Posts Tagged ‘Twitter’

What bad timing! Just as I’m about to convince the world about the magical properties of Twitter for the job search-- Anthony Weiner, State representative from NY spoils everything. Weiner has achieved infamy, dragging Twitter through the dirt too and perpetuating the notion that if you use Twitter it can only be hazardous to your reputation and personal privacy. Weiner has to take some responsibility for this rather unfortunate mishap and for allowing his account to be hacked. Allow? Yes. He allowed his account to be hacked by not following one or more of the basic tenets of being a webizen. This is Internet 101 stuff.

But this is besides the point. The point is that people are fearful of being exposed {no pun intended} on the Internet in a bad way and this is what holds so many back from using tools like Twitter that can in fact, dramatically enhance your job search efforts and long term career success, if you learn how to leverage it. The fact is that Social Networking, whether it’s Facebook or Twitter, have become an integral part of life, and a critical part of the business world too. They have certainly revolutionized career management, and how one finds work. And did I mention that there are approximately 600 million people on Facebook and over 1.5 million active users on Twitter, give or take a few and the majority of accounts are never hacked into. The chances of getting your email hacked these days is increasing at an alarming rate and the criteria are random.

In the first part of this series about Online Reputation Management, I want to talk about how to use Twitter without comprising your privacy or gaining infamy.

1. Think before you Tweet. Don’t say or do anything online that you wouldn’t want your grandmother or future boss at your dream job to see. Twitter is a great way to get a job and even greater way to lose one. When tweeting, there are a few guidelines you should follow: don’t say anything that would embarrass you in front of a future in-law or your potential boss at your dream job. Since we advise that Twitter a great way to build your brand and cultivate a professional network, be mindful of not only the followers you have but also any potential readers of your Twitter stream. By following simple web etiquette or “netiquette”, you can avoid jeopardizing your reputation and career as a potential Cisco employee learned the hard way when he didn’t follow these rules and tweeted “Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.” The response: “Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We at Cisco are versed in the web.”

2. Establish Herculean Strength Security Last December the Wall Street Journal analyzed the leaked email data of a popular website, Gawker.com that was hacked into. It produced a list of the top 50 commonly used Gawker passwords. Incredulously, the list is filled with “security no-nos, such as ascending numbers and other easy-to-guess words” What were these people thinking, in this time? Most websites today will tell you how week, medium or strong is. Gmail has an excellent tool to help you determine the strength of your password or just go straight to  this Password strength Calculator. Don’t say another word, just go there immediately!

3. Verify all Apps at the Door: Don’t install unauthorized apps. Everywhere you turn online there is a new app jumping out at you. There are however a number of legitimate and really worthwhile apps for your job search including: Tweetmyjobs.com Wefollow.com and Twellow.com to name a few. While most apps look harmless, when on Facebook or Twitter, always be cautious of the APPs that you accept and confirm their legitimacy with tools like OAUTH

4. Know your friends and followers and be acutely aware of what they do and say on your Twitter and Facebook wall.  One recent grad I met acknowledged that her own mother was a liability to her reputation on FB and was on heightened privacy at all times. On twitter, there is certain company you don’t want to keep and you don’t need to if you don’t want to. Twitter is by nature, your automatic, free 24/7 PR agency, if you have something relatively worthy to say. You just want to make sure you have the right “reps” working for you. Just as important as choosing your words wisely, so should you your “friends” and “followers”. Every follower or “friend” IS a reflection of you.

5. Add a doorbell to your twitter account. Not enamored about having a public account but you want to benefit from having the exponential access Twitter allows you?  No problem. Twitter allows you to maintain  a completely private profile, with no-one except the followers you chose to accept get to see your tweets, and you theirs. Keep the door to your Twitterverse closed, until you are ready to let more people in, and others out!

In an earlier post on 5 Myths about Twitter, I wrote ” in the new world of Social Media, privacy is  an oxymoron, but then again, identity theft was around long before Twitter and other social networking sites were invented.  The point is that while participating on Twitter is an “anything goes” roof party, or if you wish, London’s (in)famous “Speakers Corner” the fact that all powerful Google can find almost anything, and people will be “listening” to what you say,   so  tweet on, but Tweet wisely. Maintain a highly professional presence, no matter what. Social media is viral by nature, and you never know what will make it out into the Google sphere of influence!

Follow me on Twitter @careerfolk, or if you prefer, friend me on Facebook.. Maybe you’re more comfortable on Linkedin? What is your preference? Tell me here, I would love your comments below.

Ready to Bold the new frontier and learn how Twitter can supercharge your Job Search, Join me on June 14th for my first ever Twitter Intensive! Read here about the best-kept secrets on Twitter and it’s superpowers! READ here for more!

5 Myths about Twitter, and why you should reconsider using Twitter as a Job Search Tool

Job searching is serious business, right? That’s why I want to share with you how Twitter has actually made it easier for job seekers believe it or not! Your next job might be 200 Tweets away  – it was for Brandon Savage, who literally did find his job via Twitter.I know the majority of you out there are skeptics and that’s why this is such an important post to write.

