One more reason to create a Google Profile

I once read that 72% of hiring managers said they are likely to conduct a google search in order to discover background information on a potential hire.  I think that number is pretty likely to be right for anybody looking to do business with anybody they don't already know well.  So I always suggest whether you are looking to find a new gig or new customers you will want to have a Google Personal Profile created so that people have a better chance of finding you when conducting their informal searches for information about you.

There are other good reasons to have the profile created but I stumbled upon a new one today.  If you complete your Google Profile and include your birthday information, something special happens...

Today, I pulled up my browser and saw this:

and when I clicked on the decorated Google logo, I got this:

Google throws a birthday party for ThinkHammer.

My profile page was streaming with decorated animated confetti and it included a fat free, calorie free, cupcake!  By the way, if you follow the link, you see neither the confetti nor the cupcake. I would guess it's a privacy issue.

Thanks Google! I enjoyed my private birthday party. It was an unexpected surprise.