5 useful things Google can do (and a couple of useless ones)

Lets face it, Google is helpful. I sometimes ponder about life before Google, about those arguments with friends that used to last days or those pub quizzes where only the geography buff knew the capital of Indonesia. Google is something familiar, a way of life (of sorts) and having great search skills can really open you up to a universe of useful and useless information.

Here are some things you might not have known Google can do.

1. Google is a translator

translate

2. Google is a currency converter

converter-currency

3. Google is a calculator

calculator

4. Google is a Weight converter

weight-calculator

5. Google is a timer

timer

Did you know there is a hidden game inside Google called “ZERG RUSH”?

Search Zerg rush in Google to start a hidden game, quickly click the incoming 0’s to kill them before they destroy your search results.

zerg-rush

Google will also tell you what time sunrise is at!

sunrise

So there you have it, some things to explore in your next searches. Remember, there is a universe of information out there and your search engine is your vehicle. Learning how to correctly search and developing your search skills will greatly increase your chances of finding the information you want.

Keep on searching

Keith Byrne

Digital media manager

NCU Training

 

What is Google drive and how do I use it?

In short, Google drive is Google’s cloud storage platform. You might have heard the words “cloud storage” before and been confused but these are just marketing buzz words. Cloud storage simply means that instead of your files being stored on your home computer, they are stored in a remote location on one of Google’s computers or servers. There is nothing new here really if you’ve had an email account with Google or any third party (hotmail etc), your emails are already stored outside of your home computer. This is why you can access your emails from anywhere.

info-graphic

In the diagram we have three devices in different locations all able to access the same files because they are stored on the Google server.

Having your files stored externally has many benefits.

  • You can access your files from any computer / smartphone / Tablet
  • You can recover your files easily (if your computer is stolen or gets broken)
  • You can free up space on your home computer (every Google account comes with 15GB cloud storage but you can add more if you need it for a small fee)

Google drive sounds great, but how do I use it?

To start with Google drive is part of Google’s apps so you are going to need a Google account. To sign up for a Google account go to www.google.ie and look in the right hand corner. Click Sign in.

googlesignin

Once you’ve clicked sign in you will be taken to a sign in page, below this it will say create an account

create

You can then fill out the form to create an account. Once you have this done you will have access to Google services. Go back to Google homepage and click on the small grid of black squares.

apps

this will open Google’s app panel and you can click on the Google drive icon.

appsopen

Once inside Google drive there are a number of things you can do.

drive

If your internet browser is Google chrome you can upload whole folders of files otherwise you will have to upload on a file by file basis. Documents created inside of Google drive will auto-save which is a very handy feature if your doing a CV, college work etc as you will never lose work again. You can also export the file to Microsoft word for some more intense editing if needed.

This should get you started with Google drive. In the next Blog post I will cover sharing files from your drive and also how to attach files from your drive to an email and send.

 

 

 

Digital skills tips for job seekers.

We can often get caught up in making sure our CV’s and cover letters are looking great. We live in a digital world and employers are using the internet and internet technologies to research potential employees. This could be anything from viewing a Twitter feed for red flags, a Facebook page (if public), LinkedIn, YouTube, the list goes on. Here are a few things to consider.

Start by searching your name in Google: This is where your potential employer will probably start so pre-empting this with a couple of search combinations would be a good idea. It might be an idea to do this from another computer as you probably have pages stored in your history that will influence your searches. Search your name and see what comes up, see if you can get to your Facebook page from a search (like “your name Facebook” or “your name Dublin Facebook”) try different combinations and note the ways you got to your personal pages and what is visible on them. This will then help you to determine what is public and what is private on your social pages.

Set up an email specifically for your job seeking: You might not think it is important but the email address you send your CV from is very important. When a potential employer receives an email, try not to send it from that email address you set up when you were 16. Setting up an email specifically for your job seeking will not only gather all your job-seeking activities under one heading but will look much better and more professional.

Less of johnerliverpoolfan@gmail.com more of john.doe@gmail.com

If you choose Google as your email provider you will have access to 15 GB of free storage via Google drive. This can work well as a cloud storage location for all your cover letters and CV’s and give you access to them from any computer. This makes it easier should an opportunity arise that needs a speedy response.

Keep your social media pages as private as possible:  When you set up a Facebook page it’s important to remember to set your privacy settings (the default is public for new pages). A potential employer could quite easily decide to research your social media activities and the last thing you want is your new boss seeing the aftermath of that bottle of vodka you drank on Saturday night. Be as careful as possible when posting anything that might go against a company’s view or might be used as a negative against an application.

