It is hard to escape the fact that online social media plays a very vital role in today’s job search. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter can all play a part in getting your name out there and becoming visible to potential employers. Each medium, however, has its own way of contributing to your job search. Twitter is unique in that your input is confined to 140 characters per tweet. Learning to use Twitter to your full advantage will provide additional benefits to your search.

How to use Twitter Effectively

Start with your bio. With only 140 available characters, it must be used efficiently as well as effectively. While you may consider leaving your bio blank, don’t. People not only check out your tweets, but your bio too. Reducing your 30 second elevator speech into a 140 character bio can be challenging, however. Take a look at other Twitter bios to get a good idea of how it can be done. Be sure your bio is uniquely about you.

Use good judgment when you tweet. Remember the purpose of your Twitter account is to aid in your job search. If this is your defined purpose, refrain from tweets that are too personal. You want people to get to know you but you don’t want to share every time you shower or shop. You need to find the balance between over and under sharing.

As impossible as it may seem, you need to learn to engage in conversations on Twitter. It’s not just about tweeting your articles or employment needs. You need to find followers to "talk" to. This is easiest if you use the hashtag feature. If you find a potential networking partner, it’s best to take the “conversation” off Twitter so that you engage in a conversation which is more than 140 characters.

If you’re wondering who to follow, Twitter offers suggestions. Don’t just blindly follow people, however. Visit their Twitter page and read through a few pages of their tweets. You may find they are someone you definitely want to follow. You may also find that insightful tweet was the single gem in the middle of a bunch of junk. Remember, you are using Twitter to find a job, following unprofessional or obnoxious followers may hinder your job search.

Create a Twitter mini-conference. Invite your followers to participate in a mini-conference about a relevant topic. Create a specific hashtag to use for the conference and let the conversation begin. Anyone contributing in the conversation will identify their participation by using the hashtag designated for the conference.

If you’re attending a conference or even a job fair, tweet about it. Make sure you use an appropriate hashtag so that people will find your tweets.

It is possible to set up more than one Twitter account – one personal and one for your job search. Maintaining two accounts can be difficult and potential employers will check both. Twitter has many functions, beneficial features and related sites – it can be a powerful tool when it comes to your job search.

Checkout these books on Amazon.com:
The Twitter Job Search Guide: Find a Job and Advance Your Career in Just 15 Minutes a Day

Look Me Up: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Social Networking Yourself to Job Search Success