Everyday social networks are getting larger and more people are taking advantage of the tremendous value they offer.  This past week the New York Times posted an article about using The Social Networks as a Career Safety Net.  Currently Linkedin is growing into one of the best tools professionals have for networking.  It simplifies the process of reaching out to old and new contacts and provides quick and simple actions.  In the article they discuss one man needed to find a new job after learning his department was being shut down.  By taking advantage of Linkedin, he was able to score two job offers, and ultimately receive a counter offer from his current employer for a $25k raise with a position in a different department.  By making sure your profile is complete and up-to-date you can be prepared to take advantage of opportunities you might have otherwise missed.

Brian Carter, at Fuel Interactive, posted a great article last week about, The 7 Essential Talents Of An Excellent SEO/PPC Employee.  Brian’s assessment revolves around the Gallup Organization’s break down of 34 different Strengths and Talents.  Based on Brian’s research he narrowed down the list to 7 are essential strengths which make up an excellent SEO or PPC employee:

1. Maximizer
2. Achiever
3. Focus
4. Individualization
5. Arranger
6. Strategic
7. Analytical

If your are interested in learning more about how these skills make up a great search marketer or learning more about how Brian developed his list, check out his article.

Over at Pingdom they are looking for a new developer to join their team.  As they have been going through their own interview process, they have researched how some well known companies run their interviews.  In a very interesting article they compiled a list of The Best Job Interview Questions from Microsoft, Google…and IKEA.  Many companies like to assess potential employees by asking them conceptual questions that make them think outside the box.  Many times there aren’t finite answers and the interviewers are really just looking to assess how your head works when trying to come up with logical answers to seemingly useless questions.  If you are going into an interview anytime soon, check out Pingdom’s article to get your mind ready for the questions you can’t prepare for.

If you are going out to SES San Jose this week you will have great opportunity to learn some new tricks as well as sharpen some of your old tools.  Probably one of the most valuable aspects of attending conferences though, is the networking that is going on 24-7.  For some people networking can be a stressful experience.  If you attend a conference and go home without walking up to the people you wanted to talk to the most, you might end up kicking yourself until the next conference rolls around.  For these people Bruce Clay's Lisa Barone, has posted, The Introvert’s Guide To Conference Networking.  Lisa gives five steps for making networking easier and less overwhelming for the shy search marketers of the world:

1. Show Up Prepared
2. Start Branding Yourself Before You Get There
3. Attach Yourself to an Extrovert
4. Have a Gimmick
5. Don’t Use a Gimmick

So if you are headed to San Jose and you are worried you are going to waste your nights in your hotel room, read Lisa’s article for some tips to make the most out of the event.

That’s it for this week, check back next week for another update.