InsideTech

Excel is one of those programs that's perfectly harmless and easy - until you accidentally hit enter and erase all the data you just spent the entire day creating. We've put together this simple list of tips that will help anyone starting out to use Excel. #1: Make a Spreadsheet into a PDF>> [page] 1. Create a PDF with Excel You ...

Ah, Thanksgiving — a time for family, friends, tradition, and most importantly, deliciously indulgent comfort food. From dinner rolls to stuffing to mashed potatoes and gravy, Americans look forward to this holiday as the quintessential day to feast with no remorse and certainly no counting calories! But did you know that the average Thanksgiving meal will set you back anywhere ...

A lot has been written about the revolutionary impact of Twitter: how it's changed the way we communicate, how it's connected us to one another and how it's increased transparency in everything we do. But as much as people love Twitter, there's growing concern about other impacts the social networking tool is having, especially when it comes to workplace productivity. ...

With recession looming—or underway, depending on who you ask—corporate budget managers are battening down the hatches when it comes to expenses. One of the areas where spending is stingiest is employee raises; last year's average increase of 3.5% may look like a bonanza from the perspective of 2008, when many companies are likely to be giving raises of 2% or less. ...

No matter where a meeting takes place, it is still a meeting. If a potential client decides to interview you over a meal at a restaurant, your table manners must be up to par. The following etiquette guidelines will help get you through your next dinner interview. Long before you enter the restaurant, make sure you turn off your cell phone ...

What's the difference between the rising star whose career is picking up speed and his counterpart who can't seem to get the engine to turn over? Often, the star has mastered the nuances of business etiquette - the subtle but critical behaviors that can make or break an important meeting, influence a first impression or impress a potential client. According to ...

Introductions The proper way to make an introduction is to introduce a lower-ranking person to a higher-ranking person. For example, if your CEO is Mrs. Jones and you are introducing administrative assistant Jane Smith to her, the correct introduction would be "Mrs. Jones, I'd like you to meet Jane Smith." If you forget a person's name while making an introduction, don't ...

Someone you know just lost their job. Yikes. You want to be supportive. You want to help them see the positive side of their misfortune. You want to buy them a drink. And you should! But please, tread carefully. The time directly following a layoff is a delicate one. Your friend will want your help, but they may not be ...

If you have to be stuck at your desk all day, you might as well make it fun. From the totally useful to the completely random, there’s no end to the gadgets that can perk up your work day. Here’s our collection of the greatest office gadgets of all time!           Laser Trip Wire Fruit-Powered Clock USB ...

Even if you absolutely love your job you probably need a little mini-vacation from the office from time to time. You really, really could use a day off? Need a little bit of time to yourself for some much-needed rest and relaxation? Can’t bring yourself to be honest about it to your boss? Don't worry, we totally understand. It's important to ...

1. A Closed Body Whether sitting or standing, your body should be loose and open. Do not cross your arms. Do not cross your legs. While you may think it conveys a sense of ease, studies have shown that a people read a closed body differently: they subconsciously think you have something to hide. What's more, you're missing a golden ...

Along with paychecks, deadlines, and overtime, bosses are one of the things you just can’t avoid in the workplace. But how to identify these strange characters and deal with them? Don’t go it alone — it’s a jungle out there. We show you how! [page] The Robot Distinguishing characteristics: An empty desk, no family pictures. What they do: All business, all ...

How much does it cost your company every time your network or your website goes down? Probably not as much as the millions per minute Amazon has on the table if it's down for any real chunk of time. Global enterprises like Google and Amazon are the overclocked gaming PCs of the IT world--very few people need a machine on that ...

Whether you are a first-time job-seeker or you’re a veteran employee, it's important that you are cautious and thoughtful as you try to land your ideal job. There’s more to a successful job search than ironing your best suit and printing out extra resumes. Today's IT companies are looking for the best of the best; one typo on your resume or ...

What's the best way to make sure your department doesn't get hit hard by tough times--recession-based or otherwise? How about making it obvious how indispensable you all are? Sure, you could try the whole "take down the network, then stage a sick-out" routine, but that's probably not the most constructive way to get your point across. Here, then, are a few ...

Professional writers often worry that their work is unnecessary. After all, can't anyone with even a basic education write? The answer: no, they can't. Even college graduates don't seem to be learning composition basics. Of course not everyone is going to be the next Mark Twain, but career success does depend on not looking stupid. Sure, some clients, coworkers, or resume ...

From clueless users to missing project requirements to misdirected tech support requests, we've all experienced these IT industry pet peeves. And how you manage them (or avoid them) can be the key to advancing your career. Here's how to deal with some of the worst offenders. The Requirements Slow-Roll Peeve: So you're working on a big project, building a new system ...

It’s becoming harder to stand out from the growing pile of resumes in today’s tough job market. If you’re unemployed, consider learning a new skill to gain an advantage. “First, look at your strengths to see how those might cross over into other fields or careers,” says Diane Brennan, an Arizona-based career consultant. “Then decide what other skills you need to ...

Every once in a while I’ll get a question from a reader, co-worker, or student about how to break into the leadership development field. The reality is, it’s not really an entry level profession, and there’s no one right way to get there. The leadership development profession includes trainers, coaches, HR generalists, managers, authors, speakers, preachers, and every combination of ...

Whether built into your product, rented from a third party, or installed via open-source, Web apps and protocols are becoming more and more a part of how we do business. Here are four you need to know about: BaseCamp These days anyone can build a wiki, but few can compare to BaseCamp -- one of the original Web 2.0 project management ...