. First impression is made with your appearance, before any words are spoken. You want to dress properly and professionally. Here are some tips on what is considered appropriate interview attire for both men and women according to Career Services at Virginia Tech University:

• Suit: A two piece matched suit is always the best and safest choice.

• But what if the job is in a non-suit-wearing work environment: Even if you would or could wear jeans on the job, or the work environment is outdoors and very non-suit, wearing a suit to the interview shows you take the interview seriously as a professional meeting. Dressing well is a compliment to the person(s) with whom you meet. If you think the industry in which you're interviewing would frown on a suit, or the interview will involve going to a work site where a suit would be inappropriate, look for advice through professional organizations, your professors who have been employed in that industry, and/or by asking the employer directly and politely.

• Conservative colors / fabric: Navy, dark gray (and black for women) — are safe. Other color trends may come and go; avoid the extremes. Solids or very subtle weave patterns or plaids (the kind that look solid across a room) are safest. Wool, wool blends, or good quality micro fiber for women only, are generally the best fabrics in all seasons. Avoid acetate / rayon blends.

• Cost / quality: You are not expected to be able to afford the same clothing as a corporate CEO. Do invest in quality that will look appropriate during your first two or three years on the job. One good quality suit is sufficient for a job search if that is all your budget allows. You can vary your shirt/blouse tie/accessories.

• Details: Everything should be clean and well pressed. Carefully inspect clothes for tags, dangling threads, etc.

[5] Practice answering questions: You will be asked a lot of questions and the more you answer with confidence and eloquence, better the chances are that the position will be given to you. It is the job of the interviewer to find out as much job-relevant information about you as possible, so some of the questions will be easy to answer and others might be a bit more difficult (i.e. why did you leave your last job?) You can’t foresee every question the hiring manager is going to ask you, but there are common questions asked by most hiring departments. Here is a list of some of the most common employment interview questions:

• What are your major weaknesses?
• What type of work experience do you bring to this job?
• What do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• What assets do you bring to this company?
• Discuss a project or undertaking in which you have been successful, why do you believe you succeeded.
• Discuss something at which you did not succeed, what you learned from the experience.
• If you have supervised others, how do you think your staff would describe your management style?
• How do you feel about working in stressful situations?
• Would you describe yourself as a thinker or an action taker?
• Describe a goal you have set for yourself in the past and the steps you took to accomplish it.
• Pick someone in the business or professional world that you admire- why do you respect this individual?
• What do you do for fun? What are your personal interests?
• Describe the type of manager you would like to work for.

Online Training: 5 Reasons Corporate America Favors Online Training Courses

2010-06-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

It’s no surprise why corporate America fancy’s web based e-learning over traditional universities. According to an article featured on USA Today, “Online Courses the Rage in Corporate Training,” employers spent $57 million to train their workers. There are numbers or reasons why corporate are trending away from the traditional university model, the top five being:

1. The current economic situation necessitates the need to economize—any discovery to decrease expenses are welcomed by most corporate companies and with so many e-learning platforms that offer affordable monthly subscription based services, distance corporate training and development programs can help companies save millions of dollars each year.

2. Companies perception of training employees as an unredeemable cost has changed—unlike before, corporate do not view expenditures to develop the human potential a wasted investment anymore, but a worthy cause with infinite potential in return. The return on training improves performances and attitudes from employees necessary to achieve organizational growth.

3. Online training allow learners to learn at their own pace—Whether learners are required to learn technical work related training, complete full degrees or certification programs, web based e-learning allows learners to work at their own pace without having to wait for others.

4. Corporate training institutes has removed the need to travel—by removing the need for learners to join together to learn and study reduces a significant amount of cost in lost time and opportunity for companies by not having their employees away from their responsibilities for extended periods of time.

5. Online training is learner-centered—online corporate software training can deliver the concept of group learning and collaborative problem solving right to the employee’s home. Allowing learners more control with course pacing, sequencing and styles, online training is learner-centered.

Human Resource Management: The Fundamental and Importance of HRM Function

2010-05-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

What is human resource management (HRM) and its importance within a business context? Human resource management, interchangeable with talent management, is the department that functions within an organization in charge of the overall responsibility of implementing strategies and policies relating to management. Talent management system reflects business management’s adoption of a more quantitative, strategic approach to workforce maintenance.

Purpose and role of a talent management system
Human resource’s reputation used to be thought of as a department that handled mostly administrative activities, coordinating ranges of worker related processes. Not so much today though. HRM in today’s business society is believed to play an intimate role in the systematical operation of the business in maintaining relations with its workforce.

