FREE DESIRABLE SKILL TOOLS FOR YOUR RESUME
· Your resume is a tool that can help propel your career growth.
· It should be used to highlight your skills - in computers and languages - and the job context you want, rather than relating your past experience alone.
· Acquire these valuable skills, available for free on the Internet, to enrich your resume.
1. Excel
· Many job-seekers list Excel as one of their skills, even if they only have a mastery of the basics.
· Set aside some time to go beyond formulas and equations to learn some of its new features.
· These offer some essential ways to analyze a lot of info in the least amount of time.
· Learn about features like Excel's Pivot charts, Custom functions, Visual Basics for Applications, and more, through free tutorials which are abundant online.
2. Web Development (Java, HTML, SQL)
· Having knowledge of computer languages and Web development appeals to employers.
· Whether you're a new business graduate, or a seasoned professional, learning the basics will make you more relevant.
· Free tutorials from W3Schools.com, Code Academy
3. Adobe Creative Suite
· Practicing creative web tools is a great way to develop some basic graphic design skills.
· Adobe Creative Suite is very widely used for just this - you can choose your favorite application and begin learning.
· It includes various creative applications, including InDesign, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver - all programs that companies rely on to create engaging Web designs and layouts.
· You never know when you might be able to lend a hand in a new project that requires proficiency in using one of these apps.
· Start now by taking advantage of Adobe's How-To Channel, which hosts videos for beginners.
· Web 2.0 is centered on Google.
· The ability to track and analyze how Google ranks and organizes information can be invaluable both personally and professionally.
· Google Analytics can help job-seekers manage their online presence (LinkedIn profile, Twitter, personal website, etc.) to enhance their marketability to potential employers.
· To start, type "Google Analytics IQ Online Course" in Google and watch one of the training videos.
5. Foreign Language
· Learning a new language can open up a lot of doors for you as a professional.
· In fact, becoming fluent in a second language could even offer you the opportunity to work in another country.
· As formal language-learning courses can be costly, teach yourself at home by taking advantage of free online courses which are growing in popularity.
· If, for instance, you decide to learn Mandarin, check out MIT's OpenCourseWare.
· You'll find course material, audio demonstrations, study groups, and more for beginning to intermediate levels of Mandarin.