Check out the video below to see how to use gadgets.

Enhance Your Windows Desktop With Gadgets

Adding gadgets is easy. To get to the Gadget Gallery in Windows 7*, right-click on the desktop and click “Gadgets.” Try dragging some of them to your desktop. Here are a few of the built-in gadgets that you might like to try:

• Clock - A customizable clock that can be set to any time zone
• Weather - Gives up-to-date weather information for your area
• Slide show - Plays a slide show of your images
• Feed Headlines - Displays the latest news headlines

Best of all, you can download more gadgets online for free. There are literally thousands of gadgets to choose from. To be honest, some are better than others, but luckily you can see other users’ ratings to see if a gadget is worth downloading.

Is there a limit to how many gadgets you can put on your desktop? Well, like any program, a gadget uses some of your computer’s processing power, so if you put too many on your desktop, your computer might slow down significantly. But a few gadgets probably won’t cause a noticeable difference, and you can always take some of them off if needed.

* To get to the Gadget Gallery in Vista, click the plus sign (+) at the top of the Sidebar. To add a gadget, double-click it. Then you can drag it from the Sidebar onto the desktop.

The new lessons include:

• Security and Maintenance with the Action Center - learn how to manage your security notifications and resolve maintenance issues with your computer.
• Managing User Accounts and Parental Controls - learn how to add user accounts in addition to setting up parental controls to manage your child’s access to computer use, games and programs.

We have also updated and added to our how-to videos for the topic and made a few updates to the lesson content.  Check out the new and improved Windows 7 tutorial and if you have any more comments we would be happy to hear from you.

Our new lessons address the following questions from job-seekers:

• Have you wondered how safe it is to post your resume online? We show you how to protect your identity and create a cyber-safe resume.
• Should you attach your resume in an email or include it in the message body? Our lessons will show you how to create a plain-text resume for online posting and emailing.
• Should I include a personal web page or my LinkedIn profile in my contact section? Our tips and strategies lesson will address the pros and cons of including online profiles on your resume.

In addition, you can craft your resume with helpful instruction from our easy-to-follow writing interactives.  We will take you through the process step-by-step and then you can practice on your own with a simple-to-use template.

Don’t forget to check out our new Resume Gallery for ideas on how you can create the perfect resume.  Visit our Resume Writing topic to get started.

What is Hulu? Hulu is a free video streaming website that allows you to watch full episodes of current TV shows.  You can also watch popular clips, full-length movies, classic TV shows, original web videos, news programs and more.

What’s cool about Hulu?

• Hulu subscriptions - you can organize your videos in a queue and watch them at your convenience. It will even email you when new episodes are added, so you never have to be disappointed by a rerun of your favorite show.
• Video sharing - Just saw a hilarious skit on The Daily Show or an amazing revelation on LOST that you would love to share with friends?  Hulu makes it amazingly simple to take a video or a clip of a great scene and share it via email or posting to Facebook, MySpace, etc.  It takes TV to a new level making it more interactive and fun.
• Channels - Hulu makes searching for content that will appeal to you easy by organizing it’s videos into channels such as Comedy, Science Fiction, Family, etc.  You can even watch news programs, sports and play video games.
• Collections - Take a new approach to TV by viewing collections like Sick Day Classics tv shows, Grammy Award’s Red Carpet videos or popular Sesame Street clips.

How does Hulu compare? Just like your cable’s DVR you can pause, rewind, forward and click on any part of a video.  Unfortunately, there are still commercials, but they are limited and sometimes you are given a choice about which one to watch.  There is also the fact that you are watching TV on your computer screen, but Hulu has several options for customizing your screen and with the right cables you can hook your computer into your TV.

So for more information on how you can ditch your cable and watch TV for free, go to the Hulu Product Tour and enjoy.

Please take a minute to answer our poll.  As soon as you’re done, you can view the results.