There is a reason why human resource management is also called “talent management.” Large and small companies look up to the talent management system not only for paperwork, hire and pay workers, but also for staffing, human resource training, and managing workers so that the workforce within the organization is performing at maximum capacity. Because human resource management’s main purpose is to maximize return of investment (ROI), secure future survival and success while minimizing financial risk for the business.

Talent management key functions
Some of the set strategies, policies, standards, systems, and processes talent management system departments implement are:

• Recruitment and selection
• Organization design and development
• Business transformation and change management
• Hr courses for performance, conduct and behavior management
• Industrial and employee relations
• Workforce analysis and personnel data management
• Compensation, rewards, and benefits management
• Human resource training development and management

Career Goal Setting: 10 Criteria’s for Goal Setting

2010-05-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

The importance of setting goals cannot be stressed enough, especially in the terms of building a fulfilling career. Online dictionary defines the word goal as “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aimed; end.” Aimlessness is bound to ensure without setting career goals.

Without set plans to further advance, navigating your career is going to be difficult. To become the next Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, or Meg Whitman, carefully construct career goals around these 10 following criteria’s to not get lost—emotionally and physically, down the long road.

Goals must be specific—First and foremost, state exactly what you want out of your chosen career or what you want from a career. Be specific as possible. What market? What position? What do you want to do? Once you’ve figured out where you’d like to be five, ten years down the line, the next plan is how to get there.

Set short and long term goals—You are not going to be a CEO of a multi-billion dollar company overnight and it shouldn’t be rushed either if you want it done right. Business goal setting should be realistic. Take baby steps first to prepare yourself, learn the skills, change career path if needed to get to where you want or need to be to become the next Steve Jobs.

Measure the outcome—When you have your sight on a goal, make sure you take measurable steps to reach it. With each goal set should be tied to an action or a deadline. For example, if you desire a career in the publication industry in the next five years, take the proper steps: graduate in four years, and during those four years you’re going to have two internships and a part-time job to gain invaluable experience.

Write down your goals on paper—Although this may seem like a waste of time, it’s an integral part of career goal setting. Being able to visually see your goals in the context of the written word makes your goal a viable action instead of a dream.

Keep your goals realistic—Do not set yourself up for impossible goals. When constructing business goal setting, take realistic steps to your ultimate goal.

Set different career goals in different timeframe— You are not going get hired as an editor right after college. Your short term goal to get to your long term goal as an editor is to get an editorial assistant position.

Don’t set yourself up for disappointment—Success cannot be measured by standards of others because everyone measures success differently. Becoming a top executive might measure up as a successful career to some, while owning a small flower shop can be the dream job to others. Measure success from your viewpoint, not you peer.

Expect the unexpected—There is always the possibility of something going wrong or an unexpected event that can delay you from your dreams. Don’t stress too much and try to take everything in stride.

Prepare to fail—There’s an old proverb quote, “You win some, you lose some.” The ride to your career goal is going to have its ups and downs. There may be times when your best intentions or your best efforts might not be good enough. Be prepared to fail along the way to your dreams.

Learn to be resilient—Goal setting is a plan to help guide you, it’s not set in stones. Life is life, there are no guarantees. Do not despair if you’re thrown of your set career goals. To survive and come out for the better, it’s important to grow a thick skin and learn to be persistent.

Video Tutorials: A Growing Medium for Advanced Career Training

2010-05-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Traditional academic settings, such as universities and trade schools are starting to make way for technological advanced mediums to support students and working professionals who are always in constant locomotion. And due to the explosion of the “information highway,” video based training tutorials of learning multimedia software applications are growing in momentum.

Especially within the realm of business and higher education, online tutorials are increasingly the favored method of learning due to the fact that there is no constraint, unlike a traditional academic setting such as the classroom where it’s allocated with time and place restrictions and limitations.

With video tutorials, training courses can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Computer training is much more accessible than being interrupted from your daily activities and schedule to get to class on time. The beauty of online training is that it can be accessed without the disturbance in your personal and professional life.

Online training tutorials are also time efficient in the sense that learners don’t have to waste time in reviewing materials they already know. For example, learners interested in a particular course can just click on the software tutorials that pertain to their interest without having to go through the unnecessary segments.