For instance: posting about a Shell oil spillage that killed 1000’s of sea birds whilst having an open job application with Topaz (Shell re-branded as Topaz in Ireland in 2008)

Research the company you are applying for: The internet is an amazing resource for research. If you apply for a job with a company, find the company on Facebook and twitter. See the kinds of things they post about and inform yourself about the company through their website. Gather as much information as possible about them so that if you do get called for interview you are prepared for the “why do you want to work for…” or “What do you know about our business…” questions.

For a list of the toughest interview questions click here

Keep up to date: Try to stay as up to date as possible with changes to existing technologies and new technologies. Be informed and maintain your digital skills because they are a great asset to you. Be aware of the free services available to you (like Google drive etc) and use them to your advantage because others are.

The verge is a great place to keep up on new technologies and news.

Forbes technology section is also good for tech news.

 

Good luck out there.

Keith Byrne

NCU Training

 

5 tips for safer food preparation at home.

As a food hygiene tutor I am passionate about creating awareness for safer food preparation both at home and in the workplace. With some simple do’s and don’ts you can avoid a trip to the hospital and learn how to create a safer environment for you to make your food.

Today my 5 tips are aimed toward using the microwave.

Microwaves

Over 90% of food poising cases occur at home, one of the contributing factors to this is improper use of the microwave. The heating of food in the microwave is a cause of major concern in Ireland.

1.Read

Read the instructions on the packet. This is the first and most important step. We need to know whether the food needs to be cooked completely or just reheated, whether it can be cooked in a microwave or needs a conventional oven, cooking time and wattage. (generally your wattage is displayed on your microwave, if not consult the manual.)

2.Heat

To make best use of the microwave and to heat the food properly and evenly, heat your food in short bursts. For instance if the packet says 4 mins, put in for 2.

3.Stir

Make sure to take the product out and stir it thouroughly.

4.Continue heating

Put the product back in for the rest of the time needed.

5.Let it stand

Once the product is thouroughly heated through, leave it stand for 1 minute before consuming.

Some useful tips on using Twitter in your job hunt.

What is Twitter?

In short, Twitter is described as a microblogging platform, the micro part referring to the limited number of characters a ‘tweet’ is made of, 140 to be exact. The limited number of characters has been a major part of twitters success, in a classic less is more way. It’s difficult to turn a blind eye to twitters influence when you consider most every media today references the social media giant. By using the #hashtag companies and individuals can create trends, which can be global or specific depending on their relevance and reach. The use of #hashtags locally or even nationally can mean that we too can have a voice and get in on the conversation.

 #jobfairy

One #hashtag that has become very useful in Ireland is #jobfairy, If a company or individual is advertising a position they can put the word out on twitter by tagging the tweet with the relevant #hashtag in this case its #jobfairy. To then view tweets with this #hashtag we use the search bar at the top of Twitter. The jobfairy hashtag has become very popular with many companies advertising positions using it. Because twitter is so instant it is very easy to be quick to act when a position becomes available.

 I get it, but can it actually help me get a job.

At the end of the day, I can’t speak for anyone but myself. Another tool in your jobsearch can’t be a bad thing though. I find twitter to be a great place to connect with influential people in the industry you wish to work in. By being involved in their circles you can see who they connect with, what their tweets are about, what their interests are etc. It will give you a feel for the industry you want to work in and keep you clued in to what is going on.


Keith Byrne

Digital media manager at NCU Training

Making a great CV

A well made CV is your passport to a world of opportuinity. In this Series of blog posts, Geraldine White discusses what makes a great CV by giving pointers, tips and tutorials on CV building, cover letter writing, references and interviews.

Here are some tips to follow when writing your CV:

  1. Professionally presented (well structured in chronological order, good grammer, spell checked.)
  2. Simple (less is more.)
  3. Clean, Clear and concise (easy to read.)
  4. Be truthful (integrity is vital.)
  5. Direct (get to key points quickly.)
  6. Regularly update your CV with new achievements, experience etc.
  7. Highlight clearly your strengths & values and how you can use these in the job.
  8. Convince prospective employers you have the right skills, experience, behaviour, & attitude, they are looking for (Better the match – more likely you will be called for interview.)
  9. Ideally 1 or 2 A4 (plain white) pages will impress & impact more than lots of detail spread over 3/4 pages.
  10. Leave out irrelevant or negative information (sell yourself.)
  11. Use headings/sub-headings, bullet points.
  12. Remember First impressions count – a sloppy unprofessional CV will be interpreted as a reflection of the sender.

 

Geraldine White

CE officer at NCU LTD