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Believe it or not, twitter is more than just a place to tell the world what you had for lunch. With over 6 million current users, it's a perfect place to take your job hunt. By adding to the conversation, twitter can help you:
However just like LinkedIn, simply joining twitter will get you nowhere. You need to develop a well-defined strategy catered specifically to your needs. Here are four easy steps that will get you well on your way and the tools that will help you get there.
1) Create a focused, targeted profile
The first step is creating your presence on twitter. Everything about twitter is short and concise. Your profile needs to say everything important about you in the time it takes to read half a sentence.
Dan utilizes the background to include more info about him.
#1) Claim your twitter handle. Your goal is to get noticed so use your real name. If your name is taken, use some variation with a professional spin. (example: PR_PeggySue)
#2) Upload a professional head shot. Twitter is about meeting new people who share your passions and interests. Nobody wants to share with a default graphic. (Tip: use the same profile picture across all your social networks).
#3) Write a professional, targeted bio. You only have 160 characters, so make them count. Strip away all the fluff and pinpoint your most important qualities. Why are you on twitter and what are you passionate or knowledgeable about? Include keywords in your profile to help others find and connect with you. (Tip: Don't forget to link to your personal website or Linkedin profile)
#4) Create your custom background. If you keep your background as default, you are wasting prime real estate. Use TwitterImage to promote your other sites and profiles. The whole point is connecting, so direct your audience to other places where they can actually connect. (example: Dan Schawbel's profile here http://twitter.com/danschawbel).
2) Build your Network
Once your profile is complete, it's time to start reaching out for followers.
#1) Follow major players in your industry. Use Twellow to find them. This is a great opportunity to interact with them and put yourself on their radar. They are also phenomenal resources to keep up with industry trends. After responding directly to their tweets a few times, they are likely to follow or even respond to you back, exposing you to their highly valuable audiences.
#2) Search for people who are talking about your industry. Type relevant keywords into the search function and follow people who are talking about them. This is a quick, effective way to build a relevant network. Use Tweepz to search people's bio for relevant job titles, as well.
3) Add value to your community
This is the most important point to take away. Twitter is a completely open, ongoing conversation. While following people will connect you to valuable, new information, your followers expect the same from you. Before you benefit from your network, you need to establish yourself as a thoughtful, contributing member.
Schawbel consistently puts out interesting, relevant info for followers
#1) Post helpful, interesting tweets.Most people don't care what you had for lunch. They are interested in tweets that yield a positive impact on their day. Try posting daily quotes or tips. For example, at @brandyourself, I post daily job search tips since many of my followers are looking for a job.
#2) Link to interesting, relevant information. The best way to establish yourself as a valuable member or even expert of your community is to share new, interesting information. Read industry blogs and newsletters and post your favorite articles. Use TwitterFeed and TweetLater to save you time and post them throughout the day.
#3) Answer relevant questions. There is no better way to prove your worth. Take a little time each day to search for questions pertaining to your area of expertise. Type in a specific keyword followed by a question mark to filter results. For example, I type "resume tips" to find people looking for help with their resume. This is an excellent way to attract more followers, and establish yourself as an authority in your line of work.
#4) Retweet other people who add value to you. If someone in your network posted something you found helpful, acknowledge it by retweeting it to your followers. This is important for building relationships and it also exposes you to their audience.
#5) Engage your community. Above all else, twitter is a conversation. So ask questions, reply to others using the @ function, and ask for feed back. Just make sure you are part of the conversation.
4) Find a job
Once you build a strong network, you will be surprised at the opportunities 140 characters can bring.
Job Boards on twitter are becoming increasingly effective
#1) Tweet occasionally about your job search. Be clear exactly what you are looking for and what kind of skills you bring with you. If you have proven yourself as a thoughtful, intelligent individual, your followers will be happy to extend a helping hand. A few retweets brings your profile a long way.
#2) Keep growing your network. Once you build a strong network of followers who like what you have to say, find more. Use tools like twubble to find out who your followers are following. This is a quick way to multiply relevant followers
#3) Search. Use twitter search to look for job openings that were posted. Type in relevant keywords like your job title or desired position. Set up an RSS feed for these keywords using TweetBeep.
#4) Follow accounts that post job listings in your industry. There is no quicker platform to browse or post job listings. More and more companies are posting listings online, looking for socially savvy individuals. Choose aggregators that are geographically/industry specific.
In reality, these are the same tactics used in traditional job hunting, just magnified. Build quality relationships with people in your industry who know and understand your qualifications.
So, who I have to ask....Has this approach yielded any success, for anyone?
Where did you come up with this strategy, how has it helped you get a job?
Are you serious? I have heard of many uses of twitter. I have heard of it as a dating site. A job search is a new one. In my opinion, building a credible interesting twitter profile takes a lot of effort. If you are going to put that much effort in getting a good job, you are better off with offline networking events.
@Liza & Vivek
If you read the article carefully, you will notice it's really less about snagging a job, and more about building a positive online presence through twitter and connecting meaningfully with people in your industry.
Like it or not, social networking is only going to grow. Some people use it for silly reasons, but many people use it to share valuable information. @vivek, you are crazy to think that connecting and sharing with people in your industry will not help your job search. Of course nothing replaces face-to-face networking, but right now, most people don't' have large enough networks to get them an in. Social networking, when done right, extends that network. Especially if you are young.
@Liza, twitter is seeing more and more success when it comes to the job search. Don't want to take my word, read this articles from Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/07/twitter-tweet-jobs-leadership-careers-e...
Disclosure: I am the author of this article
@ Patrick, gee you make it sound like it's more of a place to network, than it is a place to find a job, let alone a persons ideal job. Maybe the title is just a little misleading. :)
And, the Forbes article shows one case where a person (in the right profession) was able to find a job, but it does clearly state that it is mostly a networking site. To support this:
'Needless to say, not everyone will get a job simply by tweeting about their employment status. But Twitter, like LinkedIn, Facebook and industry conferences, is a way to reach out and get in front of people who know hiring managers or can introduce you to them.'
' "A big part of using Twitter was that it allowed me to break the ice," Johansen says. "For a job seeker it's a way to say, 'I can show you I'm a real person, I see you're a real person, and we have a connection.' On the employer's side, they get to see what a person talks about when they're on Twitter and how they act outside of work." '
' "There is nothing revolutionary about this stuff," Flaherty says. "It's evolutionary. Back in the day we would have sent out cover letters, a few years later e-mails, and a few years later we updated our blogs. The beauty of Twitter is that it's as if you're at a networking event all the time, in real time." '
It's networking, building connections
My point is that the title of this article is misleading. Twitter was built to find people jobs, it was built to connect with people, and those with a little luck and determination might find a job.
And after reading the Forbes article, it is clear that these steps were derived from it. So I still have to wonder; is the writer speaking from experience? Either current or past? How exactly have these steps effected his job search directly?
Sorry I did not respond sooner, I did not realize you replied.
You are right, this article is more about networking and building meaningful connections, so in that way the title is misleading.
However, the point remains that most jobs are found through networking. This article was written because many of our readers did not understand how to effectively use twitter. This article was meant to illustrate how twitter is not just a medium to keep in touch with friends, but a place to showcase your skills and thoughts and connect with like minded people, which in turn leads to a job.
As far as personal experience goes, my activity on social networks (like twitter) have been responsible for all of the opportunities I've received in the last 6 months. This includes my current position at a start-up, an opportunity with MS&L and a handful of speaking engagements.
I appreciate your comments and I'm glad you called me out. However, I firmly believe if you take the time to build an impressive, authentic presence on twitter, you will be happily surprised at how many opportunities unfold.
Patrick
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