|
Join Our List
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
It's April. We begin with some prior month Madness. Then it's Fools Day, swing over to Tax Day. And of course it's snowing in April, which means it's the start of the baseball season.
We're 25% over one of the most difficult years that businesses have seen in a generation. And still I don't see the panicking.
Part of the reasons is partnering. As you can see by our monthly highlight, we partner with some great companies like DeVore Technologies. Both Sam and I on occasion train at DeVore, and some of our clients host their websites at DeVore's location. Good people.
As I attend events like NEOSA's networking events (NEOSA is part of COSE, but focused on IT), I speak with a lot of attendees. There's no question that we're facing challenging times. But there's also no question that everybody is working on partnerships, relationships.
Open to suggestions, companies (and individuals) are willing to consider being flexible for a customers needs more than they would otherwise.
But it's also important to know what your core product (whether it be a skill or actual product) is. We've had to say "no thanks" to a couple of projects because we the needs fell significantly outside of our expertise. Ok, the money might have been nice. But measure that against the dual vulnerability of a> the internal cost of developing the new expertise; and b> having our resources drained so we couldn't support our core customers appropriately.
So what do we do? We turn to partners. Like Cindy Dunn over at CCAD, who provides support to our clients using AutoCad.
Or Jody Morgan over at EIS Inc. They were able to provide services for a company that was looking for more specific support than we could supply for Microsoft's Business Contact Manager.
I still love the term I first heard coined by Phillipe Kahn (founder and former CEO of Borland). "Coopetition." Cooperation meets Competition.
|
| Microsoft Office 2007 - What's in it for You? |
|
| Simplex-IT's Monthly Lunchinar Series Continues...
Thank you to all who have joined us for our Lunchinars. It has been great getting to know you and your businesses!
Moving on to April, the next gathering will take place Wednesday, April 15 at 11:30a. Enjoy lunch with us, and forget that it's tax day!
This time we will feature guest speaker Jennifer Hughes, Manager of Training Operations, from DeVore Technologies who will present:
Microsoft Office 2007 - New Features and How You Can Benefit
Office 2007 provides a bit of a different 'view' and level of functionality to end users and Jen will be here to fill us in on Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Learn how to embrace Office 2007 and make it work for you!
Space is limited (10) so be sure to RSVP by contacting Julie at 234-380-1277.
We hope to see you there! Oh, and bring a business card to put into our door prize drawing! |
| An IT Professional's take on Job Security |
|
Sam here...
It's no secret that the economy is in bad shape, and that many people are getting laid off. The IT industry is not immune to this. A lot of people are worried about keeping their jobs and many have already lost theirs. The question people should be asking is 'how do I make myself an asset to my company'. To try and help answer this question, I've decided not to write about a technical subject this time around but to try and give my take on being a good employee and a true asset to the work place.
I do not feel uniquely qualified for the task of giving this advice, but I have had steady, solid work for the last twelve years, and much of it has been via repeat business or referrals. I like to think that I have achieved this from contributing my time and knowledge well, working hard and gaining respect. I have learned a few things along the way that may help in not only retaining your job, but excelling at it.
Be good at your job. I don't mean adequate, I don't mean "above average", I mean good. And it is my feeling that you cannot achieve goodness unless you are always striving for greatness. If you become satisfied then it is likely that you will become complacent.
If people don't immediately think of a job-well-done when your name comes up in conversation, then ask yourself what you're doing wrong - and you are doing something wrong.
With this said, how does one actually be good at their job? I'm glad you asked...read on.
Suck it up. Yeah, I hate punching down network terminations into a punch-down block too. But you know what? That's why they call it work and not hobby. Avoiding work is a good way to look (and be) lazy. If you're getting paid, and it's your job, then do it and don't whine about it.
Do you see a task that doesn't clearly fall into anyone's stated list of responsibilities? Why don't you go ahead and do it anyway? That's a good habit for several reasons. 1) Doing work that you may consider "beneath" you is humbling and keeps you grounded. 2) It reinforces the good work ethic that you want. 3) It sets you apart from the crowd. 4) It gets a job done that needed doing (which ultimately, should be reason enough). Yes, it's "extra" work - but really, is that the worst thing in life?
