I just heard from another Excel user who’s out of a job. This set me to thinking — again — about ways that I could help. Here are three issues that I’ve been wrestling with:
First, many Excel users with great professional knowledge are looking for work. But for many reasons, it’s difficult for business professionals to market themselves to employers. I know; I’ve been there.
Second, because I’m so busy with my web site I don’t have time to help companies set up custom Excel dashboards. So I’m turning down work. When I do so, people usually ask if I can recommend someone else to help them, but I haven’t known anyone I could recommend.
Third, I’m looking for new dashboard examples and new ways to promote ExcelUser.com.
I think I’ve finally found a way that I can help. Here it is:
Send me working versions of one or more of your own Excel dashboards, and I’ll post them at ExcelUser, along with professional information about you…for free. I’ll also blog about the sample dashboards at times, when I find ones that I think are particularly interesting. Those posts and blogs will introduce your work to an international audience, and — I hope — improve your chance of getting full- or part-time work.
When you send me your dashboard workbook(s) include:
- Your current or desired job title.
- The industry in which you feel most competent.
- A short paragraph about your professional experience and qualifications.
- The operating department, sector, and industry for which your dashboard report applies. (See http://biz.yahoo.com/p/ for information about sectors and industries.)
- A short paragraph about the dashboard…why you created it, what people thought about it, how it benefited your company, etc.
- Your city, state, and country.
- Your email address. (I’ll post it in a way that will reduce most spam, but allow potential employers to contact you directly.)
- Whether you’re looking for full-time, part-time, or both types of work.
I’ll post an image of your dashboard report as is, so please disguise its information if the data is from a real company. Change the company’s name, product names, and other names that would identify the company.
Also disguise real data in the report. DON’T disguise the numbers by replacing the real numbers with a single value. Those constant values will make your dashboard look artificial. Instead, scale the actual numbers by a random value. To do so:
- Enter a random decimal number in a cell, something like: .8305, or 1.386, or .39, or whatever.
- Copy the cell that contains the random value.
- Select the cells with the raw data you want to disguise. (Be sure to select values, not formulas.)
- Use the Paste Special dialog to multiply the selected cells by the copied cell that contains the random number. (In Classic Excel, choose Edit, Paste Special, Multiply. In New Excel, choose Home, Clipboard, Paste, Paste Special, Multiply.)
- After you’ve disguised all the real numbers, erase the random number.
Depending on which product you’ve purchased, your dashboard will appeal to potential employers in at least two ways.
If you’ve purchased IncSight DB (PNP2) or IncSight PNP (PNP1), your dashboard probably will look like other dashboards that people will send me. However, the department and industry for which you created your dashboards probably will be unique. Potential employers in your industry will be more interested in your dashboards than they will about dashboards created for other industries.
Additionally, if you’ve read Dashboard Reporting With Excel, you have the knowledge to create your own dashboards from scratch. This will make your work stand out. Even so, also be sure that the metrics used in your dashboard demonstrate your professional knowledge.
Here’s the fine print…
- I’ll only post dashboards created by ExcelUser customers.
- I won’t post dashboards that have obvious problems with quality.
- I reserve the right to remove dashboards for any reason (but I hope I’ll never need to do that).
- I don’t have the time to correct your grammar and spelling. So make sure it’s correct.
- I’ll be happy to post more than one dashboard example from anyone.
- After the sample dashboards are posted, the sample workbooks become the property of ExcelUser.com.
In exchange for posting your dashboards and information, here’s all I ask:
- When a company hires you to help them with their Excel dashboards, please make sure they’ve purchased one of my products.
- Please tell other Excel users about this offer.
- When you get a job because I posted your information at ExcelUser, please let me know.
The sooner you send me your sample dashboard reports, the sooner your information will be online. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
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