Support OpenOffice: Add it to Your Resume
For a long time I’ve been listing OpenOffice.org as a software application among those on my resume. I figure those who don’t know it will ignore it, while those who are aware of open source will be excited and consider it a standout feature (not necessarily that I know how to use it, since it’s pretty easy, but that I’m proud and brave enough to call attention to it).
No longer am I so unique though. More and more friends and coworkers are also adding OpenOffice.org as a point on their resumes. Two have mentioned it to me in the past few weeks! And as more people make note of it, employers will start to pay attention as well.
I’ve recently seen it from the other side, too: At my day job, we received an application for a sysadmin who listed OpenOffice.org (he called it “Open Office,” but I’ll let that slide) as a part of his software arsenal. This stood out to me and with his other positive attributes, I lobbied for the candidate! (The process is still ongoing, so hush!)
If you know or use OOo, you can promote yourself and subtly promote open source and open data formats at the same time. The process could not be simpler: just mention your knowledge of OpenOffice on your resume or CV! You’ll look smart, differentiate yourself from other candidates, and maybe even find a more comfortable, open source-friendly work environment at the same time.
May 6th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
hi Ben,
Thanks for this little digital tipping point. The fact that you have now been on both sides of including OOo on your resume is one more little pebble on the scales in favor of a market swing to Free Open Source Software. Since 2003, I have been shooting, editing and loading footage onto the Internet Archive’s Digital Tipping Point Video Archive (IA DTP VC) to tell exactly this kind of story. I would be really pleased if you would just tell this story to your cell phone, and send me the cell phone video, or tell it to your handheld DVcam and send me the compressed file.
Same for others reading Ben’s blog. The story of the global migration to Free Open Source Software is a big story with a thousand subplots. We want to make it so that everyone who wants to create a video short telling their story can have access to broadcast quality interviews with leaders in politics, business and software development telling their story about how Free Open Source Software is changing their lives in ways big and small.
For example, just this Thursday, I interviewed YouTube celebrity Caitlin Hill, whose channel is TheHill88. Only about 9 months ago, in August 2006, she began video blogging on YouTube using simple tools. She now has had millions of views. She has been using Windows, and now a Mac, but YouTube itself runs on GNU Linux. The world is changing very rapidly, and it’s lots and lots of fun. It’s more community oriented. More participatory. Less bigotted. It’s multilingual. And it’s happening everywhere in the world. The US is no longer the center of everything. (Maybe it never was. Maybe we just imagined it was). So this cool little story is just one part of a very, very huge trend.
May 7th, 2007 at 11:38 am
hi there
in simple way and words I just want to say if He/She wants to learn from A-z about how to create a good and interactive slides,charts….etc don’t hesitate to began with open office , I was haven’t any idea about it but , I download it and start using it and in just three days I was an advanced user so I recommend this amazing software for all .
May 9th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Does your book cover the topic of using the mail merge functionality with calc or base to send emails to multiple receipients (one email document to one email address at a time i.e. no multiple email addresses in the “to:” field) instead of printing?
Thanks
May 9th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Jean-Claude,
My book, unfortunately, is a bit old these days: I wrote it during the time of OpenOffice 1.1, and the current version is 2.2, with 2.3 right around the corner. Mail merge functionality has changed a great deal since then.
For the latest OOo, I recommend Solveig Haugland’s OpenOffice.org 2 Guidebook, which you can buy at the best rate directly from her.
January 5th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Yes, I agree. Whenever you can call attention to your unique capabilities on a CV or resume. Do it. I have always been a champion of the open source concept. I am still an avid Wordperfect devotee. But MS saw to its demise. Refer to the CEO of Wordperfect book online of his fight to survive MS. I teach English as second language Academic English to International students at Vietnam’s National University.VN is solidly intrenched with Microsoft Windows XP and Vista. As the copyright noose gets tighter, businesses and individuals in VN will have to pay for a full license copy of their software or pay the fines. Or, adopt opensource packages like Open Office. I have used Star Office from the beginning. I promote it to my students. I am excited about the future of OOo.
September 19th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
As a retired high school teacher and new small business owner I rely on OOo heavily.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Hi All,
I will introduce the office open org to my community at large in general and to my co workers, and the compony I work.