If you are interested in an internet topic that is not listed in the poll, leave us a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Take a look at the following two scenarios and think about which one you would be more willing to help:

1. Bob - “Even though I was the best programmer at my job, they still got rid of me.  The bills are piling up and if I don’t get a job soon I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
2. Jack - “Yes, I was part of a mass layoff, but it’s been a great opportunity for me to update some of my skills.  I’m now looking forward to finding a senior programming position.”

Bob sounds like a victim who is desperate and unsure, where as Jack sounds like he has made the best of the situation and knows exactly what he wants.  Bob may gain sympathy, but Jack is more likely to find success because he is confident in his ability and clear about what he is looking for.

Having the right attitude and mindset will make you feel better toward your job-hunt which will in turn help you portray a more optimistic and confident outlook when interacting with connections and pursuing opportunities.  To improve your mindset, think about the following:

• Finding a job takes longer then it use to. It takes on average five to eight months to get a job compared to three to six months in the past.  Prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the long haul to keep yourself from getting discouraged.

• Worrying will not help you. If your mind is set on all the negative paths that come with anxiety and worry then you are more likely to ignore and discount ideas and opportunities when they come along.

• New jobs are always available no matter what condition the economy is in. You simply need to figure out where these opportunities are and that can’t be done without an open and positive mindset.

• Know that you will need to use more than one job-hunting method. If all you do is send your resume to job postings, then you are severely limiting your possibilities.  Open your mind to more methods like networking and volunteering and you will see your opportunities increase.

• You have to be clear about what you want. Clarity produces confidence and makes it easier for people to help you.  Figure out exactly what you are looking for and then tell everybody you know.

Everyone knows how tough job-hunting can be, but that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable during the process.  Work on your mindset, live your life and the opportunities will present themselves.  For more help with job-hunting, visit our Job Search tutorial in Work and Career.

Since its beginnings in 2000, GCFLearnFree.org has been dedicated to providing quality, free, online learning opportunities to learners around the world. Over our history, we have offered a wide range of tutorials on basic math, money, career and computer training.  We have Online Classes where learners can have access to an instructor and can earn CEUs.  In addition, we have implemented innovative programs like the Everyday Life project that allows people to practice real life skills in interactive simulations.

What’s New

We have updated our entire Work and Career section with six new topics, added a Facebook tutorial and launched our Windows 7 tutorial with the OS release last October. Look for the new video tab on select topics that allows you to access videos directly and even rate them! Visit our blog for news, information, helpful articles and mini-tutorials that provide yet another way for our visitors to learn with us. Come back frequently or subscribe to our rss feed to be sure you don’t miss anything!

Fans of YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook - can subscribe to our YouTube! Channel, follow us on Twitter, and become a fan on our Facebook page.

Coming in 2010

Look for more new learning content than ever before! We will be revising our Internet and Email topics, adding a Twitter tutorial, updating Computer Basics, and adding Microsoft Office 10 when it launches. Stay tuned for our new Reading project which launches in April and will provide an unique interactive program for adult learners to build their English Literacy or ESL skills.

Help us reach 2,000,000

Our next goal is two million members - Tell all your friends about us, add a link on your site or distribute our flyers to help us get there.

Our sincere thank you to everyone who helped us reach our first million!

–The GCFLearnFree.org Team

Job Search - Learn the latest methods for conducting an effective job search including how to approach finding a job, where to look and how to organize your leads.  We also show you how to efficiently search online job postings and how to use the latest social media tools for networking.  This tutorial will provide you with the inside information, resources and advice that will have you confidently pursuing your next job.

Career Planning - Smart people understand that career success often comes from thinking beyond just getting a job.  They take the time to figure out their needs and how they can approach the job market in order to meet their needs.  Even if you are currently employed, you can benefit from visiting our Career Planning course to map out your future success.

Interview Skills - Sometimes it is the small details that determine whether you are able to convey your ability to do a job into convincing others that you are the right person for the job.  Learn to impress with the preparation, communication and follow-up skills that will lead to a job offer.

