Whether you embrace it or not, social media such as Twitter is here to stay. As they say in Socialnomics, it’s not if we use it, it is how well we use it. We at Black Tie Exchange understand the importance of having an appropriate work wardrobe as well as an active and appropriate presence online. We offer five reasons Twitter is important to the job search.
1. Social media is free. Rather than posting jobs to sites that will charge for listings or newspaper ads, companies are tweeting jobs in the free space of Twitter. As a job seeker you have free access to these companies and often access to hiring managers or key human resource employees simply by following them.
2. Be in the know. Follow companies and people that interest you. Be the first to see jobs posted and be the first to apply. Having a relationship with the company goes a long way to helping you land a job at your company of choice.
3. Did you know up to 80% of recruiters are looking for you online? They have turned to social media sites such as Twitter to find new employees.
4. Keep it clean. Just as with other social media sites, it is important to tweet appropriate information. Companies are not only looking at people actively searching for work but also what they call passive candidates. A passive candidate is one who is not currently actively looking for a job. You never know who is looking at you in cyberspace.
5. Create a following and you will create measurable influence on Twitter. By utilizing the site in a constructive way prospective employees will gain a better understanding of you…and you may not even know it!
6. Know your resources so you look good online. For example, Twellow is the yellow pages for Twitter where you can search for companies or people to follow. Twitalyzer measures influence across a variety of categories and provides reports and a lingo glossary for users. There is a wealth of information available on these and other sites related to Twitter.
7. Complete your bio. As mentioned in our Linked In post, having a complete profile speaks volumes about your quality as an employee. Would you hire someone who doesn’t complete tasks? They wouldn’t either.
8. Think you’re too old to tweet? Think again. 35% of users are over 35 years old.
9. Be active. 200 million accounts have been created but only 56 million are active. Don’t start tweeting unless you are going to keep tweeting. Prospective employers want to see your follow-through.
10. Personal online branding is important to landing the job you desire and Twitter is a big player in that arena. Other social media sites offer linking options. For example, you can add your tweet feed to your LinkedIn profile.
Just as you do with your wardrobe, be appropriate with your social media. We look forward to seeing you in our store and hearing your social media tips
