I can't do it

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In order to develop some job skills (I’m currently unemployed), for Chistmas my dad bought me a huge book Word, Excel, Outlook, all the programs that I want to be good at and would benefit greatly from having on my budding resume. The thing is, he suggests/hopes that I will teach myself that great big book. He has done things like that himself, but I just don’t have his gift of tremendous discipline. He says I should devote hours every day to this book. I just can’t do that. But this big book is just sitting here and my dad has mentioned how I haven’t touched it yet. I would rather go somewhere and take a program rather then teach myself at home…but my dad things this is just a much better and much more affordable system.

Any suggestions? :confused:
 
When I was unemployed, at first I thought I could teach myself computer programs such as the ones you mention, simply by reading books. It didn’t work out, for two reasons.
  1. In order to learn a computer program, it REALLY helps to be sitting at a computer terminal with a knowledgeable instructor right there to help you if you happen to hit the wrong key or have a question about how a certain command works. Trying to memorize a computer program book without the hands-on experience of actually using the computer is like trying to learn how to swim or ride a bike just by reading about it.
  2. When I went on job interviews, absolutely no prospective employer was impressed by my self-study. What the employer wanted to see was actual training certificates proving that I had successfully taken courses in the computer programs that I’d be using on the job.
In fact, I can partly thank my Adobe Illustrator class for my current permanent position as a technical writer. During the interview, one of the graphics guys I now work with happily picked up and waved around my Adobe Illustrator certificate like a flag, grateful that I had some proveable experience with a tool I’d be called on to use as part of my job responsibilities, such that I wouldn’t need to run to him every five minutes asking for help.

Investing your money in taking computer classes is, in today’s job market, one of the best investments you can make if you want to be employable. Computer literacy is where it’s at.

~~ the phoenix
 
It may be tough to convince your Dad if he is the type of person who is good at self-teaching… but not everyone is good at learning that way. Such books can be valuable references but they usually aren’t the best way to learn something.

I worked as a software engineer on mainframes back in the stone ages but then took some time off to be a SAHM. I tried to do some reading at home to learn some more updated skills but it wasn’t until I actually HAD to do something on Microsoft Office programs that I was able to learn anything. I couldn’t mange to learn on my own

You might want to check with some of your local employment agencies. Some of the chains offer testing and some minimal training. Also, your local adult school or community college may have introductory computer skills courses. These are not terribly expensive and you may even earn one of those valulable certificates.
 
Do you have any community colleges around you? Community colleges often offer courses that allow you to learn stuff without it being too expensive. I would take a class or get a friend that knows what they are doing to teach you. Books are great if you have at least some background knowledge first. What kind of job do you want?
 
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Stylus:
but I just don’t have his gift of tremendous discipline. He says I should devote hours every day to this book. I just can’t do that.

Any suggestions? :confused:
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I am going to ingnore the minor issue of learing a program - others have answered it well.

Let’s get to the discipline part.

You don’t need tremendous discipline. You only need a little bit for the immediate here and now. and then a little bit for the next here and now. And then a little bit…

It is kind of like the issue of how you eat an elephant.

One bite at a time.

It is easy, all too easy, to get defeated by a hugh project, whether it is learning a hugh book, or the program the hugh book is about. You need to break it down into parts that you can deal with, and then deal with that part. Then the next part.

I don’t care if you read the book or not; I would probably agree that hands on may be the best way for many people.

So if you are unemployed, what are you doing about taking a class to learns omething? When are you going to start?

Don’t have the money to take the class? How about some menial part time job to get the money - and then spend it on the class, not a hamburger, or a beer, or a movie…
 
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ConcernCatholic:
What kind of job do you want?
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An office job would be fine. Typing, phones. If I knew everything in the big book, that would be awesome.
 
I recommend just playing around with those programs. As questions arise, look them up in the book! That is the best way to learn software, in my opinion. Best of luck!
 
Don’t let those books get you down. It is helpful to know all those programs but it is not essential. If you want an office job, the most important thing to know is word processing. Word is the most popular program but it is not the only one being used these days. As long as you are comfortable using a computer and willing to learn, you can probably get by. I went to grad school and still don’t know all there is to know about Excel. It is obvious that computers don’t scare you because you are posting to this forum. Focus on the skills you do have, not on the ones you don’t. Many employers will overlook missing skills if you have a good attitude and are willing to learn.
 
hello:

everyone posted such great replies,what i have to offer suffers by comparison.

first off we will address the programs and the book.in 1995 i had to have my elementary aged sons turn on a computer for me.I learned about computers while surfing the internet so to speak,chat rooms are a great place to learn all kinds of things within 6 months i was writing html ( by hand not a program) and also writing basic programs
I am 40 now so no i didnt get computers in school.
now i can write full blown websites,build a computer from the ground up and even write many different programs, my first computer was a 486 with a 700 MEG hard drive running win 95
so thats an option to your dilema I had downloaded various directions on the net on how to do things but would have never learned without all the help i got from people online…

Next you mentioned you are unemployed.
I am thinking the reason you mentioned this is it bugs you.
if this is the case quit letting it bug you.its really easy to fall into the i am a failure routine when you are unemployed, when you do go to a job interview you will show a “beaten type attitude”
instead of the “thats right i can do anything attitude” that they want to see,

As i tell my karate students and anyone else whom needs it said to them "cant is not a word and never gets anything done"

your new words to use are “having difficulties” because thats what this issue is difficulties…

that being said good luck and get some confidence in your system, look at everything you can do then expand, dont look at what you can not do YET
Code: 
 Peace 
       John
 
I can’t seem to learn techie stuff from books, i have to do it, I learned from the kind of programs that come with their own CD, with a book as reference, where you actually do the process being taught, in an organized lesson plan.
 
You can do it. Saying that “you can’t do it” is the first obstacle you must overcome. Set your mind to it and go!

Have faith in yourself and the rest will come naturally. 👍
 
Just ask your father if you can exchange the books and instead apply his gift to a class that will ramp you up. Just ask! Your father loves you and wants what’s best for you. Tell him you need instruction, not just the books.
 
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ConcernCatholic:
Do you have any community colleges around you? Community colleges often offer courses that allow you to learn stuff without it being too expensive. I would take a class or get a friend that knows what they are doing to teach you. Books are great if you have at least some background knowledge first. What kind of job do you want?
Click to expand...
I agree completely. Different people need to learn things by different methods. You need to give some thought on how you learn things the easiest. When I was training people, I felt they learned better if I had them sit in front of the computer and I would help them while they did the work. It seemed when someone tried to train me, they would always want me watch them do a particular task. It in one ear and out the other.

Regardless of how you learn these programs before you get a job, remember that the learning process has just begun. You will have a lot more to learn according to the routine of the company that hires you.

Good luck and prayers will be coming your way. 👍
 
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