25 Twitter Job Search Tips

07th June 2012

With 400 million tweets sent every day, Twitter is not only a highly effective networking tool but also one of the most powerful search engines out there.

Despite this, it remains largely underutilised by those looking for work. Used in the right way, Twitter can be more effective than traditional job search methods, and help savvy jobseekers discover new opportunities long before anyone else.

To set you on the path of Twitter job search success, we’ve put together our best 25 Twitter Job Search Tips:

1.) Put a CV link in your bio. You can put your CV online with free services such as Dropbox.

2.) Utilise Twitter’s in-built search to find relevant opportunities. Use key phrases such as ‘we are hiring’ or ‘vacancy for a’, along with a location, to discover suitable job ads.

3.) Look out for Twitter IDs on business cards, e-mails and websites to grow your network. You never know when these contacts may come in handy.

4.) Set up Twitter application Twilert to receive automatic e-mail alerts when individuals tweet certain keywords and phrases e.g. ‘hiring a web developer’.

5.) Save your searches for future use. Just click the cog to the right of the search box, and your search criteria will be readily available next time you log in.

6.) Follow recruiters within your niche. Many will tweet new job opportunities as they become available.

7.) Use Twitter search engine TwitJobSearch. This cuts through a lot of the noise on the Twittersphere to display jobs relevant to you.

8.) Engage with individuals involved within your subject area. Building a rapport with key contacts could serve you well in the future.

9.) Tweet about opportunities you’re interested in. Many recruiters will keep a watch out for updates like these, and will get in touch if they have anything suitable.

10.) Don’t be controversial. Remember that your next employer could be reading your tweets, so it’s best to steer clear of offensive language or anything else that could cause a stir.

11.) Follow companies you’re interested in working for. They are likely to post up new jobs from time to time, and it’ll also help you get a feeling for their brand.

12.) Make sure your contact details are easily available, either in your bio or on a CV you link to. Don’t rely on companies to contact you via Twitter alone.

13.) Sign up to directory Twellow to improve the chances of your Twitter profile getting found.

14.) Link to your LinkedIn profile in your bio. LinkedIn offers more space to highlight your business achievements, and will help companies judge your suitability for new roles.

15.) Personalise your profile background. This is a great opportunity for you to showcase your creativity – something that will be particularly relevant to graphic and web designers.

16.) Use Topsy to discover historical tweets. Individuals who were hiring before may well be hiring again in the future, so it’s worth following these.

17.) Don’t overdo it. Too many job-related tweets could make you seem desperate, so limit these to a sensible amount and combine them with more informative tweets.

18.) Make full use of hashtags. Most companies use hashtags when tweeting new jobs (e.g. #wearehiring or #jobs), and searching against these is a good way of quickly finding new roles.

19.) Upload a profile picture. Again, best to keep it professional, which generally means no drunken photos or strange poses.

20.) Make sure your bio contains your job title and a few key skills. This will improve the visibility of your profile on both Twitter and Google.

21.) Reach out to key individuals. By this, we don’t mean direct message everyone asking them for a job. Instead, try asking them for advice or offer them your opinion on a specific topic to get a conversation started.

22.) Make sure you don’t miss any important messages or updates by logging in on a regular basis. If you own a smartphone or tablet, it’s worth downloading Twitter’s official app.

23.) Use your real name. Companies may want to do a bit of research before they contact you.

24.) Follow events within your industry. Meeting like-minded individuals in person can be a great way to learn about new opportunities.

25.) Follow @intapeople for regular job advice.

If you’ve got any more suggestions on how to use Twitter to find a job, we’d love to hear them. Please add your comments below!