Don't give up. Sometimes problems or tasks can be really, really hard. Don't give up. There are tons of very helpful and very smart people on whom you can lean - you only have to know where to look. Plus, researching a problem until it's solved can be a wonderful learning experience, a confidence booster, and certainly a nice feather in your cap.
While it's true you cannot solve every problem, you can try. You've heard the phrase "It's the journey, not the destination". That's a nice axiom to have, but in the working world, it's more accurately represented this way: "The journey provides education, the destination provides employment." This brings me to my next item.
Know thy limitations. I just mentioned the value of giving things your best shot. The only caveat to this is if you have, for instance, a very specific deadline and you are sure that the project is beyond your ability at this time (again, never be satisfied with where you are now). You have to know what your limitations are, accept them, and rely on others with that skill-set if necessary. I've have had clients with IT departments call me up for specific implementations/projects that need to happen in two days. In these situations, it is unreasonable to expect the staff to ramp up on something brand new in such a short time, specifically if it is especially complex.
Work on your problem areas. Look, everyone cannot be good at everything. When you've spent some time being introspective and you have identified problem areas, then come up with a game plan to work on them. (Can't find a problem area? Ask a co-worker and be ready to not get angry or argumentative with them when they tell you what's up). Let's look at an example. I am very uncomfortable with public speaking. Before I began consulting, my modus operandi had always been to let my work speak for itself, and let others do the actual talking. This course of action was not only career limiting, but it was personally limiting. As a result of the choice to not improve upon this sooner, I had to turn down several opportunities that could have improved my career. Once I was able to accept that this had to be corrected, I ended up forcing myself to not only give proposals and presentations, but also to teach. I achieved the MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer) and began teaching Microsoft Official Curriculum. Obviously that was very hard for me, but was the right choice. Fixing something that is broken is always the right choice.
Be honest. Nobody is perfect and we all screw up. In my experience, a major key to success is to be honest about your mistakes and correct them as swiftly as possible. Don't blame or insinuate that others are responsible for your mistakes. Don't pass the buck. If you've discovered you've made an error, go to the appropriate person immediately, explain what happened, what your planned course of action is to correct it, and then apologize. An apology is worth absolutely nothing, in my book, unless action has been taken to correct the situation.
Contrariwise, do not take blame for something that truly is not your fault. This can be a slippery slope (as it can be seen as 'the blame game') but letting people push you around in the workplace will not help you. Capitulation in these instances rarely does anyone any good when it comes to peers.
Make yourself invaluable. This is an oft-used, rarely understood idiom. What this phrase does not mean is to be secretive about core job functions. Don't hold out on others about what you do or how you do it - that not only makes you seem dishonest and underhanded, it also makes you a liability. Rather, what this means is the aggregate of the items I've discussed thus far, plus a couple of personality traits you have to gain or maintain; Helpfulness, Friendliness, Patience, Empathy, and Diligence.
You need to be friendly and helpful at all times. I don't mean falsely sugary sweet, rather I mean genuinely care about other's experiences. If you're in IT and you don't care how people are doing, or how their computers perform, or whatever matters to them, then reconsider your career path. In truth, IT workers - specifically helpdesk - are essentially servants. Our job is to facilitate the jobs of others. We are there to keep things running smoothly, provide services that make work cheaper, or run faster, or better, or all three. You best care about those things or all the knowledge and skill in the world will not save your job in the long run.
Patience and Empathy are about "feeling the user's pain". One habit that IT people get into is thinking that users are stupid. What such people fail to understand is that for example, an accountant knows no more about IT best practices than an IT person does about balancing a General Ledger. The point is, one has to understand that people can be frustrated when they call you for help but this is your role and it should not be seen as an inconvenience, but an opportunity. It's an opportunity to patiently listen to their problem, empathize with the situation and then gently provide a solution without talking down or being mean. Essentially, you have the chance to make someone's day using your unique skills. Embrace this way of thinking!
Diligence is about taking responsibility for the problem and ensuring that it is corrected. For me, I take most problems that run across my desk personally, and it is serious business to get them handled. I don't like being left in a bind and I refuse to do that to anyone else if it is at all in my power to do otherwise. Not to mention, my reputation relies in part on the solution, and in part on the problem-solving. And then it gets back to those referrals....
