How to Tweet Your Way to a Job

@akloh: I’m Amanda, a journalism major at Missouri with an online emphasis focusing on social and new media. Hunting for any entry-level job. DM me!

What if I sent that 140-character message out into the Twitterverse? Would someone respond? Could I actually make a contact and get a job?
 
More people follow Britney Spears and Ashton Kutcher on Twitter than live in the countries of Sweden, Israel, Switzerland, Ireland, Norway or Panama. Clearly, there is a large population of people out there ready and able to connect. Some Twitter users are only tweeting in order to know what Justin Bieber ate for dinner, but others are part of a growing group—a group that uses Twitter as a Human Resources outlet to hunt for potential employees and employers. Throwing out a message like the one above could grab this group’s attention.

This approach to job hunting is becoming increasingly popular. While not everyone is able to effectively market himself or herself on the Internet, others are proving it is possible to tweet your way to a job.
 
When Danielle Hohmeier graduated from college, she didn’t have a job. But she did have a Twitter account. Danielle decided to utilize it.
 
“I started following local agencies [and] started paying more attention to industry happenings—even included my Twitter handle on my resume, LinkedIn and resume website,” said Danielle. “I wanted employers to know I was comfortable in that space and give them a chance to get to know me beyond my resume and cover letter. Plus, I figured that if I sent in a resume and they had already interacted with me on Twitter, then I would have some advantage over other candidates.”
 
Danielle made sure her interactions with companies through Twitter had more substance than just a “hire me please” request.
 
“The trick is, you have to start interacting with them before that job opening comes along. If my first contact with them was, 'Just sent in a resume for the [blank] position' it isn't as effective,” said Danielle.