50 Terrific Twitter Tips for Job Seekers

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50 Terrific Twitter Tips for Job Seekers

Twitter is a fabulous web tool for networking and expanding your contacts base. Job searchers can also use Twitter to learn about new opportunities and get the word out about their own services and portfolio. Read below for 50 terrific Twitter tips and tools for the job hunt.

Branding

Make sure your online brand is focused, clean and effective.

1. Use your real name: Use your real name, first and last, on your profile.
2. Create an easy-to-remember Twitter name: If you use a silly nickname, employers won’t take you seriously.
3. Put up your website: Add a link to your professional website, or a site that features samples of your work, to your Twitter profile.
4. Offer valuable content: If you only post inappropriate YouTube videos, employers will wonder if you have anything valuable to offer.
5. Avoid Twitter spamming: Adding new tweets every 5 minutes is annoying and makes others want to un-follow you.
6. Add a photo: Upload a professional looking photo to add legitimacy to your account.
7. Customize your profile: Customize your profile using a clean, attractive design that will set you apart.
8. Design with a theme in mind: Understand how elements like color and design work for you and against you. Pick a theme that really works with your brand, or just put up your logo.
9. Don’t act desperate: Tweeting too often, posting your resume five times a day and blatantly asking for interviews will make you seem scary even from cyberspace.
10. Tweet, then follow: Don’t start following a bunch of people when you first sign up, before you even start tweeting. Smart Twitter users will be more likely to follow you if you clearly have something to bring to the table.

Networking

Follow these tips for maximum networking benefits through Twitter.

11. Branch out: Don’t settle for tweeting with only those in your address book. Search for people with similar interests and people in your industry or city.
12. Don’t just offer your content: By joining the greater conversation, you’ll make more meaningful relationships.
13. Be engaged: Tweet often so you don’t get forgotten.
14. Search for the right people: Conduct a Twitter search for conversations you’d be able to help with or that advertise jobs.
15. Follow who your friends follow: Check out who you’re friends are following and sending @ messages to. They’ll get the connection and probably have something in common with you, too.
16. Follow people back: You don’t have to follow every single person who follows you back, but make a point to follow a good percentage of them.
17. Link to others: Tweet other people’s blog posts and links to spread the love and catch the attention of industry leaders.
18. Promote yourself: Post links to your work and don’t be afraid to promote yourself in a responsible, non-annoying way.
19. Share using @: Include your most wanted Twitterers in a conversation by using @ and then their name. They’ll notice you, too.
20. Tweetup: Suggest a Twitter happy hour or picnic to meet your local Twitter friends and extend your networking opportunities.

Etiquette

Use Twitter appropriately to find quality jobs and contacts.

21. Use correct grammar and spelling habits: Twitter is informal, but you’re still making an impression.
22. Make your words count: Since you only have 140 characters to share, make sure you use the right ones.
23. Respond and reply: Reply to friends who message you directly or indirectly. You’ll come across as accessible, helpful and friendly.
24. Understand Direct Messages: Direct Message or DM people instead of sending out a public tweet when sharing sensitive information, like an agreement to work together or notes from a meeting.
25. Don’t get too casual: Twitter is meant to be an informal way to spread information, but almost like e-mail, it’s starting to become a more popular way for even professionals to connect.
26. Avoid profanity: Using profanity in your tweets may offend some followers and makes you look unprofessional.
27. Use Tiny URL and other shorthand: When appropriate, use shorthand codes to get your message across. Use sparingly, otherwise you’ll look like a teenager.
28. Provide advice when asked: When your Twitter friend sends out a blast asking for advice, join the conversation and put in your two cents, if you have relevant input. It’s the nice thing to do, and immediately gives you more authority.
29. Don’t get too personal: Twitter is incredibly personal and lends itself to the danger of getting too comfy too quickly. Don’t tweet about bathroom breaks, what you just ate (unless it’s really special) or your sex life.
30. Follow up off of Twitter: Don’t rely on Twitter to make all the connections for you. Network off Twitter or follow up with an e-mail when it’s appropriate.

Tools

These tools can help you find quality friends and contacts on Twitter and keep everything organized.

31. GroupTweet: Privately send information to groups with GroupTweet.
32. twitt(url)y: Vote for, or "tweet" links just like you would on digg or reddit.
33. Twitter Tools: Connect Twitter and your WordPress account using this tool.
34. TweetDeck: Use TweetDeck to organize all of your messages and tweets when your follow list gets too overwhelming.
35. TweetStats: Analyze your Twitter status and popularity.
36. Plodt: Plodt connects you to relevant tweets and helps you "chart your life" on Twitter.
37. TwitterFriends: Find similar friends and professionals.
38. tweetbeep: Track keywords like your name or a company with this alerts tool.
39. twittercounter: Get the analytics on other Twitter users so you know who the best people to follow are.
40. Twittercal: Integrate Twittercal with your Google Calendar to get reminders for interviews, networking events, and more.
41. TWPLY: Never miss an @ reply when this tool sends them to your inbox.
42. OutTwit: Access Twitter from your Outlook account.
43. TwitterFeed: TwitterFeed links to your blog’s RSS feed and then posts articles to Twitter.
44. monitter: Search up to three keywords at a time and view the most recent conversations and tweets about them in three separate columns.
45. Qwitter: Get an alert when someone un-follows you.
46. Who Should i Follow?: Get recommendations for people to follow.
47. TweepSearch: Search bios and location information using this tool.

People to Follow

Follow these job tweets to learn about opportunities in your field or area.

48. freelance_jobs: This account crawls freelance job websites and posts openings on Twitter.
49. attjobs: Learn about openings at AT&T here.
50. Workhound: This large British job search engine has teamed up with Twitter.