Quick Tips to Use Twitter for Your Job Search
Do you Tweet? If not, maybe you should.
Perhaps it would be misleading to say that as a job searcher you MUST be on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or other social and business networking sites. But, assuming that you use social media in appropriate and professional ways, being connected and networking in these ways can only help. And, few people would argue that you shouldn’t seize on any edge that you can give yourself in a job market that is widely being called the most competitive in a quarter-century.
Twitter, for those unfamiliar, is a service that allows you to communicate and stay connected with your colleagues, current and former co-workers, friends, family, and other contacts through the exchange of quick, simple answers (140 characters or less) to the question, “What are you doing now?” While the premise is simple-so simple that you might at first question how “Tweeting” (Twitter-speak for posting an update to Twitter) could be helpful in your job search-I would urge you to take another look. Twitter has become vastly popular and you might be surprised at how many of your colleagues, friends, and even top experts in your field or profession are on Twitter.
If you are actively involved with managing your career or conducting a job search, here are just a few benefits that will justify the time you spend setting up your free Twitter account and learning how to use it:
1. Twitter can be a great tool to help you build, enhance, and promote your personal brand.
Briefly, your personal brand (as it relates to your career) is what differentiates you and makes you and your contributions uniquely valuable in the workplace. As a job searcher, you can use Twitter to make your followers aware of your expertise, post links to interesting news stories about your industry, or post tips related to your profession. All of these are brand-building activities that will make you memorable to your contacts, boost your credibility, and help set you apart as a leader in your field.
2. Twitter is an extraordinary networking tool.
Remember that networking is all about building relationships. Twitter helps you stay in contact with people in your network in a quick and easy way that was never before possible. It will allow you to keep your contacts up-to-date on your job search, it is a great way to learn about unadvertised job openings, and it is often an easy way to get referrals to people you should talk to. Of course, it is important to remember that networking is also about providing reciprocal help, and Twitter allows you a fast, easy way to let people in your network know about job openings you’ve heard about, or give other help or advice to your contacts when they need it.
3. Twitter provides you with a way to connect almost instantly with recruiters and other hiring authorities in your field.
More and more recruiters are using Twitter and other social media tools to find candidates for job postings. Some companies are actively encouraging their employees to Tweet about (or discuss on LinkedIn or Facebook) job openings that they are trying to fill. If you are regularly Tweeting about your job search and posting other on-brand Twitter posts, it is just a matter of time before you start uncovering and being referred for attractive job or business opportunities.
Are you convinced? Even for the time-challenged professional (does that describe nearly all of us?), Twitter is easy to use. You don’t even need to be sitting at your computer as Twitter is mobile and can easily be used on your iPhone, Blackberry, or cell phone.
When you are ready to get started, here are some quick tips:
1. Sign up for your free Twitter account and fill out your profile. Remember that you will be using your account for networking and professional purposes, so use discretion and only include information or a photo that you would be comfortable sharing with recruiters, your colleagues, and the world. If you have a reason to keep your business and personal life separate, you should create separate accounts.
2. Search for and “follow” people that you know. Twitter provides easy tools and instructions for doing this. Consider friends, family, current and former co-workers, industry contacts, people you went to college with, etc. Once you are following these people, look through their contacts and selectively follow some of their contacts. Even if you don’t know someone, if you have a reason to do so, follow them. This is a way to build new relationships.
3. As you begin to build your list of people you are following, many will begin to follow you. When you are getting started, try to post Tweets daily-perhaps twice daily. Besides just answering the basic question “What are you doing now?” (always keeping in mind that your Tweets should be appropriate and follow basic rules of etiquette) try to regularly post useful, on-brand information and links.
4. When your contacts Tweet, respond if you can answer a question or have useful information or tips for them. Twitter gives you two ways to do this: direct messages and replies. Be selective about which method you use. A direct message will only be seen by the person you are responding to. A reply will go to everyone that follows you.
5. Search Twitter for keywords. This is a good way to find out what is going on and being discussed on topics of interest to you among people that you aren’t already following. You may also find interesting people that you will want to follow. The place to do that is search.twitter.com
6. Do you have a Facebook account, a LinkedIn profile, a blog, or another website? There are options to link them all and post status updates simultaneously to all of them. This can be a great timesaver, so it is worth taking the time to learn how to link them. You could also consider including your Twitter user name in your email signature files or on business cards. Doing so will quickly build your following, and the larger your following, the more beneficial Twitter will be to your job search and career.
Do people who use twitter to look for a job really get taken seriously? I just have to ask because I don’t think I would consider hiring anyone that way.
Thanks for the article. Is there anywhere I can learn how to use twitter better?
Thanks for the tips!
needed job i can`t find one.
