for Job Seekers

Prepared for Curt MacRae’s Get to WORKshop November 5, 2009

By Cleo Parker

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Twitter for Job Seekers

• What is Twitter?

• How can Twitter assist a job search ?

• Setting up your Twitter account – Profile & following strategies

• Twitter resources for job seekers

What is Twitter, Anyway?

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An Open Micro Blogging Platform

• Microblogging – limited to 140 characters• Open network – no introductions needed

OR

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Twitter Traffic is Growing Rapidly

How Twitter Can AssistJob Seekers

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Using Twitter for Job Search

• Locate jobs

• Establish your credentials

• Networking

• Intelligence Gathering

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Finding Jobs on Twitter: Passive

• Delivered to your inbox– TweetBeep “like Google alerts for twitter:”

• http://tweetbeep.com/ to set up job alerts

– Tweet My Jobs – set up search by channel• http://www.tweetmyjobs.com/

• Delivered to your Twitter account: – These can literally be overwhelming, huge numbers, difficult to

filter– Twitter Job Search

• http://www.twitterjobsearch.com/

– Twitter Job Finder• http://twitterjobfinder.com/

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Finding Jobs on Twitter: Active

• Twitter Search: http://search.twitter.com/– Use hashtags like #jobs, #jobseekers, #hiring,

#mijobs plus relevant keywords

– Use Twitter Search to identify people who work at your target companies and recruiters specializing in your field

Setting up and Using Twitter

Tips for Job Seekers

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Twitter Profile for Job Seekers

• Adjust Your Settings– Profile Statement– Link – Page Background

• Twilk once you’re following 100+

– User Photo – Notifications– Devices

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Anatomy of a Profile

Profile statement

Link to book site

Balanced follow ratio, active tweeter

Following these folks

Optional Background

Profile Photo

Tweets promote book & publishing

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Twitter Commands

• # Hashtag– To identify a tweet as belonging to a special category, such as

• #jobs Social Media Manager, Raleigh NC

• RT re-tweet– To broadcast someone else’s tweet to all your followers

• RT @careerexaminer Hiring good talent - find it first -- http://bit.ly/ruk0g

• @ at reply– To send a message to someone that everyone can see

• @cleoparker interesting blog, cleo thanks for the link http://bit.ly/Kfay

• DM - Direct Message – To send a private message between two people

• D cleoparker You won a free dog training clicker/whistle for following HBH Pet Products! Send your mailing address via DM and watch for your prize

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What Next?

• First, you tweet– Engaging content stimulates interest in following you– Find an article of interest about your field or a target

company and tweet a brief comment and link

• Then you follow– Identify people at target companies, industry experts,

local connectors, recruiters – Develop a system for monitoring key topics and

connections

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Tweeting Tips

• NOT: Your diary, menus, playlist – Twenty things job seekers shouldn’t say on Twitter

• Links – add a brief comment, and use a URL shortener

• Original observations, breaking news, job leads• RT Content of interest

– People appreciate this, they will notice and may follow or otherwise engage with you

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Organizational Tools

• Twitter Lists – new feature to organize who you’re following within Twitter itself– Check out other people’s lists to follow

• Free downloadable applications: – Tweetdeck, Hootsuite, Seesmic, Twirl– Create categories– Built in URL shortening– Link Twitter to other social media, Facebook,

blogs, etc.

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Twitter vs. Tweetdeck

Job Search Tools and Tweeps

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Job Tweeps

• @job shouts – General job postings• @Startup Hire – Jobs at VC backed

companies• @ZulujobsMI - Michigan jobs tweets• @JobAngels – Post your info so others

can “help one person find a job”– Many industries have their own job tweeps, @

GetManufactJobs, @GetMarReseaJobs, @socialmediajobs, etc.

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Job-Related Tweeps

• Advice– @careerealism– @jobhuntorg– @careerexaminer– @kevindonlin– @onlineresume– @indeed– @simplyhired

• Local news & events– @MotorCity– @crainsdetroit

• Recruiters– Search on company name

& #jobs– @kristanabraham

• Campbell-Ewald

– @tannarmstrong• Organic

– @shelligutholm• Aquent

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General Twitter Information

• Articles on Twitter for job searching– How to find a job on Twitter article on

Mashable– Review of Twitter job search apps– @Irene Koehler offers online social media

training via Twitter

• The Twitter Workbook by David R. Haslam