Skeptics might point out that with virtual training, learners are unable to ask questions, problems, or concepts that they might have, unlike a traditional class where instructors are there in person to answer students’ questions. But most video tutorials performed are presented by specialists in their given field. The chances of having any concepts or problems unresolved in their tutorials are pretty slim. If there is a concern, all you would have to do is play the tutorials again and look and listen carefully for your answer.

Job Searching Training Tutorial: Objective of a Resume

2010-05-03T15:10:00.000-07:00

One of the most important tool or resource during a job search at your disposal is the resume. A resume ultimately demonstrates your qualifications for the job position you are applying for. If making comparisons, a resume is similar to a product spec sheet, where it outlines all the qualifications and functionality of the product.

The ultimate purpose of a resume is to help applicants get a job interview, not the job position. You are advertising yourself to the hiring department and your resume should be attractive enough for the hiring manager to take action and call you in for an interview. There are three different types of resume:

• Chronological Resume: The most preferred resume by hiring departments is the chronological resume, where the applicant’s work history and employment history is listed in reverse chronological order. This type of resume format is advantageous if your most recent job experience is aligned with the job you are seeking. It’s the most favored because the progression of your career is easy to follow since the chronological resume lists jobs in a time sequence. Resume training tutorials are available for the format construction of a chronological resume.

• Functional Resume: For job applicants in search of a new career or has a gap in between employment, a functional resume would serve you better. A functional resume is more skills focused rather than where you’ve worked. Hiring managers are able to see all of the skills, accomplishments, and qualifications of the job applicant. In a functional resume, prior work history is not listed.

• Combination Resume: A mixture of the functional and chronological resume format, the combination resume allows the reader to first match your qualifications up against the job opening while giving the reader a sense of security by identifying where and when these accomplishments have been accomplished. Resume tutorials are available for the format.

Deciding on which resume format is the best for you comes down to two main factors:

• The amount, consistency, and depth of work experience you have accumulated in your career

• How well the job position you are seeking aligns with your past work experience.

Microsoft PowerPoint: Enemy of the State?

2010-04-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

Ever since its introduction to the business industry in 1984, Microsoft PowerPoint has been a staple present in the boardrooms of the business, academic, and military world. A slideware computer program that easily generates charts, graphs, and bullet points, presenting research and data in an easy format revolutionized the time spent on data-driven presentations. But while some praise the invention of the software, there are those who disagree as well. In fact, prominent U.S. generals and professors think PowerPoint is an evil entity.

According to Edward R. Tufte, a political science professor at Yale University who wrote an article on Wired.com, “PowerPoint is Evil,” says the Microsoft presentation software induces stupidity, turns everyone into bores, waste time, and degrades the quality and credibility of communication. Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of the Joint Force in the Marine Corps who was interviewed for a New York Times article, “We Have Met the Enemy and He is PowerPoint” says the slideware makes us stupid.

The argument presented in these two articles is that PowerPoint creates the illusion of understanding and control when there really isn’t. By oversimplifying interconnected data, statistics and conclusion in simple bullet points, the complexity or the significance of the issue being presented is not getting through as important, vital, priority number one.

Commanders in the New York Times article believe that not only are vital sources being left out to simplify the presentation report, but by using PowerPoint as information training tutorials is stifling critical thinking and decision making. Instead of producing an environment that encourages thought provoking group discussions, PowerPoint presentation brings a numbing sensation.

“In a business setting, a PowerPoint slide typically shows 40 words, which is about eight seconds’ worth of silent reading material. With so little information per slide, many, many slides are needed. Audiences consequently endure a relentless sequence, one damn slide after another,” Tufte says.

But can a software program be the blame? Is a comprehensive report with all the critical data and statistics gathered any more effective than a PowerPoint presentation? Is relentless sequence of reports any more cognitively stimulating than a relentless sequence of PowerPoint slides?

KnowledgeCity’s Affiliate Program: Open for Business

2010-04-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

KnowledgeCity’s affiliate program is up and running and is waiting for you to become a part of its team! After much fine tuning, here are some new details for new and future affiliates of KnowledgeCity:

Quality of project/service
For those unaware of what our company is all about, KnowledgeCity is an educational site for students, business and career professionals that offer online training tutorials on the latest computer software (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook, Dreamweaver) and business management training tutorials that pertains to the educational and business environment.

How the affiliate program works
For every sign up, KnowledgeCity will send out a letter with all the necessary information about the program, including the banners and text links. The links given will provide the affiliates with the cookie that is needed to track all their referrals, which would last about a month.

