Tag: how

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

 

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