@360JobInterview.Com blog

You already know it’s a Web 2.0. Social media and social networking are the wave we’re riding into the future. Great, but how does that help you? You’re searching for a job and don’t have time to play around on things like Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, right? Wrong. Your next job offer could very likely come from one of these, or many similar, socially interactive sites. Let’s focus on how Twitter can help you find that perfect career offer.

Step 1: The Set-up

First thing, get your Twitter account set up. It is imperative to pick a more professional sounding username and upload a photo of yourself (or something that closely represents you. Steer clear of juvenile names and images (and really, do upload one – it does make a difference). In your bio section, you have up to 140 characters to put in. Use the space wisely. If you’re unsure of what to put,  a 360 CareerActionPlanning coach could help out here. Don’t forget to put a link to either your professional blog, portfolio, or online c.v.

Step 2: To Follow or Not to Follow

Second, scout out people on Twitter to follow. They could be human resources representatives for companies in your industry, the company itself or a c.o., recruiters, job search engines, or other Tweeple that can help you along with your search. Don’t forget to follow @360JobInterview while you’re at it to stay up to date on promotions and other relevant information. Click the “follow” button after determining which folks have a message relevant to what you’re looking for. Also, be sure to check your new followers for more potential Tweeple to follow.

Step 3: Go Social

Thirdly, it’s time to get interactive. You may notice a lot of “dms” in your inbox. These are direct messages. Only people you are following can send them to you, and vice versa. While this is useful in giving out your contact information to prospective employers, you do not want to overdo it and send them too many links. To send a dm, you can either ‘message’ a follower or put “D [twitter name] your message.”

The way to communicate with Twitter users that is more common is to ‘mention’ them. Do this by place an @ symbol directly before their name (i.e. “@aplusk [your message]“). You may often see things like “RT @[username]” or “[message] via @[username].” These are called ‘retweets’ and are used when you find another’s Tweet so useful that you want to share it with your followers. Most Twitter users are excited to see their name mentioned or something they sent out retweeted.

Keep on top of who you are following and the messages they put out. With applications such as Seesmic or Tweetdeck, you can separate those you are following into separate groups to track certain types of Tweets easier. You can also use Twitter on all smartphones and many other cellphones.

Now you have the basic tools and know-how to get out there and get a job. Good luck, and if you ever have any questions, leave a comment below or just Tweet out a mention to @360jobinterview; we’re here for you.