Leaving SNS’s December 25, 2009
Posted by bkestler in article.Tags: article, internet, linkedin, tips
add a comment
My case:
I like things to be simple and consistent. Keeping the profiles of my social networks consistent became pretty time consuming, so I decided to focus on a few and leave the others.
Easier said than done. Hi5 made it pretty easy for me, as they had included a button to delete my profile, so did Ryze. Both followed up sending me an (automated) email, saying goodbye.
A little more effort was necessary to convince the owners of InterNations to “allow” me to leave. I searched all admin pages, but couldn’t find the delete button.
Sending a request to the support of InterNations, didn’t get me any reply. I guess, had I asked for a paid upgrade to my account, this would have been processed in ‘light-speed’.
A second email also didn’t get me a reply. By that time, I was pretty unhappy with the lack of services and contacted the office for consumer protection in Germany. A third email with that information proofed to be successful. The next day, without any notification, my profile was deleted. Thank you – Bye-bye InterNations.
I actually searched the internet and found an entry on Wikipedia, saying that: “There is no ‘unsubscribe’ option available on the site and according to their [InterNations] terms and conditions:- 8.4 – Any termination according to sections 8.2 and 8.3 requires that the User sends a notice of termination by sending a respective fax or letter to InterNations. The termination notice shall include the User’s registered name and an email address of the User registered on the InterNationsWebsite.”
My conclusion:
Signing up on an SNS is usually a 1, 2, 3-step procedure. Before you click the ‘join’ button, make sure you know how to delete your profile later. I know, it was my mistake, I should have red the terms and conditions.
Japanese Job-board Ranking 2009 October 6, 2009
Posted by bkestler in article.Tags: internet, japan, job-boards, linkedin, recruiting, tips
add a comment
Recently I updated the Japanese online job-board list based on the Gomez ranking from January 2009. The numbers of registered applicants are from various sources.
Download: Japanese job-board ranking 2009
German Ministry of Consumer Protection: Businesses Internet usage during recruiting process August 24, 2009
Posted by brainpool in article.Tags: article, candidate, education, how to, internet, linkedin, recruiting, select, tips
add a comment
The German Ministry for food, agriculture and consumer protection has recently conducted a survey about the attitudes and the extend of Internet usage of businesses in pre-selection of candidates during the recruitment process. The results can be downloaded (in German) from the homepage of the ministry. Below is a summary of the survey in English.
The quintessence is that certain information should be kept private and have nothing to do on the internet. Companies use the internet in getting a second opinion on a candidate before inviting them for an interview. Some information they find on the web can either prevent them from inviting a candidate, but also can support an application.
Summary of Survey Results:
Survey period: July 2009
Number of surveyed companies: 500
- About one quarter of companies surveyed use the Internet for personnel decisions (28 percent).
- After all 36% could also gather information through social networks (20 percent occasionally or regularly, 16 percent rarely). Almost two thirds are limiting their research to publicly available information.
- Large companies are using the internet more in recruiting research than smaller companies (over 1000 employees 46 percent, less than 100 employees 21 percent).
Among the companies using the Internet to research during recruitment:
- Nearly 80 percent of companies use the Internet even before the invitation for an interview.
- In 25% of the companies, it happens that candidates are not hired because of information from the Internet. For 56% a person can be interesting just because of the information from the Internet.
- Future employers evaluate negative statements about the work or the work environment dismissive (76 percent). Also negative are discrepancies between private content on websites and statements in the application (49 percent) (credibility). Positive for almost two thirds of surveyed companies using the Internet when recruiting are hobbies and social commitment. Very private pictures (such as “party pictures”) are negative for almost half of the companies, 43 percent rated them neutral.
Source: BMELV webpage: “Umfrage zu Haltung und Ausmaß der Internetnutzung von Unternehmen zur Vorauswahl bei Personalentscheidungen”; August 20, 2009; http://www.bmelv.de
The Internet Archive: Wayback Machine August 17, 2009
Posted by brainpool in [Finding NOT Searching], search tutorials.Tags: education, how to, linkedin, search, search engine, tips
add a comment
If you are looking for a homepage, that was removed from it’s server, there is a good chance you can find a copy in one of the 150 billion of webpages archived by the ‘Internet Archive: Wayback Machine‘.
Founded in 1996 the archive is working to prevent the Internet and other “born-digital” materials from disappearing into the past.
It currently includes texts, audio, moving images, and software as well as archived web pages in their collections.
Start by looking up a domain name and then follow the time-line. It’s like doing archeology from your desktop.
Baidu Shortcut Sheet August 13, 2009
Posted by brainpool in [Finding NOT Searching], search engine.Tags: boolean, cheat sheet, linkedin, search, search engine, shortcut
add a comment
According to comScore’s search engine ranking, Baidu.com is the #2 search engine in Asia Pacific (July 2008). With growing importance in Japan, I was looking for a shortcut sheet or cheat sheet for Baidu.jp.
A cheat sheet is a quick reference sheet with a list of available shortcuts you can use with a search engine in a search query. The search operators can be input and combined directly into the search engine’s interface helping you to search more effectively and safe time.
As I couldn’t find a shortcut sheet, I compiled one:
- using search operators I could obtain though searches with the option page;
- testing common search operators from other search engines.