Revenue sharing levels
Affiliates would be compensated residually. For every referral sign-up brought in by an affiliate, he/she will receive in return 35% of the $29 KnowledgeCity charges every month for unlimited access to our entire tutorial database.

Payment/Tracking Reliability
Payout will be on a monthly basis, usually after 30 days. We also offer easy accessibility to your account with the possibility of link exchange.

Tools Needed for Accounting Majors

2010-04-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

To be an accountant means to provide organization, summarization, and interpretation of financial information for companies. College students who wish to play a critical role within a business organization as an accountant needs to be computer literate and be thoroughly knowledgeable in business mathematics.

Computer literacy is a necessity for an accountant’s performance. Being able to understand the basic functions, hardware, software, and operating system commands is immensely important for most operations are performed on a computer setting. Although most college students these days are fully aware of a computer’s capability, there are computer literacy training tutorials for accounting majors who went back to school later on in life when computers were not the prevalent tool in the work or academic force.

Basic mathematics wouldn’t just do in terms for an accountant. Since accounting is all about mathematics in a business environment, business mathematics is a separate entity than regular math taught in academia. Online training tutorials are available to learn more on what mathematical applications pertain in a business context.

Necessary Online Training Tutorials Needed for Environmentalists

2010-04-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

Advocates for the protection of Earth’s natural environment from destruction or pollution understands more than ever the importance of their work is to humanity, for the theory of earth’s natural resources deteriorating would bring about catastrophic destructions seems to have some relevance with so much natural disasters occurring around the world.

China’s latest earthquake that measured 6.9 in magnitude killed 1,100 people up to date; Iceland’s volcano that recently came to life is interrupting European air traffic with its ashes, to U.S.’s own recent 7.2 Mexicali earthquake that was felt across Southern California with more than 500 aftershocks.

Understanding presentation skills and being up-to-date with the latest environmental issues is necessary, environmentalists understands the importance of PowerPoint training tutorials and environmental online training tutorials.

• PowerPoint presentation tutorials: Presentation is a big aspect for environmentalists to bring forth their research to the public at large. Through cutting technology and sophisticated features coming out each year in newer editions, Microsoft PowerPoint provides environmentalists with a powerful tool to present their work in a visual aspect.

• Environmental job training tutorials: Through environmental video tutorials, environmentalists are able to be informed of the latest research, data, statistics, concepts and other events happening in their prospective field.

The Importance of Microsoft Outlook & Administrative Assistant

2010-04-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

Different branches and departments for any company or corporation must work together as one in order for a business to perform and operate smoothly and effectively. No department is less important than the other for every part has a function. But even so, there is one particular department in any given business that is the backbone, or even its lifeblood that keeps the company alive and that is the administrative department.

The administrative department to any large institution is the organizational unit that performs management activities benefiting the entire organization. To rank the importance of an administration branch in a business environment, is CEO and executives’ favored department. And as administrative personnel are favored friends to upper management, so are Microsoft Outlook and administrative assistant training tutorials for an administration team.

Microsoft Outlook, a comprehensive time and information manager, is the preferred software for administrative personnel to provide assistance with daily updates/up keeps important documents, contact lists, while safely and effectively sharing the information to any inner personnel and to clients. This tool helps administers:

• Easily manage daily priorities
• Connect globally
• Share the information with anyone, anywhere
• Control the data in a safe system
• Prevent losing work, data
• Provide instant relevant information to anyone

This crucial software application offers more features each year with new editions from Microsoft to simplify the daily lives of administrators. Online training tutorials are available to view the different features offered in Outlook.

Online administrative assistant video training tutorials is another vital tool that provides information, data, and organizational skills necessary for successful administrators. Through various online video tutorials, administrative assistants will be able to:

• Manage time more effectively
• Handle interruptions and be more flexible
• Plan proficiently
• Organize paperwork conclusively
• Communicate with colleagues/upper management in the right manner
• Understand office politics/diplomacy
• Handle stressful situations
• Refine writing capability

Key Training Tutorials Needed for Market Research Analysts

2010-04-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Career professionals vying for Data/Market Research Analyst positions should have data entry, spreadsheet creation, and database maintenance skills before going in for a job interview because most businesses feeling the financial strain due to the effects of a tumultuous economy, probably will not hire a new hire with limited skills set. They need new hires to be able to contribute immediately to the company, especially during economic hardship.

Entry level and junior data/market research professionals should refresh their knowledge or learn these three essential software programs for their field either through courses or online training tutorials before applying.

