learning microsoft office

movingtables

movingtables

movingtables

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I wanted to run an idea by you guys.
I am currently a job seeker ( stop laughing at the back ).

I am self taught in computers and although i can use word and i did
a clait+ course about 10 years ago i have forgot most of it.

So i had one of them light bulb moments and i decided it's
time i stopped playing games ( they bore me these days anyway ) and
maybe i should pay the £70 for a years microsoft office license and buy
this DVD learn suite for £15 which has over 42 hours of video's and practice
sessions.

if i taught myself how to use these packages to a decent level i should be able
to find a decent office job ?

i always doubt myself lol. sound like a good idea?
 
No... There is no point learning ms office: I've yet to come across a job that needs an office qualification.

Just say you are proficient in it on your cv/interview, and that will be enough.
 
if i taught myself how to use these packages to a decent level i should be able
to find a decent office job ?
Click to expand...

It's probably not as simple as this as the availability of jobs versus the number seeking jobs isn't great right now but it will give you parity with the majority of other people seeking office admin roles (I assume this is what you mean) in terms of having basic Office skills.
 
Yes, most jobs will require some use of office and it would do you well to understand the basics of the packages.

I would try to get some volunteering etc to try and get some recent experience.
 
Good on you for being proactive. You may want to consider going into MM and asking if anyone has a 2010 licence for sale. Think one went a while ago for £30 or so. Look up Microsoft Office Inside Out book on Google, around £27, got an almighty amount of training in it! Great book, I have it.

Hardly any company's have 2013, so no need to go that route unless you want
 
cheers guys.
obviously i can type up a letter in word but theres always
a "correct" way of doing things lol.
i still dont know if i'm doing the right thing.
 
Volunteer somewhere for a few months and realise 99% of people who say they are proficient in office just about know where the save button is. (True story someone got sacked from a mates work for not being able to save on the first day)

Anyway buy a license and google things if they ask for more than the basics, if you went to school after about 1997 office is something you should know from IT and that's more than good enough for most jobs... (Says another job hunter)
 
I would say go for it. Better to use your time than waste it if not working. Possibly look at learning a foreign language as well. I have seen quite a few jobs about where they want someone who can speak a foreign lingo! Any thing you can do and whack on that cv really. Use the time to further yourself rather than feel like every thing has come to a halt.

You will feel positive and it will keep the brain sharp.
 
I'm not sure there is much to 'learn' as far as word or power point are concerned - both of these programs encourage exploratory learning and for most jobs as long as you've got the basics then that's all you need.

Excel is perhaps one area you can add value with - if you put in a bit of time learning it. Plenty of companies rely on excel spreadsheets for various things. Decent working knowledge of Excel can make you visibly productive.

get a book from this guy:

http://spreadsheetpage.com/
 
I did an ECDL course (basically Office 2000 plus some general PC nonsense like how to view a website, save a file to floppy, print etc) over 10 years ago when job seeking which had the following advantages:

+Cheap for job seekers
+Easy
+Pace of study was largely self-driven i.e. it said you should do about 99hrs(?) of classroom study but I did about 30 at most and that was more about getting a tick in the box than anything
+Course materials were generally well written and taught me a few things I didn't know (I actually bought the study guide for my dad to teach himself)

On the flipside:
-Some really cringey basic stuff
-Don't think it particularly helped me on the CV front other than showing that I was studying not just dossing around on the dole
-Not advanced enough to give you a genuine edge over skilled Office users

I think nowadays MS has plenty of good online training materials that should get you up to speed.

Finally I would echo Hellsmk2 assertion that you don't actually need to be a genius at Office, just say you are proficient on your CV as unlike some claims around software packages it is perfectly believable, commonplace and unlikely to be 'tested' to any significant level.

edit: regarding Excel as mentioned above, it has such a wide spectrum of utility/features that different people will have widely differing views on what being a 'skilled' or 'expert' user means. I've been using it for 15 years and am still learning new things (by things, I mean more than just ways of presenting which would apply to most of the Office suite).
 
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My advice would be learn something like java/sql/oracle/php - accounting/erm systems or sap to a high level - do projects for free to build up a portfolio/experience the go contracted and charge your time at £500+ a day.

don't pay for a course learn the basics for free down the library from 'teach yourself X in 24 hours' books... :)
 
i suppose what i am trying to say is i wish to be able to
learn the office packages to a competent level as not
to make an idiot of myself lol.

i just want to apply for an office job and be competent, nothing special.
thanks for the reply's all. :)
 
xMarkie said:
My advice would be learn something like java/sql/oracle/php - accounting/erm systems or sap to a high level - do projects for free to build up a portfolio/experience the go contracted and charge your time at £500+ a day.

don't pay for a course learn the basics for free down the library from 'teach yourself X in 24 hours' books... :)
Click to expand...

The OP wants to understand the basics of the Office suite to allow him to go for office roles and you're suggesting that he learns programming languages and SAP before becoming a contractor? :o
 
A good understanding of the basic Office suite is a prerequisite for many office jobs. As an employer I'd be interested not only in your knowledge of them but also the fact that you were aware you needed a skill and decided to get off your **** and do something about it. That's a big plus.

Good luck!
 
xMarkie said:
My advice would be learn something like java/sql/oracle/php - accounting/erm systems or sap to a high level - do projects for free to build up a portfolio/experience the go contracted and charge your time at £500+ a day.

don't pay for a course learn the basics for free down the library from 'teach yourself X in 24 hours' books... :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's that easy.
 
movingtables said:
So i had one of them light bulb moments and i decided it's
time i stopped playing games ( they bore me these days anyway ) and
maybe i should pay the £70 for a years microsoft office license and buy
this DVD learn suite for £15 which has over 42 hours of video's and practice
sessions.

if i taught myself how to use these packages to a decent level i should be able
to find a decent office job ?
Click to expand...
In the OP first post it sounds like they are undecided what sort of job they want but HAVE decided to stop playing games and extend their PC skills but have just hinted is may INVOLVE an office.

Now that the OP has responded and confirmed they want to work in an office then yes, they need a book called 'Teach yourself MS Office in 24 hours' and ignore anything to do with java/sql/oracle/php/sap and earning £500 a day - :)
 
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