When I was an active job seeker, I paid close attention to Twitter feeds of jobs in my area. There are specialized Twitter accounts for most job markets even so far as to go into specialized job categories.

I believe that to ignore such a resource limits a search.

While I am one that carefully reviews most situations I am getting myself into, I am able to sort through most 'spammy' recruiters and focus on my best potential leads.

posted December 10, 2009

@Jacqueline Borer > I wonder just how that works out these days? Picking up the phone or even the old fashioned showing up at the front desk of any corporation, dressed up with resume in hand looking to fill out an application doesn't seem to be effective at getting your information in front of the right person and getting the immediate opportunity to talk with someone.

Maybe we've been snookered into believing the electronic distribution recruiter hype!

As a business owner, do you walk out to the front desk and ask - Hey has anyone showed up today asking for a job? Do those who show up at the door or call get through to you or the decision maker directly? Or do you follow the current tradition of posting online, sourcing a recruiter and filtering all candidates prior to taking your time to talk to them?

Jeff

posted December 10, 2009

l am in the market for a new job opportunity, and l am making 10-12 cold calls daily. ln just two days, l have acquired 3 interviews, 6 requests to email them my resume, and 4 others with great possibility, and we are in the wrong month for companies to be hiring. Name drop, and make friends the operator/receptionist/secretary !!! How confident are you in your market, their company, your potential, and mostly, yourself?

Just yesterday, l was made an offer, and all due to perserverence. These efforts the employer sees of you in a job search, will definitely reflect your job performance for them in the future.

l do not think that any online service can stand up to these results. As Jacqueline had said, do you prefer an eager individual that makes effort, or the one that sits back waiting on something to happen? But you do have to utilize your resources, and if internet is the only avenue, then l feel Twitter may open up a few doors for some.

posted December 10, 2009

My organization has utilized Twitter to get job openings publicized and shared to a wider audience than website posting could alone, with some early success.

As for the job seekers, I do think Twitter is more of a passive channel for leads at this time (at best), rather than a method for actively searching out opportunities.

posted December 10, 2009

Hi Jason.

You have a great deal more experience with online social networking than I have. From what I’ve seen and heard from others, your advice is quite sound.

The entrepreneurs who I’ve discussed online social networking with, use Twitter as part of an overall internet/telecommunications marketing strategy. They use a variety of resources, i.e.: Twitter, LI, FaceBook, website, blog, www.ezinearticles.com, press releases, newsletters, podcasts, webinars/teleseminars, YouTube, etc.

And this strategy doesn’t create overnight results. It is a process of developing oneself/business as a leader in a field. Clients/customers come as a result.

What does this have to do with job seekers? Entrepreneurs are utilizing a long-term marketing strategy to attract numerous customers/clients. A job seeker doesn’t usually have the time for this kind of strategy.

Additionally, a job seeker’s focus is different: while an entrepreneur is seeking multiple customers/clients, a job seeker is really only seeking one customer/client--better known as an employer. He (or she) is best off determining what company/industry he wants to target and focusing on that one company/industry: researching it as thoroughly as possible, networking into that company/industry, seeing what unique contribution he can make, and focusing a marketing campaign around that.

Your article is showing a job seeker how to do that by using Twitter and other sites that provide support to Twitter.

Now, that is for a job seeker. The company I’m developing is going to be working more with clients who are interested in creating long-term career goals. I expect they will be able to utilize a combination of the marketing strategies used by entrepreneurs and those used by job seekers.

Lynne

posted December 10, 2009

Excellent blog post and great question. Tweeter is the rage and I advise job seekers to do a deep dive on the use of Twitter before making a time investment. Would love to hear 'real' success stories of job seekers landing thru a lead initiated with a tweet.

posted December 10, 2009

I think Twitter has its place in the world, I just don't think it is for the job seeker. We need to quickly and effectively convey our value to the prospective hiring company/manager. 150 characters is not a whole lot to work with and certainly can't allow you to go into any detail.

I would love to hear from a recruiter on their take on using Twitter to fill positions.