Microsoft Access: Designed specifically to simplify and control complex data tasks, research analysts can create and update database information through Access. Access help users effectively track, report, and share information in a manageable environment. With a pre-built library tracking application of database solutions with Microsoft Office Fluent user interface, researchers does not need deep database or programming skills.

Microsoft Excel: Another useful application is the Excel software, a powerful tool that helps create spreadsheets and formulas, practice data entry, format data, communicate and manage information etc. Excel simplifies creating professional-looking reports and charts.

Business Word Processing: Research, information gathering, light administrative task is also a big part of a data analyst’s job description. That means researchers should also know how to email, merge emails, design newsletters, edit/proofread professional documents, and reports. To learn or brush up on these skills, there are online video tutorials on Business Word Processing that touches on all of the tasks listed above.

Microsoft Excel Macro Online Training Tutorial

2010-04-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Excel, software that analyzes information that provides businesses with easy means of data exchange and helps make informed decisions, is one of the most asked KnowledgeCity software training tutorials by users. And out of the many online training tutorials asked on features in this program is the “Macro” function.

This built-in feature enables users to record repetitive actions for easy usage on different cells and worksheets. It’s fairly easy to utilize and useful for business professionals to save time filling out the same information on new spreadsheets.

To create a macro, here are few simple steps:

1. First, establish the workbook (file) for the spreadsheet that is going to be recorded under by clicking on the Tools tab on top of the toolbar. Find Macro then select Record New Macro.

2. When the dialogue box appears, fill in: the name of the file, letter to the shortcut key (optional) (pressing the Ctrl + the key letter will run the macro automatically on different spreadsheets), and where you want to store your workbook in (usually the workbook is the one in progress or can be saved under a personal macro workbook).

3. Write in the description for the macro made.

When finished, click the Ok button and a small macro recording box will appear to show recording is in session. After the box shows, everything that is done on the workbook is being recorded. Manually go through functions that macro needs to recreate (i.e. adding/deleting columns). To stop recording when finished, click on the blue button of the recording box and the workbook is ready to use.

Adobe Suite CS5 Online Training Tutorials Coming Soon

2010-04-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

As Adobe is preparing to release Creative Suite 5 (CS5) edition into the market at the end of May, KnowledgeCity is also preparing software training tutorials for the newest web/publishing design tools featured on the suite’s software programs, such as:

• Photoshop CS5 Extended
• Illustrator CS5
• InDesign CS5
• Flash Professional CS5
• Dreamweaver CS5

With knowledgeable professors already lined up for online training tutorials, graphic designers, web designers, print production teams, animators, and photographers can expect exciting and informative online video training tutorials on new, improved and enhanced features on Photoshop CS5 Extended like:

• The new painting effect where natural, realistic painting can be achieved through the Mixer Brush

• Filling up the space left behind with the removal of an image or an object through Content-Aware Fill

• Wrapping, stretching graphic elements to create a new image through Puppet Wrap

Academia and Business Organizations Benefit from KnowledgeCity

2010-04-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Although still young, different sectors of the academic and business industries are starting to take notice of KnowledgeCity. There is no deniability of the importance of how information technology (IT) is to a modern organization that relies heavily on the use of electronic computers, computer software for daily productivity and smooth operation.

As IT corporations continuously invent, reinvent, and refine their software products and services, to be up-to-date with all computer applications is nearly impossible for the public at large to learn, who is always on the run with everyday living. Understanding this gap, KnowledgeCity hits the ground running finding qualified professors to teach the necessary tools needed for all market industries such as:

Computer Science, Research Departments—Research industries that rely heavily on database programs to convert, store, protect, transmit, and securely retrieve information can rely on software training tutorials on the latest software applications on Excel, Access, and Outlook.

Professional photographers, web designers, graphic designers—There is nobody more excited when the newest version of Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver is released than a visual artist. But even the most skilled computer-literate can have trouble understanding a function or a feature without learning about it first.

Publishing Industry—Word, InDesign software applications are the lifeblood for the publishing world. To understand, utilize, and implant all the features offered by the program is essential for a successful production of its magazines, newspapers, books etc.

Real Estate, Accounting, Human Resource Market—Business management training tutorials is essential to implement successful concepts and strategies to improve interpersonal relationship between the company and its staff for the success of its business.