Sam
|
| Julie's take on Certifications |
|
My background and interest in IT isn't from a technical perspective but rather a 'people' perspective. Having served as both an IT recruiter and the lead in a career development/placement program at a Microsoft training facility, I always keep my eyes and ears attuned to the happenings in hiring trends in Information Technology.
My recruiting role has provided opportunity to read and review my share of resumes. Quite frankly, they all tend to look the same after a while unless there is some saving grace - some defining characteristic that one has over the other. The one question I receive more now than ever before relates to the level of importance that hiring managers place on certifications versus degrees. Although I think the combination of certifications and a college degree is due adequate recognition, employers I have asked explain that certifications listed on a resume allow for a better definition of what a potential employee is all about, both in skill AND personality.
By nature, someone reviewing a resume is more apt to hone in on certifications (aka, industry-specific knowledge and training). Certifications represent a commitment to the industry...that one has the fortitude to push on and not become sedentary. Certifications represent a person as up-to-date on current trends and best practices. And, in a day and age where potentially hundreds of people are vying for the same job, they can also offer a hiring manager a peek at one's personality, gumption and dedication. Employers expect their staff to continue improving upon their skills. Their business, in part, depends on the talent that they keep, so efforts and commitment to improvement are extremely attractive, particularly in our brow-beaten employment situation.
Employers aren't single minded, however, in making their hiring decisions. Certifications can also speak on behalf of a candidate's alternate abilities and skills. Rachel Zupek, a CareerBuilder.com writer explains, "Designations polish all skill sets - not just the hard skills you might need in a position. In fact, 64% of employers in a recent CareerBuilder.com survey found social interview skills and the ability to communicate well to be the most important assets in a potential employee. Even if you already have a designation, employers expect workers to consistently improve their current skill sets."
Make sure that you represent yourself and your talent in a well-rounded and dedicated way. Too often, good people get comfortable in a job and lose their drive to learn and do more. When the time comes to revamp and redistribute a resume, they then realize that their skills are old or no longer of interest. People in any industry - from administration to manufacturing to IT can always benefit from taking one step further, and taking the time and making the effort to be one step ahead.
Stay well,
234-380-1277
|
| Nice to be Appreciated |
|
| Kudos to Sam
Here's an unsolicited email concerning the quality of service Sam recently gave to one of our customers:
"I wanted to let you know how helpful Sam has been. I don't know what his work schedule was for the weekend but I was completely impressed with how much time he spent helping me to be able to log on remotely to my desk top at work. It has been a long time since I have experienced someone as helpful and diligent as he has been the last 2 days. He is one amazing IT specialist close to genius, I suppose, but you probably already know just how great he is!"
|
| Cary talks about Office 2007 - the New View |
|
Okay, I know that the year is 2009, but many people I talk to are still using Office 2003. Some say they are scared of using "new" technology and are waiting for all the bugs to be worked out. For all of you out there that think this way let me assure you right now that OFFICE 2007 is a great product!
It IS NOT the same "office" that you are used to. The actual interface is radically different; HOWEVER, it's different in a very good way. For starters, there is no longer the menu bar with little icons that never change. That menu and toolbar has been replaced with is what Microsoft calls the "Ribbon".
This Ribbon is "Dynamic" rather than "Static". In other words, the "Ribbon" changes depending on what you are working on.
Here is what the new Word 2007 program looks like. The Ribbon is located on top of the screen:
This is a picture of JUST the ribbon:
You can see that the ribbon is on the "Home" tab (top left tab that says "Home") and it has many of the formatting icons for text that you may be used to seeing.
Say you want to insert a picture in your document. Simply go to the "Insert" tab of the ribbon and the "Ribbon" changes:
Now, instead of having the font editing tools, you see a list of icons of different things you can insert into the document. Some examples are; Picture, Clip Art, Symbols, etc... Once you insert a picture and click on it, the ribbon changes to the "Picture Tools Ribbon", which gives many options of what can be done with the image.
One nice advantage the ribbon has over the "traditional icons" is it instantly changes your document so that you can view in real time how that change will impact your document! Simply move your mouse over the "Ribbon" and your document changes. This increases the efficiency of using some of the advanced features in office.
I know that change is never easy, however, the learning curve of Office 2007 isn't that great, and Microsoft has improved the "help" functionality. As always, help is plentiful. Just click the F1 Key or hit the little question mark "?" that is located on the top right of the screen. Type what you are trying to do and Office tells you how to do it!
