Can You Find a Job On Twitter Yes You Can! -

Can You Find a Job On Twitter Yes You Can! - Networking and social networking tools are big topics of conversation when it comes to the job hunt. Ive written about using Facebook to find a job, but I wondered if Twitter, the microblogging platform/social network would be a rich source of potential job opportunities. So, I asked, Can You Get a Job on Twitter? It seems that the answer is a resounding (Bob the Builder-esque) YES you can! Jessica Smith found her current dream job as Chief Mom Officer simply by tweeting to approximately 400 followers, Anyone looking for a marketing or biz dev person?   She reports receiving a DM from Max Ciccotosto, Founder of Wishpot.com, within minutes, asking for a phone interview! The result, Jessica landed a flexible, family-friendly job doing marketing, biz dev, and community management for Wishpots baby channel making competitive pay. She makes a point to pay it forward, and now helps other companies connect with moms who have the skills they seek. Kyle Flahertys use of Twitter for a job hunt resulted in moving his family to Austin, TX from Boston. In March, he tweeted the news to approximately 650 contacts that he had left his job and had no immediate plans. He included a link to a blog post outlining his interest in connecting. He explains, Within hours I had several emails, IMs, phone calls and Tweets about the topic and it actually ended up that I took a new job This may have happened without using Twitter, but since I was looking for a job that would allow me to use social media tools like microblogging, I knew that this was a targeted way to network myself and could lead to a job more inline with what I was wanted. Kyles boss at the job in Austin, Pam ONeal, explains that she had the firms PR agency on the lookout for someone who would make a good addition to their team. Her contact saw Kyles tweet and alerted her that he would be a fantastic hire. ONeal explains, Kyle really took an out of the box approach using Twitter. He had already informed his employer that he wanted to make a career move and made a list of the exact opportunity he was looking for, so he posted an announcement to his 700+ Twitter followers and described that role. So, between the agency referral, Kyles use of Twitter and the insights hed posted on his blog, I knew he would be a great addition to the team. I emailed him immediately. (You can read more about Pams perspective HERE.) Heidi Miller, the Podcasting Princess found a three-month freelance project using Twitter. She harnessed the power of her Twitter network (around 900 people) by tweeting updates about her job hunt. (Applying for a social media position in Boston, Applying for a cool social media position in London, etc.) Although many of her colleagues questioned the wisdom of being so open about her search (would she look desperate? foolish?), in the end, the ends justified the means. Heidi explains, One day, one of my Twitter buddies, Amy Gahran, sent me a DM that our Twitter buddy Susan Mernit was looking for people for a project. Id met Susan at BlogHer the year before, so I sent her a Tweet asking about the project. A resume and phone interviews followed, and I got the position. Heidi says, What I discovered is that Twitter is just another way of communicating with your network. When you are seeking a position, you tell your associates, colleagues and friends so that they can keep their ears open for you. Thats exactly what I did on Twitterby updating on my job search, I ended up with a contract position that since has opened doors to several offers for permanent positions for me once I finish up here. (Its interesting to note here how Heidis story really combines both in-person and social networking. She used online tools to keep in touch with people she may have met at conferences or via other means, which ultimately led to her finding a job.) Clearly, if you are looking for a job involving social media, Twitter is one great place to cast your networking net. However, dont ignore the possibilities to use Twitter to make connections that could lead to opportunities in any number of areas. The fact is, job search networking is much more effective when you make loose connections touching base with people you do not know well, but whose networks and contacts are much different from your own. Ive noticed that Twitter has been getting quite a bit of press in mainstream media outlets lately. My colleague Dan Schawbel, the Gen Y Personal Branding guru, notes that Twitter already has 3 million users. Surely, there are some great connections for your job hunt just waiting to be found! As more and more get involved (dare I say addicted?), the more opportunities there will be to leverage Twitter for job search networking. Dont be the one left behind! Some information you may find useful: Common Crafts great video explaining Twitter Chris Brogans 50 ideas for using Twitter for business Marci Albohers Shifting Careers blog at the New York Times How Twitter Can Help at Work Convinced that Twitter may be a good use of your time? Feel free to follow me: http://twitter.com/Keppie_Careers photo by jevy