Coming Soon to You: KnowledgeCity’s Affiliate Program

2010-04-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Good news everybody! Lovers of KnowledgeCity…you now have a chance to be a part of the team through our newly conceived affiliate program. Although the plan is still in the early stages of development, it will soon be up and running waiting for your participation!

For those unfamiliar with the concept, an affiliate marketing program is a cooperative effort between the merchant (that would be us) and the affiliates (that would be you). For every visitor and customer provided to our website, KnowledgeCity’s affiliates will be paid handsomely, a total win win situation for both parties!

KnowledgeCity’s online training tutorials will have a chance to broaden its services to more potential customers through our niche market, while affiliates, with little to no effort, have a chance to make a lot of money just by referring people over. Through mutual respect and cooperation, let’s make a lot of money! More information coming soon…

KnowledgeCity’s Management Tutorial: The Four Functions of Management

2010-04-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

Veteran and novice managers, look no further than KnowledgeCity for core infrastructure management tutorials on key issues facing today’s business administrations large and small. Our business management tutorials cover: management theories, finding and developing leaders, measurement and improvement on customer and employee relations, hiring and training employees, developing workplace teams and so much more.

One of the business management tutorials that KnowledgeCity offers business administrations is the Four Functions of Management. Through these business management training tutorials, administrators will learn the four core functions of business management:

Plan: The first stage to any administration team is evaluating and planning the business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Planning is the core function of management concept to attain the goals and objectives put forth by the company.

Organization: The determination of the internal structure, relationship establishment, and all allocation of resources would be set in the second concept of management, which is organization. The formation of the infrastructure is needed to carry out the plans implemented in order to direct the business in the desired course.

Direct: After all the internal organization have been set, management should then be able to oversee and give direction to the staff’s behavior, activities, and production that would ultimately affect the company’s objective. Because all staff members should perform at their maximum capacities, management needs to provide directions well.

Control: The business management team must be able to control the production and the direction of the company at large, whether if it’s doing well or not. By overseeing the actual performance of the entire company and staff, the management team can decide what plans and rules need to be changed in order to reach its goal.

Check Out KnowledgeCity’s Ad Today!

2010-04-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, the long awaited event has arrived. KnowledgeCity’s national ad campaign is out today! And with this nationwide ad campaign, the entire country will know who we are and what KnowledgeCity is all about. That we are an online video tutorial company dedicated to bring academic students, working professionals with the latest relevant software and business tutorials for career development and advancement.

Not only will the ad inform the public about KnowledgeCity’s goals to the business professionals, but they will also be informed of the company’s large selection of computer software and business courses, such as word processor, Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, Microsoft Access 2007, career assessment tutorials and much more.

Make sure to catch us on YouTube in case you miss the commercial! Enjoy everyone…

KnowledgeCity Loves TGIF!

2010-04-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Thank god it’s Friday! For a job well done, KnowledgeCity is going to award itself with a great Easter weekend. A lot of work got done this week. Our online software training tutorial company is adding the last finishing touches to its nationwide ad campaign due out within the next two weeks.

We had to make sure the ad mentioned key points that are essential, such as:

The company’s mission statement: KnowledgeCity’s goal is to provide academic students, business professionals with detailed, well-informed online video tutorials on the latest computer software and career development business courses.

What to expect from our site: Visitors can expect video training on the latest computer software, like: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe InDesign, Dreamweaver etc.

Its great offer: Not only does KnowledgeCity offer informative software, business courses crucial for the business and academic environment, but the service is free for anyone interested for thirty days. That’s a whole month of unlimited access to our company’s entire online video tutorials for free!

KnowledgeCity New Look

2010-04-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

As it’s a new year and a new spring, KnowledgeCity has decided to go under a new makeover. Coming soon to near you is the newer, better homepage-with a fresher look, simplified user-ability with newly added online video tutorials on the latest computer software programs, career and business management online courses.

With more videos added, such as Window 7 video tutorial, the latest operating system by Microsoft; Computer Literacy, a hands-on introduction to using microcomputer for personal and academic use; tutorial for first-time home buyers, a nine-step demonstration for homebuyers acquiring property-users will definitely get more for their money.

Come visit us right now for more information. See you there!

The Uniqueness of KnowledgeCity’s Online Tutorial

2010-03-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

There is something about KnowledgeCity that is unique compared to other online tutorial websites. While most online video tutorial websites are catered toward the business industry to help the working professionals with their career development, Knowledge City’s computer software courses provides both for the business and the academic world.

