Using Twitter to find your dream job

When you talk to jobseekers, using twitter does not exactly come into mind when trying to find a dream job.  Twitter is about Justin Bieber having more followers than Lady Gaga, about politicians, business and sports people making inappropriate ‘tweets’ and for news service updates.  Yet this online networking service and microblogging service is a ‘golden’ and often under-utilised resource for jobseekers.

The benefits of Twitter

The benefits of using Twitter can be enormous if used appropriately.  For jobseekers, this includes:

• A vehicle to gain support if you have lost your job.
• It allows you to tap into a wealth of free job search information, including information specific to Australia.  Australian career experts post regular and up-to-date tweets including myself (I know, a blatant plug and my twitter name is @carolyncoach)
• It is a platform to locate job leads, as recruiters and companies hire via Twitter.
• It allows you to connect directly with the hidden job markets and insider contacts.
• It allows you to expand your network FAST.
• As a professional it will help shape your online brand as an expert and authority.

So how to you use twitter for job hunting?

Follow and establish relationships with Hiring Managers, Recruiters and Employers.

Recruiters, Hiring Managers, actively leverage the power of Twitter.  But DON’T start off by sending a direct message and asking for a job or asking for help.  Instead establish a relationship and ensure that you have keywords in your bio relevant to your sector/job – i.e. job title.  Also make sure you use a LinkedIn link or online web resume for the Web URL.

While job boards currently remain strong in Australia, there is also a growing trend of employers and recruiters finding candidates directly from social media, including LinkedIn and Twitter and this trend is set to continue.  So become an early adopter and potentially reap the reward.

Use Twitter as a space to dramatically expand and grow your network

We all hear about networking as a way to tap into the hidden job market and yet very few jobseekers network effectively, or don’t have a vast network to tap into.  Twitter changes this, as it allows you to build an effective network and build it relatively quickly. To build a twitter network:

• Build relationships by following people that you’d like to know and initiate a conversation with them. Most people will be quite receptive.
• Target people in your industry, occupation or target companies, using the Twitter’s ‘Find People’ feature and then follow them.  You can follow this up with a Direct Message feature for a private reply and even suggest a follow up email or telephone.
• Build a relationship by demonstrating an interest in others.  When you show genuine interest, you build relationships.
• Deepen relationships by retweeting their tweets and responding to their conversations.
• Focus on what you know and help others with your knowledge.

When networking, keep in mind networking is not asking for a job.  It is about using the networks to build relationships with potential employers, learn inside information about jobs that are being created or not advertised and for connecting with those that might not be hiring today, but will be looing for someone like you tomorrow.

Use Twitter for job leads

Use the Hashtag to find information, people and job leads.

A hashtag # is Twitter’s answer to the file system.

The most effective way to use the hashtag is to use a terms such as #job #Jobs and combine it with specific term related to your specific job search, such as #IT #Jobs #Sydney.  You will quickly tap into a vast network of jobs being posted by recruiters and employers.

Use Twitter to market your expertise online and be found by headhunters and recruiters

As a professional or executive it is becoming increasingly important that you have an effective online identity.  If you don’t have an online profile, you don’t exist.  Online identity is how visible a person is when someone searches your name on the Internet. Tools to do this:

Google.com – simply go to Google.com, Yahoo.com, or Bing.com and type or name in quotes, such as “John Smith”.

Use the following tools to see the breadth and scope of your current online identity:

HowSociable – www.howsociable.com

Addictomatic – addictomatic.com

Once you submit your name for search, it will compile results on the page from sources such as Twitter, Blog Search, Digg, Google Blog Search, FriendFeed, WordPress, Truveo, Flickr, Blinx, Wikio, Yahoo, Tweetmeme, Google Images, Bebo, YouTube, Facebook, and more.

Twitter will help build an effective online profile if you don’t have one (along with LinkedIn).  Use twitter to portray your professionalism, knowledge and exactly what you offer a potential employer.