Social media networks like Twitter can – perhaps surprisingly for people who don’t use them already – be very effective promotional and research tools for job hunting. By using them correctly you can find out about potential jobs and you can raise your profile in your industry, which could lead to employers approaching you.

Make the most of online networking using Twitter by following these steps:

1. Open a Twitter account and start tweeting:

If you haven’t got a Twitter account already then the first step is to go to Twitter (http://twitter.com) and create your own account. Registration takes 10 minutes at most to complete and is very simple.

2. Develop a list of Followers:

Once you’ve got an account don’t wait for people to come to you, use the search box on the right-hand side of the page to find people that are tweeting things that are of interest to you and then click the ‘Follow’ button on their profile page to see all their tweets on your home page.

If finding people who are tweeting about subjects that are of interest to you seems initially difficult then perhaps try following Twitter ‘lists’. These have been set up by Twitter users and group together people who often talk about a particular subject. Try using http://www.tlists.com/ to find lists that interest you.

3. Follow Jobsitejobs:

Once you’ve got to grips with the basics simply go to http://twitter.com/jobsitejobs, or search for Jobsitejobs, and follow us. You will then be able to view our public tweets containing job hunting advice and tips on your home page.

In addition we’ll also send you a ‘Direct Message’ (private tweet) containing a link. Once you click on the link you be taken to a Jobsite page where you’ll be able to set up your job criteria. We’ll then send you Direct Messages containing jobs that match your criteria.

There are lots of recruitment services that use social networks like Twitter to send you a stream of job opportunities without matching them to your own requirements: Make sure that any services you follow will make your job hunting easier, rather than swamping you with irrelevant job vacancies.

4. Establish your job hunt goals:

Your main goal of using Twitter may currently be to find a new job, but there may be other things you might like to achieve such as meeting specific people, following breaking industry news or you might wish to share your knowledge about something that could attract an employer’s or a headhunter’s attention . Think about what you would like to gain by using Twitter. There are more opportunities than just looking for jobs. Use it as a tool to promote yourself.

5. Design your Twitter profile to impress:

If you have a blog or a profile on another social network like Linkedin, make sure you include a link to it in your Twitter profile. Choose a clear, professional looking photograph of yourself. Set the background image on Twitter to something more personal than the default one and make sure you’re someone worth following by posting interesting questions and comments.

6. Set time aside:

To make the most out of Twitter you need to set some time aside to search for jobs, engage in conversations and to network with people. Updating your status, in a careful and sensible manner can alert people to things you are interested in.

Publicise your Twitter address in your email footers, social network posts and when you speak with people. Whenever you can make sure to invite people to follow you on Twitter; the greater the size (and quality) of your online social network, the more opportunities will open up for you.

7. Keep your job hunting private:

If you are already in employment you may not want to advertise that you are looking for work. Be sensible about the personal information you reveal to others. Use Direct Messages to manage your job hunting ‘campaign’. Always remember that any Tweets you send, other than Direct Messages, can be seen by all other Twitter users.

Read more about networking, both via social media and through normal routes, to find the next step in your career on www.jobsite.co.uk.

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