My 2 cents.

-David

posted December 10, 2009

Jason,

I concur that twitter in and of itself is not yet a direct medium to get a job. However, the way that twitter intertwines with LI, FB MS, and other social media can get the attention of folks that were not previously in your network. As a corollary, the "correct" usage of twitter may provide insight into your grasp of this new media and how to properly leverage it.

posted December 10, 2009

Hi Jason,

Twitter is just one more tool in the toolbox. As with every other tool, it needs to be used correctly and judiciously. I've used Twitter to meet people that I would have not otherwise met in business, and I see no reason why that can't be extended to a job search. But it's a fool who would rely exclusively on a single tool in their toolbox, and a bigger one who would use that single tool incorrectly.

Josh.

posted December 10, 2009

Jason Twitter IS NOT a FAD! Let us be clear on that. Furthermore there are hundreds of job sites publishing thousands of jobs per day on Twitter, so if you are in any way involved in job search you should be using Twitter.

I do agree that every job seeker should be wary of posted jobs, yet the fact remains that every stone must be turned over and checked as part of the search, but that is as true wherever the job is published. The fact remains that networking is still the best path to guaranteeing future jobs.

posted December 10, 2009

I'd say that a job seeker is imposing limitations on their search if they fail to use any available technology as part of their efforts. While Twitter and other forms of social media may not be the primary means to research or track available openings, it is in the job hunter's best interests to exercise the excellent networking and informative opportunities in these platforms. Just keep in mind to target your search to make it more effective and in line with your needs.

And the use of New Media does not just apply during the job search. Twitter is a means to continue your career development by keeping abreast of your industry, without actively seeking a new position while at your current job.

Many job search experts advise those seeking work to think of their efforts as a job in itself. If this is so, then one realizes that many companies are on Twitter, or will likely soon realize the tremendous communication and information tools it offers. If these organizations use it, then wouldn't you as part of your "job", which is seeking employment?

posted December 11, 2009

The jobs that are on Tweeter are almost never exclusive - they usually link back to either the hiring company's website or an online job board. Therefore, the question becomes what interface is easier to use: Tweeter or say, Indeed. I think that it's almost silly to use a Twitter interface for that, as it doesn't allow you to search properly. Just go to any job aggragator or make a list of ~10 relevant job boards (large ones + niche) and you should cover them all.

Of course, you can use Tweeter to network and build yourself some reputation, which will then make is easier for you to land a job when you need one.

posted December 11, 2009

Putting aside the idea of using Twitter to post specific job openings for a minute, any job-seeker worth hiring is going to research the company they are interested in. A smart job-seeker would use as many forms of social media as possible (including Twitter) to learn more about a company or their employees. Twitter use is just another opportunity for a job-seeker or employer to demonstrate an aptitude for emerging technologies.

posted December 11, 2009

People were asking the same thing about job boards 15 years ago. And while those people were questioning the efficacy of job boards, early adopters were getting hired!

Certain industries obviously jump on implementing innovative strategies for recruitment faster than others, but they eventually all get there.

Is Twitter the next wave? Maybe. Maybe not. But waiting until it's saturated to get to know your way around it is a bad idea because while you're ramping up, jobs are being filled.

Being ahead of the curve is a good thing.

posted December 11, 2009

I agree with most of what has already been said, but Twitter will prove itself to be a fad. Right now, I think it is a relevant and useful tool for your job search. In another year, I don't know.

In the 90s, Monster ruled the world of job search. How many people feel that way now?

Another example -- how many of us were using BBS back in the day?

Times change...

posted December 11, 2009

I agree, Jason. Twitter's not a bad thing to do; but many hold the same illusion about it that they do about resume posting. "There, I'm done."

I would much rather see a proactive approach of research, decision-making, and solid followup with specific people and companies rather than a scattershot approach, whether it's on Twitter or any other sort of system.

