As many of you know by now, I’m a big fan of Twitter and I use it on a regular basis to share musings on the job search process and to build community with my colleagues, friends, and job seekers. But many job seekers are still somewhat perplexed by Twitter and it’s value. Enter Marci Reynolds…I recently interviewed Marci Reynolds, author of the new e-book, How to Use Twitter for Your Job Search, to learn more about her philosophy on using Twitter to improve the quality and efficiency of a job search. Her book is a quick read packed with great strategic and tactical tips about Twitter.
What inspired you to write this book?
In my role as CEO and Chief Strategist at J2B Marketing, I work with job seekers one on one and in groups to discuss their online marketing, job search strategy. Most job seekers understand the value of using LinkedIn, but many have apprehension about using Twitter. They believe the site is geared towards celebrities or talking about what you had for lunch.
Once we spend time discussing the value of Twitter and I help them set up their Twitter presence, their opinions change. And, many now use Twitter daily, to help them find a new job.
I wrote this book to help job seekers across the globe fast track their job search using Twitter. There are no other books on the market like this.
What is the biggest mistake job seekers make on Twitter?
There are two Twitter job search mistakes that I’ve observed on a regular basis.
First, I have observed job seekers tweeting about their job search, instead of demonstrating their skills, knowledge and qualifications. I’ve read tweets about job search problems, venting, talking about bad interviews etc. Job seekers should focus on creating a professional brand, not an “unemployed” brand. And, everything you say on Twitter becomes a permanent record for future employers to find.
Second, I’ve seen a lot of job seekers sign up for a Twitter account, but then not use the tool. There are so many opportunities to fast track your job search with Twitter, from following companies that you want to work for, to signing up for Twitter feeds for target jobs, and connecting with recruiters. These job seekers are missing out on job search opportunities.
Can you share any success stories of people who landed a job using Twitter?
One of my favorite success stories is about Hal Thomas (@halthomas) who landed an Assistant Social Media Content Manager job at BFG Communications with just one tweet! You can read more about Hal’s story on the Career Diva Blog.
Another success story is Renee Libby, who was laid off earlier this year from a PR job, actively tweeted for two months, then got a new PR job after an employer observed her impressive Twitter presence. Renee was profiled on CNNMoney.com.
How much time do you recommend people spend each day managing their Twitter profile?
Job seekers should plan to invest about 30 minutes per day managing their Twitter presence. This includes time spent reading other people’s Tweets and related content (ex. links to blogs, news feeds), interacting with the Twitter community and planning and scheduling their own Tweets.
Do you have a favorite Twitter application?
My favorite Twitter application is HootSuite, which is a free, hosted service that allows you complete a number of Twitter tasks all in one place, which can save you a lot of time. On HootSuite you can read tweets, pre-schedule tweets, create Twitter lists and manage multiple social media accounts. I post updates to Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook with just one, easy to use interface. (Other Twitter fans often recommend the Tweet Deck application, which has some similar features.)
I also recommend the Twitter directory website, Twellow.com, “The Twitter Yellow Pages”. Twellow allows you to easily search the content of Twitter user profiles, to help you find people or companies that you may want to follow.
Can you tell us more about the book and where job seekers can find out more?
“How To Use Twitter For Your Job Search” includes 12 chapters that cover an introduction to Twitter, a clear explanation of the benefits of Twitter to job search activities and step by step instructions on how to get started with a Twitter profile and a tweet content strategy.
Job seekers can download a PDF copy of the book to their own computer or purchase a Kindle version from Amazon.com.
For more information, please visit the book website, www.twitterjobsearchebook.com.