I’am a security officer I need a job D & G licenses
LOOKING FOR WORK IN INDY
Seems like another networking tool but will it be productive for job searches?
Thank you for the tip. I think I’ll give it a shot.I’m greatful for all the help I can get.
Looking for job, laid-off logging job– lots cut backs in timber & lumber jobs, all jobs for that matter lots of people in the unemployment line any way. We are making it so far only with the Good Lords Help So if you should come up someone needing an Old Logger, that Knows a litte Bit of House repair, little car repair, Lots of Heavey equimpment– Catterpiller D8 to 528, Fellerbuncher, Pile-logging slash with lo-loading mechine let me know please
Thanks Duane C Ikesr 360 659 9363
please help me
My question to your company concerning finding work for those who are serious about finding a job, such as I am… why have you not updated your own website? It is showing the last time any update has been done to Job 1 University was in 2008! It is now 2010!!!! How trustworthy is your site?
@Debbie,
Thanks for your comment. However, you are mistaken. Our site is updated daily… I believe what you are looking at is the year at the bottom of the blog which is in fact the year that the wordpress theme was created that this blog uses. Good luck with your job search.
Need job Perfer warehouse shipping & receiving
Thanks for the tip. I’ve been out of work now for almost 2 months. I’ve applied for over 20 jobs, and have not received one response. This tip may help.
help people,how much you… gies can do .the situation is very tuff, though people are trying their best.
My question is… How secure is TWITTER? I hear horror stories from people who are on other similiar websites. ( dont want to mention site names here), And, Do prospective employers really search on these sites for desireable prospects? I DO know some employers frequent these sites to see if they have employees with pages, then use the information they gather to repromand or even terminate their employment. Although it IS information available that is used in these cases so I suppose it’s a matter of what you put on your page as to what is available to viewers. Anyway, a hacked website can be a disaster for those concerned, so my question is, How secure is TWITTER?
i need job i cant find.please help.
Twitter is open source… So in other words, you are posting things for the whole world to see… The nice thing about twitter though is that if you do some research and find a company you want to work for, you can make contact with people in the company on twitter. Sometimes you can even make contact with the president of the companies. Twitter is not like facebook in that you do not put pictures or similar things on there.
i’m looking for a second job the employer’s these day’s don’t pay enough to buy a cup of coffee.hell i need to feed my fammily. can some one please help.
any kind of job will be just fine.
thank you!
I have been seeking employment in the manufacturing business for several months with no luck. Is there anyone out there looking for an intelegent, hard working, and experienced manufacturing employee?
I.ve been looking for a job for 2 months now.
Maybe, I’ll give twitter a try.I want to register.
I am having trouble searching for a pharma manufacturing since last july 2009, even after completing one year Pharmaceutical manufacturing course, but still not a single reply.
Can anyone help before it is too late.
I need help.IIt’s hard for me to find a job. I am a person with disabilities and almost is imposible to find a job for me. if you know something that can help me let me know at my E-mail. I am 50 years old, speak Spanish and English I can use my hands but not my legs. I do sewing alterations, and I am a fast learner in case I don’t know something. my telephone is 408-854-0378 from San Jose, CA.
I’am 56 years old looking for a job help me.
I have been looking for work that was Office/Clerical positions since last June 2009. I have put in for numerous jobs, but I guess it is who u know and not what u know. If anyone reads this please reply back if u know someone is hiring because my unemployment benefits has ran out and I don’t have any extensions on it. Thanks.
I AM ALSO LOOKING FOR A JOB. THERES A FEW JOB ON INDEED.COM.
I would like to put my experience out there Maybe someone is in need of help of any kind. I’m willing to do anykind of work hard or easy. What should I do? Can I use my name and #
I am having trouble searching for a pharma manufacturing since last july 2009, even after completing one year Pharmaceutical manufacturing course, but still not a single reply.
Can anyone help before it is too late.
i’m looking for a second job the employer’s these day’s don’t pay enough to buy a cup of coffee.hell i need to feed my fammily. can some one please help.
any kind of job will be just fine.
thank you!
I am having trouble searching for a pharma manufacturing since last july 2009, even after completing one year Pharmaceutical manufacturing course, but still not a single reply.
Can anyone help before it is too late.
I have been looking for work that was Office/Clerical positions since last June 2009. I have put in for numerous jobs, but I guess it is who u know and not what u know. If anyone reads this please reply back if u know someone is hiring because my unemployment benefits has ran out and I don’t have any extensions on it. Thanks.
I have been looking for work that was Security Guard/Office/Clerical for the past year after moving back into the area. I guess what people say really is true, it is more about who you know than what you know. I am now in the process of filling out a third application for Securitas as well as going back to school at the same time. If anyone sees this please let me know if there are any openings in Livingston/Florham Park/East Hanover/Parsippany. Thank you.