Guide to help recruiters get started with the basics of twitter and how to use it to find and engage with potential talent.

1. Twitter for Recruiters
Silvia Rodriguez-Maldonado, Recruiter,
Verizon Wireless, MWA Talent Acquisition
http://www.linkedin.com/in/silviars/en
@Silvia_R_HR

2. • Twitter is a free micro blogging service available from
PC or Smart phone.
• Posts (“tweets”) are restricted to 140 characters or
less.
Tweets can include:
• Shared links to interesting content on the web
• Conversations around specific topics (using hash tags)
• Photos, video, music.
• Real time accounts from people who are in the midst
of a newsworthy event, crisis or natural disaster.

3. • Over 140 million active users as of 2012.
• One of the top 10 most visited websites on the
Internet
• Users of Twitter tend to be highly educated,
tech‐savvy individuals between the ages of 25 and 45.
• No need to register to read tweets
• Free!

4. Twitter Terms to Know
• Tweets: 140‐character limit messages updated in real time
• Followers: individuals that choose to subscribe to your account to receive your tweets
• @ Replies:“@” Used in front of a Twitter username to refer or reply to them (i.e.
@rpoggivzw Nice tweet Robyn!)
• Direct Message (DM): Private message sent to one of your followers. You can only send a DM
to a user who is following you; you can only receive direct messages from users you follow.
• Retweet (RT): Sharing someone else’s tweets to your own followers
• Hash tags (#): Way of organizing/categorizing information (i.e. #job)
• Twitter Timeline‐ Collection of tweets from accounts followed in real time
• Trending Topic - A word, phrase or topic that is tagged (using hash tags) at a greater rate than
other tags. Trending topics become popular either through a concerted effort by users or
because of an event that prompts people to talk about one specific topic.

5. Where do I start?
1. Create your account
• Username: Choose a professional Twitter name that is easy to
remember and appropriately represents you.
• Profile: (Make sure is public)
 Add a profile picture.
 Bio: Short biography (Tell Tweeters what you do, Show a side of
your personality, Add something a little personal).
 Add your location and website
(http://careersatverizonwireless.com/)
2. Download the Twitter app to your phone.

6. What do I Tweet?
• A mix of information about your jobs/events, job seeker
advice, links, pictures, and industry information.
• Tweet live before/during/after your events
• If you have a hobby or something you are passionate
about, tweet about it! This is another way to connect!
• Share content you like (retweet or share directly from
websites)
• Use hashtags #job #Indianajobs #imhiring

7. All social media tools -including Twitter- should
not be used only to broadcast and promote
products/services, but should include valuable
information, resources and tips that your
community can benefit from.
Find and
Branding Connect Engage Attract
Talent

9. Who do I follow?
• Career services of local Colleges
• Colleges, student and alumni groups
@Silvia_R_HR
• Colleagues
• Industry
bloggers/websites/organizations/groups/magazines
• Local organizations/groups/events/bloggers
• Follow back! Thank individuals that follow you by
following them back!
Search by keyword on the search box
Or do advanced searches at search.twitter.com/advanced

11. How do I find potential candidates?
Search by keyword: i.e. Recent graduate
Purdue
Connect
Search foursquare check ins: i.e. 4sq and Engage
Verizon Lafayette IN with the
people you
See who career services is following, find
read the bios (seniors, alumni, student
group leaders)
Search by hash tags: #job #hireme

14. How do I get more followers?
 Link your twitter to your other social media
 Tweet about your passions in life and #hash tag them.
Quality content coupled with an easy way to find it
never fails. If others enjoy your content, they’ll add you
 Take pictures. Pictures are heavily retweeted/spread
around
From Kevin Rose, he has over 88,000 followers on Twitter, he is the second most
followed after President Obama, read the full article here:
http://techcrunch.com/2009/01/25/kevin-rose-10-ways-to-increase-your-twitter-
followers/

15. Sources: VZW NE TAT Training Preso, Twitter
Help, Alignmark, Wikipedia, @AnnemarieCoach, My own
experiences.