Write Great Resumes Faster By Mastering Microsoft Word

I was talking with a resume writer recently who uses a software package to write her resumes. But one of the best things you can do to learn how to "Write Great Resumes Faster" is to become a master of Microsoft Word.

Learning how to use Microsoft Word more efficiently can help you complete routine functions faster. Learning how to use Word's "Style" function can simplify the formatting process. Learning how to use "track changes" can speed up the client approval process. Even something as simple as changing the default font when you open a new Word document can save you time -- time that adds up in every resume you write.

One "power" Word tip is to create a couple of "standardized" formats and layouts. Develop five or six formats you can use to guide your resume development. Starting a resume from a "template" (and by that, I mean a template YOU design, not one of the standard Microsoft Word resume templates) will help you structure your document creation because you're not starting entirely from a blank page. Think of them as "structured outlines" instead of templates.

Even if you've been using Word for more than 20 years like I have, you can always learn new tricks. Look for Microsoft Word training online. There are lots of free and paid courses on Udemy. Look for ones with good reviews and a healthy number (50+) of students who have taken the course. You can even look for free YouTube video trainings.

Looking for more ways to improve your speed and increase the effectiveness of the resumes you write? Check out "Write Great Resumes Faster."

Microsoft Word Webinar on Thursday

Would you like to learn tips and tricks geared specifically to resume writers to make your client resumes stand out from the pack? Would you like to learn how to make professional-looking forms for you and your clients? Would you like to finally learn how to unlock the mystery of "track changes?"

Resume Writers' Resource is offering a webinar, "Microsoft Magic I - Resume Writer Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Microsoft Word," conducted by Patricia Duckers. Patricia is an expert in MS Word and I promise you will be thrilled with the presentation she conducts for us!

The course includes not only the examples of these techniques in the webinar, but also a 36-page manual with screen shots and examples.

A complete description of the areas to be covered is below. The webinar will be held this Thursday, May 15, 2008, at 3 p.m. ET.

The cost for the webinar is $39 per person. Check the system requirements for your computer on the Resume Writers Resource website. (If you are a Mac user, like I am, you'll want to attend the webinar "live," as you must have Windows Media Player 9 to view the recorded webinar.) If you're a PC user and can't make the webinar, you can access the video and handouts afterwards.

Microsoft Word for Resume Writers

I was talking with an Omaha-based colleague today and we got on the topic of Microsoft Word, because (in addition to resumes), she's been working on a number of dissertations (formatting and editing) and she mentioned how she's used the WordTips forum that Don Orlando recommends to get answers on how to do things like footnotes in Word.

I told her that I had learned a bunch of new ideas from Rhonda Douglas-Charles' presentation on Microsoft Word last week, and I was looking forward to trying some of them out. Rhonda had offered to e-mail tips sheets for the specific version of Word you use, and I just finished taking an inventory of the number of Microsoft Word licenses I have around the office ... at least five that I know of. Yikes! (And since we're 100% Mac-based, they'll all Word versions for the Mac: Microsoft Word SE, Word 98, Word for OSX, and more....)

And then I just opened up Google News and saw that Microsoft is going to be offering a version of Word for the Web that will allow you to store and retrieve (but not edit) Word documents online. Google's getting into that business too. Wonder what that will mean for us resume writers. I'll let you know when I know!

Converting .docx Files

(This post is for you, Tessa!)

I was talking with a resume writing colleague today, and she suggested I write an article in Resume Writers' Digest about the new version of Microsoft Word (Word 2007) that creates the .docx files. Specifically, she was wondering if there was a converter for the Macintosh that would allow you to open the files. The answer is yes!

With the Office Open XML Converter, you can convert Office Open XML files to a format that is compatible with Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac and Microsoft Office v. X for Mac. You can choose to convert and open one file, or convert a large number of files. You might lose some data, but it's better than not being able to open the files at all.

Also, this is a beta release, and will expire Dec. 31, 2007, but Microsoft is expected to issue a permanent solution early in 2008.

If you are using a PC, you can download the Word Compatibility Pack to convert the files to be opened in an earlier version of Word.