Jump start your knowledge with Vancouver interactive workshops designed to help you leverage your web skills or attend the 2-day Interlink conference for more hands-on workshops.

Interlink Workshops offer a series of six hour hands-on workshops on the first Wednesday of each month. These interactive workshops are taught by industry leaders and are designed to teach participants digital-based skills — web design, WordPress, etc. The workshops are at the W2 Media Cafe on E. Hastings and run from April to June. Tickets go on sale beginning in February and cost $395 (early bird) or $495 (regular). Register early in order to reserve your spot. Lunch is included, a laptop is strongly encouraged for all workshops.

1. How to build and customize WordPress themes

When: Wednesday April 4, 2012 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Tickets available starting: Feb. 8, 2012

The first workshop, by web developer Jeff Starr, teaches participants how to create a WordPress theme from the ground up including building & customizing your own theme, integrating e-commerce, support systems and chat forums. Additionally, he will explore social-media functionality through the use of widgets, advanced loops and more. Participants will be left with a flexible and scalable WordPress theme that is functional and SEO ready.

2. Adaptive web design 

When: Wednesday May 9, 2012 (9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.)

Tickets available starting March 7, 2012

With the explosion of new devices–phones, tablets, media players and video game systems, web developer Aaron Gustafson will teach participants how to deal with an increasingly fragmented browser landscape through modern web design. Get a better understanding of Progressive Enhancement, CSS, HTML5 and JavaScript.

3. Responsive enhancement

When: Wednesday June 5, 2012 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Tickets available starting April 4, 2012

In the third workshop, technical director Jeremy Keith teaches how to construct websites that are intuitive on a wide range of devices. Learn how to prioritize content, size images for different environments, apply fluid layouts based on percentages and more. This workshop is aimed at designers and developers.

4. 2012 Interlink web design conference

When: Wednesday June 6-7, 2012

Tickets available Feb. 1 at 8 a.m.

The Interlink conference is a 2-day event of  curated talks and hands-on workshops created for web professionals led by a mix of designers, developers, creative directors and more. Lots of extra free events are offered for connecting and lunch is included for attendees.

Here at Invoke we’re always looking for great people to join the team and we’re going to help you blow us out of the water by letting you in on some insider tips. After many years and thousands of resumes, we’ve compiled a list of things we think all candidates should do when applying for a job here.

1. Spend time doing your homework and researching the company. Know what we do and who we work with. You should be able to tell us at least one interesting idea for the company that makes us want to hire you on the spot. Invoke needs people who kick butt, so if you’re awesome, we’re not going to let you leave.

2. Have an online presence and contribute. Make sure your Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media accounts are up to date and convey the message you want to present to us. We will Google you. We’ll probably look for you on Facebook — it’s what we do. It is imperative you understand the digital space, so consider blogging about something you’re an expert in to show us you know what you’re talking about.

3. Show us how you sell. If you were a Brewmaster, it goes without saying that you know how to make beer (so please apply now). Instead of listing skills on your resume, tell us how you used them in a way that could be beneficial to us. Maybe you won a regional customer service award or showed initiative by implementing a new recycling program. Prove that you standout.

4. Write a cover letter to fill in the blanks. Yes, we know you’re a web development ninja from your experience, but tell us something we don’t know. Did you get your degree in Bug Psychology (yes, this actually exists) or take a year off to travel the world on a unicycle? This information is just as important to us since life skills can speak volumes.

5. Be passionate about what you do. Working with Invoke means sometimes working long hours but we love what we do, we make it fun, and we surround ourselves with others who do too. Let us know why you would fit in.

6. Get a foot in the door. If you want to work for our company or industry, but you’re not yet experienced enough, just get some practice behind you. If you’re interested, apply for an internship and don’t focus on compensation or the short term. If you prove you are a rock star, we will take care of you; great talent is hard to find.

7. Last but not least, be unique. We work in a creative environment, so if you can show us something we haven’t seen before you’ll catch our attention. Here are some ideas from creative thinkers who have taken at stab at innovative job seeking methods.

Check out this video of a guy who made a QR Code Resume, as well as resumes with an interesting twist pictured below.

Sign up for Invoke’s monthly newsletter to stay connected to all the best, most exciting Invoke news and all our insights about our staff and the tech industry. Learn more about our latest app, projects and employment opportunities. Plus, meet Invokers and watch awesome videos of them eating absurdly large burgers. Win-win.

Invoker tip: Subscribe to the Invoke blog and you will automatically receive monthly newsletters. Then you’ll really be in the know.

First day of CES 2012 is in the books. I touched down in sunny Las Vegas at 1 p.m. Jan. 10 and quickly hit the registration tent to pick up my badge and welcome pack. The show was gigantic, far bigger than I ever imagined — 50k booths and 150k+ attendees. I managed to visit the entire south hall and demonstrated new products including the Samsung Galaxy Note, Social TV devices, various Tablets, Nokia phones, and Microsoft Xbox. Following the show, I stopped by the Spike TV after party at Wynn.

Here are some photos from Day 1.

Mobile App
With more than 100 restaurants in the Food.ee database, Vancouverites have more choices than ever for delicious take out and delivery. To make it easier for those on-the-go, the Food.ee team is working on a mobile application for iPhones, placing everything delicious right in the palm of your hand. Stay tuned for more info.

Corporate Ordering
For foodees who are tired of boring office lunches comprised of soggy sandwiches or lacklustre pizza, you’re in luck! The Food.ee team is launching corporate ordering for offices in February! If you need solutions for large groups or office meals, check out Food.ee for a variety of options including Thai curry, sushi, and authentic Szechuan cuisine. If your company is interested in early access, let the team know at info@food.ee.

Giveaways
Last but not least, Food.ee is giving away $25 gift certificates weekly to participating Food.ee restaurants and an iPod touch at the end of the month. Win prizes each week by ordering food on Food.ee. Here are two ways of winning:

• Weekly $25 gift certificate – During the month of January, place an order on Food.ee and you’ll be automatically entered into the weekly draw.
• Apple 8GB iPod Touch – Place more than one order in January and you’ll be automatically entered into the giveaway.

Every order placed in the month of January counts as one entry, so multiple orders gives you multiple entries into the draw!

We’re very excited for the launch of corporate ordering and the mobile app. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more info and exclusive deals! If you’re not already, follow us on Twitter @foodee and Like us on Facebook here.