By this point, we all know that social networking should be on our radar during our job search. In fact, 42 percent of recruiters use Twitter to find job seekers, while 98 percent use LinkedIn and 33 percent use Facebook. Either way, your presence online is being noticed and the tools and techniques available to focus your job search using tools like Twitter are gaining some ground.
If you’re not really sure how to use Twitter specifically in your job search, here’s how to get started:
1. Optimizing your profile
The first step in using Twitter in your job search is to optimize your Twitter profile. Some things to consider when doing this include:
- Optimize your bio to include your job search interests or specializations
- Consider linking to your personal website, portfolio, or a link to your resume
- Use a professional and appropriate user photo
- Think about your “personal brand” when creating these
- Tweet about your job search, your industry, or your goals
Doing all of these things will make you seem like a thoughtful and prepared professional in your field, make it easier for employers to find your resume, and make your Twitter profile and blog rank higher in a Google search.
2. Focusing your following
Now that your page is optimized for your job search, it’s time to follow the right Twitter accounts. But how do you figure that out? Well, start with the following groups or individuals:
- All professional or industry-specific organizations
- Local, state, or nation-wide governmental entities that impact your industry or job search
- Past colleagues, employers, and any other professional profiles
- Your school’s past alumni or former professors
- Key companies in your industry
- Companies you’re interested in applying to
Take a look at what these accounts are discussing. Very often companies actually tweet job openings as they arise, so this is a great way to start following potential job applications. But what’s even better is you can begin to join the conversation and grow your professional network. Try sharing interesting industry research or columns with your contacts directly and see how they respond. Participate in Twitter chats or live tweeting events to gain a following and establish yourself in your field.
3. Utilizing free job search tools for Twitter
There are plenty of free tools online to help you optimize your job search. Here are a few resources your should know about when job searching via Twitter:
- @Microjobs – A job feed specifically for job seekers. Find more specific job openings using hashtags (#).
- TweetMyJobs – A job aggregator similar to @Microjobs, where you can enter your job industry and location and receive a personalized Twitter feed to follow.
- Twellow – If you’re looking for a specific account, Twellow serves as your own yellow book for Twitter.
- TwitJobSearch – Search for job openings via Twitter using keywords.
How do you use Twitter during your job search? Share your best tips in the comments section!
