If you feel as though your job-search connections are running out, Twitter might be just what you need to expand your network. The micro-blogging site is an effective social-media job-search tool, and using it as part of your networking strategy can be a smart move. With their connections and access to information, those on Twitter can share a lot of information that could be helpful to you in your job search.
Twitter works like a slow-motion instant messaging tool, according to Joel Comm, a leading online and social-media expert. A good way to broaden connections with professionals in your field is by joining public discussions in Twitter. One of the best ways to get started is to identify companies or individuals with whom you have common interests and follow them.
Don’t expect overnight success with Twitter. It takes time to develop a list of followers and find those you want to follow. That’s OK, just start small. Sites such as Twellow can help you identify groups, professions and industries that might be of interest.
Twitter can help you re-energize your job search by tapping into the most powerful way to land a job – through people.
Here’s an example: Selena Dehne, publicist for Jist Publishing was contacted by a CNN producer who was looking for someone to interview about job hunting using social media. In less than five minutes, Dehne had accessed her network on Twitter and Facebook and found job seekers who had found job opportunities by using social media. The opportunities were presented to them in fewer than 140 characters, enough information for them to express interest and move to a more direct connection.
The speed at which connections are made and information is shared is valuable when you are in a competitive job market. Social search engines can help broaden your search by organizing a variety of social sites and helping distribute your networking opportunities.
Twitjobsearch is a good link to help you uncover jobs through postings on Twitter, it’s easy to use, however use a hashtag to define your search in a specific field or industry. With the amount of traffic taking place on Twitter on a minute-by-minute basis, using it solely for exchanging social information can be a costly mistake.
Have you used Twitter in your job search?
