Tweet Yourself to a New Job
Posted by Ariana Rasansky in Recruitalicious, tags: job boards, social media, twitter
I’m new to the Twitter-mania. Yes, I tweet, re-tweet and follow people, but I’m still learning how to use some of the site’s features. For example, I just learned how to use hashtags (and also what that word means, for that matter). I also recently installed Twitterberry to my cell phone. It seems like everyday I learn one more Twitter-related idea. Today’s lesson? Twitter is now home to some of the largest companies’ job boards.
Many large companies, like Microsoft Corp. and Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks, now list their job openings on Twitter. Since the recession, online job boards have skyrocketed in number, and companies are choosing to go the cheaper route. Although this seems a bit unconventional, after reading The Wall Street Journal’s article, I found myself agreeing with this practice. Below are the main reasons why some companies are choosing the microblogging site over traditional job boards:
1. Twitter offers one more opportunity for employers to find candidates. The site helps companies narrow down the pile of résumés: employers use Twitter to fill positions that would usually generate many applicants on a job board. It also serves as an avenue for sharing company news.
2. Companies can target the “social-media-savvy” candidate. Think about it: a person who responds to an opening on Twitter knows how to use the site, and can navigate it pretty well. That person follows the company, accesses the link posted on Twitter, and then submits an application. Candidates can tweet their interests in a position, and sometimes even get an employee response.
3. Twitter helps a company convey an innovative image, but that works both ways. Twitter is pretty informal, so job seekers need to be aware of how they appear to employers on the site.
4. Job seekers can do their own investigating on Twitter to find out about a company.
5. My personal favorite: Twitter allows candidates to follow feeds that list jobs from a variety of companies, rather than scrolling through dozens of postings on job boards. Job boards may or may not be updated. With Twitter, users know the content is fresh and new.
My conclusion: It took me some time to come around to Twitter. But now, I see the value in using a site that serves as a virtual conversation, a source of interactivity and a place to find a future.
Image by mashable.com