If you would like to know more about Office 2007 and its capabilities be sure to join us at our free lunchinar!! Contact Julie for more information. Cary |
| Microsoft Thrive event coming Soon! |
|
So, you wanna be a geek?
Bob here. I've been approached by Microsoft to help with a program they've developed for people looking to further their IT careers. They've put together a bunch of presentation materials for a program that talks about career development and management, improving your skills at stuff like virtualization, and aligning IT with business.
MS was looking for 50 areas throughout the country to stage these kind of events. These aren't huge launch events, they're not providing huge sums of money, giveaways (there'd be some, of course) or stage shows. This is pretty much just a transfer of knowledge to help folks make tough career choices.
I've found that there's a lot of interest in this event through using LinkedIn and other tools. I'm trying to put together two events. The first will be in Hudson later this month. The second is tentatively scheduled for June 13th in Cleveland.
There's no charge for these events, of course. But if you're interested, please let me know by sending me an email. Also, please spread the word to anyone else who might be interested.
I want to be clear. This event will not be a sales event, or a job fair. And it's aimed at entry level as well as experienced IT folks. |
| Want to find out about this stuff quicker? |
|
| Blog updates from Simplex-IT
Remember to check out our blogs:
www.Simplex-IT.com/BizBlog
|
| Big Easy...Third time's a charm! |
|
 Buy Microsoft software through us, get a check!
Microsoft has brought the Big Easy back. Simply put, if you buy your Microsoft Software through a Microsoft Partner (think...well, think about Simplex-IT!), not only will you get a good price, but in addition you'll get a check from Microsoft made out to us. You can use that check to pay for additional services! Check here for more about this program and others that Microsoft has. |
| Plain Funny #6 |
|
| Jon Stewart and "Twitter"
Bob here. I'm sure you all know about Twitter (me neither...well, not quite true). But I find it fascinating in both the usefulness and the incredibly banal uselessness.
And yeah, with the exception of one bleeped word, it's safe for work.
|
|
Simplex-IT Customer Spotlight
DeVore Technologies |
|
DeVore Technologies, Inc. is a Cleveland-based technology training and application development firm with over 17 years of experience in training, programming, application/web development, and IT staffing. DeVore combines unparalleled experience with comprehensive capabilities and collaborates with clients to help them access and utilize technology to improve business performance.
DeVore's expertise in training, consulting, and technology helps clients perform at the highest levels so they can create sustainable value for their customers and shareholders. Using industry knowledge, service-offering expertise, and technology capabilities, they identify new business and technology trends and help clients increase revenues, improve operational performance and ROI and deliver their products and services more effectively and efficiently.
Jennifer Hughes, DeVore's Manager of Training Operations explains, "We are proud to work with Simplex-IT on a variety of technology initiatives. The Simplex team pairs unmatched technical knowledge with a top-notch staff. DeVore has enjoyed a long-term partnership with the Simplex team - when our clients need high quality networking consultations and projects we turn to Simplex-IT."
Click here to visit DeVore's website |
| DeVore to Provide Free Computer Training to Unemployed |
|
DeVore Technologies, Inc. today announced a program to provide free hands-on computer training to Northeast Ohio's unemployed. The program will run from February thru April at DeVore's corporate headquarters located in Bedford, Ohio. DeVore will offer a modified schedule of courses specifically aimed at enhancing core business computing skills of the end-user. The number of people seeking unemployment benefits is at a 26-year high, and those recently laid off are finding they need broader and stronger skills in order to secure new jobs. Jennifer Hughes, Training Manager with DeVore, says "We view unexpected downtime resulting from layoffs as the opportunity to invest in professional development, enhance your basic technology skills and build your resume." She continues "Here in northeast Ohio we have a strong Healthcare and IT presence, two industries that continue to hire despite a downturn in the economy, and both require strong computer skills." The modified schedule is available for viewing online and classes will begin immediately based on class enrollment. DeVore is committed to supporting the Northeast Ohio business community during these challenging economic times. | |
We'd love to hear feedback about this! Send comments to Bob@Simplex-IT.com, or call us at 234.380.1277!
Sincerely,
Bob Coppedge
Simplex-IT LLC |
|
|
