Executive Job Search: 6 Ways to Get Good With Google

I rely on Google for many things to market and run my business, and monitor my online reputation and presence. Because running a business parallels running a successful job search campaign, many of the Google features I use are ones that can help you, too.

Here are just 6 ways I use Google that work for executive job search, too:

1. Google Alerts

I’ve set up Google Alerts for “meg guiseppi”, the names of my blogsites and various relevant keyword phrases (c-level executive, executive branding, c-suite search, executive job search, etc.), so I’ll be notified when these names and phrases appear in newly published web pages. Being alerted when my name is published online helps me monitor who is talking about me and what they’re saying.

With Alerts, I can investigate and see who’s been kind enough to mention me and possibly link to one of my blogsites. Receiving alerts for my chosen keyword phrases helps me with research and keeping up to date with the latest trends in those areas.

In job search, you’ll want to know when your name pops up online. You should also set up Alerts for the names of the companies you’re targeting, key decision makers at those companies, and their products and services, along with the job titles you’re targeting, such as “COO Manufacturing Turnarounds”.

More in my post, Power Your Executive Job Search with Google Alerts.

2. Self-Googling

To keep track of the number and quality of ever-changing search results for my name, I Google my name about once a week. Yes, I got over the vanity of it.

I want to know what people who are assessing whether to work with me are finding when they Google my name. I want to make sure my online reputation hasn’t been tarnished by what someone else says about me.

Job seekers need to frequently monitor their online reputation, too, to keep track of what recruiters and hiring decision makers are finding about them online. If any digital dirt shows up, it needs to be addressed right away.

3. Google Profile

I created my Google Profile several years ago when it was first introduced, pulling pieces from various web pages on my blog. What’s so great about a Google Profile for online brand-building is that, usually, your avatar (tiny photo) will show up in the search result, alongside the link to your profile, if you’ve uploaded your photo. There may not be many other search results on that page that include such an attention-grabbing photo.

Use just your executive brand biography for your Google Profile, or pull pieces from your bio and resume, to balance out your more resume-oriented LinkedIn Profile – the other important online profile.

See my post, Google Profiles: 10 Steps to a Personal Branding Gem.

4. Google Search

I Google the names of prospective clients before we first speak, to find out more about them and see what kind of online presence they have, or if they have any at all. In job search, you should Google the names of people you’re considering connecting with or those you’ll be interviewed by, to learn about them and pick up some personal touchpoints to break the ice.

I’ll Google my clients’ company names for market intelligence and research. Job seekers should do the same with any companies they’re targeting.

5. Google World Time

With clients located across the U.S. and the globe, I often need to know what time it is where they are, so I’ll Google it – “brisbane australia time“.

Want to be sure you’re not calling that lead, recruiter or interviewer too early? Google their time.

6. Google Dictionary

Google allows you to quickly check the spelling of a word. Just type the word into a Google search and, if you’ve misspelled it, you’ll see “Did you mean [correctly spelled word]?”

Fumbling with a word in that critical email to someone important? Rely on Google once again.

These are just a few of the ways I use Google, and I’m no expert, for sure.

I’m always learning new things about Google, especially from my colleague, Susan P. Joyce, online job search expert, Google guru and editor–publisher–Webmaster of the top-rated Internet employment portal, Job-Hunt.org.

For instance, did you know that Google uses “stemming” with your search terms. That is, if you type in “engineer”, you’ll also find results for “engineers” and “engineering”. But the reverse doesn’t happen. If you search “engineering”, you won’t also get results for “engineer”. More about these kinds of Googling specifics in Susan’s post, 5 Google Search Ground Rules.

Here are two other articles, from Susan’s Guide to Using Google in Your Job Search:

Google-ize Your Job Search – 10 Google Tips

Setting Up Google Alerts for Your Job Search

My related posts:

My Executive Branding and Job Search Ebook

How To Land an Executive Job in 2011

Executive Job Search: The Old Way (Networking) Still Works Best

Twitter for C-Suite Executive Job Search