There are easy ways to look for a job. There just aren't easy effective ways.

posted December 12, 2009

Twitter is yet another tool in the marketing toolkit

Find people
Hear about companies by following its executives or employees
Make connections with people in an industry
Promote yourself via Tweets

Whether or not Twitter is a fad or not - that remains to be seen. But today its a well used tool, so I would recommend people use it to its fullest capacity.


Mark

Links:

• http://www.candidateschair.com

posted December 13, 2009

I have hired many people in my time and I use my networking groups to do so. It's about quality, not quantity. Personally, Linked In works best for me. Twitter is a good source for recruiters to post and the way things are going, all of these social media sites are soon connecting at all levels, so it's important to do your updates on all.

Links:

• http://www.agent-cy.com

posted December 15, 2009

You can use any site as long as it helps.

posted December 15, 2009

Jason,

What a relevant and timely question! Like many here, I do agree that job hunters should view Twitter as one of many tools available to them, and I encourage my clients to at least become aware of what it offers, how to get started, how it can impact their online brand, etc.

I also highly recommend Twitter and other social media avenues to candidates pursuing marketing, branding, or PR jobs (for obvious reasons - if you can't play the game, how will employers take your skills seriously?).

However, the counsel I give most often mirrors that of Thomas Garner's response - get out and make yourself known! Any tool (electronic or not) that forces you to compete with the masses will have limited application over time.

After all, using job boards, while now nearly fruitless, was once a novel idea--until everyone piled on and competed with each other.

Cold calling, sending snail mail, and making time to follow up are all methods that the AVERAGE JOB HUNTER DOES NOT USE--making them invaluable techniques for professionals who want to move beyond the pack and distinguish themselves.

True guerrilla job hunting is about separating yourself and using unique ways of getting in front of employers - from the strategy on your resume (yes, you DO need one!) or the methods that you use to circulate it.

So, yes, I endorse Twitter, but not as a wholesale methodology... and time will tell if Twitter burnout will be a factor in the job search.

Again, great question!


Kind regards,

Laura

posted December 15, 2009

I say use EVERY tool in your tool belt and Twitter is just one of those. I think maintaining your Twitter profile as part of your personal brand, or from the organization's side part of their employment brand gives both sides a different look and more social side. Twitter may not play as big of a role as maintaining/working/building your professional network, or marketing to your "wish list" employers, but it has it's place.

What's makes it useful?
1) Maintaining/Building a brand (employer & prospective employee)
2) Job leads (some companies are steering away from traditional/paid boards).
3) Building connections. Social Media shouldn't be a silo. We should be able to build real-life professional connections from Twitter interactions. Whether it’s an organic one on one conversation, or a local meet-up…CONNECT!
4) Social Media is here to stay even if the companies you are targeting haven’t joined the flock, it’s better to be an early adopter. No matter what you position/field you are in, it’s an additional skill…period!
5) Company / hiring buzz: Recruiters at some corporations will talk about what positions may be coming down the pipeline.
6) Research: As Social Media converges and integrates with corporate communications leading experts agree that more or different information may be released via Twitter, Facebook, etc. over a company website.
7) Play where they play: In small business/start-ups (depending on the nature of the business) a traditional website has become less important (and more expensive than free). Maybe that next great opportunity with the next great company, will find you where they “live”….Twitter.
8) In addition to RSS feeds Twitter is a great way to keep in tune with the latest in your industry, your community, and…THE WORLD!
9) If your field or position touches on Social Media in ANY way…you need to be there…connecting, participating, engaging, and entertaining.
10) Events: Twitter is great way to find out about Tweet-ups, Networking Events, Community Events, Job Fairs, etc.

Jessica
@AWomansWork

posted December 15, 2009

As a professional Researcher your quote sums it up. "Active job seekers should be as wary of posted jobs as recruiters are of active job seekers."
Few of my clients want someone who is unemployed, and I never post jobs I am looking to fill. That removes the element of "Quality Control", if the client wants to post an opening that is fine. If a recruiter posts one it means they do not have the background or contacts to fill it without blindly shooting in the dark.

posted December 16, 2009