There are still inconsistencies in using the shortcuts, as for some of them the keywords have to be surrounded by round brackets (keyword) and for others not.
The shortcuts work for the search interface of Baidu Japan. I have not tested them for Baidu.com, but will do so in the near future and hope to add more shortcuts by than. If you know of any shortcut missing, I would be grateful for an email or comment.
Upcoming event: ad:tech Tokyo 2009 August 12, 2009
Posted by brainpool in event.Tags: event, linkedin, search, tokyo
add a comment
interactive & digital marketing in Japan
ad:tech Tokyo 2009 is an international event bringing together the leading interactive specialists in Japan and industry leaders from across the globe in the new media arena.
How to build a search strategy August 11, 2009
Posted by brainpool in [Finding NOT Searching], article, search tutorials.Tags: how to, internet, linkedin, search, search engine, search tutorial, tips
add a comment
Before you start typing in keywords into a search engine and hit enter, planning and executing a search strategy can be a valuable exercise.
The ‘Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science – ODLIS‘ defines a search strategy as: “In information retrieval, a systematic plan for conducting a search.“
A well defined search strategy can help you:
- to find more and better information;
- to save time;
- to use information from different sources.
Step 1: Understand what you are looking for.
Switch of your computer and take some time to think. On a notepad write down in one sentence the topic of your search. Be clear about what your want to find - is it a product or a service, a file or are you conduction market research or try to find some expertise with a people search ?
Step 2: Identify the main concepts of your topic.
Write down keywords or subject terms which can be used in your search. Use a thesaurus to find different terms you can try in your search. Pick your keywords carefully and be specific.
Be aware that as more terms you use the less results you get. I usually don’t go over using more than 10 words.
Step 3: Pick a favorite search engine and learn it thoroughly.
Conduct advanced searches on different search engines or databases. Work from the general to the specific. Find background information first, then use more specific and recent sources. Consult other sources
Step 4: Use search operators to broaden or narrow your search results.
Find out, which search operators are available for your search engine. Most of them at least allow Boolean operator. Use [OR] in your search to broaden your results and [AND] or [NOT] to define a more narrow search.
Step5: Record what you find.
Build on what you found. Use social bookmarking like Delicious, folders and tags to keep and categorize relevant pages.
Copy successful search syntax into a spreadsheet and use email alerts to keep the information coming.
Find out what search strategies works best for you. No search is the same and no strategy works of everything. Remember: “Doing the same and expecting a different result, is insane.” So be creative and use variations, different keywords or search engines.
Are trainers the new party-clowns? August 7, 2009
Posted by brainpool in training.Tags: education, learning, linkedin, skill, training
1 comment so far
When I read about training or speak to some of my peers, I start to wonder, where our industry is heading?
Looking around, I feel everything in training is about entertaining participants, we are Edu-Tainers. When discussing programs, it seems there is more concern about how things look, how many games we will play and how excited participants will be rather then discussing the actual content or learning models.
Some of my recent participants just want to lean back and like an ‘amoeba’ absorb new knowledge without any effort. At the same time they want to be entertained and excited like in a block-buster movie, munch on some snacks and please, “let me know when the show is over.”
Does that mean, as a trainer I have to put on the clowns’ costume, tap-dance while explaining the benefits of listening skills and at the same time joggle with 5 cheese-burgers?
For me, learning means making an effort and spending time and energy on acquiring new knowledge and developing new skills. Personal growth doesn’t come easy and without effort. I agree that an enjoyable learning environment is helpful, but I wonder, how far this should go?
The net doesn’t forget August 4, 2009
Posted by brainpool in [Finding NOT Searching], article.Tags: linkedin, search, tips
add a comment
Have you ever thought about what happens to all those post, tweets and blog posts you put out there every day? Take a look on Facebook and see what kind of information your friends willingly share with the rest of the world.
The French magazine Le Tigre started an interesting series of articles, where they portrait clueless Internet users by the information they leave behind on social medias.
Almost like a horror story the first article starts out addressing the victim Marc directly. “Happy birthday Marc, on December 5th, 2008 you turned 29. You do not know me. But I know you very well.” (Google translation)
Amazing what Le Tigre know: Marc went to Canada for a month and enjoyed drinking his coffee at a Starbucks in Montreal and traveled with Helena and Jose on August 5th 2008 to Vancouver. Much of this is documented through the more than 70,000 pictures Marc uploaded within 2 years to Flickr. Pictures also proof his relationship with Claudia, where her parents live and where she works.
Marc actually complaint about the article and was shocked to see his whole life being laid out in a single article. In the online version his family name, telephone number and address had to be made anonymous.
The net doesn’t forget. Just try the ‘Way back machine‘. What can be fun posting those party pictures from last Saturday, can become something to explain when applying for your next promotion a couple of years from now.
There is nothing wrong in sharing information on the Internet, but make sure you are comfortable with your online presence today and in the future.
Tutorial 2: Site Operator August 4, 2009
Posted by brainpool in [Finding NOT Searching], screencast, search tutorials.Tags: boolean, computer, computer training, google, internet, japanese, search, search engine, skill, tips
add a comment
