Should you have a Twitter Account during a Job Search?

Even though we currently have a small number of opportunities open with Pinnacol I'm still out on the web browsing recruiting and job-related sites to see what's trending, to find new ideas and methods, and to stay connected with folks who may someday become Pinnacol employees. That includes monitoring some of the key job sites who, in recent years, have become a much better resource for job seekers than simply a place to find jobs. One of the partners we sometimes use is Great Insurance Jobs.com. This morning they sent me an e-mail that included a brief article by Roger Lear, one of the co-founders of Great Insurance Jobs,  about why candidates should strongly consider having a Twitter account. From a job candidate's perspective, Twitter is perhaps the most under-utilized tool out there. I thought I'd pass along his tips as they are as concise and cogent as I've seen:

 "Can you tweet your way to the next great job? You may already know that you can use Twitter to find jobs that are "tweeted" by companies (Twitter.com/InsuranceJobs1). What you may not realize is that there a few advantages to having your own Twitter account during a job search that can help you.
Here are some reasons why having a Twitter account can really be beneficial to you during your job search:
1. Depending on what survey you read, over 50 percent of employers today are using Google to find your online identity. A well done Twitter account will put your name and identity at the top of this list.
2. A Twitter account allows you to control the content a potential employer will find about you if they do research your name. For example, if you are looking for a job as a graphic designer, your entire Twitter account can be devoted to tweets about the programs you use, interesting facts and links to your work. In addition, Twitter has a profile section that you can write a short "bio" about yourself, about your skills and your desire to find a great job.
3. You can "follow" companies that you have a desire to work for in the future. Many companies have established Twitter accounts and their tweets usually reflect what the company is doing. By following them, you may get a tweet about jobs open at their company.
4. You can find job leads at companies you don't follow. Twitter search engines allow you to put in search terms like "underwriter jobs Orlando". Any tweet with those words will appear. The better you get at search terms when using Twitter, the better results you will get.
5. Recruiters (in house and third party) and staffing firms are using Twitter to find candidates for their open jobs directly. If you are not in Twitter, they will never find you to contact you about the job they are recruiting for. Many of the jobs recruiters have are NEVER advertised.

Here are some tips to get started:
1. Go to Twitter.com and sign up for an account. Your username should be your name if it is available. If not, use your_name. Do not use any name that is cute or unprofessional.
2. Fill out the bio with key words about what you do and what you are looking for in your next job. Use key words that recruiters would use to find you.
3. Add your picture. This validates your profile. If you don’t have a professional head shot, get one done professionally. (Target does a good job.)
4. Research companies you want to work for and follow them.
5. Tweet regularly about things in your industry. Find tweets from others and retweet them to your account.

Twitter can be a great tool in your job search if done properly. During a job search, Twitter is not about how many followers you have. It is a great vehicle for you to get your name and online identity in the hands of potential employers with you in 100 percent control of the content."

Pinnacol has several Twitter accounts including a company account and one specifically for careers. There is still not (and probably never will be) a one and only best way to look for and find a job. Having a Twitter account just adds another tool to the toolkit.