Looking for a job is exhausting and not fun. This is magnified when you really need a job. Sending cover letters and resumes seems antiquated and do not always yield great returns on your investment of time and energy. 

What if I told you there’s a different way? There is. Harness the power of social media to land your next job. 

More than 94% of recruiters use social media to find viable candidates through active and passive recruiting. Recruiters use LinkedIn 93% of the time followed by Facebook 65% and Twitter 47%. While network referrals remain the best way to get hired, recruiters are saying that social networks are providing top quality talent 59% of the time.  

How to get a job offer on Twitter is not as hard as you might think. You will still use all of the networking skills I’m always talking about, engage, connect, meet. Only, you’ll use Twitter-specific dynamics.

Here’s a five-step process to landing a job offer through Twitter. 

• Tweet like an expert.

Twitter is a microblogging site that allows 280 characters to get your point across (up from 140 characters). Character count includes letters, numbers, spaces, emojis (2 characters per emoji), hashtags, Twitter handles, and links. Links are 23 characters regardless of their actual length. 

Only tweet relevant and curated content on Twitter. Always link to your website or other verifiable source. For example, if you read something in your industry of interest, link to the article in your tweet. Tweets are more often read that include an image or video (and those don’t count towards character counts).   

• Use hashtags.

You’ll need to use industry specific and targeted hashtags. Hashtags are keywords or phrases that group similar topics. For example, #socialmedia is used for all articles, comments, insights, etc. about social media. You can research popular hashtags using Twitter’s native search feature or features offered through social media management programs like Sprout Social. Make your hashtags count. 

• Connect.

Get clear on who you want to work for and then reach out on Twitter. Make a list of the companies you’re interested in and find out who the key point of contact is within each of those companies. Use LinkedIn and company websites to help you. Follow the individuals or the companies on Twitter. Engage in the conversation, ask questions, and share valuable information and insights (see #1 above). 

• Start a campaign.

This is about branding yourself. I’ve written about building a professional brand online before. Use your name or business name as your Twitter handle. Share valuable content that seals the connection between what you say and what you do. Share daily. Use a tool like Hootsuite to put tweets on autopilot. 

Make sure your website and the other social sites create a cohesive package with your Twitter account. You don’t want to confuse potential employers by being all over the place. For example, if you work in content marketing, your social platforms and website presence should reflect so. If not, build the connection. We’ve all held jobs that were nothing like what we do now. That’s OK, just build the connection to how it led to what you’re doing now. Your social profile is for the job you want not the job you have. 

• Finish offline.

Once you’ve established a connection with potential recruiters and hiring managers, ask for an informational interview. This is true for any networking strategy. You need to get in front of the person. An informational interview is where you get to ask the questions. You’re simply finding out more information about the company or the role the person has at the company. This is a great way to make a face-to-face connection and to show your interest in the company as well as in a particular role. 

Following these guidelines might just save you hours in tailoring cover letters and resumes. Just remember, it’s not an overnight endeavor. It takes time and devotion to build up a Twitter following. Be authentic in your approach. Show your human side. And stay relevant. 

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