AARP Hearing Center
Tweeting your way to your next job might seem a little far-fetched. But having a professional presence on Twitter can lead you to employment openings and connect you with recruiters. And it can demonstrate online mojo that will assure hiring managers that you're at ease with technology — a concern they often have about workers over 50.
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Not familiar with Twitter? It's a social networking site that lets you send out brief "tweets" — which could be your thoughts on something, a link to an article, or a photo. With a click of a button, any other Twitter user is free to sign up to "follow" you, that is, receive your tweets. Likewise, you're free to follow others in the Twitter universe.
How it might work for you
Suppose you're an interior designer looking for work. You tweet about developments in the industry and follow people who are doing the same. Over time you build up a network that keeps you informed in detail about the business and job openings, and puts you in touch with other people who share your love for the profession.
When an interior design job comes open, you may well first hear of it on Twitter. And, who knows, one of your followers who's hiring may decide the best fit for the job is you — the person who's been tweeting all that sharp stuff about the business.
LinkedIn gets the lion's share of attention in online job networking. But Twitter offers a more subtle inside track. Plus, starting off is easier — no need to create an exhaustive profile listing your degrees, job history and testimonials. Just a simple one.
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