MOUS CERTIFICATION

[WAZ115]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Intel

I AM INTERESTED IN TAKING THE MOUS CERTIFICATION EXAM. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS EVERYWHERE I GO THERE IS ONLY MS 2003 EXAMS. I AM NOW USING 08. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

 

[CyberTaz]

There is no MOUS certification specific to Mac Office.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

My suggestion is "Avoid MOUS Certification like the plague."

I use it as a "Reason to NOT hire" because I know that anyone who claims to
have it does not know enough to use Microsoft Office properly in a corporate
setting.

I also know that they have been taught the wrong techniques, and it will
take me a year of re-training before they can safely work on complex
documents.

Cheers

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Intel

I AM INTERESTED IN TAKING THE MOUS CERTIFICATION EXAM. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS
EVERYWHERE I GO THERE IS ONLY MS 2003 EXAMS. I AM NOW USING 08. ANY
SUGGESTIONS?

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

I resent that! [snarled the nasty Master MOUS in the corner.]

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[WAZ115]

that is crazy. someone who takes and passes the MOUS certification exam has to have some valuable knowledge. I want to take it so I can add it to my resume. I am trying to start a one man word processing business. I figure with that on my resume I will be able to get a lot of attention.

 

[CyberTaz]

Don't mind John - he occasionally has a tendency to overstate a point

Quite honestly, the MOS certification (I believe they've dropped the "U")
doesn't really carry as much weight as one might expect, but it's hardly the
kiss of death [unless you attempt to solicit work for Mr. McGhie ]. It's
main advantage is that it implies that you have taken the "extra step" to
obtain the certification. Most firms, however, don't award contracts based
on credentials so much as they do on references & exemplars.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

Sadly, as Bob says, I am a little forthright.

However, I have my own company and I consult to large corporations on
documentation.

Which means I occasionally have a requirement to hire a word-processing
business. And I can tell you that if I saw MOUS (or MOS) on your resume, I
would not hire you, because I would know two things:

1) You have been taught incorrect techniques which make documents that
cannot be used in a professional setting.

2) You have not since learned enough to know that.

So: Sorry, you still get no work from me if you have that on your resume.

On the other hand, if you walk into my office with a folder under your arm
containing some attractively-laid-out and precisely formatted sample
documents, and a CD ROM containing the originals (so I can see how you made
them) THEN we will talk.

THEN, I will look at the coding of your originals. If it's good industry
practice: if the use of styles and lists and numbering and tables is good
and correct -- if the headers and footers all work, and the double-sided
documents all print on the correct pages, if the spelling languages are all
correct (and there's more than one!), if the Table of Contents and Index
work and are correct -- if the use of fields and captions and dates is
correct...

THEN you'll be getting work from me

Sadly, you won't learn how to do ANY of that on a MOUS (or MOS) course!

Cheers

that is crazy. someone who takes and passes the MOUS certification exam has to
have some valuable knowledge. I want to take it so I can add it to my resume.
I am trying to start a one man word processing business. I figure with that on
my resume I will be able to get a lot of attention.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[WAZ115]

Thanks for the feedback, i is very helpful. If I learned everything you mentioned; the styles, lists, numbering, tables, headers and footers, double sided documents, spelling languages, table of contents and index that could be a starting point to being a successful word processor?

What about starting a word processing business. Surprisingly I do not see a lot of them in the yellow pages. I see more word processing businesses on line. I am sure it is a tough market since word is such a popular program to use.

 

[John McGhie]

Well: I would pay you $90.00 an hour

That's if you knew them WELL At that level, "using" them is not enough.
You have to be able to "make them".

Actually, to get that kind of money, I would expect you to know VBA and
AppleScript as well. But I would pay you $75.00 without it.

No, you will not find very many "Word Processing" businesses in the Yellow
Pages any longer. They are the old "Typing Bureau" operations, and no-one
needs that any longer. Most of Generation X can use a keyboard, and all of
Gen Y can actually type. With their thumbs...

What you will find is "Technical Writing", "Pre-Publishing", "Graphics
Design", "Desktop Publish", "Typesetting" and "Layout". Same thing, but the
more technical aspects of the game.

No business will pay $120 an hour (by the time I put my modest margin on
top...) to have you sit there pounding a keyboard. They can do that
themselves.

