Category: Development and Training

We’ve all seen the emails and news stories and heard the horror stories from friends and co-workers, but are you doing enough to protect yourself online?

• If you have a smartphone, it IS a computer and should be protected like one.  All users of smartphones should have unique passwords (not 1234), regularly run an anti-virus program, and enable anti-theft precautions.  Visit the AppStore,  Google Play or Windows Apps (depending on your platform) for options.
• Keep your operating system updated.
• NEVER share your passwords.  No legitimate company will ever ask for your password by email or phone.
• Don’t open email attachments you were not expecting or from unknown sources.
• Don’t click on advertisements in web pages.  If you are interested in something mentioned in an ad, go directly to the company website.
• If you are prompted to update a program, be sure the update is legitimate.  Go to the vendor website or open the program on your computer to do the update.
• Review statements for credit cards and any accounts you manage online and alert the provider of any anomalies.

For more information, visit tech.msu.edu/secureIT 0r October’s tech blog article Our Shared Responsibility.

Building a professional network, staying up-to-date on the latest industry news and creating an engaging social media profile can help propel your career forward. HRD Facilitator Chuck Folino offers tips for utilizing the social media network “LinkedIn” to your advantage. Check out the video here.

Violence can happen at any moment. It’s important to be prepared for any danger that may present itself. Watch this video by MSU Police Officer and HRD facilitator Ken Zimmerman, and learn tips for dealing with violence in the workplace.

To view the course description and upcoming dates for the Recognizing and Preventing Violence in the Workplace course, visit the OED website.

If you use university systems like EBS or SIS frequently, your MSU NetID login is pretty familiar to you. What if the only time you use it is to update your Benefits during open enrollment? Will you remember the password? If not, you’ll need the PIN that was issued with your NetID or you’ll need to request a new one. You can do that at netid.msu.edu. Benefits Open Enrollment starts October 1, so be sure you are prepared.

The NetID home page is also where you can reset your password and learn more about what you can access using your MSU NetID. For example; did you know that as an employee you have access to library resources, wireless internet pretty much anywhere on campus, and the AFS file system where you can have a personal web page or shared file space where you control the access? For more information about using your AFS space, see our blog posts A Guide to Your AFS Space- Part One and A Guide to Your AFS Space – Part Two. Your MSU NetID also gives you access to Google Apps for Education Edition. Using the Google tools you can create a calendar to share schedules and events with others, use Google Drive and Docs for sharing documents and presentations, and Google Sites for web content.

The following article is provided courtesy of HRD facilitator Jackie McCarroll of McCarroll Associates.

Punctuation provides road signs to guide readers through your content. Unfortunately, writers frequently misuse commas. By applying the Five Comma Pointers, you will improve your readers’ understanding and demonstrate professionalism.

Five Comma Pointers

Insert commas to indicate a brief pause. Use them to separate:

1. Introductory Words

Example: Before they registered students, administrators tested the new processContinue Reading… Punctuation Pointers: Comma Use

Most of us have no idea how vulnerable we are on our smartphones. We keep our firewalls and virus protection up-to-date on our computers but many may not even think about it on a phone. Our phones are very compact computers now and require the same safeguards as a computer.

The simplest step is to add a passcode that only you know. Most phones will allow you to set a password or ‘swipe’ pattern that you use to unlock your phone.  Make the passcode or swipe pattern hard to guess, meaning no simple shapes, birthdays, addresses or anniversaries that can be connected to you. You’ll find these options under Settings on most phones.Continue Reading… How Secure is Your Smartphone?

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” Henry Ford

Teamwork is a necessary part of the workplace. Tenacity, energy and assertiveness are some of the key components for creating successful teams. Watch this video by HRD facilitator Rosemary Ward and learn the four essential elements of effective teamwork.

Join in group discussions, walk away with new ideas and enhance your skills this summer by enrolling in one of several upcoming HRD course offerings.