Twitter Apps For Your Job Search

Just when I thought I knew how to use Twitter for my job hunt, I find there are more ways to tweet while searching.

I found another good post from Tawny Labrum, key contributor to the AskBINC Blog: "15 Twitter Applications For Your Job Search."

Labrum says, "With the right tools Twitter can become a never-ending source of information to assist you along your way." There are hundreds of applications you could use, but I suggest you start with Labrum's 15 she finds most interesting.

Labrum also suggests following these Twitter Users specializing in job postings:

• @JobAngels – Helping the unemployed find jobs
• @indeed - One search. All jobs.
• @jobshouts – General job postings
• @simplyhired - Job search site
• @StartUpHire – Jobs at VC backed companies
• @twithire - Job board service

Tap into Twitter's power!

My Job Search Recipe

I've been job searching for a few months now. I read a lot of online advice. I'm on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. I have this blog and others.

The key message I'm hearing is that job searchers need to shift the way they have been traditionally looking for work. The job sites, such as Monster.com and CareerBuilders, are black holes for resumes. The focus is online networking and searching people.

Based on what I've learned and experienced so far, I've developed my own recipe for job searching. My ingredients are based on searching for Marketing Manager positions.

Here's my recipe for job searching:

• LinkedIn - (1) I keep my profile up to date, search for new connections that I know, and request for recommendations when appropriate. (2) I only apply for jobs on LinkedIn and through LinkedIn if there is a way to connect with someone in the company - get an introduction - and there usually is. If I can't find a connection to introduce me, I go straight to the company's website. Though I don't know for sure, I'm guessing that there are fewer resume submission from a company's website than on LinkedIn.
• craigslist - I've had success with getting interviews from jobs listed on craigslist, so I'll continue to search and apply. When I find an opportunity, I go straight to LinkedIn to look up the company and see if I can make a connection with someone.
• Twitter - The objective is to build a network of followers and followings. I follow people who tweet about things I find helpful. I tweet and re-tweet about things I hope people who follow me find helpful. By doing so, more people are following me which builds an extensive network for me to tap into while gaining valuable information.
• Competition - I have identified the competitors of the last company I worked for. I am in the process of finding out the names of the Marketing Directors/Managers. Then I will research the names on LinkedIn in hopes of finding a connection. I will tailor a cover letter for each person and send it along with my resume via mail. Whether or not these companies have a job opening, I'm hoping they will be impressed with my resume and approach.
• Traditional Networking - Not everyone is on a social networking site, so I sent mass emails out to my address book contacts. I divided my contacts in subgroups: family, friends, all others. I used an affordable (.02-.05 each) and easy online email service called VerticalResponse which allowed me to personalize each email and get real-time results.

Like any recipe, you make changes based on your personal taste.

What's your winning recipe?

FREE LinkedIn Tutorial Guide

I mention in an earlier post - "Basic Tools" - that one of the networking sites you should be on is LinkedIn.

I found a website - http://www.networlding.com/ - that is offering a free LinkedIn tutorial guide. The guide is very good and I would advise anyone who is looking for a job to request this free guide and put it to good use.

Email Networlding at info@networlding.com to receive your free LinkedIn Tutorial Guide to help you learn one of the most powerful social networking strategies. Networlding has coached over 1000 people a year on LinkedIn strategies and have done so since LinkedIn started over five years ago.

Any other resources you know of, please post a comment.

Indeed: One-Stop Job Search

It can be overwhelming searching for jobs on the Internet.

There are so many job sites out there and you don't want to miss an opportunity, so you feel compelled to register on all of them...and you should! That's not a bad thing if you're looking for a job when the unemployment rate is so high, and climbing.

Aside from the most popular job sites - craigslist.org, monster.com, careerbuilders.com - here are a few others that I've registered with:

• flexperienceconsulting.com
• glocap.com
• cybercoders.com
• jobscore.com
• simplyhired.com
• job.com
• sanfranrecruiters.com
• net-temps.com
• theladders.com

It's also nice to find a one-stop job search site, and I think I found one...Indeed. Indeed is a search engine for jobs. It includes all the job listings from major job boards, newspapers, associations and company career pages. On Indeed, I have found job listings from most all of the individual job sites I've listed above.

Sometimes I just check Indeed and not bother with the rest.

Know of any other job sites, please post here.

Why The Working Network

Why? Because I was laid off at the end of last year and it's been my full-time job to look for work. It's hard. And sometimes lonely.

I have friends who are looking too. And almost every day I hear of another person through a friend or family member that just got laid off and is looking too. It just gets worse.

But I've been told by several people that I should take this time to reevaluate myself, my life and find opportunities where you might not expect.

So, I decided to start this blog. This site is to share my experience of looking for work, finding out more about myself and to share the resources that I have found helpful in hopes it will help someone else. And to let others know - and feel - they're not alone.

I also hope that others will share with me on this blog so that we can all help eachother.