Twitter is a microblogging service that allows users to post short messages, or "tweets", of 140 characters or fewer. This document outlines how job seekers can use Twitter to improve their job search by networking, positioning themselves as experts, and promoting their skills and experience to recruiters who use Twitter. Key advice includes using a professional Twitter profile with photos and keywords, tweeting about your industry and expertise, interacting with others, and avoiding any unprofessional content that could hurt future job prospects.

1. Tweet Your Way to a New Job Maximizing Twitter to Improve your Job Search 1

2. What is Twitter? Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. People write short updates, often called "tweets" of 140 characters or fewer. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search. 2

3. What People are Saying “It’s almost like ESP” Wired Magazine “Twitter is the telegraph system of Web 2.0” Nicholas Carr, Author and Technologist “It’s one of the fastest-growing phenomena on the Internet” New York Times 3

4. Time Magazine http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1902604,00.html 4

5. Why Twitter? Twitter ranks 3rd among all Social Networking sites, Linkedin11th Twitter had a 2,681% increase of unique visitors from May 2008 to May 2009 Twitter is free and is free of Advertising President Obama announced his VP selection simultaneously via text message, email and Twitter 5

6. Getting Started--Join Full Name User Name Convention is to use first&lastname URL http://www.twitter.com/jacobjobseeker Email Recommended: use your most primary Security box Create my account 6

7. Twitter Terms Following All the people and organizations you have chosen to receive tweets/updates from Followers All the people and organizations who have chosen to receive your tweets/updates Updates All of your tweets or “what you are doing” Hashtags Are a community-driven convention for adding additional context and metadata to your tweets. were developed as a means to create "groupings" on Twitter, 7

8. The Twitter Search Find on Twitter Search for a username, first or last name Find on other Networks Gmail, Yahoo & AOL Invite by email “Twitter is a unique approach to communication and networking based on the simple concept of status. What are you doing? What are your friends doing—right now? With Twitter, you may answer this question over SMS or the Web and the responses are shared between contacts.” Suggested Users The A-List or the Oprah effect on Twitter 8

9. The Power of Linkedin Is in it’s information, but not social networking Makes no attempt at creating a conversation Does allow a user to research a company Does allow a user to research and to evaluate an individual Has free and premium services 9

10. Networking It is not who you know, but who knows about you 10

11. Professional Tweeting Etiquette Do not create any digital dirt Your tweets are searchable across the Entire Internet Your tweets are a direct reflection on who you are 11

12. Twitter URL Only given 1 URL listing, so use it wisely! http://www.visualcv.com/ http://www.emurse.com Blog or homepage Avoid using your linkedin profile 12

13. Twitter Bio Limited to 160 characters user experience designer, information architect, usability analyst, project manager, professional in transition, greater New York metropolitan area, consultant Use keywords, tags or other metadata Use a current face picture Avoid using an avatar in lieu of a face portrait 13

14. Corporate Culture Red flag: Why aren’t they on Twitter Real-time corporate culture Tacit corporate knowledge Can’t find this information on their annual report Show your interest Do I really want to work for that company? 14

15. Stuck??? – What to Tweet about You have the floor Add the extra dimension that a resume cannot convey Position yourself as the expert, whether you are or not Promote yourself Advertise yourself Online brand yourself 15

16. Stuck-continued Recruiters are on Twitter Be yourself, be a person, just be professional You will get more followers if you can carry on a conversation Don’t tweet everyday or several times a day that you are working on your resume You can solicit advice on your resume instead 16

17. Your Inner Artist Use the real estate Twitter provides you Avoid using the standard backgrounds Use the real estate to promote your work or to add other URL’s Always be creative, but always in good taste Attempt to rise to the top and stay there 17

18. Interaction It is important to respond to those you are following Bring something to the table Don’t feel the need to follow everyone Use the block feature Use the security feature wisely 18

19. Retweet Rebroadcasting someone else’s tweet to your own set of followers Labels Retweet or Reading Format Retweet: @jacobalonzo 19

20. Devices You can use your cell phone to Twitter It's all done through text messages (aka "SMS") Twitter doesn't charge anything for this, but standard text messaging rates or bundles may apply from your carrier. 20

21. Kwoats “The next big thing, is you” “Think outside the box” “The Internet does not create fads, but shifts of paradigm” “This is the 21st century, stay current” “Age is only metadata” 21

22. Links http://www.twitter.com http://search.twitter.com/ http://twithire.com/ http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007145 http://www.jobangels.org/ http://www.twitterjobalerts.com/ 22