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I love Twitter! I truly wish I had more time to “tweet” but it’s difficult. Yes, there are tools that allow you to schedule tweets but I’m kind of old school and like to “tweet by the seat of my pants”. Twitter is a fabulous web tool for networking and expanding your contacts base.

Job searchers can use Twitter to learn about new opportunities and get the word out about their interest in a new opportunity and their background. Here are a few Twitter tips that I’ve compiled, some may work for you some may not but there’s tons of opportunities to use Twitter to your advantage.

We’ve all heard about “branding”. Companies have a team of marketing folks that focus their energy on the brand and how that brand represents their company. Do the same for yourself.

Make sure your online brand is focused, clean and effective.

• Use your real name.  No need to use your full name but your real name.  And don’t create a Twitter identity that leaves folks questioning whether or not you are a real person.
• Create an easy to remember Twitter name.  Just like a bad email address if it’s too silly or offensive employers will not take you seriously.
• Add a link to your website or blog to your Twitter profile. This could feature some of your past work, creative efforts and a portfolio.
• Do not post inappropriately.
• Avoid spamming your followers.  It’s all about content, tweeting every 5 minutes just to tweet will make others want to “un-follow” you.
• I love this one and read it somewhere but can’t for the life of me find the source.  “Tween, then follow.”  Don’t just follow people just because. Have something to say before you start following.  I really try to reciprocate “following” but if a follower doesn’t have much to say than it’s not worth my time.
• Twitter allows you to network with so much more than those in your circle of friends.  Facebook is the place for that. Search for people with similar interests and people in your industry or locale.
• Remember to stay involved so that your Followers don’t forget about you.
• Follow people back; you don’t have to follow everyone who follows you but you should try to follow those that are interesting and who offer information that could help in your job search.
• Pay it forward!  Tweet about other people’s blog posts and links.  This will help catch the attention of new readers that you might not have considered before.
• Promote your site or blog. Don’t be afraid to promote yourself but remember that it’s about quality not quantity.
• Include those you truly follow in a conversation by using @ and then their Twitter name.
• This one is very new to me but I’ve seen lots of folks talk about these.  Suggest a Twitter happy hour or meet up (Tweetup) to meet your local Twitter friends and extend your networking opportunities.
• Use Twitter appropriately to find jobs and contacts.
• Try your hardest to use correct grammar and spelling.
• You only have 140 characters make sure you use the right ones.
• Sense of urgency is important when it comes to replies.  Reply to friends who message you directly or retweet something you have posted. It’s all about courtesy in the Twitter arena.
• Don’t get too casual: Twitter is meant to be an informal way to spread information, but like e-mail it’s becoming a popular way to connect.
• Avoid profanity!  This may offend others and makes you look UNPROFESSIONAL.

I understand the current economic situation in the world is tough.  It’s getting more and more difficult to find a job.  Many of the candidates I talk to lately are frustrated beyond belief and I feel bad that I can’t help them.  Even my significant other who has been unemployed for quite a while and it seems the longer he’s out of work the more stressed he has become.  It makes for a tense home life.

It’s extremely impossible to predict if there will be an end insight with more and more people losing their jobs and joining the unemployment line.  Finances are tight for those that are expected to take furloughs as well.

So, what do we do if the loss of the job happens to us? Some are taking action and asking for help from friends, relatives, acquaintances, etc.  Some are getting up off the ground, dusting themselves off and learning that there are opportunities in a situation like this.   Here’s a few ideas that could lead to wealth and freedom.

1. Direct Selling- Start your own business selling products made by other companies. Some examples: Tupperware, AVON, Scentsy Candles, Partylite.  These types have companies have allowed many folks to start their own businesses with very little investment.  They allow flexibility, freedom and the power to build their business however they want.
2. Blogging- This is very new to me but this little blog has already made me a little bit of money.  How?  Affiliate marketing and Google ad-sense.  It hasn’t allowed me to quit my day job yet but it’s paid for itself (hosting, domain, etc.)
3. Social Networking- Yes you can earn money by networking online by using Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn.  There are many companies out there paying people like me to “tweet” or “post” about their products and services.  Again I’ve only made a little bit here but it’s still something.  I truly think that if someone can devote more time they could make a pretty good living.
4. Start a business- quite a few folks effected by lay offs have made a living out of doing things they love.  Some examples, dog walking, day care, running errands for others, virtual assistants, free lance writers, jewelry making, and lots of other great businesses.  These cost very little to start and you have control over how things get done.

Remember even if you have lost your job do not let it get you down, try to think of some things that you can do to stay busy and possibly earn you some cash.   Pleasant events are usually followed by something positive, and it may be just the stimulus to change your life for the better.

What does your online image say about you?

I googled my name today, and guess what I found? I’m not as much of a novice to social media as I thought I was.  Victoria Shanen, said it first…Social media is HIP!

Sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter allow you to get in touch with long lost friends, share photos of your kids and pets, or just entertain ourselves (Farmville fans, don’t be offended…what is the point of having an online farm?) but social media can be a tool that will help build networks and possibly help land that position.

Social media is and should be a big part of your job search tool kit.  I’m going to be honest here, I’m a little late in the game when it comes to using social media as a recruiting tool.  Yes, I’m using it now and honestly it’s fun and I learn something new every day but I should have jumped on the band wagon a long time ago.  Don’t get me wrong I still love the phone and face to face networking but sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have reduced some sourcing time and has brought FUN back to recruiting.

