6 Twitter Job Search Strategies for Students
Twitter Job Search Tips for Students
Conducting a Twitter Job Search
At the core of your Twitter job search has to be your own Twitter account!
No brainer right? So know that you can't do a Twitter job search without having your own professional Twitter account.
Your first priority would be setting that up. We won't cover that here, because it is rather easy and intuitive to follow the instructions to do it. What we will say though is to make sure your Twitter account stays professional. Doesn't mean you can't be personal, fun or show your personality. It just means watch what you post. For example, if you do not spell well in your tweets, believe that the recruiter might think you cannot spell. This could set you back!
Some job seekers are already pretty adept at using Twitter for personal purposes. From locating a favorite food truck in your neighborhood to sharing their own opinions on just about any and everything, Twitter is a useful communication tool.
If you are going to use it for a job search though some of the rules might be a little bit different.
Twitter Job Search 101
As you embark on a Twitter job search, remember that whatever you put out there in social media could (assume it will) live on even after you are over it. Keep that in mind as you master these Twitter job search strategies.
Twitter is a great tool for job search research. Follow companies where you might want to intern or work. Check out and evaluate the level of diversity you observe on their career pages. When I wrote this article originally, I was probably the only person telling people to look at company Twitter pages and see how they reflect diversity. Now everyone is doing it and companies are definitely more savvy at showcasing their brands to show how they are thinking about diversity and inclusion.
Use Twitter to connect with recruiters. Do not be shy about asking recruiters questions with an informational interview approach. Many will answer you positively, if you address them respectfully and show appreciation for their time. Do not stalk recruiters but honestly ask about their recruitment strategies for meeting diverse candidates. Ask they where they are recruiting? Which schools? In what communities? Through which professional associations?
Use Twitter lists to catalog information by subject or career areas of interest. This can be a really handy resource in a job search. This way, you don't just start paying attention to companies when you are graduating or getting ready to look for a job. Instead you are getting long term insight into the company.
In a job search, use Twitter to help find information about career workshops and events as they happen even on your own college campus. Many of your HBCU campuses have Twitter pages for their career centers. Stay connected so you can see what is happening on campus and events in which you might want to participate. Some workshop presenters will allow college students to tweet questions to presenters during sessions. I did that all the time when I did presentations on college campuses. Many in the audience might use it to ask 'sensitive" questions.
Twitter is a great way to connect with employers who do not routinely recruit at your school. Social media in general gives us amazing opportunities to reach out and touch the world. So what if a company does not come to your campus, but you still want to meet them? Twitter can definitely help with that.
Twitter doesn't allow big, mega conversations so use your Twitter account to "touch" bases. A fuller more inclusive presentation should be made in your LinkedIn profile, so think of Twitter as the tip of the iceberg - It can be a beautiful thing to connect, but it can sink your job search too! For the basics of naming your account, Susan Joyce at @Job-Hunt.org does a great job teaching you how to set up your account.