Computer software programs are constantly undated from the old versions in school, which could leave students’ bereft of the knowledge needed for the success of their assignments, projects, and presentation. Knowledge city offers both students and business workers with a user-friendly website that offers video tutorials on the latest computer software.

High school and college students can view the latest PowerPoint 2007, Adobe Photoshop CS4 video tutorial, while businessman and woman can take courses on business management, project management course that is broken down to its principle, concepts, and techniques.

KnowledgeCity is on TV!

2010-03-30T08:47:00.001-07:00

Great news everybody! KnowledgeCity, an online video tutorial website company that provides business professionals with computer software and career development, is going to launch its first ever television ad campaign within the next two weeks!

Through this ad, the public will be informed about the company's easy step-by-step educational programs that dissects different features of the latest business software programs, such as, Window 7, Adobe Photoshop CS4, while offering business management courses for career growth.

This is a very exciting time! Nationwide, KnowledgeCity is going to share its knowledge with business professionals by offering a thirty day trial...for free!

See KnowledgeCity on TV

2010-03-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have some good news! KnowledgeCity, a video online tutorial website for business professionals with computer software and career development is going to launch its first ever television ad campaign in two weeks!

This is a very exciting time! Through this nationwide ad campaign, Knowledge City is going to spread its knowledge with business professionals and offer them a thirty day trial of our educational tutorials for free!

Lydia Kim Joins the KnowledgeCity Team

2010-03-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

A little nervous and a bit excited, I have joined the KnowledgeCity Team, an online video tutorial website company that helps business professionals develop and enhance their career development and knowledge on computer software.

From this day forward, I will learn about SEO, link building, social media networking and much more. The first task assigned was to open up social media accounts for "Twitter" and "Facebook." I will have a lot more blogs and fun video posts coming soon.

Hopefully through this opportunity given by KnowledgeCity, I will have a deeper understanding for what SEO and social media marketing is all about. It will be interesting to see my blog sites grow since it will be build from the ground up.

At KnowledgeCity, Everyone can be a VIP!

2010-03-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hello, VIP status! Now, VIP access means that you can get all the career training you need...FREE! KnowledgeCity.com is offering VIP members a FREE year subscription, which includes full access to every course on the KnowledgeCity.com Web site.

And here's the good news: it's never been easier to become a VIP. The only thing you need is a username and password. Don't have one of those? They're easy to get.

Just (1) visit KnowledgeCity.com/vip, (2) Create a user name and password, and (3) watch and learn! You can start taking any of KnowledgeCity's courses in just minutes. Brush up on Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Learn new skills on Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash, Illustrator, or InDesign. Stay current with the latest business trends in project management, financial accounting, and money management, including how to use QuickBooks. Even learn tips and tricks for your job search, a winning resume, and a successful interview. KnowledgeCity has everything you need to advance your career. Visit KnowledgeCity.com/vip today.

KnowledgeCity's New Website

2010-01-06T14:18:00.001-08:00

KnowledgeCity is ringing in 2010 with a completely revamped website.

The home of online career training courses is bringing their video-based format to the forefront of the website. The KnowledgeCity site now features videos to introduce you to KnowledgeCity, our topics, and our courses. The first round of videos, including the homepage and category videos, were unveiled earlier this week. Additional videos, introducing each specific course, are also under construction. Watch for the release of the Outlook and PowerPoint course videos coming soon.

Take a tour of our new website and view our homepage video, as well as our newly released category introduction videos in financial strategies, computer software, and career development.

Come explore our site. We know you'll want to stay.

Digital Imaging with Adobe Illustrator CS4 Training

2009-12-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

KnowledgeCity's introduction to Digital Imaging with Adobe Illustrator CS4 is the first step toward creating professional graphics and visual effects. Learn the power of 2 and 3 dimensional vector artwork, including how to improve your productivity with brushes, create new formats for text along curved lines, within shapes, and as objects, and customize shape and object drawing and image tracing with the Pencil and Line tools. This course builds a firm foundation for a future of creating dynamic images with the number one graphics software in logo design, illustrations, and Web development.

Additional Course Topics

Use of rulers and guides
Changing colors of objects and paths with fill and stroke
Creating precise shapes with the Pen tool
Color management and selection
How to instantly clip parts of an image or objects with masks
Applying transparency effects to native and imported objects
Use of gradients to fade and mix colors
Creating smooth transitions between objects and colors with the Blend tool
How to organize, isolate, mask, clip, select, move, and edit with layers
Making fine adjustments to letter spacing with the kern/track options

Check out our computer software courses and other digital imaging courses, including more Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop!

