One of the hardest things to do is to keep on top of news and events that are outside of your everyday life. Some days, I barely have enough time to worry about socks and underwear, let alone what’s happening with the companies on my dream list.
The Dream List. We all have one. The companies that we have read about or drive by on our commute that we wish had a great job for us. Maybe they do. How do you know?
Google has a great little tool called Alerts. You fill in the box Google gives you with the keywords (product, company name) and then you select how and when you would like the information to arrive.
You will get an email everytime something about your target is mentioned. Pretty neat.
This is really handy if you want to look for job in another town or you want to keep an eye on a group of companies. You can also add things on the fly. Say you read an article on LinkedIn about a person doing some cool work. Just use their name for a google alert. You will be able to stay on top of what they are doing and when you decide to reach out the them, you will have all kinds of material to use in your note/call.
Here is the last tip about google alerts. Set one up for yourself. Even if you think you will never be mentioned, this is a good idea. Let’s face it. Your name on the web will be either point of pride or embarrassment but you want to know when it happens so you can either call your Mom or your lawyer.
Recruiter's Couch 