Online IT TrainingCNN Money recently shared an interesting story from the world of information technology recruitment and job placements. Fair warning: if you’ve ever spent long days searching through job listings only to be frustrated by a lack of opportunities, this story might make you green with envy.

It concerns Max Rosett, a data scientist who was pursuing a mid-career shift into computer engineering when he encountered an unexpected opportunity to demonstrate his skills to Google, securing an interview within about two weeks and ultimately an offer of a job that closely matched his desired responsibilities and compensation.

Other aspiring IT professionals have had similar experiences, which reveal that Google uses its search engine as a recruiting tool when a user’s search terms seem to reveal that he’s pursuing high level information technology training online. In Rosett’s case, he searched for “python lambda function list comprehension,” which opened a new screen offering him the first in a series of six programming challenges, each of which he had 48 hours to complete.

It’s not clear what search terms have been involved in other people receiving these sorts of challenges, but it’s a safe bet that Google has set up their hidden recruiting feature to respond whenever it seems like someone is seeking online information technology training that’s related to a current area of high demand for the search giant.

Rosett himself gives a hint that the process is not at all pigeonholed, as he points out that he had two options for coding his responses to the six challenges. So while it was the pursuit of higher level skills with python programming that led Rosett to his recruitment surprise, the same thing surely has happened or will happen for a person using Google search to look for advanced java online training in the USA.

Of course, this post isn’t meant to suggest that people who are looking for information technology placements on the West Coast should commit themselves to online IT training on the assumption that Google will be watching their progress and getting ready to offer them a job. Rather, there is a much larger point to be made here. And that is that you can never be sure what kinds of doors will open through online information technology training.

In its own way, the same is true of software training courses, PMP training and certification, and other programs offered through an in-person information technology in California or elsewhere in the US. Both provide students with a means of networking with other established and up-and-coming IT professionals. But it’s always smart to supplement your primary training with self-directed online information technology training.

Doing so shows initiative, and this is presumably the very characteristic that Google latches onto from time to time. But even if it fails to notice you, your diligent efforts will eventually lead you to the people and firms that are offering your skills and that are in need of them. And whether those persons stumble onto your skill set or you stumble onto them, the effect is the same: a better career and rapid professional growth.