Great Discoveries Start with Great Searches

Great discoveries start with great searches.

Can you recall a significant scientific advancement that didn't have a compelling story behind it?

We remember Galileo today for his work pioneering telescopes and the way we see the great broad skies above us--paving the way for modern scientific thought. But getting to that point was an utmost struggle; countless hours and many years of refining his theories, testing them, and even then he was met with skepticism, prison, and harrassment from the governemnt.

And our modern scientists are no different: Einstein, Edison, Marconi--they are now remembered for their lasting effect on our daily conveniences we think we can't live without. How would your iPad exist without the thousands and thousands of hours searching for the right material for the light bulb filament that hounded Edison throughout his career.

And this brings me to the news this week that the scientists at the CERN laboratory have finally beyond a doubt confined their discovery of the elusive Higgs-Boson particle (or "God Particle") made last year. This has been something that scientists have labored to find and prove and could very well earn the CERN team a Nobel prize.

But how did they get there? Their great discovery had an even greater search story.

What about you? Have you discovered that great job you've been looking for? How have you searched? You don't need to spend months on your search story.

This week we released a new eBook: "Click to Get Hired: Three Secrets to an Online Job Search." (Also available at www.clicktogethired.com.) In the book we show you  how to master online search techniques so you can quickly find the job you want, using the skills you have, where you wish to work.

Here is a free sample of what you will find:

1. Start with Google.

The current World Wide Web (or internet) contains over 13 billion web pages (according to www.worldwidewebsize.com) and Google indexes or references the majority of these. Follow this simple protocol when searching online: In the beginning search broadly, and then narrow the search as your focus narrows:

           

Enter your search according to this formula: The job you want + The top 1-3 skills you have for this job + Where you want to work (example: database administrator + Oracle, SQL, SharePoint + Atlanta, GA.)

From your initial search results you have many options to refine and focus your search:

Click on the “More” drop-down item below the search bar and select “Discussions” to find users who are actively looking for candidates to fill the job you want--these are real people with real jobs to offer or refer you to. (You are searching discussion boards, which are much like the “comments” section of many websites.)

From the “More” dropdown item below the search bar, select “Blogs’ to find open positions submitted by both amateur and professional bloggers. These postings are more informal than the corporate postings you’d see on a company’s website, and usually indicate a more “insiders” path to the position.

An additional benefit of using the Discussions and Blogs options is you are more able to retrieve contact info (name, title, email address) of someone within the company who you can either message directly via email, indirectly on Facebook or Twitter, or use as a referral source on the job application. (We’ll discuss the importance of the referral source and contact with a real person during the application process further in the book.)

From the “More” drop-down item below the search bar, select “Places.” This will return local business and organizations which are related to your search query terms. While there might not be a job listing posted directly to the item, this gives you another entry point to companies who would be hiring for the job you want, with the skills you have, and the place where we wish to work. Click on the company or organization name to view their company web page and you will usually find their jobs under “Careers”, “About Us”, or “Employment Opportunities.” Another value to the “Places” option is in the additional links and information you can access from this site. Below the Company name can include links to “Google+ Page” and “Google Reviews.”

Use these links to gain insider information on who works for the company, their customers, or like-minded users: all of these could be potentially important referral sources or contact info for sending your resume that you will not find on the company’s main website.

Apply This Strategy to Your Job Search:

A. Navigate to www.google.com and perform several basic keyword searches using the formula: The job you want + The top 1-3 skills you have for this job + Where you want to work.

            1.) Search One: _______________________________

2.) Search Two: _______________________________

3.) Search Three: ______________________________

B. Expand your initial search results by using the “More” option to explore additional Google search features:

            1.) Discussions Results:_________________________

            2.) Blogs Results:______________________________

            3.) Places Results:_____________________________

                       

Here's hoping your great search story ends with the great discovery of a well-paying job.

Visit us at www.clicktogethired.com and tell us what you thought of our book.

Until next time.