For the uninitiated, Twitter, is quite perplexing, in fact I think it might be one the most misunderstood tools on the web. Granted, its’ name does not suggest anything serious and I am sure this might be where many get stuck. Whenever I read an article mentioning its relevance, or ask a non-user what they know about it, there is almost always reference to its more casual and inane usage- Yes, we don’t care what you ate for breakfast, unless it was with Nelson Mandela.

After talking with a lot of people about their Twitter hang-ups I realized there are five myths clouding people’s impressions and precluding their exploration of this highly compelling tool. If the number of passionate professionals using is any indication, then Twitter is much more than just frivolous banter.

1. Twitter is an inane and frivolous activity and a waste of time.

Okay, getting serious now Twitter is not just fun and games. In fact, if you use it with intention and purpose- to secure or share specific and current information- you just might find it can be a very effective way to connect and network with new people in your field, or career of interest.  For the millions of people who have been drawn in by its real-time, cutting edge, social networking technology, Twitter can be job search or business networking on steroids, expanding your networking abilities and business outreach capacity beyond what you ever imagined.

Who would have though that “Tweeting” would have played a key role in alleviating political crises in Madagascar or Iran.  While there certainly may be some childlike, whimsical activity going on, there is also a whole lot of serious information being exchanged too, only it is in digital form, and it’s infectious, in a good way.

Twitter, along with other social networking tools is revolutionizing how people job search, network and share information. Within a five-minute time span, I watched over HUNDREDS of jobs be posted live on Twitter. If used strategically, and pay attention to the time, Twitter can be an incredible time saver. Time is of the essence when you are in job search, and the fact that you can receive targeted and current job openings, in real-time, to your phone or computer, instead of wasting time on a job board is invaluable.

2. Twitter is only for social media savvy people

Of all the social networking sites, believe it or not, Twitter is the least demanding in terms of “figuring it out”. Of course, like any new tool, it takes some getting used to, but after observing how it works, it is quite literally plug and play. And, anyway, are you saying that you have given up learning new things?  In today’s ever-changing world, there really isn’t room for that type of thinking, unless you are ready to retire from life!  Everyone has to start somewhere, and in fact the new job search paradigm obliges everyone to learn a new approach to promoting him or herself in the marketplace. The social media is integral to this process, and as one of my “boomer” clients accurately corrected me the other day when I said this technology is about the future, he corrected me: “No, it’s the present!”

3. You’re too old for Twitter.

If you are too old to learn something new, expand your network, or meet new and interesting people, then, yes, Twitter is not for you. But if you don’t let your age impede your professional development, then Twitter is absolutely a tool for everyone. Just like my client I mentioned above, he is putting himself out there and absorbing as much as possible and he is finding it exhilarating. Something I say to every job seeker who uses age as an excuse, “It’s mind over matter, if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter”. Ironically, I have younger clients ask me, “Isn’t Twitter for older folks” while the older ones suggest the opposite. Either way, if you want to be first to hear about the ideal job, Twitter might be where you find it. Can you afford to not be there?

4. What on earth has Twitter got to do with me Job Search or Business?

Everything actually! In many ways, it’s the brand new job board. Recruiters love it, so who’s arguing? Plug in any keyword into the twitter search mechanism and you might be quite surprised see what comes up in relation to your interest. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Sarah Needleman agrees that  “A new job is  “Just a tweet away” mentioning that “many big companies, including Microsoft Corp., Verizon Communications Inc.,    and Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks, now list job openings on Twitter “

For me, the final proof that Twitter is now considered legitimate by the business Community is Linkedin’s partnership with the blue bird. As the defacto number one online networking tool for professionals, this is quite a bold move.

Then again, you just need to take a look at the numbers on Tweetmyjobs.com, the  world’s largest Twitter Job Board: In 30 days: 350,553 job tweets, in just one hour: 3,723.

5. I won’t be able to protect my privacy

In the new world of Social Media, privacy is probably an oxymoron, but then again, there was identity theft long before Twitter and other social networking sites were invented.  The point is that while participating on Twitter is an “anything goes” roof party, or if you wish, London’s (in)famous “Speakers Corner” the fact that all powerful Google can find almost anything, people will be “listening” to what you say,   so  tweet wisely. That being said, Twitter, like all the sites, you can establish your Privacy Settings so that your profile and tweets  are protected from random spam, followers, and anybody you don’t want to associate with. You have a choice of how public you want your twitter profile to be, if at all.  Certainly set these up if you prefer, but maintain a highly professional presence, no matter what. Social media is viral, by nature, and you never know what will make it out into the Google sphere of influence!

Ultimately, everything that you do online today is trackable, however the benefits of participating in the conversation so that you can ultimately expand your professional networking capabilities and connect with people you may not have other, far outweigh the negatives, of a little spam, or not being found online at all.

The Twitter Job Search Guide promises to be great… You can buy it here. But if you need a little hand holding in order to get on, and make the most of it. Give me a shout, or sign up for my next Twitter for Job Search Webinar on April 13^th