How to Use Twitter to Help Your Job Hunt

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Some see Twitter as a passing fad, but in a competitive job market it can give you a crucial edge over other applicants. With nearly 5 million users, the popular social media tool is emerging as a matchmaker among recruiters, job seekers and employers.

First stop: Your local library. Twitter is a newer technology, so books on its use are limited. Still, titles are cropping up that will help you maximize its use. For example, the glossary of terms and symbols in Everything Twitter – From Novice To Expert: The Unofficial Guide to Everything Twitter The Blue Book by Monica Jones and Steve Soho will help you wade through the terminology.

For advice on organizing your job search, check out The Twitter Book by Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein. It can serve as a guide for creating a professional-looking profile and organizing your job “tweets,” or postings. Also, as more librarians begin to use Twitter, you can tweet with them about references and other helpful career services. You can also find blog posts about Twitter and spend time tweeting by using the free Wi-Fi and computers available at libraries.

Getting started
Unlike other social media tools, Twitter enables you to have fast, direct conversations with potential job connections. First, create a profile. In the bio section, include your location, your field, areas of expertise or interests. If possible, include a link to an online resume, LinkedIn or another source of information about your experience.

Then, from a computer or cell phone start tweeting (posting 140-character-or-less updates). Follow people who work in the field in which you are looking for a job. Interact with them — introduce yourself and start a conversation about shared interests or relevant topics. Attract followers by posting about your experience, knowledge and interests. Share links to industry news or topics. If you want to work in the green industry, for example, posting tweets about your knowledge of the topic could draw attention from people in the field.

Meanwhile, you can also follow the tweets of others to locate job boards, recruiters, networking events, career fairs or upcoming projects in your industry.

Here are key Twitter tips for job seekers:

• The Twitter Book suggests sending messages during business hours
• Tuesday-Thursday EST to boost your chances of getting noticed.
• Use Twitter’s “Find People” function to search bios or tweets in your field of interest.
• Use Hash Tags— keywords preceded by # — to follow career-related topics. For instance, #jobs displays a continually updated list of jobs around the country.

Making Connections

• View Twitter as a conversation starter and networking tool, through which you can introduce yourself to people in your field or job recruiters. Eventually, you may attract people by posting what you’re looking for in a job, as well.
• Use the search function — search.twitter.com —to see what other people are saying about companies, from potential job openings to the kind of people that work there. The more relevant your entries are to your industry, the more connections you will attract.
• When networking, as in a regular conversation, don’t inquire about jobs until you’ve established a rapport with the person.

Interviewing tip: Before job interviews, find out what people are saying about the company on Twitter. Employers are likely to be impressed with your up-to-date knowledge of their company.

Streamline your search:
Download and install free Twitter software like TweetDeck, which can separate Twitter job feeds from the other users you follow. Customize it to store job information in one place, making it easier to follow up on leads later.

Start Following:
Here are 10 Twitter accounts to follow for the latest jobs, news and career advice:

1. @Jobsearchnews — Up-to-date job search news and links to career boards
2. @Kellyjobs — Frequently updated temp jobs by location
3. @DOScareers — Careers in foreign affairs and links to networking events nationwide
4. @Manpower — Both temp and permanent jobs around the world
5. @WSJCareers — The Wall Street Journal career news and opportunities
6. @NYTimesCareers — The New York Times careers and opportunities
7. @RickDeare — A recruiter with lots of advice for job seekers
8. @TweetResume — Sends your resume link to hundreds of corporate recruiters
9. @Tweet_My_Jobs — Follow for the latest job postings
10. @JobAngels — Matches job seekers with recruiters and postings