Welcome to the Future of Knowledge

2009-12-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

Employees at KnowledgeCity met behind closed doors today to discuss the company's future website and subscription structure.

KnowledgeCity.com, provider of high-quality online training tutorials in career skills, computer software, and financial strategies, plans to keep their current all-you-can-learn format, but now, for a limited time, they're offering a money back guarantee on their product. Sign-up now to become a citizen of KnowledgeCity and you'll receive thirty days to test the product and see your progress. If you're not happy, cancel for a full refund.

Currently, KnowledgeCity members, or citizens, receive full access to online training tutorials and manuals in such courses as Understanding Short Sales, Basic and Advanced Investing, Administrative Support, and even popular software programs, such as Microsoft Office Suite and the Adobe Suite.

Become a citizen of KnowledgeCity today!

Wait until you hear about our new C++ programming instructor

2009-11-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

KnowledgeCity’s new C++ programming instructor, Kyle Muldrow, is currently a full-time professor of Computer Information Systems at DeVry University in Long Beach, CA and a part time mathematics instructor at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA. Before Kyle settled down into teaching, however, he spent over a decade as a software engineer in the aerospace industry.

To start, Kyle worked for McDonnell Douglas Corporation (now Boeing), writing software to operate visual displays in the cockpit of the F-15 eagle tactical fighter. After several years dabbling with the cockpits of F-15 fighter aircraft, he moved over to the B-2 stealth bomber at Northrop Grumman Corporation, again creating visual display software for the cockpit.

Eventually, Kyle moved to Quantum Corporation, the experts at data protection and recovery, to spend over four years writing software (in C++!) to operate automated tape libraries and machines. His software operated a robotic controller inside the machine to display and operate a graphical control panel. Other companies bought this software to back up large amounts of data.

After all this, Kyle can still say, “I am very excited that KnowledgeCity has provided this opportunity to share my experience in C++ programming. . . Let’s get started and have some fun!” We are glad to have Kyle as a member of the KnowledgeCity training team and hope that you will give his Introduction to C++ Programming a try.

We dare you.

With unemployment at 10.2%, no one can afford to sit idly

2009-11-20T16:24:00.000-08:00

Well, the numbers are in, and no one needs an expert to interpret them. The Department of Labor reports that the month of October saw 29 states with increasing unemployment rates, and over the year, jobless rates have increased in all fifty states. In the month of October, unemployment set new record highs in California, Florida, and Delaware. The national unemployment rate is 10.2 percent.

According to the Department of Labor’s statistics, 15.7 million people are out of work; 15.7 million people are looking for work, able to work, ready to work, but are not working. Take everyone from New York City and combine them to the entire population of Los Angeles. Add Chicago. Then, throw in Philadelphia. That’s 15.7 million people.

With so many people seeking work, this rough recession sets the job market on a course to becoming highly specialized with employers at the helm and room for only the most qualified job seekers onboard. Fierce competition surrounds every position, and openings will be filled by candidates with a set of skills specific to the job. To have an edge, the labor force—new job seekers and seasoned professionals alike—will require the career skills, computer software knowledge, and financial strategies that employers seek.

The business cycle is in the midst of a trough, and every recession is followed by an eventual upturn, but until unemployment is shaken from its perch, the economy will continue to operate below potential with many unlit furnaces while dictating a specialized workforce. More than ever before, career training is essential to remaining an asset and staying afloat to avoid becoming a statistic.

Free Learning

2009-11-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, KnowledgeCity announced plans to reveal restricted course content to all KnowledgeCity.com visitors.

Previously reserved exclusively for KnowledgeCity registered members, complete course manuals will soon be available at the click of a button. Work is already underway to construct user-friendly access to all course training manuals. This innovative option allows prospective users to freely sample the course content and peruse and preview the manual before signing up to be a member.

As a leader in online career, computer, and financial training courses, this is not the first time KnowledgeCity has made high-quality educational products free for visitors to the Web site. In fact, KnowledgeCity is still offering the seven-day free trial of any courses, any time, anywhere. As always, KnowledgeCity’s all-you-can-learn format allows risk-free learning from high-quality online tutorials. Be part of the learning; sign up for the seven-day free trial and watch for the new availability of the manuals coming soon.

Tutorial of the Day - Stress Management

2009-11-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

With the holidays coming soon, learn how to manage stress in this short clip from KnowledgeCity.com.