Arleen Bradley Career Coaching

You have targeted a few companies that you want to work for.  You want to see all the latest information you can.  You know a few people in the company, but asking them to pass along information seems a tad icky.

You know that hiring managers are likely to Google you before calling you for an interview.  But you don’t know what is on the Internet about you.  The information will either make or break your candidacy.

So what’s a job searcher to do?

Set up a Google Alert.  A Google Alert is a monitoring system that alerts you when online updates or new information appear on the web about something or someone you want to follow.  While there are many things you can follow, I want to share information about following a targeted company and you.  When your subject is named in a new post, you receive an email alerting you to the appearance.

This may seem much like stalking, yes, it might be considered as such.  But what you are doing with the information is with good intention.  The information about the company can be stored in a folder on your computer to be retrieved when you have an interview.  The information about you will show you what is being said about you on the Internet.  If necessary, you can take steps to better your presences on the web.  In an interview, you can be prepared to defend or support the information.

Google Alerts are very easy to set up.  Log on to www.google.com/alerts.  After you sign up for a Google account and then log in, it is a straightforward process.  This is what you will see. You will have to make a few choices to customize your search.

Be the first to know when a company posts a job opening.  Learn when the company is introducing a new product.  Read the latest press release as it appears.  It’s up to you to decide what you want to follow.