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Twitter for Job Seekers
Kelli StaleyDigital Librarian
Lansing Public Library
70-80% of jobs are not published
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133474431/a-successful-job-search-its-all-about-networking
Introduction
• Presentation available at: http://www.lansingpl.org
• Contact:– Twitter: @kellistaley– Email: kelli@lansingpl.org
Introduction
• Presentation assumes participants have basic working knowledge of Twitter.
• Need an introduction to Twitter? Try these books:1. The Twitter Book by Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein2. Twitter: Tips, tricks and tweets by Paul McFedries
Introduction
• Why Twitter?
– Thousands of jobs posted there daily
– Job seekers don’t have to register or post a resume first
– Good venue for casual, informal networking
– Offers immediate access to important people in your field
Introduction
• Presentation split in two parts: Active vs. passive approach
Active approach – you have an account on Twitter, which you use to network and talk to people
Passive approach – you might have an account, but you don’t use it to talk. Instead you follow people and look for job postings.
The two approaches are not mutually exclusive! You can do both.
The Passive Approach
Searching for Jobs
Searching for Jobs
• Popular hashtags for job-related tweets:
– #job– #jobs– #career– #careers
Searching for Jobs
Searching for Jobs
• Search by field of interest:
– #clerical– #construction– #healthcare– #insurance– #IT– #librarian– #marketing– #sales
– See link for more: http://goo.gl/SBHqV
Searching for Jobs
• Tip: Double up on hashtags to narrow down search results:
– #job #healthcare– #jobs #clerical– #career #engineering– #careers #IT
Searching for Jobs
• Potential problem:
– Job postings are from every geographic location.
What if job seeker doesn’t want to move?
Searching for Jobs
• Solution:
– Use Twitter’s advanced search engine
http://search.twitter.com
– Searches can be narrowed by zip code (and nearby range)
Third-Party Websites
Smartphone Apps for Job Seekers
Smartphone Apps
• Smartphone apps that aggregate jobs posted on Twitter:
– Jobtweet.de’s Jobsearch(iPhone only)
– Twittcareers(iPhone only)
– TwitterJobSearch(iPhone or Android)
– RealTweets Job Networking(Android only)
Smartphone Apps
• TwitterJobSearch
Smartphone Apps
• TwitterJobSearch
– Can search by job or
location
Smartphone Apps
• TwitterJobSearch’s truncated job description
Smartphone Apps
• TwitterJobSearch
– Features available via
truncated description:
• “QuickPitch” • Email the job• View the full job
description
Smartphone Apps
• Jobtweet.de’s Jobsearch
Smartphone Apps
• Jobtweet.de’s Jobsearch
– Search in English,
German, French
or Russian
– Job seekers can
search for jobs
– Employers can search
for candidates
Smartphone Apps
• Jobtweet.de’s Jobsearch
– What results look
like for job search
• Ex: “librarian”
Smartphone Apps
• Jobtweet.de’s Jobsearch
– Saves your
search history
Smartphone Apps
• TwittCareers
Smartphone Apps
• TwittCareers
– Upon launch,
displays jobs
most recently
posted to Twitter
Smartphone Apps
• TwittCareers
– Can search in
English, French
and Spanish
Smartphone Apps
• TwittCareers
– Example search:
“Librarian”
Smartphone Apps
• TwittCareers
– Can email jobs to
self (have to click
link in tweet)
The Active Approach
Tip #1: Plan Ahead
Tip #1: Plan Ahead
• Twitter is very public.
• It’s also archived by the Library of Congress
• Come up with a game plan:– How do you want to portray yourself?– What do you want to tweet about?– What professional topics do you want to have public conversations
about?
Tip #2: Account Management
Tip #2: Account Management
New to Twitter?
– You get to start from scratch!
However, before you follow anyone else on Twitter:
1. Fill out your profile!
2. Send a tweet or two about: – who you are – what you plan to tweet about
Most people who are new to Twitter look like this…
Compare them with this guy…Compare them with this guy…
Tip #2: Account Management
Already on Twitter?
• Option #1:
– Keep your current account• Overhaul account (bio and picture) to make it professional• Link to your resume• Delete unprofessional tweets• Let your friends know
OR…
Tip #2: Account Management
Already on Twitter?
• Option #2:
– Make your current account private– “Hide” your current account by removing your name from it– Set up a second account that is just for professional networking
Tip #3: Create a Professional
Profile
Tip #3: Create a Professional Profile
• What can you do to create a professional looking profile?
– Use your real name
Tip #3: Create a Professional Profile
• What can you do to create a professional looking profile?
– Use your real name– Screenname that reflects you or your professional persona
Tip #3: Create a Professional Profile
• What can you do to create a professional looking profile?
– Create a professional bio
Tip #3: Create a Professional Profile
• What can you do to create a professional looking profile?
– Create a professional bio– Use a professional photo
Tip #3: Create a Professional Profile
• What can you do to create a professional looking profile?
– Add a background with links to resume or other social sites
Tip #4: Build Your Network
Tip #4: Build Your Network
• Build a relevant network by following: – Current and former co-workers – Friends in your field – Professors – Industry leaders and experts– Professional organizations– Recruiters – Companies that you’d like to work for
Tip #5: Strategic Tweeting
Tip #5: Strategic Tweeting
• Reminder: Think strategically about how you want to portray yourself online.
1. Tweet “like an expert”– Share links and info that is relevant to your profession– Tweet current articles and issues, add your thoughts– RT other people, add your thoughts– Converse with people in your field
Tip #5: Strategic Tweeting
2. Post regularly (once a day)
3. Criticism of things is okay, so long as it’s constructive
4. Beware of the viral RT…
Tip #5: Strategic Tweeting
5. Use screennames when referencing someone else
Tip #5: Strategic Tweeting
6. Don’t over abbreviate, use correct grammar and spelling
7. Find and use #hashtags relevant to your profession– Conferences– Professional chats
8. Participate in #HireFriday
Tip #6: Use Your Network
Tip #6: Use Your Network
• Engage with your network:– Strike up conversations– If someone asks you for advice, respond.– Offer help to those requesting it– Ask others for help with your job search
…any of these things could result in a job lead!
Tip #6: Use Your Network
An example of someone
who asked for help with a
job search:
- He got multiple responses
and RTs
- Twitter marked it as a
“Top Tweet”
Tip #7: Don’t Neglect the Real
World
Tip #7: Don’t Neglect the Real World
• Don’t make Twitter your only source for finding a job
• Take it offline, go get coffee with people
• Keep balance of online/offline
That’s it!
Questions?
Credits and References
• Image from Third-Party Website intro slide (Twitter on laptop):– http://pr-media-blog.co.uk/cut-the-bulltwit/
• Image from Smartphone Apps for Job Seekers intro slide (dual iPhones with headphones):– http://twitnine.com/tag/twitter-apps/
• Image of Twitter Job Search Guide:– http://www.careercoachacademy.com/twittercertification_self-paced.html
• Special thanks to Brenda Roegge for content http://goo.gl/WDTMH
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