Why should you use social media like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter,  as a part of your job search?  Companies are Googling prospective candidates all the time now.  If you show an interest in a position once  a Hiring Manager or Recruiter has seen your application and  or resume, your name is popped into a Google search.  When they search your name, there should at least be a little something about you.  You don’t want them wondering if you’ve lived under a rock for the past 8-10 years.

How do you get started in social media?  First of all, it’s easy and it’s free!  Try this first, Google yourself and look at the results on the search engine results page.  What do you see?  What would you want to see if you were wanting to know about you?  It’s easy to get an account with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flicker, YouTube and my not so favorite MySpace.  Open accounts with these sites and others like them.  These sites allow you to post content about yourself and what you are doing.  Start with a professional profile on LinkedIn, don’t forget to include a resume here.  You can also use VisualCV.com to post an online CV or resume.  Remember that we want to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to post personal stuff, this will help you “brand” yourself online.  Remember Recruiters and Hiring Managers are people too and we want to know more about you not just your work.  The more you post the more you will get noticed in search engines like Google, MSN or the new Bing.

Wait, stop right there!  I just said to post personal content right?  Here’s a small caveat, have fun with social media but remember to post responsibly.  Keep the content real but at the same time don’t post things that you wouldn’t want your Mother to see.  If you went out last night and drank your heart out and danced on tables, keep that to yourself.  No need to share with the world that you were not being too responsible.  Posts like these will get some attention, not the job.

Use these tools and have fun in your job search, you never know who would be searching your name right now.

Remember as a kid, when Christmas rolled around and your Mom would say “It’s better to give than receive.”  I don’t know about you but I thought that was a crock of, well you know.  Now that I’m older and wiser, ok just older; I have learned that giving is truly better.

What does this have to do with your job search?  Let me explain.  You are in need of help right now to secure that position you really want.  The goal here is to “get” what you want.  But getting isn’t always the way to go.  Sometimes it is about “giving”.

Learn to give!

Relationships are a two way street.  If you want to find out about a position at a specific company you are interested in, don’t hound the one person you happen to know that works there.  They are just going to think you are using them.  Get to know them, learn about them and what motivates them.  This is where you give first.  What’s the old saying “You get more bees with honey?” or something like that.  Instead of  just expecting they give you information or assist you with getting your resume in front of the hiring manager, find out about them.  Find out why they work there.  Find out what makes them tick.  You might end up developing a relationship that will work for both of you. And you might end up getting more than you expected.  Quite a few years back, I really wanted to work for a company that was just going to come into our area.  I knew one person that worked there we had met at a job fair and over the course of a year, we built a relationship.  Guess what?  After getting to know her and hearing about her work life I realized that place wasn’t for me.  It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened because I ended up where I am now.  Where is she?  Well let’s just say that she’s reached out to me a few times regarding some opportunities.  We still have a great relationship and I know that I can trust her.

My Recruiting experience has taught me that networking isn’t about how many people you have “Friended” or Follow on Twitter it’s about cultivating the relationships you have.  Don’t get me wrong, I know a lot of people but more than that, I have a group of people (peers, friends, relatives, etc) that I know and trust.  I know that if I needed something they will lend a helping hand.  Why would they do that for me?  Because I would do the same for them.

So in your job search venture try to give as often as you get.

Almost everyone I know is on Facebook or Twitter these days?  Even my Mother is on Facebook.  I know it’s strange to think that my Mom is seeing my posts, it’s almost like she’s peeking in my diary.  (If I had one.)

Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are all about who you know.  But you can use these online networking tools to your advantage. Why?  Because there could be people out there looking for you.

It’s ok to Tweet about your job search.  With the current unemployment rate at an all time high it’s best to get yourself noticed.  I know quite a few folks who spend their day looking for old friends, relatives, colleagues, playing games, etc.  Why not spend some time talking about your job search? Hal Thomas did an excellent job of creating a “Tweet” that landed him a social media content manager position at BFG Communications.

There are many Recruiters (like myself) searching Twitter and Facebook for potential candidates.  I’m pretty new to Twitter so my following is not to high yet, but I am using these tools as a way to reach out to candidates that might not necessarily be checking out my open positions.  In most cases Recruiters will have a link to their company website.  Check out these sites.  See if you know some of the Followers of said Recruiters.  They might be able to tell you whether or not you should consider connecting with them.

There are several Twitter Job Resources out there:

• Tweetmyjobs-  It is a service that brings Recruiters, Hiring Managers and Job Seekers together on Twitter.  It’s instant messaging for job postings.
• Jobsearch accounts- there are specific Twitter accounts that provide listings for specific fields, industries and occupations. (@attjobs – Jobs at AT&T, @juicyjobs – Green jobs, @socialmediajob – Jobs in social media)
• Twellow- The Twitter yellow pages
• Just Tweet It!- Directory for Twitter Users.

Remember to create an online presence that is professional.  Remember your Mom is probably on Facebook or Twitter now, it’s probably safe to say that if you wouldn’t want Mom reading your posts, you should refrain from posting it.

Thanks so much for stopping and visiting Recruitingmaven.com’s blog.

I would like to solicit help from contributors in order to make this blog more of a collaborative effort…if you are interested in writing here please send me an email to tammy AT recruitingmaven.com (I write it this way so that I don’t get hit by tons of spam.) You can also locate me on twitter.