Twitter as a job search tool
I ran across a very nice resource recently, 20 simple Twitter tips for your job search.
I know, I know – you’re saying that Twitter is such a waste of time and, besides, what would you possible want to tell the universe? Fair enough.
But Twitter, Facebook, and other tools can be valuable assets. Here’s why:
- You can create and maintain relationships with people using these tools.
- You can learn new things, because there’s different conversations going on in these social media.
- You can easily find out what’s being said about your target companies.
- 98% of employers check you out on the web.
I was rather shocked to find out that my kids don’t particularly pay any attention to e-mail. After running my life almost entirely by e-mail for 20 years, it’s hard for me to imagine how to get by without it. I guess this is the same experience that my parents had, switching from telephone to e-mail, or their parents, switching from letters to telephone calls.
But why should you care about Twitter specifically?
- You can monitor conversations going on around any topic.
- You can find out what’s hot – NOW – minute by minute (that can be very important if you want to find out about job openings quickly!)
- Group “conversations” are formed on a somewhat ad-hoc basis and disappear just as rapidly.
- People don’t just stick to work-related issues, to varying degrees they also talk about other aspects of their lives.
In my previous job I was monitoring Twitter to do competitive analysis, because it allowed me to see what was being discussed about other companies and my own. For this I used TweetDeck, but there’s lots of tools out there. I like TweetDeck because it monitors my Twitter friends, my Facebook connections, and other conversations of my choosing.
For job searches it’s ideal, because you’ll instantly (OK, within a minute) find out if there’s news about job openings, target companies, or target industries. Since people have to keep it within 140 characters, it’s usually quite short and sweet – but often includes the direct pointer to more information.
Interested? Read the 20 tips above, and then connect with me:
I finally broke down and checked out Second Life last week, but that’s a whole different opportunity I need to learn about!
You might also find this interesting:
- Another tiny spark on the job front!
- Networking with a purpose!
- Five things I’ve learned in the job search
- When you’re feeling trapped
- The career you’ll love Newsletter – 3 May 2010
Related articles:
» Is it time to reboot your career?
» The 80/20 rule, and when you should ignore it
» Listen to what you're saying
Tags: career, job hunt, networking, social media
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