twitter for the job search
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given at MIT Sloan on how to use Twitter to help with the job searchTRANSCRIPT
A Workshop for MBA Candidates
Presented by Sarah Park - MBA ’11With Amanda Peyton, Ariel Santos, Brian Cantwell - MBA ’10
October 16, 2009
• What is Twitter?• Why is Twitter important?• What can people do with Twitter?• Do you have to use Twitter all the time?
Workshop: Twitter SearchWorkshop: Twitter
• Additional Resources & Next Steps
What You Probably Know:
• Micro-blogging (140 char)
• “Follow us on Twitter…” @NPR / @WSJ / @CNN
• High Valuation in spite of flat growth over the summer
• Usage in Sept. 09 (Unique Visits)- Facebook: 124.6M UVs- Twitter: 23.5M UVs
* Source: Compete.com
• Twitter is an online community of “Followers.”
• Members seek out contacts and information based
on shared interest, not existing affiliation.
• Compare with MITSloan2011 Google Group.
Soccer
Follow Simone
Clean Energy
Follow Marta
Iceland Trek
Follow Yoomi
Shared Interest
Action
Focus on two main functions:
• Networking - What does Twitter offer above and beyond Facebook, Linked In?
• Search - What does Twitter offer above and beyond Google?
Network Limitations Advantages
• Unprofessional• Risky to mix work and play• Complicated to segment
friends, colleagues
• Mainstream• Easy to use, overall
Linked In
• Rolodex of weak links• Limited trust• No or few conversations• Static profile
• Professional
• Not mainstream• Interface not intuitive• Lots of jargon• Noisy, transient
• Real-time data• Access to consumers• Contact with senior
execs, thought leaders• Personal branding
Task:Learn to code in Python. Where do I go for help?
Twitter Search Results
Key Comparison: Do you prefer working with an online textbook or other people?
• 80% are “Me Now” Users– Everyday activities, feelings, social life
– Local or immediate situation
• 20% are “Informers”– Information about shared interest
– Link recommendations
– Greater interaction with followers
– More likely to mention others
* Source: Rutgers
Function Advantage Relevance
Research• Real-time data• Access to actual
consumers
• Identify industry trends before they become news
• Understand, engage consumer
Networking• Contact with
thought leaders, senior execs
• Network on your own schedule• Avoid time, expense of attending
conferences
PersonalBranding
• Control of how you appear in Google
• Twitter profile becomes Top-3 Google result within 18 months
To get the most out of Twitter, with the lowest investment of time, effort: Use Twitter Search
What’s Next: • Additional Recommendations
• Twitter Search Workshop
• Twitter Workshop
1) Have a smart and unique take on Twitter.• Tailor perspective to industry focus and career goals.
2) It’s helpful but not necessary to develop a Twitter profile.• The greatest value, relative to time invested, comes from
surveillance through Twitter Search.
3) Your experience on Twitter is only as good as you make it. • Who you choose to follow (and ignore) is a critical decision.
4) Advanced surveillance is easier using 3rd-party apps that require a Twitter account.
Take Away: While you may not want to cultivate a personal brand on Twitter, having an active account is required to access the more advanced applications.
• Try Twitter Searches for:• Industry• Job function • Product or service
• Example: Pharma/Biotech Search for Breast Cancer; Herceptin
• Try Twitter Search yourself
Can you identify people with whom you want to engage?
• Twitter Search Example: “Lumbar Disk”• Spine Surgery • Back Surgery
• What do you find? Consumer insights that will distinguish you from other candidates (YouTea, $100K)
General Precautions • Privacy - Locked vs. Unlocked account• Contacts - Definition of "friend" on Twitter
– Your audience seen/unseen
• Exposure - What to expect in Google re: your Twitter profile– Top rank for your name within 18 months
Professional Concerns• What potential employers might see• Wealth manager example: "Deutsch[e] Bank"
http://twitter.com/jonah_lupton• Casual tone
– Incomplete thoughts; spelling/syntax errors
• Hard to come off as consistently smart, professional• Not “Cover Letter” perfect
• How to Build Network
– Follow, Unfollow
• How to talk to people, join conversations
– @, DM, RT, #BalloonBoy
• How to participate in a conference or meeting
• Approaches to curating your profile over time
– Delete “Me Now” updates every two weeks
• CEOs on Twitter:http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/05/0508_ceos_who_twitter/
• Entrepreneurs onTwitter:http://www.altgate.com/blog/2009/06/entrepreneurs-on-twitter.html
• State of the Twittersphere:http://blog.hubspot.com/Portals/249/sotwitter09.pdf
• Twitter.mashable.com
Follow us on Twitter and ask us questions:
@sarahrah, @amandapey, @cantwell, @agds