Twitter: The greatest tool in finding a job

Admittedly, with recruitment platforms like Linked In on the scene, Twitter perhaps isn't the first social media site you'd turn to when hunting for a job.

However, while Twitter might not be built specifically for job searching, there are a few things you can do with it that you can't do on LinkedIn that will greatly improve your chances of getting noticed.

Twitter also tends to give a more genuine impression of your personality and interests, rather than just the experience you have under your belt, and this can be a deciding factor for many potential employers.

Whether you’re a Twitter rookie or a pro, turning to Twitter could expand your options. We'll show you how!

ways to find a job using Twitter

1. Perfect your Twitter profile

Your Twitter profile page is a prime opportunity to perfect your online personal brand and market yourself to potential employers.

Your profile needs to be employer-friendly, but remember it isn't a CV, so keep things informal and let your personality shine through.

Your bio needs to be concise (160 charactersto be precise!) so take your time to come up with something snappy and use keywords to make yourself searchable to employers

Marketing graduate and fashion blogger from Manchester. Coffee & Love Island addict.

If there's room you might also want to include your (professional) email address here. That way if any recruiters want to get in touch, they have a direct line of contact to you.

Don't forget to link to your other social media channels (especially LinkedIn!) and your personal website or blog if you have one, so employers are able to look up your background and experience in more depth.

Make sure you also have a decent profile picture (no drunk selfies or pouting) and a cover image that shows you're fun but also professional! This should ensure you give off a strong first impression to any employers who come across your profile.

Build your Twitter network

2. Building a strong network on Twitter takes a considerable amount of time and effort - nobody gets thousands of followers overnight.
   Start by following companies you're interested in, as well as staff who work at those companies and other 'thought leaders' in the industries you want to work in. These are people who might not necessarily be able to offer you a job, but have interesting things to say about the industry itself, and often appear in the media to talk about it.
   Whereas adding staff you don't know would be considered weird on LinkedIn, this is perfectly acceptable on Twitter. Don't forget your peers too! Course mates and other people you've worked with on projects will all be useful connections to have.
   Don't stop with following though - start engaging with tweets they post by liking, replying and retweeting to show you're genuinely interested in their content. This is how you get on their radar!

3. Research companies and roles you're interested in

2. Twitter is a great opportunity to get a more 'behind-the-scenes' insight into a company and the roles they have.
   Look out for things like big company expansions or changes in policy and organisation - both through the company Twitter page but also by following those who work there.
   Another good tip is to find the person who's currently working in the role you want, and look into their background, specialisms and interests, as well as any projects they're working on. They're an example for you to emulate, so make a note of what they do well and copy it!

3. Learn how to find jobs

   It sounds a bit obvious, but one of the best ways of using Twitter to get a job is, well... finding jobs on there.
   Lots of companies and employees will tweet about roles they're looking to fill, so just keep your eyes peeled.
   Don't forget that some larger businesses will have a separate Twitter account for job vacancies (and work experience opportunities). For example @BBCCareers is the BBC's account for jobs and career opportunities.
   Also try searching popular hashtags like #nowhiring, #jobsearch or #graduatejobs, or more industry-specific ones like #engineeringjobs or #salesjobs, to find relevant vacancies.
   Use sites like Tweetdeck to keep track of certain hashtags or phrases that you want to follow closely, and avoid missing out on opportunities.
   Some Twitter accounts also basically act asjob boards - they'll be specific to a certain industry, and regularly tweet out about jobs and internships, so make sure to follow these and check them regularly.

5. Master Twitter's search function

   If you know how to use Twitter's search tool properly, it can be invaluable for tracking down relevant tweets and job vacancies.
   Generally, the most effective way to search for jobs is by using this combination:
   location + 'hiring'/'vacancy'/'job' + industry keyword
   You can also add a level of seniority, such as intern/junior/freelance to narrow your search a little.
   However, getting the search phrase right is just the beginning. Twitter's search function has loads of cool features to help you find exactly what you need. Here's a few search filters for you to try:
   • You can search for tweets from a specific location - near:London within:10 miles will only show tweets that were sent in London or 10 miles of it
   • You can also search for tweets from a specific account using their username - so from:John34 hiring will show any tweets from John34 mentioning the word 'hiring'
   • Use a date range to find tweets from a specific time period - since:2018-01-01 until:2018-07-02 will only show tweets from the first day of 2018 until 2nd July.

6. Use lists to find the best content

   You might not feel qualified enough to start shouting your opinion on a subject, but it's important that you start sharing genuinely interesting content to show that you care about keeping up to date with news in your industry, as well as what's happening more generally in the world.
   Twitter can be a bit overwhelming at times, and finding the best articles in amongst all the noise can be a nightmare - that's where lists come in.
   When you come across an account which regularly shares really strong content, add it to a list - just click the three dots next to the 'Follow' button.
   You can create lists themed around anything you like (and make them public or private), so you can keep track of specific topics using top quality Twitter feeds.

7. Join the conversation

   Simply following relevant people and organisations won’t achieve much. You need to start connecting with them by engaging with the content they share – like, reply to and retweet their tweets.
   Unlike LinkedIn and Facebook, Twitter is all about live updates and constant interaction, so you need to be tweeting at least once a day as a minimum to keep up.
   For example, if you come across an interesting article, retweet it and add a line or two of your own thoughts. Whoever you've retweeted will likely be grateful for the extra exposure and might respond - bam, connection made!
   Twitter Chats are also a great way of doing this. These are scheduled (normally weekly or monthly) conversations on a subject where people use a specific hashtag to stay connected. Find some that are relevant to your industry and get involved!
   It can be scary but the only way you're going to get your name out there is if you get stuck in.

8. Be mindful of what's appropriate

   Twitter is all about being your authentic self and allowing your personality to shine, but you should still exercise a degree of caution.
   
   
   Tweeting stories and pictures of drunken antics, or getting involved in angry Twitter spats, can potentially create a bad impression and put an employer off.
   Be careful what you retweet too. Even if the retweet doesn't reflect your own opinion, sometimes they can come across as endorsements, so if you retweet anything offensive or controversial it will likely be frowned upon by employers.

9. Use it for interview preparation

   The key to any successful job interview is preparation. Go in there knowing the company and your interviewers inside out, and you're guaranteed to come off well.
   Head to Twitter to find out about any developments, events, successes or trends in the organisation, as well as to scout out competitors and how this company stands out from the crowd.
   You could also try doing some background research on your interviewer, too - but don't follow them, as that would look a bit weird! As long as their profile is public, you'll be able to see all their tweets, and use it as a way to find out about any projects they're working on and particular passions they have.
   This is a great way to find topics that you could bring up in the interview to engage your interviewers and impress them with your knowledge - just don't make it too personal, or you might come across as a bit of a stalker!