5 Tips to Finding a Job on Twitter

1) Learn your environment & Get Noticed!

• Learn (read) before you tweet! If you're new to Twitter watch some great tweeters and read advice for newbies on the web. Find some people who are respected and provide valuable content, especially those with large followings. Follow them and learn -Talk to them Make Friends! Seek out "How-to Twitter" blogs

• "Follow, Share, Reply, Retweet, Repeat" - @unmarketing suggests this everyday -Do it! Follow people relevant to you, your search, and your line of work -both respected experts and those who need You

• Be Engaging -Talk to people, share your knowledge, experiences, humor, and love!

• Don't be afraid to speak up in conversations you see -Twitter is a public forum. Use it that way!

• Don't be afraid to ask for help! Your new friends will want you to succeed and help you.

2) Read the job postings and Search on hashtags/keywords of your interest

• Job Postings - There are many recruiters, and job boards on twitter seek them out, follow & read their tweets

http://twitterjobsearch.com aggregates tweeted job postings & categorizes them

@Jobshouts

@Tweet_My_Jobs

• Hastags - Keywords make your information and information you seek easier to find Find other leads -recruiters and JobBoards don't post every job. You'll see tweets from business owners, employees and friends pointing out that certain jobs are available. Respond! Jump on opportunities! Not only will you find the tweets about actual jobs, but you'll also see leads in the form of news and blog links. Use hashtags in your Job Wanted ads for more views!

3) Post your availability CLEARLY

You need to post ads similar to the ones that you see from the job boards but you need to make them clear. Asking "is anyone hiring" isn't going to be enough You need to be clear that you are a job seeker not an employer. Your ad should contain:

• What you do and what you're looking for (Title)

• Availability

• Location (or relocation choices)

• Make it eye-catching, even fun. Get it Noticed!

• use hastags

• Leave room for people to retweet!!

• Make sure to post to retweeting services

@JobAngels will retweet your Position Wanted ads.

http://tweetmyjobs.com will send links to your profile out as tweets

Some example tweets:

• TechOpsMgr http://itwit.in/gv_li prefer #startups onsite or remote relocate anywhere!#jobangels *nixWizard You need me!

• OpsMgr / Sysadmin http://itwit.in/gv_li prefer #startups onsite or remote relocate anywhere!#jobangels

• Hire Today! Technical Evangelist, TechOpsMgr, or contract Sysadmin resume via LinkedIn http://itwit.in/gv_li #tech #startup

4) Incorporate other Social Networks and Websites

• LinkedIn - If you don't have one, set up a LinkedIn profile now! Make sure that you put a link out there that people can use to view & connect to you.

• Facebook / Myspace Show your total self. Make very personal information (birthdate, address) private. Show prospects what you want them to see: CLEAN IT UP! Make sure you clean your wall of things you don't want potential employers or new connections to see..IF your "real" friends might post embarrassing items to your Wall, change the privacy settings so that they can't do that For Facebook set a public search URL - this is what you will shorten and pass out on twitter.

• Your own Blog / Website - the more people can see of your work and who you are the better

• Post a Public Resume

Http://www.visualcv.com -Take your resume to the next level, show off your portfolio

http://tweetmyjobs.com -Post your resume and have it tweeted!
5) Use the Best Tools Available!

• ShortURL services -use one that allows custom endings that you can remember, and tracks numbers of clicks. I use http://Itwit.in There are plenty of others. I use the following links to share on Twitter:

LinkedIn http://itwit.in/gv_li

Facebook http://itwit.in/gv_fb

• Twitter Client with Search capabilities -my favorites:

Tweetdeck http://tweetdeck.com -The "standard"

PeopleBrowsr http://peoplebrowsr.com More powerful but more complicated

• Twitter Search Sites

http://search.twitter.com

http://tweetgrid.com

• Hashtag Lookup find the tags people use already and Find Yours!

• Auto-Following and tweet scheduling services People have mixed feelings about these! Use them carefully! Don't send auto-DMs! I like to schedule tweets for my Job wanted ads so I don't forget & miss my prime view times

http://tweetlater.com

I am auto-following so that I don't miss important Direct Messages -you have to follow to receive!

http://socialtoo.com

Following these tips doesn't guarantee that you'll find a job tomorrow, but it will dramatically increase your opportunities, and Make your job search much more fun and rewarding!

This article was originally published 03/31/09 at TweetMyJOBS on their blog.