Add Twitter to Your Job Search Strategy

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Today's guest blogger is Cathy Browne, a tech-savvy PR gal. I first connected with Cathy via Twitter a few months ago. As a fellow PR professional, I was saddened to hear about her losing her job. Since that time, Cathy has shared her situation with the social media world and through numerous media outlets. What resulted is astonishing and, I think, demonstrates the power of integrating on and offline communications to stand out in her quest for the next job. I asked Cathy if I could share her blog post. Thank you Cathy!

I’ll state the obvious right up front – this is not a great time to be job hunting. I’ve been looking for a PR job myself for many months, first in Silicon Valley, where I had lived for several years, and now in Vancouver BC, where I came after my visitor’s visa had expired.  It hasn’t been easy – but I’ve learned a great deal along the way.

At first, I did many of the same things most people have been doing – I scoured the major job boards, as well as craigslist, LinkedIn and Facebook.  I even paid a hefty monthly fee to a well-known organization to give me ‘exclusive’ access to choice positions – a huge waste of money I didn’t have.

I was also on Twitter, but it wasn’t part of my job search strategy - but it is now.  One single tweet changed my approach in December.

I simply love Twitter. I had been using it faithfully to connect and engage people in conversation, and had built a nice community for myself, but I had never really brought up my situation.  Then, on a particularly tough day, I announced that I was on the verge of losing everything and would have to leave the US.

The response was immediate – and overwhelming.  Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to tell my story through guest blogs, media interviews, speaking engagements and Internet radio shows.  Several people offered to circulate my resume to friends and colleagues.  To this day, folks I’ve never met and probably will never meet write me to see how I’m doing, feed me leads, give me encouragement, and tell me things will get better.  I’ve started my own blog, Cathy’s Clean Slate.  I have hope.

Twitter is now one of my primary job search tools that I use in conjunction with other social media.  If you are job hunting, or know someone who is, here are a few Twitter tips based on my own experiences.  I hope they help.

•    Build up your Twitter network – follow people you respect, the people they follow, and the people who respect them.  Use tools like Twellow.com and the brand new WeFollow.com to find like-minded people who may be helpful resources. 
•    Follow job sources such as @JobAngels, @SocialMediaJob, @MicroJobs, @SimplyHired and more.
•    Take a good look at your skills and spend the time to ensure that your Twitter bio reflects them.  Your bio is easily searched, so the right buzz words matter.  Be direct.  My bio says I am job hunting in the first line!
•    Make sure you have a twesume - what you do in 140 characters - and tweet it on a regular basis. (No spamming, though…)
•    Join Twitter discussion groups like #journchat, #smbiz, and #gno (Girls Night Out) to talk to people who have similar interests or shared experiences.  Someone online may be able to help.
•    Check out Tweetups or Twitter interest groups on Meetup.com to mix and mingle with people in your area.  Nothing beats face-to-face contact.
•    Let your followers know you are looking, and if there are certain contacts or companies you’d like an introduction to.  This is no time to hold back.  If no one knows, no one can refer you.
•    Keep your followers posted on how the search is going.  We can all relate to your frustration, and cheer you on when things look promising.
•    Talk about your job search in your blog or ask bloggers you follow if they accept guest posts, so you can provide your own insights on social media and job searches.  Post the link on Twitter.
•    Share information. If you find a great new tool, or if you know of opportunities that aren’t a fit for you, tell the world.  Someone will benefit.  Twitter is all about supporting each other.
•    And never give up. I’m not.

What strategies have worked for you – and what haven’t?  What tools have you used successfully?  Share your experiences so we can all benefit.  And if you are hiring, post your requirements here. 

Let’s keep on working for each other.
 

Connect with Cathy Browne: 
Twitter: @CathyBrowne
http://www.cathybrowne.com/