Keep checking back as we continue to update Work and Career with the latest strategies and resources to help you with your career.

1. JobHuntersBible.com - This website from the “Father of Job-Hunting” Richard Bolles has a wealth of resources, but I would first recommend reading his annually updated guide “What Color is Your Parachute?” to learn the real secrets and best methods for finding a job.
2. Occupational Outlook Handbook - This website, from the Department of Labor, offers detailed information on hundreds of jobs including the skills and training needed, the future outlook of a job and what working conditions are like.  If you are looking for information about a particular job or career then this is the site to go to.
3. Salary.com - Whether you are simply researching a possible career or preparing for a job interview, every job-hunter should be knowledgeable about salary.   This site allows you to search the average earnings for the title, level and location of a job you are interested in.  It will even give you an estimate of what your weekly paycheck might be.
4. Job-Hunt.org - Just like the JobHuntersBible.com, this is a gateway site for finding resources and learning how to conduct a job search.  It includes articles, advice from the experts and strategies to assist the average job-hunter with staying up-to-date on the latest trends, methods and resources.
5. LinkedIn - As the most popular and rapidly growing social network for business, LinkedIn allows you to make online connections with other professionals.  This increases your ability to network which is generally considered the best way to find a job.  Before you create your professional online profile make sure you become familiar with issues regarding privacy.
6. Mashable - The use of online social media sites to network and find a job is quickly becoming the norm, but you may be feeling clueless about what these sites are and how you are suppose to use them.  Mashable is an online guide to social media.  It can help you utilize and make sense of the latest trends and strategies for using sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
7. Indeed.com - Unsure about which of the thousands of job posting sites you should use to search for a job.  Use Indeed.com instead.  Based on your search criteria, it pulls job postings from all the other job posting websites, making it easier and much more convenient to manage and apply to jobs.  You can even have a personalized job alert sent to your email on a regular basis.

For additional help, stay tuned!  We will be releasing a newly updated Job Search topic next week, but for now you can visit our Work and Career page for advice and tips.

Are you sure your interview outfit is making a winning impression?  You may think you look just fine, but when it comes to a job interview every detail of your appearance counts, including your grooming choices.  Here are five common mistakes that you should be aware of when dressing for an interview.

1. Wearing clothing that fits poorly - An outfit that does not fit well, can leave the interviewer with the impression that you are not accustomed to dressing appropriately or that you simply do not care enough to dress well.  Loose clothing can look sloppy and the discomfort of tight clothing can be very distracting.  Make sure your attire fits you well, especially when you are sitting down.
2. Wearing clothing that is too revealing - Skirts that are too short are a common problem for women and can be deemed unprofessional by an interviewer.  Always sit down in your skirt to make sure it has enough leg coverage, especially if it has a slit.  In addition, your top should not be too sheer, low-cut or sleeveless.
3. Wearing too much jewelry - Clanking bracelets, multiple rings and dangling earrings can be very distracting to an interviewer.  Women should wear 2-3 minimal, conservative pieces of jewelry.  Men may also want to avoid earrings.
4. Ignoring your feet - A great outfit can be ruined by a poor choice of footwear.  It can also give the impression that you do not pay attention to the details.  Men should wear dressy, dark, polished shoes with matching dark socks.  Women should wear dressy, closed shoes and should avoid high, overly-sexy or strappy heels.
5. Making risky grooming choices - You can really make a statement with your choice of hairstyle, make up and fingernails.  Just make sure the statement does not have the potential to turn off your interviewer.  It is best to choose styles that are minimal and professional.

The above may not seem like a big deal, but you do not want to leave the interviewer with a doubtful impression about your judgment, capabilities and ability to fit in.  For more examples and details on how to dress for an interview, visit our Interviewing Skills topic.

Be sure to check out all of our other Career topics.