Digital Resources

Introduction: By Will & Ryan

EquitableNet is committed to assisting more people with access to broadband internet. As the world continues expanding digitally, many younger people and those in more affluent areas have already developed solid computer and digital literacy. With more crucial activities like banking, sensitive data storage, and personal communication online, many who may not possess the same level of skills can be taken advantage of. According to a Kansas University report, senior citizens and minority communities are the most frequently targeted groups when it comes to phishing, identity theft, and other online scams. (Krings, 2020) Improving computer literacy and basic online safety skills can be the first line of defense when combating cyber crooks.

It is also important to know how to present oneself online. Writing up a biography or profile on a professional website such as LinkedIn and choosing an appropriate picture can be difficult. Education and resources, usually delivered online, can help people to improve digital etiquette and their personal, “virtual” brand. Through the use of EquitableNet’s resources, underserved communities will not only be able to build online skills and access educational content, but also put these skills to work by lowering barriers to job boards like Indeed.com, Monster, CareerBuilder and government postings.

Along with the job-hunting resources there are great resources for those who wish to further their education or add to their existing skills. YouTube has countless videos where very knowledgeable people explain concepts in very easy to understand ways, covering basically every topic imaginable. If the user has a Gmail login, videos can be saved to playlists to be easily accessible at any time. For resources that are more tailored to specific needs, Khan Academy is an online learning platform that is mostly STEM based, Duolingo is great for those who wish to learn a foreign language, and Better Explained is used to teach math concepts through quick tutorials. In addition to these resources many colleges and universities like Harvard and Yale, offer free online courses open to the public on a variety of topics.

Applicant Tracking Systems: By Will

Many companies of all sizes use software called an Applicant Tracking System, or ATS. ATS programs are human resources centered and allow the hiring company to use an algorithm to sift through hundreds, or even thousands of resumes for a particular job. The algorithm stores, scans, and assigns a score to each resume based on the hiring manager’s requirements or preferences for the role. ATS are widely used, with an estimated 98% of Fortune 500 companies using at least one of the programs to scan applicants. (Shields, 2021) So in short, the way an applicant’s resume is formatted, the use of key words and lists of skills, and job history will all be deciding factors in the process of moving on to an actual interview. This is a complicated process for even the most tech savvy. Please review some tips below, provided by JobScan, on how to succeed when an ATS is deciding your professional fate:

Tips To Beat The ATS (Provided By Jobscan): By Will

Carefully tailor your resume to the job description every single time you apply.
Optimize for ATS search and ranking algorithms by matching your resume keywords to the job description
Use both the long-form and acronym version of keywords (e.g. “Master of Business Administration (MBA)” or “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)”) for maximum searchability
Use a chronological or hybrid resume format (avoid the functional resume format)
Don’t use tables or columns as they often cause major parsing errors

Use a traditional resume font like Helvetica, Garamond, or Georgia
Don’t use headers or footers as the information might get lost or cause a parsing error
Use standard resume section headings like “Work Experience” rather than being cute or clever (“Where I’ve Been”)
Save your file as a .docx if possible (Shields, 2021)

Job Boards: By Will

Job Boards like Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder and even Craigslist have been mainstays in a job seeker’s handbook, and with good reason; they are tried and true methods that have helped millions get quality positions. But there are many lesser-known or new ways to find a job or career, listed below:

LinkedIn Job Search: There is no better place online than LinkedIn to see and be seen as a professional in today’s world. But have you checked out their job search function? It is intuitive, easy to use, and has listings of cool, top employers who are hiring right now. It is also a top networking tool, as many hiring managers post, and repost quality openings. Check it out and start building connections!
Directly On Employer’s Website: Many top companies have a “Careers” link at the top or bottom of their page, and you can usually apply easily from there. Top jobs are posted here, and it should be one of the first places you look if you have a target employer.
USAJOBS/GSA: The Federal Government is always hiring for a variety of jobs across the country, and with competitive pay and top-notch benefits, it is definitely worth a look.
Facebook Jobs: Facebook has launched a Jobs tab and has many different varieties of positions. It seems that most may lean towards entry level. If you already visit Facebook, or even if you don’t, the Jobs tab may have what you are looking for.
GlassDoor: Known primarily as a place to leave reviews for employers, GlassDoor has been putting a bigger focus on helping job-seekers find open positions. Even if you don’t apply on GlassDoor, be sure to check reviews on the jobs you do end up applying for.

