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.

1) Social media week

When: Feb. 13-17, 2012

Social media week returns to New York this year with a fresh look at the impact of social media in driving cultural, political, economic and social change. This years theme is Empowering Change through Collaboration. Keynote speakers include a diverse mix of individuals in the digital media industry as well as the senior advisor for innovation to US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Purchase your tickets and be at the hub of social media activity in NYC.

2) SES conference

When: March 19-23, 2012

Each year, thousands of online marketing professionals attend the SES conference and expo in NY to stay informed about the best online media practices, peruse an exhibition full of services and technology and network with other professionals. The SES provides speaker sessions and workshops that are designed to help online professionals progress in their careers. Some topics that will be covered at this years conference include SEO, mobile local, paid social media and more.

Register before March 2 for early bird pricing.

3) DAM NY

When: May 10-11, 2012

DAM — Digital Asset Management — the art and practice of managing digital media is a two day conference that facilitates a mutual conversation between thought-leaders and attendees through panel sessions, breakout groups, workshops and keynote talks regarding how to best manage digital media. DAM will introduce attendees to the latest technologies, challenges of managing digital media, digital assets in the social media world, brand strategy and more. Click here for a full list of the agenda topics.

Purchase tickets before March 9 for early bird pricing.

4) BlogWorld & new media expo 2012

When: June 5-7, 2012

BlogWorld is an industry-wide trade show and networking event that brings together thousands of social media content contributors to a three day conference that covers topics from latest strategies to distribution and monetization of social media. Attendees will gain insights from industry thought leaders who will impart actionable plans to help business professionals leverage their social media strategies. Keynote sessions include innovative ways to reach new customers and learn how to manage a brand in the digital age.

Reserve your tickets to ensure you don’t miss out on an informative and progressive conference.

5) CE Week 2012

When: June 25-29, 2012

The CEA line show in 2011 brought out the top technology industry innovators to exhibit their latest products and gadgets. Last year’s line up included Intel, LG, Mitsubishi, Monster, etc. This year, the trade show is back as a part of consumer electronic week, a weeklong series of technology-specific events across NYC including the CEA line shows, digital downtown conference and CEA demo suites. This conference draws the biggest audience of journalists, retailers, distributors and market leaders in New York.

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.

1) Fooducate
This iPhone app encourages users to eat better by scanning products to reveal their heath scores. Fooducate uses an algorithm to established grades (A to F), developed by nutritional and dietary professionals. It takes into account the nutrition facts panel, the ingredients listed, and the product category. You’ll be able to discern products with too much sugar, sodium, trans fats, food colourings and more. This app solves the confusion of health claims and marketing hype by scanning a product in the grocery store or by searching for a product in the app. Just pick up a product from the shelf, scan it, and let Fooducate do the rest. And it’s free!

2) Urbanathlon

Invoke built this one: The Urbanathlon health and fitness app is a free iPhone application geared towards athletes competing in the Men’s Health Urbananthlon and Festival, a huge race/obstacle course/festival/ultimate fitness challenge. However those who are not competing in the the race will find the workouts challenging and beneficial. Many of the workouts suggested do not require special equipment or weights.

2) miHealth
Your health is in your hands with this app designed for the iPhone and iPad. Mihealth is a Canadian app that allows users to pull up their health records at any time. The digital copies of their health records can be updated and maintained using the app. The information can be accessed at anytime, such as in case of an emergency or to show a health care professional. The other great feature is the messaging. Users can communicate with their doctors directly using the app, providing worry free communication between patients and clinics.

3) iMuscle

The iMuscle app is available on iPhone and iPad and has 3D body part displays, which is cool although a little creepy. The app allows users to identify and target individual muscles sections for maximum results. The app provides more than 450 unique exercises and stretches. The app also measures heart rates, calories burned and more. It’s a little on the expensive side, at $4.99. However it was named the best iPad Medical app in 2011 by Apple so if you are a visual person, and have specific needs, this app is for you.

4) Nike+
If you hate treadmills and love running all over town, download the Nike+ iPhone app for $1.99. The Nike+ app tracks the distance, and pace of your runs and motivates you to go even further. It’s social in that it allows users to post the runs on Twitter and Facebook. You can get motivated with the voice feedback feature, voiced by Nike’s top athletes, and use personalized PowerSongs to help you go just one more mile. If you love treamills, don’t worry, the app will track your distance too. Keep a record of your best runs and and see what it takes for you to break them.

Honorable mentions:

The Eatery: Love taking photos of your food? This app promises to make your eating habits easy to track and thus to change. The app uses photos in your camera roll and determines whether it is fit or fat food. Or you can add friends and they can comment on what you’re eating. The app also uses that data and creates nice visualizations.

Lose it!
If you are looking for an extensive way to track what you eat and when you eat it, then be sure to get this free iPhone app. Track calories, pounds, weight lost and share with friends. The app encourages users to set goals and establish a daily calorie budget. According to the Lose it! website, the app has helped users lose at total of 7,445, 581 lbs.

“Invoke has grown substantially this year,” said David Tedman, the co-CEO of Invoke. “Acquiring Thirdi reinforces our growth strategy both in US markets as well as here in Vancouver.”

Invoke has rapidly been adding staff in the past 12 months to handle a growing client list, which includes brands like VH1, 7-Eleven Canada, Los Angeles Newspaper Group, AG Hair, F-Cancer and Men’s Health. Invoke’s services — including social media and digital strategy, web and mobile app development, Facebook development and website design and development — position it to smoothly take over Thirdi’s services which include social apps and online tools. Invoke is now handling all of Thirdi’s existing accounts and providing ongoing support for clients and their apps. Web, mobile development and social media support will be done out of Invoke’s Vancouver office.

“Our team is thrilled to bring our award winning strategy and products to a host of exciting new clients,” Tedman said.

“This is a great move for everyone involved, and I’m excited it’s Invoke taking over,” said Matt Friesen, Thirdi’s founder. “There’s no doubt our clients will love their new agency. I spent the past five years growing Thirdi to what it is today and I’m proud to pass the ball to Invoke.”

Invoke’s in house products include HootSuite, memelabs, Eat St. and Food.ee.

During the next 90 days, Invoke will be transitioning Thirdi’s social media channels and redirecting business inquiries to Invoke.

Thirdi clients with questions about their accounts can contact Invoke at 604-398-6030 or by emailing info@invokemedia.com.

Please direct press inquiries to Allison Vail at allison.vail@invokemedia.com.