But they will hire me (or YOU...) to get a 5,230-page document in colour
direct to press from Microsoft Word ON TIME. The last one I handled like
that was a tender bidding for 500 million worth of business. Tenders have a
deadline. You miss the deadline by 60 seconds, and your bid is not
considered. At all. Do not pass "Go". Go home

Companies will cheerfully pay more than $120 an hour for someone who can
guarantee to meet that deadline. But it's a "no prisoners" game. If you
are 13 minutes from the deadline and your file corrupts, your competitors
will find out if you REALLY know the game

Cheers

Thanks for the feedback, i is very helpful. If I learned everything you
mentioned; the styles, lists, numbering, tables, headers and footers, double
sided documents, spelling languages, table of contents and index that could be
a starting point to being a successful word processor?

What about starting a word processing business. Surprisingly I do not see a
lot of them in the yellow pages. I see more word processing businesses on
line. I am sure it is a tough market since word is such a popular program to
use.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[WAZ115]

When you say make them, you do not mean make in a software sense, you mean make them on a word page where it is visible to the reader?

Would it be alright if i sent you some stuff and you critique it and let me know what skills I am lacking? I really want to get into this. I always have. Just did not know how.

 

[WAZ115]

Everyday I am reading new stuff about office 08. I am reading about the word feature, excel and powerpoint feature. The word help on office 08 is excellent. It breaks the topics down and has a sheet to use as an example. All the things you mentioned I will look them up and try to make them on a word page.

 

[Phillip Jones]

Since I was born in 49 I guess that make be Generation W or maybe even V
.. I can do a mean Hunt and Peck. Some times I use the right sounding
word but with the wrong spell for the context though and sometimes I
leave out words that I've looked at and proofed several times and looks
right in my minds eye. But look all wrong when sent by email.

Sometimes I wonder if a gremlin grabs hold of the message while in
transit, just to make me look bad. :-(

Well: I would pay you $90.00 an hour

That's if you knew them WELL At that level, "using" them is not enough.
You have to be able to "make them".

Actually, to get that kind of money, I would expect you to know VBA and
AppleScript as well. But I would pay you $75.00 without it.

No, you will not find very many "Word Processing" businesses in the Yellow
Pages any longer. They are the old "Typing Bureau" operations, and no-one
needs that any longer. Most of Generation X can use a keyboard, and all of
Gen Y can actually type. With their thumbs...

What you will find is "Technical Writing", "Pre-Publishing", "Graphics
Design", "Desktop Publish", "Typesetting" and "Layout". Same thing, but the
more technical aspects of the game.

No business will pay $120 an hour (by the time I put my modest margin on
top...) to have you sit there pounding a keyboard. They can do that
themselves.

But they will hire me (or YOU...) to get a 5,230-page document in colour
direct to press from Microsoft Word ON TIME. The last one I handled like
that was a tender bidding for 500 million worth of business. Tenders have a
deadline. You miss the deadline by 60 seconds, and your bid is not
considered. At all. Do not pass "Go". Go home

Companies will cheerfully pay more than $120 an hour for someone who can
guarantee to meet that deadline. But it's a "no prisoners" game. If you
are 13 minutes from the deadline and your file corrupts, your competitors
will find out if you REALLY know the game

Cheers

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip M. Jones, CET |LIFE MEMBER: VPEA ETA-I, NESDA, ISCET, Sterling
616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

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<http://www.vpea.org>

 

[John McGhie]

Sorry: I do indeed use "make them" in a software sense.

Knowing which styles to use where is the first step. That's one of the
skills you will need to become a Technical Writer or Proof Editor.

Knowing how to create a set of styles and get them all matching,
complementary, and consistent is what I am talking about. Creating the
styles, assigning all of their properties, and managing inheritance
throughout the set.

That is part of the skill that turns you into a Document Designer, Graphic
Designer or Production Editor. Of course, defining styles and macros is
only a small part of the game, but it's crucial: you won't get the big jobs
without being able to do these things rapidly and professionally.

Maybe I should shatter one illusion immediately: you will need five to ten
years working for a demanding production editor in a large and professional
team before you really have the polished and rounded skill set that sells
well Start looking for jobs that will get you onto such a team. You
can't "really" learn this game on your own.