Video Conferencing With Zoom: By Alan

Zoom is a software package that we all have heard about or used, at least once during the pandemic. Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing system that allows you to connect with others whether they are down the hall, or across the globe. Zoom has been key for companies that have moved their workforces online. During the pandemic, Zoom was used by organizations of all types, from big companies to sports teams. Given Zoom’s newfound importance in society, it is unfortunate that not everyone knows how to use Zoom. We have compiled a series of step-by-step guides on how to use zoom.

Intro To Zoom: By Alan

To start, you go to their website and click Sign Up. It's located at the top right in orange or it’s also in the middle of the screen. Once after you click on the Sign-Up button you will have two options. Option 1 sign up with your work/school email, Option 2 sign up with your personal email.

After you've Signed up you will have to check your email. In this step you will be receiving an email with a confirmation link. You will be clicking on the link, and this will automatically send you to the zoom website and you will have to sign in.

After you sign in you will be downloading zoom

If you are downloading zoom from your phone, you simply have to search zoom in either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once you have zoom downloaded on your device, you need to sign in to your free zoom account. Once you have done that, you are ready to make a meeting

Creating Zoom Meetings: By Alan

Browse to Zoom.us and Sign in to Your Account
Click Host A Meeting, and Set Your Video Options: Video On, Video Off, or ScreenShare Only

3. Set Options for Meeting Time and Security Level

4. After You Click Save, the Website will direct you to the Zoom App, and will provide a meeting link, which can be shared with your team

Creating A Zoom Meeting On Your Mobile Device: By Alan

Open The Zoom App
In meet and chat you will have to tap the schedule button
Set Up your meeting in a similar manner to our desktop instructions

Joining A Zoom Meeting: By Alan

Open Zoom
Click Join a Meeting
Enter The Meeting ID, provided by the meeting host
Enter the Provided Password, if prompted
Set Participant Video And Audio Settings

Recording A Zoom Meeting: By Alan

We all understand that sometimes it’s difficult to get everyone together at a certain time to meet. However, a plus of using zoom is that you can record the meeting so if one of your coworkers/ team members can’t attend the meeting, you can simply just record the meeting and he/she can watch it later. This function is also great for students that have to do group projects online, they can record their presentation without getting their team together in person. We are going to show you how to record on Zoom.

Start/ join the zoom meeting
In the Zoom toolbar you will see an Icon that says record and you will have to press it
After pressing record, you will have the option of recording on the computer or recording in the cloud. All the members of the meeting will be notified that the meeting is being recorded, Additionally, they will see “recording” in red in their screen
If you want to pause the recording you can by simply pressing “Pause/Stop recording” and press it again to resume recording. Once you're done recording you can press the “Pause/Stop recording” again and it will stop the recording.
Once you're done recording, Zoom will make the recording into MP4 format, and it will store it in the location of your choice.
Go to the location you choose to save your recording and share with the people that miss the meeting so they can view, or you can view it yourself.

Google Applications: By Ryan

The internet is full of incredible applications that can be useful for any range of activities ranging from job hunting, data storage, to gaming. Many of these services are free to use, only requiring a device that is connected to the internet to access and utilize. Google is the most relevant of these applications offering a wide variety of services like its search function, email, and data storage, all free of charge. Most people understand how to access and use Google search and maps as those are the most popular. However, there is much more to google than just those products. To access these products, one must only create an email and password, free of charge. Once this step is completed access to services like email, drive, and hangouts will be available. Drive is a cloud-based data storage service which gives its users 15 GB of free storage. Hangouts, or Chat, allows users to connect with people across the world through messages and video chats.

Google also provides free alternatives to Microsoft Office’s well-known products like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Google’s versions, Docs, Slides, and Sheets, which also become available upon set up of an email, provide a lot of the same functions without the price tag of Microsoft’s products. While working on projects with these services all progress can be saved on Drive, where it will be safe until the user is ready to resume. From there, the user is able to share these documents with friends and colleagues by embedding the link into an email.