Many Brazilians do not know how to search on Google. I concluded this based on the countless questions I have received since 2016. And those who do not research properly will not reach Canada. So get ahead and learn how to better use the internet for your goals and also for life, because without Google, it will be difficult. ????
In addition to using basic search, there is also Google's advanced search, which can give you even better and more relevant results. Many people also don't usually search in English, which I think is a big mistake, because in addition to coming to an English-speaking country (or French, Canada's other official language), they limit themselves to content from Brazilians who are here, which is often great, but not complete and/or in-depth. I usually say that “digital influencers” or content producers for social media in general give that “pinch” of information or share feelings and experiences, but that's not all.
So, here are some tips for you to better use this free and important tool, which is Google.
If you can, search in English. There is a lot of content that will only be valid for you in English, such as news content from Canada and the Canadian government website, for example. Canadian immigration news and blogs are the source for many Brazilian content producers, so you will find the most complete information without a “commercial filter”. In addition, there are things that will give you quality information and even insights best if consumed straight from the source.
Search with phrases. Ask Google a question and put it in quotation marks. Preferably, do your search in English. Ask, for example, “how to become a physiotherapist in Canada?” (How to Become a Physiotherapist in Canada?) and the most accessed and relevant content will appear first, numbered and with several other questions below as well. Then you can “dig” through the links to the articles and improve your research. Don’t forget to add the province where you want to live in the sentence, as there are different rules and everything else for each one.
If you came across content suggested by Google when you asked a question, it is probably because Google's “robot” saw that it is one of the most accessed, best indexed and most relevant.. There are several strategies for getting a website or page to appear in the top results, and companies and content creators work hard on this. You need to know how to get to the “top” content and analyze its relevance to what you are searching for.
Before reading, check the date, if it is not too old, if it is from a reliable website and if it is well written, signed by an identifiable journalist or content producer. There is content that is timeless and others that are not. Canada's immigration rules change in many details every year and the ideal is to consume current content. Timeless things, such as experiences and stories from people who live here, are always valid, but then your common sense needs to come into play.
Understand that everything is algorithm. According to the Google itself,” These ranking systems are made up of not one, but a series of algorithms. To provide the most useful information, Search’s algorithms analyze several factors, including the words in the query, the relevance and usability of the pages, the expertise of the sources, and their location and settings. The weight given to each factor varies depending on the nature of the query. For example, the freshness of content plays a more important role in answering queries about current news topics than about dictionary definitions.
To help ensure that Search algorithms meet high standards of relevance and quality, we have a rigorous process that involves real-time testing and thousands of external Search quality raters trained around the world. These quality raters follow strict guidelines that define our goals for Search algorithms and are publicly available to anyone.” You don’t need to understand the technical aspects, but you should have a sense of how it all works to help you search better.
Looking for job vacancies or job search sites? Enter your keywords and the city you want to visit. Be very specific. This is another situation where you can use questions, such as: “What is the best website for job search in Canada?”. Type it in and then tell me. ???? Another interesting search is to type “Top companies to work in Alberta 2020″, for example, and see the incredible suggestions that appear.
Pay attention to the other questions. When you type a question, just below, in the “search” field, Google will suggest other similar ones. Pay attention and follow the ones you consider relevant. Take a look at the example in the image below.
Which city is best to live in Canada? Some common English phrases you can use to find various content about cities are “What should I see in Calgary?”, “What is Vancouver most known for?”, “'10 Best Things to do in Calgary”, “Is Toronto a good place to live?”, and so on.
Don't know or forgot a word or name from your search? Use the asterisk. By inserting it in the sentence in place of the word/term you don't know, you will get several probably relevant results.
Put the sentence/subject in quotation marks. This way, Google will show you more relevant results. Without quotation marks, you will receive millions of results, but many of them have nothing to do with what you need.
If you want to find a specific file, such as an Excel spreadsheet or PPT presentation, for example, type “filetype:” at the end, with the type of file extension you want to find. This is super useful for finding scientific articles, spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations (I've found several super interesting ones and even with supposedly confidential content), research, etc.
Meaning of words or terms. If you need to find the definition of a word or phrase, use the “define:” command. Example search: “define: cover letter”.
To find pages and sites with similar content or related to a website you already know, use the related modifier. Example: related:the name of the website you know.
Did you know? that Google has image search, shopping (Google shopping) and also trends (Google Trends)? These are essential tools for specific searches. For images, for example, click on the camera icon, select the image or paste the image URL and the search engine will search for it. Also try the Google Lens. Google will also show similar images and links where the same photo is being used. This may vary slightly depending on the platform or mobile device you use. There are many visual resources that can help you, including with maps, virtually visiting the place you will live, etc.
Don't forget that below the search bar you have the search options. Texts, images, videos, shopping, news, books, scientific articles, etc. Yes, the Google Books, for example, is very interesting. Test, try each one of them. ????
Want to know what the weather is like in city X in Canada? Just type in “weather Vancouver”, for example, and Google will show you. If you click on the link, you’ll get a forecast for the week and for several days as well.
There are many things you can find on Google and make the most of its features. Timer and stopwatch, currency converter, measurement converter (very useful for those who live in Canada), travel flights, maps, dollar exchange rate, etc. You can also use Google as a calculator, to do this, just enter the desired equation in the search bar.
To find a site that has mentioned another site, write “link:” before the address you are going to search for.
There are many things and tricks. Practicing will make you a better researcher. In fact, there are several articles on this subject. Search by typing “How to make the most of Google search?” and specialize more and more. 😉
Education in Canada. You can use Google as your ally to search for courses in your area, in a specific city, the best colleges and universities, rankings, news about immigration (activate the receipt of updates from the sites you like, so you will receive the news first hand), blogs, videos with English tips, videos with tips for job interviews in Canada and a million more possibilities.
You can also use Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” feature. Oh! There’s also “Google Instant”, but I’ll leave that for you to research what it means. 😉
Happy research and if you need expert advice to find the best course for you in Canada, talk to BFF Exchange. We search for courses that suit your profile and handle the entire admission and enrollment process for you, anywhere in Canada. 😉
Study in Canada. Change your life.
Hugs,
Adri Pasa
BFF Exchange