I should warn you that I "charge" for replying to emails That's new
business, and I charge industry rates for it.

If you want to learn this game, you hang around in here, keep reading the
help, trying things and asking questions. We (the collection of grizzled
grumpy old men who hang around in this forum) have several hundred years of
experience earning a buck in this industry. In here, it's all yours without
charge: simply for the price of asking the questions.

You just need to realise that we do this as a hobby after work, in an
attempt to put something back in to the industry that has given us so much
(grief, usually, but I don't want to shatter your illusions...). Once you
start sending direct emails you are taking up our business time, and will be
charged accordingly.

Hope that helps

When you say make them, you do not mean make in a software sense, you mean
make them on a word page where it is visible to the reader?

Would it be alright if i sent you some stuff and you critique it and let me
know what skills I am lacking? I really want to get into this. I always have.
Just did not know how.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[WAZ115]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate your feedback and honesty. I will continue to read and try new things. ask questions and learn all I can. I still hope to be a freelance word processor someday. Typing documents, resumes, brochures or whatever for people or companies.

 

[John McGhie]

And we are equally determined to help you do just that. That's what we're
here for

Start by reading (and thinking about!!) this:
http://www.mbwest.com/Rants-structured.htm

And this:
http://www.keycontent.org/tiki-index.php?page=Topic-based+structured+writing
%3AThe+Key+to+Component+Content+Management

Then this:
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/CreateATemplatePart1.htm

And this:
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/CreateATemplatePart2.htm

You will find the Internet is awash with people clamouring to have Word
changed to be "more like something else" that they know how to use. Word is
the best word-processor in the world (well Mac Word isn't, but it will catch
up eventually...). If they were to change Word, they might produce a piece
of software that some people would find "easier" to use, for simplistic
documents. But they would utterly wreck it for the rest of us, who have to
do serious documents for a living.

Concentrate on getting a sense of the structure of a document. Success with
"Word as a business" depends on fast, correct, repeatable results. You
won't achieve those without a good understanding of the Word Document Object
Model (we'll get to that...).

But first, you must understand the components of a document and the
relationship between them. Because the way Word is built, and the way it
works, is modelled on the structure of a document. If the structure of the
document is wrong, Word will fight you every step of the way (and you will
not win...!)

Yes, you can produce a one- or two-page throw-away document for a school
project or a letter to Mom, sling some text and graphics into it, and get it
to hang together long enough to print it.

But that's not what your clients will pay for. As the document heads north
of 50 pages, all those "shortcuts" you took because you "didn't have time to
learn all that stuff" start to turn into very long cuts. By the time you
are North of a thousand pages, you simply cannot continue. The document
will fail, and with it, your chances of getting paid

So: Let's study structure. Once you get the hang of structure, the rest of
it will just naturally fall into place for you.

Hope this helps

Thanks a lot. I appreciate your feedback and honesty. I will continue to read
and try new things. ask questions and learn all I can. I still hope to be a
freelance word processor someday. Typing documents, resumes, brochures or
whatever for people or companies.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[WAZ115]

It really does help. Everything you posted has helped. I will look at the links you posted and study the structure of word projects. Are you serious when you say some people want a 5 to 100 page document done? can word go that length of pages.

 

[CyberTaz]

I've seen any number of Word docs whose front & back matter alone exceeded
100 pages, IOW, additional to the main body content. There's no physical
limit on the number of pages in a Word doc - they can go into thousands of
pages *if* they're properly constructed.

Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[CyberTaz]

Thought I'd better amend my last post a bit before someone else jumps down
my throat I believe there is a top end of some thing like 3,000 or so
pages in a Word doc... I just have a tendency to hyperbolize for effect now
& again ;-)

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[WAZ115]

Cybertaz thanks for the feedback. Do you have any suggestions for me regarding learning word, trying to become a freelance word processor and trying to start my own business?

 

[CyberTaz]

John has already given you more than enough to digest The only thing I
can add - actually, reword - is that business isn't going to come to you nor
will it be easy to obtain. Both circumstances revolve around the same key
points, which are that most companies don't realize how badly they need such
a service & those who do are faithful to their current provider if they're
at all satisfied.

Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac