Google Data

I’ve always been a planner. The scope and breadth of my “to do” lists is legendary. I’ve never pulled an all-nighter to finish a term paper in college. When I deliver a presentation, I always prepare an appendix containing various tidbits that my audience might ask about. Naturally, planning and preparation were foremost on my mind when Google contacted me two years ago to interview for a position on their University Programs team.

I was certainly familiar with the company and some of their products but I knew I needed to prepare extensively for the interview to make the most of this opportunity. What better way to learn about the company and its products than use them to do research for my interview? Google Search was fantastic for learning more about my interviewers. Google Alerts gave me daily news updates and insights into media buzz on the company in the weeks leading up to my interview. I used Google Docs to organize my research and put it at my fingertips. Using Google products in this way served me well. I was offered a position and soon after became a Googler.

Since that time, I have experimented with additional products that can be useful when conducting a job search. These tools are a valuable resource regardless of the company or industry you are targeting.

I recently penned a knol to share some ideas on how Google products can be utilized to:

• identify and target companies or other organizations of interest
• network, enhance your web presence, and showcase your key accomplishments to potential employers
• prepare for an interview and ultimately land your ideal position

The case studies that I developed for the knol reference undergraduates and PhD students but the advice translates to any job seeker regardless of the stage of their career.

Tips include creating a Google Site to highlight your accomplishments and help potential employers find you; using YouTube to brush up on dining etiquette prior to the inevitable interview day meal; and using Google Scholar if you’re interviewing for a technical position to determine and read up on the areas of expertise of your interviewers.

I hope you find these tools as useful as I have and I wish you all the best in your pursuit of a rewarding career opportunity.

You can download your own copy of the quick reference featured in this post for all these tips and more! Or check out my knol for more information and details on how you can enhance your job search with Google tools.

Posted by Jennifer Petoff, University Programs Team