Looking For A New Job? Use Twitter.
I’ve been a recruiter, professionally, for 9 years and I’ve recruited everything from Creative Directors to Designers to Information Technology peeps to Finance people. One of the hottest trends in recruiting is the ability to announce job openings on social media sites. The biggest example is Google. Google’s HR recruitment campaign on YouTube went viral in a less than a week. Companies all across the world are beginning to create profiles on MySpace, Facebook and upload videos to YouTube.
So enough about us HR folk. What I want to discuss is how YOU can find a job by using social media.
The hottest social media site, in my opinion, on the ‘net is Twitter. So how can you use Twitter to find a new job? Easily.
If you think of Twitter as the “center of the ‘net” or as the “watercooler of the net,” (these comments coined by Geekbrief’s @calilewis) then you’ll soon realize the potential of Twitter. It’s easy. It’s quick. It’s instantaneous. You can read 40 people’s “what are you doings” in less than a minute, thanks to Twitter’s 140 character response field. If recruiters spend, on average, less than a minute to brief over a resume then recruiters should love Twitter. And we do.
So if more people are beginning to use Twitter, what better avenue to market yourself and your resume! As a recruiter, my team has begun the social media route in finding the top, best talent. The Monster.com’s of the world are, in all honesty, over-populated with resumes. If I’m looking for a designer who has a love for the web and who knows the latest and greatest in advertising as well as social media, would I find that person more quickly on Monster or on a social medium, such as Twitter or Facebook? To me, it makes perfect sense to use social media sites to attract top-notch talent.
We’ve begun advertising our job openings on Twitter, Pownce, Facebook and MySpace because we know that the talent we’re looking for are going to be more involved in these sites rather than they would be on the regular job boards. All you need is your resume and portfolio online and then you can just broadcast your website on Twitter or follow someone you know who is a recruiter (example: www.twitter.com/imc2recruiter).
Most HR departments these days have created their own MySpace and Facebook profiles. They’re there to not only give more presence to their company but to also “add friends” (aka add potential candidates) to their network.
Should you not upload your resume to the job boards? No, I think you should. But you definitely should think outside the box and begin to use social media sites as well to network. Network, network, network.
Watch the video below to see how companies and recruiters are using social media to find YOU.
Tags: Career Topics, Job, networking, Portfolio, Resume, Social Media, twitter
April 29th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I have landed many freelance jobs through social media sites. I totally agree that it is a great way to network with potential employers. In addition to MySpace and Facebook, you might want to check out Flugpo.com to find good talent. It is one of the fastest growing networks and a great source for posting job openings and for job seekers alike.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
[...] I know people who’ve found new business by following the right feeds on Twitter. You can even use Twitter to find a job. [...]
August 7th, 2008 at 1:15 am
We recently launched a job listing service for Twitter users.
http://twithire.com
August 14th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Thanks Twithire! You just made my podcast!
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I also would highly recommend putting in some type of online profile link, such as LinkedIn. Adding this element would illustrate that you are current with today’s “new world” of business and could also accelerate your interview process (especially if you have a lot of strong recommendations).
November 18th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Great suggestions! Have fun with the video I made…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NyjAwMjKHI
Blessings,
Christine Bean
http://www.christinebean.com
December 14th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hi Jeff,
I have a public relations firm in New York and am redirecting my focus to social media for legal firms. Lawyers are notorious for being behind the times technologically. I wrote a blogpost entitled “Lawyers Get Clients Using LinkedIn”. Exemplary of this, Ray, an unemployed IP attorney responded with:
“I am an IP attorney and use linkedin but all the legal jobs are on Findlaw.com:http://careers.findlaw.com
Good luck to those looking!
Needless to say, I responded by letting him know LinkedIn is not a job bank, made suggestions of how he could network and offered my assistance….
Your advise to use the social media tools to promote “yourself” as a brand is invaluable, particularly to people who never envisioned being out of work, let alone having difficulty finding a job.
I’m going to add your video to my next blog post and redirect your “Looking for a New Job” conversation toward attorneys, crediting you and linking of course!
All the best,
Kara Smith
February 1st, 2009 at 7:45 pm
[...] Looking for a job? Use Twitter | Jeff McCord’s Blog. [...]
July 19th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Thanks so much for the info. I’m starting a job tomorrow with a new company that is interested in new platforms for hiring talent. I think that the social media approach will take them far enough outside of the box to be impressed with the potential. I’m just starting my research and your video and blog were both very helpful. Thanks!
July 19th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Thanks Amanda. It’s great to get all of these comments (emails too) that my video was helpful. I love social networking, have used it from not only a recruiting perspective, but also with hosting a successful tech podcast (Moxie Mo Show -> http://www.moxiemoshow.com) and I’m here if you need any help or want to bounce off ideas…
Jeff McCord
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
[...] from Jeff McCord, a recruiter from Dallas, TX Share this on FacebookTweet This!Share this on LinkedinShare this on [...]